DIG, controller of drugs, IPS Akun Sabharwal, a doctor-turned-administrator, has shared over two decades of close friendship with his anaesthetist friend Surjit Garg, who lives in Punjab.
How it all began
It was the first day of college in June, 1996, at the Senior Boys Hostel at Government Medical College, Patiala. “We were being ragged together in the corridor of the hostel by seniors. We met in the hostel on the first day as we were roommates. After the first meeting, we were just ‘hello-hi’ friends, but the bond grew deeper over a period of time,” recalls Akun, adding, “Five years of hostel life gave us some of our best memories together. Each day was an adventure. I could write a book on it.
“We borrowed a friend's Yamaha bike, drove up to Nangal Dam, which was 2½ hours away. On the way back we ran out of gas, with no gas station in the close vicinity. A villager suggested we try a mixture of kerosene and camphor. Viola, the bike worked, but just for a few kilometres before it stopped again. We tied the bike to a tree and hitched a ride in a truck back to Patiala. The owner had to spend a good amount to get the kerosene and camphor cleared from the engine.”
Laughing, he shares another hilarious story, “We used to attend marriages of unknown people in Patiala, all dressed up, just like the characters in 3 Idiots.”
Any embarrassing moments? Surjit flinches as he shares, “When I was staying at Akun’s residence… everyone at his house, including Akun, were waiting for me to have lunch with them, they didn’t eat till almost 4.30 pm and here I was with my fiancé. I had forgotten to inform that I wouldn’t be joining them.”
Even after two decades, the trust is unshakable. The distance and the miles are irrelevant. “We stay in different cities, have jobs which are different, the spouses and children have never met. Yet, he is the first person I call when I need advice or support,” says Akun.
For Surjit, maintaining a long-term friendship is all about trust and knowing that Akun will lend support when it's needed most. “Even though we don’t see each other as often, we are still connected. The very mention of his name brings a smile on my face. He is the one who knows me inside out and the best thing about him is that he is non-judgemental.”
