"....But beginnings cannot be prolonged endlessly; they cannot simply state and restate and restate themselves. They must move on and develop—or die of boredom. Not so, you say. You must get away, have changes, other people, other places so you can come back to a relationship as if it were new, and have constant new beginnings," ;-) said Dhruv as he nudged me over a cup of coffee under the shade of the peepal beside J.P. tea stall in our university campus.
Dhruv, a red-haired senior of mine with bright, black eyes. His favorite pass-time would be visiting exotic places,talking people and ofcourse reading Karl Marx. He had been to Tibet many a times and dreamt of having an agro-based society in India like China. He was doing an MPhil in Agrarian Economy under a very promising lady - Jayati. He stayed in an apartment next to the women's hostel. So every morning both of us would walk the two n a half km of the college together.We would discuss anething from whistling dogs to sonata :-/ often Marx woud draw an interlude in them coz thats the time wen I would choose to go silent.
Dhruv would be very vociferous in these sessions...and Ravi, a lecturer and our dram soc (dramatics society) co-ordinator would pet him for it. Dhruv and I have enacted roles together under Ravi's perfectionist eyes and we three struck a brilliant cameraderie. The skies then appeared a halcyon blue always and all troubles seemed melting like lemon drops.
It was a sudden rush created by some activists from Chipko movements that Naxalism hit a lot of minds and ofcourse Ravi and Dhruv.They all subscribed to the movement actively however I would prefer to stal myself away from it. It was then that the movements started creating ripples between us and gradually there would be a visible gulf.Destiny also co-operated in the drift and pushed three of us in three different geogaphic locations. The parting was nt elaborate or made a memory.It would just happen and without exchanging contacts.Needless to mention I would miss them.
Dhruv came back from Heidelberg University after 15 months,during the finals of my university, almost as a meteorite. This Dhruv was a lot more toned down. After my last paper,he took me out on a long drive.Suddenly the car was stopped in the middle of the road. He mentioned,he was expecting someone. I was a little worn-out after the papers and hence without resentment just slided back to relax.Just then a white ambassador screeched to a halt beside us. Out came Ravi. It was a SURPRISE! The celebrations thereafter need no elaboration and thereafter we've all been more tolerant towards each other and more matured towards each other's needs.Sinc.e then we've been together again
Years later, as Dhruv invited both Ravi and me for a cup of coffee with his fiancee, I couldn't help sharing this tale with all of you.
