27th February 2020 was the day my friends and I were having conversations over how Finding Nemo is a classical animated movie. We ended up roasting our one friend who had not yet watched Finding Nemo. At 1:45pm, we all got a notification from IBA saying that for four days all educational institutions were being closed as per announced by the government. Partly we were happy because who doesn’t want a four-day holiday; partly we were upset because for that particular day we had to attend most of our classes. I alone, was pleased because leaving university early meant I could go to my gym and I could end my to-do daily tasks as soon as possible. Since we got off early, my best friend needed someone to drop her off but as I was in a hurry to maintain my daily routine I apologized to her for not being able to drop her. Now I wish I had dropped her. Now I want that day to come back because then I could have had a few minutes of chatting with her in my car.
Since that day, I haven’t had a chance to meet my friends. These holidays have made me realize what an important role they played in my life. They helped me forget my hassles at home and they were my escape out. They listened to my rants without complaining. I miss their laughter and the group sessions we used to have in the cafeteria. If anything I watch is related to friends or university life, I end up crying and missing my friends. Not kidding, I have shed tears for them. I desperately need to meet them and tell them they mean the world to me. I have frequent mood swings and I cannot help these because I have already lost so much in my life that I cannot end up losing my friends. I did decide to move on from them but guess what I could not. I feel that they might have grown an inch or two taller, in height, during this pandemic. I am still jealous of my group’s boys for being taller (sighs). I miss sharing cafeteria’s fries with them and arguing over which ketchup tastes better–either it is tomato ketchup or chilly and garlic ketchup. I miss gossip and talking about nonsensical stuff. I miss our inside jokes. I am too selective in choosing my circle; therefore, I know my friends are true gems to be in that small circle. I just hope that when this quarantine ends I will not forget my friends; like I just don’t want to act all shy. I also hope I don’t forget how to meet and greet other humans. I miss my friends because they were and are half part of my full life. 🙂
–Hurmat Ayub
May 3, 2020, Karachi
so wholesome. take me back to those days 💕
This is brilliant :’)
Love it! This is superb.