Priya and me.

 Me: "Hello Doc, my son is suffering from meningitis. Have forwarded his reports to you on WhatsApp and....."

Her: "Hey dear, calm down, he's going to be alright... and it isn't just the doc, but your friend saying this!"

'Relieved!!' Yeah that's what I felt.

Dr. Priya, my childhood friend. Yes, my goto person in need and other times...

We met in kindergarten. We were hardly four, when the saga of our friendship started. We both loved talking since childhood (and we still do). We chatted so much, that our teacher, used to make us sit far apart, in her class. But we would eventually keep shifting closer, (as if we were North and South poles of magnets) till we sat besides each other, again.

We literally grew up together. Every other day we used to visit each others house, to play. As we both loved to dance, we prepared our own choreos for our annual functions. We used to be Partners for many of our dances and also 'Partners in crime'.

We participated in various sport activities in school and out of the school too. I remember we were a part of different sport's academies. Our coaches weren't on that good terms. We used to be rivals in some sport events. But that never impeded our friendship.

At first Priya and me, used to live closeby. When her mom wasn't home, we used to make Bhel, at her place, with the available ingredients and with whatever limited know-how we had, at the age of 7 or 8.

I recall this incident, at the age 9, when Priya and me decided to visit our other school friend's house. We just knew the area she lived in. But, didn't really know the directions to her place. We took out our bicycles and just rode. We roamed around our hometown, without knowing where to go, randomly, here and there....and ...we glanced at each other with pride, as, we read the sign board with our friend's address.....finally we had made it!

Priya shifted to a new house, so did I. But that didn't make any difference to our regular meetings.

We shared our deep-dark secrets. Giggling and chuckling...playing and fighting, we grew into teenagers now. We both were good at academics too. When it was study time, we were fair competitors! Priya had already decided to become a doctor in future, as her father is one too. And I, never liked biology. We always knew our paths would be taking us to different places, subsequently.

Priya transferred schools and went to Mumbai. I completed my grade 10 in the same school, at my hometown. She went to a different junior college than mine. We slowly got busy with our careers. I took up engineering and she got engaged in her medical studies.

She couldn't attend my wedding nor could I attend hers. But as they say, when there is strong bond between people, the universe also makes way, to keep them together.

And that's exactly what happened. We are still great pals...we meet up once in a while...we still share our  experiences....she visited me when I delivered my first baby, giving me tips, being a paediatrian...I too visited her when she delivered her baby...I call her up (also her doctor husband) anytime, if I need any medical advice....she loves to eat fish that I make....we discuss kid's stories...we discuss husband's tales over some wine 🍷😉...

People come and go, but, friends are there to stay! (especially the #Childhoodfriends!)They say, we cannot force friendship on someone, but once we make a friend, its for a lifetime!

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