My goofball

Years ago when she read my articles on my Lhamos, she insisted I write one on her too! I had told her then that she has to get separated from me for it because of the sadist writer that I am. That was a joke all right, but maybe I shouldn’t have said it, maybe I jinxed it. So, from living two blocks apart from where she could make out if I were home and sleeping in or up in the morning when I had my curtains drawn open, today, we live continents, oceans and time zones apart. But then again, I should have been better prepared than this. Her leaving was inevitable and only a matter of time, if not to further her studies, then to learn Sanskrit maybe. The latter was more probable and was proclaimed like half a year earlier. Just the odds of it had had me silently crying myself to sleep every night which left me touchy for weeks and months. When she was actually leaving, my heart felt like it would burst, I don’t remember the last it hurt so bad. For days afterwards, I would well up at any sympathy shown on me. Told you, I had gotten touchy.

Trying to swim in Kathmandu, Nepal

We had never talked to each other when we

One of our very first to the later
 whooping albums of pictures together

were college mates for 3 years. She was a year senior to me and I only remember seeing her sometimes on the hostel staircases or going to the mess with a friend. Her only account of seeing me was I in short denim shorts running here and there. Years later when I was already working, she joined my office as a new recruit, yes, later than me because of the many prejudices towards civil engineers over electrical engineers during our time, occupied the cubicle right next to me and ever since we never stopped talking. She would tell me unfathomably bizarre stuff to which I would dramatically cringe and close my ears with my fingers. Then, she would guffaw, ask me to stop being dramatic, and tell me more. Clearly, she enjoyed perplexing me. She would tell me I was too naïve and yet, she would seek my advice on imperative matters. I had never felt this comfortable and open whilst feeling assured and understood, so we talked and we talked. We confided in each other everything about everything without feeling judged, shared our dreams and future plans, and entrusted our secrets. And as keepers of secrets, we were nothing short of Olympic class. 

During a flower exhibition

One of those predawns when we legit
owned the roads.

Without realizing when and how we grew inseparable. We saw each other every day sans a few weekends and still not get tired of each other. And as a matter of fact, we are very straight. Both of us. Haha. Every working day 9:30-5 we were right next to each other, and then worked out together after office and sometimes extended the evenings to late-night rides. We rode to the BBS tower with drinks and snacks to watch the super moon, sometimes to be sad, sometimes to vent out, and other times just to chit chat because obviously, we didn’t see enough of each other during the day? :P During the weekends, we hiked, mostly to religious sites. The following weekend we went out partying into dawn, because, we versatile like that, baby! 

When we did the Druk Path trek

When we ate out at restaurants, I would pick the food and drinks with the fanciest names for the thrill of trying anything new. She would imitate my orders and not like them at all, or in her very own words, made her pukish, when they were served. Much later did she comprehend that hot lemon water with honey was her sober go-to drink. Although, in her last-minute preparations to leave to the US, she asked me if she should order café mocha or latte in the cafes over there. She asked which one I thought she would prefer. My silly old friend! Oh, how I miss you. 

Samples eating out

She is the kind of person who would hoot with laughter when a friend (not me) stumbles and falls down in public, before helping them up; or when a friend’s feet stink (not mine) when they take off their shoes to try on new ones at the shoe store. In her defence, she would laugh at herself too, perhaps, even louder. My goofiest friend with the humblest heart. Oh, what would I not give to see you again rehearse your lines time and over before going to the GM’s Chamber. 

Date night, late night

While I taught her which coffee is which, she taught me to have a broader mindset. I taught her to better appreciate the interlocking C’s of Chanel, today, she teaches me American slangs. 

This way, we were so different than each other, yet, complemented each other effortlessly. I think it was our vibes that resonated with each other, for one, both of us didn’t act our age. I must have reciprocated her friendship, because she would say I meant a lot to her too and as a proof would retrieve my birthday from her memory and declare, “See, I remember your birthday when I couldn’t remember my boyfriends’”.

A picture with HH

We travelled places together when we could afford, we were touristing in Kathmandu this time, three years ago. The following year, accompanied by my sister, we explored some of the Northwestern States of India. It was because of her connections, past life and present, we received gracious hospitality throughout our expedition. The highlight of the trip was the visit to Dharamshala and the sight of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an opportunity for which I shall remain eternally blessed and grateful. 

With my soul sisters at the Glass Palace in Amber fort, Jaipur

To all the experiences of true friendship, of love and joy, of trust, of presence and acceptance, of feelings and thoughts, and for kindness and resolute support, I’m colossally grateful to you, my darling Peks. Had it not been with you, none of the shared feelings and experiences would have been the same. Thanks for being all the things that make you, you, my lovely friend. I miss you every day and look forward to being together with you again. Thitherto, you’ll always have a friend in me.

The last camping together to Bumdra