Gathering

                     Three school friends were segregated from each other after passing their twelfth board examination for making their career to make their life happy and comfortable as every dog has his day. They couldn’t meet with each other for a longer time due to unavoidable circumstances thereafter. They had chosen their own way to settle in their life. There were only old memories with them of their beloved friends. They had left no option to meet with each other due to communication lapses among them as there were no communication means like today. So they never thought for a while after leaving their birthplaces about their meeting in the future. All of them were in their retirement decade and decided unknowingly to settle in the same city. They constructed their individual homes in the city in different locations. They were rather happy in their life with their achievement. There were many friends who had come and left in their life. But none of them deserved true friendship like their school fast friends. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Coincidentally, two of them met each other in a mall. They were surprised to see each other. They hugged themselves in the mall and gathered information about each other. They used to meet regularly thence. There was a vacuum in their heart about their third separated friend. But they were sure that their missing friend would meet them soon when there is a will, there is a way.

         All of a sudden, one of them went to his native place to meet his elder brother for urgent domestic work. Fortunately, his elder brother’s friend arrived to meet his elder brother. When he saw his younger brother, there was just formal talk between them. He just inquired about his childhood friend. He said that he had no idea about him. Then he told him that his childhood friend was also in the same city. He provided his mobile number to him. This event made him very happy as absence makes the heart grow fonder. Though he was out of sight, he couldn’t be out of their mind. He thanked him for providing his mobile number.

              He came back to his city after completing his work. He told his friend about his missing friend. He surprised him by providing his cell number. He was also happy with this information. They called their childhood school friend. He was surprised by the unexpected call from his friend. All of them were extremely happy as there were in the city. They had taken proper note of each other and decided to meet regularly thereafter.

            There was a wonderful idea in their mind for arranging the gathering of all live school friends once in their school. They decided to visit their native place where they met with their locally settled friends. The local friends gave them a warm welcome. They kept their proposal to their local friends. They saw eye to eye to their proposal at once wholeheartedly. They formed a what’s group for gathering information about the rest of their classmates at the drop of hat. Everybody had put his sincere effort to bring them into the group. Slowly but steadily the group grew. There were chats among the all classmates in the group. All group members developed affinity and love with each other once again as before. They watered the love of tree to be green once again. The active member of the group Shreekant posted a message about gathering all classmates in the future in their school at their native place. Most of their classmates responded very quickly to the message. They not only gave positive responses but also asked about tentative contributions on their own.

              Three fast friends along with local friends discussed the strategy of gathering by leaps and bound. They went to the principal and requested him for allowing them to celebrate classmates' gathering on any holiday. They also made a request to him to be present as chief guest of the function along with living retired teachers . He agreed and broke the leg for the function.

                    Active executive members fixed the date of function as the second of February. They chalked out the program details which were uploaded to the group. Most of the classmates sent their consent and scheduled dates of arrival and departure. We requested our retired teachers to attend the gathering on the scheduled date. They too agreed to our request. They were more enthusiastic than us as they never expected that their old students would come to them for an invite for such a function. We distributed the work among all our local friends and some significant work for us such as the arrangement of mementos. All the preparation for the grand function was completed well in advance. Shreekant and other two friends came to their native place on the eve of the function. They watched carefully all preparations for the next day’s function. They would like to arrange such a function which was going to be a reality the next morning. All of them were joyful and happy along with other friends. 

                  All arrived and local friends were gathered in the school. They were taken back to see many structural changes and alterations in their old school. They felt very happy to meet their old friends after such a long interval of nearly forty years. Everybody was eager to embrace his old friend. They inquired about their family members and were enjoying after recalling the happened past events of their age in school life. The whole atmosphere was electrified by the presence of old friends. They were requested to taking breakfast. After some time, the chief guest as well as all live retired teachers arrived at the venue. They were welcomed and then requested to have breakfast. After breakfast, they were asked to occupy their respective seats by the announcer. The function was inaugurated by lighting the lamp and traditional songs by some lady classmates. The principal congratulated all students for arranging such a unique program of students after their successful retirement. Other teachers also addressed their beloved students. They had broken leg and their blessing to their student.

                   There were many cultural programs in the function by all participants. Everybody was requested to brief the secrets of their success in their life. Everybody was very excited and enjoyed the function. Everybody thanked the executive body for such a wonderful grand function. At last, shreekant addressed the gathering. He thanked his friends for attending the function. All the friends fully recharged their old batteries to accept the remaining coming challenges in life till their last breath at the gathering.