Companion

                There were two childhood friends in the small village. Both of them completed their school education in the village up to primary. But one of them could continue his education till school board examination in another town as there were no schools in the villages before independence. Both of them had very better mutual understanding between them. They would enjoy their life in open air of village. Both of them joined at their hip. One of them was very poor.  His family was live of hand to mouth. On many occasions, they lived off fat of the land. The situation further became miserable due to consecutive draught years. His friend was also facing the impact of continuous draught. His poor friend put a proposal to his friend, if he had money, he would have shifted to town for doing some business. Never put off things till tomorrow what can you do today. His friend thought on his proposal. So, he decided to help him to some extent. He gave him some safe minimum amount to execute his plan. His poor friend shifted to town with his family. He started his tobacco business in the town in weekly market. He earned good amount of money through that business. Every cloud has a silver lining. He then occupied a safe place in main market. He was strengthening his financial position day by day. There was another trader like him who started his daily need shop just by his side. Both of them were doing their own business with good relation. The poor friend grew by leaps and bound. After few years, he purchased the same shop where he already occupied the place. Everything was running good with him.

                 His village friend was unhappy with his traditional business in the village due to frequent droughts and floods. He wasn’t efficient farmer like an elder brother. When his poor friend met with him in the village. He observed that his friend was uncomfortable with his present business. So, he suggested a plan to his educated friend that there were many jobs in the town for him. He should hand over his land to his elder brother for farming. He should come to town for doing job. He saw eye to eye with the suggestion of his poor friend as he was facing many financial problems due non-performance of farming. He thought that he couldn’t do farming as good as his elder brother. The ship in the harbor is safe. But that is not what ship is for? Furthermore, he thought that what would be use of his education. Get out, when going is good. So, he decided to shift to the town with his family at the crossroad where he got a job in private bank. He was fairly comfortable in the town as he had two sources of income, one from salary and another from help from his elder brother from his land. Furthermore, he was happy at his workplace as well as additional facility of education for his kids in the town. God helps those who help themselves. Everything was as right as rain. 

              But the poor friend’s family hadn’t any control on their expenditure. They would bring all home items from the shop which was just by their shops without any restrictions and control. Family expenditure rose exponentially than their earnings producing huge deficit. So, there was loan on him in the market. He couldn’t r

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epay it in time. He had two daughter and two sons. The daughters got married by spending unwanted expenditure in their wedding functions. His sons weren’t good in education. Therefore, they left the school and doing some bad hobbies. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Their father was an old man and couldn’t pay attention on his business as before. He went bankrupt. He was in hot water which compelled him to sell his shop. He sold his shop to the same neighbored shopkeeper for the repayment of loan and borrowings. Half a loaf is better than none. Unfortunately, He had to work there as servant for survival. He again lived hand to mouth. His village friend couldn’t help him that time as he had to carry out gigantic responsibilities of the family. The sons of poor friend opened their eyes when they saw that their father was servant in the same shop whose he was master. It was of no use of crying over spilt milk. Looking at miserable condition of the family, his sons would be also servant in another shops.

                Both friends were living in the same area where they would meet daily. There was no day in their life when they would not meet for some time. His village friend would take his poor friend everywhere whenever he would attain any function in his family anywhere. They would go to together. Everybody in their community as well as relatives knew that both of them would come together. His poor friend had very good skill of sweet talking and storytelling. When there would be any meeting anywhere in any function. He would ask him to tell the stories and funny incidents in their spare time for entertainment. He himself and another gathered guest would enjoy them. He was too popular in his community that his relative would send separate invitation to him to attain the function with his friend. Both of them were senior citizen. They lost their strength. But they would meet every day and would enjoy signal cigars to-gather. His poor friend was facing many domestic problems due to poverty and unsettled younger son. Though he wouldn’t bring such realization on his face, but it was deeply rooted in his heart. Happy heart is full of purse. He would show nothing as if he was very happy man. 

             He was alive with white blood in his body. On one afternoon, he came to his childhood friend for his last meeting. He was too emotional to describe their friendship till that moment. Poor friend said to his friend, If he comes again in this world,he will be a again his friend . He assured him as per Indian mythology. He was dam sure about his arrival again. His friend couldn’t guess that he had come to meet him for the last meeting. He thought that he had some domestic problem that is why, he was talking nonsense. Both friends were segregated for ever just from that moment. In the evening, his elder son came to inform his father’s friend that his beloved friend was nowhere in this world. He was shocked by the message. He went to his home at the drop of hat. He was too emotional by his death that he had tears in his eyes to express his sorrow. But he knew that time and tide wait for no man. He gave the moral support to his friend’s family as grief divided is made lighter. He was present in his funeral with tears in his eye for giving him last salute and paid his tribute to the departed soul.