When Me and My Friend Were

I was in middle school may be class 6 or 7, part of Hockey team which was selected to play regional level championship. We had to travel to other place to play the championship. Although I was only bit above average performer(definitely not among best), I ended up playing quite well in competition and entered twice in the opponent semi circle with the ball and Offcourse with my hockey. Everyone cheered and thought I will be selected to play at state level. Well, my selector had some other plans, he selected my other friend who didnot perform well but let me confess she played all practising games at my school very well. May be the selector had boon like Sanjay ji (of Mahabharath) and he saw all her past performances. My team decided to talk to selector as they thought I could contribute better but I stopped because it might be then unfair for her.

So I packed my bags with other gals from different sports who were not selected. One of our Teachers stayed back while other returned with us. I and two other school mates with the teacher reached our place late in the night, way past midnight I guess. We went with our Teacher to her home, she asked our address, I don’t remeber exactly if she was interested to know where we stay but she understood that one among us is not from the same town, she had to take a bus to reach her town. Our teacher asked the third gal from other town to stay with her and asked two of us to go to our home. Me and the other friend were neighbour when we were in primary school so our family knew each other well but at that time we were quite far although in same route. So me and my friend took our bags (we dint had trolly at that time :D) and started stepping out slowly. Few metres from the door when we reached her house gate and turned back, she closed the door. Generally, in that small town, the people were so milansaar that if any guests arrive, the family use to walk with the guest until the end of their gully. Well she was a Teacher so may be no time for all that and it was late night and we were not guests anyway. So me and my friend almost blank, started walking pretty slowly, turning our head in all direction in anticipation if we find one human around. Our home was exactly in South if I consider my teacher’s in North. We definitely had a long route with left-rites, all big trees on corner of road plus scary bargad ka ped(Banyan Tree) enroute. Slowly we started walking few more steps peeping in all gully if any family outside in their lawn past midnight by any chance. There were only landlines phone at that time and our both family did not have so we could not call and inform our family from teacher home.

We walked few more steps  ahead and suddenly saw in one gully watchmen with his cycle going in other direction. We both on top of our voice called uncle uncle uncle..he was almost at the other corner but he heard and came riding cycle to reach faster to us. He asked the matter and we told everything and he said -“ I will come along with you both and drop you both home”.  We were so happy that fear almost disappeared and happily started walking along with him. It was truly far but watchmen uncle had no complaints, I dint even remember observing that big banyan tree in the route, would have surely fainted if only we both would have been there. Anyways, finally we reached my house first, watchmen uncle told to go inside and wake up the family. I  knocked at door and told my father that my friend and watchman are outside. (I have no idea why didnot I call both of them inside, where all that milansaar culture disappeared). My father came out and told watchmen and my friend that he is coming to drop her. So my father thanked watchmen wholeheartedly and took my friend and dropper her home. Both the family were bit confused but that was not the time to talk so my father came back. My mother asked me to get freshen up, made chay paratha, I happily had and slept.

Today, not sure where he is, with my folded hands I want to say that I am immensely grateful to you sir(dear uncle), You came like Anjaneya Bhagwan and dropped us safely to home. Immense Gratitude 🙏🙏