“I suddenly felt nauseous and everything around me became hazy…I sat down on the footpath, my legs felt shaky. The only thing that I could see was the pool of blood about thirty feet away from me…….”
It was the 17th of January, 2008, my 20th b’day.i was indeed very happy. Although birthdays were never any special days for me but still…I didn’t know why I felt exuberant…. maybe because my best friend Neal was coming down all the way from Bangalore to celebrate with me. It was even more special as we were meeting almost after ten long years. Neal was to arrive by 6595 Bangalore City-Patna Sanghamitra Express, scheduled to reach Nagpur at around 8:30 in the morning.
I checked out my cell phone and jumped out of the bed. It was already 6 o’ clock and I still had many preparations to make. I quickly finished off my daily routine and switched on the geyser. I shaved off quite closely…all the time thinking about what should Neal look like after such a long gap….will I be able to recognize him? How would both of us react when we will meet?
I was suddenly taken aback with the beep of the geyser indicating that the water was ready. I had a nice and quick bath and came out of the bathroom and slipped into my favourite pair of light blue jeans and a black shirt. It was 6:30 in the morning. I still had two hours for the preparation but before proceeding with those I decided to get some bread and milk from the baker’s shop nearby.
I locked the door and came out of my house. The morning sun has just come out after a chilling and sultry night…without the glow that could make a January morning comfortable. I looked up and gave a smile,”See, I look fresher than you”.
I hit the roads with sudden warmth filling my heart even in the chilling January morning. As I walked down the footpath I saw someone walking down the other footpath…hey wait!!!He seemed someone familiar…was that Neal? But I dumped the idea instantly…how could it be him? He was to reach Nagpur at 8:30…still 2 hours to go. As I neared him, I found out that it was Neal…am I dreaming? How could he be in so early and moreover where would he get my address from? As I neared more and more, it became clearer to me…yes, it was Neal…Neal, my very best friend. I shouted out in excitement ,as I recognized him clearly after all these ten years of separation,”Neeaaallll….”…He seemed to hear my voice. He looked in my direction as if taken aback with the sudden familiar cry in an unknown place. I crossed my fingers and folded them, hoping it to be similar to our own “Friendship Logo”, which we practiced every time we met. He was visibly surprised. As he came out of his initial state of trance, he also crossed his fingers as he realized who I Was…and all of a sudden he ran across the road to my side…and…
THUDDDD……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
That day I lost him …I lost Neal…my best friend…
And it’s been a year since….and on the first obituary of his, I dedicate this story to Neal, and sign off, crossing my fingers and folding them….
" pujo aasche"...21 days to countdown.The clear sky has already started to show itself off...and peeping amongst it are the cottoned-white clouds.Every year as the "pujo" comes,it makes me (not only me,perhaps all bengalis) feel that we are bengalis.A sniff of the air,and we know it..."pujo is coming".
