MY TREASURE

PT 1

Among my most memorable and treasured days of my life, is the 13 of November. It was almost midnight when i was still tossing restless on my bed wondering why i could not catch sleep despite having retired to bed quite early.
I had had such a long stressful day and all i needed is some sweet sleep to calm myself off, but it was never the case, I was still tossing left right, building castles in the air when a call came through. It was a few minutes to midnight making it a rare case to have a call. I checked in the hope of ignoring whoever it was but Ricky my friend from forever ago was calling, my heart skipped in panic, his thirst for beer was un quenchable, he has made enough accidents and i thought this was going to be just another long night.
Ricky are you okay, I called out. Ricky, Ricky................

PT 2

Why is he not responding, did he call by mistake or is he in danger by any chance? All these questions were racing through my mind regretting why i even answered his call. I disconnected and tried calling again but my call went un unswered, this only worsened the situation more, I didn't know whom to contact, but on an after thought i tried to call his former girl friend just to find out on any clue since they were still into contact, they had talked earlier in the day but later in the evening she could as well not get through to him.
She knew we were best of friends so without a desire to involve her more i hung up, knowing i would have the worst night, I called my neighbour to accompany me to Ricky's house which was an hour's drive from my place.
It was headed to 02.00 a.m when we reached at his apartment, from a far i could see the lights were on which threw me into more panic and uncertainities
Do you think something would be so a mess? I asked Jamie my neighbour who also seemed to be in pensive mood.....Relax Rita, we are already here, let's move up there and have our doubts cleared.
Jamie knocked once, twice, thrice on the fourth knock he pushed in the door and opened,
Huh..........

PT 3

Rita let's do this, Jamie held my hand as we walked through the hallway towards the living room. There was a foul smell which i could not figure out what it was, i could hear also some music playing in the background, "i will be waiting forever, forever and ever Amen" i was already humming to the lyrics in anxiety though, I hate to remember the state in which we found Ricky, lying drunk dead on the ground in a pull of vomit, eyes popped out seemingly half dead and in a ripped off pair of jeans, Ricky i called out to him in anger and bitterness, Jamie being a professional care giver was already on it, giving him first aid, he had no sense left alive, Jamie let loose his tight clothes and lifted him to the couch, from the kitchen he brought ice cold water and poured it on his forehead, he was responsive to it, sneezing with his body shaking, he struggled to open his eyes but it was seemingly a task, a concoction in a cup Jamie made from the kitchen, he fed him with a spoon drop after another which led Ricky to throw out more, he was gradually regaining his senses, by half the glass, he had vomited his lungs out, eyes weakly opened and struggling to speak, he stared at Jamie then at me.
Riiii....t..aaaa......

PT 4

They tried to kill me Rita, they really did, i don't know how i survived thiiiis, I was holding both of his hands as he struggled his words out, Jamie was working on his feet and thighs with soft strokes of massage to calm his nerves as he listened keenly on Ricky.
What happened, where were you and what transpired, I asked him. Words could not come out, his mouth trembled with a well of tears flowing, he hugged me tight and wailed loudly.
Jamie wasn't moved, he told me it's the effect of regaining his conscience but he suggested we take him to hospital nearby for a thorough check up.Jamie helped him with a clean change and off we left.
It was around 09.30hrs, the check up was done and we had to wait for the lab results. He was put to rest as he was drained and fatigued. We waited at the bed side, Jamie was suspicious that there was some sought of poisoning but also wondered why his pair of jeans was partly ripped, as we were still conversing, the Doctor came and called Jamie out.
But why, I wondered......

PT 5

The few minutes Jamie spent outside with the Doctor seemed like eternity, there were all signs to raise an alarm that things were not right but i chose to remain positive.
Ricky opened his eyes, his arm reached out to mine and squeezed my hand hard, looked at me in the eyes and murmured something i couldn't understand, closed his eyes once more for a few seconds, i was rubbing his palm all this while, on opening again, his voice was more clear, Ricky's voice had come back, Rita i need some water i am really thirsty, he asked.
I made my way out to check on the Doctor and attend to him, along the corridors Jamie was approaching, he was composed and i feared to ask about the results, but reading my mind, he told me Rita we are safe no need to worry, everything happened in good time though we need to be cautious.
I told him Ricky was in need of water, the Doctor accompanied us with water towards Ricky's room and there we found him seated on the bed, with a smile he stretched his hand for the water and drowned a 1 litre bottle in an instance, cleared his throat and said " indeed i am alive'
The Doctor asked him to narrate the turn of the events,Ricky cleared his throat once more and said, my best friend Jose and business partner did not succeed killing me........
Whaat?? I cried out

PT 6

Yes Rita, i am in my right senses, we went partying at Jose's house up to around 23hrs yesterday, at the party i noticed something very un usual with Jose, he was so bitter that i had all the attention from the ladies at the party, though he knew very well that's my nature and being a self made comedian what else would he expect, he would say mean words to me, calling me a traitor, but i thought he was just over reacting but the most weird thing happened when he tried to engage me on a fist fight, to an extent of ripping my jeans off, feeling that it was getting too far i requested him to drop me off, he tried calming the situation but it was already extreme, he offered me a drink in a glass as a sign of making peace, i gulped it down but still insisted on leaving, in his car my head started spinning and somehow questioned the drink Jose offered, would he have spiked it? but Jose would never get there no matter what, that's when i thought of reaching to you Rita just to brush off my seemingly evil thoughts and draw off the awful feeling in my head, strangely he grabbed my fone without a word. By the time we got to my house i could barely walk, i thought it was just a normal blackout he helped me to the house, what transpired there after remains a mystery to me.
To many Jose was a blood brother to Ricky just as they introduced themselves, only few knew about their adored relationship. Many a times we had to places, had fun together with both of them and there were never a sign of betrayal whatsoever.
Well i am not so surprised, i have a friend who warned me that Jose will be my downfall, but i rubbished it off terming him as jealous and actually cut him off my life because anything coming in between Jose and i, was an enemy of progress little did i know that he wanted to eliminate me so that he can be the sole owner of our heavy successful investments which i had solely build the background and brought him on board as my brother and friend.
He has my phone, and that explains why he grabbed it, possibly thought i wouldn't make it, and he will have all contacts of our business accomplices and drain my accounts for we shared passwords.
Why why why Jose why? Ricky cried out....

PT 7

Unknown to Ricky all this while, though the Doctor's report indicated he was out of danger and nothing much to worry, he was required to be confined in the house for a period of three months and on medication to recuperate from the infection caused on the lungs by the toxic mixture put in his drink.
When the Doctor finally broke the news, he responded that were it not for fate, he was meant to be dead, so he would take everything positively no matter how much this would affect his businesses.
The Doctor further advised to retain him for a few days to monitor the response of the medication for a few days, this being the part which didn't go well with Ricky, he has never been admitted in hospital all his life, he pleaded with the Doctor but we convinced him and he adamantly agreed.
In his admission room we forgot the whole saga and started talking of the plans we each had ahead of Christmas festive season which we were all excited about, talking of Christmas presents, he removed his wrist watch which i had always admired and wanted, he got it as a present from his grand father and was rare to find from the stores, he handed it to me and said, " Rita this is my treasure but i gift it to you" don't question he said.
I was excited, a gift i could not turn down, i reached to hug him but a continuous sneeze blocked me from hugging him, he sneezed and sneezed and sneezed continuously, this prompted Jamie to call the Doctor,it was getting worse, the Doctors tried to contain but was getting out of hand, they carried him hurriedly to the Intensive Care Unit, what again, Jamie asked looking deep into my eyes, I don't understand either Jamie, I just don't.....
We waited desperately in the corridors leading to the I C.U, we feared for our Ricky, we held our hands and Prayed wishing him safety in there.
We were getting impatient without any word from the Doctors, eventually the Doctor who had attended to him earlier came out towards us, we were both holding our breath, worried on what he had to say, painfully he confirmed our worst fears,
I am sorry Ricky didn't make it.........

PT8

MY TREASURE

In tears do i write to you Ricky
We met at such desperate times
We had not a thing in common
But nature had better plans for us

A crying shoulder you always offered
Even in my most desperate moments
You stepped in lovingly like a brother
The bond became concrete by day

We were never busy for each other
I would beat the fierce dark nights
Just to make sure you were safe
Equally you did the same all times

My heart is heavy with a load of pain
Why it had to be you I am mourning
Why it had to be caused by a friend
Answers which i will never live to get

Painfully i will let you sleep in peace
I may not know the pain you suffered
But the wounds of your pain i will bear

I will treasure the wonderful moments
Call on you daily in hope for an answer
Your foto by my bed-side will I hung
Prayers for your soul every day recite

I will always treasure the wrist watch
You were meant to treasure it yourself
But gifted me what you most treasured
Today i confidently declare it MY TREASURE

PT 9

WHO IS YOUR FRIEND

life is sour without treasured friends
The beauty of it shines bright in us
It reflects back into what we do in life
For the people we attract defines us

Some are meant to cross our paths
As they make their way to their destiny
Whilst others come to us by mistake
Some are meant never to leave our lives

As hard as it may be to define friendship
Wisdom and self searching is paramount
Just as not all seedlings yields worthy fruits
Some should never even make to the ground

Nothing as painful as betrayal from a friend
It feels painful and bitter than a deep cut
The savour and beauty becomes awashed
Leaving us drained and healing the wounds

Neither hugs, kisses or presents define it
Some may be to get us closer to our end
May we always have the discerning power
To know when to stay and when to walk away

Be the friend you want in any friendship
Some may be forced but are exhausting
If you can't be a faithful friend just drop
For what we do to others, to us shall be

(Jose, one such friend who was never supposed to be anywhere near Ricky's life, they wine and dined together as brothers but behind the scenes worked for the elimination of his own. Sleep well in Paradise Ricky🌹🌹)

THE END