Friends for life

Rahul and his friends were strolling around the garden enjoying their last day of exams and first day of the blessed summer vacations. Everyone was talking about their examinations, how did they go, how will their parents react, etc etc etc. 
There 5 of them, Rahul (of course) Soniya, Mahesh, Tarun and Sara. They had been friends for over 3 years now, time enough to make friends for life! They were always together. They were the perfect example for "One for all, All for one."

Rahul's parents (originally from Delhi) were new in Mumbai and didn't know much about the place. His father was a Bank manager in SBI and mother, housewife. His grandfather was a retired army general and now was enjoying life with his only son, his wife and his 12-year old boy who was very attached to him. They had no accommodation problem due to Mr. Mukesh Malhotra's (Rahul's father) job. They lived in a good flat, in Andheri and had a fine neighborhood. The main problems for any family after transfer include accommodation and child's education. Same goes for Malhotra family. Since place was no problem now, education of Rahul was promoted as "problem-at-hand." Rahul did not wish to be in college, unlike the norm here, and wanted to study his 11th standard in a school. With a little help from friends and internet, he got to know about City International school, a reputed and close school, . He did missed his previous 5 years in Delhi but had no idea what was coming his way. He had no problem with getting along in class and was a good kid. The teachers liked him due to his obedience and the students due to his friendliness. And here is where these 4 people entered in Rahul's life. They had made a group of their name own, even named it "The big 5" just for fun.


Now we fast forward all this, to the last day of board examinations. Everyone had mixed feelings, tensed about the future and happy about the completion of these scary boards. BOARDS. A word teachers loved to use to scare teachers, we thought. It was amazing how everyone celebrated. All the "rankers" were merely had a piece of cake or pastry and the "back-benchers" were partying all day long. Rahul and his friends were the perfect balance between the above two classes. They liked talking about subject and connecting them to something entirely different.

'The Big 5' was strolling on the pushpavila garden near the school and thinking about different issues, all very serious.

"I have been through this many times but it never gets easier. Leaving friends pains a lot but this time, its just too much. I don't know if I will be able to handle this or not. There is no one near the residence with whom I can play or talk to. Mom and Dad never understand what I want to say, they always mis-understand me and interpret only negativity out of my words. These 4 are my only emotional asset which, I know, I can't have forever. LIFE SUCKS!!!" Rahul accepted to himself. 

"Boards over, and the tension starts. Even after knowing how much I want to be an engineer, my parents won't let me and I have no idea what else can I do. Doctor? Blood makes me puke. Teacher? I have no patience at all! Housewife? I want to make money, not just sit at home doing household chores. That's a boring life which I have no wish to live. All is so confusing!! Atleast I have these 4 to share my thoughts but they will be gone too, in a few weeks. Who will I share my feelings with? LIFE SUCKS!!!" Soniya said in despair to herself.

"Finally the boards are over! No more late night studying. No more mugging up answers. No more 'no movies'. And I have a lot of choices for my career. Dad is even otherwise expecting nothing. But why am I not happy! There no reason to be sad. Everyone is happy with their exams. I am finally feeling like a free bird. I always said that this school sucks but then why I DON'T want to go away. Why do I want to stay? Stay forever? Why do I feel like crying? I will miss every member of our sweet little group but then wasn't I the one, always "practical" always "mature" ? This all is very confusing. But one thing sure isn't. Even if I forget my parents, I will remember these 4 bastards forever." Mahesh sadly asks himself.

"Nothing to get scared of now!! Everything is going just the way it was expected. I might get around 80% - 85% not too great but not bad either. For my choice of career, psychiatrist, it is all fine. Although, its a little, rather very sad to leave such wonderful friends,  life moves on and so should I. I can't keep crying and live like a loser. And if any of my friends go through this, I will make them feel comfortable by my talking. It can be a good test to see if I am good for psychology or not? Its a mixed feeling, like everyone else's, but I am more happy than sad. This is the first step to adulthood. To understand what life is really all about. This is my time. To any problem in life I say 'C'MON'!! Sara committed to herself.

Just then Tarun received a phone call from his Dad, and was shocked to death after hearing that her mother had met with an accident. It was a dreadful revelation. He didn't say a word for a minute. Just started wailing. Everyone asked. He paid no attention. He was all in his cries. He was troubled by the choice of future but now, it felt to him that there IS no future. When Rahul slapped him, to make him realise that he was being called, he told everyone about his mom's accident, how she bumped into a car when she was going out to buy some household items. Everyone rushed to Tarun's place and got the information that his mother was taken to the nearest hospital by the driver himself. She had a badly hurt knee and little brain injury. At that moment, when they dashed towards the hospital, they all forgot their own problems. They were not very late as neither the house nor the hospital were too far from the school (that one of the few reasons why many students registered themselves in City International). Tarun's father told them everything in detail. About the accident and about the situation.  Mother had some serious injuries but it was nothing close to fatal. They all took a sigh of relief. After sometime, his father asked him about his examinations (it had been quite a while and the mother was resting on her bed), to which Tarun replies "They were fine, paa."

Everyone was feeling dull, but Sara. So she started the conversation by the most obvious words "why is everyone so silent?"
One by one every member of that beautiful group started talking about what that group meant to them and now how they feel about. It was very very hard for even a girl like Sara, to hold her tears. They all started crying after the talking session. And they promised that they will always be there for each other till death!! and yes, they used this word, "DEATH."

30 years later

Rahul was a successful CA just like his father wanted him to be as he always was good with numbers.

Soniya was a successful engineer. She did have a fairly intense screaming match with her parents about it but finally she was able to get what she wanted.

Sara was a well renowned psychiatrist and was very successful and satisfied with her life.

Mahesh had totally transformed into and intense lawyer after all these years.

Tarun was a surgeon in Hinduja hospital.

It was hard for everyone to meet at regular intervals so, they decided to meet on all the special days ie. birthdays of each other.

Rahul "Although 30 long years have passed after that accident, I cannot help but cry. All the memories come back, which saddens no-one, but me. Everyone seems to have passed that stage of overcoming such thoughts, but not me. And I am happy about it. I have divine memories of my childhood. Many people say that I wish to live my childhood once more, don't count ME in one of those many. Its special only to the time it is rare."

TO THE READERS
Rahul  "This Jalaj, is not a very good writer, I know (and I hope even he knows) but give this kid a little chance. He likes it a lot. Encourage him and he might do wonders. But don't count on him,OK? Good day my fellow readers."