The reunion

  

 The time on the clock read 4:00 p.m. and there came a phone call on Sarah's phone. It was from her friend, Barnie. Barnie and Sarah were very close during their days of college and hadn't seen each other since 15 long years. Barnie was a professor

in English St. Joseph College Bangalore,

and Sarah was a receptionist in Make My Trip Pune, who recently had been transferred to Bangalore. Hearing Sarah's transfer news, Barnie decided to have a get together with Sarah. They decided to meet up at Barnie's house. Sarah quickly dressed up wearing a beautiful red gown,  black sandals, grabbed her car key and sat inside her car with glowing eyes as she was very eager to meet up Barnie after such a long time. But this happiness on her face didn't last for long and turned into frustration due to traffic. Barnie's house was just six kms away from Sarah's house but it took forty five mins for Sarah to cover the first four kms. After driving for a little more while, Sarah met with a very confused old man who seemed to have lost his way. The old man stopped Sarah's car. Sarah asked him what he wanted. "I want to go back home", came the reply. When Sarah asked what his name was and where he lived, he replied " I don't remember anything at all." Nor did he have anything like a driving licence or a mobile phone. Sarah thought to ignore the man and pressed the accelerator but as she released the clutch, the man's face flashed into her mind. She couldn't decide whether to go to Barnie's house and meet her after fifteen years or help the old man who didn't even remember what his name was. She couldn't even call & inform Barnie that she had this problem. Compromising the get together with Barnie, Sarah made up her mind to help the old man. First, she went to the police station but she didn't get any solution. She asked several people if they knew who the man was, but all of them denied. Meanwhile, Barnie had been waiting for Sarah from a long time. She decided not to call Sarah as she might be driving. Sarah struggled for about forty minutes and completely lost patience and hope to find the man's home.

She was about to leave the man on the middle of the road when she heard a shopkeeper yelling, "Ana! nivu illinda caha kudiyuvudilla"?(Hey brother! Won't you drink tea here today?) Sarah ran towards the tea seller and asked if he knew that old man. The shopkeeper replied, "this man is a regular customer of mine. Everyday he comes here to drink tea, but today he didn't." Sarah asked him whether he knew where the man lived. He said, "I don't exactly know where his house is, but he lives in that apartment." The building that the tea seller fingered, was the same as Barnie's. Sarah quickly took the old man along her and rushed to Barnie's house. Sarah thought that Barnie might be knowing him. After they reached Sarah rang Barnie's doorbell and Barnie came running to open the door thinking that Sarah had finally reached. Barnie opened the door and was really happy meeting Sarah and so was Sarah after meeting Barnie. But when Barnie saw the old man, she had tears in her eyes. She ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Sarah asked, "Do you know this man?" "Don't you remember that he's my dad? He went for a walk in the evening and hadn't reached home. He suffers from dementia and doesn't remember anything.I have always advised him to carry a mobile at least when he goes out but he never listens. By the way how did you get him here?"said Barnie. Sarah explained the entire story. Sarah was very glad to help the old man without knowing that it was her friend's dad. Sarah said, "I'm so sorry that I didn't get anything for you as I had no time." Barnie replied, "Oh dear! you have gifted me the best gift of my life.