Its not just a card game

It was very late . I thought I had to leave the office alone , without any company . The day was very tiring , it would really be good if there was someone to talk to until I reach home . But , today was late and everyone has already left except the hard truth that I have to go alone .

I was walking to the gate when a friendly voice called my name . It was my college mate Vishwa . I was lifted with comfort in seeing a person I have spent 4 years of my life with , especially now , when I badly wanted someone. We were in the same hostel . He is big talker , all that I needed now . And as always he began with his ever so funny way and slowly turned my course towards him , moving far far away from work . I can think about and worry about work later , it can wait . Now I have my friend here , with me and I am going to make sure every second is well used .

He lives near my place with his friends , as do I . He got off the bus and gave me a big bye . I thanked him in my mind, smiling . Without him this bus travel could possibly have been very sulking . I bought some food as my friends asked me to , from a hotel and reached home .  All were waiting for me .. ahem for the food actually . Judging by the way they hurried to open up the packages , I was sure they were ravenous .

It was well past 1 am , when one of my room mate suggested we play cards . It was Friday night and we don’t have to wake up early tomorrow for office and what's better to do and what's more fun than playing cards with your friends . So , we all grouped together and formed a circle , ready for the game .We started playing , and there was nothing else in our mind . What happened , what is to happen and the deeply hidden  painful sorrow of living away from your parents , didn’t matter anymore . We were having fun.
We won , we lost , we made fun of  each other , we teased , we kicked and punched , we did so many things and finally it was 3 in the night when we called it in .

I felt very relieved and light . All that I was worrying about a few hours ago , now gone from my mind . It was full of content and I dozed off the moment my face touched my pillow .
Without these guys , my FRIENDS , I have no idea how I would handle all these , or for that matter how anyone might handle things . The second biggest gift one could get , next to one’s parents , are friends . My friends … the Sparkle of my life .