Destiny

Chapter 1

There are people in your life from whom you have never had to hide any part of yourself. They remain like your constant shadow, a bolt of lightning in a dark sky. Friendship with them flows freely in an ordinary kind of way. Siddharth had the same carefree, uncomplicated conversations and moments with his friend Panchi Kaur. Panchi lived in an old-fashioned blue-colored building right across from his house and there wasn't a moment in his childhood when he wouldn't be in Kaur's Residence.

It was the 7th of July, 1991; Siddhartha's Dad was washing his bullet with sheer excitement that his best friend was finally returning from Bangalore. Siddharth was excited too on a level that they will finally have somebody in his neighborhood. He was also expecting that Baljeet Uncle would have a son so that he could become friends with him and with his company, he could explore bicycling, swimming, playing cricket, climbing on trees, and have so much fun with him. Suddenly a car stopped and his father threw the water pipe away, rushing toward the car. He and Baljeet Uncle did a tight jhappi and his mother greeted Harpreet Aunty. As this Bharat Milap scene was overwhelming him, Siddharth scooted to one side and saw her. This was the first time he had seen Panchi Kaur. She was wearing black glasses and sitting silently inside the car pretending to be goody-toe-shoes with her T-shirt and jeans attire. She came outside as her name was mentioned and politely did Namaste to his mom and dad when he heard his mom say, "O Gudiya Rani kinni badi aur soni ho gayi hai tu."

Dad called Siddharth to his side and introduced her to him when she scrutinized his Kurta Pajama attire with her glasses on. She removed her specs then and greeted him. Siddharth nodded but his eyes kept scanning the car and he asked, "Do you have any brother?" she shook her head, "No, I don't. Why?" Siddharth just shrugged and said, "Nothing, just asking," but he was disappointed. Then he felt her holding his hand immediately and asked to show her their house. He took her inside and after spending time with her he realized that she was way better than what he had envisioned in his mind and it was the start of a beautiful friendship with all swimming, cricket, and climbing trees.

Panchi was that fierce at the same time sublime friend of Siddharth who was never afraid to tell him where he was wrong. From the ugly childhood gestures to sharing their concerns, their timeless moments couldn't possibly be measured.

There were times in kindergarten when Siddharth and Panchi have been inseparable, in literal means. Their teachers were burdened with their continuous chit-chats and had instructed them to set apart for the whole day. But as for Siddharth, he couldn't even perch on his chair patiently for one period. As soon as he heard the bell toll for the next class, he took his chair and his bag and placed them near Panchi's seat. A diligent moment of innocence like this could never be corrupted in the coming time of their lives.

It was when they were in tenth, they were both worried for the boards because Siddharth felt that their school teachers had created an atmosphere of eerie professing that if they don't perform well in their board exams, their entire careers can be ruined. Many would end up taking Arts as a stream in 11th and 12th and then there won't be any good career options left for them. It felt like the boards were the most important thing in the world and Siddharth and Panchi should become a bookworm. Or maybe he was taking it a tad bit more seriously than Panchi because whatever outdoor activities had a place in his life were because of her only. He was really good at cricket and Panchi used to love watching him play; pitched her non-stop commentary on his high strikes and placed bets on his team winning the team. Panchi used to call him her piggy bank. There was a time their team needed sixes in an over, she quickly placed bet on him and surprisingly he had hit sixes six times in that match and his team won. That day she had made 500 bucks and they celebrated the mutual victory. Siddharth believed that Panchi's confidence in him made him win every time.

It wasn't just undeniable support from her during his matches; she was a friend that genuinely takes it upon herself to make him feel good at all times. It was this one time when Panchi noticed that Siddharth was unable to focus clearly in class. He kept on cleaning his eyes and she asked him, "What happened?"

"I don't know..." Siddharth said in a low voice and started wiping his eyes.

"You have started to sit in the front row today and also keep on wiping your eyes."

"I am unable to see clearly from the back bench," Siddharth told her.

They went home and Panchi told his parents about the itching and watering of his eyes and how he was unable to see from a distance. They took him for an eye checkup where the doctor prescribed him to wear glasses otherwise his power would get worse. Siddharth didn't want to wear glasses at any cost and was stubborn to have some medicines for the same. But the doctor was persistent on him wearing glasses and assured him that they can go for laser surgery or contact lenses sometime after. Adolescence is a phase of blending into a popularity group, of creating a ruckus about your name and absolutely hated humiliation. Siddharth was nervous and at the same time dreaded going in front of the class with big glasses on his face. No one would want to tarnish an image with comments like chasmish, tube light, battery, etc. He even reprimanded Panchi for informing his parents about his discomfort with his eyes who religiously encouraged him with how good he looked with glasses. He expressed his awkwardness and uneasiness about going to school with that face. The next morning when he was taking out his bicycle to school, he saw Panchi sitting on hers with big glasses covering her eyes like him.

"What is this?" Siddharth asked her.

"These are zero-powered glasses, I have gotten rid of mine, and you will do too. I have put these on so that you won't feel awkward my dear friend." Panchi smiled at him. That day, Panchi Kaur like a true friend supported him by blending with him; she never took her glasses off until Siddharth was through with his operation.