I met my childhood friend Lucky tonight. Lucky stays in the same town as my parents, dont think he'll ever leave this place. He was born here(two months younger to me) grew up here,finished education here, got married and is raising his daughter here, handles family business with his other cousins and is content with his life.
It'd been a long time since we both just sat together and talked about our lives and where we thought it was going. I felt so cherished when my life long friends tell me, "we are here for you if you are ever in need of a friend." The bonds of friendship are so strong between me and the few friends I have that it doesnt matter how long its been since we spoke to each other. The day we meet, its like- time never passed by! We're still the same as we used to be!
I wonder how is it that I have managed to accumulate such gems early in my life when I was an immature kid.
Lucky is not the only one who makes me feel like this. There are other friends with whom I speak barely once a year and yet the bond of friendship remains strong. But it just makes me feel so much better to know I have such friends. How can my life be empty when I have so much love surrounding me?
That's food for thought for me tonight. 
I shall be at the beach tomorrow, enjoying listening to the sounds of the stormy waves of the sea. The place is close to where my parents live. Its called "Nana Laija"; around 120 kms away from my town. T'was adopted by NRIs in the UK for rehabilitation & development after the earthquake destroyed the village in 2001. It provides one with ample privacy and is not crowded although there is always a coast guard boat nearby. My bag is already packed with sunscreen,picnic basket, a huge umbrella, beach towel and shorts (you cant even think of going into the sea in a bikini here, very conservative) and a Colin Forbes investigative thriller called "The Main Chance".
Time I hit the sack if I want to leave at Eight in the morn. Its already Five!
My friend,
I would imagine that people would be so very privileged to count you as a friend for you would be incredibly faithful and loyal.
Never underestimate your value.