“We’re going to have the best time!” Trisha had exclaimed a few months back. When she and her best friend Simi had gotten accepted into the same college, it’d felt like a dream come true for both. They had been buddies since childhood, living just a few blocks apart. They had promised each other that they would stick together, no matter what.
However, once college began, Trisha quickly became enamoured with the ‘cool crowd’. Hanging out in the canteen, wearing stylish outfits and the popularity of her new friends drew her and she soon found herself drifting away from Simi. Eventually, it came to a point where, whenever they passed each other in the hallways or on the street, Trisha tried to avoid her.
“Trisha, are you coming to the library later?” Simi asked, clutching her books tightly as they walked to their classroom one day.
“Nope, I don’t think so. I’m going to hang out with Samay and the others,” Trisha replied disinterestedly. She didn’t see her friend’s face turn sad.
Days turned into weeks, and Trisha’s behaviour only worsened. She would ignore Simi’s messages and openly tease her. “Why do you always wear those outdated slippers?” she asked one day. Another time, she laughed at Simi’s old bag, even though she knew it belonged to her childhood friend’s mother and was precious. Simi mostly smiled and tried to pretend these things didn’t sting her.
A few months later, Trisha fell ill. It started as a simple cold but quickly spiralled into a high-grade fever. She lay in bed, shivering, sneezing and feeling terrible. Since her parents were out of town, she tried calling her new friends. But they were all busy. As the day dragged on, she began to feel lonely and abandoned.
Just when she thought no one would come, there was a knock on her door. It was Simi.
“Hey, I didn’t see you in college today. And you look sick. What’s the matter, Can I come in?” she asked, concerned.
Trisha nodded a tiny ‘yes’.
Simi walked in, her backpack slung over one shoulder. “I brought some soup and bread; its my tiffin but I think you need to eat first.”
“Thanks, but I ’m fine,” Trisha said. She was feeling anything but fine.
“Trisha, it’s okay to need help sometimes. I’ll take you to the clinic if you want,” Simi offered, her voice steady and kind.
Trisha sighed. “Okay, I’ll drink the soup and get ready.”
Simi quickly gathered Trisha’s things and helped her get ready. Once they reached the clinic, Simi stayed by Trisha’s side, holding her hand through the check-up and even speaking to the doctor for her.
Afterwards, as they sat in the waiting area, Trisha felt a rush of gratitude and guilt. “I’m really sorry for how I have treated you, Simi,” she said, tears now welling in her eyes. “I thought being with the cool crowd would make me happier, but I think it was more of a fad than something real.”
Simi smiled. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Trisha took a deep breath, her heart feeling lighter. “In all this, I think I kind of lost my true friend. Can you forgive me and let us start over?”
“Of course,” Simi said, her smile widening. “We’ve got each other’s backs, remember? And I will be happy to make new friends along with you. Just count me in this time.”
Trisha smiled sadly, realising how foolish she had been to dive into something so new so quick without taking her old friendship along.
As they headed home, Trisha understood that true friendship was worth more than any fleeting popularity. And from that day on, she vowed to cherish her friendship with Simi, no matter what.