A forgotten friend (Concluding episode.) Part 10th —

(Recap —In the last episode, I mentioned about my contact resuming with Bind bro after a long lapse of time and his nostalgic attachment with the city, that once too was his own city. Never he forgot this city. we were on regular contact on phone calls ……)

One day his phone came and after formal talks he spoke in somewhat disappointing tone. ” long ago, in the year of 1998 when I left the old city, I was in the possession of list of land line phone numbers of old friends. But with the introduction of Cell phone, all they switched on to the new device and got disconnected their land line connection. A somewhat laxity too had been on my part. Besides, you know, at that time the long distance phone calls’s charges were too costly and never in life I had been in possession of sufficient fund. It was like a luxury to make long distance calls and I could not afford that. A feeble effort I gave to collect their new Cell phone numbers, but many of them I found not in use or transferred to other people’s names. Later on I also gave it up. Ultimately, I found your number and got connected with you.”

He took a pause and then spoke hesitatingly in supplicating tone, ” once, at least once I am determined to visit the old city. In fact, I too having my one cousin settled there permanently back in the same city. I implore you, on my visit there, I may need your assistance to ease my excursion of the city. Will you do this favor tome ?” I was glad to know this and I assured him of every help. Even, I suggested him to have a stay with me only. Truly say, this deed of assuring made me feel soothing. But probably, somewhere deep down in my heart, I had an inkling of his not visiting this city as well. (Though I said previously, since the present aspects of the city was in strong contrast to his old conjured image and it might disturb him badly.)

After our this conversation, I noticed his contribution to his Face book page began to diminish. Not even I received any phone call. Perhaps his health was not coping with him. I could only pray to god for his fast recovery, if he was not in proper healthy condition. On one day, on his Face book account I received the shocking tiding of his demise. In fact, his same younger sister (about whom I described earlier) had posted the contents in that Face book account. The post contained a latest pic of Bind bro and a few lines, ” After battling long with infirmities, our beloved eldest brother “Bind ji”(here she gave the real name) alias “X” ( Adopted name) left for the heavenly abode on the day …….”

I was grieved by this tiding. I left a long commenting note and described about my old and present connection with Bind bro. In response to that, his sister begged my phone number, that I sent on the messenger. After performing the proper rituals of the departed soul, next week she called me on the phone number. We had long chat about Bind bro. Firstly, she thanked me for remembering her brother after demise. Then she gave the description of long illness and his persistent desire to visit the old city once before leaving this world. The desire which never could be realized.

In the conversation, she too talked about the same cousin brother who already was settled in my this Himalayan foot hill city. She also revealed that in past twenty years, she had visited the cousin’s place here along with her husband on various occasions. After this, she said the the same thing, I already repeated in this story, ” in the mental image of Bind bro, there ever existed the same old city. Whilst this new city no where was now in semblance to the old city. I always happened to say elder brother, if he visited the present city, it would be a shocking experience to him.”

Since we had been attuned to a sincerer conversation, in between unintentionally on my part, the name of disloyal girl friend of Bind bro came on my lips. Upon that, she candidly spoke, cursed her and said further, “yes, it’s true my brother never forgot her. He ever lived with indelible imprints of  her memories. But never he expressed his agony before any one! At least before me, I can say. Otherwise also, I was fifteen years younger than him and he ever maintained a graceful elder brotherly distance about his personal feelings. But, it’s a truth! I am a woman and god endowed us  with extra-sensory perception to feel the agony of our siblings.”

After a short while, she resumed, ” Elder brother had penned down his memoirs about his old friends of the old city, I knew, he wished to get that published in shape of a book. Now we all have decided to get it published. Kindly, you send me your full address so I can send you the book after publication.” Later on, they people managed to give the collections of writing the shape of the book. This too I came to know through Bind bro’s old Face book account. The family didn’t delete the account. Annually, they remembered him on his date of birth and date of departure on that Face book account.

But, yet I have not been delivered the book, I was waiting anxiously for. When I am jotting down this story and ponder about about Bind bro deeply; he always surfaces up as a spurned and defeated love lorn man.  A man who was doomed to live a desolate life uncomplainingly, but his intimate attachment and nostalgic affiliation with the old city and bygone friends pangs the heart deeply. Dear Bind bro, you are now traveler to an infinite  journey; no one knows your track, but your soul is travelling , I wish you a happy, peaceful journey free from all encumbrances and agonies. You will ever remained alive in our memories. ( End of the story.) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–