The Mountain Top

Gregarious is the word in English language that means, ‘living in a group’. When I describe my social existence, I feel as a point, which the entire group is woven around.

Yes, so popular I am that my friends begin the day by making a phone call to me. Then the morning walk in the city park is not confined to me but I am joined by many others who drive to reach this park, giving scant attention to the others that come by on the way. There definitely is something about my personality that draws hordes of my friends to me.

The evenings are yet to set in and during the day I get calls from them chalking plans to be together. What a lovely feeling is it to be wanted by the kin.

Some ten years back I moved from the Moffusil town where I had grown in years, to the Metropolitan. Here I am growing at a still faster pace. My financial growth is talked about in the Business Journals now. The friends from the previous town, for whom I have little time, have all the time to steal a chance to meet me and keep in touch. The new bunch vie with one another to be known close to me. The parties are planned to match my schedule in town. At the social evenings my hugs to their lady spouses are a matter of pride to them and an occasional suggestive joke friendly and sweet.

Anecdotes and instances where I am the central point are narrated. What a wonderful feeling it is to be the centre of attention in a social group.

The other day one amongst the friends talked about my new pup at home. Its salient features and habits were appreciatively talked about. (To be truthful, I have yet to observe them). What lovely friends I have that take much interest in me, my life and also that of my pup’s. Each vows in the privacy of my ears to do anything for me.

Despite this ‘friendship’ why do I find myself so lonely? Do I attribute this loneliness to my status or to the dearth of well meaning friends?

I am a rich successful person. I may look happier than the rest of the flock because they cannot see my unhappiness hidden behind the mask since I wear one. You may not necessarily have seen a person who has amassed wealth and is also leading a happy life. They say, Mountain tops are very cold, very lonely.

- Bhaiya, Jagdeep Bhargava