A Happy Friendship Day Gappu !!

-Story by Gaurav Gopal Naik

Saarika was suffering from a typhoid fever from the last few days. Yesterday itself, she had got discharged from hospital. Today in the early morning her parents had gone to the medical store which was far from her town, to buy the prescribed antibiotics which had got over. But while returning after buying the antibiotics their bike was punctured. Raghav aka gattu is Saarika’s younger brother. He was studying in class V. He was dressed in a white cotton Mandarin collar shirt and a black narrow fit mid-rise trouser as today was his annual festival on the occasion of the friendship day. He was suppose to get the ‘Best Student award 2019’ and so he had a special performance too, for which he was practicing very hard from last many days. Raghav was enthusiastically waiting for his school bus to come and then to board the bus.

“Gattu……Gattu……Where are you? Take your bag. Chocolates and friendship day belts have been put in the front pocket of your bag. Mom and dad would be coming bit late as their bike has been punctured near Bir colony. Take this umbrella too, as its raining heavily.  Ekdum hero lag raha tu.’’ Saarika said while handling the red bag which had a Spiderman logo on it to Raghav.

“Gappu!!!… You have a high fever!! Didn’t you take your medicines? Your eyes have become red too.’’ Raghav said while placing his little palms on Saarika’s forehead.

“Kuch hua nahi hai humhe. I’m alright. Look… Your bus is coming. Go run. And all the best for your performance. Aag laga dena.. aag’’ Saarika said, twinkling her eyes.

Raghav confiscated bag from saarika’s hand and ran towards the school bus, which was just a few meters away.

Meanwhile Saarika went to her dim room. Her fever was gradually rising. Being unable to bear the pain she thought of taking a rest on her bed. She was feeling giddy, nausea. She was waiting for her parents who had gone at a medical store to get some antibiotics for her. But soon she heard Raghav’s calling.

“Gappuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu……Gappu…Where are You?..Ohh you are there?’’ Raghav said while switching on the lights.

“Gattu you didn’t go to school. You will miss your annual friendship day feast. Wait I’ll drop you. Go get the bike keys which are placed on the right side of the fridge.” Saarika said while getting up from her double timber coloured bed.

“Gappu…Wait…Look whom I have called’’… Gappu said while pointing towards Dr. Bhardwaj, who was their family doctor much before even Saarika was born.

Dr. Bhardwaj checked Saarika, gave her some tablets and he left after a while.

“Gattu why didn’t you go for annual feast? You would miss receiving ‘Best student award’ at the hands of your Principal madam. And so you will now miss your special performance too..’’ Saarika said while drying Raghav’s wet hair.

“You know today is my very special day? Today is friendship day! The day merely not about tying the friendship belts and distributing chocolates. It's more than that. My class-teacher Thomas Ma’m had told us once that the best friend is not the one who just promise you to be with you in your good and bad times, but he is the one who actually proves it through their actions and care. Though I have missed my annual friendship day fast, but I am grateful that I got an opportunity to celebrate it with my best friend and that’s you Gappu. If I had gone, leaving you alone in this condition then I would have never forgiven myself. You have always been there for me. I always have your back. Well, you protected me from mom’s beatings too. You gave me chocolates, sweets of your share, and how can you expect me to leave you alone when you actually need someone to take care of you. I know sometimes we fight, sometimes we don’t talk but at the end, I know that I can’t stay without you. Happy friendship day Gappu….’’ Raghav said while tying the red coloured belt to Saarkia’s wrist.

“Bas kar pagale..Ab rulayeega kya’’…Saarika said while taking little Raghav into her arms. Tears were still rolling down from their eyes.

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A friend in need is a friend indeed ??

A friend in need is a friend indeed ??

A story by Gaurav Gopal Naik

The Morterone is a remote town in Lombardy, which is about 50 kms from Milan. Franco Sgarbi and Mario De Luca have studied together right from their kindergarten. Mario was the only child of his parents so it was very much obvious that he was pampered too much, whereas Franco’s father was expired when he was just 2 years old. After their higher secondary studies Franco and Mario decided to go to the University of Milan for higher studies.

Since Mario was residing in Monterone which was far from Milan, it was cumbersome for him to make up-and -down journey, whereas Franco had his ancestral house in Milan itself so he was staying with his mom in an old house. Later-on on Franco’s request Mario begin to stay with them at Milan. Franco’s mother; Mrs. Sgarbi never discriminated between Franco & Mario but she always treated Mario as her own child. Whenever Mario used to fall ill, she used to stay awake whole night and take care of him.

Eventually, after their graduation, both got a heavy-paid salaried job in an IT firm; Franco got a job in Milan itself whereas Mario got a job in Rome. One fine day, Mario got a call from Franco,

“Hey fratello! How are you? Congrats on your achievement of crossing the target of 50M Euros. Mom is proud of both of us. Well, when are you coming back to Monterone? Actually, mom is distressed from Beta thalassemia and she wants to see you desperately beforehand something happens to her. So, I was saying… see if you can visit us this weekend…” Franco said with a deep voice.

“That’s so sad Bruh. She will get well soon. Don’t worry. Actually, you know this weekend clients from USA are coming and I am a team leader so I won’t be able to make it this time. I'll see you in the next week. Take care of Mom. Bye. I’ll call you later….’’ And Mario cut the call.

Though the days were passing by, the illness of Mrs. Sgarbi was worsening day by day. After almost four weeks Franco thought of calling Mario again.

“Hi brother. I hope you are doing great. As I had told you earlier about Mom’s condition, it is becoming arduous for her to cope up. As a part of her treatment, she initially is in need of one unit of AB- blood and among those whom I know you are the one with the same blood group. So, can you please come tomorrow at Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico by 12.00 noon. Its urgent.. Please..”  Mario said while wiping off his tears.

“Oh god. I am sorry Man. You know my boss has given me this target and I need to achieve them by this week. I hope you will understand. You know about my dreams…. my goals of life… I’ll see If I can arrange something… Till then take care. Gotta go.. Bye’’. And like last time the call was discontinued.

Months passed by. One fine day while Franco was vacuuming his mother’s room, he received an SMS from Mario. It reads:

‘Hey! Your brother made it. I am being nominated as the best Employer of the year and that too with extra target. Tomorrow is our ceremony. Please come with mom at the address given below at 18.00- Hotel 87 eighty-seven stars, Via del Tritone, 87, 00187.’ 

On the day of the ceremony, Mario was glad to see Franco. He exclaimed:

“Hey fratello. Look! This is the place I always wanted to be. Where is Mom?’’

Franco couldn’t control his emotions and may be that was his weakness. Tears rolled down.

“Why are you crying bro? What?’’

“Congrats on your achievements. Mom would have been proud of you, but she is no more. She would have been alive if that day you had come for blood transfusions. That day itself, fortunately you lost me as your brother, but unfortunately I lost my mother. Dreams, goals, ambitions are nothing if you don’t have someone to celebrate it truly. It’s good to run after ambitions, goals but not at the cost of family, friends and especially those people who loves you selflessly. The people who are now celebrating with you may not be with you once you become non-profitable to them. Care and love people who think of you, who care about you. Anyways, I wish you all the best for your future. Call me whenever you need me. I'll be always be there for you.’’

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