Black to White Relationships

We instantly make a connection with someone, regardless of whether the reason for it is well-formulated or not, and do everything possible to build a relationship. Of course, this tends to fail in most cases, as the relationship needs some common ground and time to understand each other. However, every relationship has to start somewhere, and the starting point can be anything. For instance, it is easier to forge bonds with neighbours than with those living further down the street. We are inherently social, and hence we already have plenty of circumstances that open an opportunity to initiate relationships, for example, being a neighbour.

It is very natural/mandatory that we meet people and build relationships in shared places like educational institutions, workplaces, places of worship, recreational areas. Of course, not as a whole but in smaller circles such as the same class, the same team, and so on. The opportunities to get to know each other are plenty, and the environment forces us to form relationships. When we see a slightly bigger circle, we know many people but would have never interacted with them. For instance, you know someone belongs to your college but never had a chance to engage with that person personally. Sometimes, all it takes is a chance to initiate something. These moments often occur unexpectedly, in random places and times — perhaps at an event, in a shopping mall, or at a tourist spot.

Recently, I’ve noticed something interesting when I see people in the campus. I’ve found myself sharing smiles with a few, for the first time. What struck me was a commonality among them — each person’s hair colour had changed since I first saw them. Does the black to grey colour change have any connection to our sharing a smile? Yeah, obviously no. Rather, it is the impressions I have gathered over the years. I have seen them several times on campus, and each instance has given me something to form an opinion on. Maybe, I have seen them through some places where they expressed their thoughts. I might have heard about them from my friends. I have somehow taken them at least to my acquaintance and gradually building a sense of trust without even talking to them, without even sharing a smile, without even letting us know that somehow we know each other and respect for some reason. It feels great to share and receive a smile at a random moment and feel a fresh comradeship.