Kishore’s room bathed in the basking glory of the gleaming sun and the freshness of the morning that made him happy. He pulled a chair from his study to the balcony and wanted to concentrate on the day’s edition of “The Telegraph”. He could not as his mind wandering over the success or failure of his recent book that released a month back. He had still not heard anything from the publisher yet.
Trrrrriiing…….Trrrrrrriiing.
“Who could be at this hour?” He thought while getting up from his chair.
“Hello”
Mr Bose from Falcon publishing house was on the line. They had been generous enough to publish Kishore’s much coveted writing.
“Mr Mukherjee.” Mr Bose’s enthusiastic voice made Kishore a little anxious. Kishore didn’t realize but his heart beat increased suddenly and body went stiff.
“Yes Mr Bose. Tell me”
“Congratulations…Good News Sir… Your book is getting awesome response. All the copies have already been sold out, and the major book shops are asking for reprint.”
Kishore felt his body relaxing after the news. His heart beat coming to normal.
“Ohh that is great news. Thanks Mr Bose for telling me this. I was little anxious about the result.”
“Yes Yes. I can understand Mr Mukherjee and that’s why, the first thing I did is, call you after getting the news.”
“Ohh Thank you. It was really nice of you.”
“Mr Mukherjee…I have another reason as well. Can you come down to our office today? Falcon publishing house wants to take this relationship a little further with some more projects with you.”
“Ohh sure…I will be there in another hour or two.”
Kishore put the receiver down after saying bye. He felt the morning was even more beautiful. He went to the balcony and sat down wanting to savour the moment. He could see his long cherished dream coming true. He checked the calendar. It was16th, all his important days in his life was on 16th. He smiled at the thought even though he was not a superstitious person.
Just when he was about to leave, a postman came and dropped a postcard on his door.
He picked it up and checked the address.
16, Mitra House.
Behala
He turned the postcard to find just two lines in small and girlish handwriting.
How are you? Remember Me?
Piyali Roy (Mitra)
He felt a sudden blankness in his heart. A face came up in front of his eyes. But mind always think in terms of possibilities and he being a rational person himself, discarded the thought. But then who if not her? He had never known any other Piyali Roy in his entire life.
He kept the postcard in his pocket and left for Falcon publishing house.
On his way back home, he bought couple of postcards, even though he was not sure of replying. He found himself replying that very night.
I think I know you, but not very sure. Are you from Jadavpur High School?
Regards,
Kishore Mukherjee.
After two days, when he returned home in the evening saw another postcard lying in front of his door.
Yes I am the same Piyali. Thank you so much that you still remember me. It’s been too long a time to remember someone. So how are you doing lately?
–Piyali
He could not stand in the room any more, his entire body sweating profusely. Kishore went and stood in the balcony staring at the sky. The full moon shined brightly lighting up the otherwise dark and dull Baranagar area. He re read those two lines multiple times in the moonlight. He could still feel the emotions that he felt 10 years ago. It seemed as if a hot cake was baked and buried deep inside the ground 10 years ago in a safe box. Someone poured loads and loads of sand on top of it to hide it from the normal view. Now suddenly it has been dug out of the ground. The cake is still fresh and hot now as it was at that time.
The beautiful face with broad soft cheeks and long curled hair hovered in front of his eyes. Piyali Roy was the moon of Jadavpur High school, as beautiful and bright as the real one. After so many years he can still feel himself like those tiny dots in the sky trying to possess a slice of the moon but too small and insignificant to matter.
Kishore was in class 8th when he first saw her. She came to his class to meet one his fellow classmate.
He had liked her at once but never did he realised then that her beautiful gleaming eyes and bright smile was there to stay with him for years to come. He was a small thin timid guy who could never muster enough courage to speak to her and in last he left the school after his class 10th and when she was in class 9th.
Years after when he tried to enquire about her, found, she had already been married. He had felt the pain, a kind of emptiness in his heart that day but went along with his life totally forgetting her in due course till that day when he got her postcard.
That night standing on his balcony he again felt the aroma of his first love.
Next day he replied again.
Yes I do remember you. Just that never thought of getting a postcard from you though. It was really nice to hear from you after so many years. Hope you are well and happy in your life.
–Kishore
It’s been a week now, and each day after returning home he would look for a postcard. He would reiterate the words he had written and try to analyse each and every line for its meaning and hidden meanings. He could not find anything wrong with what he wrote, but there was a delay in the reply. He felt as anxious for a reply now as he used to feel for her sight years ago. She must be busy in her own house hold chores to care about Kishore and reply to his whimsy letter, he reasoned himself. Next day, after returning to his home in the evening he found another postcard lying in front of his door.
I am good and married for past 8 years. How are aunt and your sister? Hope they are doing well. It’s been such a long time. Thanks to your publisher who gave me your address and other details. I read your book. It was awesome. I really liked it. I saw your pic behind your book. Gosh you have not changed at all. Still the same.
Take care
Piyali
He was surprised by the fact that she noticed him and knew him and his family as well. He was blithely elated by the very thought of getting accepted of his existence by an angelic figure, a seraphic beauty whom he had never imagined would consider him to be a part of her lovely world even if in just some passing thoughts.
Now that he knows that she knew him, his heart filled with joy thinking she had read her book and appreciated it as well. A fact that boosted his confidence more than the contract of next three projects with falcon publishers.
That night he tried writing back to her, but could not get enough words to put on paper. He wanted to meet her, see her, and hear her and that too badly.
(Contd below….)
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