CHAT FRIENDS
1
Arjun: I have but 1 heart
This heart I bring u
I have but 1 heart
2 share with u
I have but 1 dream
That I can cling 2
U r the 1 dream
I pray come true
Rupa: ooo….Godfather..right?
Arjun: u watched it?
Rupa: ya….it’s a good movie…
Arjun: right…I watched it 4 times…
…….
Achha listen…I have 2 go now..
C u again tomorrow…byeee
Rupa: ya..wait 4 me if I am a bit late…u can’t trust this net conn.
Byeeee
2
Mr.Sudip Sanyal was in his air-conditioned office chamber eagerly waiting for the lunch break.It was a usual week day and a boring one at office. Just at the stroke of two the door squeaked open and Ms Nag, his p.a. peeped in…’Sir, I’m going out for lunch..will be right back in 30 mins’
‘Have a good meal’…Sudip waited until her footsteps receded. Then he hurriedly opened the yahoo messenger in his laptop – Rupa must be waiting- he thought.
Now Sudip picked up the hobby of frequenting chat rooms a few weeks back. The first thing he realized then was that it was a world of and for teenagers and he, being a man of late 40s was quite a misfit there. So in order to be a part of this exciting new world he decided to take an alias- any way who is ever going to find out who he really was !....so, Sudip became Arjun, a young, handsome second year student of M.Sc Mathematics, who loves poetry and music apart from hanging around with friends…well most of these qualities were existent in Sudip when he was a at that age.
While trotting the chatrooms one day Arjun stumbled upon Rupa, a bubbly 16 year old girl who was, like him, a new explorer of the chatrooms. In no time they became friends on grounds of the common hobbies and interests they shared. Both loved poetry, and as far as music was concerned their likings were almost similar- they were both mad about Denver. They seemed to enjoy the same types of movies- both new ones and the oldies.
Amidst the heavy workload of a typical MNC ,Sudip waited eagerly everyday for lunchtime. It was the only time in the entire day when he could log on to the messenger. The exciting time he started enjoying everyday while chatting to Rupa, in a way helped to spice up his otherwise bland sandwitch packed routinely by his wife, Sumana.
Apart from Sumana, Sudip’s world consisted of her daughter, Sonali, who had just appeared for her board exams and was waiting for the results. She was totally a father’s child and regarding this Sumana had a slight uncomfortable feeling. The Sanyals stayed in a luxurious flat, perfectly matching their social status, in Gariahat, right at the heart of Kolkata.
Anyway let us return to our mainstream discussion about Arjun and Rupa…..
As if it was inevitable , slowly but surely they started to like each other. For Rupa it ushered the beginning of a new era of her life, but for Arjun it was not a very welcome gesture. After all, he was much older than this girl- almost the same age as her father, and on top of that this type of slackness in attitude was not at all expected from a top notch executive like him- what would Sumana and Sonali say if they came to know about it?...
As days rolled by love and guilt started haunting Sudip simultaneously, love outclassing guilt more often than not.
3
Sudip had just returned from office and switched on the television when Sumana arrived with a cup of coffee for him .
‘I think you should talk to this person..I have collected his contact no. from Arunima’s mother. All of Sonali’s friends are taking Physics tuitions from him, and Sona also needs to start soon…..’
‘what? She just finished her exams?...’
‘ah! Don’t you know the demand of these tutors?...if we are late all the seats will be filled…’
Sonali came flying at this moment from her room and hugged her father from the back………
‘Baba please make Ma understand that I don’t wanna study Science….I want to take up Arts…….I have been telling her repeatedly…’
‘Why Sumana, let her do what she wants……Arts is a good option…Sona loves literature..’
‘you father and daughter will never understand’ – shot Sumana –‘What’s the future in Arts , huh?..’
4
Rupa: I think we should meet up someday now….what do you say?
Arjun: Oh sure!...just wait for a few more days and my annuals will be over…
Rupa: o sweetheart u know how tough it is for me to do that…..i have not even seen a
photograph of yours!... L
Arjun: I understand dear ….. just a few more days…..u know I’m also dying to see you….
Rupa: okay as u say….but don’t make me wait for too long….main pagal ho jaungi.
(if I am already not!!!)
5
Now Sudip was in a fix…he was not the Arjun that Rupa had fabricated in her mind…and he knew perfectly well that meeting her would mean an end to their sweet relationship. But as the days sailed through, Rupa became more and more impatient to meet her man. Sudip also felt a strong inclination to at least see his young admirer. So finally he decided to fix up a date – obviously Arjun won’t turn up- but sudip will have a good look at Rupa from a distance. He thought that later he will somehow put up an excuse on behalf of Arjun and prolong their relationship as far as he could.
6
That night at the dinner table Sudip was visibly tense. The sense of guilt overpowered him and he felt ashamed about the entire ‘rupa’ incident – I will not keep any contact with her anymore, for her own good – he thought. But at the same time he also felt the sheer excitement of meeting this young lady who was so much obsessed with him.
‘Baba, you are not eating anything….!’, exclaimed Sonali..’ are you alright?..you did not even ask how was my day today!...is there anything wrong?’
‘arre na, only some extra workload in office sona’….Sudip laboured to smile.
Sudip was prepared to spend a sleepless night…he stood in the balcony of his 12th storey flat analyzing the entire situation- how could he get involved in it- how will Rupa get over the shock when she sees the truth – most importantly how will his family members react if they get slightest air of what was happening…..!
The lonesome moon high up on the sky seemed to be mocking him with a deceptive smile..and the dim street lights below seemed to turn their faces away from him. Just as he was about to lit up his 4th consecutive cigarette, a warm consoling hand came down upon his shoulder….
‘Don’t worry….everything will be fine….let’s go to sleep now…..’, assured Sumana…
‘you really think so?....okay…let’s go’…..Sudip trudged along with his wife lamenting to himself why on earth didn’t he think about his family before getting into such a fine mess.
7
Rupa: okay, that’s fixed then….Saturday 6pm sharp.. caffeine , golpark
Arjun: yup, I will be there…honey
Rupa: I can’t wait.. J J
Arjun: but how will I recognize u?
Rupa: i will be in a yellow top and denim jeans…I wear specs
Arjun: fine…see u then
8
It was late June and still no sign of rain. It was quarter to six when Sudip parked his cyan Swift just outside caffeine. The humidity level was very high and Sudip was perspiring profusely as he paced briskly on the adjoining pavement. He had plans of having a good look at Rupa without revealing his true identity. He knew it was impossible for Rupa to identify him as Arjun, yet he felt tremendous excitement minced with sporadic pinches of guilt.
The dusk was beginning to set in and it was already ten passed six. Sudip was beginning to grow impatient now.
It was then that he noticed a female figure emerging from the dull background. As it approached nearer its silhouette appeared familiar to Sudip-where has he seen her before?-he tried to figure out. He was taken aback when he identified the person to be his own daughter, Sonali.His heart almost stopped for a second and then began to beat rapidly. ‘What was she doing here?...is she on a date too?..or has she come to meet with some friends?- Sudip thought – whatever it was Sudip felt deeply embarrassed...
‘Baba… what ..what are you doing here?...you have an appointment?’…stammered Sonali who did not seem to be in too much comfort either.
Sudip was speechless for a moment in front of her daughter whose small, sharp eyes seemed to pierce his soul from behind the rimless specs. She was in a yellow T-shirt and was looking beautiful. Just as the tired father was about to conjure up a strong reason to be there , a strong shock wave hit him. Why- Rupa said she would be clad in a yellow top…and….and…she wore specs too….is it possible that..?....
Immediately Sudip saw through the entire incident…Rupa was no one but his own offspring- like him she also used a separate net-name. He has been knowing Rupa since the day she was born…in fact he has moulded her mental structure- and that was the exact reason why they shared so much in common…..
Sudip almost broke down , but with enormous effort tried to regain his composure. Sonali should not know the true reason behind his waiting there- he thought.
‘Yes…I mean no, you carry on….but don’t be be too late …Ma will be worrying..’…Sudip spoke in a faraway voice as he tried to hide his misery, and as he turned towards his swift, the much awaited monsoon rains flooded his eyes.
- Uddipan Mukherjee
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