Friendship Brew

Roohi Bhargava posted under Flash Fiction QuinTale-62 on 2024-04-09



"Friendship is bliss, they say. You cannot choose your family, but you can choose your friends. And an unconventional friendship is a blessing.”  “Prisha is such a blessing in my life.”  Tarini is praising her friend, Prisha.  “But don’t you feel left out when either of you gets busy with your friends?” Their friends asked. “No, why would we feel like that? We respect the personal space that we have.” Tarini said.  “We feel connected even when we are miles apart,” Prisha remarked. “We complete each other in some way or another, and this is what friendship is all about,” Tarini remarked, gazing at her friends.  “Our differences beautify our friendship.” Prisha chuckled.  They possess differences but they don’t let them overpower their friendship. When they argue, they reconcile quickly. They excuse themselves from their friends and visit the library, where they reminisce about the past.   It was the second day of the eleventh class. Tarini was in the library, searching for some books. Suddenly, someone pushed her, and she lost her balance, causing the books to fall. She found her classmate, Shikha, laughing at her.  “What is there to laugh about?” Tarini asked courageously.  “Oh, Ms Tarini! How will you clear the eleventh grade when you can’t even handle your books? Learn to handle yourself first.” Shikha replied.  “Worry about yourself, Shikha. Your stars won’t favour you every time.” Tarini taunted her.  Shikha raged; she didn’t want her little secret of cheating in exams to be split out. She raised her hand to slap Tarini when someone held her hand tightly. It was Prisha.  “You are rich, we know. It doesn’t mean you can slap anyone. Her silence is not her weakness. Silence echoes louder than words. Remember it.” Prisha jerked her hand.  Shikha left the library angrily, while Ruhana thanked Prisha, who advised her to always respond back to people who think that they are the only superiors alive.  “Girls like her can’t be friends with anyone around them,” Prisha exclaimed. “They’re under the ground as much as they’re outside.” They exclaimed in unison and laughed.  Ever since then, Prisha and Tarini have become best friends and teachers as well. Prisha taught Tarini to be bold & sassy, while the latter taught the art of loving and expressing the deepest emotions to the former.  Seven years have passed since their blissful friendship. Tarini smiles to herself. After taking the books, they head to CCD. “We have come a long way, Prisha,” Tarini remarked. “Mutual feelings, Tarini. I have realised that not only love but friendship can also fill voids in our lives.” Prisha expressed her feelings.  “Right, we have evolved into different personalities and we have set an example that differences don’t matter in friendship,” Tarini said. Her heart felt full at the moment.  The two friends stare at each other for a good while until their order arrives. Their friendship is like coffee—a perfect blend of bitterness and sweetness. And that’s what friendship is all about.