21-03-2019, 12:32 PM
Chapter-21
Our evening passed doing what was destined for the night. Two humans had become one as ordained from the prehistoric times by the act of love transcending times. From caves to homes; from Pithecanthropus to the Neanderthals to the Homo sapiens, the passion remained unchanged.
Imran was insatiable. For a comical moment, it appeared to me that the tiger had returned to the hotel. Just like old British time. We fell asleep in each other's arms till I was awoken by Imran in the dead of the night. He asked me to come out on the terrace. There were no lights but there was a glow outside that lighted up the area in an eerie way.
There was no moon. Sensing my confusion, Imran pointed his fingers towards the sky. And yes, it was a sight I shall treasure forever. The sky lighted up by millions of stars. Suddenly, I was looking at a sky that had not an inch vacant, crammed with stars. The Milky Way glowed and it appeared as if I was looking at some spilt curd in the sky. I kept staring and kept wondering. Imran then pointed towards the edge of our hotel garden. There were thousands of blinking lights, bright and beautiful. The fireflies were everywhere.
The sky had descended on the earth with all its stars.
Time stood frozen and I knew not what time was it. Neither did I want it to move on. I sat on the garden chair and pulled Imran to me. If I could travel to that mysterious land in the sky where there were only stars and maybe Peter Pan with his tiny friends, I would take only him on this magical journey.
No words were spoken till Imran pulled me to him and brought his face close and whispered, "Time now has come to tell you a story that you must know. What you will hear today may change your perceptions towards me, us...but I must take the risk."
So, the time had finally arrived. I replied softly, "There is no risk. You tell and I will listen. And, perceptions? Let's not talk about it."
Imran kept quiet for a long time, perhaps trying best to organize himself. At last, he spoke.
"Mother has told you about my father, Indranath. We, three of us came to Netarhat from Delhi in 1977 and I was three years old. My father was appointed a teacher in the college, which we saw today while coming here. It's a brilliant institution where men are made out of boys. The teachings of life are imparted here with such finesse that makes a person equipped to withstand the uncertainties of life without qualms. I was fortunate to study here. But more of that later.
It is unusual for a boy of three years to remember so many things but I remember each and every incident that happened here. It appears only yesterday.
My mother was initially hesitant to come to this place. Coming from a prestigious University where life was dynamic and academic, she felt that my father would soon grow bored with the placid lifestyle at this place. You can well imagine how life would have been here 23 years back. But, my father had made up my mind to move away from the hullaballoo of Delhi to a more sedentary academic pursuit. As far as my mother was concerned, she had the tremendous ability to adjust according to the requirements of the time. She at once liked the serenity of this place and the people were simple and straightforward. Their simplicity and meager requirements amidst poverty and disease was something that constantly affected her in a profound manner.
Soon, we were well settled here. I started attending a pre-college although it was my mother who was my mentor. My father, in a very short span of time, not only became popular with students but also gained enormous respect among his colleagues and seniors for his brilliant academic insights and lateral knowledge. No function or seminar would be complete without Dr Indranath's incisive comments. Slowly, he became popular in the social circles too. My mother was happy for my father but remained in the background. He was only 30 years then, one of the youngest PhD scholars of the University. He would often go and attend seminars all over the country.
Our evening passed doing what was destined for the night. Two humans had become one as ordained from the prehistoric times by the act of love transcending times. From caves to homes; from Pithecanthropus to the Neanderthals to the Homo sapiens, the passion remained unchanged.
Imran was insatiable. For a comical moment, it appeared to me that the tiger had returned to the hotel. Just like old British time. We fell asleep in each other's arms till I was awoken by Imran in the dead of the night. He asked me to come out on the terrace. There were no lights but there was a glow outside that lighted up the area in an eerie way.
There was no moon. Sensing my confusion, Imran pointed his fingers towards the sky. And yes, it was a sight I shall treasure forever. The sky lighted up by millions of stars. Suddenly, I was looking at a sky that had not an inch vacant, crammed with stars. The Milky Way glowed and it appeared as if I was looking at some spilt curd in the sky. I kept staring and kept wondering. Imran then pointed towards the edge of our hotel garden. There were thousands of blinking lights, bright and beautiful. The fireflies were everywhere.
The sky had descended on the earth with all its stars.
Time stood frozen and I knew not what time was it. Neither did I want it to move on. I sat on the garden chair and pulled Imran to me. If I could travel to that mysterious land in the sky where there were only stars and maybe Peter Pan with his tiny friends, I would take only him on this magical journey.
No words were spoken till Imran pulled me to him and brought his face close and whispered, "Time now has come to tell you a story that you must know. What you will hear today may change your perceptions towards me, us...but I must take the risk."
So, the time had finally arrived. I replied softly, "There is no risk. You tell and I will listen. And, perceptions? Let's not talk about it."
Imran kept quiet for a long time, perhaps trying best to organize himself. At last, he spoke.
"Mother has told you about my father, Indranath. We, three of us came to Netarhat from Delhi in 1977 and I was three years old. My father was appointed a teacher in the college, which we saw today while coming here. It's a brilliant institution where men are made out of boys. The teachings of life are imparted here with such finesse that makes a person equipped to withstand the uncertainties of life without qualms. I was fortunate to study here. But more of that later.
It is unusual for a boy of three years to remember so many things but I remember each and every incident that happened here. It appears only yesterday.
My mother was initially hesitant to come to this place. Coming from a prestigious University where life was dynamic and academic, she felt that my father would soon grow bored with the placid lifestyle at this place. You can well imagine how life would have been here 23 years back. But, my father had made up my mind to move away from the hullaballoo of Delhi to a more sedentary academic pursuit. As far as my mother was concerned, she had the tremendous ability to adjust according to the requirements of the time. She at once liked the serenity of this place and the people were simple and straightforward. Their simplicity and meager requirements amidst poverty and disease was something that constantly affected her in a profound manner.
Soon, we were well settled here. I started attending a pre-college although it was my mother who was my mentor. My father, in a very short span of time, not only became popular with students but also gained enormous respect among his colleagues and seniors for his brilliant academic insights and lateral knowledge. No function or seminar would be complete without Dr Indranath's incisive comments. Slowly, he became popular in the social circles too. My mother was happy for my father but remained in the background. He was only 30 years then, one of the youngest PhD scholars of the University. He would often go and attend seminars all over the country.
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