All 4 one, one 4 all

For these four young moms, friendship goes beyond hanging out together in the evenings. In fact, it doesn't even figure in their scheme of things.
Friendship is a lot like love. Go around looking for it, and it's sure to elude you. Stop chasing it, and it'll catch you unawares... and before you know it, it has you well and truly in its benign grip.
But yes, once friendship has been struck, it has to be nurtured to sustain it, much in the same way as love.Of course, a child learns her first lessons in friendship the moment she steps out of her cocooned existence into school, inside its hallowed portals. But something equally meaningful often takes place outside those gates.
Meet the familiar foursome at a prominent girls' school in the city: The no-nonsense Niloufer Sadri from the modern metropolis of Ahmedabad, the soft-spoken Nikki Dhillon who brings with her the laid back charm of Bhopal, the sober Hemal Mukherjee with the girl-next-door appeal - quite literally as she is from Kanpur, and the effervescent Namita Prasad who exudes the verve and chutzpah of Delhi.
They are as different from each other as the proverbial chalk and cheese but they have come to share a bond that takes its roots in their children. And together they make a rocking combination!
These four young ladies who have made Lucknow their home after marriage, met while waiting to pick up their little ones from school and a basic like-mindedness drew them towards each other.
While their five-year-olds are shuffled in different sections every session and therefore are yet to understand friendship in its true sense, these moms have developed a rapport that makes the exercise of waiting, an experience to be looked forward to every day.
They meet, they interact and they leave. And when anyone of the four is missing, her absence is sorely felt, even though it might not be voiced in as many words.
While Hemal is the 'baby' of the group, Niloufer is fondly referred to as 'Boss' and it's not for nothing: she's always in the know of important things related to the school and beyond, and her friends are secure in the belief that Boss will be there for them when they need her most.
Trustworthiness is undoubtedly Niloufer's middle name. It also helps to have her as your pal as she bakes some of the most delicious cakes and muffins! Her friends who have had the privilege of partaking of the spread laid out on her daughter's birthday, will vouch for that.
As for Namita, you know she has arrived when peals of laughter ring in the air and there is bonhomie all around. Mild-mannered Nikki provides the perfect foil to Namita.
But make no mistake, she can strike a real lively conversation when the mood's upon her. And you gotta see Nikki when she has to put her point across.
Ms Soft can be as firm as a rock then. And Hemal? You won't find a better listener than this Gujjuben-turned-Bong.
Conventional wisdom talks of two tests of friendship.
One: You get to know who your friends are in crunch situations and two: How accommodating your friends are when interests clash.
And the famous four have passed both the tests with flying colours. However, there's something that sets them apart from the usual group of friends.
Ask them if they socialise after school? Hardly! they say in unison. Besides of course, the ubiquitous birthday parties.
They then turn around and ask you: What does friendship have to do with socialising? We are always there for each other - one for all and all for one! That's what real friendship is all about, isn't it?
But yes, these four have now made a pact to try and meet in the evenings once in a while (read: eat out!). You see, they are all big foodies, especially the two hard-core non-vegetarians who are married to strict vegetarians! And what better day to put that pact into action than on Friendship Day!
rajnish.sharma@timesgroup.com