FOREVER BENCHMATE
"Pratibha, there’s a new girl in our class. She’s in Economics with you. Take her with you when you go to your Economics class," my teacher said on some random school day.
While walking up to class, I asked you your name, why you changed schools, why you chose Humanities, and a few other things. We sat on the benches left by the Commerce students and started talking about our interests, our dads' transfers, our goals, and those typical first-day questions.
I still remember those days in Economics class when we were doing Statistics. Even though I had Maths, I couldn’t get the answers right—but you always did those long calculations without messing up. You really humbled me back then.
It didn’t take long before you became my benchmate—not just in Economics but also in our regular class. We’d sit together, argue, chat, share lunch, and talk about things we were both passionate about. You were exactly the kind of friend I needed in Humanities—no drama (lol), someone who just got how it felt to be in that class, someone who loved History as much as I did.
Your Bengali accent made it even easier for me to feel close to you. Even after calling myself a Delhiite for ten years, Bengal has always had a special place in the back of my mind.
12th might be my favourite year so far. Maybe because it was one crazy roller coaster ride. Maybe because I experienced so many things for the first time. And maybe, just maybe, because I had the best classmates who helped me get through all the teenage chaos.
You’ve seen me cry. You’ve sat with me in the library, studying the same subjects—which, let’s be honest, was pretty rare. And most importantly, you shared the same love for reading. I still smile thinking about how we used to talk about the books we were reading.
Solving National Income questions in Economics felt easier with you. History became more fun when we’d quiz each other—and honestly, we were pretty good at it (great analysts, if I may say so). Finishing Geography work didn’t feel like a burden anymore. And how can I forget our English class? Reading each paragraph together, discussing On the Face of It, and then getting emotionally traumatised by that ending—and of course, all our little cat fights.
Thank you for finishing my lunch (yes, I’m grateful for that), for filling my water bottle, and for always reminding me when I left it behind during dispersal. You literally saved my Milton bottle more times than I can count.
And then one day, out of nowhere, you dropped the bomb—that you were moving to Kolkata… forever. While I was just starting to feel happy about having at least three friends with me in Humanities, you told me you were leaving. My journey over the last two years was finally feeling less lonely—and then that.
Choosing Humanities back in 11th was hard. No one expected it, and it was scary walking into a stream without a single close friend. But you and Manya were always there when I needed someone the most.
When you told me you were leaving, I cried again—this time in front of you (the first time was in the Geography practicals, remember?). I thought about everything I just wrote above. But slowly, I reminded myself: "Kahin pe pahunchne ke liye kahin se nikalna bahut zaroori hota hai." And I calmed myself down.
Today, while we were eating lunch together, all these memories flooded my mind. For a moment, even that small portion of rice felt heavy.
Now, as I finish writing this, all I hope is that we meet again very soon, Nayansi (which I know we will). Come back to Delhi during Durga Puja, and I promise I’ll visit Kolkata as soon as I get the freedom to do so. Whenever I feel lonely, I’ll look at the crochet you gifted us—and read this blog again.
Stay as beautiful and full of joy as you’ve always been. And please, pick up my call whenever I ring you—because, well, I have these little breakdowns every now and then. And I know that only you and Manya know how to calm my overthinking mind.
To my soul sister,
Yours forever,
Benchmate
Pratibha 💛
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