Why Men and Women can be Best Friends

In the movie 'When Harry met Sally', Harry pompously states that men and women can never be friends as a mutual attraction is inevitable. By the end of the ordeal, Sally is hopelessly in love with Harry. We've all seen our fair share of trite rom-coms to know that the sassy, capricious girl-next-door inexorably falls in love with her dorky, predictable best friend -- despite her best efforts. These stories bring to my mind a question that has baffled generations with its deceptive simplicity:

Can a platonic relationship really exist between the two sexes without 'blossoming' into love?

Mainstream culture insists that men and women are incapable of being 'just friends', and that notion is, essentially, what prevents us from developing platonic relationships. In reality, best friends from the opposite sex can offer valuable perspectives on the most mundane matters. "Society promotes the idea that men and women cannot be platonic, and this is further advertised by pop culture. I think friendship with women is easier to maintain than with men. It's easier to heed their advice, whereas, most men would rather avoid issues they deem 'sensitive'." -- said Esrar Rahman from Premier University. 

However, friendship with the opposite sex does not necessarily guarantee complete freedom of speech or action; only friends of the same gender can relate to certain things. My first day in university was oddly reminiscent of my first day in school – boys and girls were distinctly seated on opposite ends of the room. In retrospect, I realize that it's our natural instinct to find comfort among same-sex individuals.  "I can't share typical problems with my female friends; I don't think we can connect on the same level emotionally. There are topics that are better left unexplored. " –said Mashroor Hossain of IBA-DU. Yes, you may have known each other for ages but talking about that awkward pimple, or discussing your flatulent reactions to milk makes for very uncomfortable conversation. 

But let's assume that you've overcome these issues and managed to develop a certain kinship with someone. What happens now? Cue the barrage of incessant, prying questions - Are you two dating? Do you have feelings for him? When will you make it official? "The mutual friends always nag the most. Even if they're willing to believe that you're just best friends, they'll assume that you're secretly dating. Denying these allegations doesn't help – your friendship will invariably be put into a box." – said Anan Meem, a student of  British School of Law. This unwelcome inquisition breeds awkwardness, or worse – sparks feelings you assume to be real. "I felt that the constant nudging induces emotions – who better to date than your best friend? However, induced emotions can't make a relationship last. Things become awkward and the friendship may never recover." – said Namiha Mahmud, BRAC University.

While this might make us question the notion of platonic relationships, it doesn't rule out the possibility entirely. Generally, bad experiences from platonic-turned-romantic-relationships form the foundation of our cynicism towards such friendships. However, such instances tend to occur in our pre-adolescent periods – and there lies the answer. Human beings hone the ability to understand and classify relationships during their teens. We learn to distinguish between shallow associations and solid bonds. While our dependence on same-sex friends goes unnoticed, our obsession with friends of the opposite sex becomes evident. Although it's natural to mistake this as love, eventually, we recognize platonic relationships as they are.

In retrospect, my experiences concur with this observation; while it used to be challenging to understand my friendships with either gender, the notion became easier as I learnt to see the limits and liberties defining them. Now, I find it easier to set 'boundaries' within relationships, whether platonic or not.
So, is it possible to be 'friends' with the opposite sex?
Of course – although sometimes it's just more fun to presume otherwise.