Story Four

He is a boy of Unknown origin. They are people, events, emotions and things, he had met and experienced while traversing through a terrain rough enough to shred anyone to pieces (Or so he thought). At the end of his journey now he thanked God.

At 72, he had seen everything he wanted to, and more. Some to his liking while most quite the opposite. Never a stagnant lad, this old bugger had moved around quite a lot in his hay days. He had been all over. Met all kinds of people. Worked all kinds of works. Fallen for a myriad of women and had many fallen for him. Broke many hearts and got his shattered too.

Conclusively he led a life common to every other jackass who reached or probably did not reach his age (non-monetarily of course). Not that it matters.

Today, he lay on the deck of his ship; his head resting in his hands, he looked back on his life. Remembering the days that mattered.

What was not normal about him (Or so he thought) was that he was an ever “confused”, “hopeless” man whose childhood had been deprived of what some may call friendly company.

When he was a kid, it did not bother him much. He had his sister to play with. She was his best friend.

As the years went by, the 2 kids grew older…he felt his sister drifting away from him. He tried all he could to get back her attention. She had found new friends. Cool friends. He sat silently that day wondering what to do.

He knew he had to make new friends now. Everything now depended on him. His fate would now be decided by his actions. Who he befriended, what enemies he made. He knew the company he chose would give him experiences which would eventually mould him to become the person he eventually would become (Oh yes, he was smart for his age).

Entering school, he remembered sitting alone in a corner. Sitting alone, very nervous, watching people his age talk, cheer, laugh, crack jokes, fight. How he longed to be part of them. How he longed to have a friend he could talk to, play with. Finally he couldn't take it anymore. Just as he was about to get up, he gets whacked from behind. He remembers getting bullied by the big and bulky kids that day. He was very afraid. No one noticed. Why would they notice? He thought… Who was he? Just another kid who still wet the bed at night?

The years went by and now he found himself in the 4th grade and this time in a new city altogether. Standing at the bus-stop holding his moms hand, waiting for the bus to arrive, he stared as this girl walked up to him with a huge backpack.

The bus suddenly arrived screeching to a halt. Hugging his mom, he hopped onto the bus. Noticing the girl having problems getting on, he gave her a hand. He walks up towards the end of the bus in search of a seat. Finding one, he sits, staring out the window waving goodbye to his mom. Suddenly the girl comes up and hops right next to him. His seat being the only empty one. Sticking out her hand, a huge smile on her face she introduces herself. “Hi!! I am Aditi! Would you like to be my friend?"...