Maybe It’s the Friends We Made Along the Way!

Ahem! This was supposed to be a very general and tame review of the amazing series by R.F. Kuang: The Poppy War. But then I had to keep that for another article or another day because I have bigger dreams and better ideas. Because when it comes to love, and what I love, just one thing keeps coming into my mind. It has been something that I’ve been thinking about (and there were also special requests) hence, I shall tell you a little story about a group of girls and guys doing this so-called English Honours degree and their shenanigans which is worth spreading around! Trigger warning for attempts to use Gen Alpha slang. I do not understand it but I will use it to look cool. 

Starting, my cousins first had tales to tell about Colombo University. How it might be impossible to make friends, we’re different (Yeah, right. If there were an asylum, we’d all be sharing the same room) Things would be hard. Partially true. Hard because sometimes it’s inevitable you miss home. Hard because Joseph Andrews is not decipherable, and I don’t understand what’s going on in half the articles they upload. But is it easy too? Yes, it is, and that, my friends, is the part I love the most. The department attracts all kinds of people! From theatre kids to singers, to poets to writers to, you name it, we have it here and being among them, being friends with all these quirky lovable idiots has to be the most rewarding experience of going through this stressful degree!

Starting off with our honourable batch rep Kithmi, who looks gorgeous in red (any colour really, but especially red) with powers to take notes without making a sound! (It’s important, trust me.) Haritha with his insane bilingual abilities and poetry which makes you engrossed in his eloquent strings of words, he never fails to impress you with his verse! (Ha! That rhymed.) And then we have our Theruni, lil theatre kid with her black t shirts and that beautiful smile she always wears. It’s impossible to be sad around her as she brings the mood up with her positive energy! (and there’s snacks, always.) Visheli, the insane face card of the department and with her savage and witty comments. (We all love ourselves a sassy queen). This is just the beginning, trust me there’s so much more to come! Because one can never forget the kindest of the bunch with the voice of an angel, Heshi! I wish I could attach a voice clip of her so you guys will know what angels sound like. (Another thing to love, private concerts with our favourite stars ahem!). And Janani with a chill attitude and mean comments, also the bookshelves which I’m yet to see! (She’s only mean to you if she likes you, wear that as a badge of honour really!). Honourable mention of Gaya with his reindeer headbands and Christmas socks! (Janani made me do it, blame her)

Does this end here? No, I don’t think so. Because the story starts with a bunch of weirdos, and the list has to go on! Thumbelina (Yes, imagine having a name so cool!) who we’ve understood as a walking library. (Trust me her knowledge is out of this world!). Binuri with a personality akin to a summer morning! It’s impossible not to be happy when she’s with you. Like, the girl is the human equivalent of an adorable puppy! And (naughty) Sarah, (Again, Janani made me do it) who asks Janani to skip sociology lectures. (Ahem). But really, our well-organized Sarah will be there for you in your darkest times! And Ms Fazal (Lil Safi) with her impeccable rizz and charm, photogenic face, with a brain of a scholar (Haters will say no). Shei, the mom of the bunch, always makes sure we eat and are not throwing ourselves off the nearest building! Mithu, with her brilliant voice, beautiful face, impeccable style and adorable personality (I told you to just eat the cake! And clearly, when I say she’s an all-rounder, I ain’t kidding girl). Kimaya with her game face on, is the most logical one who never fails to bring reason to the table and with her fun commentary! 

Michelle with her uncanny metaphors and beautiful words! Chamodi with her genshin impact obsessions and nightly rituals of summoning Dottore (I just know you do it every night!). Zainab, at first glance quiet, but savage as hell. Uvinya with her weird sticker collection which concerns me each day. (It gets wilder). And our lovely Savindya with the style of a Victorian queen and the heart of a pure angel, one of those friendships that survived the jump from school to university! Gumi with her Bollywood star style and Law canteen plain teas after CCA lectures. Senara whom I grew close to because of Rotaract itself, but still a friendship I dearly hold close, with her clean work ethic and beautiful face! And Sasith waiting to go home! From this to that to that to this, this bunch is as weird as it gets! (Do we mention those who crossed to the other side? Vibhavee, Sandithi, Hasanki and Nidu ya’ll better not forget us bunch!) 

Special mention of Senali, because without her university life would not be random visits to bookshops, vegetables roti in bus stands and loads of laughter and jokes until midnight because we both share the same insanity! If there is something I have learned being a part of all these talented amazing, adorable idiots is that doing this course was worth it a lot! If someone someday sits down and asks me about the reasons I continued despite when there were days I hit rock bottom, I’ll mention the people, the friends I made along the way who were ready with their hands wide open to embrace me in a hug whenever things were bad. I think the best thing to love is how we hold each other together, how we help each other push through. 

Maybe it’s not only the qualifications, maybe it’s watching Derry girls during breaks sitting in greens laughing out loud without a care in the world. Maybe it’s a private concert at 8 am because your lecturer did not come and left you with an activity. Maybe it’s the food we share, the laughter across halls, the endless complaining of the same two people over and over again. Maybe it’s the softness we have for each other, these relationships that hold us together when pressure tempts to pull us down. So, what I love is these brilliant, talented individuals I’m surrounded with. Those who unknowingly make my days a lot better. Those who make me want to push through another day, those who make me look forward to attending lectures (Even when it’s you know who). I love you all! And I hope we make it through this together!

Jana I did it! (Am at gunpoint please send help!)

-Rtr. Barani Imasha