Childhood Friend

"Howzatt?!!" shouted the boys and the Umpire nodded in agreement. "No way am I out. The ball was clearly missing the stumps" argued Rajiv. "Come on dude...Not again. Drop that Bat and let the others get a chance for once" said Jay in a firm tone. "But...." and Rajiv dropped the bat and sulked while walking towards the parking lot which also doubled up as a pavilion.

"Finish off the lunch and sneak out before 3," said Jay to Rajiv. "I will. You better watch out for your Dad" came Rajiv's reply. "Yeah..don't worry. See you at the Tank at 3" said Jay and the duo left for lunch.

Same age, same school, same grades, Jay and Rajiv, all of 13 years had stayed in the same housing complex and had been great pals. It was summer vacation and the kids had planned to Make the Most of it before their 8th-grade tuition started.

"Where the hell were you?" Rajiv asked in annoyance." Bro, Mom had almost made me sleep next to her" came the reply. "Then?" Asked Rajiv. "She slept!!!" Came a sheepish revert and the duo burst into laughter.

It was 3 in the afternoon, a hot May afternoon, and the two were at their den. An old water tank just behind the complex wall and that is where they had their fun. The old water tank was very much operational but had a rustic feel to it. The Huge Neem Tree just next to it had been a loyal accomplice to the duo. From sipping colas to planning their days to talking about cricket to coming up with the next mischief...everything was done at..or rather on the Tank.

"You know Rajiv, I would become a Truck driver once I grow old," said Jay one day. "What!! Nonsense. You have no idea how tough their life is. They dont even get a proper parking space" said Rajiv. " Ya, but they get to travel the entire country. Imagine!" said Jay while almost gazing at the prospect of him sitting on the driver seat. "Yeah, man. Indeed. But I don't want to travel in a truck. I want to be very rich and will travel in an airplane" came Rajiv's reply.

Such were the conversations of these two kids. They were inseparable and innocent musketeers. Their friendship was envied by the other kids, while their parents ..they just wanted them to be apart!!

And apart they were meant to be. Rajiv's parents had bought a new house and the family was relocating. Albeit in the same town, but for kids, the distance was going to be extreme. Rajiv cried, argued, and tried to talk it out with his parents, Alas !!

"You know Jay, It takes only 12 minutes in an auto from here," Rajiv said. "That means we can meet daily" he continued trying to comfort Jay...or perhaps himself. "Yes, that will be easy" came Jay's response filled with optimistic confusion.

And the shifting happened. The boys did try to stay in touch as and when possible but the distance was perhaps too much for their optimism. Time passed by and with the new place came a new set of friends. Both got busy in their respective lives but the urge to plan and meet still remained strong. A lot of plans of meeting each other were made, but either of them had some or the other thing to catch upon.

"Dad, Why did you not call him?" Came a question from Rajiv's 12-year-old Son, who was sitting on the Tank along with his dad. "I did want to Son, but somehow just couldn't " came Rajiv's reply. Rajiv had always wanted to show the Tank to his son and had shared a lot of stories about his childhood with him. Today was the day when that happened.

"Give me your phone Dad," said the son as he went on to search Jay in the contact. "Hello, Jay Uncle. How are you?" He asked ." I am okay. But may I know whom am I talking to?" Came a surprised revert from the other end. "You know Uncle, even I want to be a truck driver just like you, but my dad wants me to travel in a boring airplane" he cribbed.

Rajiv snatched the phone from his son and almost in astonishment said "Jay!!!!"

"Rajiv!!!!! What the Hell Bro??!!! Where the Hell have you been?" Said Jay on the other end. "Guess What!!? I am on the Tank!" Said an ecstatic Rajiv. The duo was finally talking after ages. The conversation went on for hours and the afternoon soon converged into darkness.

While Rajiv and Jay went back into the time, the Son was smiling looking at his Dad's emotions, the Tank got it's favorite tenants back and the Neem Tree..well it just exhaled a Lot of Oxygen that evening!!!