So, Friends has finally wound up. I know this does not seem relevant to a blog on Bombay, but the entire charm of this 10-year-old television series was that it spoke not only of life in the USofA, but was relevant for young adults all over the world. I, personally, have found huge similarities between my existence and the lives of these six people as they navigate through personal and professional ups and downs. Guess thats what one means by a "modern classic" -- one that finds empathisers across geographical and chronological boundaries!

I wonder how it would be to be able to live with a group of your best pals for years on end. There would be no need for pretense, to try to be someone that you are not, and there would always be a shoulder to rant and rave on. Families are great, but sometimes parental love does depend on your "being good" and fulfilling certain expectations. And sometimes you dont want to be good...you just want to be!

Yes, friends fight...they argue, they squabble, they disagree, but at the end of the day your true friends are those with whom you find it easy to forgive and forget and move on, taking all eccentricities and foibles and character flaws in your stride. They are there to advice you, but dont try to run your life for you; and if you mess up, they dont gloat with "I told you so", but just pitch in to repair the mess. They may not agree with you all the time, but are not judgmental if you go against their norms. And best of all, they know everything about you but will never, ever use it for their personal ends!

Chitra, Dipali and Amit, thanks for being all of the above for me. We have moved apart geographically and dont manage to meet more than a couple of times a year, but I love you guys and could not have managed life without you!! This is for you guys:

So no-one told you
Life was gonna be this way
Your jobs a joke
You're broke
Your love life's DOA

It's like you're always stuck in second gear
And when it hasn't been your day
Your week
Your month
Or even your year, but

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to fall
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cos you're there for me too

You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast so far
Things are going great
Your mother warned you
There'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when
The world was brought
Down to your knees, and

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to fall
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cos you're there for me too

No-one could ever know me
No-one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone that I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah

It's like you're always stuck in second gear
And when it hasn't been your day
Your week
Your month
Or even your year

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to fall
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cos you're there for me too

I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
Cos you're there for me too

(I did not pen the words, but the emotions stand!)