There was this O. Henry story in our class 12 textbook, where two friends decided to meet at the same spot after 20 years. Inspired by that, I proposed to some close friends to meet again. At that time, 20 years seemed too long, so I proposed a date of 14 years later for all of us to meet. Thankfully that was immediately shot down by an importantly close friend because within 3-4 years, I did not want to meet almost any of those "friends".
I got reminded of that 20 years deal because tomorrow, it will be 20 years of a significant event. 20 years ago, a friend met an accident and the car causing that accident was badly thrashed by us, the university boys. While that accident was scary and unfortunate, that was also the beginning of a different bond for some of us. So important a bond that the main protagonists of that story got married eventually.
And today, when I look back, those 20 years seem to just fly by. When I was 17, the period of 20 years seemed scarily long beyond a foreseeable time horizon. But now, 20 years seem a small time. It has been almost 20 years of that evening talk, which turned me from business to higher studies. It has been more than 20 years for some friendships. It has been more than 20 years since I saw Emma for the first time. It has been almost 20 years since I saw Emma for the last time. It has been almost 20 years of so many loves, crushes, flirts, romances, losses, breakups, betrayals... and what not!
Some day, it will be 20 years of another love. Some day, it will be 20 years of another loss. Some day, it will be 20 years of another romance. Some day, it will be 20 years of another betrayal. Today, 20 years seem scarily long. And I don't want to go there anymore, where another 20 years seem a small time.
Exactly like 20 year ago, Jagjit Singh is singing Mirza Ghalib -
क़ैद-ए-हयात-ओ-बंद-ए-ग़म
अस्ल में दोनों एक हैं
मौत से पहले आदमी
ग़म से निजात पाए क्यूँ
दिल ही तो है न संग-ओ-ख़िश्त
दर्द से भर न आए क्यूँ !
