Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Ultimate Friendship

Update: This post is one of the winners in the Blogadda Friends Forever Contest.
This post is in response to the Blogadda Friends Forever Contest of August 2010. This contest has been sponsored by Pring00.

We had'nt met for 15 years and yet when the call came - I was thrilled. He had been a good friend when we were training together at the military academy. But since completing training and being posted to our different regiments, we had not been in touch. Those were the pre-internet, pre-social networking and pre-mobile days. STD calls were always made after 2000 hours to avail the 1/2 rate or ideally after 2200 hours to avail the 1/4th rate. 

But today, his was a distress call - his pregnant wife was stranded due to landslides in the tiny hill station where I was posted and could I do something about it? Of course I could and in an hours time I had located the lady and brought her to our guest room and put her up for the two days till the roads opened up.

As she left, I could not help but feel good about the fact that I managed to help a friend. The friendship that one develops in the face of adversity transcends all. The bonding, cameraderie and espirit de corps that soldiers acquire is a result of the long, arduous and gruelling training. The hours spent together rolling in the muck, climbing ropes, suffering torturous punishments creates a special feeling that one cherishes only after the event.

We were there - friends - abusing, coaxing, cajoling each other over our respective weaknesses till the last day in academy.

My civilian friends often ask me why are men in the army ready to lay down their lives for the nation? What motivates them?

What I tell them is that for the soldier there is no nation, no patriotism, no fluttering tricolour - these are too lofty and impersonal ideals for the lowly soldier. At the end of the day, each man fights for the man on his left and the man on his right.

And that is The Ultimate Friendship.

It would be a long while before my friend and I spoke again, both struggling in the daily grind. But both of us were secure in the knowledge that we would always be there for each other in times of need - as friends should, because we were Friends Forever.

22 comments:

  1. hey it was kinda cute...great job and nice post...:)
    happy frenship day..

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  2. Hi Namit,

    'Cute' was not exactly the kind of comment I was hoping for, but nonetheless - thanks a ton.

    I visited your blog too and quite liked it.

    Keep it up.

    Regards

    RS.

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  3. RS, really touched to read ur post. very beautifully and thoughtfully written.

    All the best for the contest!!!

    Restless

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  4. Restless,

    thanks a ton!

    waiting to read your entry for this contest.

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  5. yes so very true we may be busy in our lifes but there is always someone somewhere thinking of us and we know that if need be they will be there for you
    and as you say thats ultimate friendship..

    I am blessed and god has been great I have a few of those friends ...
    happy friendship alwaysss

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  6. Hi Bikram,

    thanks for your comments.

    indeed, life without good friends would be one nightmare.

    regards

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  7. very very true part of the life is frends.. very well expressed... superb...


    Frend - a simple word which synonym most powerful relationship in this world. Converts I to We - strongest bonding made of love and care!

    I wish you a good luck for the contest, "Friends Forever"

    Do stop by Saravana Kumar M - Friends Forever and feed me with your thoughts.

    If you wish to save a heart, then stop by Save a Heart!

    Yours Frendly,
    Saravana Kumar M

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  8. //We fight for the man at the right and the man at the left.// *Salutes*

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  9. Dear Saravana KM & Annasarp,

    thanks a ton for your good wishes.

    will be visiting your blogs too.

    regards

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  10. Restless,

    Congratulations for the Blogadda win! .... And what a wonderful post !

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  11. Hearty Congratulations!!!

    Really Excellent post...

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  12. Shrikrishna & Ugich Konitari,

    thanks a lot for your good wishes.

    UK -> please accept my congratulations for your Blogadda win too.

    regards

    RS

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  13. Your post proves that it does not have to be a very long write up to convey what you want to express.

    Short but every lione is touching.

    Congrats for winning

    Regards
    Jayashree
    (jaishvats)

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  14. Hi Jayashree,

    thanks for your wishes.
    congrats to you too.

    I love the way you have broken your post into various time periods.

    regards

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  15. Hey RS! HUGE BIG MANY CONGRATULATIONS!!!! AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!

    U SHOULD HAVE QUICKLY PU THAT UPDATE, I CHECKED YDAY, IT WAS NOT THERE, SO WAS NOT SURE. JUST NOW CHECKED BLOGADDA, AND UR NAME WAS THERE!!. WOW! FEELS GREAT NA?!

    now go and select something from pringoo, and tell what did u choose?!!!!

    restless

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  16. Hey Restless,

    thanks a ton for your good wishes. I am actually swamped in work this month and the next as well, so blogs are going to reduce.

    yes, it does feel good.

    Selected the mug - choice was mug or T shirt. Decided on a customised mug to sit on my shelf.

    thanks again lady...

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  17. Congrats on winning blogadda contest! I was actually moved by this post. Powerful writing RS!

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  18. Thanks a lot Anu. Really appreciate your comments.
    Love the concept of 'positivity' on your blog.

    regards

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  19. that is good indeed, pplu.who is the author, the friend n the friend's wife? which regt/arm/corps? rgds.sam

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  20. I liked your blog, came through Zahir Abbas's reco. I loved the point that everyone fights for the man to the right and the man to the left.

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  21. Congratulations!!!!.... filled with awe for the friendly ‘soul’ in you - the soldier..

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