VELLAPANTI

I am so tied up with work that I am unable to find time to write anything. I found this while going through my old mails and found this to be different (though I may concede it may be boring). However, take this with the spirit that a set of friends were having fun and two of them tried to pull each other’s leg. This conversation took place on 15^th May 2009. The name of the concerned person has been changed for anonymity.

The Mail:

Disclaimer: The author of this letter has been a witness to one of the catastrophe in the world of friendship. All resemblance to the characters addressed in this missive, living or lost is utmost intentional. Though the author has no intention to sound stodgy never the less he warns on the consequences of reading through this entire letter. This letter is strictly prohibited for pregnant men with surged bellies and children who refuse to grow up.

To,

The Phantom of the Orient,

Hi sir,

Firstly I would like to begin with the virtues of a good formal education. In a country like us where people dreamt, that a day will come, when they needn’t pray in biblical parables “Give us this day our daily food “. A guy in millions earns the opportunity to pursue a Higher Studies. There are stiff competitions. Millions of rupees flowing in the “Coaching “industries, promising a bright career. Lakhs of aspirants sitting through those boring lectures, hundreds of them sneaking through the attendance register to find out the names of some attractive opposite gender. And countless parents and relations hung optimistically, eying at their kids with eyes full of hope, “May be this year he/she gets through “. And the aftermath is dejection, failure and regrets. But you sir, saw it through. And what did that Higher Studies promised? Yes a thick wallet. But my friend did you forget the virtues that are concomitant with a good formal education. Basking in the dawn of a huge wealth and fortune you forgot, that the education promised a pregnant wisdom, a rich intellect and humility.

Today I witnessed a horrifying DEMISE of FREINDSHIP. Dear Mr. Phantom , the one who was considered no less than a deity ( akin to lord Krishna ) by his humble friend MR. X , who was more like a Sudama . He was insulted straight on face. His face still ruddy with the lashes of word that you have heaped. His eyes beams with tears, the thick eye lashes holding them to spill over .Only the blood flowing in his vessels speaks, he is crestfallen and sad . You sir, made a sorrowful end to the friendship tale of “Jai-Veeru”, You sir, made an end to the friendship which bosomed in a small hostel room in Hamirpur. I still remember the days when the big guy stopped you from watching “The realm of senses “. The days when he restricted your hours on Computer, stereotyped on Ashoka . Sleeping snobbishly in front of it, having chocolates. And everything so that you don’t get deviated . Like lord shiva he drank the poison meant for you. And today my friend when you are a Man Of Man you abuse the person, who loved you the most. The person under whose tutelage you have grown up to become this dashing young gentleman. Mr. X couldn’t have fathomed this coming, while he sat partially doped, celebrating your joy, amidst your friends. He never could have guessed that the cheap liqueur he was sipping and the sale meat that he gobbled will one day sit as witness in the coffin of his feelings.

I feel too sad to continue …

Regards,

A philanthropist

The Reply

Dear Mr. Philanthropist,

It has been a privilege to come across the views of someone as esteemed, knowledgeable and caring as you. Believe me, I have been enlightened by the thoughtful insights you have provided on the prevailing educational system in our country. I completely agree with you on the issue that many, who pursue the dreams of getting admitted to the institutes of Higher Education, faces failure in their attempts. It has been of great concern to the incumbent government at the centre and thus they decided to open 8 IITs and 7 IIMs to reduce the impact of this dejection on the spirits of an apparently ‘Young India’ (Christened Youngistan by Pepsi India Co.). As you yourself have agreed that this exercise provides fringe employment to many and thus this move seems to have taken in accordance with a strategy to see through the impact of economic slowdown on Indian economy. However, the issue of economic slowdown brings me to more pertinent issue raised through your mail – the issue of thick wallet. As you would have known through many insignificant views of pedestrian economists and the news of ‘pink slips’ being handed over to many budding executives, the things in the corporate jungle are rather getting ugly. The entry to this terrain has become tough and the survival tougher— and this experience has provided some of those caught in the midst of hostile terrain enough intellect and humility.

Sir, today you lay bare your feelings for the abused, crestfallen and deprived. Just like Rahul Gandhi you have declared to the world that finally you have arrived as the protector of mankind. How deeply moved I am by your observation under the heading ‘DEMISE of FRIENDSHIP’ can not be expressed in simple words. Your gesture of taking up the cause of crestfallen Mr. X who has been no less than Sudama has been appreciated all around. You have rightly shown a cruel, ruthless, arrogant person his true place in this world. You have done great service to the mankind by bringing out the tale of modern Krishna- Sudama just as ShahRukh did it in Billu but your tale has much more depth, innocence and emotions into it. As you feel sad for the demise of this legendary friendship, I feel like a fool who had done so much harm to the innocence of so many people involved in this mail chain and inflicted such torture to the emotions of Mr. X and ‘your highness’. I am ashamed by this act and have decided to take a plunge in river Hugli and end my life……….

From a soul soon to be departed