Day one
Every day has its worth for making of one’s life; today is very special to me for I have met you- my life. I am thinking why we didn’t meet earlier? Why God kept you hidden from me? It’s unfair. But my silly heart says ‘still it’s not too late.’ Thanks God then for showing me my life today.
I don’t know if it matters to you to see me: it means lot to me- you are the one I have been looking for.
You are wonderful as my silly heart puts it. You look really great with your hair- dense and smooth, skin- fair and soft, smile- strange and beautiful, voice- low, slow and sweet, and your shy-shy nature which make you a perfect girl.
Day two
I wonder if you ever feel that I am around. Know what- I am doing some silly things nowadays. Actually it started with my wretched watch which is old and wouldn’t tell me time properly. I was thinking of changing it, but it did me a trick- a million dollar trick. With dark dial inside the glass, my old watch works like a mirror. While in class, I would adjust the angle by bending my hand and it would capture your image like a mirror. And, you know what I do- I would watch you so long as class continues. I am very sorry but I can’t help it.
Day three
You are becoming dearer with every passing day. But to my ill luck, some unknown forces have stopped me from playing that silly but a lovely game with my otherwise old watch. What devil must have entered the heads of our teachers that they divided our batch into two groups- that too from roll number 35 and onward as separate group. Now that we are in separate groups except of course in Chemistry practical and that I don’t have much time of seeing you, you are becoming more charming and beautiful.
I long to chat and laugh with you, but, I’m afraid any such move from my side may not upset you. The innermost part of my silly heart knows that you are someone very special to me. I would rather keep silence and watch you from the distance than to annoy you and lose you forever.
To be very frank, nowadays, I’m a worried boy. It’s because I see you very little and with great difficulty. And my silly heart tells me that you may, in course of time, hide from me altogether.
Day four
For a month or so I haven’t seen you much. But you came to my dreams quite often. In dream I’m a different boy- I told you that I love you. In real life, I’m reserved type and very self conscious- my mouth failed even to ask, “How are you?” I wonder if I’ll be able to tell you “I love you?”
Actually, I have written a letter and just waiting for a right moment to hand it over to you.
Day five
Today something in me urged me to meet you. With great difficulty I could manage to go to your hostel to meet you. I couldn’t think of anything to say nor did I have any bahana (excuse) of meeting you. I thought you will receive me well, just out of courtesy may be, and will give me little of your precious time. But your face was telling a different story.
“Yes” you said, “can I help you?”
“Is Meena there- will you call her, please?” I could say this much was a big relief for me. You know Meena is my first cousin. She is very fond of me. We are more of friends than brother and sister. She is just about a year older and is one class senior.
As you lost out of my sight into the corridor of hostel, my little silly heart was clueless, for the first time, about what I should have said.
“I’m so happy you come” Meena said as soon as she saw me. “Actually I was just about to go to your hostel to ask you to buy me a cup of tea… Got money?”
“Come along” I told her.
As we were strolling out of hostel campus towards the canteen, about half a kilometre away, she did all the talking and I was lost in thought. She looked up at my face once and smiled for herself. Goodness! I knew she read me again.
Day six
I was late for class today because I woke up late. I went to bed early, at eight, the last night and woke up at nine this morning. Thirteen hours! I was no less than Kumbakaran of Ramayana, in this modern day. I felt very angry on myself.
By the time I reached the college, I had already missed my Chemistry class. Later on, after Zoology class I was heading for library when Meena shouted at me “Obing, won’t you come with us to canteen?”
What a luck! You were with her and it was an opportunity of lifetime for me to getting myself into talking term with you. But when we were sitting in the canteen I was fumbling with words again- you must have noticed that. You were not talking either.
Meena broke the silence- remember what she said. “Obing, tell me-did you come to see me or Minnie yesterday?” She said and smiled. I could see you smiling too. I felt like fool and couldn’t say a word. “Just kidding, right” she said and roared into laughter. “What’s wrong with you guys- you are in same batch but sitting like strangers? Talk something.”
You were smiling. I too forced myself to smile but I hadn’t recovered from the shock yet. Thanks to Meena though, she somehow set us talking.
“You were late for Chemistry class today?” you said after sometime.
“Yes.” I nodded. I could see Meena observing us keenly.
“You can have my notes if you like.” you said.
“Thanks.” I said and took your notes.
Later on I told myself, getting late someday isn’t so bad after all.
Day seven
I miss you a lot. I don’t understand why such a long vacation. In school it is alright, but, I don’t think we need that long in college. There in college, I always longed for vacation. I thought I was going to have an interesting vacation this time around- both of us will be in Ziro. But no, you only want me to suffer, you preffered Guwahati to Ziro.
I have been to your granma this morning thinking you might have come. But before I enquired her about you she asked me when you are coming. I told her you are coming very soon. Why don’t you come to see you granma, at least. Moreover, Ziro is its pristine form: the greenery has covered the entire valley, you won’t find such an exotic beauty of nature- pleasant to eyes and solace for spirit, anywhere during the months of June, July and August.
Day eight
Minnie, you would think I am kidding, but it is true.
This afternoon I was sitting alone in park, lost in your thought, when a man in saffron robe stood beside me and said, “Why are you worrying about her? She is made for you.”
This old man was one of the so-called fortune-tellers roaming here and there in search of customer. You know they are seasonal visitors- nowadays men and women in saffron robe are frequent sight of the town.
I do not believe these fortune-tellers, but the man who was standing before me amazed me by reading my thought. I felt interested. I asked him if he could tell me more about our future. He nodded and asked me to put 25 Rupees, in the name of his guru, in a small box where a photo of his guru was pasted. He asked my name, jotted down few things on a piece of paper and looked at my face intently. Then he asked me your name and jotted down few things as well. “What a match!” he said. “You have very good future. You will have lot of kids…” He looked at the paper for sometime and continued, “However, you need to prevent yourselves from those envious eyes – envious eyes could spell doom to any relationship. Only if you believe me – I’ve got a ring, a divine ring, which can neutralize the ill effects of the envious eyes. This ring is a fruit of long meditation of my revered guru Baba Goodnathji Swamiji of
Would this ring have such a miraculous effect really sounded funny! I thought it was superstition. But my silly heart said, “May be this man is right. May be this is a scientific fact yet to be established.” I purchased the ring from him; I could not risk my love be ruined by someone’s envious eyes just to show that I am very modern.
Now I have the ring with me and I know this is really a wonderful thing – the sight of it gives me a feeling of relief.
Day nine
Today I went to Hilltop to visit one of my friends. He was not at home. Thinking nowhere to go, I climbed the stair that leads to Shiva temple. When I reached there, no one was there. It was so peaceful out there and the idol of Lord Shiva was looking so serene. Just then you came into my mind.
I don’t know how it happened; I was praying in my heart of hearts: “Lord, if my love for Minnie is true and if she can be happy with me let her become mine. But, if there is someone else who loves her more dearly and with whom she can be happier, then let her go to him. In that case, give me the courage to face the disappointment.”
Later on, I cursed myself for praying like this. I should have rather asked for you at any cost. I cannot live without you, but something within me feels Lord Shiva hears my prayer.
Day ten
Papa must have thought that I have become very obedient. He asked me to go to Guwahati to do a piece of work for him to which I agreed readily. It was such a good chance to meet you, how can I miss it.
The last afternoon, when I got into the bus to leave for Guwahati, it was one of my happiest moments in my life. But the journey seemed to be the longest I ever travelled, for I wanted to reach you quickly.
This morning, after a long journey, I was here to meet you. I threw my luggage into the room (Papa booked for me) in a hotel and followed my legs which took me straight to your house. On the way I was thinking happily- how happy you will be when you see me here, and how I would tell you how much I love you. At least, I shall be able to hand you the letter I wrote long back before this vacation. I knocked the door and your little sister, Munu, opened the door for me. She told me you left for Ziro, to see your granma, the last evening.
I was very disappointed. I tried hard to hide my disappointment from Munu. She is such a great speaker- she went on talking and kept me amused for quite sometime. Meanwhile, she delighted me by telling me that you spoke of me very often and, thus, I don’t seemed to be a stranger to her. May be, seeing the dejected look of mine, she intentionally told me a sweet lie to keep my heart. May be or may not be- I shall not give another thought on this.
Sadly, I’m staying here another two days before I go back to Ziro and see you.
Day eleven
Damn to my mind, which didn’t think of you for such a long time. One whole month- I was alive, but I didn’t remember you, not even once. See how I’m proved wrong! I thought I would never be able to spend a single day without thinking of you all my life.
Mama told me, I was boarding a bus for Ziro at Guwahati’s Inter State Bus Terminus when a powerful bomb explode and killed 20 odd people on the spot and 60 odd people severely injured who were rushed to hospitals. I’m one of few lucky survivors. I remained in coma for 30 days.
When I came to sense the last evening, I found my two legs unable to move. On my insistence one resident doctor hesitantly told me that 80 out of 100 my legs would be amputated.
According to the media reports, the investigation suggested that the blast was carried out by a coordinated effort of some militant outfits active in
God seems to take delight in the agony of a son and the helplessness of parents. Mama is crying all the time. Papa is doing whatever he can- he is always in touch with doctors. A little while ago I heard Papa telling Mama “He’ll be alright…if not here… I’ll take him to the best hospital anywhere in the world… I will…” I could not hold myself; I covered myself with a cloth and wept silently. Just then I felt something in my shirt pocket- it was the letter- the one I brought here to give you. I took it out, crumbled it with my left hand and quietly dropped into the waste bin underneath my bed.
