Non-erotic The Scarface I Hated by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

At night Imran came to the room and apologized for his frivolity. He said that he was only trying to make me happy but didn't realise that he had overshot the limit. By now I too was kind of seeing the joke so I let it pass. After some pause he said with hesitation, "Look, the place where I work has a tradition. When someone gets married, the staff throws a party for them. A very short function. They want you to come. I have told them that I will ask you. Will you come?"

That was a new complication and I wanted to say no straightaway but the downcast look on Imran's face prevented me from saying it. I asked him, "Can I say no?" Imran said, "Of course you can, if you are not comfortable." I said with some hesitation, "All right, I will go. But when?" "Tomorrow, it is a half day. Can you come at 3 pm? Suresh will bring you." Imran replied with some relief.

"I can come on my own, just give me the address, I will reach." I retorted sharply.

Another night passed.

Relatively peacefully.

Life begins on the other side of despair. Jean Paul Sartre

Chapter-7: Kiana-The Workshop

I was getting used to the daily routine. Imran gave me a card of the workshop where he worked. It was called "Kiana". I wanted to ask him what Kiana meant but decided against excessive familiarity. It was not very far off and near my college. So, I decided to visit the college first and then go to the workshop. I was very uncomfortable with such formalities. But, I had said yes and I was going to stick to it.

Today I woke up early but by then Imran had left. I helped Sumitra with work and insisted (somewhat strictly) that she should not miss college anymore. Initially she was uncertain but later warmed up to the idea. She was worried that whether I would be able to manage alone or not. I shot her a scathing look and that made her scurry towards college.

And I was alone. Suddenly, I felt oneness with the house. Everything was mine, if I wanted to. I could give it a shape of home if I wanted to. But the million-dollar question was that did I want to? I was torn between too many variables that life was throwing at me. Unable to solve the problem, I started towards my college and reached during the lunch time.

Teachers and students were happy to see me. Somehow the news of my marriage had reached them all. They complained about not being invited and I had no answers. Some teachers asked me in a conspiratorial tone regarding my state of marital bliss which I managed to answer by looking duly demure. Everyone wanted me to join back and so did I.

Eventually, I met Shubhra Mukherjee who was genuinely happy seeing me. She took me to her office and asked many questions. She had no problem in taking me back. Apparently, she hadn't informed the management about my resignation at all. For the college, I was on leave.

After the initial euphoria, she tentatively asked me about my new life. What could I say? I said things that were relatively better but that did not fool her. She knew that I wasn't as happy as I portrayed. But she didn't explore further. But she asked me out about Imran and his behaviour towards me. Despite my antipathy, I had to admit that I was not being mistreated and let it slip that Imran was essentially instrumental in my coming back to the college.

During the course of the chat I mentioned about the Russian fiasco the night before. The headmistress was interested so I told her about 'Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya'. She was surprisingly intrigued and asked me Imran's reply. I continued the banter and told her that he thought she was wife to one 'Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov'. I also told her how he had laughed at his own joke and my dismay. Shubhra Mukherjee was surprisingly silent. I looked at her. She quietly said, "Lenin!!" Then after a pause she said, "Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov is the original name of Lenin and his wife was Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya. Fancy Imran telling you this."

I was stunned. Who was the teacher in a college? Me or Imran!

The headmistress deftly steered the discussion away from Imran and asked me about other general things. I told her about the impending evening celebration at the workshop. I told her that the workshop was named 'Kiana'. Again, she appeared startled. I left at 2.40 pm thinking about the weird happenings today. Coincidences, I surmised.