ADDA

 25 Years Later… Same Friends, New Habits!

The ADDA Group: From Endless Conversations to “Happy Birthday” and “RIP”

The Friendship That Survived Everything — Except Meeting Up

Twenty-five years ago, we were young, energetic and absolutely convinced that we would remain in touch forever. We spoke for hours, met without planning, dropped into each other’s homes and made grand promises: “No matter where life takes us, we will always stay connected.”

Then life happened.

Jobs happened ,Children happened ,Transfers happened. And Business happened.

Today, the same group survives on WhatsApp. Welcome to ADDA — the digital monument to a friendship that refuses to die, even if the members rarely meet.

The New Definition of “Keeping in Touch”

These days, keeping in touch has become wonderfully simple.

Someone’s birthday arrives.

Within seconds, the group comes alive.

“Happy Birthday, dear friend! 🎂🎉”

“Many many happy returns! God bless!”

“Happy birthday bro! Stay blessed!”

Then come the GIFs. Lots of GIFs. Balloons, cakes, dancing bears and celebrities doing things nobody asked them to do.

Someone inevitably searches the group for a photograph from 1998 and posts it with the caption: “Those were the days!”

For one glorious morning, it feels as if we are all together again.

By evening, ADDA returns to its natural state: silence.

And Then There Is the “RIP” Department

The other occasion when ADDA becomes extremely active is sadder.

Someone posts: “Sad news… Mr. Sharma passed away.”

Immediately:

“RIP 🙏”

“Om Shanti 🙏”

“Heartfelt condolences.”

“May his soul rest in peace.”

A few folded-hands emojis appear.

Someone forwards a philosophical quote about life.

And within ten minutes, the group falls silent again.

It is efficient, respectful and emotionally appropriate — but strangely similar to our birthday strategy. One message, one emoji, and we have officially fulfilled our annual social responsibility.

The Legendary Meeting That Never Happens

But the real entertainment begins when somebody writes:

“Guys, we must meet soon!”

This is the signal for ADDA to wake up.

“Absolutely!”

“Long overdue!”

“Let’s do it next month.”

“Yes! First weekend?”

“Great idea!”

“Done!”

Then reality enters the group.

“Guys, this weekend is difficult.”

“Next weekend I’m travelling.”

“After Diwali?”

“I have a wedding.”

“December is packed.”

“January definitely.”

And finally someone says the most dangerous words in the English language:

“Let’s plan properly.”

Twenty-five years later, the planning is still going on.

We have successfully organised careers, marriages, children, home loans, business ventures and international holidays.

But five friends having coffee together?

Mission impossible.

We Have Changed — But the Friendship Hasn’t

The funny thing is that nobody really leaves the group.

We may not call.

We may not visit.

We may not even remember everyone’s current phone number.

But we remain connected.

We know who has become a father. Who moved cities. Whose child got married. Who retired. Who bought a new car. Who is travelling to Europe.

All through tiny windows on a screen.

Perhaps this is what friendship looks like after 25 years. It is no longer about being together every day. It is about knowing that, somewhere in the middle of our busy lives, there are a few people who knew us before the grey hair, before the responsibilities and before the WhatsApp forwards.

Same Gang. Different Phase.

So here we are — 25 years older, hopefully a little wiser, and still together in ADDA.

We may meet less often.

We may talk less.

We may communicate mostly through birthday wishes, condolences, emojis and promises to meet “next month.”

But the bond is still there.

Because some friendships don’t need daily conversations.

Sometimes, a simple “Happy Birthday, yaar!” is enough to say:

“I still remember you.”

And sometimes, “Let’s meet soon” really means:

“I hope we do.”

Until then…

See you in ADDA.

Next month.

Definitely.

Pakka. 😄