This post is a part of ‘Meet Me At Starbucks’ activity by Starbucks and IndiBlogger with the theme ‘Good Things Happen When We Get Together’. Read more about it here – http://www.meetmeatstarbucks.in/

By: Keyur Seta

As a part of my profession, I have to regularly meet people to take their interviews. In terms of satisfaction, some of these interviews are fun, some are not bad while few completely forgetful. But even the ones that fall in the fun category don’t necessarily turn into friendship; the relation is more professional or work-related. However, unexpectedly and completely out of the blue, I came across one such interviewee, who became one of my closest friends in no time.

It was January 25 this year when I had to interview a filmmaker Ajita Suchitra Veera. (Honestly, I remember the date only because Salman Khan’s Jai Ho had released a day before.) The interview was related to her debut film Ballad Of Rustom, which qualified for Oscar contention this year.

I was looking forward to it as it is always interesting to speak with off-beat filmmakers. I personally appreciate those who are bold enough to show the courage to tread against the tide. Just looking at the subject of her film, I was sure she is a bold individual, who doesn’t shy away from speaking her mind. But my interest was limited to this only, not knowing there was more in store.

She reciprocated my hello with a warm smile as I reached the table she had chosen in the open air area of a coffee shop. There was nothing to feel joyful about it as it is a routine practice to exchange pleasantries in, almost, every profession. As the interview commenced and kept rolling, I realized my prediction about she being bold was spot on! But what was more pleasing was her informal manner of responding, which was more like a friendly chat than an interview.

Things became friendlier as we chatted for a good amount of time much after the interview ended. While returning home, I felt a sense of satisfaction as it was one of my most enjoyable interviews. So I was sure we both would be in touch from now onwards. But still, there was quite some distance to cover before becoming close friends.

As per my promise, I mailed her the links of my blogs and, later on, informed her when her interview was published in my magazine. Hence, we started being in touch through the net and realized we have absolutely similar views on politics, religion, social issues and, almost, everything in life. So it wasn’t surprising that we decided to meet up again at a similar place.

Our first informal meet was excellent. We spoke on various issues and didn’t realize when more than three hours passed by. I felt completely at ease, which doesn’t happen always with me so early with someone. Needless to say, there was a lot of laughter too. The same was the case with our next few meets. In this way, a routine interview provided me with a close and respected friend.

A peculiar feature about our chats was that they all happened face-to-face and not online or on phone. Of course, we have interacted through SMS’es and Facebook chats but all our discussions have happened only in person. I also realized that Ajita is the only person with whom I have had long discussions face-to-face in last eight years or so.

Mobiles, computers and other such gadgets were introduced to help us be in touch with all our close ones without meeting them in person. But on the contrary, this has distanced us from our near and dear ones as now all discussions and chats take place only in the virtual world.

Today when I look back over the last eight years or so, I realize that only the talks that have provided me with the maximum satisfaction are the ones that took place face-to-face. I have had long conversations regularly over the years on chats and phone, but the joy of meeting someone and discussion gives a different high.

As I have strictly limited my use of technology by not using internet or Whats App on phone, I feel my chances of getting such high are higher. After all, Good Things Happen When We Get Together.