831 & CU
Photo by James Brine on Unsplash

20th April 2019. “It’s 9 pm already! I told them to mail me — my phone’s not working!” he said. Putting the laptop in his bag, he asked, “So, all prepared, huh?” And I said, “Yeah!” with a slight nod.

18th September 2018. “Anything that you think I should write on?” I asked. “Do you watch tennis?” he inquired. “No. Not at all!” I replied. “Heard of Roger Federer?” he asked. “Of course, I have!” I told him. He looked at his phone, kept it in his pocket and spoke, “Okay, when you go back to your room, go through the various articles that you find across the web about this player — the records he holds, his wins, and his defeats that led people to talk about his retirement and all that thing. Undoubtedly, he’s incredible! That’s why he has stuck around this long. Let me say it like that: the critics highly panned Eminem’s Revival, and with Kamikaze, Eminem hit back — gave everyone chills! I don’t know if that’s the right way to put it, but I thought that Rap’s inclusion in our talk would make it sonorous to your ears. I was just comparing both of them in terms of longevity in their respective domains. Whatever! Roger Federer, it is. You got it. So you’ll tell me about your research tomorrow.”

“At what time?” I asked him. He stated, “After the first break. Do ring me up.”

19th April 2019. “Amazing!” he cried as he rose from his seat, applauding with all vigour. “I messed it up, I believe. My performance was awful,” I told him as he came forward to address me. “No, man! You did your task well. That was a tough song, indeed! Good job, and thanks. Thanks for performing this song for me,” he spoke in a low, trembling voice. I saw the incipient tears in his eyes; he saw mine, and we briefly hugged.

2nd October 2018. “Really, ha!” I exclaimed. “Yeah! I don’t know why he wore a coat,” he said and added, “I was like, ‘Dude, this isn’t a formal gathering, and it’s so hot there in the hall!’ — gave me laughs. You see me right now! It’s the best I can do to dress myself up — and people got their blazers on at this time of the year. Damn! Hope no one from your year turns up like that today.” “No one will. Don’t worry,” I assured him. “Good then. Okay, since you are on time, your punctuality deserves a treat. Tell me what you want once we reach the market,” he said. “I’ll have an ice-cream,” I replied.

18th April 2019. “You ask her, and she’ll cook it for you. You don’t need to be in the final year to get delicious food from your juniors. And she’s a nice girl, and she’ll prepare it without any reluctance. Not like the peeps in his year — ”

“I know I have some unfinished task; I promise I’ll do that!” I interrupted him.

(He was talking to one of my other seniors and sounded quite displeased. And this was probably because of me.)

“You better do it tomorrow,” he said, giving me a sullen countenance.

13th December 2018.

“All these lights — so beautiful! This place is a delight during the Gita Mahotsav,” I uttered while clicking photographs from my phone. “I’m sure the next thing you’ll do is post your quotes or poems — or I should say ‘Original works’, using these pics you clicked as a background,” he said aloud. “Damn Right!” I agreed.

16th March 2019. “She looks lost!” he remarked and added, “Go ask her!”

“Really?” I confirmed the sincerity of his speech.

He said, “Yes.”

21st December 2018.

“Hello.”

“Hey, C — U — Are you free right now? Do you have ten minutes?”

“Uhh, not exactly! I’m in Jaisalmer with my family; we’ll be leaving our hotel room in about ten minutes, I guess — to visit some forts, dunes and all that thing. What is it? Anything urgent?

“Well I just woke up and saw your FIFTY WhatsApp Statuses — and it just freaked me out! So I thought I should call you to ask if everything’s all right or not.”

“It’s all good. It was some old stuff — some of my earlier works that I put on my Story.”

“Man, you look somewhat preoccupied. When I checked my phone, I mused, ‘What happened last night that vexed this boy so much to spew out on the Stories, huh?’ If there’s anything, then you must tell. Okay? People get worried. Next time, do let me know.

“Sure.”

24th January 2019.

“And it’s absolutely correct that a bond needs time to build,” he said, took a sigh and continued, “If you invest your time with all good intentions, you’re doing your part right — no matter what sort of relationship it is; no matter what response you get in return from the other side, but your actions would give them something to contemplate. And it’s quite natural for people to lose touch with you; their views about you might change — the ones for whom you were a good companion once, might give you the title of ‘A chatty guy who unnecessarily cracks jokes’. Even if they don’t associate with you anymore, but if ‘Honesty’ and ‘The Acknowledgment of Personal Space’ were the bedrocks of the relationship, then that camaraderie and togetherness would last.” He paused and looked at my still expressions and remarked, “Wait — What were we talking about, huh? Damn! How just we strayed into this course of a grave discussion. We were talking about Haiku, right?”

“No, we finished that thing; I was telling you about foot and meter in poetry,” I told him. “Oh! Da Dum, Dum Da, Dum Dum, Da Da Dum, Da Dum Da,” he recited. “I have only used the iambs — Penta and Tetra! It requires a lot of efforts to put words in that scheme,” I stated. “Yes,” he agreed and added, “And one should practise and learn these things if he/she is passionate about this art of writing. The more you do, the more you’ll learn how beautiful it is!” “That’s why I write a lot,” I said. “Good. Try to take out time for other things as well — for people as well. Good ones respect genuineness. Sometimes a birthday wish can elate someone. And thanks for accompanying me,” he said, and all of a sudden, he cried, “Well, the treat was on me, so you should say Thanks!” “Well, thank you for today,” I said in bewilderment.

24th January 2020

“Two days back someone mentioned you and all those thoughts of last April rushed in — my head’s full of them,” I murmured. The quotes and posters in my room watched me as I grew restless and walked across the room. I took my phone and read the poetry that I wrote last month.

I can’t handle this like Bo Burnham

You handled it pretty well!

A diligent cheerful crazy man

Always had a tale to tell.

Sorry for not keeping the syllable count

Which you asked me to do

So much in my head, Can’t tell the amount

The iambs and all the haikus.

Wish someone could snatch the phone again

And send texts to all my contacts

Your creepy smile veiled all your pain.

Your volubility had an impact!

You’d have helped me to write a better piece

And many things could have been done!

’Cause what my work and my mates need

A nod from eight-three-one.

“Nice try, boy! I have a few corrections,” I heard a voice in my head.
['Charchit Upreti']
['Story', '831', 'Mirage', 'Cu', 'Happy Birthday']