A tale of two friends

 

_{A tale of two friends}

 

_{A boy under nine}

_{mind fickle, brain benign}

_{running for life through zigzag lanes}

_{passing through unknown domains}

_{with spleen-chilling fears}

_{giving no time to eyes to shed tears}

_{to save himself from his frenemy's attack}

_{who were his playmates hours back.}

_{at a clue on a plan by a friend}

_{him, who wanted to defend}

_{who smelled the foul ploy}

_{designed for their nefarious joy}

_{by playmates of his street}

_{over a confidential meet}

_{to avenge their defeat}

_{his friend, they would beat.}

_{Advised he, his friend to run away}

_{before the miscreants’  foul
play.}

_{Despite parental bar}

_{not to go from house far}

_{the boy was slipping daily to play}

_{at a place from his house, miles away}

_{stealthily hoodwinking his mother’s eye}

_{His siblings’ silences, he could easily buy.}

_{This tale occurred seven
decades back}

_{the setup, to this tale one may well track}

_{with no street light to aid in the dark, the sight}

_{to a boy grips the fear of darkness’s cover}

_{when the ghost ghouls merrily flutter.}

 _{On boy’s turmoil and agitations}

_{with apprehensions}

_{contemplate I often}

_{“ How in him those would have run.”}

_{Prayed he the lord}

_{boons to accord}

_{to save him from the attack}

_{and the thrashings at home, back.}

_{Promised he, offerings, plenty}

_{if he escapes then scot-free.}

_{To be obedient to parents}

_{abandoning any nuisance}

_{he promised to be a good boy.}

_{And also buy the Lord’s mood}

_{for a reprieval}

_{on his task upheaval.}

_{With umpteen such promises in mind}

_{ran he fast without looking behind.}

_{Out of their sight, he wanted to flee.}

_{with vows for the future, them, he would see.}

_{With two his battle will be a battle lost}

_{The fat boy, he feared the most}

_{but he would not be able to run}

_{for him, it was a great consolation.}

_{but as they were more in number}

_{to them, he would have to surrender.}

_{with torn shirt and bruises many}

_{back at home, he would look funny}

_{that will irk the father}

_{he would face his anger.}

_{When he would grow}

_{with strength and muscle show}

_{he would take revenge on them, each}

_{“if on them his present plans fail to reach.”}

_{that with a group of  boys of his street}

_{he would give them a befitting treat.}

_{with friends of his class}

_{he would beat them each in mass.}

_{By each one's name}

_{charges he would frame}

_{instigate their parents and teachers}

_{to bruise them by their rages of anger.}

_{with thoughts, many  in his brain}

_{he was running as a boy insane.}

_{The friend who gave the advice}

_{was fearful of the price}

_{what he would have to pay}

_{to see the intended boy slipping away}

_{to playmates on his street}

_{daily on the play, they meet}

_{now him, they might befriend}

_{their anger he would not be able to amend}

_{to lose such friends he cannot afford}

_{Prayed he for himself to the Lord}

_{prayed he also for the friend on the run}

_{whose intimacy for all times he won.}

_{Thoughts of both then me haunt me now}

_{Dances in me, this seven-decade-back show.}

_{Our classmate Lalit was
rescuer and Gopal was rescued}

_{this incident of their child
hood to their intimacy is a prelude.}

_{Both friends are now approaching the age of eighty}

_{with such treasures of their
childhood love in the kitty.}

_{Remain they close for years, seventy}

_{pray we it to continue for eternity}

_{Hey Lalit, Hey Gopal! friends, bosom!}

_{Accept our accolades from hearts bottom}

_{with prayers and wishes for both of you}

_{“ Long live your childhood intimacy divine and true.”}

 

_{P K Routray}

_{in the service of the Lord}

 

_{(A true story of Lalit Das and Gopal Mishra. our classmates. On the incident this is a narration)}