You know there are those moments in your life you look back
at and wonder at times how things would have turned out had you chosen the
other path. It was one of those moments. I don’t remember sharing this with any
one before in particular . I was in class 9th and it was at one of
those boring marriage reception dinner parties where people try their level
best to look busy and avoid being looked upon as an out of sync idiot. Well, I
certainly have never been that good at doing that and it certainly showed. Then
about an hour into the party I was introduced by my father to the kid (same age
luckily) of one of his co-workers. He seemed to have been at some of these
parties before and I, not sharing his experience in any way, happily let him
lead the way.
It was just then that I met him, that guy who was a perfect
stranger to me. I had never seen him before and I would never see him again. I
don’t even remember his name or where he was from. I honestly didn't care
enough to register him when we had started chatting. But I remember his face to
an extent, not because he sparkled in the night sky (pun totally intended
Edward-lovers) but because it had a certain gloom about him which struck me even
as the naive kid which I was back then. Then why am I telling you all this?
Well, I am because of his story which I didn't care about enough that day would
come to haunt me after some very interesting teenage years.
Let me provide a background check on that guy first. He was
probably 22 or 23 or something. He had one of those kinds of faces which looked
like it had at one point of time been inscribed with pain. He was the son one
high-ranked official and probably was well of for his life-time without him
needing to work much if at all. But he was dressed as plainly as one could and
sat in a relaxed manner at one of the corner table sipping away at his cola.
He seemed to be an acquaintance of the guy with me so when
we went and sat over at his table he started chatting. It was just normal
chit-chat in the beginning. Then he asked me if I had a girlfriend. It seemed
odd at first that he asked me that but it was pretty normal back then, at least
when asked by people my age. So shaking off the initial hesitation I answered,”
Yeah, kind of… maybe.” He surely was more confident of what he wanted to say
and he continued,” Do you love her?” I somehow was innocent enough (in plain
words stupid) or maybe unsuspecting and I continued to answer. “Yes, I love her”
He then looked at my face as if he was studying it or maybe wanted to remember
something. The guy who had introduced me to him just sat there and listened as
if he knew what was to follow. And then he smiled and closed his eyes. He
seemed to give a strange feeling, as if he knew something which I didn't And
then he started telling me something which I remember even today.
“I was like you kid. I had just passed my 10th
board examination. I was my school topper, one of the district toppers, high
merit in the state list even. 70+% in UP board, big deal then. People expected
something good from me. My parents, they expected something great from me. I
expected it too. I had it planned out, had a great future in front of me. And then I met her.”
The other guy with me interrupted and told me that he had
heard about this “bhaiya” from his father and was told that he was “real good
at studies”
The stranger smiled and continued, “I had been a studious
one, not much of contact with the ladies. She was like a breath of fresh air. I
became friends with her. We started hanging out during the lunch time, then
after school hours. It grew and slowly the focus of my life shifted. I didn’t
want the glory or anything. I believed that love would take me through. I
stopped studying, mingling with friends. I thought we were meant to be. One
year passed. And then…”
He broke off. He didn't tell me anymore. It all seemed a
little too dramatic at that time. Interesting but dramatic nevertheless. I
gathered my courage and went on to ask him, “What do you do now?” He told me he
had spent his years after his school doing a meaningless polytechnic degree and
was now preparing for MBA. I asked him, “Where is she now?” He told me,” That
is the point kid. I don’t know”
After that we didn't talk about it. Some useless chit-chat
and then I was called on by my parents to leave. He just told me one thing
before leaving, “Sambhalke rehna ye pyaar se. Abhi chote ho, nahi samjhoge.”
I shrugged the guy off and continued to live with my notion
of love and relationships, trying to find the perfect companion. My priority
list was extremely different you see from most of those at my age. Luckily for
me, I still had time to tinker before it was too late.
I don’t know if this story means anything to you. It didn't
to me too until recently. In fact I had all but forgotten about the incident
but looks like it was stored in some tiny fragment of my frail, little brain.
This story is one the reasons for the upcoming article of
mine. How you will understand soon enough. We need to understand the difference between love and madness in these
times of
“UNDEFINED RELATIONSHIPS” .
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