Toast to Golden Friendship: Assam’s 1st woman athlete Tayabun meets her best friend to fulfill long cherished wish

The story dates back to 1967, when Tayabun was a student of class-7 at Dhai Ali Girls School, Sibsagar. Her friend Julekha had lost her gold ring that Tayabun found

A tale of true friendship, a friendship that has lasted for more than 50 years. Assam’s first woman athelete Tayabun Nisha may have achieved a lot of laurels in her sporting career, but what really makes her a happy and satisfied woman today is when she finally gave her childhood friend something that she always wished for. A confession that she has been waiting to tell her friend Julekha.
Tayabun Nessa, the five-time National Discuss Throw Champion and the first Assamese woman athlete to compete in the Asian Games made a heartfelt confession today. The story dates back to 1967 when Tayabun was a student of class-7 at Dhai Ali Girls School, Sibsagar. Her friend Julekha had lost her gold ring that Tayabun found the next morning and decided to keep it.
Tayabun came from a financially challenged family and over time, lost her father. Her memory is failing her a bit, but she thinks her family may have even sold the ring to beat the financial crunch. As years passed, Tayabun became famous as one of India’s top Discuss Throwers and in 1974, broke a twelve-year National record in Senior Girls’ National Discuss Throw. Thereafter, she became the first woman athlete from Assam to participate in any Asian Games this was in 1982.
Years passed but one thing troubled Tayabun day and night, it was the gold ring that she did not return to her friend Julekha. Then began the search for Julekha who she traced not long ago to a locality in Sibsagar. She gathered her phone number and started speaking to her occasionally early this morning. Tayabun surprised Julekha when she arrived at her home after exchanging pleasantries, Tayabun asked Julekha whether she remembered that she had lost a gold ring many years ago. Julekha remembered after trying hard that she had indeed lost a ring. Then came the confession from Tayabun, that it was she who has found the ring but did not return it to her because she was worried she could be accused of stealing it.
“Julekha and I both studied together. It was indeed a sad instance that Julekha lost a gold ring once when we were in class 7 or 8. She belonged to an affluent family and used to wear multiple rings in class. However, she lost one of the gold rings which I found after two days while cleaning my classroom. I didn’t give her the ring thinking everyone will accuse me of stealing. The ring remained with me and was later perhaps sold by my family. The incident remained in my heart since then. I spoke to my sister asking about Julekha. My sister found her number after much struggle. Then, I called her and always used to tell her that I would visit her.
Now, Julekha may have thought I was simply visiting her since we are old friends, without thinking about the ring that she had once lost. When I met her today, I asked her if she remembers the ring. When she could not remember the ring I was talking about, I confessed to her what had happened. I told her although I cannot return the ring, I would like to give her some amount in lieu of it. Even though she hesitated, I persuaded her to take it and she finally agreed. I feel very relieved and happy today”, said Tayabun Nisha.

On the other hand, Julekha expressed her happiness over meeting her childhood friend. She said” I am pleased today that she visited me. I almost forgot about her, but she remembered me which really made me happy. I told her that she has done so many people proud with her sporting feat. Even though I asked her not to give me money, she insisted that I keep it, and she said she would feel bad otherwise. But I am happy to see her more than to have received the money she brought for me. We were really close back in our childhood”.

It was a ‘forget & forgive’ moment for the two friends when Tayabun Nessa handed Julekha an envelope with Rs.12,000/- in it to bring about a happy end to the story.

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