The kindergarten days: Do you remember them?
I do vividly, for a specific and an extra special reason. It was the first time I had kissed a girl fondly. Fondly!! Woah, oh, oh, oh! What? What are you thinking? By now you must have started fantasizing. I knew it!! Dirty Mind!
I had kissed the curly haired one on her cheek more out of genuine affection than anything else. Hang on!! I remember kissing her, where…? It’s gone a bit blurry. Let me think…. ‘Hmmm…’
‘The blog! Romeo!!’ a voice reminds me, as I write, jolting me from my fantasy.
‘What blog? Don’t disturb!! This is much better.’ I shot back at him. ‘The feeling is divine.’
‘Dip? Drain?’ the voice echoed, dragging me away from the stimulating scene.
‘Diaper?’ I asked myself, absentminded. ‘But, I don’t have any children!!?’
‘Look up!! Idiot!!’ he shouted, slapping me hard.
‘Oh! Yes! Now I remember.’
I had just joined Don Bosco School, Siliguri. “Admission Granted – STD I” was what, was stamped, on top of my charismatic miniature photo; passing a strenuous little exam prior to it. The people alien, I roamed around the campus with my then only friend Arpan Chettri. He was the sole recognizable face when I shifted from my humble kindergarten school to this Richie-rich one. Like two brothers reunited in the lost and found section of the Kumbh-Mela. Arms around each other’s shoulders we wandered singing the Sholay tune.
‘Arpan! Look at this drain.’ I exclaimed, stopping abruptly; we as usual wandered during the break time.
The rainy season at its peak, an unrelenting drizzle characterized the day. Soaking the light rain I stood at the edge of the broad, two-three feet high drain. Gazing and hearing the gurgling sound of water gush away. The extreme force of it flushed down everything and anything that came in its path. Glancing sideways I noticed the other kids frolicking by its side. Some dropped leaves, some paper boats. Others tore up their boats to drop pieces of paper with their names written on it. All competing, racing along the gutter with their individual articles, set afloat. The speed of the current carrying them enabled them to decide the winner.
‘Arpan!!?’ I called out. Turned back and searched in my vicinity but could not find him.
‘He must have gone to the toilet.’ I told myself shrugging; continuing to follow some of the closely fought contests.
‘Splash!!’, ‘Shuh! Shuh! Shuh...’
These were the only sounds I could hear the next moment. The latter without any doubt uttered by me struggling against the tide. The burbling noise of the water entering my ears followed them. Picking my head, out of the water I looked up to find Arpan standing atop. A smile on his face to begin with, he broke out in a laughing fit. I got up on my feet immediately, displacing the cold gutter water on either side of me. Not able to get out of the drain after few tries I stood erect. My feet apart, enduring the cold current. My hairs, white shirt drenched. My light grey half-pants completely soaked, stained to a darker colour. Water slipped through the pockets causing my sensitive areas to become stiff. Shocked, panic-stricken I began forming small cups of water with my tiny palms. He backed off, viewing me throw the drops furiously in his direction, still laughing out loud. Nothing else nearby to inflict my rage on him I resorted to my last option. The helpless child that I was began crying. I sobbed inconsolably for a minute or two. Vowing never to forgive Arpan for his shameless act and never, ever talk to him again, till my last breath. Fortunate to have my two cousins studying in the higher grade of the same school I saw them rushing towards me. Grabbing their hands I pulled myself out of it, grazing both my knees in the process on the rugged concrete. One held my legs, the other my arms. My face skywards I forced it down, searching left and right. But Arpan was nowhere to be seen. I assumed, him to have run away seeing my cousins, probably scared of being beaten. Stretching me they both transported me to the assembly hall. The principal came running thereafter. Consoling me he offered me a Hawaiian shirt and a black pant. A unique, stinky smell came out of them. No other option I wore it; to be the odd one out in the whole class for the rest of the day. I had instantly become the center of attraction for no deed of mine. They giggled staring at me, others cracked jokes. Alienated, I glanced at Arpan menacingly but he sensibly looked away.
++++
‘Maa!! Where is Arpan?’ I asked my mother coming back from school one day. It had been close to ten days since I had seen Arpan.
‘I don’t know. Why? Don’t you meet him in school?’ she asked.
‘No.’ I replied in short refraining to divulge further details; specifically my gesture of avoiding him consciously.
‘I also did not see his mother for few days….’ she stated, pondering. A frown developed on her face. Homes close-by, our mothers often ran into each other in their favourite grocery shop.
‘Leave it!! He will come soon… may be.’ I said shrugging, reluctant to entertain the thought of a rogue Arpan at length.
‘No, no!! Let’s go this Saturday evening and check what the matter is!’ she proclaimed, forcing me, shaking her head vigorously.
‘But why? What is the need?’ I cried out, opposing her decision in the strongest of tones.
‘Fine! You don’t go. I will.’ she said. Turning back she walked swiftly into the kitchen, seething.
++++
It was Saturday evening. Although I had protested, I did not want to stay alone in the house and be haunted. Lollipop, the award I trudged along with her to reach Arpan’s house. Burdened by a sense of guilt; not having spoken to my once close friend for that many days.
‘Don’t be naughty. Don’t play for too long. We have to go early and don’t ask for anything to eat.’ my strict mother issued me a host of warnings, ringing the bell.
‘Oh! Ranzzaan! Come! Namahste!’ she greeted both of us.
Entering, my eyes immediately began searching for Arpan. My heart thumping fast I was wary of how to start a conversation with him.
‘Nomoste, Nomoste! How are you? I…’ my mother greeted back.
‘Where is Arpan, aunty?’ I inquired, interrupting. Looking at her, I prayed that he be somewhere far-away from his house, playing.
‘He is inside. Go in that room.’ she replied, pointing. A purdah (separation cloth) hung, did not permit me to peep inside from a distance.
The dreadful answer received I went up to the room, leaving both of them behind. I moved the cloth aside and peeped into the room.
‘Don’t ask me…’
I could hear Arpan’s mother talking to mine.
‘He is sick for the past…’
‘Sick!!?’ baffled, I asked myself. Overhearing, I stood quietly at the door-sill.
Arpan lay there on the bed. His face turned in the opposite direction. His body covered with a brown quilt up-to the neck. Panic-struck, I turned around and exited the room. Afraid that Arpan would get up and start blaming me for his illness.
‘Go, inside! He is there.’ his mother urged. ‘He was taking your name in sleep for the past few days.’ she said, increasing my anxiety to abnormal levels.
‘Why?’ my mother inquired, smiling.
‘I don’t know. He was in his sleep.’
Caught in no man’s land I about-turned and entered the room, again. Arpan had twisted his face in my direction. His heavy, sleepy eyes marginally open; he gazed at me from the distance. The nervous I took out the second lollipop from my pocket. Holding it in my hand like a bouquet I moved towards him, taking measured steps. The wrapper on it served as the ‘Get Well Soon’ greeting card. Hoping that my gift would please him and more importantly he would not complain to my and his mother.
‘Here, take!’ I offered him. My voice wavered as I stopped close to him, by the bed.
Pulling his hand out of his cozy cover he grasped the stick.
‘What happened to your eyes and your nails…?’
Dismayed and perplexed I questioned him examining his nails and eyes closely. Pale yellow in colour they seemed to be a unique, eye popping occurrence to me. One, I had never ever encountered in my short life span.
‘Are you still angry?’ he queried in a stifled voice. I noticed; his face too had turned pale yellow.
Not knowing what to say I simply stared at him. Mixed emotions ran through me. I was not able to determine whether his mistake was greater, or mine was.
‘Forgive me, Ranjan. I made a mistake. I am sorry.’ he said, repeating one of our moral science lines recently taught in school. A tear drop streamed down from the corner of his eye.
‘I am sorry as well… for not talking to you.’ I uttered, clearing my throat.
‘Are we still friends? I don’t have anyone else to talk to in school.’ he asked, reasoning innocently.
‘Yes I am. I will talk to you.’ I assured him. ‘Eat the lollipop. It’s tasty. Tut… tut!!’ I told him, emitting sounds from my mouth.
‘Don’t eat that!’ her mother screamed from behind. She came into the room with my mother.
‘See!! The chap is suffering from jaundice and he wants to eat chocolates.’ she admonished Arpan. Frightened I backed off allowing his mother to sit at his side.
‘But mom, Ranjan brought it for me!!’ he begged.
‘Eat it later. You are not well now, no.’ she said stroking his forehead. Snatching the candy from his hands she kept it away from him.
‘I am feeling better now. Give it to me!!!’ he cried out in a shrill voice.
‘Eat it later, Arpan. It doesn’t matter.’ I said trying to calm him down.
‘Look! Listen, to what your friend is saying.’ her mother told, winking at me.
A wink: The meaning of which I understood later in my life; courtesy my mother. Five years down the line, I was in the same school, I played near the same drain, it was the same me. But Arpan, my friend was far, far away…
Thank-you all for reading; until next time, the moti-bhaddi aurat (fat-ugly lady) sings. It’s BYE!!
