Hearing ‘Tere jaisa yaar kahan, kahan aisa yaarana’, and ‘Tera Yaar Hu Main’ has most of us reminiscing about the time we’ve spent with our closest friends. That’s the impact of friendship; the effect of having a group of friends that have stuck by you through thick and thin. Whether they were your chuddy buddy, lunchbox-sharing school friend, college mate and partner in crime, or the work friend who builds you up, this Friendship Day (2 August, 2020), Team TC46 is thinking about all of them and sharing our fondest memories. Get age-old wisdom on friendships and relationships, read these panchatantra tales.
1. Squad Goals
Friends like sisters. Sisters like friends. That’s pretty much how I’d sum up this throwback snapshot from my 2019 bachelorette party at Tamasha, Mumbai. I’m lucky to have found my cheering squad, and these are just some of the many women who have supported and stood by me in my life. You don’t get to choose your family, but you get to choose your friends. And it’s a true blessing when you find friends like family and create bonds for a lifetime.
— Karishma Roye Tyagi
2. My Rock
My best friend is my brother from another mother. We have a bittersweet journey through life and his presence is one I crave, every day. He stands by me, supports me and fights with me on the silliest of issues, but we both know that we would be dangling in a void space if not for each other. He has been my truest support system in all these years and keeps me grounded. From pulling me out of a mess to helping me deal with my mother’s recent health scares, he is my rock and a true friend.
— Madhurima Halder
Interesting Fact
Hachikō Monogatari, the 1987 Japanese drama film is a tragic, true story about Hachikō, an Akita dog who was loyal to his master, Professor Ueno, even after Ueno’s death. A classic example of the phrase, ‘Man’s best friend’.
3. Feline Friend
This Friendship Day, I dedicate to Nadia. When I brought you home, I thought I was giving you a new lease on life. But it was quite the opposite. You became my first child and the friend who helped me survive the lockdown. Happy Friendship Day, my furry feline friend!
— Akshita Gupta
Interesting Fact
Any friendship that begins in the period between 18-26 years of age is more likely to be robust and long-lasting.
4. Unbreakable Bond
I feel really lucky to have so many amazing people in my life since childhood. I have had great friends who helped and supported me, with whom I have experienced wonderful times. It’s a blessing to have buddies who made all the phases of my life so memorable and filled with joy. I have two perfect people in my life, they stood by me through tough times and guided me all along. We fought, we laughed and we cried together. My college roommate Fatima made my hostel life unforgettable and my 7-year-old friendship with Yashika couldn’t be more perfect. I have annoyed them a lot but the bond with them is unbreakable. They are my sisters, roommates, best friends and sometimes the mom-friend who doesn’t hold back when scolding me. I simply can’t imagine my life without them.
— Daksha Gaur
5. My Constants
For me, my friends are like a second home—a comfort zone. I can be myself around them, with no judgements. I can completely fall apart and they will be there, with no questions. They give me the space to choose my path, and stand by my side when I’ve chosen the wrong one, which is more often than you’d think. We fight over desserts and pizza, and remind each other of the past romantic mistakes (honestly I’ve lost count!). We’ve been friends for over a decade and hopefully a lifetime more.
— Yashna Kapasi
Interesting Fact
From Little Women to Big Little Lies and A Thousand Splendid Suns to any Lauren Weisberger book, the bond of friendship and comradery between women has been penned down amazingly for centuries in English literature.
6. Solid & Reliable
Deepali and I have been friends for over 7 years now. We have many similarities in terms of our outlooks, approaches and perspectives on life. She’s a solid and reliable friend and I don’t know what I would do without her! Here’s us at my surprise birthday party planned by her.
— Rashmi Jadhav
7. Brotherly Love
More like a friend, less like a brother. Could we just stay forever?
From having you on my speed dial to telling you every little secret of mine.
You’re the friend I did not have to choose, I know you feel blessed too!
Couldn’t be anymore thankful for you, you know I love you.
— Esther D’Mello
Interesting Fact
Dor, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Queen, Chak De India, Angry Indian Goddesses, Lajja & Parched are a few Hindi movies that showcase the many different faces of female friendships.
8. 30 Years & Going Strong
Being a newly engaged girl in Mumbai can be daunting. I had shifted to the city of dreams and came across like-minded people in the new office. That was the start to a 30-year-long friendship that’s strong even today. Sharing lunch every day, and sukh and dukh all these years have made that bond even stronger. Some have retired, some left the job, yet messages and calls never stopped. Happy Friendship to my Lunch Group that became a bond of support and pure friendship.
— Neeta Pathak
9. Love You 3000
It was hard to choose between these three dorks, so here it goes! The fact that I can be my most embarrassing self with y’all and hear your seal-like laughter funnier than the joke is what makes life so amazing! Dedicating this Friendships Day to my younger brother Reuel, and my best friends Purvi and Chirag. I love you 3000.
— Gloria Menezes
Did You Know?
A small study shows that during stressful times, being around a best friend decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
10. Tweens To Queens
A rock-solid silent supporter, Akanksha has been by my side since we were 13. From moustache-bearing tweens to classy-sassy adults, our bond has matured, unlike us, through the ages. We’ve had laugh-till-it-hurts moments and bitter fights that erupted like volcanoes. She’s the one I go to for advice, gossip and of course lip-smacking recipes. And she has given me the greatest gift of being an aunt to the most adorable nephew ever. Happy Friendship Day to the real MVP, MasterChef Bangalore & the ultimate BFF!
— Srushti Pathak
Friendships are born in a thousand different ways, some meet when they are babies while some become friends post-retirement. But all good friends strive to achieve the same goal; to be a source of love and support. It’s true that friendship knows no age, gender, race or religion. It simply makes you feel appreciated and loved.