Anjali - Om

 From the day she joined Obul Reddy Public School and started taking the bus to and fro, Anjali found a new bus friend - Om. Om lived near Czech Colony so he would sit at the back, and Anjali would join him and they generally got along very well together. As they grew older and more familiar, it was common for Anjali to say Om was coming and they were going to eat Shawarma (Shobhs saved Om's number as Om Shawarma - that's how much Shawarma they would eat).

Om and Anajli

Om had a Bullet and would ride it to school and stuff. Anjali would hop on with him. My concern was that he probably did not have a license but that did not stop him. They shared an easy friendship. He would drop by at home and hang out - they would draw, sketch, dance sometimes, just poke fun. Then she would go to drop him on the Kinetic.

Anjali's way to handle any off day was to take out the Kinetic and say - I'm going to meet Om. It was Paani Puri or something and then she would come back when she felt better.

Another one - maybe Student Council days

In the second year Anjali became Head Girl and Om became the Sports captain of their house. And they were part of council and its many politics so there was always more activity and intrigue. More friends came and went but Om remained constant. I'd tease Anjali about Om but then would be assured that if she was with him she was fine. When Anjali had to apply for Delhi University he was with her helping her.

Almost prophetic

The two years seemed to fly and it was time for Anjali to go to Delhi. Om had got admission in BITS Pilani, Dubai. Anjali was pleased as punch when she heard that. As the days for Anjali's departure to Delhi grew closer Om would drop by. One day he apparently just sat with her in our front room and sketched a few nice pics of their time together in the last two years. Just quietly sketched them and went away.

He came when she was packing and they both did a good job of it. And then the D Day when other friends showed up - Mohnish, Tanmayee, Mansi. Om had originally planned to get his car but then could not, so we asked Shrinjay and Shashank to help us along with their cars. What are nephews for if not to help out? 

At the airport things were a bit intense as Anjali started bidding farewell to everyone - to Ram, Shrinjay, Shashank, then hugged her cousin Vajra who she is close to, and they both broke down, then Mansi and  last of all, Om. I was tearing up too, seeing them all like this so I looked at my phone busily to hide that. As we left, Om gave me a hug as well - perhaps he sensed my distress as well.

Om met us when we came back after settling Anjali in Delhi and once more before he left for Dubai. Shobhs was teary - you're all going off - she told him. I gave him a couple of my books which I said he could read in the new place.

Om and Anjali

Of all the images I have, the one that most moves me is the one of Anjali and Om hugging at the airport. There's something about it that brings to life all that's pure, innocent, idealistic and youthful.

Good luck you two.