Two and a Half Years ago, they met, by fateful chance. They talked and found mutual understanding in the various fields of life. They found pleasure in the common wisdom and unspoken chemistry, which fueled a year-long collaboration in a series of ventures. They deemed themselves, and so did the oracle, a perfect team.

The mix of qualities seemed potent; a dash of brilliance, a heart of magnanimity and a mind of structure, all embodied within the vessels of youth. It was an engine built for great things, favoured by the stars and the merciful moon, upon a path guided by the sun.

There were ups and downs, times of glamour and streaks of poverty. There were numerous squabbles, as there were countless fun-times. The communication channels were open, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom flowing freely, gushing through opportune gaps in search of greener pastures.

The world, however, does not seem to hold up for perfection, and a reflection of conscience would clearly hold one responsible for screwing it up. The team was disbanded by his impulsive actions, and they parted our ways.

They once spoke of where they might be, should they part their ways and come together a mighty decade later. Would they have trekked further and faster in each others presence, or have they grow so accustomed to such interdependency that each can no longer strike it out as individuals. This groundless statement soon prophesized itself into reality.

The brilliant one started his engines first, putting together the first ever fully registered company between the trio. He offered the others a chance of collaboration again; one would believe to be a testament of the value he still saw in the team. The others were hardly ready, as they were still burdened by the aftermath of the collapse.

The magnanimous one stepped forth shortly, this time on his own, with no offer for collaboration. Who should blame him for losing faith in the team, for it was not his fault at all that it had collapsed. He tread carefully and prudently, and bore the burden of inexperience and discern, and have recently risen beyond the regular crowd to taste the true limelight. He had come a long way.

The structured one, and the one responsible for the collapse of the team, took a 1 year break, and rifted aimlessly between unfulfilling employment and random travels. Like the rest, he started off, but was one year late. Not having fully learnt the lessons from the past, he met more failures, and stumbled from one venture to another, in search for the light he had thrown away. Thankfully, he faced up to his innermost flaws, and with this knowledge, coupled with previous experience, is on his way to catching up.

The structured one occasionally re-visits the places in which the trio had once traveled, nostalgically remembering the most valuable team composition that even in his current position, is unable to re-live. Though his new partners are equally valuable and capable, the once perfect chemistry cannot be replaced.

Three people have chosen three different paths, paths that may converge, but chances are slim. It would however, be wonderful, that they may once again walk together towards the once so mutual understood objective, that they may once, as a team, conquer the heights beyond what they have separately claimed.

The irresponsible cause of failure is none other than my incompetent self. While we should not look at the past for comfort, I cannot help the reminiscence of the good old days. I do not, and am in no position to ask for collaboration, but I do admit the longing to once again put together the perfect brew.

What would the two people, who once understood me the most, say? I patiently and humbly await their response.

Today was supposed to be a fairly good day, no doubt the busy schedules and loads of work. Today business took one more significant step, a step nearer to closing a deal that almost ensures pretty decent revenue for the next couple of years. And so logically I am supposed to be happy... or am I?

(Anyways I just proved again that exteriors aren’t a fair judge of character. The people who speak the boldest words squirm at the sight of measly worms.)

Back to the topic - My second half of the day seem to be buoyed down by a concern over fulfilling an obligation, one that I am really not obliged to answer in any way, and that should I choose to meet up with its requirements, I will incur more loss that whoever would incur disappointment.

I didn’t seem to get past that stupid fact, and for the hours following noon, I pondered over the ridiculous question of “how”, instead of looking back at “what” and “why”. Thankfully, I bounced back to my logical self and regained the very vital focus (I really can’t lose focus, not in this critical phase of expansion).

Obligations are very much like a curse, a spell cast upon you by some psychic vampire. It drains you of your mental and emotional energy, in return for something materially grand but spiritually empty. Don’t’ be bound by it. Its not worth the effort.