From a Muggle College to Hogwarts

This the earliest (and decent) photograph that I could find.

A tale about a quest that lasted 2 years.........

So, I met them in school. Well, Not all of them, but 4. I was stuck with one. She says we’ve been friends since we were in nursery. To be honest, I don’t remember and I don't care either. All that matters is that we put up with each other for so long. And I’m glad we did. I’m glad I can say is, I’ve had the same best friend since nursery, i.e. for 14 years. I can imagine how we became friends, it’s obvious. We go to the same church, we live in the same neighbourhood, 2 Keralite kids in the same class, it'd have been surprising if we hadn't become friends. But what I do not get is, how we managed to stay friends. I honestly can’t think of one common behavioural aspect. But here we are after innumerable fights and disagreements and some back bitching (I guess). After 14 Years. And as I write this, I think she’s mad at me. Hey Angel, I’m glad we stuck together literally through thick and thin.

One hell of a day it was right?

AAP right?

The next person, though we should have technically met in church, the earliest memories I have of you are of 5th standard. You and Angel were in the same class and I used to ask you guys to save me a seat, which both of you didn’t (obviously) on most days. We actually became friends in 7th standard, as we were in the same class. Angel, you and I were a team. And as you pointed out, we have had the most fights. We didn't talk to each other for an entire year, but damn, here we are 5 years later. We’re going for Angel’s bachelorette with or without her, right Ann? Ann, Angel, and Priya can be the next AAP. We rule Vasai. Next stop, Delhi? What say, guys?

This picture is important.

You have put me in loads of trouble right from 8th standard to all the way to 12th. I ended up in the Principal’s office for the first time with you. But kicking Mini Miss’ ass was fun. You do not know how happy I was after having done that. Catechism classes were the most fun. I know you never approved most of the things I have done. You have given me endless lectures, which both you and I know had no effect on me (sorry for that). We’ve had many fallouts, but again like Angel and Ann, best friends since school? Joel?

Our favourite picture right?

I remember you being with us Angel, Ann, Joel and I, i.e., the cool kids in catechism class, but I don’t think we spoke much before college. I want you to know that your jokes aren’t funny and you’re annoying. I am sorry. But that's the truth. From thinking that you were gross to laughing at your gross jokes to me cracking gross jokes myself, I’m just too happy to know a sloth that can cook Chinese food. I do not like admitting this, but I have always valued your opinion. And I'm grateful to you for patiently listening to all my stories and for teaching me to swear. I was a good kid until I met you. Obviously, I'm not kidding. I hope you get 50 patients daily or was it 500? And don’t forget to get me hot guys from Turkey, Mr Joshua Jose.

iPhone pictures are the best.

So, you are technically the first new friend I made in college. I remember in the first English lecture, I ended up sitting in front of you and Joel and I ended up being the Group 1 leader, a job I sucked at, because, you forced me to. I don’t know why we never spoke in school and church. Maybe because you were too cool and I was the nerd? I think yes. From having ignored each other for many many years to breaking eggs in your home and then cleaning it. From walking home together after college to getting stranded on Borivali Railway Station, I’m glad I know you, Jyothis Shajan.

Let's get drenched again please.

Your first words to Ann were, “My best friend likes you. He’s a singer, he’s from Vasai West parish”. To be honest I thought you were a weird over friendly kid. Ann and I thought you looked like someone else. I remember you coming to us and asking us if you could hang out with us. I thought that was weird too. From being the weird kid in my head to never missing a chance to get drenched in the rain. Cheers to the many more memories. The fried rice we used to have at your place is my absolute favourite but I hate the Choupsey we had at Mondegar. Leopold Cafe is very expensive, isn’t it, Sharon?

Best birthday? Definitely.

I strongly suspect that you befriended us in Koinonia because you were shifting to Vasai and you knew you’ll die friendless. I know you still are friendless. We have a record of having fought only once, but that was a pretty massive one I guess. After all of my failed apology attempts, Johnny sir had to convince you. My favourite birthday gift to date was from you. And I'll always be around to keep bad relationships at bay (don't hate me for that, please?). By the way, you still haven’t apologized for trying to break my arm thousands of times and for having made me run over desks and benches. It was always your fault. Okay, Febin?

You taught me to gawk, Kozhi.

These are the first words Ann and I said to each other after looking at you, “He looks like Romeo”. I’m sure those were my first words to you too. I didn’t realize how quickly you went from being ‘the Romeo look-alike’ to being our very own ‘kanjavu adicha kozhi’. Cheers to all the waffles and pani puri we ate. And cheers to you always being broke. And you never clicking a decent picture of mine. I know your retort to this, "It isn't my fault that you're ugly". I'm eagerly waiting for a ride on your bullet, by the way. Do you remember prank calling a "long lost friend" of yours, Manoj KUNJUmon?

Thank God for Snapchat.

Carmel's sucked, right? I remember the day they shifted me from the JEE batch to NEET batch. And the dramatic rainy day and teasing Angel all the way to Panchavti. And many long walks to Panchavati for two years. Also laughing continuously and shamelessly during lectures. And not to forget the innumerable fights. And the camp and dancing like fools and me testing my world-class driving skills on your senior citizen Activa. Not to mention, hogging everyone's tiffins during breaks. How has it been, being our pet dog, Elsha Lalu?

The only picture of us.

I remember meeting you once in 10th standard while walking home from Carmel’s with Joel. And then you were in college with us. I honestly don’t think anyone could defend BJP or Narendra Modi better than you with Communists at your neck. Those politics sessions are honestly my favourite. And of course Angel and you arguing. I do not intend to flatter you but I guess pretty much everyone has had your back and you’ve never failed to make each one of us laugh. And for always having my back. It was always fun having you around, Surya, be it Priyanka’s lecture or Romilda’s.

And us.

To be honest, I did not know you would talk to girls until you started sitting with Joel and Surya in front of Ann and Sharon in 12th standard. Little did I know that looks can be deceiving. Probably there wasn’t a single day in 12th that either Joel, Surya or you got yelled at. Apart from me of course. The third bench in the last row is to date the best seat I’ve had in class. I got to admit this, nobody has till date roasted me as well as you do. I just can't not laugh at your comments. Majority of the times, they are hilarious and sometimes lame. Thanks for providing me inside info though ( I hope you know what I'm talking about). Not to mention NATA class. You still haven’t made my portrait Jerrin Abraham.

Holy Family has been nothing less than Hogwarts for me. We never failed to create a new problem for ourselves and then solve it in our weird way. All of us went from being friends of friends to being best friends pretty quick. We literally went from asking each other for pictures to hoarding ugly pictures of each and these days, making stickers. From pretending that all of us forgot Sharon’s birthday to littering the class on Joshua’s, (followed by Sobin Sister yelling at us and making us mop the class). From dividing teachers amongst us for gifting on the first Teacher’s Day to not giving a fuck on the second. From the fucked up drama to the best carols and tableau. From accidentally ending up together on the Dongri trip to convincing each other to come for the camp. From making fun of pretty much all the teachers to thanking our stars for Geeta Miss. Not to mention Choudhary Sir being our favourite. From Onam in 2017 to Farewell in 2019. To making endless boomerangs. And endless pathetic jokes. To Joshua talking crap on the mic. To naming people after animals. Or rather animals after people.To finding potential dates for each other. To abusing Romilda. To Elsha drawing diagrams for probably all of us. And most importantly having each other's back. Pretty much all of us went our different ways after those 2 years but I’m hoping each one of us has something to hold on to. I honestly wouldn’t have those 2 years any differently. I’m hoping that’s the case for you too.

July 2017.

January 2019.