PROLOGUE
Three friends walked down a lane that evening; one
talking, one smoking, and the other hearing the words spoken, and unspoken by
them both. Three very unusual lives had intertwined. But in their hearts they
knew, that this friendship, would last, if not forever, then for a very long
time at least...
ONE BOY’S STORY
‘Go away’, said a distant voice from behind the
closed door. The servant carried the dinner back to the kitchen as he had done
for the past 2 days. The air hung heavy with grief as the lights of that house
went out that night.
Paper cuttings, showing a building on fire, lay
strewn on his bed. Silent tears fell, as his eyes distantly stared at the
smiling photographs of the brother who would never smile again, would never
laugh again. The boy stared at the small note, written in his brother’s hand on
his 13th birthday present.
‘Keep
smiling! Happy Birthday Damon!!
I’ll
always love you.’
The 23rd day of March had taken away from
him his most precious belonging, his best friend, his partner in everything he
did, his elder brother. He hardly knew the time, let alone the day, and least
the month. There was no one now, to fill that hole, that empty void in his
heart, which was killing him. He had no sense of anyone else; relatives or friends.
Now that his world had been turned upside down, he felt that nothing really
mattered anymore. Sympathies and phone calls, words of solace and people urging
him to fight the situation, nothing worked. He hadn’t eaten in 44 hours and yet
he felt he would never bring himself to eat anything again.
The phone rang for the 9th time that
night. He ignored the ringing until it died down. He had to find his mother.
She had lost a beloved son. Also, he had heard, when a common grief is shared,
it’s easier for the tears to flow. He picked himself up and walked down to his
parent’s room. Empty. He hadn’t even hoped of finding her here, so he slowly
walked down towards his brother’s room. One glance at the poster stuck door, he
found his heart turn to lead. Uncontrolled tears rolled down his cheeks as he
slowly took steps towards that room. With trembling hands he opened the door.
It was dark inside, but he heard her silently sobbing. He turned the lights on
to find his mother sitting on the floor, with her head over the bed stand, red
eyed and devastated.
It was this sight, which urged his to mask his
unhappiness behind the veil of a smile.
‘Ma’, Damon tried to say. But his voice was nowhere
to be heard. He dragged his legs towards her and slid down to the floor beside
her. If she did notice, she did not show it. ‘Ma’, Damon tried to say again.
But the overwhelming agony was such, that before a word could be spoken; he
broke down severely on his mother’s lap. But even the agonising howl of crying,
of a mother and brother, couldn't bring back the lost son and brother.
To be continued.
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