Bidding Adieu

It was time to say goodbye. I was convinced we would meet again. Somehow it did not look as much an impossibility to me as it did to the others. Even as I tried persuading them to believe that I would be back, that I would be there for them, they were drifting away and getting surer that this was the last time we would interact. I am sure the only one who took my word for it when I promised that the goodbye didn’t mean anything and that it was only a temporary hiatus, was me. They did not doubt the sincerity of my emotions. They knew my commitment was genuine. Yet, they thought this was the last they would see of me. Maybe they had a stronger intuition than mine. Time will tell if I was more determined than the dictates of innocent intuition.

It was a special day. We had managed to reverse the scenario that we were in when we had started out. Things were going great for us. And the other initiative that didn’t need me so much as this one, they were here today to learn from us. I felt like a stranger when we started out. New faces all around, taking the lead, all set to make an impact in the lives of a few adopted kids, they impressed me with their enthusiasm. I had to take the backseat. But like it had to be, I had to be part of the action. There had to be something that the newbie could not handle. And I jumped up to grab the chance. In spite of not having been in business for about a month, I was as comfortable as ever. I knew how to get them to understand stuff, didn’t I? I felt proud of myself.

There was a long list of people who had to speak to the audience that day, the leader fella, the visitors and me. The leadership talked forever. He always was like that. His ramblings would never end. There were more exciting things coming up, newer and grander plans, more magnanimous hearts coming out in support of our cause, more money, more books, more competitions and prizes, more fun. The audience was happy. They liked to listen to him. He gave them hope. He was their man. Next came the chance of our visitors from far. It was amazing to watch the very confident teachers of a kiddo crowd far away in the village go through a mini stage fright fit in front of our brats. I was up next. I had come late to class and like I always did, I kept my word by distributing chocolates (this time they looked like cakes) to all. Our new year resolution was to come to class on time, wasn’t it? I secretly hoped that I would set an example of keeping a promise.

We were running out of time. I had to speak up. Let them know that I was about to quit. I put the idea forward. Krishna was agitated. He let us know he was. He told us what we knew anyways. He told us we would all desert them, run away chasing our own dreams. We never wanted to signify a permanence of support for them. But they had come to believe we were just that. I was overwhelmed. I tried my best once again to make them understand that we did not want them to lean on to us but to be independent and self-motivated individuals. I told them I was about to emulate one of their revered leaders, Dr. Baba Sahib Ambedkar and that they should follow suit too. One of my sweethearts came up with something like a joke. When she told the class, our next rendezvous would be via the pages of the history book where I would figure along with Dr. Ambedkar, I laughed hard. The next moment, I was fighting away the tears that swelled my eyes.

It was friendship’s day and I had my hands tied up with colorful ribbons, pink and red most of them. I was glad they took me for a friend. I walked home flaunting my fully tied up hands. Success march.

One more happy day.