Ranjan’s story
As Ranjan felt the cool wind brush against his chin while cruising on the winding roads of the Guwahati-Shillong highway, he couldn't help but wonder if the breeze could conceal the sweat and nervousness raging inside him. The verdant hills of Meghalaya stretched out around him, cloaked in mist, their lush greenery a stark contrast to the turmoil within his heart. He was on his way to Barapani to meet Sangeeta, the woman who had held his heart since their college days. The Royal Enfield beneath him wasn’t his own; he had borrowed it from a friend, hoping to maintain the illusion of success. He wanted Sangeeta to believe he was still serving in the army.
Since his dishonorable discharge from the Indian Army, Ranjan seldom bothered with haircuts or shaves. But for this occasion, he had groomed himself to resemble the proud Sergeant Major he once was, before his court-martial for refusing to carry out a Colonel's order to conduct a fake encounter in an insurgency-ridden area.
The memories of his past swirled around him as he rode, the rhythmic thrum of the motorbike a steady companion. He recalled his college days with Sangeeta in the mid-nineties, a time of both love and strife in a politically turbulent Assam. Their romance had blossomed amidst the chaos, a beacon of hope in a world of mistrust between the Bodos and the Assamese. Sangeeta's parents, however, disapproved of their relationship and forced her into an arranged marriage with an Assamese bureaucrat. Heartbroken, Ranjan joined the Assam Regiment, where he distinguished himself as a courageous soldier until his conscience led to his court-martial and dishonorable discharge. He could not bring himself to "eliminate a few civilians labeled as insurgents" just to increase the "kill count" as ordered by his Colonel.
Ranjan never married. After his discharge, he faced financial difficulties and adopted a disheveled appearance. Despite his own struggles, he kept track of Sangeeta, learning that her life had also been hard. Her husband, an alcoholic, routinely abused her and was eventually removed from service on corruption charges. Sangeeta had to take on multiple odd jobs to support her family.
The road twisted and turned through the hills, revealing glimpses of the serene Barapani Lake below, its waters shimmering under the afternoon sun. Although Ranjan had little to offer, he carried a bundle of notes carefully concealed in his duffle bag, hoping to lend a helping hand to Sangeeta. The thought of seeing her again filled him with a mix of excitement and anxiety, each mile bringing him closer to a long-awaited reunion.
Today, he looked very much like the proud soldier he once was, adorned with numerous service medals. He didn't want to burden Sangeeta with his woes, knowing she had enough of her own.
As the restaurant overlooking Barapani Lake approached, Ranjan could hear his own heartbeat thundering in his ears. The scenic beauty of the lake, surrounded by rolling hills and kissed by a gentle breeze, was a fitting backdrop for the emotions surging within him. The thought of seeing Sangeeta again, of perhaps rekindling their lost romance, made his heart race with a mixture of hope and fear.
Sangeeta’s story
Sangeeta stood in front of her mirror, carefully draping a beautiful mekhela chador around her, its delicate embroidery a testament to her Assamese heritage. She applied makeup with practiced precision, accentuating her striking features. Despite the strain etched into her face from years of struggle, she still radiated a remarkable beauty. Her heart fluttered with nervous anticipation; today, she would meet Ranjan, the man who had never left her thoughts.
She had borrowed a car from a friend for the occasion, complete with a driver, to maintain the illusion of a successful bureaucrat’s wife. Her own car was old and unreliable, and the thought of Ranjan seeing through her ruse made her stomach churn. She wanted to appear strong and prosperous, not weighed down by her own troubles. Today, she would conceal her woes behind a facade of elegance and poise.
As the car wound its way through the mist-covered hills of Meghalaya, Sangeeta gazed out at the breathtaking scenery. The verdant landscape, shrouded in a soft haze, seemed almost magical, a stark contrast to the turmoil of her life. The mist swirled around the peaks, lending an air of mystery and romance to the journey. She clutched her purse tightly, within which a bundle of notes lay hidden. She hoped to offer this small help to Ranjan, unaware that he, too, had come prepared to support her.
As the car approached the restaurant overlooking Barapani Lake, Sangeeta took a deep breath, steadying her racing heart. The lake shimmered under the afternoon sun, its serene waters a mirror to the sky. The picturesque setting, with its rolling hills and gentle breeze, felt like a scene from a dream. She wanted everything to be perfect, to show Ranjan that she had weathered life's storms with grace and dignity.
Stepping out of the car, she smoothed her mekhela chador and composed herself. Today, she was determined to be the confident, beautiful woman Ranjan had fallen in love with all those years ago. She didn’t want to burden him with her own sorrows, knowing he had endured so much himself. As she walked towards the restaurant, her heart pounded with anticipation, each step bringing her closer to a long-awaited reunion. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, the misty hills providing a romantic backdrop to the emotions swirling within her.
The Reunion
Inside the restaurant, their eyes met, and for a moment, the years of separation melted away. They walked towards each other, their steps hesitant but filled with hope. When they finally stood face to face, there were no words, just a shared understanding of the struggles and heartache they had endured.
They sat down and began to talk, their conversation naturally drifting back to their college days. They laughed as they reminisced about their favorite tea stall near the campus, where they spent countless hours over cups of steaming chai, debating politics and dreaming of a future together. They recalled the cultural festivals where they danced to the rhythm of Bihu songs, and the serene evenings by the Brahmaputra River, where they would watch the sunset and share their dreams.
Their romance had been a respite from the surrounding chaos, filled with tender moments and secret rendezvous. They remembered the stolen kisses behind the old library, the whispered promises under the banyan tree, and the handwritten letters slipped into each other's bags, carrying words of love and longing.
But when the conversation shifted to the present, the atmosphere subtly changed. Sangeeta spoke of her husband’s supposed success, glossing over the reality of his disgrace and her own struggles. Ranjan, in turn, talked about his thriving business ventures, hiding the truth of his financial woes and the dishonorable discharge from the army. Each knew the other was lying, but neither wanted to shatter the fragile illusion, understanding that the truth might wound the other's pride.
As they chatted, Ranjan subtly diverted Sangeeta’s attention to a scenic view outside the window. Seizing the moment, he slipped the bundle of notes he had brought into her purse, careful not to draw attention to the act. It was a small gesture, but one he hoped would ease her burdens just a little.
When the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the lake, Sangeeta looked at Ranjan with a wistful smile. “Do you remember how we used to ride your bike back in college?” she asked. “Would you take me for a ride, just like old times?”
Ranjan’s heart swelled with nostalgia. “Of course,” he replied, standing up and extending his hand to her. They walked out to the borrowed Royal Enfield, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant calls of birds returning to their nests.
As they rode through the misty hills of Meghalaya, the wind in their hair and the hum of the motorbike beneath them, Sangeeta felt a sense of freedom she hadn’t experienced in years. She held onto Ranjan tightly, the warmth of his back a comforting presence. Under the cover of the ride, she deftly slipped the bundle of notes she had brought into the duffle bag slung over Ranjan’s shoulder, ensuring he wouldn’t notice until later.
When they returned to the restaurant, the twilight sky painted in shades of pink and purple, they both felt an unspoken bond had been renewed. They knew they couldn’t change the past or their current circumstances, but they had given each other something invaluable: hope and a reminder of better days.
As they said their goodbyes, there was a sense of peace between them. They had lied to protect each other’s dignity, but in their actions, they had shown the depth of their care. With a final embrace, they parted ways, each carrying a piece of the other’s strength and a renewed spirit to face the challenges ahead.
The Ballad
In the quiet of the twilight,
Two hearts found solace anew,
Beneath the misty Meghalayan hills,
Where love's old whispers grew.
Though paths may part and dreams may fade,
In this serene, enchanting land,
Their souls entwined, forever bound,
By the touch of a loving hand.
2 comments:
Beautiful story, Utpal! Loved how you wove nature and Assamese culture in this story! Reminded me of O. Henry’s short story “The gift of the magi”! Looking forward to reading more of your creative writing!
Beautiful!!
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