They rushed out exhilarating, all excited with a marble each, cozily nestled in their tiny palms, cocooned tightly in their hands, safe and snug. Not that they had beforehand decided that they’d meet up to play, but they rushed outdoors anyways. What game would be played with those three marbles none had a clue. That was something which would get decided on the fly, casually. Who would take the den wasn’t preplanned either. Their games wouldn’t bear too much of systematic planning. It was all kept spontaneous. And in this very spontaneity there lied a charm. In those marbles was hidden a childhood;  in their games was hidden an innocence. Nothing learnt, nothing practiced, yet all was so well synchronized.

Three friends with three marbles tucked in their sweaty palms, each trotting along to play effortlessly. Petty squabbles were a part of their play, and none seemed to really mind it. It was all taken in stride.

Their marbles were colorful, vibrant red, green and yellow. And those marbles weren’t purchased; they were accidentally discovered by the trio one day right behind the guava orchards, as they were returning from school,. Exactly three marbles were found, as if they were deliberately kept there just for those three friends. Hence the marbles had all the more special place in each of their hearts. It was almost a year since they had possessed these marbles.

This was way back in their childhood days.

Today their ages are ripe, yet, so many years down the line, there are two things each of them still has preserved affectionately—the three marbles, and their friendship bondage.

Strange as it may sound, one day the trio decided to meet up at one of their own friend’s place. No occasion, no reason, just casually, over dinner. During the course of the conversation, they remembered their marbles. In fact, the marbles hadn’t merely been their play things; they had been their platform, on which was staunchly sitting their years of friendship and companionship. So marbles were always there at the back of their minds. For this dinner, even their respective spouses had accompanied them. As the lively evening was coming to a close, one of the spouses decided to play a prank with the trio of friends. He had already heard enough stories of their “Marbles and Togetherness stuff”. Now he thought it would be a right time to test these friends. So he declared to the three- The next time we meet up, please bring along your marbles; for let us also see how grounded and firm your friendship is, so much defined by three marbles”.

Their next meeting was an occasion- one of the spouses’ birthdays, which was lined up the subsequent Sunday.

They dispersed, only to meet again the subsequent Sunday. When probed about the marbles, the three quietly opened their shining purses and removed a red, a green, and a vibrant yellow marble each, only to see some astonished expressions unfold before their eyes. Their spouses were left speechless.

After all, even the spouses realized and had to admit, they the marbles for the lady friends weren’t simply play things—the three marbles belonging to the three friends, who shared the thickest of friendships had in them a splendid dash of their childhood and of the younger years gone by………

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