A walk to remember

This was cold war. This was my cold war.

Sometimes I wonder if it was only in my head. Back then, it was real enough.

My school bus used to drop me off at about 500-600 metres away from my house. It was a safe residential area and the walk was not hazardous in any way ( though I live in Madurai where kids are taught to be thugs than to give respect) 

There were a bunch of kids from the same bus stop and some lived quite far away owing to which their parents would pick them up. 

Except for the two of us.

The other guy was 2 years younger to me and lived a street away from mine. We have never spoken to each other.  I knew his name only as my Dad knew his Grandad. And I didn't even know where he used to sit in the bus as I was busy trying to win hand cricket leagues and verbal Pokemon battles.

But once we got off the bus, everything changed

On the way back home, there used to a large open area we had to walk past. The bus stop had two roads leading from it which opened onto this large area ( the then cricket ground, now a boring bus stand ). 

Everyday as we walked back I would take one route and he would take the other. We never took the same road. 

And then we would almost reach the open area at the same time. As I remember, we would cast a quick glance at each other.

For a brief second our eyes would meet and then we would pull that cord which held up our school bags.

One last glance and the race would begin.

I don't even know when it started or how or why. Well that's how some cold wars come forth I guess.

The first person to cross the ground, wins. It was almost always him. The guy walked much faster than me and his lunch bag was way smaller adding to his pace. The guy who reached first used to turn back and offer a smirk and then the slow walk home continued.

Once I remember, we even reached together and then continued to walk back home slowly, not uttering a word during the whole process.

I guess he changed schools after a point and I never saw him after that. 

Only when I was walking back home yesterday after getting a hair cut did I suddenly think of this and as I reached home I asked if anyone knew what he was up to.

It was quite sad to hear that he had met with an accident while riding his two wheeler in Madurai without a helmet and had succumbed to head injuries at the site of the accident. 

He was 18 years old when this happened.

The cruetly exists in the manner in which precious life is sucked away everyday on the roads. It has become a mere statistic and something that we read or hear about and pay no heed. Like how this piece of information was just information to me, the thought of the event has scarred a family for life.

It is just not worth it.

P. S : Please wear a helmet while you drive.