False Oasis

A clear sunny sky, balmy breeze, some rock and roll music, a pair of spiffy sunglasses and fingers moving in a tapping movement on the steering wheel of a new car. Samesh was having a memorable moment of his life. The car was a carmine red compact SUV with a white roof. It was the top variant of the model.



Samesh was driving to his close friend Nihant’s residence. Samesh and Nihant have been friends since school days. Be it academics, sports or other extra-curricular activities, Nihant was always the better one, in fact one of the tops of the class. But he made sure he would help out his friend Samesh who was as it looked like, a bit weak at everything in life. The school’s student counsellor did tell Samesh’s parents that Samesh lacked confidence in himself, although he possessed skill to surpass most of the barriers of his life.



Although at a slow pace, Samesh did develop confidence himself, largely because of Nihant and the remaining credit would go to his wife for her support after marriage. Nihant was the one who taught Samesh how to drive a car. However, Nihant seemed a bit distant, especially ever since Samesh got the new job. But Samesh wasn’t giving up on the idea of making Nihant a part of his happiness.



Samesh had never owned a car, nor had his father. Samesh’s grandfather did own a car, but it had to be sold to manage the hospital bills of Samesh’s grandmother. Since then, the family hadn’t owned another car.



Samesh had been very happy driving his scooter all these years, that is until the accident of one of his neighbours who went to work on a bike and had an unfortunate accident. When he was stopping for a red light, a speeding car with no intention to stop rammed into him.



“I think it is about time we get a car. The traffic on the road is not what it used to be, a car has become a matter of safety,” Samesh’s wife said one day. Samesh who had always argued that a car would just be an unnecessary expenditure, didn’t say anything this time, his new job with much better pay than before had enabled many conveniences to his family, which were not available before.



So, Samesh and his wife sat down on the desktop computer at home and went through the websites of different automobile brands, making note of the models and their variants that interested them. Then, the next Sunday and the one after, they went to take a test drive of all the car models that they had noted and zeroed down on one. Back at home, Samesh planned how he would manage the expenses along with the EMI of the car and when he was done, Samesh and his wife went the next day to book their choice on four wheels.



The car arrived two weeks after booking and Samesh along with his wife, son and parents went to pick the car. The first car in two generations of the family. The drive back home from the car showroom was something the family would always remember.



When Nihant had bought a car, they had gone to have dinner at a restaurant. When Samesh called Nihant regarding his new car, Nihant seemed bothered by something. There was a public holiday a day after, so Samesh decided to pay Nihant a visit and was on his way to his come.



Samesh pushed the door bell button and a faint sound of the doorbell spreading through the household could be heard outside. Nihant’s wife, Megha opened the door, Samesh greeted her and handed her the box of sweets he had brought.



“Is everything all right at home? The last time I spoke to Nihant, he sounded kind of disturbed by something,” Samesh said to Megha.



“Maybe it’s the work pressure, he has been like this lately. He won’t tell me anything, so best of luck to you,” replied Megha



Samesh climbed the stairs to make his way to Nihant’s office on the floor above. He opened the door to the office and found Nihant drowned in work, his fingers continuously moving over the keyboard.



“In case you are not aware of it. It is a public holiday today,” Samesh spoke



Nihant stopped typing and looked at Samesh, a weak smile appeared on his face, “Well it may be a holiday for you office goers but for us freelancers it’s just another day to work.”



“Do you ever take a holiday? How long do you work?”



“I try to stay away from work on Sundays and on other days I work till 6 or 7 pm. But nowadays the work pressure is enormous and everything is out of schedule. I am working till late at night even on Sundays.”



“Well, I won’t get into the details of what is keeping you so busy. But, take a break once in a while. All this late-night working might not prove to be better for your health.”



Nihant didn’t give any visually apparent response and started typing on the keyboard again as Samesh made himself comfortable on a chair. Nihant suddenly stopped typing and looked at Samesh, “Oh sorry, the car. Congratulations for the new car.”



Samesh stood up, “Get up. Let’s go for a drive. I didn’t drive all the way here to watch you lose yourself in work.”



“But there is a lot of….”



“We are going, I don’t want to hear anything else…”



Nihant slowly got up, and followed Samesh out. Samesh noticed a blank expression on Nihant’s face.



They went out and stood in front of the car.



“Why red? Wasn’t there a better colour?” Nihant asked looking at the car



“What is wrong with red? I think looks nice,” Samesh replied



“I have seen this car in blue colour on the road. It was better”



Samesh did not respond to what was said, “Do you want to take it for a drive?” he said.



“I think I better get back to work..” Nihant said



Samesh had started to become worried by now. What was it that had stolen almost everything good he knew about Nihant. The man who had always been so supportive and helpful had turned into someone else completely.



“Sit in the car. I will drive, it will be a quick drive,” Samesh insisted. Nihant stood for a while with a frustration which could be clearly visible on his face, then he sat in the passenger’s seat next to the driver’s seat.



Samesh started the car and started driving.



“The smell of a new car, it has its unique charm right?,” spoke Samesh



“They are just smell from all the lubricants and chemicals used inside the interior of the car. What is good about them? They are in fact quite harmful”



Samesh had reached the limit of his patience but he controlled his anger and spoke, “Listen Nihant, like I said before, I won’t get into the details of what you do, but if there is anything I can help with you can with, tell me or you can even talk to me about it, if it helps”



“Talk to you about the struggles of my work? Then what? You will understand? For years I have helped you understand things which even an average person may understand and now you are here to understand my problems?”



Samesh was taken by surprise at this sudden outburst, he stopped the car at the side of the road and then turned to Nihant.



“Listen Nihant, have I said or done something to offend you? Are you so stressed by work? Is it money? What is the problem? Just tell me.”



Nihant looked at Samesh and Samesh could see anger in his eyes. Nihant opened the door and stepped out of the car, Samesh got out of the car as well.



“Nihant you have to say something. Even Megha is worried back home about this behaviour of yours.”



“So, is that how it is? Now, with your great new job with a fancy package and a shiny new car with all the latest tech, you think you can advise me? What is next? Perhaps a spacious and luxurious apartment.”



Samesh stood with his mind blank for a while and then he realised what was wrong.



‘School, college and even early in my career I had been nothing more than average. Nihant who was better at everything was always ahead of me and looked out for me. Now, that I am doing better, better than even him, he cannot stand it? This is why he is so stressed with work because it is unbearable for him to watch me walk ahead in life for once. So, this is what this friendship was based on, Nihant feeling superior to an average and helpless nobody like me. He never thought I could be better and all his help and support were just giving me a thread to hold on to life,’ Samesh thought in his mind.



Samesh felt speaking anything at this point would be without a cause. The friendship he thought existed was never there and the illusion he had in his mind was gone. He quietly sat back in his car and drove away, giving at a glance at his rear-view mirror looking at the person he called friend for the very last time.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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