When You Travel You Learn

by Asima Manzoom (Pakistan)

Making a local connection Pakistan

"Gradation is the time to thank all those who helped you in your tough time like your parents, teachers and probably your best friends. Being a friend to someone is all that you can give them." On first day of high school, I met this boy for the first time and that is from where our story of true friendship began. We were class fellows. He was a person with soft and caring personality and belonged to that city and I was new in the city. Going back from school, I walked before him. The naughty group of our school followed me. They found me weak as I was weak physically as well as mentally and alone. They started to tease me. They snatched my bag, threw all my books and pushed me into the puddle. When I was pushed down into the puddle they all started to laugh at me nearby everyone started to laugh at me. My glasses were fallen in puddle. I was looking for my glasses, when this boy of my class stepped forward and pushed the group and helped me in picking up my stuff. He asked me about my home address and surprisingly I found his home near mines. While we were walking towards my home, he offered me to be a part of his football group. I got excited and accepted his offer. On weekend, I went to his place and from there we walked into the football ground where they used to play football. That’s how our friendship being and not only two of us even our families also got into close relation due to our strong bond of friendship. On Monday morning, we both were going towards school, he told me to gain weight and till that time he will carry my bag to school. I thanked him for his caring behavior and give him a warm smile. Few years later, when our studies were completed I shifted to Gilgit for higher education. Before my departure he told me that wherever I go we both will always be best friends and this will never end. Throughout the time I remembered his words. Those words of him became strength of mine today. His words worked like a footprints that I could not remove from my mind. I feel blessed to have a true friend like him because our souls are connected. If that day he did not became my strength I would not be able to stand in front of you guys today and would not have the courage to share my life experience. There are many people in world who walk in and out from your life but only a good friend who walks in but never go out from your life. There are many children in our society who attempt suicide every year due to someone discouraged them. I might have had attempted a suicide while I was pushed into that puddle but in our life there is always that one person who stands for us and brings about the change which nobody else can do it that way. On my special day of graduation, I wish to see him smiling and wishing me....... Silence was maintained for a while, people started clapping. Zaroon.......... A voice came from the back. Zaroon started to look here and there in search of that voice. Zaroon........Zaroon........ Altamash........ With a broad smile on his face he jumped from the stage and ran towards the audience. That was Altamash, Who was sitting in the back row? They both hugged and were happy to see each other after a long time. Altamash eyes wet and he said there is no blood relation between two friends but true friends live their life like siblings, this is a great gift from God to have a relation of soul and real friend in life till death. Once a writer Ams said, “Never underestimate the power of your actions, One small gesture you can change a person's LIFE" Whenever we travel, meet with new friends not all are bad but there are some people like Altamash still exist to help others to keep them alive and this process goes on.