The friend ??? ( Part-2nd ) —

(Recap – In the first part of the story, I gave the introductory description of Tarun ji and of Dubey ji alias Rishi ji, as  a duo friend. Myself, being in the calling of the journalism as a junior with them, both they stood in position  as my senior in the same profession. )

My sole purpose to give this story the title.  This term” The friend ???” stands on a distinct footing. A question in shape of issue, always churns my mind, ” whether persons we take as friend inside our circle, are our friend in real sense. Do they imbibe the soul feelings of friend ship?” This term “Friendship” may bear various types of definitions. But to me, the singular explanatory definition delivered to me by my one chum in adolescence, stood “logical and relevant in all aspects.” He had said, ” Look Prakash, at this earlier bend of life we both seem to be a good friend and I think we are. In this friendship, we shared so many secrets of our life with one another. Even we shared about the want, weaknesses and incidences which occurred inside our families. Those secrets which we dare not disclose with people out of our intimate circle.”

After a little pause he had continued, ” the reason of not sharing our secrets with outsiders is, we think, they may frivolously reveal them to rest of the world. As such offending our sentiments and stain our family repute. In coming future, may there surface up some differences in our friendship or some sort of bitterness may take a shape between us or our friendship may come to an end. But this doesn’t not imply that under the immediate effect of ephemeral bitterness, we should begin to disclose those secrets before other people. We should not forget that we shared that all as a trusted allies. With those secrets, the repute of family adheres. Why should our families be suffered from that loss on account of our break up of friendship? Hopefully, we we must try to contain our sentiments of temporarily hostility on that front. It’s the real parameters of friendship.”

This advice as a meaning of friendship had deeply been inscribed into my mind. Frankly say, I always apply this “theory” on the scale of friendship existing between other people, I am in touch with. Somewhere, deep down into my heart, I felt the “lack” of these sentiments between this duo of Tarun ji and Dubey ji alias Rishi ji.  No… No… I am here not indicting the conduct of both the gentlemen,  but of  Dubey ji, who ever failed into my this test against Tarun ji.

Now, I proceed with the main theme of the story. Once again I deal with the description of Tarun ji. As far as dwelling place of Tarun ji was concerned, it ever remained suspected in the eyes of people who knew him. To say, he proclaimed to have a permanent stay in the building of his in-laws, that existed in our home town only. But, when you are in the field of journalism, where your co-fellows wander sniffing everything, your “reality” is bound to surface up. The truth was, he was provided with a facility to “read and write” in an office type room in the building of the in- laws. Yes, an another facility he enjoyed, if someone of his friends or acquaintances happened to appear there to see him in working hours; he was served a cup of tea with some snacks from inside the house.

People who were known to him or acquainted with him, had a simple conviction in this regard. Since, he remained engaged for the entire day in the field for the collection of the news, hence his entire meetings with friends used to be completed either at some Coffee house of tea- stall. Be it taking of his breakfast or lunch, he was found feeding his stomach at some restaurant only in day time. And, if you talk of evening conclave, it was never completed without alcoholic drinks with friends. It was ever noticed in the evening gathering, he was given to sneak away after some drinks on the pretension, ” If I am late reaching home, my kin at In-laws office be offended.”

In such evening soiree, If Dubey ji alias Rishi ji were present and enjoying drinks and would hear this dialogue from the mouth of Tarun ji, ” If I am late……”, the expressions of shrewdness in his eyes become more dense. An extra- spark in his eyes would be visible and an invisible line of slight smile be  floated on his lips. This change in the face of Dubey ji alias Rishi ji could ably be read by an experienced man and expert in face reading. By blessings of god, I have been gifted to read such minute hidden facial expressions. Whenever, I happened to notice this change of expressions on the face of Dubey ji, a strong urge I felt, Dubey ji knew some “deep secrets” of Tarun ji’s life. But by recalling the affectionate deportment of Tarun ji towards me, I hardly could dare to ask something about this from Dubey j alias Rish ji.

On the other hand, externally the position of Dubey ji on the “family front” looked satisfactory. But he had a disposition to emit venomous opinion for every one. This made him utter some bitter or insulting comments even about his better half. Though, this kind of “blaming game” we notice in the behaviour of every married man, who used to step out from the house in the morning after quarreling with his wife. The another facet of the coin in context to Dubey ji, we might assume from his bitter tongue.

He already was a harsh speaker and bitter in tongue. Secondly, when such person at evening is supposed to enter in the house, with the stomach filled with alcohol. Now, the intensity of the bitterness of the tongue of Dubey ji was easily presumable. From the presumable misdemeanor of Dubey ji, It sounded logical, the wife when incessantly being offended, how could she be inclined to co operate in conjugal pleasure. It was obvious that he was not “not satisfied” either on this front and this fact too was supported by his weird mannerism. That I will describe in the next episode. ( End of the Part 2nd. Cont’d ).  Penned  by — Vinay Pharasi —–