Group friendships! Ah, the gang of three’s and four’s. Looks so beautiful from outside, right? But a group of “pals” or “buddies” more often than not is a kaleidoscope of characters, peeves, and inclinations that we cannot hope to diminish or conquer. When you are in a group of people, no matter how big or small the congregation of people is – remember this!!! Everyone needs the same amount of space and the same amount of dignity as you do.
In most of the groups, there will be one chap who will bear the brunt of most of the jokes, be the butt of all "well-meaning" jabs 99.99% of the time. Any attempt of restraining is met with something like - "Arre, we all know you wont mind"( Ah ah ah! Not minding is not a carte-blanche invitation to attack every time incessantly?!!?) or "Tch, if we can’t joke with friends then what’s the fun?"
With some people/groups, you can hope to get your point across even with the subtlest of hints; the others don’t just get the drift even when you scream at them at the top of your lungs. In such cases, what else can you do but sigh and let in/go in exasperation?!!? Actually the trouble with being nice is that everyone expects you will eat out of their hands.
The one who bears the cross with a smile never loses. It’s the people who are out to “have fun” who lose in the long run. I have heard so many people lamenting at the end of the day stating – We thought he/she was a friend whom we could depend on. But today we realize he/she doesn’t bother about us at all.
Well, people I can tell you only one thing. It’s a simple way of the world. What goes out is what comes in. Never expect to slight someone and get respected in return. That doesn’t happen. Has never happened and will never either. We all have fun at the expense of our friends and there is nothing wrong with that. No one is asking you to discuss Socrates and Pluto over a cuppa cappuccino. But the moment the jabs start emerging into a pattern – watch out! Get your act straight and keep a friend. Learn to recognize the destructive patterns you are establishing in your relationships and your friendships.
Or else you DO have a choice. Forget that you can forge a life-long relation with your “clown” partner. That clown has a heart of his/her own and is sensible enough not to give any coveted positions to the people who go on raking up his/her self-respect.
The choice is for you to make... Lets drink to a life-long friendship then!
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