Naked on the city street

One comes across a lot of people. One meets a lot of different people every day of their life. If there's one thing I've learned it's the value of real people, of real friends.

Gone are the days when I would categorically speak of my best friend or even for that matter, my bestest friends. (God how atrocious that sounds now!) When one grows up one has a different way of stereotyping. I no longer believe in the concept of 'best friend'. What I do believe in is the importance of some really really close friends. Now the definition of close, for me has also undergone a metamorphosis since the past few years. I have come to realise that one can meet a lot of 'friends' to hang out with or even share a few secrets with. Yet, a true friend would be one who would stand by you through all, who would stand up for you against all odds. A truly close friend would not really worry about himself ('him' used as a general pronoun) getting into trouble if the trouble is for you. I mean, one can call that person a real friend if (s)he is not embarrassed by any of your tantrums, if (s)he does not think about walking away leaving you alone in an argument no matter how petty or unreasonable that is, if (s)he would not blink twice when you let off a bit of steam and even tell you off instead of using some 'fancy pansy' words to avoid a confrontation. A real friend would never be embarrassed by you even if you turn up naked at the busiest intersection of the city (not literally, but you know what I mean, right?).

It seems like too much too ask for, but once you actually find such friends you know that these are really true.

I have found two such friends in school and I am glad 'cause they make my life better. I may have also found another, but then I guess he is different.
These few people make a lot of difference in my life, maybe not in any particular way, but in many small, cumulative steps.