Book : Swikriti Patrika 6th Ed. Page : 26-28 Author : Arun Translation by: Arijita Chatterjee
Close To His Heart Arka comes back to work after a two-day vacation. The day feels full of fresh possibilities after the break. The first half of the day goes well enough; the shock comes during the lunch-break at the canteen. Sayak says, as he picks up a pakora from Arka’s plate, “So I’m finally getting married.” Arka knew that Sayak had already had his marriage registered quite a while ago. He also understood that the wedding would soon follow. So he simply asks, “When?” “Twenty-fifth Boishakh,” Sayak informs him. Had it been about anyone else, Arka would have joked, ‘Its Rabindra-Jayanti. Who gets married on Tagore’s birthday?” Of course, he knows that on some years, auspicious do fall on that day some years, but he’s never shied from making silly, illogical comments. He could happily pass the time arguing just for the sake of being contrary. But today nothing emerges from his mouth but a strangled ‘Great’. Sudden tears clogging his throat do not allow him to swallow his food. Everything in front of him starts to feel insubstantial and still. He drops the cap of the water bottle, while trying to open it. Sayak picked it up and remarks, “You’re drinking water after eating a pakora!!?” Arka doesn’t drink water after eating fried things; he doesn’t even drink water during meals. He waits a half hour after meals to drink water, and Sayak is only too aware of this, prompting the surprised query. Arka says,” It’s too spicy.”