Blink

Last week, as the year ended, we finally sold off our Zen. 10 years of memoirs went in a stroke of marketing genius as the automobile was sold for 80% of its purchase price after a decade (I must hasten to add that the aforementioned marketing masterstroke was my dad's and not mine).

The formalities completed, we handed over the keys, and walked off. However, like the Taj, you really must glance back for one last look at your precious.

Blink!

It was dusk, and a single ray pierced through the arched dome of the adjacent Gurudwara. The light perhaps obscured my sight, but I thought I saw a li'l kid at the side of the wheels, excitedly prattling to his father who steered the vehicle through the gates of the temple after the ritualistic offerings.

A shock of hair, he surveyed the knobs on the dashboard with wondrous delight, the colours amazing his senses in a way, his future years wouldn't hold his sway...

Blink!

The li'l kid seemed to have grown up a li'l bit. He was nervous. He had a match at college.Would he be able to play that one innings of glory. Or would a stupid short pitched delivery elicit a ridiculous and oft repeated pull shot to end at deep square leg. The bowler charged in after being cover driven for a boundary. The delivery was short...

Blink!

A billion screams emerged from those six friends, as they crammed in the boxy interiors of the car on 31st. night. Sweat, bad jokes about the driver and anticipation of new beginnings drove the car forward. We didn't know where we were going. We didn't care. Times, when the journey mattered, not the destination...

Blink!

She looked gorgeous. Everything in the car stared at her. Everything but my eyes. First date. First drive. Who'd have known that beauty was effervescent...

Blink!

The kid was now an adolescent. More. The Zen now was a friend, a peer, a guide. It listened with the patience of a counselor as the growing up sauntered with his heart's tale. The ones, no one would know. From campus interviews (the heartbreak and rejoices) to the future unknown (fears, apprehension, hope, courage), people, life. The Zen listened.

Blink!

A new threshold in life opens. One adventure has ended. Another is about to start. This one for life...

Blink...

The sun-ray had disappeared! So did the Zen!

Somewhere along, I saw a familiar li'l boy peer through the windows as my decade long friend made way into another life.

Blink...