Seventeen Again!

My Abba has asked me to move to the  dorms, something he was totally against just 4 months ago in September of 1998. I guess he couldn't watch me leaving the house in the dark every morning to catch the Marta bus and then the train just to make it in time to an 8AM lab at Georgia Tech.  He has finally dropped me off to my room at the Woodruff dorms with my comforter and pillow, some clothes and a few snacks. I am by myself for the first time in my life and extremely nervous..in my heart I was asking Abba to please not go..but I made this brave face in front of him and hugged him good bye.  I take a look at the other bed, it has a colorful comforter and a green stuffed turtle on it. I see a microwave and a small fridge - beside it is some coffee, I then see a humongous phone charger by the computer (wow..she has a cell phone ..how cool is that!!) hmm..I wonder what this other person is going to be like, who I am about to share this little room with for at least 6 months. I then notice a small "Ganesh" (an idol of a Hindu God) sitting on the computer screen ..I get a little excited as now I know its an Indian Girl...and may not be so hard adjusting to her.
The next day I come back from class and I see her sitting in her pyjamas on her desk with her hair pulled back in a pony tail studying hard. , she gets up when she sees me.
"Hi..my name is Mahima Ashok"
"Hi.. Ayesha Farooqui...nice to meet you!"
The talking has not stopped since then. Little did we know that Georgia Tech had grouped 2 future BFFs together! :)
The next 3 years were followed by many late night gossip sessions, trips to Woodruff dining hall, watching mindless TV and studying of course.
Mahi was visiting Atlanta last night for a short 1/2 a day trip. She had moved to Boston this year and so I just had to see her even if it was only for a few minutes. It was 10:30 P.M by the time she was checked in . Isa was asleep and Yusuf was about to dose off, so I quickly gave him to Ajee and drove to her hotel.
We talked non-stop and shared this delicious DoubleTree cookie, much like the dorms where we used to share instead of a cookie, a carton of Ben and Jerry's ice cream (fighting over the chunky nuts) and chat the night away. All of a sudden it felt like 1999 again. But unlike the past, the chatting had to come to an end at mid-night as she had an early morning meeting at 7:40 AM and I had to come home to the family and go to work the next morning. However, I am grateful for this life long friendship that has the power to instantly transform me into a stress free teenager!
Mahi and I and her wonderful Mother watching out for us ..(as always)

Comments

  1. MaggieNovember 14, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    Thank goodness for random room-mate assignments! Changed my life! We could have chatted and chatted till dawn today...but even though it was short, it was completely awesome to see you. And it did remind me of Woodruff days! Chatting, snacking, not sleeping till late!! We are still the same...and thank goodness for that! I feel so honored (and excited) being on your blog. Much love BFF, Mahi

    ReplyDelete
  2. MaggieNovember 14, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    OMG...my mom's in the back of this photo! <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. MaggieNovember 14, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Ok my third comment: I just saw your beautiful caption for the photo. <3

    ReplyDelete
  4. SavitriNovember 16, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    i took "looking over daughters," "watching out," a little too literally, I must say:)
    Nicely written Ayesha.....Your friendship has been invaluable!

    ReplyDelete

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