The story involves two school friends, Ajay and Raghav. Story is narrated by Ajay.
“……and then I learned something from him that made me stopped dead on my tracks.”
Raghav and I were quite close to each other since our school days. While I was always an introvert, he used to be an ambivert. We lived in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh and were together till class 12th after which he got selected in a reputed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi while I stayed back for another year there as I was unable to crack any competitive exams and then took admission in BSc chemistry . After his B. Tech., he got quite a handsome package in one of the leading construction companies and he shifted to Bangalore. I did my graduation, Post-graduation and Ph.D. and was now a Teacher in a college in New Delhi. Initially, we had a lot of phone calls between us but gradually with time as we got busy in our lives, our calls got restricted on special occasions only and now it’s rare that we talk. I remember last time talking to him was when he bought a new flat in Bangalore and got his family shifted with him. He had everything now what is needed to be called a successful person in life while I was still struggling to join my blocks and build life. I always thought that he got everything in life very easily, cracking IIT, job, huge salary, marrying the person he loved and as such a wonderful life with less efforts while here I was, though being more laborious and intelligent than him, a teacher in a not so good college, married the person of my mother’s choice and still struggling to buy a flat. Sometimes, I envy him for this. What is this life, why such an unbalanced distribution. It should be according to who deserves what and not be like one getting to travel in business class and the other thinking hundred times to even air travel.
So, it’s been 4 years since we talked the last time.
Today, I am in Shimla. I came here to attend my Fatherโs two years death anniversary a week ago and decided to stay back for a while. Two days back, I gave up my ego and inhibitions and thought to go and visit Raghav’s parents.
The house was locked from outside and looking at the outgrown hedges, it seemed no one had lived there since quite sometime now. Then I saw, “House on sale” board. I decided to enquire about it with one of his neighbors. I was shocked to learn that his mother passed away and his father being alone suffered mental health issues so he took him along with him to Bangalore. Coming back home, I picked up my phone, took a deep sigh, scrolled his name, Raghav and pressed the call button. The phone rang and after few rings I heard his voice. We started on a very formal note and then returned to being just Raghav and me. We talked so much, laughed and then I learned something from him that made me stopped dead on my tracks. In the past 4 years, my friend had lost his mother and his wife to an accident and is living with his father being challenged mentally. These past 4 years, I had no clue he would be going through all of this. I didn’t call him just so as I thought, “WHY ALWAYS Me?? While he must also be having this complain from God “WHY Me?? โ
I regret leaving him at a time when he needed me the most. Now if I see, I have everything what a good life needs to be, a mother, a lovely wife, 2 beautiful children. Sad, I realized this after knowing my friend is longing for the wonders I have in my life.
“The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence”
But in reality itโs greener where YOU water it.
Remember, “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Abraham Lincoln
And Today, I am elated as I am leaving for Bangalore to meet my very dear friend, Raghav.
35 replies on ““The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence””
Nice story๐…keep it up๐
LikeLike
Thanks much๐ฅฐ
LikeLike
Very well described ๐ the essence of life , we should always be thankful to Almighty.Kudos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks ๐
LikeLike
Wonderful write up. That’s the bitter truth of our lives. We should be always thankful to God for what ever we have while many can only think of.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much dear for your kind words โฅ
LikeLike
Perfectly describes the harsh reality of our lives in today’s modern age where everyone is running towards immaterial things leaving behind the emotions and relationships.
Two main takeaways are:
– Always keep in touch with your loved ones.
– Value what you have rather than entering the race to fulfill unending desires.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for understanding it so well ๐โค๏ธ
LikeLike
Thought provoking and inspiring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for taking out your time and going through it๐
Appreciate a lot.
LikeLike
Interesting Story have a deep lesson.
LikeLike
Thanks ๐
LikeLike
Nyc story….keep up the good work ๐
LikeLike
Thanks ๐
LikeLike
I donโt have anything to say about this. COZ you are having such a beautiful mind.
An excellent story ๐
LikeLike
Keep the spirits high…..good piece of writing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much โค๏ธ
LikeLike
its really worth reading, and if it is worth reading then it should be worth sharing as well๐๐๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Can’t thank you enough for taking off your time. Means a lot!
LikeLike
Can’t thank you enough for your kind words.
LikeLike
Wonderful Story๐๐ค
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for getting into it. ๐ฅฐ
LikeLike
Inspiring…. We should be thankful to Almighty Allah for whatever we have. Good piece of writing… Keep it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed we should be. Thanks so much Chacha๐
LikeLike
Really Nice Story๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
Thanks ๐
LikeLike
Being grateful for your blessings is a great virtue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it is.. ๐
LikeLike
A lot to think about
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah! It takes too much of an effort to stay and be positive and contended with whatever we have.
Thanks so much for reading it out ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inspiring story. We should be happy with what we have instead of assuming that others are doing better than us. Every life has its thorns. A story with a moral.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed we should. ๐
Thank you so much for your support always dear, highly appreciated. ๐ท
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
LikeLike