"The best friend is the one who brings out the best in you.”

Am I speaking to Kalyani? The woman asked.
Kalyani checked the unknown number on her mobile. Normally, she would cut any unknown call, but she picked up the call and wondered who was calling her by that name.
“Kalyani, remember me! Anuradha from St. Xavier’s!"
“Anu! Of course, I remember you. How can I forget you?”
“You are my inspiration and motivator,” Kalyani murmured.
“Guess what! The Class of 2000 has planned a reunion next week. Imagine! It’s 25 years since we left school! Time flies so fast! Two boys from our class, I mean two men, are arranging a hall near the school, so we can even visit the school,” Anuradha said.
“Hello! Hello, Kalyani. Are you there?” she asked.
“Yes, Anu. I am listening. When is the function?”
“It’s this Saturday. Four classmates are contacting as many batch mates as possible. I will send you the program on WhatsApp.”
“I am so happy I could contact you! Where are you? Remember! We met in Chennai a decade ago?”
“I am in Bengaluru…..I ...”
Anu interrupted.
“Sorry Kalyani, I am getting a call. It must be a classmate returning my call. Let us continue our discussions on WhatsApp. Bye! See you this Saturday! Kissi, Kissi! Hug! Hug!" She cheered hurriedly, ending her conversation.
Kalyani sat back. She looked at the pile of work before her, but her thoughts had already flown back to the ‘90s.
Anuradha, two more girls, Jaya and Leena, and she lived in a big residential complex. Every day they walked to the school together. She had joined the school in 6th class. Anuradha was a topper and always stood first in her class. She excelled in sports, dramatics and won virtually every competition held in school.
Kalyani was good at studies and always got 2nd or 3rd rank in her class. But she wanted to excel in academics like Anu. She idolised her.
“Anu, can you help me with Hindi and Maths?” she asked Anu while returning home from school one day.
“Of course, Kalyani. Let’s start today. You come home and we will do our homework together. I will explain to you what I know.”
From that day, Kalyani would go to Anu’s home and solve the Hindi and Maths problems together. Anu always encouraged Kalyani. She prodded her to participate in debates, elocution competition and sports, but Kalyani was shy, reticent. She was only interested in academics.
The two girls were as different as the proverbial chalk and cheese. Anuradha, whom everyone called Anu, had short, curly hair. Her eyes shone with enthusiasm as she spoke and interacted with all the students and teachers. She was tall, chubby, smart, cheerful and exuberant. Compassionate, confident, ambitious, yet kind, and had a helping nature.
Kalyani was slim, tall, sporting long straight hair in a pony. She was quiet, reserved, and hardly spoke to just a few of her classmates. She preferred to sit and watch others talking, chatting, discussing. But her warm eyes and smile revealed her kind nature.
The two were close and best friends.
When the results of their 9th class were announced, Kalyani stood first in their class, beating Anu.
Kalyani was thrilled, yet apprehensive and looked at Anu who was dejected and upset.
When the class ended, Anu picked up her bag and rushed home.
Kalyani tried to call out to her, but her friends surrounded her, preventing her from running after Anu.
That evening, wondering how to meet Anu, she visited her house. She noticed her red eyes.
Kalyani said,” Sorry Anu…” she didn’t know what to say.
“Why Sorry? You should say thank you, is it not?”
“And give some gift to your Guru,” Anu added.
Kalyani just hugged her friend, murmuring, thank you, thank you.
“But for your help, I wouldn’t have achieved this,” Kalyani said.
“I agree with that! Totally! Without a Guru like me to push and motivate, you would not have bagged the first rank.” Anu spoke genuinely.
Kalyani nodded.
“Honestly, I was shocked and upset when our teacher announced that you stood first,” Anu spoke a while later.
“But I realised that was boorish of me. Sorry Kalyani. I know, you studied hard and you deserve it. Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” Kalyani repeated.
“OK. Now that we have our Board exams next year, let us compete with each other!” And see who wins the race.”
“But let me warn you. I will do my best to snatch back my position!” Anu spoke with determination.
They studied hard, making notes, discussing and testing one another. Both got distinction. Kalyani scored 91% while Anu topped the school with 93%.
Kalyani’s father was transferred to Chennai, so she moved to that city and started her college.
“Now that your Guru will not be there to guide, motivate you, I want you to practice self-motivation. Best of luck, dear Kalyani.” Anu spoke when they parted.
Anu joined a prestigious college in Mumbai. Busy with their studies, the two friends lost contact.
A year later, Kalyani lost her father. She took up computer engineering after securing a good rank in JEE. She completed her engineering, bagging a gold medal. She wished to pursue an MS in the US but fate played truant.
Doctors diagnosed her mother with stage 2 cancer. As she was an only child, her mother arranged her marriage with Vishwanath. Her wedding took place immediately after she finished her final semester. Vishwanath and she stayed at her mother’s place.
Despite receiving several job offers, Kalyani prioritized caring for her mother. Two years later, her mother passed away. She gave birth to a son, and two years later, she had another.
Vishwanath was a successful lawyer. Her world revolved around her husband and children. Sometimes, she envied other women of her age, managing both career and home, but did nothing to disturb her placid life.
“Enough of reminiscing. Let me do some work, “she thought.
But she couldn’t concentrate. The call from Anu opened a Pandora's box of memories......
She and her family were on a trip to Mumbai to attend a wedding. At the wedding, she bumped into Anu.
“What a surprise!” They hugged each other, and she introduced her husband and children to Anu.
“Congratulations! You have been busy, my dear.” Anu winked naughtily.
“What about you? “ Kalyani asked. “Married? Where are you?”
“I am in the US. Completed my MS and now working. Came to India to see my father settled here. This is my cousin’s wedding, so I joined the celebrations.”
“Kalyani, we are meeting after so long. Let us sit in some quiet place and catch up. What say?”
Before Kalyani could react, Anu walked up to Vishwanath and said,” We are school friends meeting after 10 long years. Can you manage the kids while we catch up?” Dragging Kalyani, they went to one of the empty rooms and sat in a corner away from the chatter, music, wedding hustle and bustle.
“So happy to have bumped into you, Kalyani. Now spill! What are you doing? Where are you working?”
Kalyani related her parents' death, why she had to marry immediately after her engineering and her domesticated life.
“Don’t you feel wasted?” Anu asked slowly. “Please don’t misunderstand. Now your sons are grown up and I am sure you have lots of free time. What do you do the whole day?”
“Managing house, husband, children. Look after their studies....” Kalyani replied lamely.
“Come on, Kalyani. A Gold medallist is sitting at home and teaching ABC to children. You are wasting your talent.”
“I did try, Anu. Applied to 1-2 companies but got no response. Then I gave up.”
“You gave up after applying to 2 companies! You have to keep trying, Kalyani. Why give up so easily? You could start your own company! There are various opportunities to work, if you put your mind to it.”
“You are wasting your talent, Kalyani! A brilliant student, you are sitting at home and cooking! Not acceptable! I feel like shaking you out of this lethargy!”
Kalyani kept quiet. She knew her friend was right. Many days, she also felt like doing something. But hearing her friend chide her, she got upset.
“It is easy for you to lecture me. You don’t understand my circumstances. I'm happy, so don’t lecture me.” She responded angrily and walked back to the hall where Vishwanath was sitting with children.
As they left the venue, Anu came running and hugged her. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to hurt you. Kissi! Kissi! Hug! Hug!”
That was the turning point in her life.
Anu’s words were like arrows poking her, hurting her. She tried to convince herself that her life was a happy one. She gave excuses for not making a career.
Her home, cooking, teaching children began to gnaw at her. She snapped at her children for no fault of theirs. Sulked the whole day and spent sleepless nights replaying Anu’s comments.
After about a week, Vishwanath asked her what was troubling her. Kalyani couldn’t hold back. She told him what Anu had told her and how she was tormented by it.
“What does your heart say?” he asked gently. “Do you think your friend was right?”
“Yes, “she whispered. “I wish I could work and use my degree, knowledge.”
“Then let’s find ways to do that.” Her husband answered calmly.
“But.. children…home. Who will give me a job after so many years?”
“The first step is your decision. Be firm in your decision. And work towards achieving.”
“But…”
“No ifs and buts. Only how, when, and where.” He told her.
The next day, she started looking for a job. But she did not find any suitable opening. After trying for a few months, she was disappointed.
She remembered Anu’s words.
“You could start your own company! There are various opportunities to work, if you put your mind to it.”
Vishwanath suggested she join his legal firm.
She found Law interesting. It was very different from the engineering background. Property, marriage, and divorce laws were fascinating to read.
Initially, she digitized a few Acts and rules to help Vishwanath when he argued in the Court.
Vishwanath noticed her interest and asked if she was ready to digitise the documents in his office.
Kalyani worked on the project for 6 months. She also used her computer background to create a software program that linked a particular law, the relevant rules and the case files. Everyone praised her efforts. The project was a success. And Kalyani was proud of her accomplishment.
She continued the digitisation work as a timepass to keep herself busy in the afternoons. It gave her satisfaction. Simultaneously, she enrolled on an online law course.
One day, as she waited for her husband in his office, a woman walked in seeking help to regain a property. A few days later, her husband told her they didn’t accept her case as she could not afford their legal fees.
Kalyani decided to help the poor woman by giving her free legal service. She argued the case and helped the poor woman to get back her property.
That was the beginning of numerous cases that Kalyani serviced free of cost, particularly for poor people. She became popular, people thronged from far to seek her help. She sought the help of local advocates in district and small cause courts to help such men and women.
Within five years, the news of her philanthropic service spread far and wide. Her “Free & Legal” outfit gained popularity. She received many accolades and awards. Kalyani became famous. Her talks were sought after. Her messages and speeches were applauded. She wrote books that became references in law colleges. Her name and face flashed on TV, media, newspapers and magazines. She was affectionately called Karuna Devi.
Every occasion, she was felicitated, she would thank her friend, Anu, for awakening, and prodding her to do something.
“How I wish I could contact Anu and thank her. Her words woke me up from my slumber.” But she had lost her contact number.
Mrs Karuna Vishwanath was also honoured with Padma Shree.
When Kalyani reached the venue, the function had begun. She had messaged Anu that her flight was late. As she entered, a few persons at the entrance recognised her.
“Madam Karuna, please come! Please come. They led her solicitously towards the dais. There were whispers among the guests, wondering who had invited the famous legal luminary Karuna to the function and why she was attending a school reunion party.
The compere addressed all the batch mates, “Friends, we are privileged that the famous, Smt Karuna Vishwanath, Padma Shree felicitated personality has joined us in our silver jubilee celebrations. I request her to say a few words.”
She looked out for Anuradha. She couldn’t see her.
Going up to the microphone, she spoke,” Hi friends! Remember me? I am Kalyani, your batchmate from the class of 2000!
There was a shout, a gasp, a scream of disbelief.
“You are Kalyani! Not Legal Karuna? You look so much like her.”
“That shy, reserved Kalyani!”
“What a transformation! You look so different!”
“No one would have recognised you!”
“OMG! What a proud moment that our batch mate is such a famous personality!”
Kalyani looked at the bemused faces and thanked all of them.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Anuradha rushed to the dais, screaming,” Kalyani! Is it you? OMG! I can’t believe! You look so different.”
“Is it the same Kalyani I met in Chennai about 8-10 years back?”
“Yes, dear. I am the same Kalyani.” She hugged Anuradha and whispered in her ears, Kissi! Kissi! Hug! Hug!”
The organiser rushed to her and said, “Madam, please speak to us. Your speeches are so motivating and enlightening!”
“Mr Mayank Patel, right? Please don’t call me Madam. We are all classmates and this is a reunion. For all of you, I am just Kalyani.” She said, smiling at their bewildered look.
“You look so different from the Kalyani I met,” Anuradha repeated.
“The shy, reserved, stay-at-home woman transformed into a smart, confident, successful woman.”
“Why did you change your name?” someone asked. “Is it to match your vocation?” Madam Karuna sounds so befitting your pursuit.”
“My husband’s sister’s name was Kalyani, so they changed my first name to avoid confusion. So, I am Karuna for them, but to you all, I am Kalyani.”
“And Karuna Devi, for all who look upon you with reverence.”
“I have seen, heard so many of your talks but did not recognise this famous personality with the shy, reserved Kalyani. The name change also didn’t help,” someone commented.
“You are truly an inspiring and motivating personality.”
“And do you want to know who motivated me? Who was my inspiration?” Kalyani asked.
She pulled Anuradha towards her and said, “Meet my motivator. If I had not met Anuradha on 12th October 2010, you would have met the same shy, reserved Kalyani you had bid goodbye after our 10th Board. When I met her, I was a housewife, handling household work. That day, I met Anuradha at a function and she scolded, ridiculed, and chided me for wasting my life and knowledge. That wakened the sleeping dog in me. I realised how lethargic I had become. I took control of my life. Initially, I helped my husband at his law firm. That ignited my interest in law. Earned a law degree and gave free service to poor people who could not afford legal charges. That’s how Kalyani got transformed into Karuna. All credit to my friend, Anuradha, my mentor, motivator.”
“Someone has rightly said- A best friend is one who believes in you even when you’ve stopped believing in yourself. For me, Anuradha is that friend.”
The two friends hugged each other.
“Come On guys! Let us all enjoy this reunion. Let’s party, dance and mingle!”
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