I had written this sometime in August 2002 and put it up on a website called krazyteens.com. Luckily found it while going through www.archive.org

Read on: (as it were – unedited)

The day had arrived, the day many were waiting for and Rishabh was one of them. He quickly logged in, submitted his admit number and waited, …. waited for the page to appear. After a few seconds, it did, bringing with it the marks and the result. Rishabh was shocked. His hard work didn’t pay off. He had failed in Chemistry and Maths, putting an end to his dreams of becoming a cherished Computer Engineer. He never cried, and nor did he this time irrespective of the fact that the future had nothing in store for him.

From then on there was never ‘looking ahead’. Wherever he went, people ridiculed & mocked him. Parents and relatives never let their children come near him, fearing that he would influence their kids. Henceforth, he never had friends. His feelings piled. He was stranded on a deserted island with no one to help him out of this misery and grief.

His daily routine comprised of watering his favourite plant, cigarettes and that brown stuff which he took along with it. His world changed – from a sombre to a rude and undisciplined reputation. He no longer dreamt of happiness or fame. They were all washed away. Drugs were slowly eating away his life. He was frequently rushed to the ICU but he never quit smoking.

On the last occasion I paid him a visit. He responded with a smile, a smile which still haunts me. Tears rolled down his thickly bearded cheek. He had never been a failure before but now things didn’t go his way. Things went the ‘things’ way. He hugged me for the last time and patted my back. His hands slowly fell onto the bed.
Later he was pronounced dead.

Months have passed since then and there was no one to water his favourite plant. It withered and died a few days after his death. The pot’s broken and its pieces are everywhere. I, no longer am the jolly old dog or the faithful dog. I just waddle my time lazing around and waiting for my next meal. The nights are quiet. Only the creaking noise of the huge iron gate can be heard. My bark is a cry from deep inside my heart. I run up the stairs and onto the terrace wall. I look towards the sky searching for the moon, then glance over to the ground beneath. I jump wanting to reach the moon for I believe that’s where he is. The moon’s so bright, I see that smile .. that pleasant smile of his. I give my last bark, a hollow cry, a cry which is only pain and longing for my master.

The moon slowly disappears, its getting dark. I look down and fall … fall to my death.