My Best Friend Forever

To be able to walk on your own is the most liberating thing for a baby. Earlier, when I used to play with my cars, I needed someone to bring them back to me from different corners of the house. Then, I learned to crawl. But the problem is people don't trust you enough till you stand on your feet, especially mummy. She liked keeping a tab on me.

When my car rolled into another room after I learned to walk without any support, I stood up and marched towards it with confidence. After all, I was 15-month-old, the eldest I had been in my entire life. But, my steps became slower as the room got closer. It was dark inside. I tripped on something and fell. I cried, hoping against hope that mummy would listen in spite of the radio blaring in the kitchen. And she did.

She told me that I am a very obedient child when I turned 12. I always listened to her. She said, “you are my best friend.” I believed her. She said, “I trust you.” I believed her. Until she started disbelieving me.

One moment, I was big enough to take care of my things and the next moment, I was a baby who would not understand the serious discussions going on in the house. One moment, I was old enough to buy a pen from the shop and the next day, I was too young to walk alone from my friend’s house at night. I became quiet. She insisted that I am her friend and friends should communicate. But when I did, she said, “you will understand it when you grow up.”

We got closer when I grew up to be an adult. I shared everything with her. My worries, my achievements, my secrets, except one. Then, one day I decided to come out of the closet. I told her about the person I liked. She was shocked. I felt as if I had tripped on something. I cried like a baby. That was not the reaction that I expected.

When she saw the effect of her reaction on my face, she hugged me and said, “I am with you. After all, I am your best friend.”