HIGH HOPES

(This was written during my college days, for s college mag. I don't recall  whether it was published or not)

HIGH HOPES

By Rwik Mukhopadhyay

For the third time, Arun checks his hair in his favourite object on his desk. His mirror. “I think she will like this”, Arun uttered unmindfully. It’s a special day for Arun, at least that is what he is assuming.

“3 years, right?”, Nitin enters the room. Nitin has been Arun’s buddy for the last two years or so. He lives next to Arun in the same hostel. Nitin is around six feet tall and in his late twenties. He is working in the same BPO where Arun works. Actually, it was Nitin who brought Arun here. Nitin joined six months before him. He was looking out for friends, as he was new in Bangalore. Like many other youths, he tried hanging out here and there. But within a month everything became unappealing to him. Mostly because he is a homely boy. He loves to be with friends, but at the same time, he wants homely cosiness. So when you met Arun, he invited him to stay in the same men's hostel with him. Within a few days, they both became very frank. Apart from alcohol, they found many other interests in common. And this led to a strong friendship. Soon both of them shared every single incident, experience and sin too. Nitin is well aware of today’s occasion but still, he asked. Perhaps, he was searching for something to start the conversation. 

Arun did not hear him entering the room, he was busy talking to himself. When Nitin asked the question, he came back to himself. After a brief pause, he answered...

“Yes, three long years. Dude, you don’t forget anything. You remember each and every minute detail of my stories. This could prove fatal for me.” 

Nitin chuckled, “You always think in negative senses.”

“I am helpless. It’s my inherited nature.” Says Arun.

Nitin realized to whom Arun was hinting. It’s none other than his father. Arun’s father is way too much suspicious about Arun’s whereabouts. They had many prolonged discussions about Arun’s father in the past. But Nitin doesn’t want to spoil today’s hot topic with this parenting issue. So, to divert the topic he says “Brother, but what are you wearing today?”

“That is a good question. Look on your right, I kept the clothes on the bed. I love that blue shirt. I think she will also love it.”

Nitin turned towards Arun’s bed.”You must be joking”

“Why,” says Arun.

“Dude these are formals”

“So what?”

“This is not an office day, and for heaven’s sake you are going on a date.”

“Yes, and that is why I selected my best clothes.”

“Yes, these may be the best but not at all suitable for the occasion, “says Nitin.

“Why not? These are my best and they are perfectly ironed too. I ironed them last night and this morning again.”

Nitin chuckles.“You should wear casual like normal people. Normally when anyone goes dating they wear casual to look cool. And I think she will laugh if you wear this. I mean why on earth any girl will expect this?”

“Correction. It’s a date from my side, she is coming to meet an old friend. And secondly, for twelve years I roamed around her wearing formals, she never laughed.”

“You were in school then, now you are grown up. So think maturely.” Says Nitin.

“Ok let’s assume you are right. Tell me what should be the most important agenda on a date?”

Nitin thinks for a moment,” Umm, that’s a tricky question. People’s views may vary. Also, you have to think about the..”

“Don’t make your life so complex”, Arun disrupts him.”Answer me fast”

“I think mainly you have to make her comfortable and..”

“That’s it, my boy. I want to make her comfortable, so I am wearing formal to pose a familiar look.”

“But..”

“No more buts, now allow me to get ready for the game.”

“When are you leaving?”

“As soon as possible. You know traffic is terrible these days. And I don’t want to be late.”

“You better be late, she will feel familiar..”

Both of them shared a smile.

“Ok brother, all the best”, Nitin leaves.

Arun glanced at his watch, it was half past nine. He has 2 hours to reach Motera café. He can easily finish a round trip in that time. But today he is extra cautious. He rushes towards clothes. 

After finishing he realizes that he needs another round of hairdo. So again he concentrates on his hair, cursing himself. It took him another 6 minutes to step out of the room. 

The door locks and latches never seemed so much uninteresting to him. Normally he double-checks them each and every time he steps out. But today is not just another day. He is finally going to meet her and hopefully, competitors are out of the game.

The driver is not ready to go on the standard rate. He asks for some more. Normally Arun bargains, or waits for another auto. But today he is ready to pay anything. After getting in, he starts thinking about how it all started.

Arun grew up in a small town in Bengal. His father was a schoolteacher. Arun used to study in his school. Arun had a very peaceful childhood. He never participated in any adventurous activities. Partially because his father never allowed him to, and partially because he was afraid of his father.

Nitu was very famous in school. Her father was a police officer. Her father got transferred to Arun’s home town in the mid-nineties. Arun can still remember when he first saw Nitu. 

It was a winter morning and everybody was drooling, standing in a prayer line. The headmistress informed the conductor that she had some announcements after the prayer meeting. At the end of the national anthem, she came to the stage with Nitu. And Nitu was introduced to the school. Look-wise, she was pretty. So that day, within recess she became famous. Arun was always fond of her, but never got an opportunity for friendship. His luck favoured after 2 years when he entered standard 8. Nitu came to his section. She was an instant hit among boys. Girls were a bit reluctant at the beginning, but later they all raced to become her best buddy. 

The picture became clear within a month. Shanti who was Arun's childhood friend, now became Nitu's buddy. And there were five to six boys, who were identified as her boyfriends. Luckily Arun was among them. One day, Shanti said that Nitu had fallen for a boy. But she didn't specify his name. This was not enough for Arun, so he kept on asking Shanti every day. Then one day Shanti confessed that Nitu didn't tell any name except for one thing, that the guy wears specs. That reduced the competition to two, as Arun and Nikhil are the only boys among the probable’s who wear specs. For a few days, people were interested. Everybody was expecting a name to come up, Arun or Nikhil. But Nitu was not interested in telling anything. 

    “Stop it,” says Arun. He gets down a few yards before his destination. He decides to check his appearance before entering the cafe. Arun heads towards a shopping mall near the cafe. He still has another 1 hour in hand. So he decides to spend a few minutes checking his hair and cleaning his face and obviously, he wants to make his tie look perfect. Arun is very touchy about his ties. In fact, that is the most expensive stuff he is wearing right now. He hates to use tie pins. According to him, it reduces attention towards ties. So he always adjusts his tie to keep it from flapping. 

It was an early morning for business establishments. The washroom was completely empty. Arun loves this, a gigantic mirror full of him and only him. After thorough checking and slight adjustments he stepped out.” Ready for the interview” he said to himself.

He took a corner table in the cafe, just like last time. They met 3 years back in a similar cafe. The school was over, everybody was going to different parts of the country for higher studies. It was Shanti who forced Arun to propose Nitu. That was the first time for Arun, so he was very afraid. He had no idea about what he should say. So Shanti wrote him a few do's and don’ts. But nothing worked, he forgot the points. Even Nitu got confused by Arun's words.

“What are you saying? I am not getting you”, Nitu said.

“Seems like we are not conversing, am just listening to your speech. Anyway, I believe you are interested in a relationship. But frankly, at present, I want to concentrate on my studies. I am leaving for Bombay this month. Will meet again.. ” Nitu prolonged her lecture for another few sentences. But Arun was not in the mood to listen. And those words were never heard again.

“Order please” says the waiter.

Arun glanced at his watch, still 15-20 minutes in hand. “Cappuccino please”.

He takes out a tissue paper from his pocket. This time he is extra cautious. He has listed out the topics to be discussed in a tissue paper. The proposal has to be perfect.

“Here is your coffee sir” says the waiter.

“Thanks”, Arun is busy reading the points.

“Can I sit here?”

Arun stares at the source of the request. It is none other than Nitu. She is more attractive than ever before. Prettier than the prettiest person in Arun's life. 

“Please...”

“So how are you, it’s been quite a while. “Says Nitu.

Arun realized the paper was still on the table. It's impossible to fold it back and keep it in the pocket without bringing it to her attention.” I am fine, what about you?”, Arun covers the paper with one hand and lifts the coffee cup with the other.

“Just enjoying life as always. A new job, a few new friends, and a big decision taken. Life has become a bit complicated, but still enjoying it.”

“So, where are working?”

“You know it, you use one of our products regularly.”

A few hundred names rushed through Arun's mind, but he couldn't pick one. He doesn't want to fail this time. He wants to impress her with a correct answer.”Can you give me some hints?”

“Dude, that dating application you use on Facebook. Actually, it's my fiancé’s brainchild.”

“Your fiancé?” Arun felt a butterfly flapping in his belly.

“Yes, we both work there. I am in the testing team. As you know, the best way to test anything is to use it in real-life scenarios. So we all use it to search for matches on Facebook.”

The situation becomes crystal clear to Arun. When she met Arun through that application, her intention was to test the application. And Arun took it as a date.

“Your tie..” her shout brings Arun back to his senses.

Arun realized, he splashed coffee on his tie.

“Here use this..”

Arun uses the tissue and realizes his lecture notes found its use in wiping coffee drops.

“So, what's your story? Speak out, man..”

For the last 3 weeks, Arun has been waiting to hear this. But now she sounds very unappealing. On second thought he realizes, his lecture is lying on the plate. Anyway, it's useless now.

“Nothing special in my life. Tell me when are you marrying?”

------THE END------