Ego Destroy Friends

Vanita was alone at her Raghavpur home. She got up from the bed and had morning tea. While  sipping the taste of tea, she turned on the television to watch the latest news. Vanita was surprised to see Sarita taking over charge as CEO of Sputnik Software Technology. She switched off the television and tried to recollect the memories of two decades.

 Surya Prakash mall in Raghavpur town was full of customers on Sunday due to discount sales for Deepavali festival. The Customers witnessed an unusual  situation. They were standing in the long queue before the payment counter raised objections as two young girls, who were in the front engaged in serious arguments causing unnecessary delay for others.

"Vanita, why did you come to my front place in the queue during my thirty seconds absence, even after requesting you not to allow anyone as you were next to me. But you not only come to the front and allow another person behind you. Now I have to go to the last in the long queue. You know I get my turn very late,"

said Sarita.

"Sarita, you left the queue, I, being the next person, naturally move further. Why did you leave? Why should I listen to your request? I allowed another person because she is an old lady,"

said Vanita with ego.

Sarita had no choice except to go last. She was irritated and said,

“Vanita, this is not fair on your part. Though you are educated,  behave like an uncivilised person. Ego is not good."

“Sarita, don't teach me a lesson. Do you know my father is Assistant Commissioner of Police and your father is just an Assistant Superintendent of police. You should know how to behave with me. "

"Vanita, your false prestige will ruin you."

There was no end to their arguments. Security staff arrived at the spot and asked Sarita to go last.

Vanita and Sarita were close friends for a very long time. Vanita was jealous of Sarita for getting more marks than her in the BE final year. The person who created unrest never thought of improvement. If one gets fame another never tolerates. Vanita's father Ramana and Sarita's father Chandramouli were colleagues in the police department. Vanita was born two days before Sarita. While growing up they were living like their own sisters.  Both Studied right from school, college together and completed BE in the same engineering college. Their parents lived as neighbours in the police quarters for many years. They used to get the same place and adjacent quarters even on transfers. Vanita's father Ramana completed KPS  and got promotion to ACP, whereas Chandramouli remained as Assistant Superintendent of Police. Vanita was feeling superior to Sarita. She avoids meeting Sarita due to status. Sarita tried to meet Vanita. But she used  to disrespect Sarita.

Sarita was a simple, honest and bright student, whereas Vanita was quite the opposite. 

 In another incident after a fortnight, the same girls met in a bogie of an express train proceeding towards Bengaluru from Raghavpur. Both were going to Bengaluru for a similar purpose. This time, the problem was the same berth number 35 was allotted to both of them. Sarita already occupied the seat and refused to vacate. The heated  argument started between them. Both lost their patience and a war of words  began. 

“Sarita, this is my seat. How dare you occupy my seat. "

“Vanita, show me your ticket," asked Sarita.

She showed her ticket. The same seat number was there.

 “You may lodge a complaint with the ticket examiner, " said Sarita.

Ticket examiner arrived and provided another berth to Vanita. The berth was on the passage side and most inconvenient. She wanted to exchange the berth. Nobody was ready to accept her berth.

Sarita said,

"Right now, if you give up ego and be a simple girl, I am ready to go to your berth and you come to my berth."

 "Sarita, I am prepared to suffer tonight rather than compromise my prestige."

Vanita spent a sleepless night.

On reaching Bengaluru city station, both got down at the platform. Vanita was thinking of taking revenge on Sarita. There was a crowd on the platform. Everybody was in a  hurry to go outside. The two girls again met at a spot where there was no space to pass through. Vanita pushed Sarita knowingly.  In the process, Sarita fell down and suffered minor injury. Vanita left without expressing sorry. Ignoring the pain, Sarita went fast and stopped Vanita.

“You have no courtesy to say sorry.”

“I have not done it purposely. Do you know such incidents are common here? "

 “I will not leave you until you say sorry.”

 Vanita unwillingly said " I am sorry. "

Sarita and Vanita again met on the same day evening in the reception hall of Chakrapani Private limited, Bengaluru a software development company for an interview. Both were holding BE degrees in computer science with first class. During the interview, Sarita's performance was excellent.  The performance of Vanita was poor. She exhibited her false prestige before the members.

Sarita got selected for the job and Vanita was rejected. After three years Vanita joined an engineering college as a lecturer. Both of them didn't meet for a long time. 

Repeatedly knocking on the main door, Vanita came out of the old memories to know who was at the door. Maid servant had come to attend her duty. 

Vanita realised that due to her ego she lost a good friend. She resigned lecturer job last month and remained as a homemaker.

It was a good lesson for her that ego destroys Friendship.