Kitchlu (Faisal Rehman) - When I trace back my way thru the dusty lanes of memory one of the first childhood  friends that lit my way was kitchlu. He was my neighbor at the Vrindavan Gardens Flats and a year younger to me but taught me cricket and football and always protected me from the bullies.I have lost touch with him over the years. Last I heard of him was he was doing his Ll.B at National Law School, Hyderabad.

Abba (Prem Krishnan) - For a long time I never had close friends in school until this fat guy with a heart to match his frame joined Loyola in the 5th. We soon became good friends and everyone called us laurel and hardy for our contrasting physiques but also for our high-profile fights. He was another friend who was extremely protective of me but I regret today the many times I partook in making fun of him. I look forward to him coming over to the US and being able to rekindle the bond of friendship which distance has caused to fade a little over the last 6 years.

Motta ( Anand F.) - Until this friendly and witty guy came into my life I was very much a part of the quieter, lonelier section of the class. We started going for tuitions together from the eighth and since then we had been inseperable for the rest of our school life. I was always at close quarters watching his love life blossom, falter, fail and then another one flowering elsewhere. When we didnt reach home on time our mothers called each other and worried, when we did poorly in exams they consulted. I called him Motta  once and by minutes, in retaliation he gave me the Jabban nickname and many more shameful ones(both our nicknames have stuck on since that day). Another friend I really miss as I push ahead in life.

Thomman (Ninan Thomas) - I hated the very sight of him and made sure I never crossed his path till the 9th. But soon we were together for 2-3 tuitions and I realized that behind the arrogant, naughty and over-confident facade lay a person who wud do anything for his friends. I drew closer to him all the while and in the 11th I went for a contact class with him. That turned out to be a turning point in life bcoz I was never the same person when I returned...it seemed to me as though I had become a split personality manifesting shades of sensitivity and shyness from my original self and the reckless, high-spirited, devil-may-care attitude of thomman since that day. As a friend, I doubt whether any individual could have influenced so many of his classmates like Thomman did during our school days.

Viswan (Viswanath Prasad) - Among all my friends I think he is the one person destined to be in my heart and mind till the very end. During the first few semesters of college as our friendship kept growing and growing as part of the savages I kept thinking I knew him from some earlier time but I hit a dead end. One day while reefing thru our album I saw the same mischevious face staring at me from a UKG foto. There was a Viswanath who left in the UKG and I remember him to have been a good friend then. He later said he did his LKG at Lourdes just like me. Destiny had brought us together again and again. But Fate kept continuing with its handiwork. We both landed up in the US and anytime I needed his company, consolation or money there he was as...my knght in shining armor.

Savages (Shan M. Hanif, Anoop G. Kumar, Kiran Venkitesh, Kevin Vanhaltren, Arun Hari , Joseph Ninan, Shinoj S., Viswan)
If I dont miss having brothers each of these guys were responsible for that. I shud be writing a para each for them but when I think of our gang, the savages(coined from the first phonetic of each guys name) it is as though individuals didnt matter but what made us a great great gang was the glory that came in us 9 standing united in happiness, difficulties and our extra-curriculars. I hold them solely responsible for my longing to get back to TVM and the movie maniac I have become now. Shan was a selfless friend and loyal companion in all-times, Anoop was the soft-hearted tough guy who always made u feel safe during those tumultous and heady college days, Kiran was an enemy who turned my dearest friend, Kev was my confidante, Arun was the one who made me laugh and raise my spirits in tough times, Jofu is the man responsible for me earning my bread today from programming and Shinoj was the man I sos'ed on exam eves for notes and my companion in every movie I saw those 4 years.

Muthu (Mithun Ramachandran) - Like Viswan another shining light in my dreary life here. Although good friends in school it is the hardships which we faced here that brought the intimacy and trust into our friendship. Scarcely a day passes by when we dont speak an hour or more on the phone. We have conspired, debated, worried and laughed abt the direction our lives are taking. The humor he laces in his endless chatter have kept my spirits high and his academic comeback from a lost situtation is a source of great inspiration to me.

Babuettan and Binduchechi - I just wish the world had more humans like them. I have never met more caring, selflesss, simple and helpful people in my life. Knowing them changed a lot of things for me. My first day in Los Angeles, Babuettan handed me a map and told me to get lost. And thats exacty wht happened. I got on the wrong buses, reached LA's dark-underbelly b4 finally reaching at USC. I returned that day a very confident man. Since then they have provided hospitality to my family despite their discomforts, providing support and friendship to Jisha in my absence from LA and finally when the time came for me to get a car...giving me the money for it on no security. That day I cried and thanked god for bringing these ppl into my lives.

Mathew George - The first friend I made as an adult I should say. We dont have nicknames for each other or poke fun at each other.  Initially wary of him, we combined studied a course together and for a small help I did him then, his friendship and genuine concern for me was the greatest gift I got at USC. My spiritual guru in cooking and a wonderful conversationalist he and the other usc mallu guys made sure I rarely felt homesick. Many times on the verge of giving up on courses, his plainspeak on my lack of dedication and my immaturity did wonders besides his getting me the job at the usc film school which was an unforgettable experience.

Vikas Bansal - Another person without whom USC wud have been a horrible experience. As roomates we had so much fun at each other's expense but never fought! I can never forget the many night-outs we did and walking back home at 2 and 3ams. Can never forget how he kept motivating me whenever I felt my programming abilities were not upto the mark. We were so alike...totally carefree and most of the time shabby and sharing a liking for Thai food and KFC! I think he stands out in the whole of America as the only desi fob to beat up a kallu!!

Bipin Sadhwani - The most unusual friend I ever made. My whole life I never made a more possessive friend. I doubted if our friendship would last bcoz we cud never agree on anything. In terms of stubborness I always met my match in him but I could never ditch him because of the frank, sincere and innocent person he is. By his relentless search for the Big Job and the exemplarary care he takes of his parents he has been a big influence in my life.

Sujith Chacko - This Kanjirapally achayan came one year into my USC experience and since then he has been a true friend at all times. We share the same liking for movies and there's never a dull moment in his company. In my times of need I can never forget the helping hand he always extended to me.

There are many more close friends I have failed to mention here. They all are dear to me and along with my family they are the family that I have been forever lucky to choose in this life on Earth.