3 Amigos - Aravind’s Version

 [First of three write ups from three who have been friends for almost two-thirds of their life.]

  

We three split up exactly 40 years ago. We were roommates for three years having met soon after finishing our masters degrees. Unbridled in youthful enthusiasm, freed from the prying eyes of parents, and untethered from fiduciary duties, we were united in our desire to contribute to a better world while meticulously planning for an adventurous life ahead. 

From left to right: Aravind, John,
Saraswathi (Najam's wife), and Najam
(thanks to Kumar Paka for capturing the moment)

The split up was imminent as each one of us was embarking on the next stage of our careers, willing to take up whatever challenges life would offer, and with hopes of securing a better future not just for us but for the generations to come. We three boarded flights, a while after the other, to three different cities in the United States.

The friendship was extraordinary in some ways. For one, we came from different religions: a Muslim, a Christian, and a Hindu. This taught us to be tolerant and to respect the individual beliefs. Two, we were about two years apart in age from one another. This imparted in us traits of gentleness, empathy, and uncompulsive behavior. Three, we each came through different education paths - one evening-college trained, one convent-educated, and one mostly home-schooled. This helped us seek guidance and derive inspiration from one another.

 

Even the location and circumstances were unusual. The place was a sleepy town to where my doctoral supervisor had recently moved as the top administrator at the university. The few adventures the place could offer were snake ridden swamps and insect infested walking trails. Of course being a protege of the big boss carried its own perks, one is of quasi-celebrity status, which put me in an elite company.

 

Here we are, four decades later and after a few grand kids. Left alone in our empty nests with our soul mates in three different towns, we do meet up daily on WhatsApp, exchange pleasantries, share a few laughs, pass along the acquired wisdom, and look for opportunities to poke fun at each other. Shakespeare is at least half right when he wrote “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio….”.  


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Comments

  1. Javeed78August 17, 2020 at 9:49 PM

    Good friendship is a great treasure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. GiridharsinghAugust 17, 2020 at 10:22 PM

    Very nice journey, you have expressed it with th combination of dreams of youngsters how the diversity of you three people's brought up, education and communties made you more capable to catch your dreams in venturing into the world in the process to help the society in a bigger way. Hearty congratulations to you all three great friends, who could see what you dreamt.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Madhusudhan phaniAugust 18, 2020 at 6:52 AM

    amar akbar antony.....indeed you are blessed...

    ReplyDelete

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