Friendship's non-human comforts score over all

Friendship is one bond that we believe will always bring us solace and peace when times get rough. The thing about human friendship, though, is that it is not always a smooth ride. At times, you may find yourself in need of consolation, only to find that those you consider friends aren’t really around when they’re needed. It is at these times that our inanimate friends, be they books, movies or even plants, come to our rescue. This Friendship Day, we speak to Puneites to know the things, not people, they consider their best friends, when their human friends are unable to save the day.

Latin Ballroom dancer Irisha Poonawalla says that when people don’t do it for her, she turns to Google. “Google allows you to just immerse yourself in the knowledge it offers. I am an unstoppable Googler. I want to know everything about everything,” Irisha says, adding that besides offering a much-needed distraction, all that information on Google also gives her a different perspective on things, adding much value to the time she spends online.

It comes as no surprise, that when asked to pick a favourite inanimate friend, author Salil Desai replies with, “Books.” He adds, “Books make an excellent friend, because they speak to you. They talk about things other than the material stuff.” He further explains that books are close to one’s idealistic self and hence appeal to one in terms of idealism. They also allow you to indulge the mood you’re in, Salil says, adding that if it’s thrill you’re seeking, you can pick up a thriller. If you need some mirth, a lightweight, comic read would come to your rescue.

Tarot card reader and divination expert Gitu Mirpuri has a unique best inanimate friend – crystals. “I do crystal healing and have realised their power over the years. Crystals are children of the earth, just as we are. They vibrate with the same frequency,” Gitu says, adding that she often talks to crystals, because she considers them baby angels who help you find a way out of your troubles.

Social networking sites are student Rishikesh Kher’s best friends, whenever he finds himself in a lonely space. “I like finding pages and forums of my interest on Facebook and Twitter and engaging in conversations with like-minded people. Knowing other people’s viewpoint on different topics adds to my understanding of them and is an enriching experience,” Rishikesh says, adding that connecting with people on these websites makes him feel less alone.