A friend in need is a friend in deed

Kenisha Awasthi, singer-songwriter
My best friend of 16 years, Anuradha has proven time and again why friends are truly a saving grace. I remember this one time when I was so broke that I didn’t have food to eat.

But I just couldn’t bring myself to ask anyone for help. I have been on my own since I was 17 years old, so asking my parents for help was not even an option — my pride wouldn’t have let me. Without me saying a word, Anuradha landed on my doorstep one day with enough food for the next week. I can never forget that incident.

Shakti mohan, dancer
A few days after winning the dance show I was a part of, I was totally directionless. People were sweet talking me into making decisions. There’s a friend of mine who is also a dancer and we were competitors back then. She is very, very blunt with her approach and doesn’t mince words. We had our tiffs and were not on the best of terms.

However, she gave me the best advice anyone could ever give me. She told me to keep learning and keep dancing, and to stay away from being a mainstream choreographer. She told me I wasn’t perfect yet. Today, she is one of my closest friends. Always respect friends who are blunt in their approach — they usually wish the best for
you.

Raftaar, singer and rapper
I was born in Kerala and I had a few select friends growing up. I shifted to Delhi and my parents are also based there now. There is this one friend of mine in Kerala, with whom I grew up. He didn’t have the means to afford a good education. I had started earning early in life, doing shows here and there, making money. I helped him get through college because he deserved it. He paid me back in the sweetest way possible. I was on tour on international shores.

During that very period my mom who I am very close to, took ill. This friend of mine travelled all the way from Kerala to Delhi and made sure that my mom was taken care of. He stepped in like a second son in my absence. I just can’t thank him enough for this gesture and I am obliged to him for life. I can’t think of any other incident that describes the above adage more perfectly.