As I was walking with Abbu after dinner in the nearby street, our talk drifted towards his friends. Back home, I remember there were a few pictures of a big group of people, from his time working in Saudi. I asked him whether he was in touch with any of those and he said No. With no phones back-in-the day and of course no-facebook, how can one keep in touch ? Especially when the group comprised of people from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lebanon, Pakistan and hardly anyone from around the area. And this was much before he was married.
It wasn’t surprising though. Although I’d love to meet his friends from that time.
I do wonder if perhaps our lives will follow the same trajectory or not.
While a few stick around, others slowly start fading away. Out of sight, out of mind. Even with just a Quarter of a century of existence, I can count a list full of people who used to be friends and whom I haven’t met, talked to, or even thought about! I’m sure it will be same for many of you.
Facebook definitely helps in connecting you with people and helps you keep updated with “what’s happening” in others’ life.
While scrolling through Timelines, “Ohh iski shaadi hogayi?” “Arey iski shadi kab hui?” “Ye to uske saath.. ?” “Ye Dubai chala gaya?” and can imagine people saying, “Kuch bhi likhte rehta hai ye” on seeing me on their timelines.
I remember religiously calling friends from a PCO while keeping an eye on the Meter!
Sometimes it is, “..will call aaram se na…” or “Yaar I cannot be the only one calling” and other similar excuses we give in our heads.
The idea that we’d end up not talking with people who meant the world at some point in our lives or still do, used to look unreal back in the days.
And so this time when my father spoke about it, very passively, and made it look so normal, it didn’t surprised me even a bit.