Remembering Cheri........

Time flies away pretty quickly. It is hard to believe that exactly a year ago, Cheri left us all for heavenly abode. Though I had came to know about it very late - in the final days of May. It was a shock definitely. I couldn't believe this was happening with me. It all seemed so filmy, so unreal. I couldn't accept it as a whole truth ever in last 1 year. I always felt that due to some other reason, she has stopped emailing me. But now, 365 days later, I have to accept it with a heavy heart that Cheri is no more.

I often think why do I miss Cheri so much? I never talked with her neither I ever saw her face. The communication channel between us were chats initially and then the emails. Do words create so much magic in virtual world too? I am a guy who was always suspicious of the fictional world of internet and never allowed myself to develop any close bond with any person I met online. But then, Cheri was different from any other person I had ever met..... even in my real life.

Cheri was the most innocent person I had ever came across to. She didn't know that all the things are not meant to be shared with a total stranger. I sometimes read her mails in which she had mentioned her family and friends in a manner of a kid telling a story. Yes, she was a kid definitely. Not even 18 when she passed away.

I have been going through a rough patch for past 20 months and have interacted with many people during this course. The failure at this juncture is pretty harsh because, at the age of 25, you're not a kid anymore. You are a warrior (or someone in the garb of a warrior) who has to take on this world willingly or reluctantly. Either fight or perish - this is the only rule. Chats with Cheri would take me to the world that existed in the stories of 'Balhans'(my fav child magazine) that didn't have any kind of pressures, selfishness, flirting, etc. and there was always a happy end. She had a totally different childhood from mine since she came from an affluent family but still, at the age of 17, she had the heart of a 10 years old kid who didn't like studies, for whom life meant enjoyment... who didn't want to grow up at all.


She wished to get married soon so that she could escape from the studies. In her penultimate mail she had repeated it that she intends to get married in the coming month since she would turn 18 in April. I was busy with my GD and PI business and so didn't bother to ask the date of her birthday. It wouldn't have been of any use anyway........ She died before celebrating her 18th birthday.

If you are reading these lines Cheri then I want to assure you that I will never forget you. Your mails will always be stored in the folder named after you. I hope you are at peace in heaven. Finally signing off in your style

LOVE YOU

Prateek

Death : The Final Truth

Last week began on a sad note. Puneet called me at noon and informed me about the sudden demise of Koldy's father. I was shocked. Koldy had his share of troubles since class 12th. After clearing 12th somehow he had a short stay at polytechnic college before settling for BA finally. His MBA was going on and it seemed that he would finally attain some stability in life but destiny had something else in kitty for him.

We visited his home in the evening to attend 'uthawana'. Almost a week later we went there to meet Koldy again. How the world had changed for him in the span of a week? Now he has to look after his mother, household responsibilities besides thinking about his career. I could sense the maturity on his face in just one week. In fact, life changes in the couple of seconds only. I hope God gives Koldy strength to face this tough time. Though nothing can compensate for his loss..... but then.... this is life....

Mahaveer is back in the town for a week and we are planning for a meet soon. 'Clash of the Titans' has been released today and we are thinking about watching it on Sunday. The month of April has arrived and the countdown for the result has begun. I do not want to think or write about it much. Let the fate take its course. Though I feel that the time of my plight is over and there must be a new beginning for me in the coming month of May.