Constant Change

Would you really detach yourself from a friend on the grounds of class and status?

Let us take the case of my friend Puja Sethia. She and I were friends from the seventh standard. She was this stinky rich "Porche" kind of girl, and I was this "Maruti 800" kind of girl. But she and I got along like a house on fire.

We used to sit together at school and would have the best time together. She used to invite me to her lavish birthday parties, and I remember looking at the high ceiling of her bungalow and wondering how people could be so rich. . .

But, she was always very warm and friendly and that's what bound us together.

But then, school was over and we went our separate ways. We still kept in touch though. Once college life began, the differences began to show. She would hang out only in the coolest discos and malls, whereas I would be happy with hanging out at home.

But then she would invite me for her lavish parties, with her lavish friends, and needless to say, I would not feel comfortable at all. And even though she was as nice as she was before, we were quickly estranged, and eventually stopped talking.

So… Why Does This Happen?

The most obvious reason is the differences in status and class. But is this need enough for a friendship to end?

Jewellery designer Naushaba Ara says, "I think money and status is an important issue in friendships, but I don't think it that huge a reason to break a friendship."

She believes that she would maintain separate groups of friends in terms of class and status, and make sure they never meet up.

"It all depends on the person, I feel. You just cannot feel intimidated by someone just because they have more money. I feel if the friendship is there, then money does not come in the way."

Also Read: Telling Your Friends 'Everything'?

According to Dr. Dayal Mirchandani from the Behavioural Science Foundation, "It is not necessary that you will feel the pinch if you friends are of a higher class and status. It really depends on several factors like how you were brought up and what you friends are like."

However, Dr. Mirchandani says that in normal circumstances, the rich would look out for the rich and vice versa. But it is not an uncommon scenario to find a not so rich person hanging out with rich person to feel important.