It has been exactly five years and two months that I have been in my friend- my saathi’s life. I’ve been beside her through the thick and thin; her travel adventures, her winter classes, her hiking/trekking, her not-so frequent gym visits. To sum it off, I have been at her side through all the escapades she sought in her life.

These five good years of companionship, and as I am nearing my end, my saathi decides to christen me. Ok! There you have it, I’ve been finally named “The old faithful.” I rest assured that it suits me perfectly. I’m five years old and I’ve been there for her, days- in and days- out. – Old yet kicking. Voila! No coincidence out there eh?

Anyway, my friend who tells me, I am her best non-Homo sapien buddy introduced me to her life with a meager $20. Ironic, but I am told, I am of more value than those bloody $20- a bargain price she tells me.

Sometimes, I am glad I was just paid but those bloody two sets of diez dolares. That’s $10 for you English speaking mono or bi-linguists. If it weren’t for that $20 bill I wouldn’t have experienced half the world that she ventured out on. Reality check here- “the world” here, is just her little world which comprised of her ritualistic summer vacations since 2002, a trip to Nepal and India and countless other minuscule trips hither and thither.

If she has to pay anything over $20, she hardly lets that solidarity take its root.

She tells me I am the most beautiful among my siblings—no she hasn’t adopted whole lot of us, few of my formal siblings and a bunch of my distant cousins—the flip-flops.

Just last year she decided I needed a company and I got a little sister. No, she never asked me if I was ok with that. My little sister in beige is petite and looks a little blanch. We hardly share the same physical attributes- she looks all right. You see, my friend hasn’t developed a liking for her; so she sits there adorning her little shoebox. I pity my sister as she’s missing out on the world, you know- how life has so much to offer and whatever time you have is never enough.

I don’t want to sound immodest or pompous, but I have to admit I am physically blessed. What a blissful day it might have been, when my designer decided upon my current features. I am neither white nor blue, but a combination of both the colors. And I adore that about myself.

If I were white I would have ended up abhorring myself as white siblings of mine accumulate all the attention. The imbecile, spotlight hogers. Had I been just blue I would burry myself in a self made coffin of my friend’s tiny shoebox.

My saathi tells me I have the best complexion. Color in your vernacular. And I am also told, I am super comfortable-she could practically spend years in an isolated island with me-solely her and me. She feels at home with me. I guess it is because of this that she likes to drag me to every place she goes. Rain or shine. I tell you, it can get a little vexing at times, but I love to show-off my ribs in blue, and two stripes in glazing colorless color (I am not even sure what color that is). But they give me that boost of confidence everywhere I go with my saathi. I look so stylish with them, especially in the pictures that my friend takes with me.

I stand out proudly with my two stripes in left and right corners of my two frontal and rear sides. They are like how you, Homo sapiens have dimples on your cheeks—the only difference—I have my two sets on the same side like a couple deeply in love. My dimples are messed up, I tell you that. She-my saathi, sometimes jokingly calls me “jhilke” cause of my gaudy dimples. I adore that, as that’s the cutest name anybody could bequest me with.

Every now and then, my saathi likes to give me that thirty-minute wash. A scrub here, a scrub there; a splash here, a splash there- it comes to an end with a quick wring. As I breathe fresh air into my system, and as the sun’s ray’s pierce through my blue ribs and gaudy dimples, I am back on business. Out in the wild, seeking for more adventures along with my best friend.

If it weren’t for the ruthless American winter days, our comradeship wouldn’t have evolved into what it is now. Flip-flops or sandals are what she fancies, she keeps telling me teasingly.

I dread those days when she nonchalantly would dump me into the washer and then dryer afterwards. She lost my distant cousin, her hiking sandals, on one of her drying cycles. I presume it is because of that she chooses to bathe me. Now, we have our moments together when she’s scrubbing the soot, dirt and grime off of me. I know she’s, sometimes, thinking about giving me the best farewell and I silently tell her “don’t let go off me until I am of no use to you.” And she, as always can read my mind and silences me by her usual “friends live forever..may be not physically but in memories for sure.”

for me love means internal link from one soul to another soul, and there are still some who are alive in few memories with their loved one...

wat made u think like my pet? started smoking pot..............?

avani,

didn't know you are of my breed! be my guest now, will you?

here's a snapshot of the old n' classic but reliable - "LooTe da Hunk" :P



LooTe

Avani, my dear, so finally you did hear the utmost cry of your soul, which lead into the making of this beautiful writing. Btw is it the same non-homo sapiens buddy of yours that gave you a company in our old memorable spring-break days at Tx? :)

Hehehe.. didn't I tell you your story could be misleading to them who do not involve themselves into the story? :) And yes you were right, someone knows how to be loud! ;)

Rest, in the afternoon. Till then you have a sunshine day.

Arko sathi (Damn I miss that word),
flip_flop ;)

Avani!

LTNS :) How have you been?

Thanks for the sharing this story. BTW, I am a dog person too. Don't have one now coz I hardly have the time to take care of myself let alone a dog he eh heh. But would love to get one some day :)

Have a good one!

A smirk on my face would tell you the reason behind it, you say what? Intuition never go wrong! ;)

" Hehehe.. didn't I tell you your story could be misleading to them who do not involve themselves into the story? :) And yes you were right, someone knows how to be loud! ;) "

flips, ke ho yesto? malai dash hanya ta haina? i know you and avani are bestest of the best friends like me and hajurko priya L....y. :P

and regarding the story, i got the gist!!!!!!!! that's why my dingo posing there!!!! :P :P

LooTe

LOL Loote sir, noone could understand the mysterious talks of good frens unless you are a good friend of someone else! You got the gist, didn't you? :P Btw Your remarks nearly choked me to death. Yesto haso thameyra baseyko cos I do not want to have an impression of losing my sanity, tyahi pani yetro jana mancheyko agadi. Phewwww! I do not want to steer the steering wheel that would lead nowhere. So, I vanish now!

Have a good one!

interesting writing :) you do have long life, which brand are you?

" A smirk on my face would tell you the reason behind it, you say what? Intuition never go wrong! ;)"


I am scratching my head now ... comfoosed, bilkul comfoosed.

LOL!

:)

Oh, that message was for avani, Captain_Haddock. I apologize for the confusion! :)

OhK ... I suppose it must make sense in "the mysterious talks of good friends" ... he he he

But I must say you guys are awesome - never short of interesting things to say :)

To good life!

Aashi— Thanks for sharing your views. I had jotted down these words in order to commemorate the friendship I share with my blue ribbed “jhilke.” So, obviously you and I differ here, but I do agree on “love means internal link from one soul to another soul.”


Disco dancer— Sometimes, when you spare just few minutes, you get to live a whole different world than the one you are so accustomed to. That’s what I tried achieving here. While at it, no I wasn’t smoking pot. I wonder how that’d influence my writing…if it does wonders, I’ll have to give it a shot .On a second thought, I’ll pass.


LooteKukur— You are so predictable K…we (my Homo sapiens buddy and I) thought you’d pay me a visit here. Thanks for stopping by. It’s scary how you and I ride the same thought of train sometime. I was about to post a picture of “Old Faithful” along with the article, but decided against it, as I’ll be going on our adventures for a year more and I don’t want people eyeing my “jhilke” and then me with a questionable gaze.


Flippu— I have my moments you know. And I just had to pen this one. My way of paying my dues to my “jhilke,” btw I don’t fancy dragging “jhilke” everywhere, he doesn’t fancy scorching sun.


Captain— I’m kicking, as my “Old faithful” hasn’t given up on me either. Btw what does “LTNS” stand for? My acronyms have gone haywire. Yes, I am definitely a dog person, actually let me correct myself-I’m an animal person. One more thing, I am utterly baffled if you read it wrong or if I am reading your comment wrong- did I mistakenly mention a four-legged creature somewhere??


Sajhauser— Thank you! Finally somebody beside Loote gets what I am talking about. I didn’t know I was such a bad writer you know, but again I am getting my share of reality check…

(I am Reebok and I’ve lasted this long cause of my friend, who likes to give my rest here and there. I mostly hibernate during the summer except for the time when she goes visiting hills, which of course isn’t that often. She likes to tuck me to bed every summer. Stuffs my tummy with her winter socks, that makes me look stout but I like that look; keeps my figure in check)

Oh Dang!

I'm a tube light! I finally got it!

ha ha ha ha

great stuff! Very good indeed!

LOL, Captain's thought was abducted this time, but got back in time!

Av, I thought I got to a point where I almost solved your puzzle, but again your response is asking me to go the the start-point! I'm in no-man's land at the moment! :)

hehe...I gotchya this time Captain ;-)..

Flipu..what puzzle you refering to and how about clarifying a little..

good stuff!!! i was thinking of getting one sathi for myself too but someone told me i have to go home during work and i live like 20 mins away from work, that too if there is not traffic. how do you manage hey?

hyaaaaaaaaaa .... if I understood your post correctly, I think you made the same mistake that I did :) But I got it on the second read. And then Loote's picture made perfect sense.

Have a good one!

Lesbo romanticism in disguise of an autobiography of shoes. OR vice versa.

A very creative piece of writing indeed.