Every evening after work when I walk towards home, I see two girls. These two teenage girls live nearby and I know them as much as you would know someone living in the same locality. I don’t know their names but I know that they have been friends for a long time.
After school along with a bunch of boys, they take the street by storm. Cricket, football, and badminton are the sports they play together and till it turns dark, the game doesn’t stop. For a minute or so, when I cross this gang on almost every weekday evening and I watch them play, I think of how friendships shape us and make us who we are.
These young girls are neighbors and that’s the only thing that is common between them.
One prefers to stay at home unless called upon and the other is always finding a chance to be out.
While one is shy and that shows in her eyes, the other is outgoing and her demeanor says it all.
While one fights for her chance to play, the other gives away her chance to someone who demands it.
A glance and one would stare you back but the other looks away.
One can’t raise her voice and the other is heard over the next block.
They are different and that’s how friendships are made. With people who are better than you in something that you aren’t and those you help you work on your life’s learning curve.
One keeps the other calm, knows how to avoid a fight and pacifies the gang.
One teaches the other how to be friendly with people.
One teaches patience and the other knows when to be aggressive if the situation demands it.
One knows that priorities can change and sometimes homework takes the precedence over games.
The other teaches how to always find time for self and know what one wants.
Company maketh a man and I am sure these two girls are teaching each other many valuable lessons of life. They may not realize it now but even before they do, each would have shaped the other and helped each other become a better person. Friends help you find that balance in life and if you have the right ones, they will have your back in thick and thin.
Friends are a family you get to choose and while you are at this task, have the best one for yourself. Won’t you agree?
Writing a non-fiction piece today for Yeah Write #270.
happiness and food 
Relationship well explained, I often feel the same exists in matrimony as well, one balances the other..probably that’s why its called match made in heaven…
LikeLike
Matrimony is also friendship. So you are right. Most close relationships show such traits.
LikeLike
Beautiful thought and even more beautifully said Parul. It’s true our friendships make us as much as our family and background does. Two very different people can make the best of friends precisely because of their differences.
LikeLike
Totally agree. Thanks for adding, Tulika.
LikeLike
This is lovely. And it may be true that opposites attract. It’s true in marriages and friendships. Thanks for making me appreciate the people in my life — close friends and casual acquaintances.
LikeLike
I’m so glad the post took you a step further than my intent. Thank you!
LikeLike
There’s a yin-and-yang in every relationship. That’s what maintains the balance (and often sanity) of it all.
Interesting observations, Parul.
LikeLike
Very true. Thanks,Sid.
LikeLike
True Parul. It’s like separate pieces not making much sense individually but put them together and they are beautiful, crazy, and beyond logic too sometimes. Friendship it is. Each important in their own and each needing the other 🙂 (Writing again. The first one didn’t go :D)
LikeLike
It was approval queue. Thank you Shashank. Good to see you around!
LikeLike
I agree and that insight in your post is bang on! opposites make the thickest of pals
LikeLike
Thanks, Amy!
LikeLike
This is very much like me and my neighbor friend, one of us being an outdoors person and the other an indoors one. In my opinion, be it the similarities or the differences between people, it is the experiences of togetherness that forms the basis of friendship. And yes, they do keep the balance in life. 🙂
LikeLike
Totally agree. Thank you, Darshana.
LikeLike
So true. I’m completely opposite of all the friends I consider my best. And very different from my husband in many ways.
LikeLike
With you there. Very different yet we are close. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
That is such a sweet story about friendship … I have learnt so much from my friends … and I still do 🙂 It feels so amazing when look back on those days.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Raji. Yes, I’ve also learned a lot from my close ones.
LikeLike
Sometimes I think it is the differences that bring us closer because we end up teaching each other so much! Nice post.
LikeLike
Absolutely right. Thank you, Reema!
LikeLike
That’s the beauty of friendship, to be each other’s strength. It’s power relationship to me:)
LikeLike
Good one! Thanks, Vishal!
LikeLike
true..that could be the reason why opposites attract..to teach the other and to learn from the other what each other do not know. Such a wonderful observation!
LikeLike
Thank you, Subhangi!
LikeLike
True – I think opposites attract for a reason, and good friends always leave you richer and help you improve.
LikeLike
Well said. Thanks!
LikeLike
Well said, Parul!
LikeLike
Thank you, Hema.
LikeLike
You have described me and my best friend, she helped me a lot. Still does:) Lovely write up.
LikeLike
That’s sweet. Thanks for sharing, Sulekha.
LikeLike
So true, Parul..and the friendships formed at the stage of life these girls are in are the ones that remain forever.. I have a few friends who were my neighbors while growing up.. We know each other so well that the ease is not only comforting but reassuring..
LikeLike
I agree.Even my close friends add that comfort in life. Thank you, Nabanita!
LikeLike
Well said and beautifully observed 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Mayuri!
LikeLike
That happens with me as well. I have been walking in my society for a while and I watch these girls. Chatting up, playing basketball, cycling. My husband always asks me “What do these girls talk at this age” And I always reply: Oh the world of things! You cannot imagine the complications and intricacies they face”
I miss being that old sometimes 🙂
LikeLike
There you said it. Their lives have just begun so there are so many things that we can’t imagine at this stage in life.
LikeLike
At first when I read this, I was filled with awe and wished I had a group like that. The next moment I realised that our relationship with all our closed ones are similar. This happens with my friend too. We compliment each other in so many ways and on so many levels. So do my sister and I. It was something I never noticed explicitly until now.
LikeLike
Thanks, Ranjini! Many things in life are like that. We see them all the time but only when somebody explicitly talks about it, these things started to come together. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
And this is how the puzzle of any relationship is completed. Opposites attract and in these cases both learn some thing from each other as well :).
LikeLike