Dost fail ho jaye toh dukh hota hai … Lekin dost first aa jaye toh zyada dukh hota hai

It is painful to witness a friend fail, but it is more painful to see a friend succeed.

The pain of seeing a friend fail is significant, as it brings empathy and sadness for their misfortune. However, it can be even more challenging when a friend surpasses you in success. This situation can evoke complex emotions such as envy, inadequacy, and self-doubt, making it harder to reconcile your happiness for them with your personal sense of failure. The juxtaposition of these feelings can strain relationships and self-esteem, highlighting the deeper, often unspoken, struggles of balancing personal ambition with genuine support for those close to you. Ultimately, it underscores the complex nature of human emotions and friendships.

Ultimately, it underscores the complex nature of human emotions and friendships.

© Mukto Samadder

In memory of Stanley & Stanley

in memory of Stanley & Stanley

Every day, a middle-aged man goes to a bar and orders only three pegs of “Carew’s Whiskey”. He takes a corner table, starts sipping from each glass until all three are empty, then gently leaves. This ritual makes the bartender curious. One day, unable to hold back any longer, he asks, “Why do you always order only three pegs?”

The man, becoming nostalgic, replies, “We were three inseparable friends in our youth. Now, they live in different cities. So, I order two pegs for them and one for myself. It makes me feel like they’re here, drinking with me.”

Months roll by, and then one day, the man comes in and orders only two pegs. He seems a bit downcast, sipping slowly from the two glasses. The bartender, fearing the worst, approaches to offer his condolences. “Did something happen to one of your friends? Why only two pegs today?” he asks gently.

The man smiles and says, “Oh, my two friends are doing just fine. But I’ve had to quit drinking because of my wife’s constant nagging! So today, I’m drinking their pegs only.”

(in memory of Stanley & Stanley)

© Mukto Samadder