My Jug Completes Me

I just watched the trailers of the film Dear Zindagi. I was caught up with the name of Shahrukh Khan’s character which is ‘Jug’. What I could infer from the trailers is that Alia’s character Kaira gets to look at life from a different perspective with the help of Jug in her life. I am sure, Jug is able to play an important role in Kaira’s life, facilitating her to develop a different outlook towards life, mend the broken pieces. I did not take a fraction of a second to think who my Jug is.

I believe that Family is the one whom we earn by birth; Friends are the ones whom we earn through life. Family inevitably becomes the most integral part of our grooming, our growing up years, shaping us up; friends also end up taking up various major roles in our lives – be it that of the soul mate or critic or secret-keeper, philosopher, advisor, guide, mentor etc. Life certainly becomes great if we have family and friends around, who mean the world to us. I feel fortunate enough to have a strong support system in terms of family and I also feel lucky to have one of the most prized possessions of having a friend who is my Jug.

Before introducing my Jug to you, I would also make a confession that I lost many of my good friends in life, sometimes due to my mistake and sometimes by their mistakes. Losing anyone is very painful.

My Jug actually means the Jug (world) to me. I would never like to lose my Jug ever in my life. It is not that we are exactly similar, but that itself is the biggest strength of our friendship. We complete each other. It is not that our relationship did not face the test of time, but we evolved over the years. So, let me unveil the name of my Jug – Thomas Mathews.

Thomas is one friend, who knows me in and out. There is actually no secret between us, rather, I can’t have a secret. He knows and understands my thoughts also. He is the biggest critic of mine, criticizes like hell but appreciates also equally. We do indulge in mutual admiration club as well as mutual critic club. He is one person, with whom, I don’t fear to share my weird thoughts too since I know I will not be judged. At times, he might get too analytical but when I express my outlook, he accepts and understands too. This is a fact that our journey of friendship has been an emotional roller coaster too. The best part of our friendship is that we have mutual regard, care, concern and feelings. There are no manipulations and calculations in our friendship. The thoughts, feelings and emotions in our friendship are reciprocal.

When I look back at almost 17 years of our association, there are many defining moments in our friendship. With every defining moment, we learnt, grew, evolved and became more of who we are. Today we are best friends and business partners. I would like to present some handpicked Bollywood film titles and shayaris which I feel would explain the bliss of friendship me and my Jug have in our life.

Jab We Met: Dedicated to the moment, when we met

Mujhse Dosti Karooge: The desire of being a friend to one another

Hum Aapke Kaun Hain: We were so sure of our bond of friendship

I feel, it is easy to make friends, but what is more important is to make the friendship long-term, a sustainable one. Both have to invest in the friendship emotionally. Presenting the Essence of Our Friendship.

Andaz Apna Apna: How we complete one another

Dil to Pagal Hai: We are absolutely eccentric in our passion towards life

Om Shanti Om: How we make each other calm

Khamoshiyan: We are comfortable with even Silences

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam: Our friendship has mixed emotions, all situational

Main Hoon Na: Unconditional Assurance to one another

Zanjeer: Keeping the friendship free from shackles

Guide: My Jug – My Guide

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron: We practice the Art of Forgiving and Forgetting

Satya: The commitment to stay true to self and to one another

Dhoom3: Having fun together

Dil Se: Living the friendship

I have tried to put across the essence of our friendship. Last but not the least, i just want to say this: Thomas, my Jug, you are very important to me. God bless our friendship.