David Miller relaxed on the couch, as he savored his habitual evening tea. His mind was swaying between the various dilemmas life was hurling at him invariably. His life had been a colossal failure. Not only did he failed to usurp his own dreams, but also he had brought down the expectations others had of him. Diagnosed with a rare cardiac disorder, his younger sister was in the hospital awaiting her apocalypse. Surgery was the only way out. The elixir of life for her. But drowning in a sea of debts as he was, obtaining such hefty amounts within a limited time was near impossible.
David's eyes unknowingly found their way to the carton which the deliveryman had dropped off in the morning. His anger and concerns prevented him from even opening the carton. David unwillingly ripped of the packaging and his eyes caught a glimpse of a guitar. A fiery Xiphos guitar. He took it out and clearly examined it. The initials 'D.N' scratched on the mahogany body almost instantly grabbed his attention. It wasn't any guitar. It was HIS red Xiphos. David glanced at the date on his wrist-watch. It hit him like a bolt of lightning. It was that fateful day - the day which foiled his life plans two years ago.
David was re-encountering those days in his mind....music was in his blood, guitars were his passion. And he was among those fortunate few who have a dearest friend to share his passions with. Neal and David had been the best of buddies since high school. The dream of being in the elite group of rock bands and the awesome Xiphos guitar were among the central things that the duo shared. Rivalry never ceases to exist in friendships, however intense they might be. Indeed be it gaining popularity in high school or getting the hottest girl in college, Neal and David proved they were rivals too. And Neal emerged the winner in these trivial competitions almost always. Pragmatically, David had to forfeit his dream of starting a band for the time being and instead concentrated himself on getting a jog and a stable life. But, existing on a hand-to-mouth survival, David generated enough money for him and Neal to kick-start their music career. He was truly on cloud nine......And then one day, the large amount of money suddenly went missing from his vault, along with his treasured guitar. But they weren't the only things missing. Neal was gone too......David never lodged a complaint against him or tried searching him. He was sure that somehow, one day Neal will return with the money. He trusted him. Though that never happened .The piercing voice of the ringing telephone brought David back into reality. Not another bad news of Linda, he thought.
The phone call was nothing like he had ever expected. The hospital administrators had called to inform him that the expenses of the surgery had been paid in full by someone. David was unable to comprehend this. A miracle of sorts. Though miracles don't repeat, truly a miracle streak followed in the days to come. Someone paid off all his debts, saving him from the impending financial doom. David was convinced of Neal's role in these happenings. Conjuring up his investigative mind, He started his search for a long lost friend.
Days later, his search finally culminated at the doors of a small house in East Texas. This was the address of Neal's girlfriend - the only clue so far about Neal. A beautiful lady greeted David at the door. She introduced herself as Kate Watson. She was carrying an infant in her hands. Kate agreed to take David to where Neal was. Finally, the rendezvous with Neal, he thought. On the car journey, Kate kept telling him how highly Neal used to speak about him. The journey ended on the outskirts of an old Texas church. Kate walked past the church and beyond it into the wide open space engulfing the church. He was getting confused as to where Kate was leading him to.’There he is”, said Kate pointing at a newly dug grave. David silently moved towards the tombstone and gazed at it with transfixed eyes as the tombstone read, “Neal Jones: 1983 - 2010".
Kate broke into tears as he looked on."He never intended to deceive you”, she cried."He took the money so as to treat my leukemia. I got cured. But the deadly disease took Neal as it's victim. It was too late for anything. She is the only thing he has left me with”, she wept clutching the child tight.."He came to know about your sister's condition and was distressed. Before he left this soil, he made the arrangements for re-paying you for the offence he committed in advance. That’s how he was all the time"
David felt as if an actual Xiphos sword just pierced his heart. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he read the epitaph engraved on the tombstone, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith -2 Timothy 4:7''In life u always outplayed me Neal, and so u did even in death’, he thought.
Often we end up hating people for our lives and realize their love only when it’s too late. Let us cherish our friends and say them a 'BIG thank you' while they are still on earth with us.
- July 22, 2010
David's eyes unknowingly found their way to the carton which the deliveryman had dropped off in the morning. His anger and concerns prevented him from even opening the carton. David unwillingly ripped of the packaging and his eyes caught a glimpse of a guitar. A fiery Xiphos guitar. He took it out and clearly examined it. The initials 'D.N' scratched on the mahogany body almost instantly grabbed his attention. It wasn't any guitar. It was HIS red Xiphos. David glanced at the date on his wrist-watch. It hit him like a bolt of lightning. It was that fateful day - the day which foiled his life plans two years ago.
David was re-encountering those days in his mind....music was in his blood, guitars were his passion. And he was among those fortunate few who have a dearest friend to share his passions with. Neal and David had been the best of buddies since high school. The dream of being in the elite group of rock bands and the awesome Xiphos guitar were among the central things that the duo shared. Rivalry never ceases to exist in friendships, however intense they might be. Indeed be it gaining popularity in high school or getting the hottest girl in college, Neal and David proved they were rivals too. And Neal emerged the winner in these trivial competitions almost always. Pragmatically, David had to forfeit his dream of starting a band for the time being and instead concentrated himself on getting a jog and a stable life. But, existing on a hand-to-mouth survival, David generated enough money for him and Neal to kick-start their music career. He was truly on cloud nine......And then one day, the large amount of money suddenly went missing from his vault, along with his treasured guitar. But they weren't the only things missing. Neal was gone too......David never lodged a complaint against him or tried searching him. He was sure that somehow, one day Neal will return with the money. He trusted him. Though that never happened .The piercing voice of the ringing telephone brought David back into reality. Not another bad news of Linda, he thought.
The phone call was nothing like he had ever expected. The hospital administrators had called to inform him that the expenses of the surgery had been paid in full by someone. David was unable to comprehend this. A miracle of sorts. Though miracles don't repeat, truly a miracle streak followed in the days to come. Someone paid off all his debts, saving him from the impending financial doom. David was convinced of Neal's role in these happenings. Conjuring up his investigative mind, He started his search for a long lost friend.
Days later, his search finally culminated at the doors of a small house in East Texas. This was the address of Neal's girlfriend - the only clue so far about Neal. A beautiful lady greeted David at the door. She introduced herself as Kate Watson. She was carrying an infant in her hands. Kate agreed to take David to where Neal was. Finally, the rendezvous with Neal, he thought. On the car journey, Kate kept telling him how highly Neal used to speak about him. The journey ended on the outskirts of an old Texas church. Kate walked past the church and beyond it into the wide open space engulfing the church. He was getting confused as to where Kate was leading him to.’There he is”, said Kate pointing at a newly dug grave. David silently moved towards the tombstone and gazed at it with transfixed eyes as the tombstone read, “Neal Jones: 1983 - 2010".
Kate broke into tears as he looked on."He never intended to deceive you”, she cried."He took the money so as to treat my leukemia. I got cured. But the deadly disease took Neal as it's victim. It was too late for anything. She is the only thing he has left me with”, she wept clutching the child tight.."He came to know about your sister's condition and was distressed. Before he left this soil, he made the arrangements for re-paying you for the offence he committed in advance. That’s how he was all the time"
David felt as if an actual Xiphos sword just pierced his heart. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he read the epitaph engraved on the tombstone, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith -2 Timothy 4:7''In life u always outplayed me Neal, and so u did even in death’, he thought.
Often we end up hating people for our lives and realize their love only when it’s too late. Let us cherish our friends and say them a 'BIG thank you' while they are still on earth with us.
- July 22, 2010
This is still my favorite one ^_^
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