One Saturday, late at evening, tired and intoxicated two friends ended up having an argument at a restaurant during dinner.
Manoj and Parvesh had been friends for the past five years. Back when they had met, both had a lot more to learn, Manoj a bit more than Parvesh. Hence, Manoj had this inclination to discuss things with Parvesh and in those initial years he greatly valued Parvesh’s opinion.
The friendship proceeded with the years and so did the lives of both the friends. Both had done fine in personal and professional life. Parvesh over the time had become quite opinionated about things Manoj did, and whether Manoj asked for it or not, Parvesh always had something to say.
Manoj somewhere within him was always thankful for Parvesh looking out for him but one day it occurred to him that somehow Parvesh had given up on the acceptance that Manoj had learnt to deal with things in life on his own and maybe he didn’t need as much help as before.
Manoj bought an apartment and shifted in along with his parents from the rented apartment they used to live in. It was completely his own decision, something he was looking forward to for a long time and to celebrate the occasion both friends had met at the restaurant and after a while it came out.
It had taken Parvesh by surprise and not the good kind, he could not understand how Manoj had completely overlooked the option of asking him and in came flooding all the ways in which Manoj may have made a bad decision.
Manoj listened for a while but then he lashed out with, “You cannot accept that I am doing well in life even without your help”
“I just want you to do the right thing,” said Parvesh in a higher tone
“No, you just want me to follow you like a child without questioning your opinion”
The conversation escalated to a silence. This silence would reduce over the time but it will never completely fade. The bill was paid and the table was vacated with each person on their own path, knowing a bit more than before.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 