Dedicating a Day to a Special Person!

By Samyati Mohanty

"What is the name of your best friend?"

"It's been a month now, come on don't say that you haven't made friends in your school yet!"

Remember these lines? Oh how can we forget these things. There was a time when wherever you went you had to name a friend who is the closest to you, whom you consider your BEST FRIEND! This was a very common question especially in family gatherings. 

Those school days when your English teacher was instructing you how to write informal letters. Yes! That special letter to your friend inviting him/her to your birthday party. And I bet you never wrote anyone's name except… your BEST FRIEND'S name, which had a mandatory address!  

Wondering where did we leave these attachments, feelings…"best friend moments" ?

While we pass phase after phase, headings towards adulthood, those cute little moments fade away with time. We grow up, choose different paths and somehow lose connection with our old friends. But there is one thing that's true for sure, with every different phase you will have friends with different charm. There will be the one who would always find out ways to make you laugh madly, the one who would know how you have been with just the way you talk over text! The one who will take you on endless adventures (through imagination because that's free of cost ;))  the one who will be your mom's favourite, the one who loves to prepare delicious recipes and the one with just a tight hug and you would feel so relieved after ranting about everything that's been troubling you! 

No matter where they come from, how they carry themselves, they are the best!! And as time never waits, you will end up missing them so much that they will be staying so far away to relive those moments and make you feel better. But that's when each of you will be remembering about the trip that you all had planned and promised to make it a success, someday!

As we all share the same emotion of strong, never-ending bond of FRIENDSHIP, here is something I would like to say. No matter where you go, how grand your lifestyle becomes, and how many people you meet all over your life, remember that there were days when you took parental advice from a not-so-parent person, you were listened and felt wanted when you had hit the bottom of your self-esteem…and so much more.

By saying all this I simply mean that, Hey you! Yes you! You are utterly missed by your friend, who lives far away from you, who still remembers those moments when you were successful in embarrassing him/her…and laughs. You are always welcome to visit that unjudged fellow who loves you, cares for you, understands you even from this distance and yes, is still waiting to meet and wish you a happy friendship day while hugging you and then gift a glittering band that says "you're my best friend" (which he/she has purchased from his/her own earning, unlike school days).

Oh it's not ending here! 

For the day when you finally get to plan out with your best friend, and feel just hanging out in your pyjamas try out this quick recipe that i am sharing below. 

Sweet chilli chicken lettuce wraps recipe-

INGREDIENTS

1/2 c. sweet chilli sauce

1/3 c. low-sodium soy sauce Juice of 1 lime, plus wedges for serving

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. Sriracha 2 tsp. freshly grated ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

12 leaves romaine or butterhead lettuce, for cups

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1 carrot, shredded

1 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro

DIRECTIONS

Combine chilli sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, oil, Sriracha, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl.

Add chicken breasts to the bowl and toss with marinade.

Heat a large grill pan over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden with grill marks and no pink remaining, 8 to 10 minutes per side.

Transfer to a plate to let rest, then thinly slice.

Build your lettuce cups: Fill lettuce cups with chicken and garnish with onion, carrot, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Tan-tada…you're done! 

Happy friendship day! :))