F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I was in class 1 when I heard this line for the first time - A friend in need is a friend indeed. 17 long years have passed and I am still waiting to find the proof of this golden friendship line. In school, I was more of a geek. And as expected didn't make too many friends. The only friends I had were these guys who on the outside were my buddies but on the inside, fierce competitors in the race of scoring more marks. May be I was of the same category then.
I changed my school to DAV and it was then that I met the 1st guy I called a good friend. Obviously he was another geek. The topper of the class. The friendship that developed in the course of time was amazing. The major reason being that I had already accepted the fact that he was better than me and so the competitive hatred was nil.

I thought it was a friendship for lifetime. Brothers!!! We even went to the same college, different branch though. And that was it. The forces that had kept us bonded for so long turned repulsive. We seldom met, seldom talked, seldom shared a laugh. And this was it. From being the closest friends, we turned into good friends knowing each other for years.

The next guy who I thought could be "a Friend indeed" came to my school in 11th. For the entire 1 year, we were mere acquaintance to each other. The following year, we got a seat together, we started talking more and soon we were good friends. The same year I had shown him that I was a true friend by getting punished, scolded and lambasted for things I never did. As was the case with the 1st guy, we went to the same college, same branch. From good friends, we became close friends, room mates and best friends. Brothers??? I am not too sure about that. Throughout the next 4 years, there were times when we kept proving to each other that we were the ideal friends. Getting kicked out of the CS team together just because I refused to let him get kicked out alone or entering into any argument with anybody just to save the others ass. Things were bright.
But there's this word called SELFISHness which is so powerful that even the strongest of ionic bonds could shatter in front of it. Selfishness related to marks, girls, other friends and what not kept pulling the leg of what could have been a great friendship. Nothing more to say.
I can write infinite pages on friends, sacrifices, deewars, drunk people resolving their pety disputes and what not. But the fact remains that you can never get the best of friends just because there is no end to one's vested interests. Stop thinking about yourself and I am sure you will get Brothers (not just friends). Unfortunately, this being possible has the same probability as me getting married to Katrina Kaif.
A friend in need is a dream indeed.