A forgotten friend (Part-2)—

(Recap– In the first part of the story, I briefly tried to describe about the lead character of the story, “Bind bro” and the ambiance of my city.”)

In continuation to the description of my Evening law college, some descriptions of that era’s mentality of students, needed to provide. The period of time, when I sought admission in the evening law college, the number of fresh, young students like me were just about one third of the total strength of students. Rest of the crowd were mostly of adult people. Many of them were in government job, some were traders or  insurance company’s agents and other professionals. Exceptionally, a senior Major rank officer of the army too was one of students.The majority of these adult students had sole “purpose” to obtain the degree of “LL.B” (Bachelor of law) and get that inscribed in the name plate on the main door of the house.

This may sound weird to the present time generation, but that was the era of its own kind. People happened to inscribe their educational qualification on name plate with a swag. For instance,  Manohar Lal, B.A ; Mrs, Sanjana Bose, B.Sc, M.Sc, B.Ed, M.Ed, etc. Further in consonance to name plate, they too were in fashion to get their own latter pad printed in unique fashion. In the letter pad, the detailed description of educational qualification was added as an embellishment. That period of time had had its own aroma. Even a  bachelor degree tag was capable to earn a respect in the eyes of people.

Although, my this Himalayan foot hill city already scored the top ranking in the “literacy rate” in the entire province. But the literacy rate meant, any person who was worth reading and writing only. People, generally both in city as well as in country side, after completion of High School or Intermediate education opted to seek job somewhere and settled as such. The number of people as highly educated were still quite low in numbers. Hence this prompted people to earn more educational degrees and paste that on the name plate with a  pomp.

Once again about the intellectual ambiance of the city. Like every other city, my this city too was rich in number with certain efficient doctors, advocates, professors, journalists and some poets and writers etc. Most of them had a recognition and repute in the city. Not like today when we find crowd of specialists in every field in every city but every one struggling hard to gain a name in vain. Today, such specialists are known to their clients only but at that time all they enjoyed a status largely. This emphasis is given because to day no one pays heed to any professor, journalist or literary person or other professionals in my city.

Though, I initiated the story with intent to narrate about the main character  as “lay man” named Bind bro but deviated about the description of the city. It has some reasons. At that time, my this city was so soothing and people of that generation  too were amicable with one another. This delivered an impression, as if, entire city was like a large community. People might not have direct link to the so called elite class but felt an affinity with them. The bygone ambiance and generation of people gradually diminished with the lapse of time and are alive in the memory of old generation only. The memories of this bygone kept on haunting the lead character of this story Bind bro in a traumatic shape. To narrate that trauma is the sole purpose of this story.

Prior to this, I am obliged to give the description, how before getting introduced with Bind bro ceremoniously, I already had noticed his feeble appearance. Though, that may not sound interesting but often in life situations occur randomly and later on string to a thread in an amazing way. Here point is, how I happened to take notice of his appearance in past. This too has some reasons relating to his weird personality. He was not a short heighted man albeit not with a proper medium height. He wore a high powered rectangular plastic framed glasses that ever remained fixed tightly on his nose. Face some what square shaped with hollow cheeks, ever grown with two to three old beard unshaven.

Prominent angular cheek bones beneath the eyes and a far sight looks of his gave an impression of an emaciated face. Hair moderate on the scalp and in a fashion, as if, combed once the morning and left disheveled for the rest of the day. His preferred color for pants was grey or light brown and mostly checkered shirt.  A leather square rectangular box with wide strap ever hung across his shoulder. This box obviously contained a camera for still shoot of that time. In the front pocket of the shirt clipped one or two pens and a small note book.

Behind the glasses, his eyes ever remained filled with a bewildered looks of a gentle man akin to the impression, who had been accused for some wrong he didn’t commit. This I can cite with an example. When a gentle man is trudging on the road on the proper side after following the civic sense and been hit by some bicycler wrongly but contrarily been blamed by the bicycle rider that he was on the wrong side and responsible for the hit. Not only this, bicycle rider too chided with the abusive epithet. Just imagine the scenario, what kind of astonishing look may appear on the face of this law abiding citizen on being asked, ” rascal! are you a blind?”

His tone of speaking was natural with a low volume but some times fumble in accent was noticed. In his appearance he looked like a person  disturbed by his own self but also engrossed in himself. A person doubtful about his existence on one side but on the other hand looked satisfied with life with his meager means of earning. Often I watched him walking on foot. On the same, my city was not so so big in expansion either. On every direction, its precincts at that time ceased with in five km. After that, at once the rural, agrarian location began. Truth was, I too was like a wayfarer like him who ever trudged the road on foot, hence easily happened to take notice of his such. ( End of the Part 2. Cont’d.) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–