ONE never writes an obituary of a friendship. Friends may pass away but friendship never does. That is how I feel about Khalida Qureshi — a friend who departed 34 years ago on 23 February 1983. My friendship with her lives on. I asked poet BADRI RAINA to send me a poem on friendshp. Here are some lines from Badri’s poem:

Friendship is the touch of truth

In a world of  camouflage—

A plain-speaking toddler

That never comes of age.

Friendship sets aside with smile

Pretence and make-believe;

It wears a crystal heart

Upon a crystal sleeve.

Friendship is not mercantile,

It does not calculate

The latest TRP

Or lucrative exchange rate.

Friendship is a tendril brave

That redeems a fallen wall;

Friendship speaks of shame and pain

Without pursuit of fault;

Friendship is a conjoint soul

Under a heavenly vault.

Friendship makes the human sun,

It makes the human moon;

Friendship justifies the god above,

It is the Higg’s Boson.

There is nothing more for me to say

Zubeida Mustafa