The Trip to the North !!!!!

This is a story about a friend of mine who embarked on a journey because his parents asked him about his life's purpose. He's quite the film enthusiast and thought he could find his calling by traveling to the North. While I'm not entirely sure if he found his purpose, the journey did change his life, and he returned without reaching the Himalayas. Now, he's working hard at his desk to fund his trip to the Himalayas.

About a year ago, I received a call from Varun, and I could immediately sense his distress. I told him to come over, and he arrived at my place within 15 minutes. He seemed angry about something, so I thought discussing it at home might exacerbate the situation. We headed to our usual hangout spot, not far from home, and lit up cigarettes. I began the conversation calmly, asking, "Buddy, what's bothering you?"

I had never seen him so angry before, and he burst out, "What do they think of themselves?" I was puzzled and asked, "Who?" He continued, "Just because they gave birth to me and provided me with an education and necessities doesn't mean they have ultimate control over my life. I'll live my life the way I want, and no one can order me around."

I could see that he was dealing with the same kind of issues that many young adults face after completing their bachelor's degrees. I was about to ask him what exactly his parents had said, but he was in no mood to listen. His frustration found an outlet in two strong words that many of us utter when we're feeling completely overwhelmed: "F*** you." I realized that starting a serious conversation with him at that point would be futile, so I sat there and pretended to listen while lighting my second cigarette.

During this moment, my phone rang with the ringtone "All Is Well." It was Ruthika, a mutual friend of mine and Varun's. I spoke to her for a couple of minutes and told her I'd call her back later. Varun seemed so irritated that he didn't even inquire about the call, even though he typically asks who called and why. I decided it was best not to bring up the call at that moment. The reason Ruthika had called was that she had secured a position as a Developer Trainee at Wipro. I remembered helping her with her projects, and I never expected her to land a developer job. She had scored 76% in her BCA, and Varun and I had contributed significantly to her project work.

Now, you might be wondering about me, right? Well, I'm that friend you've probably had who stirs up trouble in college, challenges the teachers, always stands up against anything that goes against the students, is fiercely loyal to friends, switches moods in the blink of an eye, and can put on a tough face when necessary. Yes, that's how people describe me. I'm Karan Prasad, and I'll be the one narrating Varun's story.