“May
I come in, Sir?” – Abhinav requested Prof. Arun to enter the class. He stood by
the door with both his hand clasped together at his abdomen. He lowered his
head with a guilty smile on the face. The whole class was in utter silence. Everyone’s
eye probed Abhinav. After few seconds of silence Prof. finally looked towards
the door and exclaimed- “You arrived at the right time. I was just about
to explain the major organizational principles. Come in. Make sure that you do
not have to beg to come inside your own class. “
Abhinav
was more than delighted not to have been scolded. He smiled gratefully at
Professor for his magnanimity. As Abhinav walked past the front row, he clearly noticed
Rashmi looking downward on her desk, unlike others. As soon as he settled at
his corner seat, he realized that the seat adjacent to him was vacant. Binay was
absent. Abhinav opened up his bag to take out his note but he was finding it
difficult to recollect his energy. He did not have a sound sleep last night.
The night full of turmoil was still suppressing his dopaminergic level. He was
not to his level of alertness. He then felt about the Cigarette-time debate.
“Probably he is intimidating me. But skipping college is not a good idea. -
Abhinav was stuck in a monologue though everyone was so concentrated on Prof. Arun’s
topic on ‘Organizational Principles’.
Prof
was about to leave the class when Sahil turned back to ask-“Where is Binay?”
Abhinav
answered – “I do not know.” He did not tell me anything about his absence. “
Just
after that Rubina turned back to ask- “Hey Abhi, what happened to Binay?”
Before
Abhinav answered in annoyance, Ashok sir entered the class.
The
Economy class was running to its full pace but Abhinav was busy wandering his
vision outside the window. Surfing through the college front yard, the view of
motorbikes, cars and college bus parked at random arrays was set aside by a couple
sitting on the bench in the college garden. He quickly recognized them to be
Rajiv and Salina. They were both the 7th semester students.
Salina
was probably trying to get the attention of Rajiv by pointing at the page of a magazine.
Rajiv then said something, which was not audible to Abhinav. He laughed and
then Salina pulled a strand of his hair in anger. Rajiv took Salina’s head in
his right arm and closed her down to his body and pressed her hard enough to
cause the pain. Salina, helpless in the wrestle move of Rajiv, punched him in
his belly. But it rather looked like a tickling move. Still facing the ground
on agony, Salina finally raised her hand to get the face. Rajiv shouted and released
Salina’s head. Rajiv stood and moved away with both his hand tucked to his
face. Salina moved towards Rajiv in curiosity. Rajiv made a remark and Salina looked
at her fingertips. She removed Rajiv’s hand from his face off to see what
really has happened. Rajiv stood with his right eye closed. Salina extends her
fingers to open up the eyelids but Rajiv opened up himself and laughed at
Salina for being mocked. Salina slapped Rajiv and ran away towards the college
building and disappeared from Abhinav’s frame of view. Rajiv smiled and continued
reading the magazine.
“Abhinav,
where are you?”- Lecturer Ashok shouted. Abhinav head was still twisted towards
the window. He was still not done fantasizing his presence in the play of Rajiv
and Salina. “ Lecturer thumped the desk with his hand. Abhinav confronted him
with a shameful face.
“This
is the second time I had to get your attention in the class. The next time I do
this, you are out of my class. Do you understand?” Lecturer warned Abhinav and
continued his teaching. Abhinav faced the whiteboard and pretended to listen
the rest of the time but his eyes, in despair, were focused on the wall clock
above the board. He wanted that class to finish as fast as it could.
Abhinav
went to the canteen as the class was over.
He asked for a cup of coffee. He then took out his phone and called
Binay.
“Why
aren’t you in the college?”- Abhinav asked.
“Mom
has flu. No one is home to look after her.” Binay answered.
“Where
is Manu?”- Abhinav interrogated.
“She
has an exam today.”- Binay answered then hung up.
Meanwhile
he waited for his coffee, he was busy watching Rajiv and Salina still sitting
on the bench and talking. Abhinav took an exit in the middle of the normal
college-day. He headed for the Binay’s home in Hattiban.
Nikky
barked to his loudest as Abhinav opened up the gate. “Heyyy… Nikky ….. How are
you?” Abhinav moved towards Binay’s dog, which was stretching his body out of
the belt. Nikky was animated by Abhinav’s presence. He kneaded the mouth of
Nikky for a while then he went inside the house. Nikky was continuously wagging
his tail as he entered the home.
“Auntuuu,
what happened to you”- Abhinav expressed his inquisitiveness as he saw Binay’s
mom lying on the lounge and watching TV.
“Babu,
I got fever. How are dad and mom? You have not been here for a long time. What
have you been doing all this time?” - Binay’s mom exclaimed.
“Everyone
is fine. I am little busy these days preparing for our basketball tournament.”
– Abhinav reasoned the queries of Binay’s mom.
“Where
is Binay?” – Abhinav looked around moving his head around.
“He
is in the kitchen. Wait !! I will call him.”- Binay’s mom answered.
“No
auntu, you just rest here. I will go look for him in the kitchen.” – Abhinav
consoled Binay’s mom.
He
was just about to stand up when Binay came into the lounge. He came up with a
bowl of soup.
“I
guess you have to pretend being ill sometimes to see Binay around. Most of the
times, he is with me. This is also the best time to judge his culinary skills,
isn’t it?” – Abhinav made a funny remark as Binay put the bowl of soup on the
table beside his mom. Binay frowned and sat on sofa beside Abhinav. But he did
not look at Abhinav.
“Yes
absolutely. Most of the times, he is away from home, probably to hang out with
you. He is cooking well. Do you cook sometimes back at home? – Binay’s mom
asked.
“Not
much. I do not have to cook. This might be the reason why I do not have any
idea on this.” Abhinav replied.
“I gotta
go now.”- Abhinav made an intention to leave. He sharply peeked at Binay’s face
and said-“Binay, do call me when Manu is home and come to Karki Dai’s. - He
then turned towards Binay’s mom- “Get well soon auntuu. Binay will take good
care of you.”
Abhinav
nearly closed the gate when he noticed Nikky tugged the chains he was in. He closed the gate and bought a packet of
biscuit in the corner shop nearby. He came back to throw a coconut flavored
party for Nikky. He enjoyed Nikky’s anticipation for every piece from the
packet. “Good boy”- Abhinav reflected his appreciation for Binay’s dog, patted
him on the back as he left.
×××
“What
are your plans this weekend?”- Urmila asked Rashmi as they walked down the
street to their college hostel.
“I
don’t know. May be I should visit Shakuntala Aunty. I have not met Almika for a
long time. Yea, I would probably be with them this weekend.”- Rashmi responded
indicating that she wanted to have a good time with her childhood friend
Almika.
“Inter-college
basketball tournament starts this Saturday. If you are interested then I will
go with you. Abhinav and Kiran would probably represent our class for the
college team. We will have nice time cheering for our team. What do you think?”
– Urmila recommended an option to Rashmi’s weekend plan.
“No,
I don’t like being in a noisy place. Besides it is just a preliminary match. I
will consider joining you if our team proceeds to the semis.” – Rashmi
responded.
“Ok,
do whatever at your please, you adamant-young-lady!” Urmila made a vexed remark
on Rashmi’s response. They approached the hostel entrance but both of them
halted in front of the gate for a moment. “I am gonna get a recharge card for
my phone. Manav would probably regard me a miser if I do not call him tonight.”
– Urmila indicated about her late night phone conversation with her boyfriend.
“Why
do you have to spend so much money calling him every night? You always meet him
every once a while.” Rashmi made a sharp comment and entered the hostel leaving
behind Urmila outside the gate.
×××
“How
long have you been waiting?”-Binay put his helmet on the table and inquired
Abhinav.
“I
just had a cup of tea. What took you so long?”- Abhinav answered.
“I
dropped Manu at the vegetable grocery. Ain’t you going for basketball practice
session this evening?” – Binay continued the conversation.
“Karki
Dai, please send a cup of tea.” Abhinav shouted and gazed at Binay. “No, I am
not going today. I am tired. I slept at 3 in the morning. This has never happened to me in years.”-
Abhinav replied.
“Ok,
go home and take a good rest. We cannot afford to lose this tournament.” –
Binay commented.
“There
is nothing left to lose. I am not so into this. I do know why but I am feeling
so restless at this time of my life? I think you were honest in reflecting my
attitude towards everything.”- Abhinav gave an intense remark.
“Don’t
sound so distressful. You truly need to focus on this tournament. This is what
you have dreamt about, winning a major tournament in the city. Abhi, you need
to try gazing at your world through the different window. The elements are
always the same but view you’d have is the different. And that definitely makes
a difference. – Binay lit up the cigarette and continued, “You never told me
this but I know how hollow you are inside. You really need to have someone in
your life, who concurs with your wavelength. I seriously mean this. Try Rashmi. She is the
single girl in the whole college who is worth going for.”
“Stop
talking about that girl. She is not to my taste. Have ever seen that girl
coming in any of the classmates’ birthday parties, have you ever noticed her
cheering up for our team? Never! She does not even talk to her classmates. And..
and - Abhinav stammered. “She is
probably the only girl in the whole college who comes in pants. Besides, I have
tried a number of times to get her attention but she is so unconcerned.”
“You
cannot really judge a person going through the superficial attributes. You need
to delve into her thoughts. You need to talk to her. Probably she is pretending
to be disinterested just get an extra attention from you. The more she seems to
be unconcerned on a thing, the more she is trying to draw concern of other towards her. That’s
called the law of apathy. Comprehending a person is like reading a book; at the
end of the page you’ll always have a great lesson to be learnt. So what’s wrong
in reading a new book? At this moment, I just want you to focus all your energy
towards tournament. You need to live your dream. Do not get derailed by petty
issues.” – Binay produced a vigorous opinion.
Abhinav
looked like a calm sea. He was adrift in his judgment. He was continuously inhaling puffs of smoke.
“I
need to leave now. Tonight I am the cook. Dad will be late from work and Manu
has her last exam tomorrow.” Binay proclaimed that the meeting was over. He
grabbed his helmet, paid the bills and left.
