speak out

Ramu and Shamu were very good friends. Since school there had never been a day when they had never fought. Be it school or house, studies or play there had always been fights. And there had never been a day when their fight had not ended up with a hug.

Ramu was always calm where as Shamu was like a cooker on a stove which could blow off the steam anytime, but once blown off he too came back to normal. Their fights always ended with Ramu s talk of advice and Shamu s apology.

Days passed by Ramu had plans for further studies, he had to go abroad in a couple of days. Shamu on the other hand wanted to stay in ‘his country’, amongst ‘his people’.

One day Shamu had a fight with Sneha, his girlfriend. Like usual Shamu had no control on his temper, he said things that he should not have said. Hurt by this Sneha just left. Ramu had to catch his flight next day. When Ramu heard this he met Shamu and told him that what he did was not right. That he should have not lost his temper at Sneha. That she was hurt. And asked him to call her up right then and apologize. Shamu s temper had not yet subsided. Ramu became his next target

“Shut up ok!!! What happened between me and Sneha is none of your business. Don’t meddle in my personal life”

Ramu just took off. He knew that shamu would come back when he had cooled down. The next day Ramu left for his studies but shamu never came to see him off. ‘typical of him. Still the same kid shamu is. When ll you grow up shamu?’ told Ramu to himself.

Shamu never tried to contact Ramu for years…

One fine day Ramu returned. ‘Back to his country, amongst his people’ as Shamu used to say.

Ramu knew the first thing he had to do. ‘Meet Shamu. Scold him, beat him if necessary but take the apology which he owes to me’ thought Ramu.

When he reached Shamu s place he noticed that nothing about that place had changed. The same garden, same plants the same house welcomed him. But inside the house something had changed. Shamu was not as he was before. He looked very fragile on his bed. He was very happy to see Ramu in his room.

“Ramu I am so glad to see you. Forgive me my friend I was very harsh to you the last time we met. I said things which I should have never said. I am really sorry my friend. But you!! you always brought me back to my senses. Why didn’t you hit me that day? Why didn’t you scold me? Why did you just turn your back to me?”

“I am sorry too Shamu. I thought you were right. I had no right meddling between you and Sneha.”

“please do not say that Ramu. Do not make me feel more bad for what I did to you. Doctor told me that they had detected cancer in me… so I decided that sneha would be well off without me. That was the reason for the quarrel. I wanted her to be happy which she would never have been if she had stayed by me. I am sorry my friend, I should have told this to you, but I decided against telling you. it would be better for you I thought”

Ramu had no words to speak. It was hard to believe that his once strong friend was not there on bed so weak. He burst into tears…

“Shamu I am sorry, all these days I thought you were still the same old kid whom I had to persuade to talk to after any fight. But no my friend you have grown. I feel very small next to you. But you should have told me….”

“thank you for coming back. Now I am at peace”

“Don’t worry Shamu everything ll be alright. We ll get the best doctors in to treat you. I still have to defeat you in Cricket.”

“no pal. I be the champ forever. I ll die undefeated” said Shamu holding ramu s hand.

Soon Shamu s grip stiffened. He had drawn his last breath.


Never hold grudge on everyone… speak it out now … if you are sorry for something, express it now when you get a change… probably there might not be a tomorrow.