My best friend just graduated college!!

Last month, my best friend graduated from college. I was at university which is why I couldn’t celebrate this milestone with her. She’s always been that person who’s onto great things. Those who know her, definitely know that her stellar academic record, superior lawn tennis skills, and her avid reading skills are not the only things that define her.

I ought to start from the very beginning. Sasha and my sibling have known each other for years now and our moms remain dear friends too. It’s almost comedic to recall the first time I met Sasha was at a mock mental math competition. The accolades and certificates will show that she won that day but I’d argue that I was the real winner walking away from that class. We both (quite literally) grew up and the things we bonded over no longer seemed to interest us. Needless to mention, we lost touch and didn’t see each other for years. Of course, it was a cakewalk for Sasha to reach the sky-rocketed first lists of top colleges in Bombay. Later, she moved to Bombay for college, struggled a bit, changed courses, and amidst all this, the bubbly girl next door who I knew her as, changed. I reached out to her out of concern. We reconnected on and off, and went for quick coffee runs once in a while. And lost touch again.

Thanks to COVID, we decided to catch up for coffee again. We met at 6:00 in the evening and later were (not so) politely asked to leave the cafe at 10:00 pm. And the rest is history. After that one evening, we met every week but this time, we bonded over books, female friendships, and failed start-up ideas.

Over the years, I have seen Sasha be in awe of things around her. But I’ve also seen how people are in awe of all that she is and the things she continues to do. People who know us often tell me that Sasha and Piyu are essentially the same person in different fonts for we get bored of people in seconds, choose to show up everywhere in sweatpants, and eat our problems away (thanks to her Priti aunty’s brownies). But I don’t think that is true for Sasha is everything I want to be when I grow up and I think I have a lot of growing up to do.

I find myself constantly gazing at her in wonder about how she can sleep in her bed where her clothes take up the most space, how someone can feel like family so quickly, and how I never want anyone else to occupy the space that I do in her life.

I literally tell every thought that comes into my head to Sasha — and she’s like being able to have a conversation with your conscience. She speaks with a clarity, (questionable) morality, and compassion that rivals my three-year-old baby cousin Kabir.

Sasha, I celebrate every day that you exist. Happy freaking graduation to the bestest friend any girl could ever ask for. Here’s to expensive coffee that you will forever continue to make me try, constant bickering about guys we ghost, and oh, mutual growth. I don’t know about others, but I definitely hit the best friend jackpot when I got you! So so grateful I get to sit front row and witness all the amazing things you accomplish.

<*pops open the wine bottle for the coolest graduate in town>