Midnight with Mojo

The phone rings – mojo calling.

Me: “hey you..whats up?”

Mojo: “Yaar, I’m good..just calling to tell you I have to leave on the 10th of Muharram.”

I looked at the phone in horror…spluttered.. that was only TWO days away!
“But I thought you were leaving on the weekend?”

Mojo: “kya karoon yaar.they want me at work in Lahore on friday “.

Me: “Come over, I’ll make us some coffee..”

A sadness weighed on my heart, one of my dearest friends was leaving. It was time to say farewell, but not goodbye.

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I still remember when I first met Mojo. It was at a Qavvali, through a mutual friend. I remember him being very quiet, and thinking,maybe he’s just shy..

The next time I met him, it was over shisha – with the same friends. A few sardonic remarks, and the same silence – I had thought decidedly that this guy is an utter and complete snob.

The third time round – we went to Aqua Lounge for dinner…And i was most ticked off when, even after my attempts at the Lahore vs. Karachi debate, he pointedly turned to one of the guys and spoke only to him. Shortly after, I looked at him and pointedly accused him of being a snob who never spoke- and that was the last time Mojo was a stranger to me

After that day back in May, we’ve had some serious fun – with the same friends

There’s been our chilling in terrace, the movie-going, the psuedo-dance lessons, the practice-your-pucker-men-on-men sessions …and recently, jumping and doing crazy poses at the beach, and going to cineplex in our wet squelchy shoes, to catch Madagascar 2…and headbanging to ADP and the Munchkins…

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Back to tonight:

In walks Mojo, wearing shorts. One incredulous look was all it took, he hurriedly explained he was adapting to the cold before he got to icy lahore.

*Yeh shaam phir , nahin ai gi..
Iss shaam ko, iss saath ko…aao..
Amr kar le….Amr kar le..
Yeh shaam phir….nahin aai gi…*

The song played in my head as I poured the boiling coffee through the strainer, sifting out the ilaichi, into the mugs- his was “The worlds best mom“, and mine was “Nike“…

Tonight was filled with laughter, and repressed tears – sharing funny Meera stories, listening to her husky voiced interview, munching nuts from the little packets of dry fruit we get in Muharram.. The night was starry, peeking out from behind the sparse clouds – It was clear and beautiful, you said, as we looked up – but not as beautiful as when lying back and looking at the starry night from Tapo Barge. The semi-darkness hid your embarrasment, and your sheepish smile was just barely illuminated by the streetlights – you relayed the story of how a certain..ahem…body part was almost bitten off in the supposed haze of psuedo-drunkeness. We both almost fell out of our chairs with mirth. I think it was partially out of relief t hat we both disliked the same person… We talked about changes, how big they were and how we would have to change with them – I don’t think I got around to wishing you luck, or telling you that inside, I was rooting for you with all my heart… I’m proud of you man. Let’s not forget the marriage hilarity – the funny proposal stories, the burkha-nappers, and the pizza boy…

Slowly, the coffee cups drained, and reality began sinking in..We ended up talking bout family issues and all these mundane things that were pointless, but we felt comfortable talking about anyway – despite the chilly air. Then..the clock struck 12 30..and it was time … You carried in your chair, helped me with mine… The last hug was the hardest- you said, “I’ll miss you”, and I almost began to cry… whispered, “I’ll miss you too” , and with consolations of visiting soon, we said goodnight…

… UNTIL..I realised, oh shit you have my phone….

I opened the door and y ellled..Mo00o0oo0o0o00ojo0o0o0o00o!!!!

hahaha… It was just the funny moment we needed to recompose ourselves…

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It may sound a bit emotional, but I really will miss you. Over time, you’ve been a great friend, it’s hard to see you go. But I wish you all the very best.
I don’t know if you noticed – but tonight, I didn’t use my camera- maybe because I wanted to use words to embed this picture in your mind – maybe I don’t want to preserve a picture of what you look like TODAY, instead I want to preserve the essence of friendship, for us to look back on when things are rough, or when we’re old and gray.

Thanks for being you, Thanks for coming by,
For now this is farewell…but by NO means, goodbye.