Love at first sight
Rati, after completing the admission formalities, was leaving the college when he saw two girls approaching from the front. One girl, who matched his height, seemed to be familiar to him. As he recalled, she had been in a different batch but with the same faculty during his schooling. As they crossed paths, his gaze drifted to her toes and polished nails. He looked at her face and then back at her toes but could not decide which seemed more radiant. Upon reaching the college gate and looking back at the admission counter, he could easily see her clearly, but he did not know she was going to change his life forever, for better or worse.
All seniors had gathered in Rati’s classroom for ragging and started asking girls and boys to come to the center and fulfill their requests. The seniors called on one guy, Rakesh, who looked well-built, simple but hesitant to speak. When asked about his family, he gave broken answers. When asked about his inspiration, he named his grandfather, who was a headmaster in the same school where Rati’s father completed his schooling. When he reached his seat, Rati greeted him and told him about his father completing his education from the same school as his grandfather. They were bonding over this discussion when the seniors called the girl from first day next. She introduces her as Riya and in her introduction, she mentioned the name of her father, who was the biggest businessman in the city.
One of the seniors, seeing this as an opportunity, started teasing her and, as part of the act, asked her to propose to him, she began to feel uncomfortable and refused to do so. However, he took it as a blow to his ego and insisted that they wouldn’t leave until she proposed to him. Rati, observing this from a short distance away, spoke up loudly, ‘Next ko bulao, wo propose nahi karegi.’ All the seniors turned to look at him and asked him to come to the center. They began hurling abuses at Rati and demanded that he introduce himself, which Rati refused to do. With each passing minute, the situation grew more tense. She stood nearby, the seniors repeatedly asked Rati to introduce himself, but he continued to refuse. Meanwhile, Rakesh had approached them. It was then that Rati finally introduced himself and mentioned his father’s name. The entire class fell silent upon hearing Rati’s father’s name, and worry was evident on every senior’s face. Rakesh inquired, ‘Are you his son?’ Rati nodded. Rakesh had heard about Rati’s father from his grandfather, who was once his favorite student.
The whole class was silent, and the seniors had no clue what to do next upon learning about Rati’s family . It was then that a faculty member knocked on the door for the next class, prompting all the seniors to leave the classroom. There was a story circulating around the college about Rati’s father, who had also studied at the same institution. Legend had it that once, a senior had misbehaved with Rati’s father during ragging. Within an hour of the incident, people from Rati’s village arrived at the college in trucks and tractors, breaking down the walls and gates, and thrashing all the seniors involved. Starting with college politics, his father had gone on to become the biggest politician in that constituency. However, he eventually met a mysterious death when Rati was only ten years old. He left behind Rati, Rati’s mother Sharda, and his grandfather.
Vanvaas ke Din
Shiv was the only gold medalist faculty member of Mathematics at Rati’s college. He was on examination duty that day in Rati’s room. Rati was his favorite student because when Shiv sir was new to the college, students, not realizing the depth of his knowledge, used to make fun of him. On one such occasion, Rati took matters into his own hands and warned them to respect Shiv sir or face consequences. Fearing what Rati might do next, the students started behaving respectfully towards Shiv Sir. Rati’s father’s business spanned across various sectors, and all sorts of individuals were associated with him in the past, with no one daring to risk going against him. After the exam, Rati and Rakesh exited the examination hall. Rati asked Rakesh, ‘How much will you score?’ Rakesh replied, ‘4 out of 5, and you?’ Rati responded, ‘A perfect 5 out of 5.
Āage kya soche hain? Abb bas ek saal hai,” Rakesh asks Rati.
“Patliputra chalenge Masters ke competition ke tayyari ke liye,” Rati replied.
“Thik hai. Institute kaun sa jana hai?” Rakesh inquired.
“Pata kar liye hai,” Rati responded.
“Fees kitna lagega?” Rakesh asked.
“25000. 12500 aapka, 12500 mera. Intezaam kar lijiyega mera bhi, job lagega toh de denge,” Rati assured.
“One week later, Rati and Rakesh left for Patliputra.”
Background: Following the mysterious death of Rati’s father, all of his assets were illegally captured by one of his close associates. He was left with only a few paternal assets, which his grandfather took care of, while his mother worked part-time to earn extra money. Consequently, Rati never burdened her with additional expenses. At least this is what everyone knew.
Rakesh, the silent guy, had an even more troubled family background. He hailed from a city notorious for its high crime rates, where people hesitated to venture out after sunset. Every family in the area owned firearms, primarily for recreational purposes and self-defense. Rakesh’s father was also in trouble for engaging in illegal activities. Despite being the son of a headmaster, Rakesh’s father left off the right path and became entangled in such illicit activities.
Carrying the Dead
Both Rati and Rakesh were carrying the burden of the past and never wanted to let it come between their aspirations. For a week, they stayed with one of Rakesh’s relatives but found it difficult to find accommodation from them. They could not hide their background details before requesting accommodation, as it might have been disclosed during police verification. Whenever Rakesh mentioned his native city’s name, people would refuse to provide them with accommodation. Additionally, Rati was not comfortable sharing his details, as it might have led to other complications due to his father’s name and background.
After a lot of hardship, they found a flat to stay in. Looking at the building, it seemed that any earthquake on a high Richter scale would have collapsed it. Most of the people in the building were daily wage workers. As for assets, Rati had one bag of books, one bag of clothes, one small statue of Lord Shiva, and a gas stove for making tea. Rakesh was carrying one additional asset: his mobile phone.
A normal day for Rati started with a cup of tea at 8 AM and ended with non-stop studying until 12 AM. The only time Rati and Rakesh used to meet was during tea breaks or while going to classes. Rati was putting all he had into preparing for the competition in the next couple of months. On the other hand, Rakesh used to listen to songs on his phone continuously and mysteriously disappeared every evening for a couple of hours.
Few months passed, and Rakesh went to his hometown. Upon his return, they were having tea when Rakesh asked Rati:
Rakesh: “Aapke dost ki shadi ho rhi kya?”
Rati: “Kaun se dost ki?”
Rakesh: “Fresher party waali ki,Riya?” with a teasing smile.
Rati was unaware that his friend was getting married, as they had not talked since he had come to Patliputra. After waiting the whole day, Rati asked Rakesh for his mobile. From his purse, he took out a paper on which her mobile number was written. He dialed her number.
Riya: “Hello!”
Rati: “Hi, it’s Rati. Happy Birthday. Kaisi ho?”
Riya: “Thank you!” (Happy voice). “Thik hu..tum kaise ho?”
Rati: “Mai bhi thik hu.”
Riya: “Aur batao, padhai kaisi chal rahi hai? Tumhara dost college me dikha tha? Tum nahi aaye?”
Rati: “Ha, mai nahi aaya tha..Aaunga Diwali pe.”
They both went silent for at least ten seconds when Rati asked, “Shadi kar rahi ho kya?”
Riya: “Tumhe kaise pataa?”
Rakesh: “College me shabko pataa hai.”
Riya: “Ha, baat ho rahi hai ladke walon se, maybe next year tak ho jaayegi.”
Rati couldn’t think of what to say next, wished her best of luck, and hung up the phone.
In the new coaching institution, whenever Rati asked any doubts, the faculties would dismiss them, claiming they wouldn’t be asked in the examination. Months passed this way, and even after spending 10-15 hours studying on many days, he couldn’t grasp the syllabus, and his doubts continued to mount. Rati began to feel that staying at the institute with the indifferent attitude of the faculties wasn’t helping him; instead, it was wasting his time. He believed that a good faculty member like Shiva could easily resolve his doubts. Therefore, he made the decision to return to his hometown.
Rakesh returned from his usual wandering in the evening. Rati said, “Rakesh, aapse baat karni hai.”
Rakesh replied, “Ha bhai, batayiye.”
Rati said, “Rakesh, hum wapas ja rhe.”
Rakesh was shocked, wondering if something had happened in Rati’s family or if it was because she was getting married that he couldn’t stay. He controlled his thoughts and asked, “Why? What happened?”
Rati explained the situation at the institute and how it was not conducive to their preparation. Rakesh, until now, had not sensed the seriousness of the competition and was unaware of these challenges. He tried to convince Rati that they had come here with high hopes and could not leave in between. They had both paid the entire fee for the institute, which they would not get back.
Rati “Nahi ab rukne se time waste hoga, aap bhi chaliye”.
Rakesh seemed emotional but had not thought it through and remained silent for half an hour. They both had tears in their eyes, as they had visited Patliputra with high hopes. Rati had tears because of the guilt of leaving Rakesh, as they had been together in all their decisions since the initial days. Rakesh had tears because he had always blindly trusted Rati’s words, and this time he was not sure if he should follow himself or Rati.
It was 1 AM. Hours had passed without talking. They both were silently sitting in Rati’s room when they heard cries of a few women from the building roof. The cries were severe, indicating that something bad had happened. They both rushed to the rooftop. The landlord was lying on the ground, and the women of his household were crying beside him. It was dark all around due to heavy rain the day before. The medical personnel had declared the landlord as unresponsive or dead. There was confusion all around, with no one sure if he was really unresponsive or dead. Some suggested he had drunk heavily, and this was his regular routine. Rati approached the landlady and asked, “How long has he been unconscious?” She answered that it had been at least an hour. Seeing the way he lay on the ground, motionless, Rati sensed that he was no longer alive. There weren’t many male members around, and those present showed no interest in helping. The landlady asked Rati and Rakesh to take them to the hospital, as her daughter and son-in-law were on their way to a nearby hospital.
Her eyes were filled with expectation as she looked at Rati and Rakesh. They were on the rooftop of the fourth floor, and they had to take the stairs to bring the landlord’s body downstairs. Rati and Rakesh lifted the landlord’s body by both hands and started descending the stairs. The body felt heavier, as if someone had added weight to it. Rati and Rakesh struggled to climb down the narrow stairs, which were so slim that it was almost impossible for three people to climb at a time. The weight of the body and the challenge of bringing him down consumed all the thoughts Rati and Rakesh had about their future. After overcoming numerous challenges, they finally reached the ground floor, where a tenant was waiting with his vehicle. They placed the body in the vehicle, and Rakesh accompanied it. Rati informed Rakesh that he would leave for his hometown early in the morning.
It was 2 AM. Rati took a bath, as it was a ritual in many places that if you touch a dead body, you don’t enter home without having a bath. Although still unsure of the status of the landlord, Rati completed these formalities, packed his bags, and left for his hometown. He couldn’t meet Rakesh, who was still at the hospital.
Love Blossoms
Shiva was conducting doubt classes, intermittently asking everyone formulas and computations. During one such question, Rati replied, and two people looked at him with happiness: Shiva and Riya. Rati had been absent from college for the last month and a half. After the classes concluded, only two people remained: Rati and Riya. Rati approached her chair. Riya pretended to ignore his presence, but when he addressed her, she looked at him in surprise. Coincidentally, she was wearing a western dress, unlike what Rati was accustomed to seeing her in. Color of her cleavage was giving competition to milk. He never thought she would look so pretty in this attire too. He took a seat beside her and asked, “How are the classes going?” She was answering his query when he suddenly asked her, “When is the wedding?” She replied, “It’s not happening right now.” Her expression conveyed that she wasn’t going anywhere. She wanted him to complete his exams, establish his career, and take her with him. The future seemed distant, but her expression loudly conveyed that she wanted to be with him.
Rati understood her feelings but had no immediate answer as he had just returned after leaving the institute and was uncertain about his next steps himself. But three people were always confident in Rati’s academic abilities. Shiva, his faculty, recognized Rati’s mathematical capabilities early on. Shiva, despite being a gold medalist himself, Rati consistently outperformed him in computations and problem-solving. Rakesh, his unwavering supporter, solely relied on Rati’s notes for all exams and consistently achieved high marks, even in challenging subjects. And then there was Riya—was it love at first sight for her too? Had she also noticed him on the admission day? Had she silently observed him over the past two years, waiting for him to express his feelings for her?
Without openly acknowledging their feelings, Rati and Riya began spending more time together after classes. People on campus were surprised to see Rati’s newfound closeness with Riya, as he had previously been seen mostly with Rakesh or other friends during leisure time. Soon, a new gossip began circulating on campus, suggesting that Rati’s growing closeness with Riya had led to an argument with Rakesh, and they were no longer on speaking terms.
Breaking the Bad
Riya’s and Rati’s closeness was increasing day by day. Rati was stepping outside of his shell and had never been seen so relaxed and open in the campus before. They would spend hours together in the college campus after classes, becoming increasingly uninhibited even in the presence of faculty members.
It was the final day of the semester. Rati had picked up Riya on the way from home to college, and they arrived at college together. Juniors, seniors, and faculty members were all present. Undisturbed by the attention they received, Rati parked his bike, which he had borrowed from a friend, in the parking lot. All eyes were on Rati and Riya as they walked together. Riya placed her hand on Rati’s shoulder and wished him luck for the exams, and as she was about to leave someone snapped a picture of them on his phone. Rati noticed the person taking the photo. He was new to the college and unfamiliar with both Rati and Riya. While Rati didn’t mind being clicked , he became furious when he felt that Riya was also in the picture. He asked Riya to go ahead to the girls’ waiting room and approached the guy, demanding to see his phone. The guy responded aggressively, threatening Rati. However, Rati remained calm and silently insisted that the guy hand over his phone. Seeing that his aggression was having no effect on Rati, the guy began to panic. Suddenly, one of his friends whispered something in his ear. He was leaning against his bike when he abruptly stood up and was about to give his phone to Rati when someone tapped Rati on the shoulder. Rati turned around and, filled with happiness, hugged the person—it was Rakesh.
Rati -” Kab aaye Patliputra se?”
Rakesh- “Aaj subah subah aaye. Mera project inetrview kal hai”.
Rati -” Aur preparation kaisa chal raha waha”?
Rakesh – ” Hum bhi chor ke chale aaye hain?
Rati asked surprisingly “Kyu?”
Rakesh “Mann nahi lag raha tha. Ab jo karenge yahi krenege”.
Rati -“Smiling !! Chaliye samosa khilate hain”.
Meeting Rakesh, Rati forgot about the conversation with the guy who had taken their picture. One month later, Rati’s maternal grandfather passed away, and there was a community gathering to commemorate his life. Rati and Rakesh were helping with the food arrangements when he spotted the guy who had taken his picture that day in college.
Rati-“Aaj to maarenge saaley ko”
Rakesh -“Guest hai aapka”
Rati – “Mera guest nahi hai, mere mama ka hai”.
Rakesh -“Ferr bhi”.
Rati – ” Aur waisey bhi ghar ke campus tak guest hai, uske bahar ka mujhe nahi pata”.
One month later, as they arrived at college, Rati was making his way to his classroom when he noticed that guy standing nearby with his friends. The signs of a recent serious thrashing were still visible on his face. Upon seeing Rati, all of them quickly dispersed from the area near Rati’s class.
Result Day
Few months passed, and the final semester exams concluded. After giving entrance exams for Masters, Rakesh had moved back to his hometown. Riya had to continue her studies locally as her father couldn’t allow her to study far from home. It was the day of the results. Rati first went to the temple and then headed to a nearby cyber café. After initial network hiccups, he managed to access the webpage for the All India results. He found his roll code in the merit list, but his heart sank as he couldn’t find Rakesh’s roll number. With each passing minute, his heart grew heavier with worry. Despite spending a good amount of time searching the merit list, Rati couldn’t find Rakesh’s name. With a heavy heart, he dialed Rakesh’s number. Rakesh answered the call.
Rati : “Bhai result aa gaya hai”.
Rakesh without much expectations ” Accha, kya raha”.
Rati ” Bhai mera aa gaya hai list mey”.
They both become silent. Rakesh to complete formality asks “Mera check kiye ?” as if he was not expecting himself to clear the competition.
Rati on the other hand started thinking how he will have to spend the next years without Rakesh, started getting emotional tells “Aapka nahi hai bhai”. Almost with tears in his eyes he tells Rakesh “Kyu nahi aaye wapas jab hum laut k aaye, sath mey hum prepare krte to dono ka ho jata”.
Rakesh “Koi baat nahi. Aap jaayiye aur yaha jaisey hi aage badhiye. “.
Rati “Aur aap?”
Rakesh “Humko waisey bhi aage nahi parhna tha. Hum government exam ka preparation shuru kiye hain. 2 month mey exam hai”. Rati gathered himself, reassured by Rakesh’s clear-headed approach to his career.
In the following days, the results of multiple entrance examinations were announced, and Rati passed almost all the exams he had taken. However, he had set his mind on studying at Banaras Holy University, where his father had studied—a place where the seeds of their lives had been sown. While his mother was satisfied with Rati’s results, she couldn’t help but worry about the path Rati was following, one that mirrored that of his father’s.
Legacy Uncovered – I loved you 300
Room number 300 held a special significance for Rati. He had specifically requested this room when he first enrolled in college, and his merit-based admission secured it for him. This room had once been occupied by Rati’s father twenty-one years ago. Rati’s childhood had been devoid of his father’s presence due to the latter’s involvement in social and political circles, and his sudden demise finally distanced them. Rati sought solace in following his father’s footsteps, hoping to feel closer to him.
Rati quickly made a name for himself on campus and became a favorite among everyone due to his amiable nature. However, a new challenge emerged in his life. Riya’s mother intercepted their conversations and sensed a deeper connection between Rati and Riya. Concerned about the societal implications of their differing castes, she restricted their interactions, fearing a tarnish on the family’s reputation.
Struggling to adapt to his new surroundings, longing for Rakesh who had disappeared, and yearning to talk to Riya, Rati’s mental state deteriorated rapidly. He lost focus on his studies, stopped eating, and ceased communication with his mother. Days passed, and Rati didn’t attend any classes. Concerned, a lady faculty member, who regarded Rati as her own son, instructed the peon to investigate. Tears welled up in her eyes upon seeing Rati’s father’s name and city in the records. Recalling their shared history at university in the past, she instructed the peon to visit Rati’s room and then meet her at her university-provided flat.
When the peon reached Rati’s room, it was locked from the inside, and newspapers from the past two days lay untouched. After persistent knocking, Rati finally opened the door. The peon inquired about his whereabouts over the past few days, and Rati realized he had been asleep for two days. The peon informed him of the lady faculty’s invitation for dinner that evening and of his mother’s numerous missed calls, prompting Rati to call her back.
Rati spent hours cleaning his room and taking a bath before attending the faculty dinner. As he entered the central hall, he was surprised to see a framed picture of his parents alongside the lady faculty and her husband on the wall. The lady faculty warmly welcomed him and explained how she had learned of his situation and decided to extend her support. Also she mentioned sharing same batch as Rati’s father years ago. Over dinner, she shared anecdotes from their shared past, and she gifted him a shirt as a token of care.
The presence of the lady faculty provided Rati with a sense of home amid his struggles. With her support, he began to emerge from his shadows, eventually excelling in his first-year examinations. However, just as Rati began to settle down , he received a devastating phone call from his grandfather informing him of his mother’s passing.
In his darkest moment, Rati found himself comforted by the support of those who cared for him, but the loss of his mother left him shattered and uncertain of what lay ahead.
Promise Broken
As Rati embarked on his journey with Balbir( a distant relative), a tense air enveloped them, and silence prevailed among the men accompanying them. Only few were aware that, following Rati’s father’s demise, Balbir had been shouldering the responsibility of managing his leftover business affairs. Rati’s father had left behind a diverse portfolio of businesses both leagal and illegal, and upon his passing, some speculated that his partner had orchestrated his demise to usurp control. Despite this, Balbir discreetly continued to oversee these ventures, reporting to Rati’s grandfather, who waited for the moment ,Rati to assume control.
Throughout the subsequent twelve days of rituals, Rati remained silent , his thoughts veiled behind a facade of grief. On his departure the following day, he exchanged few words with his grandfather, Balbir, and the other men present. He was cognizant of the weighty expectations resting upon him, both in terms of his familial responsibilities and his future role in the business endeavors left behind by his father. But it was his mother who kept him away from it as she did not want the shadows of his husbands past that took his life to lay upon her son.
Back at college, Rati grappled with the aftermath of his mother’s passing, attempting to navigate the void left by her absence. He recalled her plea after his father’s death, asking him to stay away from his father’s path. He had promised her that he would create his own path , untainted by the shadows of his father’s legacy.
Haunted by sleepless nights and the stark reality of solitude, Rati found himself grappling with overwhelming despair. Without his mother’s comforting presence to lean on, he felt adrift in a sea of uncertainty. As the clock struck 11 PM, he reached for his phone, desperate for connecting to Riya. His repeated calls went unanswered, prompting an urge into desperation. In a desperate bid for solace, he resorted to self-harm, the physical pain serving as a grim distraction from his emotional anguish.
Throughout the long night, Rati continued his attempts to reach out to Riya, the persistent ring of the unanswered phone increasing his sense of isolation. As the hours passed on, his desperation mounted, yet his resolve remained unchanged. Despite dialing the number 300 times, his efforts were met with silence.
As dawn broke, Rati dialed another number, with a hope of getting over the darkness surrounding him. This time, someone answered on the other end, offering him a little sense of relief .
Rati : “Kaisey hain bhai?”
Rakesh : “Acche hain , app kaisey hain?’
Rati :” Yaad aa gayi humse poochne ki, ki kaisey hain?. Kaha thay itne din”.
Rakesh : Silence
Rati :”Khair chhoro , kya kr rhe aajkal?”
Rakesh :” Government job mey selection ho gaya hai. Joining ka wait kr rhe”.
Rati : “Congratulations. Chalo achcha hai. Hum dono mey kisi ney to wo kiya jo chahta tha”.
Rakesh :”Kya matlab? ” . He seemed worried.
Rati : “Kuch nahi”.
Rakesh : ” Ma kaisi hain?”
Rati : Ab nahi rahi.
Rakesh : After minutes of silence. Maaf kijiyega bhai. Agal bagal k log jabardasti bandook k bal pe zameen chhinney ki koshis kr rhe thay. Mera rhna jaruri tha. Dadaji ka umra ho gaya aur papa akele par gaye thay. Har roj k ladai jhagdey itne thay pooch hi nahi paya aapse ki kaisey hain itne din”.
Rati : Koi baat nahi. Ab shab thek hai?
Rakesh : Ha , humne bhi unhi ke tarikee se jawab diya, tabse shant hain.
Rakesh : Riya kaisi hai ?
Rati : Baat nahi ho rahi.
Rakesh : Kitne din se ?
Rati : Saal bhar honay ko hai.
Rakesh : Shadi ho gayi uski?
Rati : Nahi. Doston se pata kiya tha. Saher ke hi college mey next admission karwaya hai.
Rakesh: Silence. Aap jaha gaye hain waha aage badhiye. Iss shab pe dhyan baad mey lagayiyega.
Rati : Silence.
Rakesh : Silence. Thek hai bhai ferr khayal rakhiye, rakhte hain.
Rati : Silence. College chhor rhe hain.
Rakesh : Socked. College chhor rhe hain kya matlab?
Rati : Aage ye shab nahi karna hai.
Rakesh : Ferr kya karna hai?
Rati : Jo Papa kr rhe thay.
Rakesh : Kya jo Papa kr rhe thay?
Rati : Shabkuch.
As Rakesh grappled with mounting panic, the weight of rumors surrounding Rati’s father’s involvement in both legal and illegal activities bore down upon him. Desperate to shift the focus, he attempted to reassure Rati, reminding him of the promise he had made to his mother to steer clear of his father’s footsteps.
Rati : Ma ko jo bolay thay ab uske sath hi chala gaya. Ab baap ka beta bann ne ka time hai.
After Rati’s mother, only Rakesh understood the gravity of the situation, realizing that if Rati decided to take drastic action, no one could prevent him from reaching its extreme. With this shared understanding, they ended the call.
It’s midnight, and many workers are still laboring away in a large manufacturing factory. Balbir sits outside lost in his thoughts when he notices a figure approaching with a bag slung over his shoulder. As the figure draws closer, he touches Balbir’s feet respectfully. Balbir utters, “Vijayi Bhava” (meaning “may you be victorious”).
Balbir : “Ab aagey ?”.
Rati : “Shabko pata ho jana chahiye ki aagey kya hona hai. Politician, builders, businessmen, criminals shabko khabar honi chahiye ki Veer ka beta aa gaya hai”.
By then, hundreds of men who used to work in the factory had gathered, armed with weapons in hand. Upon seeing their Leader, they began firing into the air wildly, expressing the love and respect they held for his father, the affection they had harbored for years, awaiting their Leader’s return. His grandfather was also there to welcome his grandson. This was a warning of the violence and blood bath that loomed in the future.
Balbir : “Aur Riya?”
Rati :” Usko uthayenge uske ghar se. Aur dekhte hain uska baap jo bara builder banta hai, kaisey rokta hai”.
Disclaimer: This is a fictional story. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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