Fictional Characters becoming real..

Over the years, movies have given us characters, who took us over the rainbow, showed us that greed is good, shook us and stirred us and made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. But, when a fictional character becomes real in your life; that movie, that character and the person who made it real become an inseparable part of your life. Anand – a sensitive movie by Hrishikesh Mukherjee which more than justified Frank Capra's immortal observation, "Tragedy is not when actors cry. Tragedy is when audiences cry." had two characters – Anand and Babu Moshai. The movie had the superstar Rajesh Khanna playing Anand and the would be superstar Amitabh playing Babu Moshai.
Every time I saw the movie - I laughed, I cried, I was filled with emotions, had all the praise for the characters but I prayed to god not to ever put me in Babu Moshai’s role in life. But, seldom do prayers get answered. I met Shweta during my CAT coaching classes at Career Launchers and we became close friends in s short span of time. We knew most of the things about each other but I had no idea that she was destined to play Anand on the stage of this earth and I was assigned to play Babu Moshai. She used to keep unwell but she never let me know that she was battling an invincible enemy. However strong she was, she could not resist the fervor after her final chemotherapy session and shared it all with me. She was happy because she could now live the last few months of her life the way she wanted and that left me with the never ending thoughts of how unjust life can be to some people and why is it always unjust to good or rather great people?
From there on, she was trying to do all the things she had wanted to do in a lifetime in a very short span. She couldn’t walk but she traveled and played with us with the help of her crutches. I remember how thrilled she was after her trip to Rishikesh where she thoroughly enjoyed the evening prayer at the shores of Ganges River. She was weak but she read Lord of the Rings and shared with me how great a book it was and I must read it. She knew she would not be able to make it to CAT but she tried. She was supposed to be on a restricted diet but she wanted and did try all the cuisines. She couldn’t type but she replied to mails which made you feel as if a small kid who has just learned to spell and type is conversing with you. She was so graceful and natural in doing it all that Rajesh Khanna no longer wins my accolades for playing Anand.
I remember the dreadful day when I reached office and saw her in my mailbox. They say you get to know when it’s coming to an end and she was magnanimous and strong enough to leave a note of thanks and her love to me and her friends. With this, the show was over and the curtains were down. Did I cry? No. I was shattered for a moment but I smiled as I knew she lived more than most of the people could ever live a hundred year's life. Moreover, I never felt helpless like the fictional Babu Moshai who couldn’t do anything despite being a doctor.
Shweta – I am and will always be proud that I was one of the Babu Moshai’s in the real drama of your life.
Cheers
Varun