From tiffin boxes to travel tales: Why your Rachel makes life better

Female friendships are a unique and powerful force, often forming the bedrock of a woman’s emotional and social well-being. These bonds, forged through shared experiences, deep understanding, and unwavering support, offer a sanctuary in a world that can sometimes feel isolating. We spoke to besties to know what continues to keep their bond strong:Simmran Chopra and Mehek TalrejaHow it started & how it’s going: Met through a mutual friend, now its’ been over 15 years. Mehek became my rock when I lost my husband. The magic ingredient: From Russia to Australia, travel is our thing, also we love Kaali dal & pizza.Why is she the Rachel to my Monica: Mehek stood by me when I hit rock bottom.– Simmran ChopraDevpurna Talapatra and Adity SenHow it started & how it’s going: We’ve been BFFs since we were three and it’s been 33 years. We got each other’s back, no matter what.The magic ingredient: From roadside tea stalls to fancy cafes, we share a love for chaa.Why is she the Monica to my Rachel: Aditi recently surprised me with a new lunchbox after a casual mention, a gesture I doubt my male friends would replicate.– Devpurna TalapatraUtsa Saha and Vivian Vasantha RajkumarHow it started & how it’s going: We were colleagues first. Vivi always cheered me up. The magic ingredient: We both love pastel colours so we share clothes a lot. Pasta and biryani’r aloo is our favourite too.Why is she the Rachel to my Monica: She’s been my constant, and a coffee or drink with her is my instant escape from anxiety.– Utsa Saha