In the Journey of Life it is always difficult to say goodbye

In life, it is always difficult to say goodbye as you never know when you will see that person again. Maybe soon or maybe late but till then you will only have memories to survive on.

School days were fun

The school days are in the last phase as the 12^th class examination dates have been announced by the Board. A class farewell is a ritual performed every year just before the prep leaves. Every student looks forward to the farewell party without realising that it’s always difficult to say goodbye. And this time the goodbye is coming after 14 long years.

The School Farewell

The farewell is in the last week of January at a happening joint in Connaught place. The girls are busy deciding what to wear while the boys are busy with the collection of money. The D-day comes and the party carries on till late in the night. The students start dispersing as soon as the parents start checking on their whereabouts. But before leaving everybody signs on everybody’s shirt with some beautiful parting lines.

The next morning, while still asleep, you hear your mother’s faint voice in the background, “I am taking your shirt for a wash as it has got ink all over it”. You jump out of bed snatching the shirt from your mom. The shirt is now a prized possession for you which will be preserved lifelong. It’s a trophy that has been awarded to you by your friends for standing with them on a journey of 14 long years.

It’s difficult to say goodbye to friends of 14 years

These are friends with whom you would speak daily for half-an-hour sharing all your secrets.  You shared notes with them while they updated you on lectures during the dengue induced bed-ridden days. They gave you a company in the coffee shop when you were meeting your girlfriend and on the other hand, you played a cupid introducing him to his sweetheart.

The journey of 14 years has now reached a point where the road leads into many directions. Some will join regular college while some will go for engineering and medical colleges. It will be difficult to say goodbye to all those friends who gave you company in a 14-year long journey.

It will be difficult saying goodbye to your son leaving for his studies

You have been waiting for a week, logging onto the college website every day, just to check if your son has secured admission to his favourite college in Bangalore. The 1^st admission list was a big disappointment but the 2^nd list proves lucky for him. He has secured admission to the BBA course.

As a mom, you inform everybody in the family and friend circle. The congratulation messages just keep pouring. In the night when you retire to your bed, reality sinks in that your favourite companion of the last 18 years will no more be visible to you in the house.

Leaving for the College

The day comes when your son packs his bags and leaves for the onward journey. Your husband loads the suitcases in the boot and calls for both of you. It’s time to leave for the airport.

Before your son enters the security gate he looks at you for one last time, waving and smiling, as if to convey “mom don’t worry about me I will be all right”. Tears roll down your cheeks and you feel difficult to say goodbye. While coming back you are in a somber mood and your spouse can feel it.  The spouse drives the car lost in his thoughts may be feeling guilty about how he didn’t spend enough time with his son. The car cabin which was always full of music for the first time is in a silent mode.

You reach home and unlock the doors desperately waiting to hear his voice “Mom are you back? I have been waiting for you for 2 hours.” Alas! There is complete silence. Spouse enters the house after parking the car and looks at you. Are you hungry? Should I get something to eat? The answer is a big no. Somewhere in your conscience, you are still blaming your spouse for not allowing you to accompany your son to his new college.

His absence makes life difficult

From now onwards days are going to be tough. The son’s room has gone silent. The chaos creator has gone missing. The bed cover has no wrinkles while the pillows keep lying in the same position. The t-shirts and the shorts are folded and stacked neatly on the wardrobe shelf. The clock on the study table keeps running without raising an alarm. The badminton racket hangs on the wall while the books stand vertically inclined on the table waiting for the owner to come back. He still looks a baby in the photo frame carrying the soccer trophy bigger than him.

The memories are countless and it is difficult to say goodbye to them. But just like sunlight breaks from the dark clouds, the son calls and informs that mom there is some good news. In the orientation course, the college authorities have informed that the college will close for two weeks during Dussehra. So don’t worry I will see you soon in October.

A time comes when you have to say goodbye to someone very close

There comes a time in your journey of life when you have to say a final goodbye to somebody close to you. Your grandfather started staying with you people after grandma left for her heavenly abode. Your parents keep reminding you that you should spend some time with him daily. But life is moving at a hectic pace and time is a scarce resource for you. You not only respect him but also enjoy chatting with him listening to the struggles of his life. However, spending time daily is just not possible.

A day comes when the grandfather leaves after a prolonged illness. The rituals get over in a week and one by one all the guests leave home. The house becomes very quiet. The cacophony of the news channels running 24/7 in grandpa’s room has died down. Whenever you pass the room you want to hear the same old noise but there is complete silence. Dad goes to the room and puts the light on every evening but the real light has gone out forever.

He is now only in our memories

The chair on the dining table on which grandpa used to sit has lost his occupant. There is nobody to bother you any more to pass on the dal bowl or the chapati. Your tuition classes to dadu on how to open an app on mobile are over. The stories about his struggles in life have now got permanently embedded in your memories.

You have noticed that dad has all of a sudden become very quiet. He no more questions you on why you are late or where you have been? He has stopped assigning you any new job as he knows what your answer will be. On the other hand, you desperately want to stand by him to show your support. But probably it’s late. You now realise that it is always difficult to say goodbye.

Enjoy reading similar stories on my blog by clicking on the following link:

The Journey of Life with parents by your side

The Story of a Dad who has difficulty in saying “I love you the most”