A Gathering of Friends: My Favourite Stories

by Ruskin Bond

Life has its ups and downs and periods of darkness, but now and then it springs a surprise, such as an encounter with an old friend, and makes us want to go on a little longer.

1

it often happens that people with good eyesight fail to see what is right in front of them. They have too much to take in, I suppose. Whereas people who cannot see (or see very little) have to take in only the essentials, whatever registers tellingly on their remaining senses.

2

And I reflected that a woman had to be jealous of something. If there wasn’t another woman, then it was a man’s work, or his hobby, or his best friend, or his favourite sweater, or his pet mongoose that made her resentful.

3

woman, I reasoned, would do anything for love provided it was not at the price of security; for a woman loves security as much as a man loves independence.

4

sometimes a boy of twelve can sense loneliness better than an adult.

3