Sad memory

 Life is a journey, filled with both the happiest moments and the saddest situations. My own journey has taken me through experiences that still stay fresh in my memory—some joyful, some deeply painful.

Years ago, when I was working in Hyderabad at Engine Valves Ltd., I lived in a small compound with four rooms. In one room, I stayed alone. In the next, my friend and his younger brother lived together. Another was occupied by the widow who owned the property, along with her 19-year-old daughter. The fourth was home to an elderly man, his wife, and their 4-year-old daughter.

My friend and I were both company employees, while the widow managed a small shop from the front of the house. My friend’s brother was studying Chartered Accountancy (CA). Our factory operated in three shifts:

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Morning shift – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

·

Evening shift – 4:00 PM to 12:00 midnight

·

Night shift – 12:00 midnight to 8:00 AM

Travel time was long—nearly two hours each way—so for the evening shift we usually left by 2:00 PM and returned around 2:00 AM.

One Monday, my friend and I were both on the evening shift. When we returned home at 2:00 AM, I was shocked to find his younger brother and the owner’s daughter together in my friend’s room. It was unexpected, and I didn’t know how to react in that moment. The next day, I spoke to my friend’s brother seriously, advising him not to get involved in such matters in this way.

He told me he loved her and wanted to marry her. I said, “If that’s true, get your parents’ permission and also the owner’s consent.” But there was a problem—their castes were different. He was a Brahmin, while she belonged to a caste considered lower in traditional terms.

The very next day, he went to his hometown, Nellore, to speak to his parents. Four days later, he returned with sad news: his parents did not approve of the marriage. My friend and I tried to console him, telling him that time often brings solutions and that he should focus on his studies for now.

But fate had other plans. The following Sunday, he went to Hussain Sagar Lake and ended his life. He was just 22 years old. That immature decision cut short a bright future—he lost not only his life but also the chance to complete his education and build something better. Even today, whenever I hear about tragic love stories, I remember him, and it still makes me feel heavy inside.

The owner’s daughter eventually married someone else and went on with her life. My friend, unable to bear the memories, vacated the room and left the following month

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