A Toast!

Goodbye to you my trusted friend

We’ve known each other since we were nine or ten

Together we’ve climbed hills and trees

Khuller Sahib! Well. Every time that you went abroad before this was for a vacation and you would come back in a few weeks. But this time it isn’t the same. From now onwards, you shall be coming back to India for a few weeks, like you would for a vacation. So, I just felt like writing this.

Our friendship is as old as we are, and I think, not many as old as us, can boast about such a close friendship that is 18 years long. We’ve been friends with each other, even before we learnt how to crawl :P

You just delayed your trip by one day because of Hurricane Irene. That was what Nature had sent to disturb US. Well, what we're sending in from here is exponentially worse than Irene. Don't let me down now. Ours might not be Irene but its (V)Iren for sure.

Wahan jaake bechara Non Veg kha kha ke bore ho jayega. Mujhe pakka pata hai ki tu Dominos, McDonalds aur KFC ko toh pakka yaad karega! Bechara Om hotel wale ka Butter chicken ab kaun khayega? Honey Chicken kaun khayega? Mere haath ke baney super duper, yummy, delicious, tasty, juicy, sinful rolls kaun khyega? Nizamuddin ki murgiyan sadak pe bavri hoke Viru, Viru chilayengi! Tu mujhe yaad kare na kare, un masoom Roomaliyon ko zaroor yaad kariyo so haste haste tere liye shaheed ho gayin! :P

Ab toh Sirji ka 18th birthday bhi aa raha! So, you are going to be a BIG BOY now! Ab toh tu khud se khana bhi kha leta hai, raat ko bed pe susu bhi nahin karta! So you are a big boy in true sense of the word! Well, its been quite unfortunate for you for not being able to celebrate your birthday properly in India for so long. Either it was CBSE or rains or DPS which kept you away from celebrating. I'm sure this year you'll make up for all those lost years by opening a lot of bottles. I insist that you drink 2 extra bottles just to remember your soon to be 18 buddy, far away in India.

When I write this, I just cant stop myself of being reminded of our days as toddlers when we use to crawl, then we started walking, you taught me how to cycle on your blue colored as a responsible elder, how we both used to meet everyday(though we still do, but not for long), your obsession for getting photos clicked at one point of time. Well, you may not remember a lot of things but somehow, my memory is good when it comes to all these things. I just cant forget how you always vomited after drinking Fanta. That was something that ran in the family.  

My evenings, outings and movies are going to drastically fall down once you leave. Next years IPL, this years Grand Prix, Vir Das' show, Kathak by Birju Maharaj,etc. are surely going to miss two of their loyal audiences.

I would like to wish you centuries of success, fame, good health, prosperity and tolerance. I hope we continue to be as close as we are. I look forward to seeing you in December. Hopefully I might see you in US next year too. If not as a student then I would surely come to meet you. I would always pray to god that I predecease you as your one friend I would never want to lose. Lots of love and wishes from me. You shall be greatly missed.

Don't forget to send me a Rakhi every year, Didi! As Vidit says, Shaadi karke mat aaiyo, aur karni hogi toh Ladki se hee kariyo. Don't forget to give Andrew a tough time ;) I'm sure he's going to call us in India in another 15 days. Well no friend is as great as I am who can tolerate you for 18 years *BOW* 

A toast to our friendship! Cheers!