Turning 30 wasn't easy and today when I turn 35, it ain't easy too. Today when I stand in front of the mirror, I can't stop myself from thinking about how life was 10 years back. The time when youth was ripe. When I was 24 years old. When I was young, smart, talkative yet reserved Jessica. When I was just a graduate in management, a management trainee in my company and dating my now husband Dave. That time life was all about choices which I thought were co incidences. The only thing that mattered to me at that time was fun. Fun with friends, Dave and my job. Nothing seemed serious that time. But today, everything I look at carries a handful of responsibilities. My shoulders seems a bit low. May be because of the baggage of work, home and life I carry on it. Suddenly I feel weak and sad by thinking about my life. A boring life I have been living for so many years. Same painful job in that fucking advertising agency which doesn't give me a chance to relax, "oh How I hate it " I said to myself. I couldn't stop myself from thinking, how my married life has changed too. Dave is not the same guy he was when we got married 9 years ago. He has changed a lot. He doesn't compliment me, or express his love towards me. He doesn't even notice me these days. All that matters to him is his job and household responsibilities which according to me doesn't even matter that much.Is it because I don't look that charming as I used to when I was 25 or 27? Or may be he is bored with me? Or may be Dave is having an affair with some young girl. Arrghhh there can be so many "may besss "around me. "I need a break..a break from the life I am living" I said looking at myself in the mirror. The idea was too good and kinda tickled me that I smiled and said, "This girl in the mirror needs a Holiday".
All the day in office, I kept on thinking about the holiday. Around 4 pm I got an email from Samantha, My best friend. She wrote, "Babes Life sucks...Need to get some fucking fun up soon". "All devil minds think alike" I replied in that email. She had also marked Biancca and Catherine, our other two devils from past. We four were the crazy girls, very well known for our extra mental behavior and not to forget our Hotness and popularity wherever we went. Gosh I miss them so much. Within next 15 mins, both my other ladies replied too and hence we all decided to go on a rock n roll trip like old times. Now the question was how, when and where. So we all decided to get connected tonight on skype at 11 pm. The day was usually unusual and I was loving it.
It was 10:55 pm and I started connecting to skype for our "plan the trip" discussion. Right on time all were there which kind of explained that we all need a big time break from the usual life.
"Hello gurls...supp" I said
"wohoooo whats upppp...long time" sammy said.
"Lets quit life and get to the point" Biancca said
and we all started laughing.
"Okay, first lets plan for how long a vacation should we go for" Cath said
"One week?" Biancca said.
"nope" I said
" 2 weeks?" Cath said
"Nope" sammy said.
"Okay then?" both of them asked
"As long as we want" me and sam said.
After a few minutes of silence, they agreed too.
"Where" we all said together.
"Asia? Vegas? Europe?"
"Europe it is" Sam said
"Bingo"
"Okay guys, now the tough one, what are we going to say to our husband?" Biancca asked
"whopppp" i said
"okay, lets make a story and tell them." sam said
"yeah, i guess we are smart enough to tell a story and have fun" cat said
"Okay gurls, So lets get geared up and BUNK OUR LIVES for sometime" I said
We all laughed and said good night to each other as there was a lot of planning to do.
After 2 weeks of planning and fooling, our plan was fixed. We all planned to meet in Greece as we all were flying from different places. Sam was the first one to land and she was waiting for us at the airport lounge. I was the second one. I saw her siting at the bar and having her favorite drink martini. I hugged her from the back. She turned and we both literally yelled and hugged each other tightly. I could feel some salty water in my eyes and so did she.
Samantha now is an investment banker and lives happily with her husband
Albert and her cute little baby girl "Angel". Sam had changed too, she had grown leaner yet she looked very sexy as always with her serpentine eyes and killer smile.That what we used to call her and tease her. "How are you sammy" I asked her. "Alive now" she answered.
"same here" i said smiling as I ordered some my drink. We started talking about work and home and how life has changed since we graduated and got married. Though we were always connected through phone and often met as well but still we missed the fun part when it was only us. "Life has changed so much jess, I am not what I was. I used to be so much fun but now all I think about is my boring life and work and kid and what shit" sam said as she sipped her martini. I didn't had anything to say to her as I was going through same sort of crisis. All I could do at that time was smile and so I smiled and nodded to what she said.
"Hey ladies, I am here" Biancca said in her sensuous as ever wine voice.
Biancca is a very popular teacher with her students. She teaches mass
communication and is very well settled with her husband Ethan and her two cute
little boys. Here was our first girl Biancca, we call her the first girl because she always did all the things first right from geting a job to getting married to having kids. "I will always be the first" she said always.
"Alright babes, ready to rock n roll" Cat yelled and we all turned and ran towards her. Our cute little Cat, who actually looked like a cat with her cat eyes. M
y last girl Catherine runs a very successful recruitment firm and
is happily settled with her husband Roger and is blessed with two little
daughters. Why we call her last girl, because she is always late and lazy.
The feeling of freedom had not sunken in yet. I was superbly nervous and happy about this trip with my gal friends after so long. Last time we had gone for a trip was just before our wedding. It was just awesome and the awesomeness of last trip was waiting to be unleashed in this new one. So here we began our lifetime trip where we wanted to leave all our baggage behind and just have fun. And with his thought, we started our trip "Our trip where we bunked life".
Athens,
named after Athena the goddess of wisdom. Scented with mythology, Athens is a sociable city enlivened by outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets, parks, gardens and urban eccentrics. Almost every house and apartment has a balcony bulging with geraniums, and many of the city's streets and squares are fringed with orange trees. Even though you've probably come here to see the "glory that was Greece," perhaps best symbolized by the Parthenon and the superb statues and vases in the National Archaeological Museum, your best moments may come sitting at a small cafe, sipping a tiny cup of the sweet coffee. And that's what happened with us. We planned to concentrate on 2 Cs : "Coffee and conversations". The next few days in Athens, we visited some beautiful places across the city and discussed about our life back home.
Day one it was Catherine's turn to tell us about her life, he issues, her concerns
and her happiness. We all had taken a two room suite where we all can stay together. In the evening, we decided to stay in our room. Hence we ordered drinks and food in the room itself. We played some soft music and with our glasses, Cat started discussing her story with us, " You know girls, I have built almost everything in life, a name in my industry, a nice family but somewhere in my heart I feel lonely. I feel very lonely. We don't have any issues. Infact Roger is very loving and he cares a lot too but my job. It sucks the blood of my body."
"Why" I asked
Catherine bursted into tears. We all looked at each other, and went close to her. We touched her hand and asked her what is the problem. She looked at us but couldn't say anything. I asked her to take a sip of water and just say it without thinking. whatever it may be. Just take it out I said.
"Problem is my boss. He thinks I am his property. He would flirt with me, ask for favors and make me work until late. He behaves as if I am some sort of thing." she said "And this time, He has broken all the records, He asked me for a holiday with him if I would want to retain my job. Girls, I am in such a fucked up situation. We have so many responsibilities
at home. My future, our future. This job is very important for me." she added.
"Why don't you quit your job" Biancca said.
" Why should she quit her job because of that jerk" Sam said
"Okay I have a plan" I said with my wicked smile.
They all looked at me and waited for me to say my plan.
"Okay, Cat, you call your boss and ask him to come to Greece and tell him that you have arranged everything here so that noone catches you guys" I said
"But why will he come here, what will I say to him" Cat said
"Hang on,I think it is a brilliant plan, I know what Jess is thinking" Sam said.
We gave each other a high five and started narrating the plan to Cat and Biancca.
As per the plan, Cat called her boss Raulph next day and asked him to come to Greece so that they can have some fun alone. As per my belief, he agreed. Now the task was to get that guy kicked out of the company and the bigger plan was to get the head of the company and Raulph's wife to Greece. So I decided to call Raulph's boss and head of the company Mr Alan and I invited him for a free trip to Greece for a conference and Sam decided to call Raulph's wife to Greece and invited her for a fashion show but asked her not tell her anyone. And the plan worked.
So we fixed the room with a camera, where Cat and Raulph were sitting and we took Alan and Raulph's wife to another room where they had a big screen in front of them. Me and Sam met them and started talking to them, while Biancca was hidden in the same room. After a few minutes we switched on the screen which was Live with dialogues between Cat and Raulph.
"So babe, i have been waiting for this time" Raulph said
"Why are you black mailing me" Cat said, "Whats my fault? Why do you want to sleep with me? And scaring me that if I don't do it you will sack me" she added.
"Oh c'mon, you need to compromise, this is how it works babe" he said
"Really, what if I tell Alan or your wife, then what will you do..huh?" she said
He laughed and replied, "Go ahead and do that ...ummmm but wait a minute, will they believe you? I don't think so...you know why? because Alan is my friend and my wife..ahhhh she is too dumb to doubt me...so let's not waste time and have fun" he said
"Fun has just started my friend" Biancca said as she entered the room.
"Who is she" he said and started running towards the door but it was too late. We opened the door with Alan and his wife. And both of them slapped him right across his face. A sight no one can miss on. Raulph ofcource got sacked and I guess will be divorced soon. We all hugged each other and thanked Alan. And invited him for drinks in evening.
We all went to Soul bar, one of the best pubs there. We all started having a cool conversation, when Biancca whispered in my ear and asked me to notice Alan who was looking at Sam and our Sam was also checking him out. Well, I guess the youth was returning. We made a plan and went to the dance floor. All five of us started dancing and in a small while me, biancca and cat returned to the couch leaving Sam and Alan alone on the dance floor. After sometime, they returned back, we ordered dinner. After a long conversation and good food we returned back to our hotel. Alan was leaving the next day, we all hugged him and said bye to him.
We also decided to now travel and now go to Biancca's favorite place Paris,
the capital and largest city in France. There is a unique magnetic attraction in French air. You automatically fall in love with beauty and so did we. On our first day, we decided to visit beautiful museums Paris is known for. It was a beautiful experience. Three museums in a day and I guess we were just done with roaming and on for the agenda "conversation" and this time it was Biancca's turn.
"What should I say, I have no problem" she said. We all started laughing.
"Dumb ass, It's not about problems, Its about you, your life and everything you would want to say." Sam said
"Okay okay, You know being a teacher, I talk all day with everyone about communication. And how it is the most important thing as all the things start only by talking and listening. But" she stopped
"BUT" I asked
"But is simple, I often don't talk what I really want to with him. I miss our conversations. I miss having fun with him. We are so stuck in our daily life that somehow I didn't even realize that I am 35 now. I want to talk and hear and just fall in love again." she said with small tear drops in her eyes.
I guess on this thought we all were four mirrors just saying the same thing. We had no answer but her last line, I want to fall in love again was kinda intriguing and hence we decided to fall in love in the city of love. Next day, we all got dressed up like fashion models and walked the city of paris with poise and style. In evening we went to a Karaoke pub and started having fun. We noticed this Irish man. He was simple wow and was kinda looking at us too but we were confused as to whom does he like. In a while he went up the stage and dedicated a song to a pretty girl dressed in purple and sitting on his right. When we kind of noticed, it was a dedication to Biancca. He started singing "Galway girl" with his sexy voice. We all went excited and happy. He jumped from the stage and walked to Biancca and aksed for her hand and we started yelling Biancca go. She stood up and both of them started dancing on the stage with the Irish guy singing. After the song finished, they talked for a while. We three looked at them and were smiling and chatting about her chance of falling in love. After a while, she came with him and introduced him to me. His name is Gerald and is as charming with his talks as his looks. We asked Biancca to go ahead and have fun with him. Both of them went on the dance floor and we decided to take a walk to our hotel. Biancca came back in sometime and we bombarded her with questions of how it was etc etc. To which she replied "I like him" and smiled.
Next day when we opened the door, Gerald was standing outside our door with a big bunch of red flowers for Biancca. We called Biancca and they sat in the balcony. They decided to go out and Biancca asked us. We smiled and told her to go ahead and enjoy the day. It was just three of us and we wanted to just laze around and hence we went to a book cum coffee shop. After a long day at coffee shop, we returned back in the evening. Biancca was already at the room. We asked her about what happened on their date.
"Oh it was awesomeness, We went to so many places and he just kept on praising me and flirting with me. He also bought me a dress, and asked me to wear it but" she said
"Oh no ..again a but" Cat said
"But, I told him that I am married and I am just roaming around here. I do like you but I can't be with you. I have a life back home where people are waiting for me" she said
"WHAT ...u r nuts" I said
"Yeah I guess but you know he said, I like you too and I understand but I think we can be best of friends" she replied
"Best of friends....U mean friends with benefits" Sam said
and we all started laughing and making fun of Biancca.
Our next destination was a big debate for two reasons, One we wanted to have a blast and second we sure did wanted to go somewhere where we could get drunk completely. And hence, we decided to go back to America and rather be in Vegas than anywhere else.
But before going, It was the night of conversation. It was Sam's and my chance to speak. Speak what we felt. I decided to tell them once we reach Vegas and hence that night belonged to Sam.
" My life is very complicated. I invest assets of people so that they can get maximum returns but I have no idea where to invest my smile so that I can get back maximum returns in the form of happiness and peace and satisfaction." she said and we all hugged her tightly.
I looked at her, my best friend and promised her that I will give her that answer when we are in Vegas.
After two days, we reached Vegas. That was 29th day of our holiday and we were relaxed a rejuvenated yet we had a few unanswered questions. All these 29 days, I heard everyone and somehow listening to them helped to find what I really miss and want. And I decided to put that across them on the last night of our trip which was tomorrow. We roamed around the city of Vegas for two days. Did some crazy shopping and drinking and partying for 2 days and then came the last night before we had to leave.
I left a note in the room asking them to join me in the pub downstairs where I would be waiting for them.
After sometime, they came too. I had booked a special table for four of us and had invited Alan and gerald too to join us that evening as they were also a part of the fun trip. I went up the stage where there was a guitar and a few other people helping me with a song I wrote for them on the trip.
I stared by saying, "Dear gurlfriends from my deep past, We have always stayed together through thick and thin confirming that we are best friends no matter what. All these years we have sailed through highs and lows. It seems to be a lifetime when we all decided on our choices and moved ahead in life leaving our sweet memories of friendship behind. But today when I look back at these 31 days of love and freindship, I realize what I missed al these years. And the fact is, i missed you. I missed my people, my friends who helped me guided me and shared with me all my joys and sorrows. And this song that I sing today, is for you guys"
I was a loner, till I met them,
Roaming in the darkness of sky, I found them,
Friends is what I call them,
Line of Life is what I find them.
I was a loner till i met them.
Sitting in the open fields,
thinking about broken dreams,
I find you near,
holding my hand,
you take me dear,
where old memoirs Live,
where i can see them clear,
I was a loner till i met them.
Light of sun and shine of moon,
appear nearer,
for all these years you have become dearer,
We have smiled and cried together,
Fighting for toys and sharing life, remember?
I was a loner till i met them.
Climbing high hills of time and crossing deep valleys of life,
I wonder,
Do you remember me,
I fear,
you are now not near,
But I still find you right here,
The tale of friendship still is incomplete,
Till death tear us apart we shall always be together,
I repeat.
They joined me on the stage too and we all hugged each other singing this Tale of friendship. Sam told me that she got her answer. She now knows where she has to invest to get best ROI. Actually we all realized what we were missing in our lives. We missed friendship. We missed us. In the end of the road, where we have no way to go, the best is to take a U-turn and return to where you belong and that is the heart of your friend. Today when I return back home, I take this feeling of belonging that somewhere I have three other hearts who love me truly. Those hearts that will stand with my lonely heart always.
Love you my gurls!
You take me below the seas
