THE PUDDLE OF THE RAIN

Sitting by the windowpane, I enjoy the untamed rain.
There, that puddle, messing the drain!
Never will form rain again!
The half-burnt candle won’t be full again!
That broken vase will not be one.
The sea has washed away the lover’s name.
The victory of mighty nations is mere history now.
Great rivers have dried and some changed course.
Wild have walked the earth and are no more.
The Earth is weary and will give up soon.
Yet men continue their reign.
But things cease to be permanent.
And so the children of men.
They’ll soon be the puddle of the rain.
And the agony of their loss will be forgotten.
As indomitable, permanent time shall heal the pain!
So rejoice my friend, listen to your heart,
Live the moment! Catch the running train,
Before you grow to be the puddle of the rain!!

--Ekata Banerjee

LOVE-- A Momentary Gift

The scarlet western skies were slowly turning black. A bird or two could be spotted flying back to their respective dwellings. The meadows were still visible faintly, carpeted in green while the heavy clouds adorned the hills above. The windchimes chimed as the zephyr brushed against them. The serenity of this pristine atmosphere soothed her weary body and withered mind.

The loneliness of the solitary villa helped her escape from reality into a parallel world of fantasy. A world where it was only him and her, a world where love was the building block, a world where dreams turned into reality and above all a world where they will be together for eternity. But this euphoria never lasted long.

*******************************
It was the 26th of November, a day long awaited by Sagarika. She had saved every penny for three whole months, not an easy task for an extravagant teenage freak like her. From the very first day of September, the moment this idea clicked her she, started giving shape to it. Now ‘giving shape’ implies cut down on dresses, parlour expenses, mobile top-ups, meals at KFC, coffee in Barista and so on and so forth. Considering the cause of the sacrifice, it was worth it. Yes, every bit of it. She was now the proud owner of Rs. 10,000 which means champagne could be supplemented to a decent meal.

The clock struck four. Just two hours to go and she yet had to dress up. OK now that’s like ‘OMG!! just 2 hours!!’

Surprisingly by six she was ready. Just then there was a knock on the door. She opened it. And there he stood, right in front of her, the smartest, cutest, most appealing, most charming and most precious thing that ever walked the surface of the earth. Yes, it was indeed Akash, dazzling in a red half-sleeved shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

‘Happy Birthday! Wish you all the health, wealth and prosperity in the world!’ she said, hugging him.

‘You look beautiful!’ He said with a radiating spark in his eyes, the one Sagarika could die for.
‘Thanks.’ She said gently looking down, hiding the colour that rose in her cheeks.

‘The driver is at your service Ma’am. Where would Your Highness like to dine tonight?’ Akash bowed.

‘Hmmm, I’d prefer Taj.’ She said beaming. ‘Don’t worry the treat is on me.’ She added before he could say anything.
‘Taj??.. Sagarika, but its damn expensive and…’

‘Akash please!!’ she cut him short, ‘I haven’t gifted anything yet, let it be your twenty first birthday present’

Spell Bound he took her in his arms.

********************************

It was eight by the time they reached Taj. She had visited this place once before, for him it was the first time. Everything was world-class the tables, chairs, crockery and the enchanting view of the Arabian Sea girdled in a garland of street lights made the date a dream come true.

She looked into his eyes, it was hard to believe she was finally dating her dream guy. She was now in front of the person she had craved to be with ever since eighth grade. She did everything she could to become visible in front of him. Ultimately when he took notice, it wasn’t her fair complexion, it wasn’t her slim figure, it wasn’t her long dark curls neither was it her attitude that appealed to him. He looked beyond all this. It was her virtues, her caring nature, her indomitable spirit and most of all her heart that grabbed his attention.

They looked into each others eyes and smiled. The next moment what happened was difficult to conceive and hard to believe. Two men clad in black entered the eatery and opened fire.
‘Run Sagarika!’ Akash yelled out.
Sagarika ran for her life, Akash behind her. She kept running without turning back. The deafening bullet sounds, the injured people, the panic in the corridor and most of all the horrifying terrorists, their deadly weapons and their targets, everything went unnoticed. She just ran as though in a trance.

She was one of the very few to escape then. Trying hard to catch a breath, she turned towards him. Flabbergasted was she to find no one behind her. She felt a lump in her throat and a hole in her stomach. She yelled out his name at the top of her voice. The effort was futile, there was no response. She tried running inside the hotel again, but some people stopped her. By now the crowd on the sea-shore started running helter-skelter. Everyone was in fear. They screamed running for their lives, not understanding what was happening. Sagarika stood motionless, tears in her eyes. Yet she didn’t lose hope, she knew he’d be safe inside.

In an hour or so the local police rescued her from the place. The news channels had already started flashing updates about the terrorist attacks. The number of deaths and casualties increased from time to time. People whose relatives were stranded there were devastated, others were furious. No one knew for how long it would continue. Schools, colleges and offices were called off. There was commotion in the entire city. Everyone prayed for the hostages.

Sagarika sat home without food, without water, motionless, speechless staring at the TV screen. Hoping against hope, waiting for his return. But he didn't.

Akash’s body was identified, mutilated by bullets. Sagarika watched on TV, she got a glimpse of his torn and tattered body. But of course it couldn’t be him. He couldn’t leave her like that. She couldn’t imagine a moment without him, now it was the question of a lifetime.

A day later his parents telephoned to confirm the news of his death. The news was thrust into her ears. Sagarika felt her knees weaken, she collapsed on the floor unable to stand. The tears that she had held back all this while started gushing out. She wailed and bawled, her world had come to an end. Soon she was unconscious.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a different place. Her grandmother was smiling down at her. She was in her ancestral home in Dehradoon far away from the hustle bustle of Mumbai.
******************************

Its been over five months now. People have forgotten the Doom’s Day, but not she. For Sagarika the truth is too bitter to digest.

Perhaps Sagarika and Akash were never meant to be together. The ocean and sky can never unite. People rejoice seeing their wonderful unison at the horizon, where the sea blends in with the sky. But then does that happen in reality? No, never!

In the past five months there wasn’t a day, an hour or even a moment that didn’t remind her of him. He was always there holding her in his arms. He is always there beside her and will always be, in her parallel world, forever and beyond.

**********

--Ekata Banerjee

THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME

Life isn’t as it used to be..
Time now passes rather swiftly.
I think of him each day,
And everyday I feel my passion increase slowly.
He aint here with me, far away is he..
Yet, he seems to be right beside me.
Certainly, he is the best thing that ever happened to me!
He is often with me in the dreams I see,
Hand in hand by the deep blue sea,
The sand kisses our bare feet lightly
While the sun beams at us brightly.
Softly he whispers to me,
Then, slowly, he comes ahead and kisses me.
This moment is captured in my memory.
Where it shall dwell for eternity.

Its now time, I couldn’t have loved him more.
But then again something keeps telling the same in my core.
Things aren’t as it used to be before.
Everyday I love him more and more.

And so shall it be as days go by,
Our love will only blossom under the crimson sky.


**********

--Ekata Banerjee

The silver lining I see

I yearn for the times of brilliant sunray.
When I see the bright clouds steadily turn gray,
The crossroad that showed four tracks once, a bygone day,
Now merges to point the thorniest way.

Petty follies have become difficult to confess.
Support from friends appears to be less.
Even The almighty refuses to bless.
Life, now is a total mess!

I don’t know what to do I am at sea!
But slowly a silver lining I see.
Yes, it is him! right there waiting for me!
He replaces the pangs of life with glee.
And smiles at me, benevolently.

Oh! That smile! Yes that benign, divine smile.
It takes away all bile.
And gifts me life in a moment's guile.
But he is strange, he has a unique style.
For he sits by me only for a while.

Then I see him go away, far, and far away.
I stop him, but he won’t listen.
I cry and ask him to stay.
But he will never listen, he will go away.
He says he will take me with him some day.
That’s the only hope that remains,
I wait for that Someday,
When he comes and takes me his way!

********

--Ekata Banerjee

Sometimes it just takes a moment, sometimes a lifetime..

Well, I don’t know why such a thing happened, how it happened, but it just simply happened! Alright, I am Aditi Mukherjee, working in a leading MNC based in Banglore. I am a Software Engineer and an MBA in finance. My job takes me to various places, not only abroad, but also in India. I am in Pune for about a week now, the place where I was born and brought up. Yeah, I am twenty-eight years old, if at all that’s important to you.

Yesterday, was a hectic day, I finished my work by 8 in the evening, and was dead tired. Shilpa, rung me up and fixed up a meeting at Koreongaon Park, KP as it is popularly known. Well, I’ve been to KP a million times with her. It was my favorite haunt, ever since I entered my teens and the years that followed, till I left Pune. The place is not the same as it used to be. It has become congested, ‘Happening’ according to the youngsters.

After a lot of discussion over the eatery, we decided to meet at Mocha. We met almost after four years. Though she had put on a little weight, she looked glamorous. We studied engineering together. After that I went for an MBA and she got married.

I had heard a lot about Mocha, though never been there previously. I tried hookah, Shilpa said it was really popular among the teenagers, an intermediate between the ‘soft drink days’ and the ‘hard drink days’. Anyway the food was good, nothing less nothing more. We spoke about the olden, certainly the ‘golden’ days of our lives, our hangouts, the irritating lecturers, classmates and ofcourse the marvelous durga pujas that we spent together. It felt good, nostalgic but good. After sitting there for two hours, we decided to leave. Arguing a lot on who’s to pay, we had a toss. Luck was on my favor, I won and went to the cash counter.

There was a small queue at the counter. A tall and broad man standing in front of me took his own sweet time. It was annoying to stand there like that. Finally he was done.

As he turned to leave, I realized it was a familiar face. I froze as I recognized the person.

It was him! Why after so many years? I had no answer. On the very sight of him all the memories flashed in front of me.

Our first meeting in school, the first time we went out together, our first date, our first movie and the abundance of movies that followed. Each Valentine Day spent in each other’s company. The beautiful bond, both of friendship and love that we shared. All those days were fresh in my mind again. Unfortunately its not only the good memories that dwell in your mind, my thoughts took a bitter turn. I remembered that incident, the incident that changed my destiny. That turned my love into loath. I visualized the day when he walked away with another girl, my feelings were molested, my sentiments humiliated and my heart crushed. I was shattered, I was alive externally, dead internally. The person whom I least expected betrayed me. I possibly didn’t have a choice but to hate him, to detest him with all my heart and soul.

The person who gave me nightmares ever since I was nineteen, stood right in front of me.

“Your bill Ma’am.” The cashier handed over the bill to me. But everything was blank I couldn’t read a word. I just removed a thousand rupees note and handed it over. I kept the change inside my purse without uttering a word. I had lost my power of speech. I didn’t realize that he was staring at me like how I was at him.

Looking at him carefully, I noticed that he wasn’t the same anymore. There was no spark in his eyes, his shoulders had drooped down, and his hair had started graying. He couldn’t confront me. His face gave voice to his hidden emotions. He was happy, yet embarrassed and guilty.

“I am Sorry, Aditi.” He said with a lot of effort. His lips trembled, he wanted to speak more, but something stopped him. He lowered his eyes.
I nodded and smiled weakly, I wasn’t completely over the shock. He silently walked away. I wanted to stop him but I didn’t. He wanted to be stopped and called back, but that didn’t happen. I saw him walk away. I stared at his back till it was no more to be seen.

I later learnt that he tried contacting me many times after I left Pune. He had called up all my friends and even went to my house. But no one ever informed me. No one trusted him this time. They were afraid of the emotional setback, I would undergo all over again. He wanted to get back to me.
Shilpa told me everything last night.

Sometimes it takes a moment to forget a person and sometimes a lifetime is insufficient likewise I won’t forget him, but as of now, nothing can be done. I’ve already been married for two years.


**********

--Ekata Banerjee

Thats how it is..

“Doston mein baitha main sutta pi raha

Abba ne mujhe sutta peete dekh liya

Ghar jab pahuncha to danda ho gaya
naaaaa na na naanaa..naanaaa naaaaaaaanaa”

“Chetan will ya plz shut up! I hate that cheap song!” Aditya yelled out to him while sticking the red streamers on the wall.

“What the fuck Adi, sikhaya kisne?”

“Hell! Alright maine sikhaya, but why do you keep singing it over and over again? Its cheap and I have started hating such songs!”

“Whoa Mr. Sophisticated! or shall we call it THE RIYA EFFECT??” Gaurav chuckled.

“Whatever! Now hurry up! Riya will arrive any moment and you guys have to leave before that!”

“But Adi, don’t you think you are inviting trouble? If the Warden gets to know..”

“Dude, the Warden is on leave.”

“But yet Adi, Kota, is not a metro like Mumbai or Delhi. Last Wednesday a couple was caught by the police, since they were walking hand in hand!”

“Nothing as such will happen, its in my room for God’s Sake!! How can the police catch us here? Yaar please hurry up!”

The boys busied themselves decorating the room. It was the 14th of Feb, and this time Adi, decided to try something new. Of course this Valentines Day would be different and far more magnificent than any of the previous ones. This time, Adi had a girlfriend!

Chetan and Gaurav after a lot of hesitation gave in to Adi’s request of inviting Riya to their hostel. Well to call it a hostel would be an overstatement. It was rather a small Boys PG accommodating not more than six boys. They had been in Kota for almost a year now. IIT was their dream and Bansal Classes gave shape to it.

Now Bansals, is one of the most efficient tutorials in the country. If you are ready to barter your life for IIT, then Bansals is the place to be. Anyway watching movies, playing games even going to school for that matter is difficult here. Having a girlfriend is beyond doubt, impossible. Adi had made the impossible, possible.

Well it wasn’t really love at first sight. Adi first got in touch wit Riya through her father. Weird I know, but that’s how it all started. Riya’s dad was acquainted to Aditya’s uncle. Being over-possessive about his daughter, he introduced her to Adi,

“Just in case of a problem, contact Aditya, he seems to be a nice boy.” He bid adieu to Riya and left Kota.
Little did he know that this sentence would be the root of all problems later.

Adi never dared to contact Riya, though he always wanted to. One fine day he gathered all his guts and called her up. Impressed by her outstanding persona, he proposed a meeting. That was not the end of it. The meetings continued and after about a month and a half, he realized that HE WAS IN LOVE.

“And this time I am dead serious!” Adi said trying to convince his friends.

“Adi, you are telling this for third time and for the third girl in this year!” Chetan chuckled.

“Just wait and watch!”

It took him another two months to ask her out, and it took her another three months to agree.
It was only last month that Riya approved of him and today, on Valentines Day, he decided to take her heart away.

The room dazzled in shiny red ribbons and streamers, there were red balloons scattered all over the floor. Aditya’s study table was converted into a small dining table, adorned by a floral tablecloth. A small chocolate cake was placed at the center with four red candles on each side.

“Guys done? It’s already seven! She’ll arrive any moment now!”

“Hang on, almost done!” Gaurav said sprinkling rose petals over the blades of the fan.

“Thanks, yaar I don’t know what would I’ve done without you!”

“We are always at your service sir!”

“Alright we’ve gotto leave now, all the best dude!” Giving him a hug, Chetan left along with Gaurav.

Aditya seated himself on the bed and took a deep breath. He was nervous, very nervous. He wished to precede the course every bit according to what he had planned. Just then there was a knock on the door. Adi knew who was standing behind it. He looked at his hair one last time in the mirror, before opening the door.

Yes, it was Riya, as anticipated.

“Hi.” Riya said shyly, brushing her hand through her long straight her. She looked stunning in the pink top and denim capris.

“Hi, please come in.” Adi smiled looking into her dark eyes.

As she entered, Adi switched on the fan. There was a shower of crimson petals on them. Riya looked up, and spread out her hands, feeling every petal that fell on her. In the mean time, Adi played the stereo. Soft love songs in the background supplemented the beauty of the room.

“Dance?” Adi was bold, yet subtle in his gestures.

Riya nodded and blushed.
Adi could do anything for this rosy-tint that enhanced her beauty.

He took her waist and they danced slowly to the tune of Havana. They danced together enjoying every beat. They danced as though they were in a trance. They were conscious of only each other’s presence, the rest of the world didn’t matter.
Then, he gently held her hand and took her to the table. Holding the knife together they cut the cake. She fed him a small piece. The rich chocolate turned tastier by the touch of her hands.

He lifted her up and seated her on the bed. Seating next to her, he gently brushed his hand through her silky hair. She was nervous, in fact both were. Perhaps their nervousness was the driving force. He came close and pecked her cheeks. Riya’s forever-expressive eyes radiated ecstatic emotions. She reciprocated kissing his neck. There was a knock on the door, which went unnoticed. Certainly, there was some inevitable force that pulled them closer and united them in a lip lock. This was beyond earthly sensations. They wanted to capture this moment and live it time and again.
The knock was louder this time. It ruined the breathtaking romance of the moment.

“Who’s it?” He asked aggravated.
“Open the door!” A heavy matured voice spoke.

Neither of his friends had such a low pitch. It was certainly not the Warden, Adi, could recognize his voice well. Just then he felt the vibrating cell phone in his pocket. It was Gaurav.

“Hello Gaurav?”

“Adi, this is an emergency. The cops have entered our PG. Baju wali aunty ne bulaya. Please ask Riya to hide in the washroom. I tried to stop them but..…” Aditya cut the call, he didn’t have time to hear the rest.

“Riya, please get inside the washroom! Its urgent, the cops are here!” he whispered.

Riya was flabbergasted. Somebody had pushed her down from cloud 9 all of a sudden. She stared at him in awe.

“Listen, do as I say, everything will be fine!”
She obeyed like a naïve child.

The knocking turned louder. Aditya wiped the dripping sweat from his forehead and opened the door with his trembling hands.
Three men clad in uniform entered the room.

“Yes sir?” Adi asked in a bold voice. He was a natural.

“Room ki talashi leni hai. Khabar mila hai ki yahan pe kisi ladki ko bulaya gaya.” One of the police men replied, a bit shaken by his confident tone.

“Excuse me, sir? Ladki? Aur yahan?” Aditya pointed to his room amused.

The police looked all over the place and replied.

“Par room itna sajaya hua kyun hai?”

Now Aditya wasn’t prepared for this.

“Well..actually sir, hum dost log milke celebrate kar rahe the.” He said displaying a plastic smile.

“Acha beta room me to koi nahi hai. Sorry.” The cop replied apologetically and was about to leave when…
“Yeh kiske joote hai?”

They were Riya’s, Adi was defeated. He didn’t have a reply.

“Kahan chupaya ladki ko? Bahar lao!!” The policeman’s voice thundered.

Aditya knew there wasn’t a way out now. He opened the washroom and asked Riya to come out. Riya, emerged out of the toilet, pale with fear.

They were both taken to the police station.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then what?

Many students who were bored of their monotonous lives, got a hot topic to discuss. There was definitely more smoke than fire. Some even spread stuff like, Aditya molested Riya and was behind the bars for a night.

Restrictions by their families forbade them to talk to each other. This was a big turn-off in their relationship.
But such meager obstacles couldn’t dwindle their love. Yet, this bitter incident had a huge impact on Riya, she isn’t the same carefree girl anymore. Now she thinks twice even before smiling. It makes her hate the place, and the people even more.
However, she has to carry on, she is a rebel. In spite of all impediments, she’ll move on, she’ll have to. After all, IITJEE is knocking at the door.


**********

PS: This post has been inspired by a true story, only the names of the characters changed!

--Ekata Banerjee

SHE...

(This one is for you, Ana)
I dance with her in the rain..
She lends me her shoulder when I’m in pain..

She gives me advice..
And listens to my inner voice..

She knows my potential..
Tells me when essential..

My Beacon when I go astray
A person who with her elegant smile, makes my day..

She inspires me when I lose faith
Loves me when all do hate..

Listens to me when all ignore
Escorts me when all betray..

Believes me, when others suspect..
Helps when all refuse,
She’ll accompany me throughout my life
Even in the hardest adversity she’ll strive..

In the journey of life, at every cross street,
My face she reads,
And stands beside me whenever I’m bleak.

SHE’s a moon in the dark
---My life’s SPARK!!
A listener who harks e’en to the softest note of my heart..
An observer who marks a trivial change in any task.
A person who was alien in the beginning..
But a sister at last.
A real illusive fantasy, who sees no caste.

A person who in me sees no end,
This UNREALISTIC REALITY is my BEST FRIEND!!

**********

--Ekata Banerjee

IS LIFE LIKE THAT?

When the dynamic forms of life loses vitality, the static takes over. The breeze personified movement. The drizzle was sound, the trees, life and the woods, shelter. The delicate breeze kissed me and bade adieu. A little drizzle made large ripples on the still water. The azure sky peeped in through the mighty old trees. The fallen autumn leaves shielded the moist earth. The almighty yielded to their desperate crave for unison, for both the sky and the earth seemed to unite at the western horizon. In the background, the hills stood, chin up, honored and adorned by the green meadows.

I often stood here, beneath a tree facing the lagoon. This place was no longer a novelty. I was well acquainted with every nook and corner of it. Being the sole ambassador of mankind in this divine atmosphere is no pride, but humility. We, who represent only seconds in the clock of the age-old earth, have tried to overpower it. Yet it invites me with an unconditional love to escape from reality into its surrealistic beauty. This world, away from reality gave birth to my imagination and nourished it with love. My imagination is my proud possession. I don’t have any reason to live, or anyone to live for. I am just waiting here to be taken to the land of no return. When he passed away, I begged to be taken along but he didn’t, and I was left all alone, and so have I been for the past thirty years.

Quite unexpectedly in this virgin atmosphere, I heard a noise. A sound that resembled footsteps on the fallen autumn leaves. It was faint at first, but steadily, increased intensity. The sound reached maximal, and died out. An attempt to unfold the mystery of the sound and the person who disturbed my loneliness would be futile. I had discovered my answer already. A soft breath was felt over my shoulder. I was very keen to turn and see the intruder’s face, yet something stopped me. An uncanny fear gripped my body. I stood still, not knowing what step to take. The stranger took me by my trembling shoulders and turned me over.

I stood facing a young man. I hadn’t come across such a face in a very long time. His plane skin texture and strong frame contrasted sharply with my wrinkled skin and feeble body. I was old, but he was young, I was weak but he, strong, I was ugly and he, handsome. His features, though not very sharp, had a divine charm. His eyes spoke louder than his gestures. I felt immense joy staring at him, his face radiated love. The fear that had gripped me soon died out.

Who was he? I don’t know..
What did he want? I don’t know..
Where did he come from? I don’t know..

There were so many questions, but I had little nerve to ask. He had come, come for me, that’s all I know and all I care. He smiled, a benevolent one. I reciprocated the beam. I wanted him to speak, I craved to hear his voice, but he wouldn’t. We sat under the tree for a very long time. Finally he spoke.
“I have come back. Back to you, my love.” He paused.

The deafening silence of nature was all we could hear. It was him, it indeed was. I was overwhelmed. My desire to be reunited was finally gratified. Everything around me seemed to have a mystique charm. The trees, fallen autumn leaves, the hills behind, the green meadows, each and everyone of them smiled at me.

“What made you take so long? Thirty years I’ve been alone. All alone, I had no reason to live, but I did.”

“You are the most wonderful woman I ever met. You will be honored for your patience.”

“You have come to take me, haven’t you?”

There was silence once again. He didn’t reply, but kept staring at me still radiating that divine smile.

“You have come here to take me, haven’t you?” I asked once again, but in vain. He didn’t reply.

“Haven’t you come to take me?” I shouted, breaking the peace of the environment. He sat there, just looking at me. I shook him hard and asked one more time. Yet, there was no reply, for he didn’t have one.

“I have to leave now.” That’s all he said.

“Please take me along please. I can't live without you!” I begged and grabbed him tight. He had come to me after thirty years and I wouldn’t let him go. He didn’t utter a word.

“I won’t let you go. You have to take me along! Take me wherever you have come from!”

“I will, don’t worry I will.” He kissed my forehead and embraced me tight.
I was relieved, I had to wait no longer I closed my eyes and waited to be taken. Something strange happened then. I looked up and saw his strong frame wither away.

“I will take you, but its not yet time.” Those were his last words until he disappeared completely.

I wailed and yelled out his name. I shouted, asking him to take me along, but the effort was futile. All that I got in reply is my own voice echoing back. I was letdown all over again. The surroundings no longer seemed to retain its divinity, the trees and hills smirked at my failure. The very sight of the woods disgusted me.

I was destined to be a loner and I remain so. All I do in my agony is to wait patiently to be reunited with him in utopia.

**********

--Ekata Banerjee

Marooned on an island..

I am Anne..
Isn’t that sufficient?? Where do I come from, what do I do? Well.. nothing really matters. The thing that matters is ‘how am I here today?’ I could’ve been torn apart from the living world!

It was the summer of 1936, I was fifteen then. We were in Japan heading for America by sea. The picture of the ship still appears vividly to me. It was the 19th of May, 1936. Four in the morning we set off, just when the sun rose in ‘The land of the rising sun.’ I was traveling along with my parents and my friend Kelly’s family. The journey would last for five days. This was the first time I was traveling by ship. I wasn’t well acquainted with Kelly’s brother Kevin, 18 at that time. In the ship we got acquainted with each other. Our acquaintance turned into friendship, and friendship into…

The next day morning our ship anchored at a deserted island. It was marvelous! Trust me, I was in the Elysian Lawns. There were green palm trees behind me and crystal waters in front. The yellowish-white sand, the beautiful red and black birds, the feministic clouds, the blue sky bathing in sun-rays, all of them were so fascinating. It was indeed a slice of paradise.

The captain of the ship announced that the ship would halt there for around two hours. So Kevin and I decided to take a stroll in the seducing island. In fear of rumors, we didn’t make anyone aware as to where we were heading. Since it was a tourist ship, there were other couples and children who went about sightseeing. We walked, together, side by side and hand in hand. I felt the red blush rising on my cheeks and fading along my neck. Soon the ship was out of sight, we had reached so far. We were completely lost in conversation. Kevin’s good oratorical skills and keen listening skills made our conversation far more interesting. Neither of us kept track of the passage of time.
Suddenly he came close to me.. My heart started beating faster and louder, perhaps even he could hear it. Holding my head close to his, he kissed me… Yes, it was my first kiss. My whole life appeared to be summarized in that one moment. Even today I cannot explain the ecstasy of a girl’s first kiss.

Time flowed like a river, but to me it had become a lake. I didn’t want to spoil the naughty innocence of the moment by hurrying up. We had decided to return in half an hour but even the three hours that we took appeared to be less. We finally walked back to the ship. We reached our destination only to find the blank sea smile at us. The ship was gone! We were devastated, didn’t know what to do. We had no other option, but to cry, cry in despair, cry for hope but all in vain. The most beautiful moment in my life was bartered at the cost of our lives.

The sun was about to set, darkness was enveloping us. Kevin was not only a good speaker but was blessed with tremendous intellect. He managed to built a tent, with some branches and leaves. He got food, fruits precisely from the far away trees. Some branches were burnt as a remedy to the chilly air. We spent the entire night hoping against hope that the ship would come back. It didn’t. Some SOS symbols were put up, but that didn’t help much.

The next morning we explored the island. It was much larger than expected. And we were there, only both of us like Adam and Eve. Today it might all sound like a film-sequence, but it is true, every bit of it.

After three days, we spotted a rescue ship coming towards us. Our parents were there. We were delirious. We went to America, toured most of the place and returned, not to Japan, but to India. My father was English, and he was posted here. Kevin was British too. He went to England to study law.

Those three days now seem to be the most beautiful moments of my life. MAROONED ON AN ISLAND! Adventurous isn’t it? Perhaps it is. More than adventure the serenity of the island and the warmth of the times spent in his company appeals to me.

Wait! There’s more to it…

Kevin came to India as an efficient barrister. We were married soon after.
Today I am eighty-five years old. Kevin left me and departed to ‘the land of no return’ some five years ago. While I am waiting, waiting patiently to be reunited with him and enjoy the blessings of the divine Elysian Fields.

**********

--Ekata Banerjee

(Had written this one 2 yrs back, in 10th grade)