For Dr Venu Gopal, managing director, Century Hospital and Anil Kumar, MD, Shree Jewellers, it’s been fulfilling beyond words to travel back to their childhood. They say, “Our four decades of friendship is ultimately worth in gold and health.”
Dr Venu, a laparoscopic surgeon, says there is nothing like having an old friend to walk through life with you. “We have been there for each other through good and bad,”
Dr Venu says. “I can discuss anything with him and it’s always in the local Hyderabadi dialect. When we are together we speak it and we instantly feel connected,” he adds.
Many of their teenage memories revolve around discussing teachers, girls and studies. “We were a group of eight to 10 boys from Little Flower, who would hang out together. Once we got into Osmania Medical College our group got more defined and we used to sit together and talk about movies, girls and studies,” recalls Dr Venu, adding, “During Holi, we used to roam around the city in our jeep, drag our friends out and play with colours.”
Keeping childhood friends is not easy today, especially when they’re in different professions. Venu, after completing his medicine, went to England for higher studies. They were apart for six-seven years, but were always connected through the phone. “Even with seven years of separation, the trust was unshakable. Nothing changed,” says Anil. “After I came back from England, we would meet every Friday and sometimes even talk till 1 am,” says Venu.
Anil adds, “We travel a lot together, and even our wives get along very well. Recently, we all went to Bhutan together.”
What is 40 years between childhood friends? “The foundation of our friendship is intact and time, with all its advantage, has grown old with us,” says Dr Venu. “We know that not all childhood friends share a strong bond. Nothing is complete without Anil. In our house even if anyone gets a headache, Venu is there. He is like a guardian to my children,” says Anil.
