The Good in a 'Sorry'

By Stuti Rawat

I would like to share a story from my life to urge you to act before you lose a friend. 

I have known her since we were 4 years old and were in Nursery. We eventually became best of friends in Grade 2. Our friendship grew stronger as we were growing. We used to spend all our free time together in the school. We used to talk endlessly about everything. We would play the same sports, and we were there in the same clubs. Even when our sections changed in Class IV we still remained best friends. 

Then we entered the Senior Wing. It was a different world all together. When we had to choose the third language for study, I chose Sanskrit and she took French. Eventually, we started to spend less time together. Soon, due to ego clashes when we were in Class VII we stopped talking to each other. There wasn’t any specific reason why we weren’t talking. We were immature and our ego didn’t allow us to accept that we were wrong.

Then one day, after one and a half years, I gathered the courage to text her and ask how she was. I also apologized and that's when we mutually realised that we were so stupid that on no grounds we had stopped talking to each other. 

This past year was full of uncertainties and I did have my ups and downs. She was one of the few people I would talk to each day for hours about academics and other matters. She made me feel that I wasn’t the only person dealing with the problems the pandemic had brought on us. 

All I want to convey through my story is that no matter what happens, there is absolutely no harm apologising if you feel that it would make things better. When you have somehow lost touch with your friends, keeping your ego aside you should make efforts to connect with them once again. I know what it feels like to lose a dear friend who helps you smile even when you are the saddest. I've learnt not to let that happen again.