Mainak:- Breaking news! Breaking news! The actor Sunny Deol has got the National Award for shouting the dialogue, ‘Tarikh pe Tarikh…Tarikh pe Tarikh’…
Sudeshna:- Hey Mainak, first of all, have you seen the film, ‘Damini’?
Mainak:- No, but, I have seen some scenes of this film, where Sunny Deol is shouting.
Sudeshna:- First go and see the entire film, then I will ask you whether Sunny Deol deserve the award or not.
Prakash:- Bhai Mainak, I am a die-hard fan of Sunny Deol. He has many super hit films in his couch like Ghayal, Narashimha, Samandar. Right now, he is the No.1 Action Hero.
Mainak:- Samandar! I have never heard about that film! Was Sunny Deol there in that film?
Jahar:- This is a problem now! From last week, our School Library Management Team has decided to distribute ‘The Statesman’ newspaper daily to us with a monthly subscription of 80 bucks. They are of the opinion that if we read ‘The Statesman’ newspaper daily, then our English vocabulary will get improved automatically.
Bhanu:- ‘The Statesman’ newspaper contains some hi-fi English words. But, you are talking of what problem?
Jahar:- I am talking about the debates that is going on inside the class. The more our friends are reading the newspaper, the more general knowledge they are acquiring and then they are debating. As a net result, we as the class monitors are unable to maintain decorum inside this classroom.
Bhanu:- Ha ha ha…but, Jahar…without a debate on a topic, it is very hard to come to any conclusion or to judge which is right or wrong. Yeah, but, this is also true, that in a debate, in 90% cases; participants lose their temper and start attacking personally. See there, now, Tiya is in an excited mode.
Tiya:- Guys! Guys! Please read at the 2nd column of the 3rd page. Our Indian Government has given permission to the private players to open their own radio channels with the help of FM. FM means Frequency Modulation. Till date, we had only Medium Waves and some 1 or 2 channels in Short Waves.
Fatima:- I am not understanding any head or tail about what Tiya is saying. Hardly, I listen to any radio channel.
Raqeeb:- Hmm…I think all those channels like Kolkata Kau, Bibidha Bharti fall under Medium Waves only. I also hardly listen to radio.
Arindam:- What! You people don’t listen to any of the radio channels. My goodness! How do you people spend your time? In our locality, on Saturdays & Sundays, after having their delicious non-vegetarian lunches, they will sit together on a Mat to play indoor games like ‘Ludo’, ‘Chess’, ‘Bagh Bandi Khela’ or ‘Dice’. While playing those indoor games, they will listen to a ‘Santosh’ or ‘Murphy’ company radio. On Saturdays, there is a program on ‘Mama- Bhagney’. It is totally a comedy program. Then there is a program on suspense. You will hear the famous voice, ‘Apnaara sunchen Doctor’s Phenyl prajojito Shanibar er Baar Bela’ followed by a unique comedy background music.
Jahar:- Ha ha ha…but, I like those suspense stories. Even on Sunday afternoons, the dramas on radios are not so bad. And what to say about the running commentary of any Mohun Bagan Vs East Bengal match. ‘Chima ball niye egocchen…goal er saamney esey shot korechen’…At that point, all the Mohun Bagan supporters start smiling and celebrating and then in the next second, the commentator says, ‘Naa….Goal kintu holo naa…ball choley galo goal post er opor diye…sojaa mather baairey.’
Bhanu:- He he he…at that point…all the Mohun Bagan supporters start giving slangs to Chima as well as to the commentator. Ha ha ha….and moreover, while listening to the match commentary, you will feel as if the football match is getting played like a European club football match. But, when you start watching that same match on the TV, you will find players are playing football very slowly with a very low-standard style.
Revathi:- Accha, what is this Bengali TV Serial, ‘Bibaho Abhijaan’. This serial has got the best award for No.1 Bengali comedy serial.
Nonigopal:- Bibaho Abhijan means Adventure for Marriage. Actually, in this serial, all the bachelors will start searching for their future wives. During their search, they experienced too many adventures. Some fell in the ‘Paana Pukur’. Some of them were regarded as dacoits. I mean, it is hard to explain unless you see it. All the actors in this serial acted superbly. The characters of ‘Ghotna’ and ‘Gansa’ are very famous. If I ever get a chance, I will surely translate this book ‘Bibaho Abhijaan’ into English.
Revathi:- Oho! Please do translate it…he he he…
Satya:- Nonigopal, there is another serial, ‘Abaar Jakher Dhan’. That is also a good Bengali serial. Though, it is not fully a comedy serial, but the story is fantastic. In Hindi, the TV serials; ‘Ganadevata’, ‘Amaravathi ki Kathayein’ and ‘Malgudi Days’ got awards. On the other hand, the unique program ‘Surabhi’ anchored by Siddharth Kak & Renuka Sahane also got an award.
Raja:- Accha, what about that Bengali mega serial, ‘Samay’? Has it got any award or not?
Bidisha:- Uff, these mega serials! After these mega serials like ‘Shanti’ & ‘Swabhiman’, the Bengali channels have started the mega serials. After ‘Samay’, there is another new mega serial, ‘Janani’, which features Supriya Devi.
St. Sebastian School Cricket Team (shouting with joy in the school playground):- Hurrah! Hip Hip Hurrah! Three cheers for our coach, Bairagi Sir! Hip Hip Hurrah!
Raghav:- Hey, what’s the matter! We can hear some sounds of celebrations from the playground!
Chinmoy:- Oi toh! Indranil is coming towards our classroom. Let us ask him. Ei, Indranil, what’s the matter! Why you people were celebrating in the playground?
Indranil:- Arrey, boss! We have reached the final of the Inter-School Cricket Team for the first time. This is a record. We have defeated St.Lawrence Cricket Team on their St.Lawrence school playground. That is also a record. We have never defeated them earlier in their home ground. Umpires were giving biased decisions, but still we won. Now, we have to wait and watch for our competitor in the final. Tomorrow, St.Thomas School Team will play against South Point Team in the 2nd Semi-Final match.
Gurcharan:- Arrey…jeeo jeeo….You are the golden boy of our class. You are the only boy from our class who is playing in our school cricket team. Boss, I wish our entire team best of luck. Cup leke aana hain.
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Commentator Chintu:- Today in this Eastern Park, we are going to witness the Inter-School Cricket final match between St. Sebastian School and South Point School. The captain of the South Point Team won the toss and elected to bat first. Ratanlal, the strike bowler will go for the 1st over. It is a 20 over match. So, each bowler can bowl maximum 4 overs. Oh! The opener of the South Point School has hit an over-boundary in the 1st ball of Ratanlal.
Ganga:- Dhaath teri ki! Ratanlal bowled the first ball, a full toss. Bad bowling!
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Commentator Chintu:- After 15 overs, South Point School is on 115 for no loss. Both the openers, Sivan and Rony have scored half centuries. South Point School is completely dominating on this match.
Tamang:- Eh! We have a very poor bowling line-up.
Mainak:- Actually, our school captain, Samiran, is a very traditional captain. He is not mixing his bowling attack. The two strike bowlers kept on bowling till the 6th over. Arrey bhai! In the 3rd over itself, bring your 1st change bowler. You are giving enough time to the batsmen to read a particular bowler.
Tamang:- Even, the size of the Eastern Park is very small and moreover, it has a dry flat pitch. So, obviously, every match will be a high scoring game. But, still, 115 runs in 15 overs is a huge total.
Commentator Chintu:- Now, Jayanta, the leg-spinner is going to bowl his 1st over. Wow! Sivan is clean bowled! What a googly! Jayanta bowled like Narendra Hirwani.
Joseph:- Bhaya! It is a spinning track! The ball spun from off-stump to leg-stump! I mean; the pitch is helping the spinners.
Parag:- Samiran is a nut, I tell you! Our team has 3 spinners and he is bringing the 1st spinner after 15 overs. How funny!
Commentator Chintu:- Jayanta is going to bowl his last delivery of this over. Manoranjan stepped outside to hit the ball. But, he mistimed. The ball went safely into the hands of Indranil. South Point is now 117 for 2 after 16 overs. Samiran is bringing in his 2nd spinner, Dulalchandra. He is a left arm spinner. Dulalchandra bowled his first delivery. Oh! He got the wicket. The batsman has been stumped. That was a smart delivery. Dulalchandra is going to bowl his 2nd delivery. Oh! The bowler took the catch straightaway. The batsman is caught and bowled. Dulalchandra is on a hat-trick. Can he do it? Suresh is going to face the 3rd delivery of Dulalchandra. Suresh hit the ball high towards mid-on. Maybe, the ball will go for a six! Oh! No! What a blinder! Oh! Is he a bird? Samiran, the captain of St.Sebastian School Team has taken a superb catch while driving to his right just a few inches ahead of the boundary rope. He reminded me of Jonty Rhodes of South Africa. What a catch! South Point is now 117 for 5 after 16.3 overs.
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Santu:- All the 3 spinners of our school team produced their magical spells to restrict South Point team to 143 all out. A decent score but can be chased down within 20 overs.
Sajal:- Yeah! It is achievable! But, don’t forget, that the South Point team has a good bowling line –up. They bowled out St.Thomas School within 9 overs and that too at a score of 83 runs in the 2nd semi –final match. South Point beat them by 9 wickets. We are up against a very strong team.
Santu:- Anyway; let’s see, what happens! The match has started again. Our openers; Patel and Roy have already entered inside the playground.
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Commentator Chintu:- St.Sebastian School Team is completely tottering now. They have already lost 5 wickets for a mere 82 runs on scoreboard. Oh! No! Giridhari is clean bowled now. So, after 11 overs, St.Sebastian School is on 82 for the loss of 6 wickets. Indranil is on the other end with 27 runs. Samiran, the school captain is coming to bat. Actually, he is a 4th down batsman, but, today he sent two pinch hitters to increase the run-rates, but, that policy back-fired. So, St.Sebastian school team requires 62 runs out of 54 balls with 4 wickets remaining. Can they chase it down? We will again join the action just after a small drinks break.
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Indranil:- Samiran daa…the ball is not coming to the bat so easily. The pitch is getting slower and turning. We need a partnership at least till 17th over. Then, we will pounce on them. We have only 4 wickets in hand. After you and me, no one can bat well.
Samiran:- You have to take some calculated risks, Indranil. This Eastern Park is so small that hardly you will get any gaps to take singles or doubles if the bowlers keep on maintaining a good line and length.
Indranil:- Yeah, I know! But, just be ready to steal singles. I will keep on milking the ball. Keep on rotating the strikes without going for any rash shots till 15th or 16th over.
Samiran:- Ok, not an issue! The required run-rate of 7.5 to 8 is quite achievable on this pitch.
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Commentator Chintu:- After 19 overs, St.Sebastian School is on 131 for the loss of 8 wickets. Indranil is on 51. He is the only ray of hope for St.Sebastian school. In the last over, St. Sebastian needs 13 runs to win. Can they win it?
Bidisha:- Oh! My heart is pumping now! What a match it is indeed!
Arindam:- Where is the fun, if the final match does not look like a final match. I love thrillers and every thrilling win always becomes a memorable win.
Bidisha:- Hmm…stop giving lectures now! I am keeping my fingers crossed! I pray to God, that St.Sebastian School should win.
Arindam:- God has no role to play here. Here, the cricketers playing inside the playground are themselves Gods. Therefore, it is Gods vs. Gods now.
Bidisha:- All your lectures are going above my head now. Oh! Rajatsubhra, the dangerous fast bowler of South Point is going to bowl the first ball to Dulalchandra.
Commentator Chintu:- What a placement, by Dulalchandra! The right –handed batsman just flicked the ball towards the third-man area to steal a boundary. 9 runs required from 5 balls. Rajatsubhra is now preparing to bowl the 2nd delivery of this over. Remember; this is the bowler who took 17 wickets in this tournament so far. He is the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. What a Yorker! But, the batsman defended it well. 9 runs required in 4 balls. Dulalchandra is facing the 3rd delivery of this over. It is a low-full toss delivery. Dulalchandra steered the ball towards mid-wicket. Oh! No! Low-Full toss delivery is sometimes so deceptive. The fielder in the mid-wicket region took the catch. What a quick response to the fast moving ball! 9 runs required from 3 balls with 1 wicket remaining.
Nonigopal:- We have lost the match! It is impossible to win the match from here. Jayanta can’t even hold the bat. Forget about hitting the boundaries.
Tiya:- Hmm…the game is still on, Nonigopal. Don’t talk; just watch the match.
Commentator Chintu:- Jayanta is going to face the ball. Completely beaten! The ball went into the hands of the wicket-keeper. No run in this delivery. 9 runs from 2 balls. Rajatsubhra is going to bowl the second last ball of the match. Wow! Jayanta capitalized on the gap at the extra cover region. Oh! It’s a direct hit; the ball went on other direction. St.Sebastian school team got another extra run due to over-throw. It was a confirmed 2 runs, but they got 3 runs. Indranil is on strike now. 6 runs to win from 1 ball.
Bairagi Sir:- Eh! Bad Luck! Indranil got only 1 ball to play in this last over. Anyway, let’s see, what happens!
Mr. Roland:- Well! Our boys also fought well after losing too many wickets. There is no shame in losing a close match. After all; Cricket is a Gentleman’s game.
Commentator Chintu:- All eyes are on the last delivery. Rajatsubhra is running in. It is a full-pitched delivery. Indranil hit that ball towards mid-off. Wow! The ball may be going for a six! Oh! No! Not so lucky enough! The ball just bounced before the boundary rope. It is a boundary. South Point won the match by 1 run. All the spectators are giving a good round of applause. After all; what a final match it was! Both the teams played superb cricket, but, ultimately, one has to win the game.
Indranil:- Oh! Shit! It was so near, yet so far! Teerey esey amader Tori doobey galo (Our boat capsized just near the river bank).
Bairagi Sir:- Ei, you people go and control Indranil. He will be inconsolable today. He is the ‘Man of the Series’ of the tournament. He steered our school team to the final as a vice-captain. But, all his efforts went in vain, as he is yet to lift that cup.
Bhanu:- Yes, Sir! We will console him.
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Indranil:- Sab bekaar ho gaya! Had I got another 1 ball in that last over, I would have finished the match? All our efforts went in vain!
Gurcharan:- Aiyee…Indranil! Kya ladkiyon ki tarah rotaa hain…idhaar dekh. We also experienced same kind of a feeling when we lost the hockey final match against Khalsa High School. Then, we came back again with new strategies to beat them next year. Every defeat is a new learning. Unless, you are defeated, you don’t accept change, you don’t accept new ideas, you don’t dare to implement innovative strategies. Don’t shed tears after a defeat in the final. After all; you are a gentleman!
Santu:- He is also a gentleman, but, side by side, a highly spirited sportsman. Whenever a spirited sportsperson loses a final match, tears automatically comes out from his/her eyes.
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Nabinchand:- Hello! Dada! There is a bad news! Our dad is in a very emergency condition. Can you please come immediately to our village?
Nagenchand:- Bhai! Is everything ok! Why are you talking in such a sad tone? Tell me; is everything ok?
Nabinchand:- Just come to our village as early as possible. I can’t say anything further.
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Villagers of Narendranagar:- Balo Hari…Hari Bol…
Nagenchand (Slapped his younger brother):- Why haven’t you told me over the telephone that our dad has expired?
Nabinchand:- Sorry! Dada! Had I told that, you could have had mental stroke while coming towards our village with your wife and son.
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Chandrani:- Your grandfather wished to be burnt after death at his own field. That’s why; the dead body was not taken to any graveyard.
Nonigopal:- Hmm…May his soul rest in peace.
Chandrani:- As per the rituals in our village, after the death of any person, all the people of this village has to completely shave off their hairs and beards.
Nonigopal:- Hmm…he he he…so, how am I looking with my completely shoved off head.
Chandrani:- You are looking much handsome than before! For 1 week, all the villagers have to eat vegetarian foods only and that too without using any oil and turmeric powder. For 1 week, your dad has to sleep on the ground with that ritually white dress. After 15 days of your grandfather’s death day, people will be invited to eat ‘Shraddha’. (A Tribute to the soul of the dead person by giving foods or prasads to the soul’s friends & relatives).
Nonigopal:- So, that means; I also have to stay in this village for another 15-20 days.
Chandrani:- Yeah! Already your Annual Exams are over. Now, it is vacation after the Annual Exams. Your school will start after 1 week. That’s ok! Stay for another 1 week more.
Nonigopal:- I may feel bored!
Chandrani:- No, you will not. Next week, I will take you to a lovely place.
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Nonigopal:- Whose boat is this?
Chandrani:- It is my uncle’s boat. He has come back from the deep sea after 2 months. Actually, he is a fisherman. He goes away to the deep sea with this boat and stays in that deep sea for 1 or 2 months to catch fishes. He takes enough foods to survive for 2 months.
Nonigopal:- Do you know how to row a boat?
Chandrani:- Yes, of course! This is the small channel of water which connects to the river. I will take you to the river and then come back here again.
Nonigopal:- He he he…have you taken your uncle’s permission to row this boat?
Chandrani:- Oh! Whenever I feel bored, I keep on rowing this boat to and fro in this channel. I love rowing.
Nonigopal:- Ei, Chandrani! I will also learn how to row this boat.
Chandrani:- Uff…ei suru holo badmaishi…come and sit beside me. There is another oar on your left side. Keep on rowing it.
Nonigopal:- Wow! We are going forward with this boat. There is no such current in this channel.
Chandrani:- Once we reach the river, you will feel what is actually a river current!
Nonigopal:- What will happen, if our boat capsizes? We will get drowned!
Chandrani:- In this calm channel of water, a boat can never capsize. And if you know swimming, you can never drown yourself. It is impossible! Moreover, the channel water is very shallow! Ehe! We have reached the river. Don’t row the boat forward now. The river current will take us almost anywhere. Come to the other side of the boat and start rowing. We will again go back towards our home.
Nonigopal:- Accha, does your uncle worship this boat or what? I can see lots of vermillion, flowers and agarbatis at the tip of both the ends of the boat.
Chandrani:- Do you know that this boat, rivers and the fishes are all goddesses?
Nonigopal:- What? My God! I have never heard these things before.
Chandrani:- Yes! For a fisherman, a boat is his goddess. Every day, he worships his goddess so that she protects him during any danger in the deep sea. These are not superstitions, Noni. Many a times, miracle has happened in the deep sea, where some fishermen came back alive despite facing some severe natural calamities. There is a temple of ‘Min-Devi’ (Goddess of Fishes) in Jammu Dweep, where fishermen worship.
Nonigopal:- I have heard that Life is like a river, but no one ever told me that river is also a goddess.
Chandrani:- Idiot! Have you never heard people going and worshipping in the rivers of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Why do people go and take bath in Varanasi, Haridwar or Ganga Sagar? It is to get blessings from Goddess Ganga only.
Nonigopal:- Uff…look at the western sky now at this dusky hour. The orange colored rounded Sun, the colorful sky, all the birds are flying back to their nests. There are ripples in the water with the reflection of the dusky sky. Uff…aar paara jaaye…I am becoming romantic now.
Chandrani:- baddo bakbak karo tumi…kachey eso…mmmuaah…one should act romantically while in a romantic mood in a romantic environment.
Nonigopal:- sojasuji bolleyi paaro…jeh u want a kiss from me…mmuaah…It is becoming dark now. Let us go back to our village house.
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Benudhar:- This is the problem in PSU Banks!
Basundhara:- What happened?
Benudhar:- I have got promotion to the Manager grade.
Basundhara:- Wow! Really! That’s great news!
Benudhar:- But, they have given me a transfer to New Delhi. I am now thinking what to do?
Basundhara:- New Delhi! Great! It is a blessing in disguise! In New Delhi, I can expand my boutique business with more ease and comfort than that in Kolkata. Moreover, I have spent my college days in Delhi only. Don’t worry; you can shift your entire family to New Delhi for another 3 years. I am going with you.
Benudhar:- If you have no problem in shifting to New Delhi, then what problem can I have? I can’t live without my family members, no matter, whatever is the job profile, and whatever is the pay package.
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Bidisha:- No, mom! I will not go to New Delhi. I will miss my school, mom.
Basundhara:- In New Delhi, there are some great schools. You will enjoy schooling there also.
Bidisha:- Mom, how will I make you understand?
Basundhara:- You, little girl! What you will make me understand! You will get admission in a very reputed school of New Delhi. Don’t worry about it. I am your mom. I am more concerned about your studies and lifestyle than you are at this stage.
Bidisha:- Mom, I will miss all my sweet school friends, especially Arindam.
Basundhara:- Hmm…now come to the real point! Does Arindam love you the same way as you love him?
Bidisha:- Maybe or maybe not! But, he has just started realizing my love towards him.
Basundhara:- Bidisha, you are studying in class VIII now. You should concentrate on your studies to make a healthy career. Once you stand on your own feet, boys will run after you.
Bidisha:- What’s the point in a life, if I don’t get my beloved one as my partner.
Basundhara:- I know that you study all those English novels, but, in reality, these school-level love does not succeed in the long run. Take it from me. In our school days also, we also had too many infatuations, but, when we grew up, we laughed at ourselves only for our immaturity and silliness. You will not understand these words now, but, later only, when you will grow up. We are going to New Delhi next week. That’s final.
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Bidisha:- Today, is the last day in this school. I will miss everything a lot, especially you.
Arindam:- Hmm…reality always bites from the back. I will miss you too. Who will quarrel with me from now on?
Bidisha:- Why? Riku is there! Maybe; Rihanna or Revathi! Please don’t start crying, after I go from here.
Arindam:- I don’t know how to cry. I am a boy. Tears don’t come out of our eyes. God has created us like that only. We can only feel the sadness within our heart, but our stony heart does not become ice-bergs so easily. I can see tears in your eyes. After boarding the school bus of St.Sebastian school for the last time, you will start weeping; I am damn sure about that. I don’t know; why you love me so much? But, I respect your love towards me.
Bidisha:- Ummm…uhu…hu…
Arindam:- Dhaath…abaar kandey…kanna bandho kar…
Bidisha:- Can you board at our bus for 5 minutes and sit beside my seat.
Arindam:- So, you want a last farewell kiss from me…ok…let me board the bus. Come on! Mmmuaah.
Bidisha:- Mmmuaah…reality has done a break-up in our love relationship. I know; that you will forget me very soon, because all the boys abide by the theory of ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind.’
Arindam:- The theories like ‘Break-ups’ or ‘out of sight, out of mind’, are applicable in case of love relationships. Bidisha, you are my friend since my childhood. Love dies a natural death after a break-up, but a friendship never dies. Our pure love stands on the strong basement of healthy friendship, dear. Regard me as your friend, you can never forget me.
Bidisha:- It is easy to say these things, Arindam, not so easy to execute! Anyway, get down from the bus, the bus driver is on his seat now. Bye, bye, Arindam.
Arindam:- Aah! Don’t say goodbye to me. Say, See you again and if you really love me, then keep my request. Please don’t shed tears for me. Be happy and live others happy. Tata, Bidisha…
Bidisha:- baddo lecture dish…Tata…Arindam…see you again…
