Compromise

Yes, it was 22nd dec. Today was the day. I was so anxious to reach my destination. The usual 8 hours journey seemed like a complete day. It’s been like 6 years since I have met him and last month when he told me that he is going to be here and it was ‘ yes, done ,deal , final’ kinda plan.

I reached there and saw some familiar faces to receive me on station. Uncle and aunty were looking quite old from what I remembered. The usual jolly smile of uncle was also missing and I can see the sadness in the eyes of aunty. I get on in the car and we discussed usual stuff through the way. Finally, it was the time, I was waiting.

I literally ran into the house, waiting to see him. He was my closest friend from childhood. We shared everything. We played together, we studied together, we dreamed together. We shared a lot with each other, we had our good and bad times but nothing seemed to effect us until we were together. Those were the days when adrenaline use to be high in the blood. The time when we believe that one day world is going to get down before us, until the harsh realities of life hit us and we compromised with it and moved on.

I was so happy that now the good ol’ times will be discussed, some time will be devoted again to see some dreams, make some new plans. But what I saw there, shook me deep inside. He was lying there on bad, he looked so awful. He has lost some 15-20 kg weight, once the glowing eyes were barely visible and all there was just dark circles. I can see the blue marks of syringes all through his body. The only thing which was same was his smile. The smile which used to give me courage, the smile which used to make me laugh, the smile which used to say much more than words. Now it was saying that it’s the time.

He told me that he is not afraid of dying. The only thing which makes him upset that the persons for whom he cared through the life, will be hurt. He didn’t want to meet me, because that will make him wish to survive more. He was afraid that we will talk about all the good time we had and that would make the compromise, he already made with the death more difficult to follow.

I couldn’t say anything to him. Anyways what would have I told him?? There was nothing in my hand or his. The pain was so unbearable. I couldn’t wish for his long life also.

But the only thing I learned is that the only thing we share is to compromise. We compromise with burden coming along with success. With pain coming with failure, we compromise in life, in jobs, in relationship. We compromise throughout our life and if that is not enough we compromise with our death too.