16-03-2019, 03:40 PM
Fulki was quiet this time, "Maybe. I think it could, but..."
"So, do you think that's an issue you don't want to address by just skipping marriage?"
"Yes, that's a reason."
"Okay, what do your peers say?"
"Those stupid fellows are getting married by the hordes. It's my choice and I am not getting married." She said with irritation.
Avik sighed, "Fine with me. Have your way but kindly DO NOT adopt a child. You might forget the baby in a bus or something."
Robin launched into a mirthless laughter and continued until he got a kick from an enraged Fulki.
College Days
I and Avik had met in college; he was two years my senior. He was short, unassuming, and an introvert in the classical sense. While I was bubbly and liked to mix around, he was the proverbial turtle who forever remained in his shell. I often noticed, him sitting alone, reading something. When in the company of friends, he mostly listened.
As freshers, we were the centre of widespread attractions and boys were constantly hitting on us. Avik literally had no chance of penetrating the dense cordon of our admirers. Anyway, none of us really bothered much about him. I often caught him staring at me though he never had the courage to come up and introduce himself.
The college socials were on and the freshers were the stars. The program was packed with songs and dances and the 'oohs & aahs' made us into instant celebrities! We were typically coached by the first years and our performances were raunchy enough to ignite a fire in even the 'un-impressionable hearts.'
After we finished, the faculty walked in for the second part of the show, a soberer one. By then we had congregated near the stage and the show was on. In a short while, we realised that the college had super talents and we were just a prelude to the good things to come.
Finally, the anchor, a stunning beauty in her own rights announced the 'song finale' but did not mention the name of the artist. Her introduction indicated that she clearly was smitten. The person walked in and many of us simply gasped. It was Avik, walking with his head down and a nervous smile pasted on his face. He stood at the mike and after moments of hesitation started singing.
I did not remember when it finished. What I remembered was that the Dean himself was climbing the stage and embracing him. The crowd completely went berserk.
For the first time, I realised that girls were equally adept at whistling. Avik was smothered by so many people. He looked perfectly embarrassed and kept looking for someone in the crowd. I wanted to congratulate him but this time, I could not penetrate the crowd.
After some time, I quietly left the place and started towards the hostel. And he was standing right there, under the tree. We both hesitated and he blushed and stammered.
"You sang very well," was all he could say.
"That's cow dung compared to yours," I replied.
"Cow dung? No, no, no, no," he shook his head violently, incensed.
"Yes, it is. You never mentioned that you could sing so well?" I said in an accusatory tone as if the fault was his!
He turned beet red.
That was 30 years back and today I am 47 and Avik is 49; married for 25 years. Middle-aged; children grown up and in college, away from home.
Time has not changed him much, still uncomfortable when people were around. But, occasionally, when he emerged out of his shell, he was truly spectacular. But that was not too often.
He agreed with me on all counts except one. He genuinely believed that my singing was NOT 'cow dung '.
Back to the Game
The game had caught on and only we two were left. All looked expectantly at each other. Avik conveniently was looking out of the window. Rob looked at me and I signalled him towards his father. Avik was still looking out into the darkness. Finding nothing of note in the body of impenetrable black, he was forced to turn his head inwards and face three pairs of piercing eyes goring into him.
He feigned tiredness by way of a huge yawn but the children were relentless in their pursuit. In the end, he gave in. He put his head down and after what appeared to be an immeasurably long time said, "I want to see what happens if I put my name on a matrimonial website."
This announcement was met with reactions of different audio-visual hues. Robin gasped in amazement while Fulki arched her eyebrows while a sly smile played on the corners of her lips. I was simply thinking about the genesis of this idea.
The idea was simply astounding. Why should he even think about such a thing? Suddenly, I remembered something that I had just not put my mind to. Of late he looked much fitter, much better groomed; younger. He had been spending money on himself for the last six months or so. Obviously, he was going through a mid-life crisis.
"So, do you think that's an issue you don't want to address by just skipping marriage?"
"Yes, that's a reason."
"Okay, what do your peers say?"
"Those stupid fellows are getting married by the hordes. It's my choice and I am not getting married." She said with irritation.
Avik sighed, "Fine with me. Have your way but kindly DO NOT adopt a child. You might forget the baby in a bus or something."
Robin launched into a mirthless laughter and continued until he got a kick from an enraged Fulki.
College Days
I and Avik had met in college; he was two years my senior. He was short, unassuming, and an introvert in the classical sense. While I was bubbly and liked to mix around, he was the proverbial turtle who forever remained in his shell. I often noticed, him sitting alone, reading something. When in the company of friends, he mostly listened.
As freshers, we were the centre of widespread attractions and boys were constantly hitting on us. Avik literally had no chance of penetrating the dense cordon of our admirers. Anyway, none of us really bothered much about him. I often caught him staring at me though he never had the courage to come up and introduce himself.
The college socials were on and the freshers were the stars. The program was packed with songs and dances and the 'oohs & aahs' made us into instant celebrities! We were typically coached by the first years and our performances were raunchy enough to ignite a fire in even the 'un-impressionable hearts.'
After we finished, the faculty walked in for the second part of the show, a soberer one. By then we had congregated near the stage and the show was on. In a short while, we realised that the college had super talents and we were just a prelude to the good things to come.
Finally, the anchor, a stunning beauty in her own rights announced the 'song finale' but did not mention the name of the artist. Her introduction indicated that she clearly was smitten. The person walked in and many of us simply gasped. It was Avik, walking with his head down and a nervous smile pasted on his face. He stood at the mike and after moments of hesitation started singing.
I did not remember when it finished. What I remembered was that the Dean himself was climbing the stage and embracing him. The crowd completely went berserk.
For the first time, I realised that girls were equally adept at whistling. Avik was smothered by so many people. He looked perfectly embarrassed and kept looking for someone in the crowd. I wanted to congratulate him but this time, I could not penetrate the crowd.
After some time, I quietly left the place and started towards the hostel. And he was standing right there, under the tree. We both hesitated and he blushed and stammered.
"You sang very well," was all he could say.
"That's cow dung compared to yours," I replied.
"Cow dung? No, no, no, no," he shook his head violently, incensed.
"Yes, it is. You never mentioned that you could sing so well?" I said in an accusatory tone as if the fault was his!
He turned beet red.
That was 30 years back and today I am 47 and Avik is 49; married for 25 years. Middle-aged; children grown up and in college, away from home.
Time has not changed him much, still uncomfortable when people were around. But, occasionally, when he emerged out of his shell, he was truly spectacular. But that was not too often.
He agreed with me on all counts except one. He genuinely believed that my singing was NOT 'cow dung '.
Back to the Game
The game had caught on and only we two were left. All looked expectantly at each other. Avik conveniently was looking out of the window. Rob looked at me and I signalled him towards his father. Avik was still looking out into the darkness. Finding nothing of note in the body of impenetrable black, he was forced to turn his head inwards and face three pairs of piercing eyes goring into him.
He feigned tiredness by way of a huge yawn but the children were relentless in their pursuit. In the end, he gave in. He put his head down and after what appeared to be an immeasurably long time said, "I want to see what happens if I put my name on a matrimonial website."
This announcement was met with reactions of different audio-visual hues. Robin gasped in amazement while Fulki arched her eyebrows while a sly smile played on the corners of her lips. I was simply thinking about the genesis of this idea.
The idea was simply astounding. Why should he even think about such a thing? Suddenly, I remembered something that I had just not put my mind to. Of late he looked much fitter, much better groomed; younger. He had been spending money on himself for the last six months or so. Obviously, he was going through a mid-life crisis.
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