A message to all my readers When I first began writing down my stories in this quiet space, it was nothing more than an open diary. A place to put memories that needed somewhere to rest, reflections gathered over a lifetime, and thoughts that felt too personal—or perhaps simply too ordinary—to share in conversation. Conventional wisdom often suggests that personal musings rarely accomplish much on the wider internet. There are no frameworks here, no quick advice, and no polished agendas. Just the raw textures of life as I have experienced it: the sudden turns, the quiet routines, the moments of doubt, and the steady work of beginning again. Recently, as a small corner quietly crossed 30,000 reads, I paused to look more closely at the numbers. What moved me was not just the milestone itself, but where those visits were coming from. While some readers join from home here in India, so many of you are reading from entirely different corners of the earth—from Singapore across the seas ...
Silence has been my best friend. In fact, it has suited me always and preserved my existence as an introvert. I have, for this reason, navigated many years by not becoming a member of any group.
With so much time to spare now, it was time for the ‘Titans to clash’, not over hierarchical status, money, interests, but over how to effectively spend time. The tilt of the balance proposed a threat, and so finally all ‘kit kit’ stopped, and we became members of not one but two kitties.
It took me some time to acclimatize. I realized that even though many of them had been friends previously, they now shared a common thread: empty nesters and fun-lovers.
Saturday outings were now more commonplace than our mundane routines. Card housie was a popular leveler amongst the members. We had musical sessions with wonderful singers and their enchanting voices. No one had any style preferences; jazz, hip hop, and disco could all be effortlessly amalgamated in the same song when all of us over fifty decided to shake a leg. There was an array of talent, be it dress design, culinary skills, mythological narration, or even sermons or religious discourses. Everything could be jovially distorted, old anecdotes could be remembered with pain and pleasure.
We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries and created photographic memoirs. They would be our nostalgic reminders of the times we spent. After all this time, I can only say “Thank you,” Bhai sahib and Bhabhi ji, for your assistance and guidance and for introducing us to these groups.
This is an ode to all the friends, for good times and fun times, we are blessed to have you all.
Wonderful
ReplyDeleteThis is so apt and completely true as they say …Friends are like mirrors!
DeleteReally refreshing!
No doubt FRIENDS keep you alive 🤠ðŸ¤
ReplyDelete