Unwrapping memories as nostalgia comes calling

Recently, I found myself attending two celebrations: A dinner in Kasauli for one of my husband's bachelorhood buddies hitting a milestone birthday, and a lunch marking 50 years of one of my father's colleague's marriage.

- Sonika Sethi

Recently, I found myself attending two celebrations: A dinner in Kasauli for one of my husband's bachelorhood buddies hitting a milestone birthday, and a lunch marking 50 years of one of my father's colleague's marriage. The common takeaway? When old friends reunite, it's like time hitting the snooze button. A quote I stumbled upon captures the magic of such moments: "You've both grown and changed, but the moment you start talking, the years melt away."

After the party in Kasauli wound down, the core group of friends slipped into their natural habitat: The late-night storytelling circle. As I looked around at this eclectic mix of night owls, I couldn't help but wonder how we'd all become so deeply woven into each other's lives. These were my husband's school and college comrades, and like the other wives present, I'd inherited them along with the marriage vows. But now, they weren't just his friends, they were family.