Of Frienship, Life, Love and Letting Go.
Dearest Naina,
It’s been six years. What should we talk about first, from your never give up hustle to being the glue that held the group together. You were far from perfect and everytime I watch scholar Naina, I see a bit of myself in you and I’m sure so do a million other girls. 6 or 60, YJHD will always be a part of my life. This blog is an ode to the movie and more specifically Naina, who makes my heart skip a beat, every single time. It’s been 7893463281281917101 times hence.
I was also an overachiever caged between the pages of thick books and strict parents. The way you escaped that life and still stayed close to the ground gives me hope. You held on to your roots as tightly as your dreams while Bunny branched out like a Sycamore tree. You became someone of your own. A person who saves lives and jams out to Bachchan’s songs.
When you uttered these words — “Jitna bhi try karo Bunny life me kuch na kuch toh chootega hi. Toh jahan ho wahin ka mazaa lete hai” — They indeed made me stop and think & most definitely struck a chord with my heart. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we forget to enjoy each passing moment. So better to savor what we have at present.
You shed your inhibitions and took stand for yourself. Amidst studying medicine and topping your class, you went ahead and took a much deserved impromptu break to Manali. With your dimpled smile and nerdy glasses, you taught us that sometimes it’s okay to step out and take a breath!
You taught me that it was okay to take risks and do so when you believe in something. During your trekking escapade in Manali, you did things you’d never done before, like trying to escape an angry mob chasing your group, fighting off goons and trekking up to a haunted mountain and experiencing the sunrise. Naina, you explored your adventurous side and took risks, as much as opening up to Bunny and falling in love with him, the biggest risk of all!
You taught us that indeed time heals everything. “Thoda samay do sab thik ho jayega”, your conversation with Bunny where you console him and gives him hope that with time his broken friendship with Avi and his personal conflicts with his step mom will be amended. I felt that.
From being recluse to Adi’s weird ways to being her bone of strength, you taught me that every girl needs a crazy best friend. Your friendship with Aditi definitely gave us friendship goals! From a shy girl to dancing at Aditi’s cocktail party to being the perfect friend to the bride; from being the best at everything to being the best friend a girl could ever have, Naina, you made me realize that every act of friendship counts in life!
You showed me that love doesn’t suffocate, it liberates.
Now that we’re talking about love, let’s go back to that morning on the top that mountain. Your unadulterated courage took you on the trip of your life. When you made a one word wish as quietly as you could my heart broke into a million little poems. Naina, I felt like I was standing there with you, wishing. For someone i could never ever have. You let your love go time after time because it wasn’t meant to be caged. After roaming all around the world, he still came back to you on new years eve holding a new start in his hands. That my friend, right there , is pure hope for every heartbroken teenager in India. That’s what your journey was to me. A beautiful escape.
Even today when Balam Pichkari comes on TV, I find the corners of my mouth lifting and my heart filling with happiness. You taught me that it’s right to wait for love while you escape your cocoon to make something beautiful of yourself.
Keep shining Topper Naina. And if there’s time, drag bunny to Maratha mandir and watch a movie for us.
Good bye,
Till we meet again.
— Your Girl, Kay
