A letter...unsent

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My dear friend,

I remember eating alone during lunchtime from my scanty Lunch box. Sometimes, just watching giggling girls in groups, sharing their yummy lunch. I had no one to share lunch or even my thoughts until you came to me that day with your large lunch box when I was sitting alone in a corner.

You were the new girl in my class. I still remember the day you arrived in the class the first day and sat on the last bench.

You flashed a sparkling friendly smile and I reciprocated wanly. You offered me your lunch but I hesitated as I didn't have anything to share. Maybe you understood my feeling and said “I don’t like eating alone. Please.” And you extended your Tiffin filled with stuffed parathas!

Next day, to compensate for your generosity, I offered you guavas, the only thing my meager pocket money allowed me to buy as I still had no stuffed lunch box to offer you. You took them with a big smile and chatted like a long lost friend. I just listened. A bud of friendship was about to bloom...perhaps.

Time elapsed merrily. We chatted tirelessly. You told me about your 'Best Friend' whom you missed a lot. 

Best friend? I didn't understand the meaning of best friend. I remember when I had to write an essay on ‘Your Best Friend’ I felt confused. When everyone scribbled a definite name, I used to look around to find a best friend in different faces. I found none. I expected to find my name in any piece of paper. I was disappointed. No one was interested in writing my name. I used to write an imaginary name as my best friend. It hurt.

That day again, we had to write about “Best Friend’. I knew no one would write my name; not even you as you had one whom you missed. I was not ‘Best Friend’ for anyone but that day I got a real name as my best friend and that was you! 

Written for: Write Tribe