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Chapter 4 : Bee - f - f

Vishal and I developed a bond different than anyone else. In the era where people were connected through social networking, our thoughts and ideas were enough to connect with each other's soul. He would understand my every type of mood and being very good at friendship, Vishal would handle each one of them. He would find out ways to make me feel good when I didn't feel like it, and that was something nobody could ever do. He loved and cherished every little thing about me, and I did the same. Vishal was the best guy friend I got, or maybe the only guy friend I got. With him, I learned there can be a relation that a boy and a girl share without being in love.

Being around Vishal made me feel grateful for being alive. Trust me, I've read about it; when you meet people like these, never let them go. My world went topsy-turvy to find a friend with likes and dislikes sso similar to mine.

My parents loved his company too. We would sit for hours at each other's place and gossip nonstop. Many times, he would sit with my parents, making them laugh at silly jokes, sometimes he'd play the guitar and sing songs with them. We used to spend so much of our time together, that although, mom would never let me go anywhere alone, she would allow if Vishal accompanied me.

A lot of times, some narrow-minded neighbors would come to my mom placing their distorted views, telling her that it isn't morally right for a girl and a boy to roam around all the time. Mom would always try to reason with them, but their incessant pestering upset her. Mom would complain and get annoyed at me to make some female friends because people talked unethically about me and Vishal, which displeased her. In my defense, I would always assure her that she shouldn't lose her trust on me because I wouldn't let her down ever. I could only do so because I knew Vishal was a friend with undeniable awesomeness. Many a times, I would get upset over the whole discussion about this with mom, and would not talk to him, but he would understand the situation with just my replies. I would get blue and moody, but being really good at it, he would always end up making me smile no matter what.

People might always think it's not mere friendship, so the more time you spend together, more gossip envelops around you. Because according to the society, a girl or any woman talking or going out with a male who she calls her so-called FRIEND, isn't ethical. But one thing that I learned while being in this relationship is that as compared to any other type of friendship, there are certain spectacular moments which you can't measure unless your best friend is a boy. So having a boyfriend might come with some romance, but having a male best friend comes with undeniable awesomeness which makes friendship strong and unshakable. One more thing, unlike a boyfriend, a male best friend will never quit when things get tough. That is why the second F exists in BFF, which means always and forever.

He soon became my realest bestfriend. The good part about him was that he knew me better than I knew myself. He applauded all my passions and tolerated all my faults. He was there when I fell sick, making me eat and giving me medicines on time. He was like an extended family to me, and I knew I couldn't do without him. He loved everything about my personality. We used to spend a lot of time together, without expecting anything from each other.
He was a nerd. Many a times he would act like a bodyguard in public places and a compassionate brother when it came to taking advice about whom to talk, whom to go out with, what to wear, what not to wear. He would behave like a parent when it came to my health, my food habits and my career. The best part about him was he never added any drama in my life. I found in him the best part of my life and wanted to cherish this relationship forever, but destiny had other plans for us.

Vishal failed in his exams and was pressured to leave his hometown and study abroad. I tried calling him quite a number of times, but he didn't answer any of my calls. My exams were approaching, so I shifted my focus in order to concentrate on my studies, but I couldn't help it and started getting breakdowns often.

He was quite upset and didn't have the guts to tell me the truth, but I could sense that something was wrong as his visits became seldom and his calls reduced to once or twice a day.

Destiny and fate had plans, plans that would make us stronger. For some days, I did not hear from him at all. I became upset with everything around me, I would feel angry and agitated all the time. Being in my teens, with the least understanding of things, I started blaming others for my unhappiness.
I went through a hard time dealing with this change. Right on the last day of my exams, Vishal came at my place surprising me. I was happy to see him, but he didn't utter a word for some time, maybe because he was gathering the courage to tell me that he was leaving this country for further studies. Looking at his pale face and his eyes, I knew it was also difficult for him too to accept this change. The moment he shared this news, both of us cried our hearts out.

"My parents want me to do something big in life, but even for once if you ask me to stay back, I will fight to be with you."

I was speechless to hear this, and asking him to stop. It would have been selfish on my part. He had already given me wonderful memories in the three years of our friendship, and I couldn't ask for more. I told him to go but made him promise that he would call me every day no matter what and be my Genie whenever I needed him.

Throughout my teenage period, I had fantasized about a valentine in my life, but that day I realized that having a best friend is better than any other relationship in the world.

Vishal was the one who expected nothing from me, but he became everything to me. His departure was as sudden as his arrival in my life. But I had to accept the fact soon that nothing is permanent and every good thing comes to an end someday.

I spent the last few days of his stay in the country shopping with him and packing his stuff. I even made a huge collage of our pictures and gave it to him and a small dairy with all our memories so that whenever he misses me he can look at them and cherish the time we spent together.

Then came our last day together, the day before our roads would diverge, Time seemed to move faster and faster. I couldn't find any way to turn back time and stop him. He had become such an integral part of my life that my world seemed to collapse when I saw him leaving. But I believe that as much as we like things to stay the same, change is an inevitable part of life. I held back my tears, and I reminded myself to be strong all the way back home.