Finally, I Did It!

My best pal from school days visited country. It was unscheduled. Her father had passed away unexpectedly and she had to come. Although, it wasn't the happiest of times, we had a gala time together on one Sunday when she was bit free from her fixations. It was a lazy afternoon, the sun set light soon mellowed down the spirit with which we had started it all. The setting sun was soft and not-so-yellow, spreading its nostalgic wings on us. We were ransacking our sweet old memories. Transfiguring was never so sweet before! May be, it was the poignant sun that did the trick. We are friends since junior school and her marriage and my subsequent pre occupations with some gross things in life had drifted us far apart geographically. She became a mom, a few years ago and kept shuttling between the roles of the dancer, that she is, and a stay-at-home mom. And, let me tell you, she's doing it quite well. I, on my part, have just begun to live. Yes, once again and happily so.

Plaques, memories, books, mementoes..... and the scrapbook! Yes, she had dug out her scrapbook! It was a beautiful scrapbook that breathed of our school days, it still does! We were both thrilled and enlivened and why not! All those sweet, silly, some curt and snappy, some perky remarks - no wonder we were living it yet again except for the bewilderment that was getting intense with each flip of the page. How could this be possible! My page was missing! How could this be possible! I, being her best pal, was supposed to have the first page! She couldn't have missed me out! But my comment couldn't be found anywhere near! And even more surprising, when each and every corner of the book was scribbled to the full, the very first page was blank!! And guess what, we two gave a fleeting glance; I could get her right away. Darted to get a pen, got down to scribble down my thought right then, right there! It felt like I have done something, it felt like I really accomplished something on earth! Yes, it felt great, as though I had completed a long pending job. And why not! It took me seventeen long years to finish this colossal job!

As I look

Beyond the ripples of my reflections

To examine my inner self;

The ripples begin to fade . . .

As the reflection lays beside me

Grasping my hand,

The inner warmth shields me

And the vision of my reflection appears

I see you. My Friend.

(C) Dena Martin