Finding Summer In The Depth Of Winter!



The day Ved had been dreading had come finally.

He had bid goodbye to his best friend of four years from school. Today Ayush had attended the school for the last time, visiting with his parents to collect his transfer certificate.

It had been a chaotic and messy goodbye, for a large group of kids had gathered around Ayush to send him off. Ved didn't get a chance to talk to him properly.

Now, when night had descended and the complex slowly retired for the day, he sat outside at the porch, staring into nothingness.

Thatha came out and sat on his wicker chair beside Ved. He watched the kid in silence for some time.

He looked at the sky, as if searching for inspiration from the Great Beyond. As usual, not a single star was visible. What happened to the stars? Were they even there?

"I don't feel like going to school tomorrow." Ved said in a low voice laden with grief. "What is left now there? With whom will I enjoy?"

Thatha looked at the child and wished he could take away his pain. At a very young age, Ved had confronted his first goodbye, and that too it had been his best friend.

Sometimes life just wasn’t fair. If it were, there would be no goodbyes in life.

Thatha sighed. "You do have other friends."

"But it won't be the same!" Ved wiped his tears. "Nothing will be the same."

"I know." Thatha said gently. What could he say? There were no words that could heal the pain of saying goodbye to a friend.

A breeze blew, and along with it, blew some dry leaves. Thatha looked at the tree that had started shedding its leaves even as autumn knocked on the door of the world. Soon the tree would be bare. But he knew it wouldn’t always be so. With the arrival of spring, the leaves would adorn the tree yet again. It was after all the circle of life – finding spring after winter.

"It is human nature to find a way towards the light when everything feels dark.” Thatha said, his gaze on the dry leaves. “Many a times life will feel harsh and difficult, but you will see that you will make it through come what may." He paused long enough to get Ved's attention. "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

Ved sniffed. "Albert Camus".

Thatha smiled. "Yes. You will find that it is impossible to always feel low and sad. Your feelings and emotions will change with time. Today you feel sad that Ayush left. Tomorrow you will be a bit better, compared to today. And a few days later, you will be completely all right.”

“Will I be?” Ved asked tearfully.

Thatha nodded and leaning closer to Ved, he patted his chest, "As long as you feel the connection here, you will never lose friendships. I know that you and Ayush are going to stay connected and will be really BBFs."

Ved smiled through his tears. “It’s BFFs, Thatha.”  Just then his mother's phone pinged with a notification. Ved looked at it. "Ayush has sent a message!" He clicked on it and read it out aloud. “Just boarded the train. Will call you tomorrow after I reach my new home.”

Ved showed the message to Thatha who smiled with relief. "See, I told you!"

Ved nodded slowly, looking visibly calm. "We will find a way to continue our friendship."

Both sat silently watching the night descend upon the complex, although the darkness in their hearts had lifted. 

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