Those were the days...

(ARPITA AGGRAWAL)

They say write on that, which is close to your heart... that, which leaves an indelible mark... that, which you cherish forever...

"We had joy, we had fun,

We had seasons in the sun,

But the hills that we climbed

Were just seasons another time..."

Opening the treasure-chest of memories, I pick out some of my most cherished moments and realize that most of them have one thing in common – they have my school-friends in them – people who I love a lot, who form an integral part of my life, who play a major role in my evolution as a person. People without whom I would be at sea, to whom I run to at the hint of slightest trouble, with whom I share my joy and sorrow, without whom life wouldn't have been the same...

Lounging around for hours at 'Mint', being chucked out of 'Cafe Coffee Day' for making a racket, having to run away from a restaurant 'coz we broke a filled glass and ruined the tablecloth, being checked by the waiter for bringing the roof down even in the food-court, haunting the streets of Hazratganj, talking at full volume on 'censored' topics in 'Pizza Hut' and realizing after an hour, that we had people staring at us as if we had just escaped from the zoo... hooting and going berserk whenever a hunky actor appeared on screen at the theater, bunking classes at school to sit and chat, dancing on the tables in the Physics lab, dancing to the tunes of Jungle Jungle baat chali hai and kaat khaye bichchu in the sports field, throwing everybody in the sand pit, taking piggy-back rides on each other, ordering more and more food at 'Pizza Hut' 'coz this really cute-looking guy was serving us, finding 'olive shirt' and 'cream cargo pants', falling for this real cute IIM–Lucknow guy who was conducting a survey at the Mall, going to 'Mc D' and eating Mc Aloo Tikki and iced tea every time we met during vacation, 'coz after meeting up daily this was all that we could afford... Must say that 'those were the days...'

Going back to my room is a strange feeling - as if I am suspended in time... Everything is just like it was two years back... the picture of all my friends stands adorning my bedside. 'I (really) ride high when with (them)' as the photo frame says. The 'Winnie the Pooh' poster still stuck to my bathroom door assures me that '(they'll) be there for me' come what may. The 'Archies' carry bag, in which they gave me the gifts, still stowed away in my drawer, the teddy sitting where it always sat, reminds me of all those times, which are now a part of the past – a part of my life, which was undoubtedly the best...