‘Et tu Brute’?

Said Caesar to his friend Brutus when he stabbed him in his back. They were politicians and the less said about them the better. But tell me how many of us have experienced it. Not actual stabbing but metaphorically. Almost all of us have suffered at the hands of a friend we thought was loyal to us but who backstabbed us by maligning our name and spreading malicious rumours. And the best part is they feign ignorance of all this and like Brutus, come to bury us, not praise us.

I have noticed people talking against someone to me and the moment that person enters, they are all smiles and hugs for them. Or the moment someone leaves, sarcastic comments are passed against that person. That makes me think, this must be going on behind my back too.

True, we cannot agree with everybody all the time, we don’t like certain characteristics of a person and we find someone’s boasting irksome. But do we have to talk to anyone we meet about that? My mother always said, don’t make friends too soon. First, observe the person and see their behavior, then become friends. She was right but does that mean everyone I meet has to pass a test to qualify for being my friend?

In any case, we all have our own standards of making someone our friend. Sometimes it is their beauty to begin with; other times it is their disposition. People also often make friends because someone is rich, powerful or influential. Or just for fun. What fun? Friendship today, in my mind is a convenience.

So is there no friendship in this world? Am I living in my mental utopia?  Maybe but despite having been cheated innumerable times, I still take people at their face value. Am I a misfit? Maybe. But then one has to have faith somewhere and in somebody otherwise how will we all live?

I for one am lucky to have found some staunchly loyal friends. Friends who are there when I need a shoulder to cry on, friends who celebrate my achievements, support me in my endeavor and last but not the least love me despite my habit of being blunt. But then I know I can be blunt with them. With the malicious lot, I have learned to keep quite. I still cannot do hugs and kisses but I manage to put a smile on my face while greeting them.

How many friends have you got? If you have even one, you are lucky. Stay lucky.

So be it!!!