Surprises Of Laughter & Tears

It was a great surprise for Vishal, when he saw a co-passenger seated just beside him in the S-5 boogie of the Mumbai bound train. The time was eight am. The train was in full speed and was about to reach Pavanpur station in just ten minutes. Suddenly the train halted at a small station at Gauripur due to crossing. 

Vishal could not control his emotion and asked,

 “Hellow, Rajesh, how are you?"

Rajesh noticed somebody was calling him by name. He was surprised for a moment that at this place he was a stranger, who would call him by name?  Rajesh turned his head towards the man and replied, “Yes! I am Rajesh. I am sorry; I am unable to recognize you.” 

Rajesh did not know that the other passenger, who enquired him, was his classmate in Pavamana  college of arts and science, Pavanpur. It was their first meeting after a gap of five years. 

“Rajesh, do you remember about five years back we both were classmates in Pavanpur college.  After completing B.Sc., you left the place and did not meet me for a long period. I wonder how you are unable to recognize me.  I used to call you Raja and you used to call me Vish." 

Rajesh recollected the past and said, 

“Sorry, Vish, you have changed a lot. As a young, you had black curly hair and now after five years, you have become bald. I was just remembering you as a young, energetic, brilliant and handsome Vishal. Even after five years, we are young. I was confused and unable to recognize you for a couple of minutes. Please excuse me.”  

“Okay! Don’t try to confuse yourself. But I am not confused to recognize you. When I looked at you, I was one hundred percent sure that you are none other than Rajesh. I don’t find any major changes in your facial appearance except your gray hairs and some wrinkles here and there. Earlier you had good complexion, regularly shaving, wearing fashionable clothes. But now the beards have grown like a philosopher and hair grownup in a haphazard manner. I observed your worried face. What happened to you?  I don’t think I have changed a lot except baldness,” said Vishal. 

“Yes! Vish, meeting an old friend after a long time, I am feeling very much happy,” said Rajesh.

“Oliver Goldsmith rightly said ‘I love everything that’s old, old friends, old times, old manners, old books and old wines, " said Vishal.

“Vishal, I think this quote applies to senior citizens."

"Rajesh, what I mean to say is, just five years older when we last met. Now, I am 30 years old, and you may be of the same age."

"Yes! You are perfect at twisting the English language."

Both were laughing without caring what others may feel. 

"Rajesh, after completing MA in English with first class, I joined the same college as a lecturer, where I was student for five years. Please tell me about you from five years ago."

He wanted to reveal more about him.  But he could not as the train arrived at Pavanpur station and the stopping time was for just two minutes. Both got down at the platform.  There were few passengers here and there. 

"Rajesh, please be with me. You will be surprised to see a wonderful person."

  Vishal met a stranger on the platform asking for some information about Pavanpur. During this one-minute conversation of Vishal with a stranger, a lot of developments took place. Rajesh saw the young lady coming fast towards the bogie S-5 and looked at each other for a few seconds. When the young lady recognized Rajesh, she felt most uncomfortable and giddily lied on the bench just opposite bogie no. S 5.  Rajesh fled away very fast. Nobody noticed her pitiable condition.

Why did Rajesh flee away very fast? 

Has anything happened between Rajesh and Varsha?

Vishal was searching for Rajesh. He could not trace his friend Rajesh and saw the horrible condition of his wife Varsha lying on the bench.  He was shocked to see the situation. He gave water to her. After three minutes, Varsha recovered from the giddiness.

"Varsha, what happened to you? Why are you lying here?

"Vish, let us go home first and tell you in detail."

They reached home after twenty minutes.

Varsha asked Vishal, "How did Rajesh meet you?"

"Do you know him?"

"Yes! He is a criminal and duped a number of innocent girls."

Vishal said, "I don't think he is a criminal."

"By God's grace, I was saved from this crooked person. Three years back, my father Rambabu retired from the postal service. He got rupees ten lakhs as a retirement benefit. Rajesh was my neighbor working as an officer in Usha Kiran Bank. He developed a friendship with my father and met my parents.  He became very close to my family. In those days, I was searching for a job after graduation. Rajesh with his capacity as an officer of the bank helped me to get the job in one of the business enterprises financed by the bank. Rajesh convinced my parents to deposit money in his bank. My father deposited rupees five lakhs in fixed deposits for three years. Thereafter, he was successful in extending matrimonial relationship with me. Everybody's consent the marriage was fixed on auspicious day. When the marriage rituals were in progress, a police team arrived and arrested Rajesh on the basis of two crimes. He was already married. He issued a fixed deposit receipt without depositing the money in the bank. The complainants to the police were his wife Anita and the bank manager Ramanath. Rajesh was arrested and sent to jail. One day, he broke open the door with the help of jail staff and escaped to an unknown place.

Vishal was patiently hearing her story.

"You did not reveal this to me before our marriage."

"I wanted to tell everything. But you refused to hear about my past happenings."

"Varsha, forget the past and let us lead a happy life."

One day, there was news that Rajesh was arrested and lodged in the jail.

Life is a mixed bag of laughter and tears.