The Friend... Part-1

The Friend... Part 1


29 October 2021. Bergen, Norway

I always had a fantasy for Europe. I just wished I ever I could get a trip to Europe. And here I am, away from family, friends and home land for the past 7 years. Things changed dramatically for me after 2010. I became more serious in my career and I even tied the knot. I worked my butt off and finally got my wife to Europe. By the way I'm married now and I have a baby girl of 4. She looks so cute, just like these European firangi kids out here... Sometimes toh I even doubt my wife ke ye mera bachha to hai na... But then, her face cut is just like my sister's so that gives some consolation.

Anyhow, it was a thursday evening. I used to love snow, but now a days the winter here just feels like pain. It was very chilly that day. Evening I got a call on my cell.

Me: "Hello.."
Guy on the phone: "Kya be mote... Pehchaana??"
Me: "Nahii... But you sound familiar.. Koun hai bol na.."
Guy on the phone: "Muks saale, mujhe bhool gaya"
Me: "Ohhh Shit!!! Tuuuu.... Maan its been years... Where are you now? Kya kar raha hai??"
Guy on the phone: "Main Norway main hi hoon, tu bata kahaan rehta hai... Aaj hi milte hain"

I gave him the address and then I hung up the phone. Maan, it feels so good when you hear after a long time from someone so close. He was my best buddy untill Europe came. Last I saw him was on his wedding. I just escaped from the office, outside it was snowing heavily. Somehow I drove back to home.

My Smitha was waiting for me when I reached home. I love it when she runs to me and hugs me when I come back from office...She just keeps shouting Papa is back, papa is back.... :-). My wife had prepared hot chocolate and it was heavenly to drink it in this chilly weather. I told her about my friend and that he is coming for dinner. She also got very happy and immidiately started preparing for the dinner.

Finally he came at around 8.30. He was looking kinda old now for his age. He was looking weak also. I shook hands with him and hugged him. We sat near the fireplace for drinks and our conversation began:

Me: "Aur bata saale, where were you all these years? Teri shaadi ke baad kabhi mile nahi. Tu kahaan settled hai abhi?"

My friend: "Bas yaar chal raha hai. Shaadi ke baad we settled in Bangalore itself. I bought a flat. I changed my job soon after my marriage. They were giving me double the pay which I was getting"

Me: "Ohh.. To ab tak bada saheb ban chuka hoga. Fir kya kiya?"

My friend: "Bade paise ke saath bada kaam bhi aa jaata hai. Ek ek rupya they extracted out of me. There was no time for family and friends after that. But the biggest blow was when they gave me an assignment in US for 3 years. I had to wait for one and half year to come back home after i went"

Me: "Shit thats bad. Your wife would've suffered a lot."

My friend: "Hmmm... Anyhow I came back. It really feels like meeting a stranger if you meet someone after a long time, even though its your own wife. But she was behaving really weirdly."

Me: "Hmmm... Usko kya ho gaya?"

My friend: "Well... Anyhow, after I came back to US I came to know ke my wife is pregnant. That really put life in me. I somehow made it back to home before her delivery. She gave birth to a beautiful girl.. Bilkul mere jaise dikhti thi.."

Me: "Dikhti hai, dikhti thi kyun bol raha hai.."

My friend: "Dikhti thi... My kid is no more.. She passed away."

Me: "Ohh Shit!!!... I'm sorry man. How's your wife now yaar?"

My friend: "I Killed her..."


................. To be continued