(Recap– In the last episode, I gave the hint about the “Bend of love” of Bind bro for a girl student of my Evening law college and some descriptions about his disposition….)
The naivety and innocence Bind bro was in possession of, could fetch him a day to day struggle to survive only in this world. He was destined to spend the life in that way either. I was introduced to him ceremoniously through a so called friend of mine. This friend in fact was the son of a literary friend of my late father. Having reared up in the literary ambiance, he too had had a literary inclination for poetic aptitude. But he was a manipulative chap by nature. Since my late father was a friend to his father, this helped grow a friendship between both of us. My this so called friend was reared in Urban culture; contrary to his, I had a rustic background. My background suited for the vested interests of this friend.
That was the period of time, when a countryman like me felt pride in developing friendship with an Urbanized man. On the same, my this friend was in a position who could put me subject to his command. Indubitably, I too ever opted to follow his command either. In simple words, he was offered in a plate with a servile who ever hovered around him and felt pleased to adulate him. I was exactly in the same position with him. To say he was my friend but in reality it was a relationship akin to “Master and flatterer.” Behind this flattery, I too owned some vested interests.
I was fond of reading books on various subjects and occasionally tried the hands in writing. Somewhere in my heart, I cherished to become a high grade journalist in near future. Even if, at that time I was a law student, but had a deep rooted desire to join the field of journalism. My this masterly friend too self-magnanimously proclaimed himself a poet and free-lance journalist. By being in his company, it assured me a bright prospectus to sail across the field of journalism under his aegis. Though his reality I came to know after a long lapse of time.
Whatsoever his writing materials used to get published in local papers were due to the literary standing of his father. But under his aegis, I happened to obtain the opportunities to attend some poetic conclaves of the city’s literary circle. In such sort of “literary conclave” I found Bind bro, whom presence I already had taken notice as regular visitor on the main gate of my evening law college. There only, my that friend ceremoniously introduced to him as a local free-lance photographer with a praise. My that friend asked him, ” take this boy under your guardianship as an intern fellow and make him learn some tactics of journalism as a free lance.”
When my this friend said this, it shocked me utterly and that too had some reasons. Firstly, somewhere in my mind I already had conjured the image of Bind bro as a street Romeo. Secondly, I was suspicious about his mental level. Since, in my eyes he was a man who had a cheap choice in choosing a girl friend who was below par in appearance. This struck my mind, ” how could he have the ability to teach me about the journalism?” The truth was, all these reasons were outcome of my immature thinking. But I was bound to follow the dictum of my Masterly friend. The truth was, somewhere I felt cheated on the part of my that friend.
It occurred to me, he had handed over to Bind bro to get riddance of me. Here, I was left with no option and with a sorrowful mind accepted the “friendship cum aegis” of Bind bro. There goes a maxim, “never judge a book through its cover.” This proverb duly proved true with the passing of tenure with Bind bro. Gradually our meetings kept on get consolidated and along with this his naive, sincere and natural disposition kept on surface up before me. Never he behaved as a “senior” but like an elderly friend. Though, he was quite older in age to me. At the same, I could never erase the fact from my mind that likely to me, he too was quite older in age to that girl student.
It was quite natural in that age of mine. Whenever I happened to meet him, always the image of that girl reeled before my eyes. With the lapse of time this fact of age gap effaced in our friend ship in a natural way. We had had long discussion about the pattern of various renowned writers and journalists of the time. We discussed about the formation of compact and precise writing and impression it delivered on reader. With him I too developed to walk on foot in my leisurely hours. This habit made me realize, it was so soothing to stroll when having some interesting chat.
Often, we both used to roam around the city but sometimes we were accompanied by my that “Masterly friend” and other fellows. I remember an incidence. Bind bro, Masterly friend and one other fellow and I were on our vagabond stroll on a peaceful road of Civil Lines area of the city at a mid noon. There was a common flaw in youth of my age at that time ( I think still it exists in boys behaviour.) Whenever we happened to come across to some youthful women or girls on the other side of the road coming from the opposite side; we were given to stare at them with lusty eyes.
Though, Bind bro was a non nonchalant on that front. Perhaps his deep affection and devotion towards the girl student prevented him naturally from this vices. After some stroll, three girls in their prime youth we found coming from the opposite side. All they wrapped in the same hued Saree (Indian woman’s traditional dress) and blouse. The fourth number member of our group, abruptly gave an alert by saying, ” teachers’ gang is approaching!” It seemed, he was more frequent to stroll on this specific road of Civil Lines.
On his declaration, Bind bro just craned neck towards us and said staidly in a soft tone, ” the girl in middle of three teachers is my youngest sister. She is teacher here in some private school.” This advance revelation was enough to put that fellow into a shameful position. Bind bro at once noticed his abashed face and said consolingly in his soft voice, ” it’s a natural behaviour brother. I informed you in advance lest you pass some absurd comments. Upon your that misdemeanor my sister could frame an opinion, how cheap are friends of her elder brother.”
When he said this, there occurred no any offending expressions on his face. Really say, on that day I became fan of his psychological aspect bout the life. He was in habit to express his views without offending the ego of others. If to say about the appearance of youngest sister; contrary to the shattered persona of Bind bro, she was a placid and attractive girl of common height. She looked like the same girl as happened to look a girl from a so called middle class gentle family of that time. But I found her more attractive and handsome. After one month past this incidence, I chanced to visit his house for the first time with my that masterly friend. (End of the Part 5th. Cont’d.) Penned by Vinay Pharasi —
