kanpur ki rani ka anti-aging formula

a few days ago, tulika called me. (who the fuck is tulika?, you're thinking) well, tulika was my art partner at lintas. we started our careers together. she fresh out of art school and me fresh out of dropping out of my masters. it was a mad time. we worked crazy hours. spent days altogether at the studio. shared a couch with 8 people most nights. contributed heavily towards increasing the income of the guy who owned blues. and yes, we learnt to sell soap.

there was this other thing too. tulika and me had a song. our song (no relationship is complete without one). that we'd sing on top of our voices when we though office was getting too quiet. we sounded terrible (think chalk againt the blackboard). but what we lacked in melody we more than made up in enthusiasm.

that was then. in the last couple of years, we fell out and kind of lost touch. for no particular reason. just one of those things.

and then, a few days ago, tulika called me.

i knew it was her because she burst into song as soon as i picked up the phone. it took me two seconds to react, that was all, and then i joined her line for line (although the both of us only know four lines of the song).

suddenly i was 21 again. green and gauche. full of spunk and optimism. ready to take on the world. cocooned in the comfort of having friends that you share years of history with. singing because i loved my job. singing because the world held promise. singing because i was heartbreakingly happy. singing because i could.

and to think, all it took, was one phone call.