Friends For Life

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‘Hey! Come over here. Why are you folks hanging around there?’ cried out Rakesh to his friends. Four of them were in the busy market place at six in the evening. Rakesh had actually brought them along to purchase few articles and then eat out before they head towards their homes once again. While he was busy buying some stationery his friends Vivek, Sandeep & Iqbal were upto some handiwork a little distance away.

‘Come here I said’ irked Rakesh this time. Soon three of them came running to the shop. ‘What on earth were you people up to? I brought you along because I feel bored roaming around. But you are making me feel the same thing, huh’. Vivek was the first to speak. ‘Guess what Rakie, we have found it! We have found her place!’ Then Iqbal uttered ‘yes Rakesh, the fresher we saw in the canteen the day before yesterday… arre how could you even forget? She was with that lean, bespectacled boy ’. Rakesh thought for a while and then remarked ‘oh yes! I remember. That girl in a blue salwar kameez! Why, even Praveen had asked her name then. Somehow I have forgotten’. ‘Nalini’ said Sandeep with a wink in his eye. ‘Ok. So she lives nearby?’ enquired Rakesh. ‘Yeah! Her house is right in front of this shop. Kuber Ghosh Customs Officer suggests the nameplate. We saw her from the balcony, reading a book’. With this they walked towards Kool Kafe, a snacks parlour which they visited often.

Four of them were third year students of Vir Savarkar Engineering College. They were the kind of guys who take life as it comes without worrying for what is in store for their future. They had the typical engineering spirit in them, vindicated from activities like bunking classes (important ones too), hanging out inside college premises mainly to ogle at freshers (or sometimes seniors), more inclined towards sports and night-before-the-exam devotion towards studies. But they had their credentials to prove- all of them had managed 7.5 plus GPAs in the two years of studying.

‘You know what Sandeep, I am tired of living single. Having you guys around is fun but I feel it’s high time I had a girl friend’ remarked Vivek as he gobbled up his favorite chicken hotdog with a helping of ketchup. Iqbal turned to him- ‘don’t dare do that. You will repent over your deed later. Girls are dangerous. Who knows within a week of your affair, she might turn provocative’. ‘Shut up Iqbal. All girls aren’t like that. You got to find a match for yourself not that anyone will do’ argued Vivek. Rakesh having just finished his pizza joined the discussion- ‘finding a match? You hint at a girl the very first time you see her and then get attracted towards her which is followed by friendship and then you slowly feel you are obsessed. So when exactly did you find time to check whether she is matching, eh?’ Iqbal nodded his head in agreement. Vivek however wasn’t convinced. ‘Guys, you won’t fall for a girl who is a mean & hard-hearted. And even if you would, you’d ditch her the very moment you come to know her instincts. If you are good enough, then you can find a good one too’. They got up from their seats and headed towards the counter. ‘It’s on me today’ said Rakesh as he took out his wallet to pay. ‘Off to home then guys. Bye. See you tomorrow in college’ said Iqbal as he waved at his friends. His house was near the café.

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‘Come on friends. Let’s get to the pavilion and cool ourselves. I am horribly perspiring’ cried out Rakesh after their game of cricket. They played every day in the evening in the court ground near Vivek’s place. There were a good number of boys who came there to play and these four made it a point never to miss the game unless it’s that required. The three of them joined Rakesh on the broken wall of the field where they usually sat after the game. Vivek remarked ‘well guys, isn’t CSK a strong side in this year’s IPL?’ Sandeep added ‘well it was one in the last year too. They had equal chances of winning the final’. Soon they started discussing on past matches, team performances and the like. Quite after some time Iqbal suddenly pointed at a direction- ‘hey look out! Isn’t that Nalini?’ All of them stared in the direction and noticed a girl walking at a distance. ‘I presume you are right Iqbal’ said Vivek as he got down from the wall. ‘Shall I make a move boys? Who knows she might be the one.’ ‘Well, go on if you wish. You are a good boy so you can find a good one for yourself, what say?’ said Rakesh with a wink in his eye.

Vivek went running in the direction of the girl. He huffed and puffed when he reached the girl. ‘Hello there!’ he said. Nalini kept walking without uttering a word. ‘Hello, I said. May I have a talk with you? ’. She still remained silent and continued walking. Vivek felt embarrassed. He then walked ahead of her and stopped her. ‘This is Vivek, 3^rd year Electrical, v-sek. You too study in my college, don’t you? ’ Somehow after this build-up Nalini felt encouraged to reply. ‘Yes I do’. ‘Okay. I saw you walking alone at 6 o’ clock in the evening. So I thought maybe I could accompany you. Well don’t take me otherwise’.

The next day was Sunday. At 9 am, Rakesh’s doorbell rang and his mother welcomed Vivek inside. He was still on his bed. Vivek ran upto him. ‘Hey Rakie, get up you log. I have to tell you something’. Rakesh opened his eyes. ‘Damn Viv, it’s a Sunday morning. Can’t tolerate your babble’. ‘Man, get up and I will tell you really interesting stuff. Please’. Rakesh had to because he saw he had no other way out. ‘So what’s the matter?’. ‘Today Kool Kafe’s on me’ said Vivek with a happy nod. ‘Come to the point, Viv’. Vivek comforted himself on his bed as he spoke ‘you know last evening something happened which I had never thought of. I had been to Nalini’s home!’. Rakesh stared at him awestruck. ‘Yes man, I had been to her place. When I wished to escort her she agreed but upon condition that I should have tea at her place. And guess what, I talked with her family members. She has a younger brother. They are all cool’. Rakesh smiled as his mother brought tea and biscuits for both of them. ‘Viv, now you must be thinking Nalini is too ultramodern. She met a guy on the road and took him home for a helping of tea. Isn’t it?’. Vivek nodded. Rakesh spoke again ‘I think her real intention was to make her parents know this face which met her on the road. You know buddy, we are engineering students afterall. She showed prudence my boy’. Vivek became thoughtful as he sipped his tea. ‘But Rakie, do you think I am that bad a person to do anything offensive?’. ‘Oh Viv, how can you compare me with Nalini. I know you since five years. Now does she? How do you expect her to rely on you?’.

Maybe Nalini wasn’t as prudent as Rakesh thought. For, the next day she walked upto Vivek in the canteen to say hello which obviously made all of them gaze at her speechless. Nalini was a good girl. She had that beauty-of-twenties in her. Plus she had far more intellect than perhaps what Vivek had. She was a yearning student but liked to make a lot of friends. And above all she called herself brave and avoided people whom she disliked, barring any emotional compulsion. Now, not all first year girls dare to walk up to a group of seniors and ask for a seat and then start a conversation, all on their own. Vivek started liking her more and more as days passed. This was pretty obvious as Nalini reciprocated more than what Vivek must have imagined. If she bunked classes (by chance, though) then she insisted Vivek do the same. Slowly both were seen together for most of the college time. And sometimes Vivek even missed evening’s cricket to go to her home. His friends wondered what he must be doing at her place. But they kept quiet. When love’s new then the spark is seen even when it is suppressed.

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Months rolled by. Four of them entered their sixth semester. Nothing changed for the three except Vivek who now saw himself more with Nalini than with his pals. He missed cricket, he missed Kool Kafe outings (he was the first to suggest the place) and he even didn’t turn up at birthday parties. His friends were annoyed at him beyond his imagination. But one thing which his friends liked about him during these days was that he had turned studious and now he seldom lied his parents (all these days when his parents used to say that those who lie often will be fried in a big kadhai in hell after death didn’t bother him). These obviously were post Nalini transformations in him. Sandeep and Rakesh got a few occasions to talk with her. Rakesh was the most intelligent of all four. So whenever he talked he used to give tips on books and studies to her. And even Nalini now relied on his suggestions more than her friends. Iqbal had always been a shy kind of boy. So he kept himself away from Nalini though he had to talk with her on her birthday when she had invited all of them to her place.

‘Come on Iqbal, why don’t you understand? I don’t miss anything deliberately. I am compelled at the last moment. And how many have I missed so far? Just three or four.’ Vivek said in defense as he denied attending a reception by a friend who had moved to their new house. ‘Four or five? Guess you’ve forgotten maths buddy. Shall I make you count?’ retorted Sandeep. A quarrel seemed evident. Rakesh intervened ‘okay guys, let him not come. He has to take Nalini to her granny’s place which is far away. Her parents have trusted him for this job. Let him not upset them’. Iqbal shouted ‘is that so? Her parents should not be displeased but it’s okay when we are considered. This is goddamn injustice meted out at us. If only she was here…’. ‘Iqbal would have disappeared in thin air’ said Sandeep with a grin. Iqbal gave him a push which made him nearly fall.

On the day of their journey, only Rakesh had been to see them off at the railway station. ‘So these are your seats. Well, have a safe journey both of you. Come back soon. Viv, you remember my cousin’s wedding? It’s round the corner. No excuses on that day’ finished of Rakesh with these words as he stepped down from the compartment. ‘Thanks man. But please try to pacify Sandy & Iq. Please’. ‘Bye Viv, bye Nalini’ Rakesh waved at them as the train started to leave. As Vivek pushed their bags under the seat, Nalini spoke ‘what happened dear? Why didn’t Iqbal and Sandeep turn up?’. He sighed and took his seat. ‘Well Nalini, they say I am not giving them enough time now-a-days and it gives them sufficient reason to frown on me’. ‘So do you disagree?’ enquired Nalini. ‘You see, I am trying my best to be with them. Earlier when you weren’t around, I used to be with them all day. Now that you have stepped into my life, these folks should understand I can’t have 30 hours a day’. Nalini came closer and held his hand somewhat tightly ‘relax dear. I understand your problem. I know I want you with me every day. Maybe if we could meet seldom… ’. Vivek shushed her by placing his index finger on her lips ‘don’t say that. Even I wish to meet you every day. You are not at fault. None of us are at fault. My friends should try to understand me’. With this Vivek clutched Nalini’s hand with his other hand. Nalini bent forward and kissed him on the cheek. A smile lit Vivek’s face as he returned the favour by kissing at the back of her palm. ‘Don’t worry, I will talk to your friends upon returning. They will understand when I’ll speak to them.’ ‘Thanks for being with me Nalini’ saying this Vivek embraced her for the first time in his life. ‘It’s a warm feeling’ muttered Nalini.

‘Hello Rakie, we have reached her granny’s place. Am I audbile to you?’ Vivek was loud at the mouthpiece of his mobile. He made it a point to inform his friends as soon as they reached the destination early next morning. ‘Well not much. Hope you had a nice journey’ replied Rakesh. ‘Well yeah, my maiden journey with Nalini was great. We had fun. Listen to me Rakie, I was supposed to return tonight. But her relatives are asking me stay back for two days. They have some ceremonial feast the day after tomorrow at a nearby temple’. ‘Okay have a nice time there. But remember you will still have two days left after you return. So I want you at the wedding at any cost’ came back the reply. ‘I will my dearest buddy. This place is nice and peaceful. Take care of my friends. Bye Rakie’ and Vivek hung up. ‘My friends!’ he muttered to himself with a smile as he went inside the house.

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‘Iqbal, these are the things you have to get from the tent house. Now off you go. Don’t be late’ said Rakesh as he handed over the list. It was the day of his cousin’s marriage. He was in charge of many things. The auspicious time of marriage was now only an hour later. He then noticed Sandeep. ‘Hey Sandeep, it’s good that you’ve come. Please take my bike and go the station, will you? My brother’s friend has arrived. He is new to this place. Here take his mobile number’. Obviously Rakesh was a busy man. Vivek was there too. He had a nice time back at Nalini’s granny’s place. Nalini was to return the next day. Soon the marriage began in great pomp and show. Rakesh was happy that all arrangements were neat and plus his choicest friends were there close to him.

Then followed the dinner reception. It continued till 11pm. Rakesh and his friends ate last. Having eaten their full they decided to go to the terrace and have a chat. Rakesh started ‘so you folks enjoyed the food? Thank God all went well. Hey Vivek, what are you thinking?’. ‘Missing Nalini, eh?’ Sandeep chuckled. ‘Friends, the day after tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I want to make it special for Nalini. I have bought a pair of anklets for her. I’ll formally propose her on that day though there’s no need of that. Then perhaps I may take her out, what say guys?’ Vivek summed up his plan and stared at his friends for approval. Rakesh showed him a thumbs-up and smiled and Sandeep and Iqbal hi-fived him. ‘I am happy for you Viv. You have found your match!’. ‘Friends I need to thank you. Nothing would have been possible without you. Well, Nalini ‘s train must have left the place long time before. Wonder she hasn’t informed me yet. She also wanted to talk with you Rakie about how things turned up today’.

Soon four of them got engrossed in gossiping. After about an hour Vivek had a call on his mobile. He checked the number. ‘It’s Kuber uncle’s number’ he said and gazed at his friends. Iqbal replied ‘maybe, she changed the train and she has already reached home. It is 1.30am. Take the call Viv’. Vivek answered the call. There were moments of silence and then Vivek groaned ‘no uncle, you might be mistaken. How can this be…’. The person on the other side hung up after a few seconds. Vivek’s face looked swollen now. It seemed he was about to cry. Eagerly his friends asked what the matter was. He said with pauses and heavy breaths ‘uncle’s saying, within two hours of departure, the train has derailed somewhere. Four bogies have gone out of track. And heavy deaths have been reported’. He hugged Rakesh tightly and started crying ‘hey Rakie, say that the worst hasn’t happened. Say it Rakesh’. Tears started to roll down from everyone’s eyes. ‘Relax Viv, we will see into it. We don’t have any news about her, do we? Maybe she has sustained with a few injuries or maybe she isn’t injured at all. Control yourself Viv. We will find out tomorrow morning. Come let’s go down and sleep for a while. Come’ Sandeep tried to comfort Vivek as Rakesh and Iqbal prayed their Gods with thorough entreat.

Vivek couldn’t sleep for a second. He kept on thinking the oddest of things. ‘Is Nalini alive with mutilated limbs? Or is she isn’t alive at all? Maybe her compartment was too far from the derailed ones or maybe it is the one which has maximum casualties’. Thousands of thoughts penetrated his mind. Somehow his friends had a short nap. Mr. Kuber Ghosh had visitors at his place early at 5.30am. ‘Namastey uncle’ Vivek greeted her father. ‘Come inside boys’ he said as he escorted four of them inside. None of them had slept the whole night. Mrs. Ghosh started sobbing as she saw them. ‘Uncle, are there any updates?’ Rakesh asked in a dull tone. He replied ‘last night, this news came from her granny’s place. Perhaps the media hasn’t reached there yet. Nothing is over the news. One of her uncles has left for the place at 4.00 am by hiring a vehicle. The road route is longer. Wonder when he is going to reach. Maybe he can inform us where the injured passengers have been taken and how many have…’. He couldn’t speak anymore. How could a father assume his daughter to have died at just nineteen years of age? He somehow controlled his tears as he had to look after the rest of his family. Nalini’s brother was unaware of this whole thing. They had no clues as to how he would react if something untoward happens or if it has already happened. He was a kid studying in class seven. ‘Okay uncle do inform us when you get to know the details. We will take your leave now’. With these words of Sandeep, they left the place.

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Vivek took heavy steps as he walked along the large passage leading into Mother Teresa Government Hospital where Nalini was admitted. His friends escorted her parents behind. Mr. Kuber was informed by his brother-in-law that as many as 100 persons were killed in the accident and about 75 were critically injured and Nalini was one among those who had faint chances of surviving. Soon after hearing, her parents set off with Vivek and his friends in their car. And now as they reached the place they headed directly to the hospital. It was 10 am now. Vivek hurriedly approached a receptionist’s desk and he panted as he asked the way to the casualty ward. A little distance and Nalini’s uncle spotted them. He greeted them with a heavy heart and teary eyes and showed them the ward.

Vivek was the first to enter inside. He couldn’t believe his eyes. There lay Nalini in front of him over the bed. She had lost her left leg and was suffering from multiple injuries. Bandages covered many parts of her body. A needle pierced the undersurface of her right hand and its other end found its way inside a rubber tube coming from a hanging bottle of blood. An ECG recorded her pulse rate and cardiac cycle every instant. She lay there like a broken statue knocked down by severe winds and torrential rain. Vivek fell onto his knees as he wept incessantly at the plight of his love. Nalini’s mother nearly fainted in the arms of her brother and Rakesh held Nalini’s brother preventing him from going inside. Iqbal’s eyes fell on that young kid who had just started to shed tears without knowing what has actually happened. ‘Why did he have to come all the way?’ he whispered to Rakesh. Rakesh shrugged. Mr. Ghosh had also started weeping as he leaned on the door. There was silence all over except for the sobs. Vivek was still weeping as his eyes stared at Nalini.

The next moment there was a loud wailing outside. All of them turned to see a crying woman hastily following a stretcher on which a body lay still and appeared that of her husband’s. Sandeep kept his gaze fixed on the woman for a bit longer time and suddenly he trembled. The stretcher was hurled inside a room which had MORGUE written on its door. Perhaps they waited medical formalities to be fulfilled before they discharged the dead body. A nurse came running to Nalini’s ward. ‘Why have you people crowded here? All of you must wait outside till the patient regains her senses’. ‘Please go out sir’ she asked Vivek. Rakesh came forward to pick him up. Then they staggered out of the room.

It was at 3.30 pm when a nurse reported that Nalini has got back her senses. Vivek got up to walk but Iqbal pulled him by his sleeve. ‘Relax Viv, she needs her parents first. She won’t be able to control herself if she sees you first’. Vivek had to sit down as her family members entered inside. They stayed with her for quite some time and in the meantime Vivek was dragged to the canteen. He had denied water even since he got the news. His friends forced him to eat a bit which he did utmost unwillingly. When they returned to the ward, they saw Nalini was being given medicines under the supervision of a doctor. As they left, Vivek tiptoed inside and went up to her bed. He caressed her forehead. She felt his touch and opened her eyes. Seeing him in front, she managed to smile but before she could talk, the medicines made her fall asleep.

The clock ticked and hours passed. No one moved from their seats least of all Vivek. Mr. Ghosh had to run on a few errands and meet different doctors, visit the blood bank, drug store and the like. At about 9 pm, he returned. Vivek was seated alone outside the ward as his friends had gone to have dinner and somehow he denied. Nalini’s mother had complained of deep chest pain a little ago and so she was made to lie down and rest on the lounge by the side of the receptionist’s desk and her uncle had taken her brother for dinner. Mr. Ghosh was accompanied by a new doctor. He asked Mr. Ghosh to wait outside. He came out after about fifteen minutes. Nalini’s father eagerly asked ‘what’s the matter, doc?’. He sighed. ‘Mr. Ghosh, your daughter’s condition is critical. She has lost a lot of blood plus, as you see, a limb also. She has to be kept under severe medical supervision. We suspect she also has a blood clot inside her brain and this might be dangerous. Tomorrow we shall go for further tests. Just be patient and rely on medical science and the Almighty as well’. He patted Mr. Ghosh as he left. Vivek heard everything. He joined his palms to pray as he looked up.

When Nalini again opened her eyes, she found everyone around her. It was about 10.30 pm. All of them went forward to say a word or two. When her brother went to talk, she somehow raised herself a bit and kissed him with the words ‘my cute brother’. As everyone was about to vacate the room she called her father. ‘papa, can you do a favour for me?’. ‘Yes sweetheart, what is it?’. ‘I want Vivek to be beside me tonight’. Her father assured her and left the room. The next moment Vivek entered inside. He pulled a stool and sat beside her. There were moments of silence before she spoke: ‘won’t you say anything Vivek?’. Vivek looked at her and said ‘I will need a few more lives to talk my full, dear’. ‘But I don’t think I have so much time. Life all of a sudden has become burdensome’. ‘Nalini, why did it all happen? Everything was going on fine. You have your whole life ahead. Why Nalini, why?’.

‘At times such as now, such worthless questions become obvious. Maybe God didn’t want things to be comfortable for me anymore. Can you please give me some water?’. Vivek helped as Nalini raised herself over the bed. ‘This posture is better. Tired of lying all day long’ she said in a lighter tone. Vivek smiled and turned to look at the clock. It was five minutes to midnight. Then his eyes fell upon Nalini’s mutilated leg. He took a heavy breath as he looked back at her. ‘You know Nalini what day is tomorrow, that is after five minutes?’. Nalini enquired ‘is it 14^th tomorrow? Oh God! My head hurts while thinking.’ ‘Well yes. And for tomorrow I had made a lot of plans. I had thought of proposing you formally in front of my friends, maybe in the canteen. Then we would have bunked classes and gone to watch a movie. In the evening I would have taken you to a restaurant and there would have presented you this’. ‘Alas! God took away so many things from me. By the way what is it?’. ‘A pair of anklets. And I can’t even put them on you now.’

The clock struck twelve then. Nalini whispered ‘Happy Valentine’s Day sweetheart’. Vivek didn’t respond. He kept staring at her. ‘Will you do something if I say?’ she asked. ‘Go on’. ‘Put one of the anklets on my foot and keep the other one with you. Thus we will always stay together’ Nalini smiled as she finished saying. Vivek smiled too. He did as she said. ‘Now, will you not propose me?’ she asked. ‘Come on Nalini. I am in no mood’. ‘You don’t need one for this. Come on. Be a man’. Nalini was still smiling. ‘Okay’ he said and pulled her hands. Holding her palms softly Vivek said ‘Nalini, you came like an angel into my life. I don’t know what I like in you the most but it’s you whom I have adored all these days. You have added another dimension into my nonchalant life, that of loving someone endlessly. I may not be the ideal one for you but I am the one who loves you more than anyone else in this world. I love you Nalini’. Nalini smiled again. ‘That was a nice one. I am impressed sir. Well, before you came into my life I never knew what love essentially contained. So I guess you taught me its attributes. You have been my sweetest dream honey. I never said you until now but now I say even I love you the most’. Vivek bent forward and kissed her. ‘So… we did it! We will go to the restaurant some other day, okay?’ she giggled. Vivek kissed her again. ‘Vivek, don’t go away tonight. Spend every second beside me, will you?’. ‘I will, darling’ he assured. ‘Then let me sleep for a while. I am feeling dizzy’. Vivek helped her lie down again and adjusted the pillow. ‘Okay dear?’. ‘Hmmm. Love you Vivek’ she said and closed her eyes.

Vivek saw the time. 12.30 am. He pulled the stool close to her bed and rested his head over his folded arms close to her waistline and soon went off to sleep. He woke up early in the morning only to realise that those were Nalini’s last words. She had succumbed while still in sleep.

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‘Good evening folks. This is Sandeep. I have Rakesh on my left and Iqbal on my right. We are seventh semester students of VSEC. We are friends since our college days almost since six years. This is the court field where we have been playing cricket since the start of our engineering career. This field has seen us running to every corner of it chasing the ball, roaring in delight as we hit a six, quarrelling among ourselves for a run out decision and talking for hours together after the match. Till today we have taken life as it came along without much hopes and aspirations. If there was any goal all these years, then it was only to preserve our friendship. I bet you won’t find any better friends than four of us… oh er… well we are actually four together. Vivek is somewhere around. Wait a minute. Don’t go away’.

Months had passed now. Somehow things had returned to normal for these friends. Going to college, playing cricket in the evening, Kool Kafe outings- they did everything. However it took some time for things to settle though. All of them performed below par in their sixth semester exams. But not a single day saw them apart. It was an August evening. After playing their usual cricket, they thought of some entertainment. Sandeep had been presented a digital camera on his birthday by his parents. So they were busy shooting themselves.

They found Vivek sitting on the court compound wall. ‘Okay, here is Vivek. Hey Vivek, come down, will you? Its about to get dark. Come and say something’. Vivek sat listlessly without saying anything. His friends came closer with the camera. ‘What’s the matter Viv, don’t want to say anything?’. Vivek started to say. ‘Friends, this is the day when an angel had walked into my life a year ago. I was sitting over this wall this very manner when from a distance a girl appeared to walk on the road. That road… over there. Little did I know that she was in fact walking into my heart. When exactly we became a single soul I don’t know. Now, I deeply regret that, she is no more. But all the time if I reckoned on some people for my sustenance, then undoubtedly they were Sandy, Rakie and Iq. You are friends par excellence. I love you friends’. Vivek got down and wiped his watery eyes.

Sandeep, Rakesh and Iqbal stood still for a few moments and then four of them embraced one another.

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