A few days ago I was talking to a friend about which movie to watch the next- choice was between Ajay Devgan & Kajol's U Me Aur Hum or Akki's Tashan. " I have heard that U Me Aur Hum is depressing. I want to check out Tashan. You can always watch U ME with your 'Orkut' friends,"said she.
This friend of my mine particularly averse to my online activities (read friends). Apparently I freak out more with them. Many amongst us would by now had two sets of friends- online and offline. And in many cases the distinction between online and offline must have already faded away.
But my friend's remark did made me ponder for a while, prompting me to remember my 'online' phase of life. My online friendships started during college days. The concept was not so prevelent then and did have different connotation. Remeber those tonnes of friendship sites that popped up during the dotcom era?? I met my first online friend through one of such sites, though not for the same reasons that they were popular for.
I was in my senior college when I met my first online friend working with an IT firm. We hit off well and did meet 'offline' as well. Today its more than 5 years and he is one of my very good friends. Jokingly I tell him 'see I have also started working now". As for him, he has just been blessed with a dotting daughter.
Then came the 'chatting phase' wherein Yahoo and MSN was a staple food for youngsters and olddies alike. I stumbled upon another friend in one of these chat rooms. We did start chatting and as it happens so many times, did not meet him online for quite a few years. Barely a year ago, somebody pings me on yahoo messenger. The mail id sounds familiar and then rings the bell. Its my other online friend from a different town, whom I had lost contact since ages.
It did not take time to catch up with him and now I bug him quite regularly. The phone calls and gmail chats have helped us to become good friends. The online friendship assumed a different dimension since the orkut came on the scene. How can I forget my 'orkut gang'......there is a loong list to mention. What brought us together was an online caste community, which merely acted as medium to get in touch with such happening people.
More so when our parents are curious to know of our activities. Apart from the caste bonding, what has brought us close is the energy and enthusiasm to do something better. Of course we had our offline meets over mouth watering non-veg food and countless coffee shop outings. But somewhere there is an urge to work constructively for a good cause.
Here is when the boundries between online and offline friends disappear in the horizon. Looking back I feel really greatful to meet such 'online friends'.
