We Four Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

We four

We became four
When we joined the graduation class
In the same college

We became four
Mainly because we hail from the same town
And we were travelling together most of the days
To and from the college

We were day scholars
We used to discuss the lessons taught
We used to spend leisure time together
We used to watch movies together
We used to undertake evening walks together
We used to visit temples together
We were punctual in our engagements
We used to play cards together

In the initial year I was residing in the norther part of the town
I used to get a lift in a cycle at times
En-route home from the bus stop
I used to one of my friends' house
And help solve problems, specially in maths
At a speed that amazed my friends

We did all mischief that people of age attempt
We made fun of others and girls travelling with us
We smarted demonstrators, lecturers and professors
We bunked classes to watch movies
We used to do reasonably well in the class

We managed to get hold of the post of monitors
So that attendance marking was in our fold
One was in charge of language classes
One for English, one for major and ancillaries
And one took care of social and moral studies
We used to grant attendance even those
Who absented, provided they paid for it
In the form of lunches in the hostel, films, ice creams
And other edibles, for some, a smoke

We used to have lunch together
And the time gap between lunch and start of second session
We used to listen to songs played loud in the hostel

We planned strategies for forthcoming tests and examinations
So well that we scored well above average
In the class, for the teaching staff
It never looked we were gang as we were seated apart

Of the four I was rated high by the teachers
I came out almost always with right answers and in time

I belong to a bit more orthodox family
Than the families of the rest
I was not supposed to consume any edible
From any road side vendors
After my becoming one among them
I started drinking hot, rather very hot, tea from
Tea shops that normally very decent looking people avoid
I was not good at holding the hot tea containing glass
And with great hesitation I used to sip
Always fearing the hurt and burn of the near boing tea
These tea shops were our meeting points
At times very late in the night
When we were preparing for an examination
Sipping the tea and discussing the subject went together well

One of my friends was a bit affluent as both his parents were employed
He used to get pocket money
Which concept any of our parent cherished
He was the person who would spend often
In our entertainments

For me, he was special
As he was the one who advised me against
Going for smoking and for non-vegetarian foods
In the final year of graduation
We managed to go to Bombay, now Mumbai
On an educational tour

I have a lot of episodes to quote
Where we demonstrated we would ever be together

This friend of mine
Arranged a photo session where we four pose
In special attire, me with a mustache special drawn for the occasion
When our parting time came
After the final year examination

We lost touch over the period
I had no clue where and how they are

We three attended marriage functions of two
One attended that of mine

Trust you all keep well, my friends
I cherished your company in those
Nothing-to-worry about years

Whatever it is, we remain
WE FOUR