Reunion of Friends
(A friendship turned to relationship)
by Vamanacharya)
Twenty five kilometres away from Bengaluru city towards the west, the picturesque Prakruti Badavane had just begun to flourish. It was here that two old friends, separated by more than a decade, found themselves reunited by chance. They had both booked their dream homes in this layout three years ago. They were unaware that their paths would be in such an unexpected way and their houses would be side by side making next door neighbours.
Naveen Kumar was a bank manager and Amaranath a principal of a college. About ten years of service remained for both of them.
“What a big surprise Amar? I could not believe my eyes for a moment. After a very long time we are meeting here.”
“Yes, Kumar. I’m happy that we would be lucky to become neighbours.”
“Amar, first we are friends then neighbours. I forgot your wife’s name.”
“Yes! Pushpa is my wife. Just one year before my marriage, you tied the knot to Suma.”
Friends went to a nearby park within the colony and sat on a bench for some time cutting jokes and remembering old incidents in school and college. The birds were chirping on the trees, the cool breeze comforted them. They were laughing, dancing and the tears were rolling down. Kumar and Amar moved to new houses after one month soon after the housewarming ceremony on the same day.
Six months had passed.
On Sunday morning Kumar was sitting in the balcony enjoying the aroma of filter coffee sip by sip and glancing over the head lines of the newspaper. His mobile was ranging.
The call was from Amar.
“Good morning Amar. How are you? Need any help?”
“Yes! Kumar. If I ask you something, don't say no.”
“You are my best friend more than a neighbour. How can I say no?”
“You know my wife is an insurance agent. This year her company has given a target of one crore. Just three months remained to reach the target. Your son Anurag has recently joined Galaxy Info, a USA based multinational company as a technocrat. Will you please convince him to have a policy? He is a young man whose premiums will be very low and returns are very very attractive.”
“Amar, I’ll call him. Speak to him directly.”
Kumar called his son Anurag and asked him to talk with Amarnath.
“Good morning uncle.”
“Good morning beta. You are young and recently joined a company. I know, you are a highly paid professional. Why can't you insure your life?”
“Uncle, I’m sorry. At present I am not seriously thinking about investments. My priorities are something else.I’ll definitely approach you, when I need it.”
Amara said,
“Okay beta. Whenever you think of insurance don’t forget your aunty.”
“Definately uncle.”
Kumar realised his friend was unhappy with him.
One week has passed.
There was a problem with the tap water supply in Kumar’s house. Before constructing the house Amar had a borewell facility and the water was sweet. . But due to financial constraints, Kumar dropped the idea of borewell. If there was a tap water problem, Amar used to give borewell water to his friend.
The present situation is different.
“Amar, you know there is a problem with tap water. Can you help me?”
“ Kumar, you know the borewell is almost dried up. I’m thinking of approaching a borewell contractor to dig further. As soon as it is ready I will help you.”
Misunderstandings crop up between the friends. On another day a milk boy in a hurry the milk packets of Amar dropped in Navan’s bag. The neighbours were facing one or the other problems every now and then.
Three months had passed.
One early morning Anurag dialed Amarnath.
“Unclel, I’m ready for the insurance now. Sorry, I took so long to decide.”
“Kya hua beta?What made you change your mind? asked Amarnath.
“To be honest uncle, my company was in trouble and I was about to lose my job. Now things have changed, my job is safe. I’ve realised the importance of securing my future,” said Anurag.
Amarnath was happy and friends continued to keep cordial relationships.
Like Vineet Kumar and Amarnath their wives, Pushpa and Suma, also became close friends. They would often meet and share stories about their families. Pushpa was busy in social work and Suma in insurance business.
Pushpa and Suma encouraged their grownup children to spend more time together and arranged a get together of both the families in a hotel. At the party, Kumar and Amar acted as if they did not know love between their children and realized that Anurag and Sujata love was blossoming.
As Anurag and Sujata's relationship deepened, Kumar and Amar were initially hesitant due to their different professions and backgrounds of children. Anurag was a software architect and Sujata was an artist and singer. To test the strength of their love, friends challenged lovers to spend a month away. Sujata's parents asked their daughter to focus on her art & singing career and Anurag was asked to concentrate on his job. The lovers respected the elders' wishes. The pure love and dedication of Anurag and Sujata won over their elders' doubts, and they gave their blessings.
Anurag and Sujata exchanged their garlands on the marriage engagement day. Parents' eyes shining with tears of joy. The friendship of Kumar and Amar had strengthened. Their friendship continues to flourish, a beautiful legacy for generations to come.
Now neighbours' houses became one house. ‘Asha’ is Kumar’s house and ‘Deepa’ is Amarnath’s house. Now the combined name ‘Asha Deep’ was promptly displayed in the centre of the building.
