Goodbye

It was a party to bid farewell to 1993 and usher in 1994.

The girl was bored with her friends. All they wanted to do was watch 'Jurassic Park' over and over again. The games they played were stupid. She'd much rather get out of the room and talk to the grown-ups.

She quietly slipped out and walked into the living room, where loud hindi music was blasting out of huge speakers. Some of the grown- ups were dancing, most were having a few drinks and chit chatting. Her mother was at one corner gossiping, her dad at the other, talking business with a few tipsy men.

Her eyes settled at the bar, where the yuppies of the group were. Her favourite yuppie, 20- something Uncle N was there drinking away to glory with his friends. She became incensed about the fact that he was paying her no attention, and that he was drinking so much, because everyone told her that alcohol was bad.

She sat there for the longest time, patiently answering condescending questions by the grown- ups and scowling at Uncle N.
It wasn't long before Uncle N walked up to her.

"Sweetheart! Why do you look so angry??"
"Don't call me sweetheart. I hate boys and I'm angry at you!"
"Arre! What did I do?"
"Stop drinking Uncle N!!!! Drinks are bad for health!!"

Uncle N laughed for the longest time. But it wasn't unkind.
"Oh Mahi, you're too cute. I'm going to marry you when you turn 21." He gazed at her like she was a precious gem.

"Oh N, don't be a cradle snatcher!" said a lady who passed by, and she laughed.
"She's too cute. I want to have a daughter like her, one day."

The girl sat there. Cross legged. Arms folded. Scowling. Clearly not amused (but secretly delighted).

Two of N's friends came up to him, just as drunk, to inform him that they had to make a move.
"Ok, ok let me say 'bye' to everyone."

And he got up to say his goodbyes. He made his way to the door and stopped suddenly and turned to face the girl, who was still sitting there, quite unhappy with him.

"Bye Mahima!"

She just turned her face away.

"Oh come on, please don't be angry with me! I'm saying 'bye' to you so nicely!"

She still continued to look away.

"Ok, I'm sorry I won't tease you or drink next time...bye??"

No response.
She heard the door close 10 seconds later.




The next morning her mother woke her up. She had tears in her eyes.

"Mahi..last night Uncle N and his friends got into a bad car accident...."


His friends had made it through.
He didnt.



A little piece of me dies everytime I think about how I refused to say Goodbye to him.