Like a gathering mist,

With the eager longing of youth,

Like a splash of vibrant colors,

We wandered and roamed

During those school days…

Young, innocent birds were we,

Who didn’t yet understand

The stark realities of life…

The memories of those days

Still flicker like shadows in my heart…

Speaking sweet, honeyed words

To the delight of my friends’ ears,

Playing and wandering around—

Those college days

Now cast their shadows within me…

We were flowers,

Lively, loud, and full of chatter…

Yet, the sudden silence

At the arrival of our teacher was a wonder…

The days we roamed the town,

Teasing and mocking each other…

And those fleeting moments

When we scrambled away as the principal approached…

The days we merged into the library,

Becoming absolute bookworms,

Are still alive in my mind…

Hearts that would skip a beat

At the mere mention of exams…

And those anxious moments

Waiting in fear for the results…

The scoldings we received

While standing together in a huddle,

For shouting slogans as a crowd…

Those playful times

When we united to scheme

Just to annoy our teacher…

Caring about absolutely no one,

Stealing and eating guavas

From the school garden…

The times we fought among ourselves,

Competing for leadership positions

Just to make a name for ourselves…

The days we took a day off from school

And handed in letters

With forged signatures…

Ganging up together,

Spreading out banana leaves,

And sharing the food we brought…

The days we faked illnesses

Just to cut

The evening extra classes…

The minor misunderstandings,

The flashes of anger,

And the bitter moments within our friend circle…

Those painful moments

When we walked away, muttering,

“I will never talk to you again…”

And the sweet friends

Who brought us back together naturally,

Living as the very definition of friendship…

The times we wrung our hands in tears,

On the verge of crying,

When we were punished for an unintentional mistake…

The moments we teamed up

With our circle of friends

To twist the new teacher around our fingers…

The times we shed tears together

In moments of sorrow—

A friendship that shared pain as much as joy…

These will remain etched forever

In the depths of my mind

As unforgettable memories!!!