a midsummer afternoon never to come again

Jerry sent this photo to our email group a while back. It is probably from the early 90's. It was likely when the schools were closed and we hung out in either pandey's or one of the other guys' homes. We probably ventured out in the afternoon and someone likely thought a photo was warranted. We are all sitting in the middle of what was called "approach road" that led to our homes in the sprawling vizag steel plant.. reddy, pandey, nanda, myself, kutri, jerry, and pk. There should have been others, but I don't remember why they weren't there. 

We barely talk to each other anymore, let alone meet.

I once asked my dad when I was old enough to know to ask such questions, but young enough for him to talk to me about such things - if he ever had close friends like I had. He was on the our bed playing solitaire like he did most of the time when he was home - the two other things he did was listen to the radio or read the newspaper. He said he did have very close friends. I asked why we didn't know any of them, why he didn't keep in touch.  He thought for a few moments, almost pausing his game but not quite; he said, well we all just drifted apart -- everyone got married and started living their own lives.

It was unfathomable to me at that time.

Now, I get it.