The description of the main lead character in this story is simply of a “layman” in real sense. The layman, who whole through in his life efforted to attain some goals in life. If I talk of a common man’s life, as a whole, it’s akin to drawing some lines, words and figures on a black plain writing slate with a chalk. In a true sense, his whole life had been like “black and white movie” of the time. In that, rarely some moments of pleasure and happiness certainly occurred for a short while, but one was unable to perceive the colors of them. Although, I happened to get introduced to him ceremoniously after the completion of my college life, when I was trying my hands assiduously to find a proper stead in the life.
That was an old period of time when my native Himalayan foot hill city was a moderate sized but a peaceful city in appearance. Like other cities, my this city too contained some bazaars, a historical Clock-Tower, some Cine halls. Likely to that some local news papers too were in circulation and counted as esteemed newspapers. Some famous sweet shops, stationers and book-shops, Watch shops too had the prominent registration in the city. Meant, every thing needed to run a city was present here, if not in abundance then in modicum. The shingles hung on such shops impressively inscribed with details. Like “Ahuja and sons watch company,” ( though in the name of Company there existed a single floor shop only.)
Others were with the “sign boards” like ” Gupta sweet shop,” some cloth merchants with their own description. I candidly remember one clothier who proclaimed on his “bill board” as “draper.” This term draper always arose a curiosity in the mind of common denizens for it’s being an exotic one. Along with, city owned paltry one or two famous photo- studios. In fact, these were photographers’ shops. The title of studio was annexed merely since these photographer had “photo developing facility” at some what larger scale. That was the time, not to speak of common people, even men with substance happened to get snap shot occasionally. The photos obtained as such were certainly to be kept in safe custody as heirloom for the family.
Till that time, no concept of colored photography in general been introduced into my this small city. The same “black and white” still photo shoot was in vogue. Merely in movies, we happened to entertain the colored photography that recently been introduced under the name of Eastman color cinematography. The ubiquitous presence of small tea shops or tea- corners were in abundance. Perhaps, if asked about the tea- consuming habit, it was on the top choice and I think still on today its the most favorite hot drink. In the name of “cold drinks” the sweet whey or Lassi (in vernacular) too was popular in the summer season. Otherwise, whole through the year “tea” was staple drink of people. It was not that bottled cold drinks had not been in fashion in the market.
There, Coca cola as usual had its presence along with “77” (double seven,) Thumps up and Fanta had its own market. But these brands belonged as a choice to the category of affluent people in general. Simple, they could afford that costly item only. A common man, hardly once in a blue moon happened to consume these items. And that too was for the sake of having a feeling that he too was somewhere classy and an advanced fellow. It helped pronounce him in that way, it was the perception of the common man about himself.
The city too owned some famous shops as “Enterprises” which vended Bicycles. The proprietor of these bicycles shops earned a reputation of “industrialist” in the city, though they were simply used to sell the prepared items obtained from the manufacturer. Further, the numbers of petrol run two wheeler in shape of scooter and motor bike I ever noticed running on roads. But at that time, I had no inkling from where these were purchased by people. The fact was, never I could trace out any show room of two wheeler with in the city bazaars. This revelation can induce the reader to mock at me, but this is the truth since I was a naive at that time.
The reason behind was, I had come from a country side back ground to complete my education in the city. I had completed my Bachelor degree from my native place in the village. For that I used to up and down daily from my village abode. Yes, later on for three consecutive years to complete my “Law degree course” I was forced to stay in the city. The reason was, the law faculty of my college had to run its classes at evening time. When I look back about that time, I can say, whatever efforts I gave to know my city, that all were halfhearted efforts on my part. Here one point about the ” Law faculty” to be run at evening time needed to be expatiated.
At that period of time, the entire “law faculty’s” teaching staff was consisted of only of some prominent lawyers of the city. These lawyers basically practicing lawyers in the District Court. This forced them to remain engaged in the Courts in day time and they could spare the time for teaching purpose at the evening time only. This was a common practice of teaching staff whole through the entire law faculties in the country, if I am not wrong. Even after completion of my law degree course I chose to stay in the same rented room, I had hired for my law study. I was to try my hands in the district court as a junior lawyer. In true sense, that time too was a period of unemployment and laden with different kinds of bitter experiences.
In the same span of life I got introduced with the lead character of the story “Bind bro.” To get introduced with Bind bro ceremoniously was certainly accompanied with amusing circumstances. I was introduced to him through one common friend. On meeting him at once evoked my recent memory that I already had taken notice of his person back in my law college’s main gate on several occasions. The detailed narration I will give in the next part. (End of the part 1),. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–
