Secrets

The air was flavoured by the smell of different incense sticks and low murmurs. A trembling laugh could be easily heard in between the sounds of sobbing of a lady. And there in the middle lay my friend clad in white.

“He was a lively man, so chirpy and bubbling. Always ready to open up!”I whispered.

“Chirpy? Bubbling? I have never even heard him say a word!” Said a lady near me.

“Yes, he was as silent as a stone.” said the man beside her.

“But he was so lively, never stopped talking to me!” I said in surprise.

“I don’t think he ever spoke, not much relatives and almost no friends.” said the lady.

I was confused, he never stopped talking to me, and he used to tell everything, sometimes things I not ought to know. He was my college friend, my hostel roommate and I still remember that he used to talk continuously whenever I was in the room and many a times had to tell him to shut up his mouth, but he never did! Then after college I had forgotten his presence and remembered it only today when I saw the news of his demise in the newspaper.

I strolled between the people hearing their low wishes and whispers. Yes! It was true, he barely spoke to anybody.

I didn’t know how to react, what to think of it , because what I had thought to be trivial, rubbish talks were actually his secrets. Secrets which I had not valued, secrets which were teaching me now to not take anything for granted. Secrets which had me walk from the back of the crowd towards my friend and shed unstoppable tears.