À Bientôt
In high school, a day before school recommenced after the summer break, my friend called me. She sounded sad and soon started sobbing. One of our classmates, one who was in section C of class 9th had left us forever. I staggered to silence for a while. Hearing my friend still sniveling on the other line, I tried to find an explanation for it all.
Finally, I came up with an inane version that God loved her enough to avoid the anxieties of exams, college, job-life. It calmed my friend a little.
The cause of her demise was a mystery. It was later declared an accidental death due to a reaction to some fizzy drink (I am not sharing the name of the brand of the drink because I haven't seen the official postmortem report. Being a responsible person, I'd like to keep the name under wraps).
I still remember her twinkling eyes, her enthusiasm. How she greeted anyone she met with warmth and acceptance. We were never in the same section in school; however, I always felt she was a part of my own notorious section-A.
Such wonderful people meet us in life, to teach us how to live. They themselves lead a very short life, yet they inspire us to lead our comparatively longer ones with inspiration.
Then, in Class 11, a girl, a couple of years junior to me, and a family friend's daughter committed suicide. I still can see her sunny personality and joy de vive.
Her irrational, crazy end still haunts me.
Someday, when I die, I will meet them. We will again sing and clap in merry-go-rounds, swing up to the sky, chat on a see-saw, play basketball and dance for cultural programs. I guess the place for all the fun will be in heaven this time.
To all those who have lost a friend or loved one, remember we are here to carry on the plans they made, succeed in what they started. Don't give up. Don't let go, don't say goodbye, just try, because they are watching over us, egging us to make our dreams come true.
