The poet, studied at a girls’ convent school in Agra. After finishing school, the batch went on to graduate and then went their separate ways, at a time long before mobile phones and the internet. As a result, most of them did not meet each other for several decades, thereafter. The poet ponders over the commonplace events they must have all witnessed with time. Years later, some of her classmates, whom she refers to as “Friend Fairies” managed to locate their long-lost classmates slowly, but steadily, the starting point being Facebook. Their ecstatic happiness upon meeting after close to 40 years shines through in this simple poem.

None could fathom hearts would rule

Arti Mathur

Amongst many cherished innocent friends in school,

When feelings spurred hand in glove

The natural and unabated flow of mutual love

Shared with total trust and admiration

But often so, with unrevealing, hesitant trepidation

But as time passed and years rolled on

Those emotions faded, and got replaced thereon

When lives’ dominant issues came to the fore

Gently, firmly prodding away merry school days of yore

Inseparable friends took predestined journeys

Of personal lives, forgetting days which had no worries

Some friends, with lofty goals, chose higher studies

Achieving merit in their professions, often in varied countries

The timorous, conventional ones chose matrimony

Leaving their homes; accepting strangers, as their own family

With advice grilled in minds from years before:

“Respect elders, don’t answer back; take care of all and so on”

Raising their families, with household chores,

Time raced by, maturing simple school girls with loads more

Social gatherings, duties for parents wherewith

 Children’s education, their weddings, amid efforts forthwith

To become grannies; a great pleasure, no doubt

 I admired working ladies, who did both, making me proud

Meanwhile, where did the friends disappear?

Precious, earnest friendship ties; would they never reappear?

Firm resolve led some to “search” for them and peers

A Herculean task, as decades had passed and none lived near

Christened ‘Friend Fairies’, they toiled to locate a few

Their efforts found mates across the country and overseas too!

God bless the power of WhatsApp and Facebook,

As they provided assistance in the incredible journey they took

Working steadily, taking maybe a couple of years

Friends found, gradually increased from three to twenty-two

Seeing each other again made pleasure augment

Reunions gleefully planned, numbers did not make a dent

Venues were homes or restaurants, eloquently chic

As elegant grown up ladies, college canteens were not in league!

As they entered, beaming with excitement at its peak

Hugged, remarked on altered faces in silent, laughter peals

The incessant chatting made amused guests turn

None could say they were ladies approaching six and one!

Chatting, giggling, akin to teenagers in a swoon

Hard to believe, but had four decades plus, zoomed past so soon?

Somehow for reasons unknown, friends realized

They felt closer now than days in school as new bindings derived

Lives indebted serious and mature things to share

Making some shy, some bold, some sharpened in time ensnare

Present sincere gratitude to the ‘Friend Fairies’

Who made it possible for friends to different gentlemen married

God waived his magic wand with utmost care

Bless them all, their families, and let their friendship spread!

These words come straight from my heart

If you have any friends, life is short and it is time to start

Besides being an enthusiastic diary writer, Arti Mathur is a passionate lover of classical and light music. She learnt music from the age of five and pursued it as a subject till graduation when she passed with distinction in vocal music.

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