Along the river

The water of the river rushed its course, the sunlight glistening on its moving surface. Birds flew over it and fishes swam under. Many came to the shore to experience its strength and calmness and breathe in the air that hovered over it.



Rishi and Asim stood on the riverbank. Looking for something or perhaps waiting. Both the young men had completed their graduation and were doing small jobs while looking for an institution to complete their post-graduation.



The life in a small town is in many ways simple and the simplicity allowed people to have a clear vision of what they wanted.



“What do you want?” asked Rishi



Asim made an expression which said he didn’t understand the meaning behind Rishi’s words.



“I mean why are we here? I know the river is beautiful and I don’t mind being here. But it is literally at walking distance from our homes. Then, why are we here every day morning since last two days?” asked Rishi



“I wish the answer was that simple. I am afraid you may not be able to understand it,” replied Asim



“Then I am off, I have work pending at home” Rishi said and started walking away



“Hey!! Wait! You are my best friend, show some support,” said Asim



Rishi looked at Asim, “I hope this is not about a girl”



“Well….”



“So, this is about a girl. Is she going to come here?”



“Maybe”



“Maybe? You don’t know whether she will come or not?” asked Rishi who had started to become serious with hints of anger



“I think she will come. But I am not sure when,” said Asim struggling to find the words that may ease Rishi’s mind



Rishi looked back at the empty road and then back at Asim, “Then give her a call or send her a message and ask if she is coming or not”



Asim stayed quiet



“What’s wrong? Let me guess, she is not answering your calls or replying to your messages. This place must be where she often comes, so you are coming here in anticipation of meeting her,” said Rishi in a frustrated tone, “as for me, this is the third day that you have brought me here in the morning to discuss something ‘important’ while having nothing important to discuss. You wanted someone to talk to while waiting for her”



Asim was thoughtful for two or three seconds and then he produced a guilty smile on his face, “actually I don’t have her number.”



Things were worse than what Rishi had expected them to be, but he tried to keep a calm demeanour and thought ‘Maybe the girl didn’t carry a phone or didn’t want to get caught talking to a boy at home or… ’


“I hope she is not a minor..” Rishi said in a worried tone



“What? No.. absolutely not! Who do you think I am,” said a surprised Asim



“All right, sorry. So, how long have you known her for?” Rishi asked, calm now



“Thirty minutes maybe, if it can be called knowing,” replied Asim



Rishi removed his specs and looked at its glass and then looked at Asim, “The next words you utter should be of what this is about, and be very clear about it or else I am walking away home. I have better things to do than to entertain your interest in the opposite gender”



“Calm down, I am telling you. Three days before, on Tuesday, I had an argument with my father in the morning. So, to cool off my head I came here to sit by the river and that is when I saw her sitting with an elderly lady. I couldn’t identify either of them. She was beautiful and she was here for thirty minutes. I kept looking at her but oddly she didn’t notice me even once. Then she walked away with the elderly lady,” Asim recalled with a smile



“So, you don’t even know whether she lives here or not,” said Rishi



Asim thought it would be best not to respond. Rishi wore his specs and breathed two or three times before walking away quietly.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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