I rummaged through the wardrobe, sifting my hands between the hoards of dresses scattered in an unearthly manner. Vexed, I started throwing the things on the floor.
That's when Mom entered. She looked at me stupefied and with a look of horror started shouting at me.
"What are you doing? It was only yesterday that after slogging for three hours, I was able to settle your things. And now....ahhhhh" she cried with a voice full of a symphony of anger and confusion.
"Ma", I replied desperately, "It's not here too, and Geetanjali will be here in a few minutes. What do I do?"
"You still after that stupid pen of yours. Don't you have any other job? Why don't you just clean your room and present her with a nice place to stay in?", she asked, annoyed at my naivety and angrily took a stride out of the room.
Nervously exhausted, I sat on the tip of my bed, my hands clutching the sides tightly in fear of falling off. I had to find it, the glowing pen with a Mickey shaped cap.
With a sigh, I went back into reminiscing those old days. Geetanjali, a crooked smile with gaping holes where her teeth had broken, long flowing hair and a lovely yet mystical dark face. The cheekbones jutted out high and the face stood out brilliantly under the sun.
She was thin and agile. We both were the best of friends. We were neighbors who went to the same school and studied in the same class. I've known her ever since I remember.
I was a shy five year old who did not talk to a soul in class except Geetu. She was more than a friend. We were like sisters, there was a strange, unknown, mystical and magical bond between us. An unbreakable bond that was everlasting and unforgettable.
We both wouldn't go to sleep without wishing the other, "Sweet Dreams". The only time I remember myself being angry at her was a sunny day when it unexpectedly started raining and our hearts fluttered with joy. I jumped out splashing in the puddles and enjoying myself as my clothes dripped wet and the rain soaked my hair.
I remember joyfully calling out to Geetu and for the first time, we contradicted. She started shouting at me for being so careless, telling me I'd get sick and I stood there in the rain staring back, surprised. Later, the surprise changed to anger for her not listening to me.
But the next day all went well, as I broke into fits of coughing and sneezing, lying in bed clutching the blanket hard around myself, with a high temperature. Geetu came, and calmly explained that she'd recently read that one would get sick by playing in the rain and that's the reason she'd been calling me back.
The warm faith and confidence in her seemingly deep blue eyes renewed me and filled a new zest and vigor. This incident strengthened me, and Geetu was like an elder sister, always there to help my perplexed soul, the careless and confused girl I am.
The sound of the honking of the car brought me back to my senses. She'd arrived....oh no!! I still didn't have the pen which was our last parting gift, the one that I'd promise never to loose, like all things I had, one that I had promised never to be careless with, unlike myself, one that was indelible with teary eyes as I wished her goodbye. It was my 7th Birthday and Geetu was leaving town, her father had been transferred to someplace else.
I hadn't slept for nights, hadn't eaten a morsel for days and lamented at her loss which seems for eternity. For the loss of a friend, a sister, a soul mate, a guide and a true philosopher.
But now she was back and like the careless self I am, I lost the pen!! As I stood up and looked at my reflection which shimmered with beads of perspiration, I heard the door behind me open....
I turned back.....she screeched....I screeched and then we cried!!
After five years....She's not changed a bit Those lovely flowing tresses and those deep blue eyes! Though she had all teeth now and no missing gaps and looked far more stunning, after hugging and all, we sat down talking.
She looked around the room and smiled, "Still not changed, eh Meghu?, she asked laughing at the mess of clothes on the floor.
I looked down and told her why it was so, after hearing that I was finding the pen, she looked at me stunned. For a moment I was not sure what to expect, the look was of astonishment and confusion, and then, suddenly without a warning, she burst out into a volley of giggles as I stared.
Geetu looked at me and started laughing like crazy, as I stared back equally dazed and vexed at her maddening streak. Had she lost her senses or what?
Without stopping her laughter, she took me to the garden as I tried to struggle out of her firm grip, seemingly afraid to be in the company of a lunatic laughing so madly. She took me to the mango tree we had planted together last summer, which had now grown into a luxuriant tree with a firm bark and loads of green leaves and white mangoes peeping out.
Then she did something much more crazier. She sat on the ground and started digging as I stared at her, my astonishment crossing all bounds. After a few seconds, she handed over to me something she had found, and surprisingly it was a green glow pen with a Mickey cap all bound with a plastic wrap and a note which said..."Geetu sweetie is back!"
It was then that I remembered how she and I had together dug that pen itno the roots of our beloved mango tree with teary eyes as we bid each other farewell, and while going, she had mockingly tried to renew my spirits by joking that, "The day I return....I know you'd be hopelessly searching for the pen and then I'll have to find it out for you, like all other things! I bet you won't remember it's here!" And then she had tucked in that note...
It was at that moment that I looked at her and knew that the note said it correctly...My dear sweetie was really back!! And then we both laughed together...just like those old days..... The Revival Of An Old Bond...
My recent meeting with an old lost friend inspired this story. And as you know, I love hearing your tales too. So please remember to share your joys with me of the time when you met a long lost friend!
(1)+(1).jpg "Diary")
