While casually scrolling through Facebook amidst the festive mood of International Friendship Day, a sudden realization hit: Of course, our ultimate sanctuary is 'Bondhushabha'! The sheer antics of newcomers at this grand congregation of carefree souls are enough to make even Einstein's theory of relativity pause for a second.
I vividly remember my first day at Bondhushabha. With wide-eyed curiosity and an innocent face, I approached Anik Bhai and asked, 'Bhaiya, how do I make friends here?' Anik Bhai, often nicknamed 'RAB' for his stern demeanor, replied gravely, 'You want to make friends? Then first complete three programs with us, attend two meetings, and write one report. After that, you'll see—friendship will happen all by itself!'
Thus, my mission began. I first approached a senior member and asked, 'What are your hobbies?' He replied, 'Social work.' 'What do you do in your free time?' 'Social work.' 'Favorite food?' 'Whatever is served at the program.' I stopped asking. It was clear the man had no personal life; he was a walking, talking organizational activity himself. He is our legendary Pappu Bhai.
Next, I met a new recruit named Joy. I asked, 'Did you come here to make new friends?' He said, 'Yes.' 'What kind of friends do you prefer?' 'Someone who likes my posts, replies to my stories, and wishes me on my birthday.' Reassured, I said, 'I can do all of that.' He immediately retorted, 'Then go like my last five posts first!' A digital security deposit right at the threshold of friendship! I realized that nowadays, matching hearts isn't enough; you have to match algorithms too.
During the Bondhushabha lunch, I sat next to another friend, Nadira, and said, 'It was wonderful getting to know you.' With a sweet smile, she replied, 'Same here.' Then, glancing at my plate, she asked, 'Are you going to eat that bone?'
