This is the tale of the most amazing friendship I have ever had, with a girl named Harini. My name is Aditi.

On the first day of middle school, it all started. Since I was new to the school, I must admit that I felt anxious. With so many unfamiliar faces in the congested hallways, I felt like a little fish in a large pond. One of the voices I would soon come to recognize most in my life was heard as I stood there, clutching my books and attempting to figure out where I was supposed to go.

"Hey, need assistance locating your class?"

When I looked back, I saw a girl with a simple grin and beautiful eyes. It was the Harini. I was immediately relieved when she finished speaking. I had no idea at the time, but this was the beginning of something quite unique.

I quickly became dependent on Harini. She was hilarious, self-assured, and the life of the party—everything I wasn't. I was a bit more reclusive, a dreamer and a thinker, but we were the ideal complement to one another. We stayed up late talking about our dreams, spending our days skulking around the school during lunch to explore the secret paths behind it, and consoling one another during difficult times.As we grew older, we started to find our own paths. Harini was a natural leader. She threw herself into school activities and led the debate team to victory. I, on the other hand, found solace in writing. My journal became my best friend, filled with stories and poems that I never showed anyone—not even Harini. Despite our different interests, our bond only grew stronger. We celebrated each other’s successes, and when one of us stumbled, the other was always there to help them up.

One summer, just before our senior year of high school, Harini and I decided to take on an adventure that we had been dreaming about for years—a road trip to the mountains, just the two of us. We had an old map, a tent that we barely knew how to use, and a car filled with enough snacks to last a month.  We were ready for anything… or so we thought..

Although the vacation was incredible, there were some difficulties. We mistook a few turns, encountered an unforeseen downpour, and even spent one night in the car after forgetting to set up our tent at night. But each obstacle just served to strengthen our bond. We spent hours discussing what the future might hold, laughing at our mistakes and singing along to our favorite songs.
We made a commitment to one another while sitting by a campfire under a starry sky on our final night of travel. We knew that no matter where life led us, we would eventually come back to one another. I pledged to correspond with Harini from my current location, and she reciprocated with anecdotes from her experiences in the realms of politics, business, and other pursuits.

Years went by, and our paths in life diverged. I turned the dreams and stories I wrote down in my journal into books and became a published author. Harini went on to become a prosperous businesswoman, renowned for her capacity to unite people and exercise graceful leadership. Like the stars that had observed our commitment that night, our friendship endured even though we weren't always in the same location.

We always go on another road trip together every year. We never forget where we came from—two girls with enormous goals, an antiquated map, and a friendship that could withstand any adversity—even if we constantly explore new regions.

This is both Harini's and my tale. It's the tale of a friendship that has molded me in ways I never would have thought possible, and I will always treasure it.