Frienship's in the air.
Colourful strips of wristbands welcome you at every gift shop; there are placards at shopping malls inviting you to loosen your purse strings for your bestest buddies.
My cellphone’s inbox, like anybody else’s, is full with Friendship Day messages. I switch on my newly bought powder blue laptop, and find my e-mail inbox is flooded with messages that have an overdose of dostana bytes. Oh boy I don’t even know half of them (or it could be a memory lapse, who cares) but they do know me for sure. I have passed out of school and college too, but this fan following just doesn’t seem to stop.
Ding dong… (the door bell rings). I hope it’s not the bills.
“Courier for Miss Sandhya,” the man at the door says staring lecherously at my satin spaghetti dress. “She’s out of town at present,” I tell the rogue sternly, pulling my unkempt hair towards my bosom.
I wouldn’t dare to show off my lovely tresses in such a condition but all to save the gorgeous me from that ugly stare.
“How is she related to you miss …?” he enquires in a typical B-grade desi investigative television show-inspired tone.
I couldn’t figure out his interrogative stress — was it for the relation thingie or did he want to know my name? Whatever. How does it matter anyways? As if the wannabe undercover CID guy is going to verify my relation status with the actual mail recipient for a stupid mail. “She is my roommate, bhaiya.” OMG, what’s happening? Please forgive me from committing such dreadful sins, that too within minutes. First, a style disaster, and, now the so very mass-ie way of addressing this man — ‘bhaiya’. Thank heavens nobody heard me utter that.
“Madam?” “Yeah bhaiya.” Oh no, not again! “Please sign here. Also mention your cellphone number. He finally gave me the mail with a special greeting attached. No, not the usual thank you or good day; you wouldn’t even guess in your wildest dreams, he wished me “Happy friendship day.” I almost got a heart attack, didn’t you? Oh, how much I wished it was raksha bandhan ! By the way, let’s see what my roomie has got today. Nope, I am not reading her mail. I am grown up gal, uhh… but what’s the harm in getting a little naughty, a little childish sometime.
Let’s open it. Gawd! What a tacky friendship band.
Thankfully, it’s not going to adore my lovely wrist. And what does the note say, “Can I make friendship with you?” Someone kill me, please! I definitely received better stuff even in junior school. Oh boy, after all this I deserve a good splurging session. Only my Gucci and Chanel friends can save my day!