IN LOVE WITH MY BEST FRIEND

Few days back I was watching a movie on my television. The movie continuously stressed on a line “A girl and a boy can never be best friends” The line seemed very irrelevant with my real life because my best friend was girl. The other day I was discussing this topic with Andy my office colleague. I felt a huge nostalgia about my friendship days with Merlin. It was giving me immense pleasure to speak to Andy about my best friend Merlin. I still remember the first day of our college, as I entered the classroom I saw a girl sitting among boys at the back bench. My first impression of Merlin was that of a tom boy and that’s what made me approach her. Our friendship instantly struck off and from then on there was no looking back. She came along with very friendly kind of nature, very outspoken and a bit mischievous…..I guess like me. Our days would be spent roaming in college campus, sitting in the canteen and if possible attending lectures. The reason we bonded so well was the fact that our thinking were quite similar. We quickly became well known personalities of our college. I never treated her as a girl, for me was a boy with whom I could share every little thing of my life and same was for her. She was the person who was capable of listening to my thoughts, views and philosophies about life and she understood what I was saying. She never judged me or deserted me even if I was a little eccentric at times. She would also try to help and guide me when I was headed on a downward spiral. No matter what anyone else would say about me, she would never leave our friendship. The only time she used be busy for me was when she would be with David. David was her boyfriend and Merlin met him even before I came into her life. He was working in a private firm and due to his busy schedule they would get very little time to spend with each other. Merlin was very serious about her relationship with him and wanted to get married as soon as she would finish her college. I was with her. The only difference between us was that I was very unsuccessful with my affairs while Merlin was going strong with David. Our college days just went through and we became graduates. The very next year Merlin got married to David. I was very happy for her as she was about to step into a new life. Today Merlin and David have moved to another city and even I have got busy with my job. We may not see each other that often, we may talk on the phone once a month. However, when we do connect no matter how infrequently it is as if we never parted. Our conversations are as comforting as if we are together everyday. Even now we are best friends. As I was concluding my story Andy just glared through my eyes and said, “Today I understood that why you never had a girlfriend”. “Why” I questioned. “It’s because that special place in your heart is already occupied by someone else and no one is allowed to enter it without your permission" By saying these words Andy just left. I just stood there silently looking Andy go. That day I realized that the line in the movie was so true. A boy and a girl can never be best friends. I was in love with Merlin.