After 20 years

Here I'm referring to the classic prose "After 20 years" written by O.Henry which was part of my high school syllabus for my Xth standard.

There is phrase in that prose "uncertain almost to absurdity" which was perhaps, the favorite line of my teacher as it came in every exam from class test to main semester exam. Every exam I used to mug thing up and answered it. Got good marks but, deep inside I kept on asking myself what was the real meaning of the particular phrase. What the writer wanted to emphasize by saying such a thing. I knew the answer but, never able to understand at that point of time.

That day, I was scrolling my phone list and calling each one of my friend to make a point to come home in February 2009. Among the list there was friend who was a very good friend of mine during my high school. We parted way some decade ago due to pursuing higher education. Afterward except for occasional snail-mails we had almost communication a decade back. I had lost track of him.

I was feeling ecstasy when I got his number and very happy thinking about catching up things with him after a long time. The phone got through. He said "Hello" on phone. Afterward, I was talking to him as if I was talking to a stranger not to a long lost friend. His homecoming on my invitation was very uncertain.

Perhaps, after talking to him now I understand what the writer wanted to say in that particular phrase.

Time and distance separates everything no matter how much close you are at point of time.