Short Story by RANJIT SINHA ROY, from: HYDERABAD, INDIA


It was late afternoon when Rajat got down from the train. Winter was just over, and there was little chill in the air. Sun slanted over the trees and long shadows made patterns on the platform. Small, yellow, dry leaves had started falling and moved here and there in the light breeze. Passengers who got down had already gone out and the station was almost empty. Next train was after two hours. There were few small shops outside the station. The town was about a mile away.

There was a tea stall on the platform. The stall keeper was idly sitting on a stool. A large aluminium kettle on the stove let out light steam through the spout. There was no other customer. Rajat asked for a cup of tea.

He stood in front of the counter while the stall keeper carefully washed the cup and served. Three villagers were sitting on a platform bench and two vagabonds sleeping in the shade. Faint sound of talks came from the Station Master’s office and occasionally clatters of the telegraph machine. One solitary crow on the platform shed crowed. There was no other sound, except murmur of tree leaves in the wind. It was a very small station and it was peaceful and quiet.

One could hardly imagine that the city was only four hours journey away. Rajat sipped tea. It was hot and had a peculiar taste. Rajat for long time became used to air travel and could never imagine that one day he would be sipping tea, standing in front of a small station stall. In office, tea would be served in his chamber, complete with tea bags and sugar cubes. Here the things were different. After few sips he thought the taste was not so bad. He felt refreshed. The crow flew down to the rail track, picked up something and went up on the shed again.

Rajat looked to left. Tracks went far, far away to the horizon and seemed to converge. They were shining in the afternoon sun, waiting for the next train. Away, in the out-signal cabin one man was leaning out through the window and looking at the station. Perhaps he was feeling lonely.

Rajat felt strange. He was born in a small town, had his education there. But for the past twenty-five years, since he got admission to the University, he was in the city and there he met Preeti.

Preeti. Rajat thought of those days. She was a student in the college where he joined as a junior lecturer. She was fair, tall, slim and the undeclared beauty queen of the college. She used to dress the latest trends without being vulgar. She had number of admirers, but knew how to prevent advances and same time is free with many. She was a good student too. Her father died when she was still in school. He left enough for the family of mother and daughter to live comfortably. She had no sibling and for that matter no known relative also. Mother and daughter lived alone.

Rajat, was the most handsome, not only amongst the lecturers, he was an object of envy to many students also. He was tall, well built and good at sports. He had the natural flair for teaching and popular with most of his students. He had seen Preeti and silently admired her, but never tried to be close. She was one of his students and nothing more.

But, no one knew how and when it happened. One day they were found going round the book fair, other day sipping coffee in a restaurant and still another day sitting silently on a bench by the river-side and watching the sun set. They were seen in cinema-hall, coffee house and art galleries. In six months they became inseparable except in the college.

Preeti’s friends started teasing her and Rajat’s colleagues asked many things indirectly. Then the examination for graduation was there and despite diversions Preeti did well. She scored high first class.

Then one day, hesitantly Rajat proposed. Preeti smiled and asked him to meet her mother. Mother agreed and Rajat’s parents were also pleased with Preeti. The marriage was a simple affair. But it did not matter. They were very happy.

They took a small apartment and called it ‘Nest’. After a week’s honeymoon to a seaside resort, Rajat started going to college. Preeti was busy arranging their ‘nest’. After a couple of months she took admission to the University Post-graduate class.

Days passed like whirlwind. They could not live without each other. Daytime, they were in the university and college and eagerly waited for the evening. Night was like a dream; there was so much to explore, to discover. Known things seemed unknown. There was so much in each other; they seemed not to know. There was pleasure in every inch of their body. Every corner appeared unknown, though discovered only the previous night. They were surprised to find so much passion in each other. Then they would be tired and fall asleep in each other's arms.

Day became night and again turned into day. Weeks passed by, so also months. Even two years after, they remained new to each other. Preeti completed her post-graduation and Rajat became a Senior Lecturer. Still they could not think of life without the other. Living otherwise was unimaginable. Then the change came.

Rajat applied for and was selected to the post of a senior executive in an MNC. This was unexpected and both were happy. They moved to a larger apartment and got things they could not afford earlier. Life became more comfortable. But Preeti felt slightly uneasy – life was not what it was earlier.

With hard labour, sincerity, honesty and tact, Rajat gained confidence of the management. He got promotion within two years, which was uncommon in the organization. Slowly he became totally absorbed in his work. He did not look back, never went to the town of his birth and younger days. He was all the time thinking of office work, which Preeti disliked most and the drift started.

Rajat spent more hours in office and was little unmindful when in house. Some days he would carry home, office files and papers and spent late hours on them. Preeti will go to bed alone and suddenly waking up will find Rajat still on the work table. Then she would call him to bed. He would come and go to sleep immediately after. Communication became rare.

Initially Preeti thought, there might be another woman. But later she found that was not true. Rajat in his new job had become workaholic and for him there was no urge for other woman.

Once she asked – Why was he putting so much effort on his work? Rajat said, almost all his colleagues were professionally qualified. They had specialized qualifications either in finance or management or information systems or marketing. He was perhaps one of the very few, with only a postgraduate in science qualification. It was essential for him to put extra efforts to compete with others or even to stay in the same position.

Preeti understood and asked him to leave the job and go back to college as a lecturer, which would be more peaceful. They might earn less and miss certain comforts, but that would still be better. Rajat declined and Preeti did not insist further. She started feeling more and more lonely and spent more hours with her mother.

Then, only to spend time, she took admission to Teacher’s Training course and got qualified in two years. Rajat had drifted away more and the house for him became a place to take rest at night. He started going out on tour and Preeti spent lonely days. She did not tell anything to mother. She did not want to lose her pride. Then, suddenly one day her mother had a cardiac attack and she expired before any medical assistance could be arranged. Fortunately, Preeti was with her then and informed Rajat in office.

Rajat was very helpful then. He consoled Preeti in his own inimitable way. Took off from office for a few days and arranged everything from vacating the rented apartment to taking care of her earthly possessions. Rajat was with Preeti most of the time, trying to bring her back to her own self.

Preeti was depressed for few days. At the same time expecting Rajat would be same what he was before. But her hopes were shattered when he joined back office and was busy with work more than ever.

She was unable to stand it any further. A couple of months later, when he returned home after a week’s tour, Rajat found a small note on the writing table. Preeti had left on her own, and Rajat must not try to find her.

He was angry for couple of days. Then tried to locate her. When failed, he abandoned the idea, thinking that she would return by herself. Two years passed and she did not return.

Rajat despite his stubbornness started feeling lonely. When Preeti was with him, he was busy in office. Now slowly he started losing interest in work. Why – for whom and for what should I put all my efforts? - An empty silent house waited for him. Her things were everywhere; only she was not there. He became absent minded. Others in office noticed the change. First they wondered, and then gradually started ignoring him. One day the Chairman of the company called him to office and gave him a little advice. Next day Rajat resigned giving some vague reason.

For two months he was sitting idle in the house. He had enough savings and was not worried. He tried to read books or watch TV, but could not concentrate on anything. Sometime he would walk aimlessly or sit alone on a park bench. Then one day he met Sangeeta, the only close friend Preeti had in college. Sangeeta told that Preeti was in a small town about two hundred miles from the city. She was working in a girl's school. She made Sangeeta promise not to tell anything to Rajat. But now upon seeing him, she could not help it. She gave the address, and no – Preeti cannot be contacted over telephone.

That was last week. Now in the late afternoon Rajat was here, standing in front of a small railway station tea stall.

He came out and took the only taxi available. The sun was about to set when he reached the staff quarter. Little nervously he pressed the doorbell.

Preeti opened the door. If she was surprised, she did not show it. For few moments they silently looked at each other. Then she stepped one side and asked him to come in. He put the handbag down and without asking anything, slumped on a sofa. Suddenly he felt very tired, as though he had walked miles and miles, without sleep or rest. He felt exhausted and shut his eyes.

Preeti watched him silently for sometime. She had a strange tender feeling, then asked
"Are you all right?"

"I am. Only feeling a bit tired."

As though she understood, she went to kitchen and few minutes after, returned with two cups of tea. She offered one to Rajat and sat opposite. Now Rajat looked fully at her. She was the same old beautiful Preeti. Only she looked more mature, little full in body and slightly tired. Perhaps she was in the school whole day, and taking rest when he came. Her hair was unbound and few fell over her left eye and cheek. She pushed them aside and smiled. Rajat felt little shy and embarrassed, but smiled back. They sat silently, as though there was nothing to ask or to know. When it was almost dark, Preeti got up and switched on the light, showed him the washroom and asked to freshen up. Meantime, she said, would prepare something for dinner. As though she knew the answer and did not ask, if he would stay for the night.

Rajat had a good warm bath. He felt as though he cleaned himself of all the anguish, frustrations and miseries of the past two years. He was feeling very fresh, changed to clean dress and sat on a reclining cane chair on the patio.

Preeti came out once and saw him silently looking at the moon behind the coconut leaves and went back without telling anything. She did not want to disturb.

After about half an hour she came freshened, changing the dress and sat on the chair beside. In moonlight she looked very soft, beautiful and unreal. She seemed not to belong to this earth. She looked so pure and serene in the blue and white dress. Despite passing of years she looked younger. Rajat wondered, how could he spend two long years without her.

They sat looking at the yellow moon behind the coconut leaves and then Rajat hesitantly asked,
"Were you all alone these years?"

For few moments Preeti was silent, then slowly she said,

"To be very honest, there were some approaches. But I had no feelings. Moreover, most men want only one thing and I hate those people. How about you?

"You know me well. I had nothing in my mind except work. Sometime, I shall be inclined towards an attractive woman, shall proceed a few steps and then, I do not know how or why, invisible you would come in-between and that would be the end of the affair. Preeti, I am trying to be honest."

They talked a few things. Mostly Rajat would ask about the place, the school, the people, the students and her colleagues. While talking about the school, Preeti was very enthusiastic. She loved her work. But in-between she paused and said
"Rajat, I like my work, but not madly involved to neglect everything else."

Rajat knew what she meant and was silent.

After sometime, Preeti asked
"Are you going back tomorrow, Rajat?" She looked anxious

"Would you mind if I stay few days more?"

Preeti looked relieved and happy, but still asked
"What about your office? Can you stay away? Would you not feel bad?"

Rajat did not respond immediately. He turned and looked fully at her. His heart ached. Then slowly he said,
"Preeti, I have resigned the job two months back. I could not stand it anymore. Life became meaningless without you and I realized it very late. Preeti I want to be with you. Would you please accept me?"

She was silent and Rajat found teardrops glistening in the moonlight rolling down her cheeks. He held her hand and asked,
"Preeti why are you crying? Do you not want me to stay?"

Preeti put her head on his shoulder and muttered,
"Rajat, please don’t go away. I waited two long years for this moment, please do not spoil it. A position of Science Lecturer in our local college has recently fallen vacant. They will be glad to have you with them. Our School Secretary is also the Chairman of the College Managing Board. If you have no objection, I can put a word to him tomorrow."

Rajat silently looked at the moon for few moments. Then put his hand around her shoulder and slowly he said,
"Preeti, You do not know how much I love you."

The moon had raised further up. Now free in the cloudless sky, it was no longer imprisoned behind the coconut leaves. One cuckoo was cooing somewhere, fragrance of night-queen floated by, tree leaves trembled in the light breeze.

Holding hands, Rajat and Preeti sat silently in the moonlight.