Som

“Hi folks!
Remember me? I am Mrids…I mean Mridul. Well, now I’ve grown up to be a teenager reading in standard IX. Mama and papa are as usual busy being the top honchos of big corporate houses. And let me tell you pals, I have got everything in my life….I mean all the luxuries – you name it and I have it. I have an Esteem, a Motorola razor thin cell phone, a handsome monthly pocket money of Rs.4K and a credit card of max Rs.50K for emergency purposes. It has been almost 4 years that Amma (my granny) passed away. Bruno (who was more of a brother than of a doggy) died a natural death. He was actually too old to live to live by the time he died. Moreover, I’m faring well in my studies. So, you see everything is spic and span, well set in the framework of life. Its just so picture perfect!

“But you know guys, I always feel so lonely. It seems that no one to listens to me. Papa doesn’t have time to look back on family matters. Mama, too, is quite busy these days with the financials of her company. Why on earth do people work? Is it to live happily or to draw themselves away from life and become some robots? Well, I think it’s a tough question to answer. Actually I’ve tried to answer this question since my childhood and have come to the conclusion that people start working to live a life of their choice and ultimately live a life chosen for them by their work – and believe me friends, it happens so furtively that people don’t even realize this!

“Well friends, time at school is the most enjoyable time that I usually have in a day. Lots of friends, lots of jokes and loads of fun! Though the classes tend to get boring sometimes but the presence of some of our teachers (who are pathetically hilarious!) make it nevertheless somewhat entertaining. You know people! Kaz (Kasturi) and I are the best of buddies. She understands me much better that the others. The other day when I got a bit too emotional in the games room, she controlled me in an unique way – so softly yet so firmly. She is simply great! At times when I look into her sea deep eyes and keep on searching myself, I feel completely cut off from the rest of the world. I just love searching myself in her eyes. Its far better than going back home and spending the rest of the day all alone.

“Last Sunday, Kaz gave me a buzz and we drove off to a lovely park outside the city. We had a nice time together. We freaked out, ate ice creams and also went on a roller coaster ride. There was a mono-act competition going on at one of the corners of the park. Kaz took part in it and won the third prize. I just don’t understand how some people are, God damn, so talented, yaar? Anyways, the rest of the time we sat together side-by-side and gossiped a lot. I shared a glimpse of my loneliness with her. I was so deeply immersed in my own story that I completely lost the track of the time. When I stopped, Kaz held my face amidst her soft warm palms, kissed my lips with a lot of care and asked me not to worry. She said she would be there with me by my side. It was after a long time that I started crying like a baby – I don’t know what happened to me on that day...

“It was almost 7 in the evening when I returned back home. I was surprised to see mama at her study. I walked upto her and quietly stood by her side. She was so absorbed in her paper work that she didn’t notice me. I broke the silence and asked her in a confused voice, “Mama, why is it that I lose all those who give me company, love and tries to understand me like Amma and Bruno”. She said, “Beta, it happens with everybody and that’s why we make new friends to go on in life”. I almost questioned her back instantly, “Does that mean that I will also lose my new friend someday in the course of life”. She looked at me very affectionately and kissed me on my forehead. Some answers are better left untold. Kaz’s face flashed in front of my eyes and a drop of tear trickled down my cheek.”