Kudos to the friends-in-law!

If you are a fan of popular sitcom series F.R.I.E.N.D.S, you must love the way how the six youngsters shared every moment with each other and made reality a little more tolerable for themselves no matter what.

Starting from Ross and Rachel's complicated affair to Phoebe's giving birth to his brother's triplet, they kept their promise to always "be there."

In our lives too, we are often so blessed to have such inseparable companions – who do not share any blood relationship, but prove to be there when it "hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year."

For many of us, the warm bond with these friends makes our away-from-home life ever so wonderful that it becomes impossible to imagine a life without them.

The story of getting together

In this city of bricks and wood, sharing a flat in Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, Sara, Konica, Tanu and Shorna have been living together like many of us to whom it is a second family.

Sara and Tanu are sisters. Sara knows Shorna and Konica from her campus days – they resided in the same hall. After their graduation – when the sisters took the decision to shift to Dhaka, they contacted the other two girls who were already living in the city. Shorna and Konica were not happy with their living situation then – thus when approached by Sara, they unhesitantly took the opportunity to share an apartment.

These four girls' morning starts with all hurrying to go to their respective workplaces. After a long day, they come back home, make tea, sit together and have a relaxed chat. Photo: Noor-A-Alam/TBS

Living arrangement

The four of them share a three-bedroom apartment. The common spaces like the kitchen and the balcony are shared by all.

Tanu manages the household – starting from the rent to utility bills. Konica is the one to take actions in emergencies. Shorna is the emotionally supportive one – tending others in moments of emotional crisis. Sara is no good – or so she said.

These four girls' morning starts with all hurrying to go to their respective work places. After a long day, they come back home, make tea, sit together and have a relaxed chat.

Though all of them prepare their own food, they always have dinner together. Instead of using a dining table, they have a hearty arrangement of sitting on the floor. The food is placed on a matt where all them gather around.

How is it like to share an apartment

"These friends are my safe place, I trust them with my life," said Shorna, a teacher at Aroni Bidyalay in the town.

"We share almost everything that happens in a day's course. Sometimes we just sit and talk about issues at work or with family. This opportunity of getting to talk without any hesitation makes us happy," added Shorna.

People who choose, or are obliged, to share a place with others often create a special bond. These friends become that "home" who are always ready to provide the ultimate comfort in any situation.

As they know their strengths and weaknesses, the girls cannot think of taking a decision without discussing with each other – be it silly or of utmost importance.

"We are very close to each of our families too. Be it our sibling's marriage or a relative being in the hospital, it's our flatmates who we rely on without thinking twice," said Sara.

These four girls' morning starts with all hurrying to go to their respective workplaces. After a long day, they come back home, make tea, sit together and have a relaxed chat. Photo: Noor-A-Alam/TBS

Interestingly, there's no need that these flatmates have to be from the same age group or the same educational institution at all.

According to Tanu, "This friendship is boundless. You never know who is going to be the one you can talk your heart out without getting a tad bit tired for hours."

Nothing goes on smoothly

It is impossible to have an uninterrupted, smooth relationship with the in-laws. When asked about the troubles they face from each other, Konica smiled, "We get angry at each other sometimes. But the good thing is we do not keep it bottled up. Rather we talk about it and sort it out."

When something comes up with the term "in-laws", the question of bitterness generates automatically. Such is the case here. The relationship of this four is not always cheerful.

There are times when the shoes are not organised in the rack properly or an unwashed dish lies in the sink for days. And when talked about, one may not take it easily, though this is not the case usually.

While asked how they handle this kind of situations and do not let it bother their understanding, Konica smiled, "It happens so often. A funny conversation may turn out to be a bitter one. Though we try our best to understand the person. But the good thing is we do not keep it inside. Rather we talk about it and sort it out."

"Because, you cannot turn your face away from your family, after all," added Sara.