3 Idiotic Families

3Iditoic Families

My recent passion for writing has led me to reflect on my friendships, and in particular, the bond between my three idiotic families. The name was inspired by the popular movie "3 Idiots," but the similarities end there. Each family is unique, with different backgrounds, professions, and approaches to life.

Our journey began when our kids were just toddlers. The moms Sijee,  Divya, and Leena of Salome, Manya, and Shourya respectively sought out other families with children of the same age to play with. Without realizing it, a formula was born - the SMS  (Salome,  Manya, and Shourya)  - that laid the foundation for our bond.

The remaining three members of our group - Saldy, Niranjan, and myself - couldn't be more different. My assertive nature clashes with Niranjan's skepticism, but Saldy's coolness always pours water on the fire. This different approach has helped us to deal with various situations and negotiate challenges. 

Coincidence played a role in our bonding. I had faint memories of being a tenant of Saldy's father and living as their adjacent neighbor. My elder brother even went to Saldy's mom for some studies. Years later, fate intervened when Shourya and Salome were born on the same day and year what missed the height of coincidence was the time. Divya's father and my dad were founding members of the Mahindra society, and the link between our families was created then.

Our first interaction was when Sijee approached me at Navratri celebrations in our colony, asking about Leena. Although I knew Saldy, it wasn't until our wives  (Sijee and Leena) planned to go out together that we got to know each other better. A family trip to Essel World, which Niranjan couldn't join due to work commitments, led to the first interaction with Divya. Alcohol helped us connect on one New Year's, and we celebrated on our building's terrace. That was the start of our friendship with Niranjan.

We never imagined that these chance encounters would lead to such a strong bond. We created reasons to be together, and any outing without the three families was incomplete. Weekends were spent in one of our homes, and we celebrated every festival together. For Leena and Sijee, the best part of their friendship was shopping - whether for bargains or spending an entire day at Crawford Market.

Looking back, we've been together for more than a decade. It feels like we've known each other since childhood. Our kids have grown up, and each will make their own destiny. Down the line, we may not all be living in the same place. But my only wish is that we remain in touch, meet for special occasions, and continue to care for each other as we always have.