Chitra
~ Bishnu Narayan Mahanand
She was a science student, and I was a student interested in Odia literature. One evening, while she was sitting on a bench in the TISS Mumbai campus, I said to her with a light smile, “This jasmine garland in your hair looks so beautiful. If I could bring the stars and the moon from the sky and put them in your hair, you would shine even brighter, like a fairy.”
She replied with a bit of anger, “You poets always show false dreams, say impossible things, and mislead the heart.”
Looking at her deeply, I asked, “Yesterday, you went to that Darshan (Visit pandals). Have you ever seen, heard, or read about such surgery in medical science? You know about reproduction. Do children take birth from the dirt of the body or Dalit from the feet?”
She became angry and said, “You are questioning my faith and belief, hurting my religious sentiments. Go, I won’t talk to you.” Saying this, she pushed my chest hard and walked away.
Even though I kept calling and messaging her for dinner, she didn’t pick up the calls or reply. She didn’t come to the dining hall either. Around 10 pm, I asked her friend in the library and got to know that she had thrown her phone away and was lying on her bed, chest down, with tears. At 10:30 pm, I sent her favourite burger and French fries from the Amul Parlour in campus through her friend. Her friend gave them to her, but in anger, she told her to just leave them on the table. Those things remained untouched. Crying bitterly, she fell asleep around midnight.
The next morning at 9, when it was time for class, I asked her friend about her. She said the food was still lying there, and even when she told her to come to class, she refused and stayed in bed.
The next day, when I called her for lunch, she didn't pick up the call, but she messaged saying she had already ordered something from Zomato. I thought she was still upset, so I simply said “Okay” and went to the dining hall to eat. My heart wasn’t feeling good, so I ate very little.
At 5:30 pm, while I was writing my research proposal, suddenly my phone rang. It was Chitra’s call. Wondering what had happened, I picked it up. She said, “Shall we eat outside today? Come in front of the library in 15 minutes. I’m already ready, just need to put on my shoes.”
I thought maybe she wanted to say something—perhaps apologise or talk about yesterday. But she hadn’t said sorry, nor mentioned anything about what had happened. Still, since she called suddenly, I went to in front of the library fifteen minutes later.
She was waiting in front of the hostel (which is in front of the library). She came straight to me, hugged me tightly, and said, “Sorry, Bibek, I misunderstood you. I regret my mistake. After much thinking and self-reflection, I’ve realised where I was wrong and how, behind it all lies a lot of exploitation. Thank you for making me see this.”
I smiled and said, “There’s nothing to be sorry about. The fact that you understood the truth is enough.”
With gratitude, she said, “Thank you, Bibek. You played a key role in helping me see right and wrong.”
As she suggested, we walked and chatted until we reached Chhote Nawab Restaurant in Chembur Naka. After dinner, she wanted to go to the beach. There, we talked and laughed so much that we didn’t realise it was already 11 pm.
In between, she suggested, “Next week, let’s visit the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial in Airoli.” I agreed, and in my mind I thought—perhaps she had seen the photos I posted on Instagram from there.
Late at night, we returned to campus. Since I lived outside campus, I dropped her off at the hostel before leaving.
The next morning at 8:30 AM, my phone rang again. It was Chitra. She asked me to come to class. My room was 10 minutes away from campus, and meals were at the dining hall inside campus since I had a DH membership. I told her I might be late, so she should eat and go to class. But she said, “Even if you’re late, I’ll wait. Let’s have breakfast together and then go to class.”
I hurried to get ready because I knew if I delayed, she would sulk. After eating together at DH, we went to class. I noticed she had taken off the locket with the photo that she always wore around her neck, and also removed the black sacred thread from her ankle.
Note: This is not a real story. If this small story is a coincidence with anyone, pls apologise to me. It has not been written to hurt anyone.