FRIENDSHIP is
THE SHADOW OF THE EVENING,
which increases with
the setting sun of life.
‘I did read your
story. You know, one of those stories, you had shared a link of it one fine
day. Yeah, now I remember. THE TINY TRAIN TO NOWHERE. It was a good story. I
loved it. I simply loved it.’
If I had paid attention to the roaring sound of swelling
rains. If I had thought about my car, which I had parked beneath a half bent
branch of a fragile tree. If I had focused on the 50 second promo of an
upcoming sitcom… If I had done any of those; I could have missed these golden
words. These words are from an evening, which I had almost no hopes from. But I
still chose to drove down. And during discussions around our love for books, he
spoke up. In the shadow of rains and a ruthless power cut; these were his
words. Words, which came my way from my dear friend of childhood.
‘At times, I look at
your Facebook posts. I must tell you, I don’t like them. You are a positive
person. You are way more optimistic than me. You read so many books. But why
are you so angry? Why are you so hurt? Get rid of those negative energies and
stop being rude to yourself. If you wish to send out your own vibes, make sure
they are positive!’
More than social media, he has known me more in reality. I
never thought, we can ever be friends. Strangely little did we know that we
were bound to be friends, from our college days till today. Not only does the
journey of our lives run parallel to each other. But the journeys of our
tragedies have been running parallel too. Honestly speaking, we share the same
timeline of bitter events and broken memories. Yet, whenever we meet in the
shadow of our conversations and breathless laughter; his words echo within me.
‘I am the roommate of
your friend. As I like reading she suggested me if I would like to read your
book and return to her. So I did read half of the book and I really liked it.
It's the less words which impacts, and you made it clear with your book. Though
I have few questions out of curiosity if you don't mind answering!! I am yet to
finish your book; I will give you feedback once I am done with it totally. Till
then take care.’
In the shadow of my table lamp, on July 28-2017, at round
9.07 pm, I was reading this email from her. I hadn’t seen her. But I knew, she
had read my first ever book – BETWEEN MEMORIES OF YOU AND ME, We Exist. Then
she wrote again…
‘Things that came to
my mind when I was reading your book that is... Has he been through this? Or
has he seen anyone around him going through the same and he has written in?
Where did you get your inspiration to write this book? And why this subject? I
am just curious because every writer is a normal person first that is the
reason I am asking you this question. Don't worry about responding soon. Take
your own time I have no hurry!! Hope you have a good week!’
Since July 28-2017 till today, our conversations sounds the
same. She writes in more to me than I write back less to her. Yet, she is one
of those, who will sit in the shadow of the most simplistic thing, smile effortlessly
and make me imagine again. My imaginations will continue stretching between
July 28-2017 and August 02-2019. Still nothing would change between this friend
of mine and me.
‘Be in allowance. Question
everything. Don’t expect anything. We are all here, in this world for a reason.
Let life take its own time. Let the universe answer everything in its own way.
Don’t be rigid. Be in allowance.’
We met after a decade. We met in the overcrowded, loud
surrounds of a food court on the second level of a newly opened mall on a less
known highway. Her thoughts had changed. Her life had rapidly changed. But she
had remained the same friend, I had met almost ten years ago. We never had long
conversations then. She had just joined the office. Yet, we stayed in touch.
Only to thank this today in our lives, when we still discuss our lives at ease
and with loads of love. She has been a positive influence and in the shadow of
her soulful smile, I always look forward to a life, which hasn’t yet showered
all the little gems of happiness on us.
‘One day, I wish to go
there with you, my friend. I have heard it’s an ‘unreal’ place.’
On October 18, 2016, in the shadow of tough morning hours, I
read this message of hers. These words of hers were written across to me, in
the company of a photograph. The photograph was that of Havana in Cuba. These were
her honest words. And when I did meet this friend of mine, she came down
dressed in my favorite shade of yellow. From then till today, I have always
called her ‘HOLOOD PRAJAPATI’ meaning Yellow Butterfly. As a friend, from a
distance of more than 2000 kms, she sends me positive vibes of immense nature.
Every time, I am faced with a challenge, she empowers me with one or the other mantra
of Good Life.
‘I had to make a
choice between a call, chat, message and a letter. And I chose to write a
letter to you.’
Between the months of May 2018 and August 2018, I was a
broken soul. I had left the job with an agency I had given 48 months of my life
to. I had sacrificed my personal happiness too, to meet their deadlines and
build a reputation of high honor for them. But I was mistaken. They ignored me
and made sure to build up pathetic pressure, which left things intolerable for
me and I chose to depart. My salary was withheld. My bank accounts were running
dry. And I was in serious debt. In the shadow of unending problems, I received
a call. She was my one-time colleague from a communication house, we had both
worked together in. She was calling me to make an offer. That offer was going
to change my life forever. I ended up writing the script for UBUNTU, a play
performed by the autistic kids of a well-established school in South Mumbai. The
school paid me, what I demanded. The script was well-appreciated. And I am
still thankful to my friend of mine, who introduced me to the never known world
of innocence. Even today, she reads every word of mine with great interest and
always tells me – Keep Writing.
All words, I wrote here are real words of no one else but my
friends. These are those friends who have stood by me during all the thick and
thins. These are friends who have stood by me during broken days and shattered
nights. These are friends and their words who have always made me believe –
They are there for me.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean that those who are not
friends any more are not important to me. They are very important. In fact,
when I helped them, they still chose to show me, I mean nothing to them. I
thank them for this honesty of their betrayal and hurt. At least by betraying
my trust and hurting me deeply, they have proved to me that FRIENDSHIP is THE SHADOW OF THE EVENING,
which increases with the setting sun of life.
Trust me, those six
up there are the six most important shadows of my life. And if you are
wondering, why haven’t I mentioned their names; I must say they don’t even need
to be named. They know, I love them all IMMENSELY.
Apart from the six most important shadows of my life, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIENDS FROM PUNE. LOVE YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU MEAN TO ME AND WILL CONTINUE BEING TO ME.
Love you all. Happy Friendship Day.
- Virtuous Vociferous | August 04 | August Blog-1 | Never
Settle | 2019
