Unforgettable School Buddy

         My dad had just been posted to AF Halwara in the late 60s and me admitted to KV std V. I was an innocent dumb kid with no friends in the new class. Another kid, smarter than me, living in my neighbourhood befriended me. We started going to school together that was a Km and a half away. Rajesh Dhir was his name. We started visiting each other’s home regularly. Our Dad’s and our Mom’s also became friends. Exchange of dishes started, as happens in some North Indian neighbourhoods. Creates a sense of bonhomie and you have more variety to relish…(remember the exchange of ideas, and each one having two ideas…. here the summation of dishes )…Soon there was Independence Day celebration in School and Kids were asked to present their items, to be whetted by class teachers and then rehearsals…Rajesh and I decided to gather a few classmates for a group song…I, the demo, was happy when our ‘Dresh ki Dharti’ was approved…

The class teacher told some hoarse singers, including me, to do only lip synching with actions…On the D Day, we had been told to come in white shorts, the fact that either didn't filter down to me or I missed out and I went to school in the usual blue short…I was in panic, of being left out of the chorus at the last moment…Spotting me in a morose mood Rajesh smiled, “Don’t worry I have brought a newly stitched nikar, for this particular song in my school bag”…He was wearing his usual white short…”I thought of changing into this before the item…Par tu pahan le yaar”…My joy new no bounds…

            Our item, the Manoj Kumar song turned out to be the best group song of the function and we along with our class teacher went on stage to receive our gift of sweets/trophies from the Principal…

           When I went to the change room I was in for a shock…That stupid of a fountain pen had leaked and deposited a large blue spot on the corner of the pocket (we had changed over from pencil to fountain pen in IV)…I changed, took the nikar to wash under the row of taps in the bathroom, but the spot spread and made it look worse…tears welled up in my eyes as I faced Rajesh with his spoiled Nikar in my hand behind my back…”What happened Rajinder? why are you crying? Today's the best day of our Life…Everyone appreciated our song” and he started singing ‘Mere desh ki Dharti’ to bemuse me…stealthily I brought my hand in front to reveal his bicoloured brand new Nikar and observed his face through the drying tears…His smile broadened, “Abbe tu iske liye ro raha hai? Chhod yaar”…He snatched it from me and returned it to his bag after a fold…My Mom got another short stitched for Rajesh, but his friendly nature made him my Best of friends even to this day…He is a Senior Manager of a company in Ludhiana…For Rajesh….

Dost Pyar se bhi bada hota hai.

Har Khusi or Gam me sath hota hai,

Tabhi toh KRISHNA, RADHA ke liye Nahi,

SUDAMA ke liye Rota hai..

Kyuki har 1 Friend Zaruri Hota hai