Best friends

There was a touching tale I’d read ages ago that has left an undying impression on me. Although a little childlike and simple, it throws light on the inescapable reality- the choices, helplessness and destiny of humans.

There were two vagabonds Sam and Mike, the best of friends, who struggled to earn two square meals a day. Miserable and always depressed, they want a change in fortunes. Mike is so desperate that he would not hesitate to apply wrong means, morally or otherwise, to heal his deprivation. He therefore tries to convince his friend for them to be a part of small crimes. But Sam would not sell himself. Mike thus wants to part forever, but on Sam’s request, he agrees to meet him on the same spot, the forked road, twenty years hence.

Sam moves on. Sad, hurt and hungry, he fails to avoid an accident with a carriage. He is taken to hospital and provided treatment. The owner of that carriage is a hugely rich businessman, kind at heart, and childless. For a few months till Sam recovers, the couple takes care of him and grows attached to him, and decides to adopt him as their son. After a few years the couple dies. Sam is now richer beyond his wildest dreams.

It is five minutes to twenty years that he is travelling in his own carriage with a casket in hand, a smile on his face and tears in his eyes. He is about to meet his best friend after twenty long years. Suddenly, a robber stops the carriage and tells him to hand over all that he’d got. Sam uses his mind. Just as he is about to handover the casket to the robber, he drops it.

Clang! The policeman nearby is alerted and the robber caught.

Sam smiles and says, “I cannot part with this casket. It belongs to my friend whom I shall be meeting after twenty years.”

“Sam…Sam…is that you? It’s me, Mike…Oh, what a long journey I’ve had...won’t you hear my tale?”

“What! Release this man at once, constable.”

“The day we parted, searching for opportunities late night, I stumbled upon a gang of thieves, which was trying various ways to enter a house through the bars of a window. I was skinny enough, so the gang tempted me to do the job for them. I was able to fit myself through those bars. That was the beginning of my journey. I soon became a part of an anti-social gang.”

“But why? …You know God has been so kind to me that now I’m a rich man.” He then tells him the story of his life.

“Mike, I wanted to share my good fortune with you. Please keep it.” He hands over the casket to Mike.

“I’m not worthy of being your friend,” Mike says with a smile on his face and hands it back. “I shall meet you again only if I find myself capable of it. Here again, ten years hence, or maybe never.”

And both part ways again.