The Conversation

There are some people with whom you can connect instantly, who have known you over a protracted period of time, who have seen your successes and more importantly been there in your failures. They have been privy to your aspirations, what you wanted to become, what you have become and what you might become in future. Its amazing how incredibly light and refreshing it feels to talk to those precious few. How relaxed you feel talking about various ups and downs of life .
I met one such friend after a long time some time back. We fell apart due to an unfortunate misunderstanding and had not been in contact for a while. But this silence was proving too uncomfortable for me. So this time around when I went to her city, I decided to break this long silence. The first thing that came into my mind when I invited her over for dinner was how to start a conversation. I mean here was a person with whom I was best of friends just a couple of years back, had shared lots of happy and fun filled memories, but the past few months it was practically as if we didnt exist for each other any more. I thought the best way to tackle the situation is to ask a series of questions that would at least keep both of us engaged. Silence was one thing that I feared the worst.
The D-moment arrived, she came and after some casual references (abt looks and clothes), we decided to move for dinner.It was marvelous the way both of us were avoiding any reference to the episode which had kept us apart for the past year, instead we immersed ourselves in talks related to work and life in a new city. As the conversation grew and old camaraderie returned , I starting wondering whether she was going through the same thought process as me. Most of our conversation veered around the happenings in our life in the past few months. Talking to her, I suddenly had a feeling that both of us knew pretty much all that was happening in other's life through mutual friends, social networking sites, but both of us did our best to feign ignorance. The conversation was laced with oomps of surprise and angst at 'appropriate' moments. The artificial nature of the entire episode lent a surreal feeling to it all. But neither of us wanted to dive into the uncomfortable questions arising which had lost their meaning in present. I, for once, just wanted to live in present.
Human beings are social animals. More than anything else they require companionship, people who see the connection between different episodes in one's life as opposed to observing them just in isolation. You need someone who understands how you and your thinking progressed over time. Only those can truly understand your needs and aspirations, ur failings and triumphs, strengths and weaknesses. Everyone else is just an actor who comes and goes as the scene progresses, but he/she is the one who will follow your every act and know where you are headed.
It was pure delight discussing both past, present and future with her. Discussing philosophy over a hot cup of coffee is the best time pass that a person can think of. Thank you my friend for such a wonderful time. These moments, though few and rare reinforce my belief that friends are the greatest asset that one can have and one must do his utmost to keep hold of these precious possessions.