Hello dear friends,

I hope this blog finds you in a peaceful and nostalgic mood.

Sometimes, while scrolling through social media, a familiar name suddenly appears — and with it, a flood of memories you thought time had quietly tucked away. That’s exactly what happened to me today.

As I was casually scrolling through Facebook, my eyes suddenly lit up. There it was — a name that made my heart skip a beat: Surinder Kaur.

It had been decades since I last saw or heard of her. Today, she’s a successful businesswoman, the owner of a large company.

But as I looked at her smiling face in the profile picture, something magical happened — for a brief moment, it felt as if time turned back.

That same joyful, innocent smile from our school days was right there, unchanged by the years.

I closed my eyes and was instantly taken back to our 5th standard classroom, where Surinder and I sat side by side — two young dreamers with notebooks full of doodles and hearts full of hope.

She came from a well-to-do family, while I was from a modest, middle-class home. But that never mattered to her. Our friendship was built on pure connection — mutual respect, laughter, and the small joys of childhood.

Surinder was not only intelligent but also incredibly talented. She had a natural gift for painting. I still remember that one unforgettable afternoon — an ordinary day that became an everlasting memory.

That day, our English teacher was absent, so we had a free period. While the rest of the class chatted away, Surinder quietly pulled out her sketch pens and drawing sheet.

I sat beside her, watching in awe as her hands moved gracefully across the paper. Line by line, stroke by stroke, a beautiful picture began to appear — full of life, colour, and warmth.

When she finally finished, she turned to me with that familiar sparkle in her eyes and asked,

“How is my painting?”

Without a second thought, I said with genuine admiration,

“It’s beautiful, Surinder — truly beautiful.”

And to my surprise, she smiled, gently tore the sheet from her book, and handed it to me.

“Then it’s yours,” she said.

That painting became one of my most cherished possessions — not because of the art itself, but because of the friendship it represented.

Years rolled on. Life took us in different directions. She climbed the ladder of success, and I built a quieter, more reflective life.

But that memory — of a girl who believed in friendship beyond status, and of the painting she gave me — stayed alive in my heart.

And today, when I saw her Facebook post — another painting she had shared, more mature and refined now — my heart whispered,

“Some things never change.”

How I wish she knew that I, too, have started painting now. Perhaps she’d smile the same way and say, “See? I told you art lives in you too.”

Sometimes, I wonder if I should send her a message — introduce myself again, remind her of those carefree school days, that gifted painting, and the laughter we shared.

Would she remember me? Would she recognize the boy who once admired her art and now paints his own emotions onto canvas?

Maybe yes… maybe no.

But one thing is certain — some memories never fade; they only grow softer with time. They remind us of who we were, and how the people we met along the way helped shape who we became.

So, dear friends, if life ever gives you the chance to reconnect with a memory you miss — don’t hesitate. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple message, a smile, or even a shared painting to bring the past gently back to life.

As for me, I think I’ll open my “shop of emotions” once again — and on its first canvas, I’ll paint that moment:
Two young friends sitting side by side,
One painting, one watching,
And both smiling —
Unaware that one day, this memory would become a masterpiece of the heart. 🎨

With warmth and nostalgia,
~ Vijay Verma
 www.retiredkalam.com
(Painter of memories and emotions)

Categories: infotainment

Tags: ##Memoire, #creativity, #Nostalgia, #wellness, featured, story