STORY

The friendship band

She ran from one room to another, red-faced and out of breath. She opened the drawers, rummaged through the contents, and then closed them. Her hair fell all over her face. Tiny beads of sweat covered her forehead.

‘Anabia, what happened? Why are you running like there’s a monster chasing you?’

Her cousin, Roma, was surprised to see Anabia’s room in such a mess. The unmade bed was piled high with books, pens and other stuff. Clothes were thrown across the floor. The cupboard doors were ajar. It was a total state of chaos.

Anabia bit her lip and remained quiet. She folded her arms. Roma noticed her empty left wrist.

‘You didn’t lose that friendship band of yours, did you?’

Anabia nodded.

‘Why is it that important to you?’ Roma was exasperated.

Anabia sat on the nearest chair. She closed her eyes. The memories were still fresh, but one of them stood out.

A young girl was sitting in an examination hall. Math wasn’t her favourite subject. Lengthy sums and algebraic solutions threatened her. She tried to arrange her pencils, but her hands were trembling and she only scattered them. She looked at the red and yellow friendship band she wore on her arm. The vivid colours gave her courage and induced in her a glimmer of hope. She touched it and warmth spread through her body. The exam paper no longer looked menacing. All was going to be well.

‘Anabia...?’ Roma touched her arm.

‘Please help me find it.’ Her voice was strained.

‘Why are you so upset? Who gave that band to you? Why is it so special?’ Roma loved to ask questions about that band; mostly because Anabia would never say much about it.

‘Roma, help me find it,’ Anabia repeated.

They jumped at the sound of the door. Saad had joined them.

‘Ladies, what are you up to? I brought some homemade cookies-’ He stopped mid-sentence.

‘Welcome to the party, dear brother. Anabia’s lost her friendship band and is distressed over it. Nothing new.’ Roma rolled her eyes.

Saad shot her a warning look.

‘The red and yellow band,’ Roma said.

A shadow crossed Saad’s face. His eyes met Anabia’s for a fraction of a second, and then both of them looked away.

‘No problem. We will find it.’

‘There is no need to find that band. Anabia, you can wear the one I gave you.’

‘Stop it, Roma.’

‘Ok... ok.’

‘Take a deep breath ... calm down.’ Saad’s instructions had begun. ‘We’ll approach this problem in a systematic way. Roma, go and check the lounge. She might have dropped it there.’ Roma went out.

‘No, I didn’t drop it. I took it off.’ Anabia said.

‘When exactly?’

Last morning. I wanted to try the new bracelet Mom gave me.’

Saad grabbed a diary and scribbled something.

‘Where did you leave the band?’

‘I was in my room. I shouldn’t have taken it off. I am sorry.’ Her face crumpled.

‘Anabia, listen to me. Crying won’t solve the problem. Be strong, girl.’

She wiped her face.

‘It’s hard!’ She said.

‘Nothing is hard as long as you don’t lose hope. Come on. Let’s do this. Where should we start?’

‘I want to search my room first,’ she said.

‘Right. We will comb every inch of this room.’ He said.

Saad’s energy had a positive effect on Anabia.

‘If it’s not in this room, it’s in the house, waiting to be discovered,’ He assured her.

‘I didn’t find it,’ Roma announced as she came into the room and collapsed on the sofa. ‘Anabia, why are we wasting our time on such an insignificant thing?’

‘Following the leader, the leader, the leader...’ Saad was humming to himself as he straightened the floor cushions.

Anabia was surprised to hear the familiar melody of her favourite song in Peter Pan.

‘Saad, who’s your leader?’

‘You, Anabia. You made the plan. Right?’

She was flattered. She quickly looked down to hide her tears.

‘I found it!’ She screamed. The band was lying underneath the dressing table. Saad whooped and Roma sighed. Thank God it was over.

 ‘Anabia, I wanted to apologize to you for being such an insensitive and selfish person,’ Roma said later when they were in the living room.

‘It’s all right, Roma. I know you wanted to spend time with me. You helped me, though. You deserve a little information, too.’ Anabia said, her eyes twinkling. ‘When that person gave me the band, he spoke two words that have stayed with me. Two golden words...’

‘Stay strong,’ Saad said as he entered the room. Roma was shocked as she looked at her brother. Anabia forced herself to meet his smiling eyes.

‘What? That means you gave that band to Anabia? And she never told me,’ Roma said indignantly.

‘Well, I had to keep my secret.’ Anabia said. ‘I received that band from him as a birthday gift. I was nine at that time. I developed an emotional bond with it and drew strength from it. Of course, it was the thought of a naive young girl.’ Her voice shook.

Roma understood. Anabia’s father had died in her childhood. He worked as an army officer and embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. Little Anabia was devastated. Her loving mother was unable to console her. Loss and the despair ate her from the inside. Saad, being her cousin, gave her gifts to cheer her up. It was quite fitting that she became attached to the beautiful friendship band. Old things which have accompanied you in your hard times are precious to an unimaginable extent.

‘I was ashamed to admit that I could be so weak, that’s why I didn’t tell you. You know it still hurts to come to terms with his... his death.’

‘Because you have a tendency to become a very sarcastic person at times, Roma. That’s why,’ Saad said. A smile broke across Anabia’s face. Saad was an expert at handling difficult situations.

Roma threw a cushion at him.

‘I’ll get back to you, dear bro. Just wait. Anabia, I won’t forgive you for refusing to wear the friendship band I gave you. I am less important, huh?’

‘You are my sister and best friend. I hope you’ll feel better now.’ Anabia took her hand.

‘You are forgiven, then.’ Roma said moodily.

They all laughed and began to munch on the cookies.