A Tale of three little girls

Once upon a time or maybe not so long ago, there were three girls. Fresh out of school. As different from each other as could be.
One was by nature calm and quiet. The second looked quiet but hid everything behind a mischievous smile. The third did not know what quiet was. By some quirk of fate they all came together. The year was 1998. They were just about to begin their under graduation. Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
You ask me if they were so different how did they like each other?
They did not. The first two knew each other faintly. Together they disliked the third. Her skirts were too short. She always sat with her legs crossed. She chewed her pendant in class. The third thought the first was too haughty and hoity poity. She was as white as snow (literally!) and maybe she was too arrogant about it. The second one was fine, but wasn’t she too timid or was that just a show?
The second and third were allotted the same class. Slowly differences melted and each discovered that being together was fun. They shared the same sense of humor; thought similarly. Facades soon broke apart. The first one wasn’t as calm as she showed; she could be quite impulsive at times. Like the time there was no class and they went to the zoo! The second one timid? No ways! She was bold and a pillar of strength behind that shy exterior. Sharp retorts and a sweet smile to cover up. The third one was the most impulsive. Emotional and never stopping to think before speaking. Always ready for anything.
They rebelled against the convent sisters- lack of freedom, poor food, too much of snooping. They cut classes and saw films. Danced their hearts out for the hostel functions. Studied together, played together, slept together and were inseparable. Evenings after college were fun with everybody discussing the new ragging, crazy seniors, classmates, and teachers. Nothing ever escaped them. Four glorious years flew by. Soon it was graduation day. They were sad, but sure that whatever happens they’ll always be close.
The first one went on to prepare for M-Tech. The second one got married immediately afterwards. The third one escaped from an impending marriage to do her MBA.
Its 10 years since they met and they are still that close. They have been with each other through thick and thin. Stood by each other during troubled times; shared each other’s happiness during happy times; lent a shoulder for all those weepy times. All three of them are married with kids a year apart in age. They are all in different places, but still keep in tough with daily mails, phone calls. And even if they don’t talk to each other for months, when they next meet they will just pick up from where they stopped. That is the kind of friendship those three girls share.

I am proud to be one of them (p.s. I was the third one). This post is dedicated to both of them. To the best friends any girl could hope for. I am happy that they have been with me through this passage from girl into womanhood. And I am sure they will be with me when I hit my thirties, forties, fifties, till I die. Together we’ll gossip about our daughters-in-law and grand children, go on that rishikesh trip without our husbands and children, freak out as we get older and rock the place!
Manju and Simy, You both are the best!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANJU!!!! May the coming years get even better :-)