Internet is a great way to meet bright minds & form friendships only flaw is that based on written words such friendships are highly fragile, an innocent remark misunderstood & one can be shut out for good.

I agree there has to be space to nurture relationships. In interaction between Indians & foreigners misunderstanding develops because Indians tend to be informal & indiscreet very soon, also they share their personal details & expect others to share the same with a brief interaction & are nosy( to be polite ) may be because of our joint family system or sharing between siblings/friends we do not feel the need to be cautious.

Among Indians misunderstanding develops between members of opposite sex. Female are always suspicious of male intentions even when one is attracted to the mind of a lady or feels emotionally attached, she thinks being an object of lust. As no opportunity is given to the offending person & it is very easy to blacklist him the contact comes to an abrupt end, very sad indeed.

I often try to be more discrete after losing any such friend but the two sides of mind keep fighting & the same mistake is repeated again & again like driving a car with hand brake on. Mind fails to realize the lack of thrust or the blinking red light on the dash board I admit the offended party drops subtle broad hints or may be some plain speaking but the other side fails to stop when the interaction ends one is miserable.

Of course, one can be wiser & may meet other equally bright minds but an orange can never replace an apple though both are nourishing.

” jindagi ke safar main gujar jaate hain jo mukam wo fir nahin aate”

We can never revisit the mile stones we have left behind. We may brood & feel sad till eternity afterwards, a futile exercise, indeed.