Hyderabad:
As the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh triggers agitated responses across the state, the divide is unreal for four women in Hyderabad.
For over a year now, they have been living under one roof, sharing their lives as close friends do. That they belong to different regions of the state, which have now turned bitter against each other, has never bothered them.
Of the four, Shashikala and Padmashree have been preparing for state services exams but are disappointed with no notifications for government jobs for months now. They are not alone; many youngsters in Andhra Pradesh echo the same disappointment.
Usually, before the elections, the state witnesses a slew of notifications, delayed this year because of the agitations for a separate Telangana. Government sources say there are nearly 34000 seats vacant in the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.
Shashikala, in her late 20s, says, "We are suffering a lot because of these issues. We just want the notifications. The Chief Minister had said there will be yearly notifications from 2013, but none yet. There are no jobs. We have only been studying for years now."
Her roommate Padmashree says, "My parents spend at least Rs 20,000 every month on me. I study from day to night, but there are no notifications".
If and when Andhra Pradesh is divided, Shashikala and Padmashree will belong to two different states. But they say they will continue to stay together, being there for each other while working towards their future, enjoying a bond not defined by borders.