THE INVISIBLE MATE

How do you define a friend? The one who stands by you through thick and thin, the one who is an inherent part of your everyday journey.  But how about those who remain invisible. The one who almost disappears among the huge crowd that surrounds your everyday life. Do we even notice them and thank them for filling up the blank spaces?

The cabbie who drives you to work every day listening to your everyday woes. The security guard who smiles at you every day you pass the pass the gate the roadside vendors who looks forward to your everyday visit, the maid who cleans up your mess. Do we even pause to embrace them as part of our lives? A hug perhaps or maybe a smile in return would make a whole lot of difference.

There’s a small story which involves travelling back to my past. It was my father’s funeral. We were struggling for money. Almost all the people we know pitched in and then there was someone I had barely noticed before waiting to console me with the required money in his hand. He was the cabbie who drove my father to office every day. A whirlwind of thoughts trouble my mind. “No Anna you might need it”. I refuse the money.  ”It’s only a small sum when compared to all that your father has done for me”.  I pause to think about the bond they would have shared as Mom gestures me to take it.

Fast forward to the present and I share a wonderful friendship with most of my drivers. The pride when they see  me accomplish something is much more genuine when compared to all those plastic people inside the premises. We have done it all from going on a trip to eating out and the friendship I share with each of them gives me a sense of fulfillment.

This post is a dedication to all those wonderful people who make my life beautiful by filling up the blank spaces with some memorable moments. I love you all. We are friends too in a different way.

 This post has been written in association with Chaayos & Blogchatter on occasion of Friendship Day