Anu met her friend at the parking lot.Her slim figure looked frail and her face without the usual sheen.

Anu gathered from small talk that her friend was not keeping well. Niru lived alone with her child.

As a caring mother she put her life energies to nurturing her child. She took great pains to cook great dishes, provide all comfort to her child.

Sometimes it was difficult.

Not much of a social person, she kept to herself. The mom and daughter looked out for each other, had good to great food, even trying their hands at marathons.

That was an experience, Anu remembered how Niru spoke about it with great excitement.

Quiet but smart and efficient, Niru believes in letting her work speak. She constantly upgraded her skill set.She knew that there was something out there for her.

Her grace and charm and her devotion to work does not go unnoticed as her students and colleagues reach out to her in appreciation.

‘You are super, mam’, they said often.

Yet, when Anu saw her at the parking lot, she said bye and moved ahead. After some time though, Anu got increasingly worried, ‘what if…’ she thought of returning to check on her friend and slowed down and waited at the junction long enough to see her friend ride away smartly.

It must be the times, it must be herself, it might be the kindred of womenhood, yet Anu thought, if she had not waited to see if her friend was alright, she may not have been able to sleep well.

Hmmm….something really is getting on to the nerves… what is it really?

To all the women braving it out there, with salary cut offs and support non existent and increasing insecurities, reach out, express yourself in writing or reading or coloring even, and that is going to help a great deal.

Till then, this too shall pass….

Besides friendships are not about insta pics or fb posts or crying out from the rooftop but just being there in silence, reaching out in need and lending some quiet reassurance.