Latha - Evergreen Flower

           

"OH my!! You want to be a lecturer?? Are you in your state of mind?? I mean look at you!!"
Shashi was sad by hearing these words from her best friend latha.

Shashi and latha were friends from nursery school. Both grew up together sharing their joys and sorrows.
Years passed on and both finished off their graduation and post graduation.

Shashi was a short girl. She didn’t have the personality as per her age. But she was very intelligent. There was no quiz programme in which she didn’t bag a prize. She was quite famous in the college.

On the other hand latha had good personality. But she was an average student. Though both were best friends latha was bit jealous about shashi. Initially she didn’t show it up but gradually as time flew she started making fun of shashi.  Shashi used to feel bad but she thought that maybe latha was encouraging her  by doing like that.

But today shashi really felt bad by the response she got from her friend for putting forward a desire to become a lecturer. 

Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Shashi reached her home and made herself confined to her room. She started thinking about how good latha was but why did she hurt her now??. Is it her fault that she doesn’t have a personality? Looks and personality is given by god. How can her best friend speak like that about her?

All the thoughts were piling up and shashi couldn’t hold on her tears.
She cried and cried.
Now her mom was worried and started knocking the door. But shashi wasn’t in a condition to open the door. Continuous knocking from her mom made her to open the door. ShAShi’s mom was worried by seeing her state. Being asked about the matter shashi shared everything with her mom. Her mom was hurt. 

Shashi's mom told her that you shouldn’t take words of people who hurt you. Take everything positively and move towards your goal. You can be a lecturer. You need the self confidence and you have that ability of being a good lecturer.

Now it was time for shashi to wake up and move towards her goal. Next morning she started applying for jobs through internet. 

Meanwhile latha had got a job and was busy with it. Her jealousy for shashi had made her forget that she was her best friend. She was happy that shashi didn’t get the job yet. And she didn’t even bother to contact shashi. Shashi tried many times to contact her but she didn’t give any positive response and this made shashi to break friendship with latha.

Shashi’s effort was successful. She got a government job. Now she was a lecturer in a government college. Shashi was happy with her new job, staff and students. What made her happier was no one underestimated her personality as latha did. Her life was moving smoothly. She used to miss latha every time but never wanted to contact her.

Wedding bells were ringing for shashi. She wanted to contact latha. She tried her best to ring her up. But her number was out of reach. She started searching for latha and she also came to know that they had shifted to some other town. After constant efforts finally shashi got the address of latha’s residence. She was in Mysore now. 

Shashi left for Mysore with many thoughts in her mind. Finally she reached the address of latha’s residence. She rang the bell. Latha’s mother opened the door. She was very happy to see shashi and welcomed her inside.

Shashi enquired about latha. Latha’s mother started sobbing. This made shashi worried. She asked what has happened to latha. 

Latha's mother replied – “latha was very happy with her new job. She had her own car handful of salary and a new flat, what else a person requires? But there was never a day when she didn’t speak about you. She always used to say that shashi is never going to reach my position. I explained her many times that what you are thinking is wrong. She is your best friend. But she never paid heed to my words. Her happiness didn’t last longer. One morning as she left to college for work the engine of the car got heated up and the car was burnt. But this was not the end. Latha survived she survived but her face was burned. Now she is a living dead body. She doesn’t need anything in life. She is just breathing but has no hope to live”.

Hearing this shashi collapsed. She didn’t want this to happen to her best friend. Latha’s mom took her to the room where she was. Shashi started crying harder by seeing latha.

Upon seeing her latha spoke- “sorry shashi  ...Please don’t cry  ...God has given me the punishment for the mockery and fun I used to make of you. I am happy that you came to me so that I can ask forgiveness with you. Please forgive me shashi for hurting you. I need to leave this world but before that I wanted to ask forgiveness with you and finally god fulfilled my wish… sorry shashi ….sorry shashi…..” ……………….

Latha breathed her last….. Shashi collapsed on the floor……

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“Mom”!!!  Shashi was woken up by her daughter’s voice.
Her daughter ran up to her and asked her – "Mom, what is the meaning of my name?"
Shashi’s eyes got wet and a tear escaped from her eye.
She replied- “Latha means flower. A flower which never dries and is evergreen and is long lasting in my heart.”
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