When we talk of female bonding, does your mind throw up images from Deepa Mehtas Fire? If yes, you need to grow up gal! Women can, and need to be friends with each other. After all we are all united by a common cause: Men, and how they affect us!

Remember your childhood when you played in the streets with your best friend? The same friend who listened to excited details of your first crush. You shared the ecstasy of your first date with her. But over the years, you lost touch as both of you went your separate ways. Fair enough! But have you made any real and lasting friendships since you left college/school?

We live in a society where women are the worst enemies of their own sex. Be it the much detested saas-bahu relationship, or the devraani-jethaani relationship: each relationship is full of malice. Much credit for this goes to the K-Kamp. They have successfully shown women as nothing but scheming *******, who plot against their own families and friends. Be it Komulika or Mandira, Pallavi or other lesser-known vamps of the small screen, they all specialize in hatred and nastiness.

If your mind is all screwed up by the bitchiness of almost every female character on TV, here are a few reasons why you should value your friends:

You do need a shoulder to cry on when your man hurts you. Theres no if there girlie. A man will surely hurt your feelings at some point of time. Thats when you need a support system.

Its the 21st century babes! Cut out the crap of generalized relationships. You dont have to live a pre-recorded life just because you have been trained to believe certain things. Learn to forge original relationships and form original opinions.

Where do you get valuable advice? From make up tips and dressing ideas to dealing with in-laws: female friends give practical advice on every thing you can imagine!

Its with your female friends, on a girls night out that you indulge in two of your favorite activities: male bashing and in-laws bashing!!!

You need some fun time as well. Our husbands have their cricket/golf clubs etc. Why shouldnt we have some fun on our own? Taking time off from each other can be healthy for your marriage/relationship.

These are just a couple of the umpteen reasons why you should stick with female friends. We should not ignore our women friends just coz we love men. After all, men are so fickle. You cannot trust them completely! So, its better to have true friendships to fall back on in times of crises.