I have almost never felt the need of a ‘best friend’. Because I was fourteen and I had a sister to listen to. I was seventeen and I was dying to go join a college and I was twenty planning my own enterprise and then of course at twenty two waiting for a job and at twenty five getting married. *phew*
So when I had to decide whom should I address this letter I decided it to be you. You as in you, right now, reading it at this very moment. Its you who is my closest friend. I know its strange as there is a slight chance you and I have never met. A very high chance you don’t like me. And of course most definitely the hypothesis that you are finding this all very weird and wish you had not arrived here.
Why you? Just because I have no idea who are you. I like it this way. The more I know you the more I will fall into this trap of deciding what to tell you and what not? Whether you would judge me or say mean things about me? Even if you did I have no idea who you are or whether its you who said or the reader after you. And so peace can prevail.
As you are now my best friend, its your duty to listen to things I am now going to tell. Things I thought I would want to tell my best friend, which by the way till date has never happened.
I am sick of being a good Samaritan. I hate taking care of people. You know why? Of course you know it, you are my best friend! Because I have been doing that for ages. I want someone to pamper me, treat me like a child. I was never a child, perhaps the reason behind my cynicism of this whole best friend game.
If I told you I never really liked drinking alcohol but often took it due to peer pressure, would you say I am not so cool? I can never accept this in front of people. Because you do know my strong views on peer pressure.
Speaking of strong views, I have this insane habit of taking things to heart. If a man is dying in the other corner of the world because his cow was not treated properly, my blood boils. I have tried everything to change this but over the years it has worsened.
Now now I honestly think my husband got dealt a bad hand. In all truthfulness he is too simple to get someone as mad as me. I know he suffers and in silence (which is worse).Notice the brackets, they reveal how control freakish I am. I put them to ensure that people get the hidden meaning of my words. Because I am a control freak, I cannot trust people’s intelligence and accept that they would understand it.
Don’t judge me, I am not an elitist. As much as people might want to convince you, I am not. I only hate Chetan Bhagat readers. Reading, I think if it was not you then books could have been my best friends. Seriously after you finish reading this and after a while no one clicks on this post to even see the photograph, my life will revert to books as best friends.
Read all the things mentioned above, right now. What do you think? I know all sorts of conditions related to mental instability come to your head but no, you are my best friend, you cannot judge me.
What else? I know I am a bad human being when it comes to understanding those who don’t read. I cannot comprehend the reason behind them not reading. Again, for god’s sake don’t kill me over it. I am human, they judge me because I didn’t get a haircut in six months and that I wear awkward clothes to office. Which is acceptable to many as right issues. I judge people when they pick ‘right’ issues which had no real meaning in life actually
Now I need to go read my book, I know you are important but once you leave and the other one takes time to arrive here, I know my dear book will fill in the gaps. The least I can do is go to it when it calls me. Keep in touch, these are one of the very few posts which speak about me, cherish them. Rest of the days you can meet a Sangeeta, a Radha or Arti or in near future an alien (*)IKLO (try making sense of it).
Until next time,
Richa.
* * *
Written for the prompt “Letters Unsent” at Write Tribe
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Best friend ko chocolate nahi?
I wonder if thy husband reads the blog.
Uh oh, alcohol due to peer pressure… They’re not good friends at all then. Nuh uh.
Which type of clothes do you wear to work? I thought TML had a uniform
Husband reads the blog and I think he will be happy to see I was being honest about all this, that I do get his pain 😛 😛 It isnt due to peers me to drink, its to fit in. I think they dont even know it!
Wow..you seem to be in real writing mood today 🙂 who thought a letter to best friend could turn out a letter like this.
Now i have a challenge…everytime i will think of the prompt, i’ll think of your post 😀
Thanks Sugandha such a sweet compliment. And I am sure it will be a great post from you too.
and by the way…as a best friend…i can invite you to participate in my latest project.. I let you go and read your book but once you are done you can write a review for my blog :p (i am just grabbing the opportunity here)
Check out the project https://somethings-sugandha.blogspot.in/2013/08/30-days-30-books.html
I will for sure. I just finished Last lecture will probably pen down something 🙂
Ah! that is one of my fav books…was thinking abt adding it in next ten days…you do it for me please 🙂
Nice Post.
thanks 🙂
Richa, as your best friend, I love the fact that you are so honest. Sad though, that those peers of yours don’t have too much sense. And I do read, that means you probably won’t hate me. Read more and write more, so we also get to read more from you 🙂 🙂
Haha Bhavya I can never hate you, I love you way tooo much
We donot have much options in our life . We have to live as it comes . I guess best way to live is let things happen because most of the time we fail to change
How true in fact it is why we all should not be uptight all the time!
I like your honesty but sense a bit of anger. And no you are not a bad human being, just a very passionate one about something you believe strongly in.
Anger is there of course and also there are elements of clarity in it. This was a good prompt I feel..
I love your post Richa! and I related to a lot of it. Superb post!
Thanks Maggie 🙂
So my dear Girly, I need a huge favor from you. In fact as your best friend I DEMAND it.. U will write stories and get them published. I have lived a lifetime in the 30 days I have known U.. I I will cling on to your every word and like a glutton demand more.. am very clingy needy that way..U will HAVE TO FEED Me. Love U :’) Hugs.
Awww Deepti, for sure sweetie. And honestly I so enjoyed those 30 days because you people kept coming back to read more 🙂
Richa
Maybe you get a little bit disturbed when something or the other goes out of order…
Even for me reading is like a best companion
an honest explanation to your best friend…I loved it really:-)
Thanks a lot Shelly 🙂 and yes reading is best companion 🙂
Belated Happy Friendship Day, Best Friend! Liked your candidness. But never give in to peer pressure. I hate alcohol. I have done so much drama when my best friend, now husband, would drink. But thank god, he is more of a social drinker, which I have learnt to tolerate. Can’t help it, I have been brought up this way!
Thats alright, drinking isnt something that should be accepted as such. And I never really gave in to peer pressure it was perhaps more like to be of the same fabric as such. A little complicated 😀 😀
All iz well Richa…all iz well!! 😀
haha yes Aamir Khan got it! 😛 😛
Richa u know i hate reading lengthy things (u must know as you are my best frind) but reading this one i never felt as if i was reading it, i felt as if a friend is talking to me so as your best friend i want you to start writing novel or something trust me you will be too good.. Going to follow you as want read more and more from you and as u know that i never read novels and if you made me read this long you are damm good.. Cheers
Thanks a lot for such kind compliments. I wish I could know your name, I know its one of my friends but well anonymous also works just about fine 🙂
ha ha i am Abhishek..
Now I know so many Abhisheks also 😀 😀
Thanks for making us your best friend. This is a nice post. Simply because it gives us a peek into your mind. We may not completely know you but glad I got to know some. Thanks 🙂
Thanks Kajal, these letters are truly a wonderful way for all of us to know each other 🙂
I was a little stumped by this prompt because I really don’t have a best friend. But your wonderful post has given me inspiration and now I think I might know how to proceed. I liked your letter. I love how you made us all best friends.
Kathy
https://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Thanks a lot Kathy, now going to move over to read yours! And I have seen it on fb that the post did something to you…
Hello my new best friend. 🙂 I know I am safe because, I ,like you go back to my books when others desert me.:)A wonderful window into your mind.
Haha yes then you are safe, all bibliophiles are safe with me 🙂
Hi there! I have been on your blog for the first time and this post instantly caught my attention. Least to say, you’ve got a new admirer lady! (no, I won’t stalk you !_ ) Seriously, I have liked your blog. Your thoughts are refined and organised. This was a gr8 post too. And chetan bhagat? I have read his first book. It was good. But couldn’t muster up courage to hear more from the man 😀 Still, why such a hate? 😀
Thanks a lot! And chetan bhagat I don’t like if the emphasis is on that 😀 😀 I have my reasons and some very strong one. Like you have read only the first and one night at a call centre became the eye opener 😛
I had this extemely interesting situation in class the other day, when a young girl, 13 years old approx. said, quite clearly that one did not ‘need’ friends, and one could be fine by oneself. Well, that turned into a sort of debate, as it would, and with the limited time I had in class, it was a spirited session. All the same, having friends/being a friend, like many other things is an intensely personal thing. Whether one has loads, or few, or maybe does not need one, is entirely their affair 🙂 So, yes, no being judegmental about it! Bingo!
I admire the honesty of your writing. I hope someday I can too, in a similar vein 🙂
Thanks Usha.. My point was never about not having friends but yes the concept of best friend does not agree with me. its because some of us make it sound like a soulmate thing. But then a thirteen year old should not have such cynicism I agree 🙂
Wow. Never imagined anything like this. That was an honest, brutal, look-in-the-mirror kind of letter, Richa! Kind of an insight into the many conflicts going through your mind. Go easy! Like you say, we’re all human 🙂 I hate it when I get judged too!
Yes we all need to go easy but unfortunately life makes us be difficult and so the outbursts here 😛
You have a nice and voila writing regularly too. 🙂
Where in Pali btw?
Best Friends… its a deal ! As you are now my best friend, its your duty to listen to things I am now going to tell-yes mam. I read too… so I am in the clear. Ya, and the hubby bit, same here. Drinking is no fun for me, if I dont fit in, ill go read or listen to music or .. go trekking cum clicking photos.
I love the way you write. Wish I could write like you 😉 Would love to meet you in person too, till then will keep reading your posts.
-Nilima
Awww Nilima I too wish to meet you in person 🙂 Blogging does that to you doesn’t it? We get connected through writing alone. I am sooo happy you liked the post and enjoyed it too ! 🙂
“Speaking of strong views, I have this insane habit of taking things to heart. If a man is dying in the other corner of the world because his cow was not treated properly, my blood boils.” Have you ever read, The Secret Life Of Bees? There is a character you would identify with. Excited to hear your A-Z thoughts on the mid-20s as I have a daughter that age–maybe help me relate!
Gail at Making Life An Art