The Game of Time

In last 6 years of our friendship I have never seen Arnab in a joyous and happy mood, there is always a shade of sadness and upset eyes can be easily watched in his face. Not only me, every one of his closed ones is helpless in this matter coz we all know Arnab will never be able to love any other girl except Priya. He is in love with Priya from past fifteen years and it’s been long 8 years they are not together, eight years ago they met a break up and   Priya got married and leaved this city. 

Our friendship started after two years of their break up, in the beginning I did not know about his love story but after watching him for long time one day being curious I asked him about him the reason of his upset mind, he started to share and stopped in the middle, out of pain his voice was unable to exit any more words, his eyes became drenched with water, from that day I never raised that topic again. Later I came to know the details from his sister.

Arnab has a good job, has high salary, his life would be totally settled if marriage would have happen but unfortunately it’s not possible coz he can’t love any other girl than Priya, his parents, sister ,brother-in-law and I, we all are worried about his future. Life would go like this if that day we did not visit the shopping mall…

Almost one month ago I visited a shopping mall in our city with Arnab, we both have to do some shopping, that day we returned home nearly at 10pm, and from that day I was unable to get connected with Arnab, neither he was meeting me during evening nor he was talking much over phone, then suddenly after seven days he visited my home and shocked me with the news saying

---I am in love again.

It was so much surprising that I shouted out loudly

---what!!!! What are you saying?

---yes, that day in the shopping mall I saw a girl, watched her for ten minutes but did not saw her full face rather I saw the side face and from that day I am unable to erase that moment from my memory, from last seven days I am roaming in this city here and there after office hours to find that girl but still am unable to find her. 

Taking a short pause he said

---I did not want to disturb you, but now I think if you go with me then the job will be successful.

For two days of roaming like street dogs in the city finally we found her….

We were trying to cross a road in the market, we looked at right then at left and just at that time that girl crossed us from left side in her scooty, out of excitement Arnab caught my hand directing towards the scooty he almost shouted and said

---That’s the girl, oh no, today also I did not get chance to see her for long time.

Leaving his hand and leaving Arnab there, I  immediately started cycling and followed that girl, this was the first time I was following a girl, after few minutes of following I noticed she entered in a house and also taken her scooty inside the house, it was 9:30 pm, I know any normal minded person will not visit any friends or relative’s house at this time still I waited there, there was a tea stall nearby, I took a cup of tea and waited for ten minutes then passed by that house and read the nameplate.

I decided to inform Arnab about that girl after talking all type of infos., specially I had to know whether that girl is engaged or not, doing hurry I did not want to break his heart again. Fortunately one of my coleuses’ houses is in the same lane, so in between two days I got much info. About that girl especially I came to know that the girl is not engaged.

So it was my turn to give the good news to Arnab’s family and fortunately Arnab’s sister is also present here, she has come to spend holidays with her husband and child.

Finally in next Sunday I visited his house, called everyone in the dining place requested for a cup of tea and talking a sip I said

---you all will be surprised and happy after hearing the good news that Arnab is in love with a girl and it’s not Priya, it’s an another girl, he saw this girl while we went for shopping and after that I took the responsibility to take as much as infos possible about this girl.

Everyone was listening to me very curiously, it was hard to believe and naturally they asked Arnab to know how much true it is, getting positive reply brightness sparkled in everyone’s eyes. Everyone was happy to know that finally Arnab became able to forget Priya.

They asked for the details of that girl and I shared all the infos I had.

Next day a meeting with that girl was arranged in Arnab’s room, I was present there, that girl asked

---why did not you recognize me?

Arnab replied with a smile

---you have got much fatty than earlier, it’s been 8 years and with time becoming healthy is a natural process. But you tell me why not you made any contact with me.

Priya replied

---eight years ago I have been informed that you are getting married with another girl…

Arnab interrupted and expressed with a surprised voice

---I got the same info, I have been informed that you have got married with a boy and have leaved this city to live in your in-laws house.

This was most surprising moment for me, then i realised why that sunday when i informed everyone about 'that girl' everyone became stunned and Arnab requested me to go back to my home.

somehow I managed to get of this super surprise of their re-connection and wishing them best of luck I stepped towards my house, coming out from Arnab’s house I looked at the sky and thanked god, at least this time he has taken care of love, I have also promised God that I will never complain him again….

From past few days I go for evening walk alone, Arnab is busy with Priya, they have so many things to share with each other.

It was very good to know that Arnab did not recognize Priya, this time again Arnab has fallen in love observing her attitude, her appearance and her movements.

Yesterday while taking tea in the same teal stall where Arnab and I used to take tea, I decided to share this story with you.