What Choti M Taught Me About Friendship

Choti M taught me the true meaning of friendship, quietly, innocently, and without even knowing it.

Badi M and Choti M were born just five months apart and have grown up almost as if they were meant to walk life side by side. Call it Nanaji’s blessings or a beautiful coincidence, but M & M were gifted the same love and togetherness that D & P once shared, perhaps even more. From the very beginning, being together came naturally to them.

Life, of course, tried its best to intervene. External forces made repeated attempts to keep them apart. But M & M had their “tikis joined”, an unspoken bond that refused to loosen. Whether it was a hurried “hi” between classes or a stolen conversation while walking to the washroom, nothing brought them more joy than catching a glimpse of each other and sharing their little stories.

One regular Friday evening, I went to pick up Badi M from her football class. Thanks to it being a no-meeting day, I reached a bit early and decided to watch their match. One of those very “external forces”, their football coach, had very deliberately placed M & M on opposite teams. And honestly, I don’t blame him. Keeping them on the same team would have meant far less football and far more chatting.

Badi M’s team was leading by a goal, and Choti M’s team was under pressure to equalise. In an intense moment, Badi M sprinted forward, chasing the ball to score a second goal, when she tripped, fell hard, and clearly hurt herself. Choti M was right behind her, perfectly placed to take control of the ball. In any normal match, that would have been her moment, to seize the opportunity and score for her team.

But this wasn’t a normal moment.

Choti M left the ball.
She ran straight to Badi M.

She hugged her, brushed her knees, checked her carefully, and made sure she was okay. Winning didn’t matter. The match didn’t matter. What mattered was that her best friend knew she wasn’t alone.

And that—that moment—completely stole my heart.

A friendship so pure. So innocent. So deeply human.

The match ended in a draw, but Choti M had already won in my eyes. I can only hope that this bond remains untouched by the weight of responsibilities, deadlines, and distances that life inevitably brings. Because some relationships are not formed by chance.

They are simply meant to stay.