On this day, both the gentlemen ( as the main lead character of this story) are no more. In the circle, they moved, had a recognition of being intimate friend of each other. By virtue of this friendship, often they were found in company of one another. In the day time, during the leisure break, they were often visible sipping and talking over the cup of the tea. Both were in the same calling of journalism and had an affiliation with some National daily news paper entrepreneur. Though, both they worked for different newspapers.
Yes! It too was a coincidence of their friendship ( to me it seemed ‘so called friendship’,) the main official buildings of their distinct News Papers located side by side in the same locality. This was their daily destination. Apart from it, if one of the duo happened to glean some information regard occurrence of some incidence, he certainly would relate about that to his partner. As it’s a common practice in daily collection of scraps of news that one and the same event is covered by different corespondents of different news papers. This fact also prompted both of them to remain interlinked. Both they knew, it depends upon the “editing” of news, how and in what way, it delivers the impact. And this “presentation or diction”varied in case of every correspondent and counts as well. Hence, there was no peril to inform one another and in the same field, it was a common fact to them as well.
I too had had a passion for journalism and as a junior employee used to follow them closely. The reason was, every profession has got some “secrets” of success and these are obtained by life long experiences. As a junior colleague, I happened to glue to them with the same intention, so I may sometimes be blessed by them regard this. Of course, both they recognized my caliber and my this quest in the field of the journalism, as a junior employee. But along with, whenever chanced, they bossed me around of their seniority. They applied simple tactic to boss me around of their seniority. On alternative day, I used to meet or encountered on the road with younger partner Dubeyji alias Rishiji.
The fact was, Dubeji alias Rishi ji worked for the same News Paper, where I was an employee as a junior correspondent. Prior to going ahead, a brief description about the introduction of the good names of both these gentle men is needed. One of them, who was just three years elder in age to Dubeyji was known as Tarun ji. Thus, this duo consisted of Tarun ji and Dubey ji. But to me , both they were my senior colleagues. Now back to the tactic of their bossing around me. As it was and still is a common pattern in every News Paper’s official dealing that such News Paper maintains a small office type reception counter on the front side near main gate, where juniors like me used to drop some scraps of news or contribution in an envelop.
From that reception, it is sent to the related sub-editor’s desk. Dubeyji alias Rishji had had an hawk- eyed sight. He ever happened to notice my presence from a distant site. From there only, he used to call out me by name in his harsh, raucous voice, ” Hey Prakash! You stay there only! You have to buy a cup of tea for me!” And then, god knows only, how he used to inform Tarun ji, so that after some moments Tarunji would appear in person at the same permanent destination of “Taneja Tea stall” from somewhere. Just, to extract cup of tea was the tactic to boss me around and I too liked and submitted to that happily.
As far as the further further introduction of Dubeyji alias Rishi ji is concerned, he was a man with slim or some what lean and thin structure; had fair complexion and the expression of sheer cunningness permanently flashed in his eyes. At that period of time ( I am talking of about early nineties of last century), he was in his forties, his hair grown grey earlier. But never he dyed his hair. To him grey hair were symbolic of maturity and intellect. It was the mode of his showcasing of his “intellectualism.” As a correspondent, he ever adopted an aggressive modus operendi for a person whom he queried. In this query, his harsh and raucous voice generated an effect as a pimple in the ulcer.
Now, if some political leader or government official happened to get trapped into his query: he was certainly to get irrigated firstly and then become furious by this offensive demeanor. There prevails a principle in journalism: if a person before you loses his temper, there is big probability, he will elicit the truth. Dubey ji alias Rishi ji almost had hundred percent rate of success on this front. Not only this, he too had a tendency to offend his friends. I too got offended by his this demeanor on various occasions, but knew, some where, in his heart he fostered a soft corner for me. This was obvious, when he occasionally guided me about my calling without asking for that.
His friend Tarun ji was just opposite in nature to him. He was much good looking an smarter man with some what, flashy body and chiseled features. Soft by nature he was and indubitably a “walking library” in his field. In his company, I used to get acquainted with so many aspects of life and events those occurred nationally as well globally and had relevancy to the journalism. Whenever Dubey ji alias Rishi ji assumed an offensive mode towards me, he happened to chide him softly , ” Ere! He is novice in this field. With the passing of time come to know what kind of maturity he needs to develop. Teach him some thing, that may help him cultivate in the profession. Daily, you ingest his tea. God knows only, how this boy happened to manage all these expenditure.”
Some rumors were afloat about the personal life of Tarun ji. As far as my personal view about these kinds of rumors was, it was a common phenomenon and such was with Tarun ji. The common story was , basically he belonged to the district of Varanasi (from the Eastern side of the Province) but had migrated here long back in pursuit of journalism. Further, that his wife and children were settled in England and his wife used to send a remittance of fifty pounds per month. This specific information generated a good deal of impression. At that period of time, it was also an impression that Tarun ji too had his own good earning by being a senior journalist as well. But another facet of the psychology is, such type of stories too impel you to peep into the matter and prompt you to find what the exact facts are? ( End of the 1st part ). Penned by — Vinahy Pharasi —–
