What is more important

Renewal

Friendship is deeply rooted in their genes and, after years of not talking to each other, they both know that they will be there for one another, and they will never leave the other person’s side.

Sameen says with melody in her voice: “For me, friendship means a lot, Vijay. It means that if you are right, then I will appreciate you and if you are wrong, then I will stand with you by standing against you. If you agree to this condition, then we can be friends again.”

Vijay smiles and says: “With all my heart.”

Sameen feels an unknown warmness in her heart. Something she has never felt before. However, Vijay feels hope. The hope that even if things do not take a different turn between them, she would always be in his life as his friend. He is more than happy with this improvement in life. He wants to run to Mrs. Luthra and tell her that your words were the best advice he got. They were awesome and he could not have been more thankful to her. On the other hand, Mrs. Luthra wanted the best for her daughter. She thinks that she does not have much time and the time which is left you must use that to let her daughter find her track. She also wants the same for Vijay, who has always been a son to her. Sameen is younger than all the Gujrial siblings and Mrs. Luthra loved them all a lot. Nobody knows if Rakesh and Jaya love her or not, but everyone knows that they respect her with all their hearts. They never say no to her and meet her with their warmest smiles. Rakesh’s son calls her grandma and Mr. Gujrial was not the one to teach him. Rakesh taught that to him. No matter how bad their relationship is with their parents, they never undermine the relationship they share with them. Today she wants her two kids to be happy. She knows that they both compliment each other and if they realize it and move together, things will turn in their favour every single time. But she would never force anyone. She thinks that if her kids think that it is fine, then they will agree to a new commitment and give new meaning to their relationship, and if they do not find it good, they can simply say no and stay as they are because none will breach the promise they have made with their dads.

Vijay moves to Sameen’s side, and they start to walk again but with big smiles on their faces. After walking in silence for some time, Sameen says: “What is your favourite sport?”

Vijay: “I like basketball and frequently play football. Do you play any?”

Sameen: “I am fond of cricket. I play it very well and very frequently.”

Vijay: “That’s nice.”

There is still a lot of formality between the two. The awkwardness has not vanished, and Sameen will definitely not let her guards down.

Sameen continues after a while: “Is not it weird that we both like sports which are completely different from the countries that we have lived in?”

Vijay: “Yeah, people here like cricket and people there play basketball. It is weird, but there is nothing wrong with doing what you like or waiting for what you want to do.”

Sameen says with a slight and formal smile: “You are right.”

Vijay says with a little hesitation: “Ummm. Do you think people always change?”

Sameen: “I do not know that, but I know one thing, that they never leave. They always leave behind a part which can never be removed, whether that is in the form of happy moments or sad memories. There is always a part that can never be removed.”

Vijay appears to be in deep thought and does not reply. Sameen notices that and says: “Are you OK?”

Vijay: “Yeah, I am fine.”

Samee: “Ok.”

They continue their walk and after a while, Vijay asks: “What do you say, does not that hurt?”

Sameen: “I will not say that it does not hurt, it definitely does, but I think that is the beauty of life. If we do not have sad moments, then how will we realize happiness and if we do not have happiness, how will we know what reincarnation or standing back feels like?”

They are passing near the basketball court at this moment and Sameen stops. She puts one hand in her jacket pocket, takes something out and asks Vijay: “Can you please extend your hand?”

He is a bit surprised, and his eyes go wide without realization. Sameen looks at him and chuckles: “I asked you to extend your hand, not to open your eyes.”

Vijay ruffles his hair again and says with an embarrassing smile: “Oh, I am sorry.” He then extends his hand and Sameen puts something on it. He looks at it and sees that it is the same brooch that he gave her back in 1972 when she was six. A lot of memories start to circulate in front of his eyes, and he thinks that he is in the past. He looks at it in utter disbelief and then looks at Sameen, who has the brightest smile on her face. She then continues: “A friend once promised to teach me basketball.”