Page 132 - Musings 2020

7

The Wordless Friendship

Anshul Khatkar 2016C2PS0766P

I.
It was Midnight and there we were again standing with our cycles in front of his hostel. The
Moon was full and so were our energies. We weren't having a friendly talk there; we were
doing some serious betting. We were betting over the race we were just going to put on the
roads of BITS Pilani on our cycles." No, that can't happen," Anand declared. I had asked him
that he would run shirtless around the campus if he loses. This was his last semester on
campus; indeed, this was his last month. He was a mysterious and socially awkward creature
who rarely did talk. I was always pulled to him for some reason. He rarely spoke, but when
he did it was meant to be heard. If it was low to hear, you ought to ask him what he said
unless you want to miss the enlightenment. He was shut to personal interactions, obviously
until you have bet over them on a race like this. He had been a brilliant boy, a self-taught
musician, a fast athlete and one of the most creative minds I ever saw, and a boy who would
push himself to death for something that made sense to him. More than that he was my only
friend I had in years. With him, I wouldn’t hesitate to speak of the angels and demons inside
my head. Whenever I felt aloof from the rest of the world he was my shelter. He would listen
to me, without judging me and without expecting anything in return for the moral act he
performed. But this was not the reason that pulled me to him, it was his silence that did.
Talent can bring the achievements of the world, but silence comes only through realization.
The realization that takes in a lot of solitude, that the world is afraid of. I was awed how he
never needed anyone to share his pains and joys. And since the first time I met him, he was
my topic of study.

I asked," What would you want if you win," reminding him of the meagre possibility that he
could win. " Your hairs," he smirked.” Whatttt...,” I rebelled “It’s the first time I got such a
nice haircut and I am not going to bet over them.” “Well, then neither can your wish to make
me run shirtless be fulfilled,” he replied. I knew he wouldn't win, with me he never did, so
finally I agreed on the deal. We had to race four rounds around a 2 kilometer lap. A speed
breaker 30 meters ahead of his hostel gate was our start line and our finish line. “On Your
mark,” I could see his scarred arms tightening and his gaze narrowing to the road ahead. His
racing cycle was one with his 5’10” muscular body now. “Set …. Go.” And we burst into
pedaling the cycles with everything we had, with just one goal, which was a victory.

II.
I was pedaling hard and he stuck right behind me. It was the third lap; I was tired and he just
wasn't giving up. Seeing me lowering my speed, he spoke, "I can see you getting bald.” That
was enough to make me pedal harder but he followed my pace and caught me again. Time
passed but he didn’t leave my back. It was the last lap, I was pushing hard and he was still
just stuck to me waiting for his chance to overtake me. I tried pulling away but he just didn't
leave me. We were on the last straight which must have been some two hundred meters and
he suddenly pulled ahead. I tried catching him with everything I had, but when we reached
the breaker I was looking down and I could see his cycle’s front tyre a foot ahead of mine. He
opened up his hands in victory looking up for the first time. I slowly cycled to him, gloomy
and sad after losing. But my sadness didn't last long because Anand was happy. He had rested

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