AN UNEXPECTED LINK

Once in a spring season I was sitting in a park named Gourishankar situated at Cuttack. Pairs of lovers were also present there. They were college students as they seemed. Still I asked them, " Hellio, chaps would I ask some questions to you? " The reply came, " Yes why not. You are an aged person like our father. You may ask any question. We are ready to answer all your queries. Ask whatever you can. 

You are ever welcome Sir. Please proceed. "

After hearing such type of delicate and soothing answer my joy knew no bounds. Because, nowadays in the twenty first century such type of young boys and girls are rarely available. Moreover their modest and humble behaviour amazed me. I asked, " Are you students? " " Yes " " In which college do you read in?" " We are both 3rd year students of Ravenshaw University." Then I enquired, " What are your names? ' The boy student replied, " "Harjeet " The girl student replied, " " "Geeta ". Where are your native place? " Boy replied, " Both of us belong to Kujang. My father was established here since the year 2000. He is a Gramya Bank Officer. Our home is situated at Biju Pattanaik Square " The girl student also smilingly replied with juvenile spirit, " My father is a big village farmer. By virtue of his hard labour and strong will power he purchased a land here and build a house at CDA sector-9. We like each other and want to set up our future life with humanitarian ideal dear uncle ".

Although I asked several questions, they were never feeling bore. Moreover they wanted to know something more, the real story of my past evergreen life during my younghood. For sometime I became silently thoughtful. But the patience was lacking on the part of two bosom friends. Keeping in view their desperate mood I started telling my past story by collecting from my memory archives.

During 1960s I was a young student like you and reading in the same college where you read now, Ravenshaw. At that time it wasn't a University. But simply a famous college of Odisha. I was a student of 3rd year B. A. My career was brilliant.There was a girl student of Ist year Science named Sumiran . She was also bearing a Ist class career. She was so beautiful that any young man might look at her face , he could be easily attracted towards her. One spring afternoon when our classes were over I was sitting on our college lawn. At the same time Sumiran came unexpectedly and aquired a seat beside me with a note book and a course book in her hand. As she was very well known to me and my student's career, she asked me, " Please never mind I would like to learn something from you." I was quite astonished at her benign approach and told, " What's the matter Miss ? Are you crazy? You are a Science and I am an Arts. What can I do for you? "

Sumiran convinced me, " The matter is that I face difficulty in our combined class due to Odia poem and prose. I don't understand the meaning clearly nevertheless our Lecturer teaches very well. Please help me brother . I have also brought books. You can make me understand the stanzas of classic poem "Shakuntala " I retorted," OK. But not now. If you don't mind try to come to my hostel room at the evening. I will teach you. " She complied to my suggestion and regularly plied to me as she was staying in nearby girl's hostel, since that day on.

I started coaching her daily except on holidays. Gradually an amicable relation developed between us. But there was nothing untoward incidence occured between she and I as I hailed from a reputed family which was strictly moralistic. Further I was taught by my parents that if character is lost everything is lost. However I sincerely coached the MIL( Odia ) to her at least for an hour daily. Consequently she secured 90% of marks in Intermediate exam. Nothwithstanding I was teaching her, there was no teacher-student relation rather a relation that revealed true unconditional friendship between us. We both were sharing our snacks with each other , we were also partaking in cultural programnes of college, we were also playing outdoor and indoor games together at our college play ground. At that time we were afraid of moving together in town and sitting together in any park or restaurant freely. Because the fear of street ruffians was dominating those places who sometimes dared to molest a girl especially when they were observing her with a young man. So only we are getting scope to exchange our emotional views in our college hostel and playground. During our career I have five times contested in annual sports as a result of which I had been awarded with many seals and prizes. Sumiran was also a good sportswoman. She had also secured prizes at the inter-college annual sport competition being a topper.

At that time our society was more conservative than now. A friendship between a young lad and a young lass was viewed seriously by the social dogmatic persons.But our family was an exceptional. Thanks to God that you are lucky enough nowadays having ample scope to chat and move together freely. There is no dogmatic restrictions on you. However let us come to the life story. Listen attentively to the remaining story. Then the cordial friendly relation spread throughout the town by the by. During Summer vacation Sumiran had been to her village situated at Chhotnagpur. She told her parents about me and my good moral character. God is always great. Her parents were liberal and not conservative. They appreciated our friendship .Eventually her parents paid a courtesy visit to Cuttack and stayed in her hostel room for a week under the permission of the hostel superintendent. They came to me and gossiped with me and her father embraced me as if I was his son affectionately.

Time moved forward. I passed B. A. final exam with distinction. I was preparing myself for Railway Service. Sumiran also passed with distinction with Zoology honours after my departure from Ravenshaw. By my good luck I got a Railway Job and was posted at Kharagpur Railway Station as a Station Master. However I was keeping contact with Sumiran regularly through land phone and letters as mobile phone was a dream for us during our time. Now you are very lucky to have the mobiles which are utmost helpful for keeping living contact with your friends. One day during 1970s I came to know that Miss Sumiran had joined at Nandankanan as an Assitant Director of the Zoo. I was extremely happy and sent her a appreciation letter after conveying cordial greetings over phone. She also reciprocated me.

There is a saying- What is lotted can't be blotted. Once unexpectedly Sumirans parents arrived at my Railway quarters with marriage proposal of Sumiran. They solicited me to take up the hands of Sumiran and to make her a life partner of mine. I was astonished and told them submissively, " Please go to my residence for consultation with my parents. If you want I will accompany you after taking leave from my duties. Otherwise I will give you my address for the purpose. " Then Sumiran 's parents suggested me to accompany with them to go to our house. I did so. Although the then society was very conservative wherein both of our family were aloof. So my parents also agreed with the marriage proposal put forth by Sumiran 's parents. Then date of betrothal ceremony was fixed. Our parents and elders attended the ceremony at Sumiran 's birthplace. The ceremony was impressive too. Afterwards the date of marriage was fixed and our wedding ceremony was completed by the by. Then fourth night ritual was performed and both of us were pushed into the room by our sisterinlaws as per Hindu rituals.

While we were sleeping on the palank I pondered over the past episodes. We were just friends to each other. But inwardly we were loving each other heartily without any immoral act and show.That I thanked Almighty God immensely for making us an idealistic couple in the Aryabartta. After a year we were blessed with a son. After four years we were proud of being the parents of a daughter. That much we were happy having a son and a daughter. Now Miss Sumiran and myself have become older enjoying a peaceful family life .Then Harjeet and Geeta asked, " Uncle would you please take us to your residence as we are very anxious to meet your betterhalf. " I retorted, " Why not OK. Please give me a lift on your bike. " Both the lovers exclaimed, " Thank you Mausa. Please sit. " I sat on the bike of Harjeet and Geeta was following us on her scooty. On the way again they asked me " What are your children doing now? " "They are now staying abroad. My son is a mechanical engineer in Canada and daughter is an Eye Specialist in UK. Both are married and they have a son and a daughter each. " I replied.

Again Geeta asked, " Are they coming India to see you? " I replied, " Yes positively. Every year they come and request me to take me with them. But I refuge. They assured me to come and stay here permanently with me after five years. I wait for the moment hopefully. I have deep rooted trust on my offsprings."

Meanwhile bikes have reached our house. Sumiran, my betterhalf, waiting at the entrance door to welcome as I informed her beforehand over my mobile phone. Both the lovers entered into our home and were entertained with a delicious dish of chicken curry and roti as a dinner. It was 8 PM. As they were progressive students I didn't think it proper to detain them for a longer time . So I was bound to bid good bye to them along with Sumiran. After saluting both of us, they started their vehicles and set off.        

        ***** The End******

[ This story is sheerly fictitious. So resemblance with any event is only a coincidence ]