Some people come into our lives and we can’t
stop thinking about them. That’s the kind of person he was. Simple.....yet so
beautiful; far.....yet so near.
We all, at some point in our lives meet a person who changes us completely. Someone who makes us feel the need to be a better person. It seems as if life would have no meaning without them. That person could be a sibling, a parent, a crush...anyone. In my case it was a friend.
N.P. as he was fondly called by his buddies was my childhood friend. We joined school on the same day. We would end up talking for hours, sharing our darkest secrets and gossiping about all sorts of stuff. He was the kind of person who could really cheer you up on a dull day; just the kind of person anyone would happily agree to spend time with.
But like all good things our friendship eventually came to an end. As we grew up the 'hellos' were replaced by formal 'good mornings'. We grew up some more. He moved to a different school and I started leading a different life. Still, I never forgot him.
Years passed and I never heard from him.
Then one day, just before the class ten board exams a friend informed me that N.P. was no more. He went on a vacation to Goa with his family to celebrate Christmas and drowned at the beaches on 25 December. His family found his body the next day.
We all, at some point in our lives meet a person who changes us completely. Someone who makes us feel the need to be a better person. It seems as if life would have no meaning without them. That person could be a sibling, a parent, a crush...anyone. In my case it was a friend.
N.P. as he was fondly called by his buddies was my childhood friend. We joined school on the same day. We would end up talking for hours, sharing our darkest secrets and gossiping about all sorts of stuff. He was the kind of person who could really cheer you up on a dull day; just the kind of person anyone would happily agree to spend time with.
But like all good things our friendship eventually came to an end. As we grew up the 'hellos' were replaced by formal 'good mornings'. We grew up some more. He moved to a different school and I started leading a different life. Still, I never forgot him.
One sunny afternoon I saw him at the neighborhood market, standing approximately hundred yards
away from me. Too afraid to initiate a conversation (mostly because of the fear
of not being recognized by him), I decided to ignore him and started walking away. Just then I heard him call my name and turned around to
see if it really was him. Did he still remember me? Yes, he did! We chatted for
half an hour, just like the old times. Then I bid him good bye, promising to
see him soon (Facebook and cell phones were not so popular back then).
Years passed and I never heard from him.
Then one day, just before the class ten board exams a friend informed me that N.P. was no more. He went on a vacation to Goa with his family to celebrate Christmas and drowned at the beaches on 25 December. His family found his body the next day.
I miss him, always
did, always will. I wish I could tell him how good it was to have him as a
friend. But by now he probably knows.
Flipping through the pages of the old school yearbook brought back memories of him.
Rest in peace my friend. I know you are in a better place even though its not here with us. Your presence still lingers here but I wish you could stay longer.
Flipping through the pages of the old school yearbook brought back memories of him.
Rest in peace my friend. I know you are in a better place even though its not here with us. Your presence still lingers here but I wish you could stay longer.
Childhood friends no doubt are the best and closest people in your lives and your writing makes it so clear. But sometimes the situation is such that you want to make friends but your attempts are turned into dust...mainly because the time you want to spend with them is just not enough...I have faced this situation, and at one point I didn't want any close friends. There are some people though, that you simply click with and it's those people that stay with you for a lifetime...so no fear of losing them. And even if we do...their memories stay with us - evergreen.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but the worst phase starts not when you loose them; it's when their memory starts haunting you. You just wish they were here...you would do anything to bring them back...would give away anything. I believe even after people leave this world, it's their love that stays.
ReplyDelete