Friendships You Should Cherish

By Sabhyata Ravjani

On the first day of school, I perspired from anxiety and nervousness as sweat drizzled down my neck and I moved past several strangers. The room teemed with many faces; all with mundane, unconcerned, and unfamiliar looks that just intensified my anxiousness. They were all predators encircling their prey like they were about to devour every bit of me. That’s what our first days of school felt like when we knew no one.

However, if you're fortunate, you always run into one person who extends their hand to greet you and smiles cheerfully, shielding you from the predators like a god-sent savior. And I’m more than grateful to have met that one best friend with whom I can freely share my darkest secrets, wildest dreams, and all gossip and dramas. Sure, we were hesitant to open up at first. But, over time, as we discovered more about them, it turned out we’d had the same music and movie taste. If I’d only known that they’d be the ones who support me every time I’m about to surrender to academic stress or have my back at every hard time of my life. And then you realize it’s almost unbelievable and incredible that you’ve come such a long way. Gone through it all together.

Soon after, we began to hang out frequently and enjoy ourselves while watching the classic rom-coms with butter popcorn and chips, having the time of our lives. Moreover, as we grew more at ease with one another, we began to sing and dance along to our favorite songs at karaoke. We’d forgotten everything else in the world and just enjoyed the moment, knowing it’ll end soon once it was 8 PM and we’d returned to our homes. We never got enough of visiting each other, whether it was eight hours or nine. All the traditions we had of always ordering the same french fries from our favourite place while watching Twilight and other iconic movies and shows.

It’d been 8 years when we knew we were suddenly drifting apart. We’d been engaged in some new friend groups, with new traditions and new memories made with different people. Dissension and strife had arisen between us as a result of accusations and arguments over pointless and insignificant topics. It was just a matter of time before it started to happen every week. Even the wild thought of taking a break had passed my mind, though I quickly brushed it away. It was one day when I started reminiscing about all the fond times when we’d had the whale of a time. I recalled all the times when they’d stayed with me through my worst and my best, always there to encourage and support me. I couldn’t have ever forgotten all that even if I’d wanted to.

At that very moment, I realized that I couldn’t let such an incredible friendship go in vain. We’d gone as far as all the characters from FRIENDS, which was really a big deal. I decided to be the bigger person and apologize whether it had or hadn’t been my fault. I could’ve let out a “sorry” if it meant that I could still save our fantastic and out-of-the-world friendship. I knew that our friendship was worthy of cherishing and treasuring for eternity.

By Sabhyata Ravjani