Niranjan Khatiwada

Everyone makes friends during the course of their lives. But some are more special. This is the story of one such special friend. A friend who taught me the real meaning of friendship and made me believe that true friendship is the union of two souls. In the same school, we had been friends for a number of years. I vividly recall how I used to steal his lunch. The days we laughed and played together are fond in my memory as well. During a winter vacation, the two of us spent some time together in Nagarkot, which brought us even closer. Since we had a week before the start of the school, we had decided to spend it together at his uncle’s resort. Nagarkot was almost paradise. We roamed around the scenic place on the motorbike that his uncle lent. It was another lovely afternoon when we headed out to explore the hills. My friend was speeding. I urged him to take it easy but he wouldn’t listen. On a sharp bend, he lost control of the bike while trying to avoid a pole. I had my helmet on tight, which saved me from any serious head injury. But my friend was not so fortunate. The loose helmet could not protect his head; he sustained severe head injuries. Samarpan was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

He was still unconscious as he was wheeled into the emergency room, bloody bandages all around his head. Later, when I peered into the Intensive Care Unit, I saw my friend lying motionless on the bed, his beautiful eyes wide-open. Before long, the doctors pronounced him dead. I broke down at this horrible news. I kept weeping incessantly even as he was being cremated at Aryaghat. Amid the dense smoke and chary smell, my friend disappeared. I could not help but think how my friend had lost his life just for the sake of a little thrill.

I had never witnessed death so close. I wish no one has to live through the pain of the untimely demise of a close one. I know that my friend will never be back. But all I have for him is love, as much as I have ever had. Since that fated day two years ago, time has flown by. But rarely do I talk about this sad chapter of my life. I still wish I could hold on to a few more moments with Samarpan. What wouldn’t I give to see him smile and hear him say, “Hi Niranjan!”