It was a dark morning with the grey clouds competing with each other to sore to the utmost heights they could. The heavy atmosphere covered us under thick layers of mist.
_
I was sleeping - snoring, cuddled under the warm blankets.
****
Suddenly i felt a jolt. I found my whole group of friends, including Charlie standing all around me , leaning over my face. With red, swollen and sleepy eyes I asked them " What's up ? Why are you all looking at me like this ? " With a cheer in their voice they all said at a moment " Dont you think you should wake up and have a trip down the alley with your friends ? " With some sudden wrinkles in my eyebrows i asked them " Are u all crazy ?" I had no mind to step out from my warm world in such a cold, deserted day. But Charlie insisted so i agreed. I got up and got myself fresh. Then we all were carried away into a fiesty discussion. We all wanted to express our hearty complaints against these shivering degrees, over a hot cup of tea. However we ended our discussion shortly and finally stepped out, for a drive down the alley.
The mist seemed to swallow us up as we put our feet outside the house gate. Sue drived the wheel while we enjoyed ourselves - laughing and cracking out all sorts of jokes.
Then suddenly Sue brought the car to a halt. "Whats up ?" With a thick contrasting ascent she said "Dont know .. but do you feel the same as i am feeling ?" However as we all were in a light mood we taunted her and said "You must have not slept well at night." But she tried to cling on her thought at first. She said "Let's get back to our houses. I don't know why but i feel that we are going to face something wrong." But we forced her to drive. I said "Did you have any dream last night or are you day dreaming ?" All laughed but she didn't seem to be satisfied. But she continued to drive.
Our enjoyments knew no bounds. We were crossing the streets lined with lamp posts - while suddenly our car got hit by a truck. It was an accident - a major accident. Sue's head was on the steering wheel while Charlie's head was hurt by the window glasses - he was bleeding. The other friends and I like garbages being dumped into a corner of the car. It was early morning and there was none around who would come to our help. Even the truck driver disappeared. We were left all alone. The other friends who were all tangled up in the corner somehow managed to unlock the door and got out from the tumbled car. Three of us rescued Sue while the other three rushed to Charlie's rescue - i was in the second operation.
Sue had senses but Charlie didn't. He seemed to be almost dead. I gazed at him... after a few seconds Charlie winced up at me, at my glittering eyes. He took my palm on his and said with a low voice - " I don't think I will live." He stopped and lay as still as a statue with his head on my bloody lap. I had no words. He again said with a low feeble voice - "I am happy i spent my last day with a friend like you with laughs on our faces. I prayed to God infact." Then he smiled a smile which I think the brightest i have ever seen. His last words still i remember. He said "I have tried for fifteen years to tell you, to make you feel my heart for you, but... " then he closed his eyes forever, with a tear in the corner of his eyes and with a smile in the folds of his lips.
I felt a dumb ache in my heart. I tried to cry out loud but i couldn't. Tears were dried. They didn't roll down my cheeks. I just looked at him with still eyes, with my pupil fixed at one point. His palm slipped from mine. His last words kept on ringing in my ears. My other friends consoled me. But their consolation seemed to disappear into the darkness. Darkness fell on me. Though i was surrounded by other friends, i felt lonely. I was like a bird with its wings cut left in a deserted desert. As i held him close to me, i heard his heartbeat slowly fading in the dense sphere.
****
Now i felt repeated jolts suddenly. The morning seemed soo different. It was a sunny bright morning with the sun burning the earth with its mighty rays. I heard some commotions in the street. People were shouting over a dead fish. I sat up on my bed rubbing my swollen eyes and looking restlessly around me. I looked at my mom and my sister who were looking at me anxiously. Then i rushed down the bed, called up Charlie and then smiled , cried out loud and did whatever I felt at that time - that moment. But i loved Charlie very dearly - very dearly.
