Fantasy Versus Reality
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By Hiranya Borah
Copyright 2016 Hiranya Borah
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Preface
While returning from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern part of India I had a halt at Guwahati for three days. On the intervening nights of 25-26 and 26-27 December, 2016 at Guwahati, I was invited by two friends for dinner (actually, for supper only).
I spent the first intervening night with Mr. Sanjib Gohain Barua and his family, a class mate of mine for five years in Cotton College. Presently, he is a very senior civil servant of Government of Assam. Highlights of the first evening was, apart from good food, meeting with some successful ladies of Assam. Sanjib invited Mrs. Anuradha Pujari and Mrs.Kalpana Thakuria Haq along with their respective families for the party. Both the ladies are household names of Assam as successful writers and poets. I did not know that Anuradha is a good singer also. To my pleasant surprise, beautiful songs of Anuradha and Cos enthralled the evening at Sanjib's place.
However, my heart started thumping as soon as my friend, senior Police Officer and another classmate of mine at Cotton College, Mr. Padip Saloi told me that, our young days' heartthrob Madhurima Choudhury nee Goswami, the first Bihurani of Assam would also join us at our Dinner Party.
When she came at 9 PM, I was awestruck at her beauty even today. Still she can kill hundreds of lesser mortals like me with her deadly smile. I did not know how time passed like a Concorde. Her beautiful songs were highlight of the evening.
Finally, when we finished our dinner by half past one in the morning, I was able to take permission from Mr. and Mrs. Madhurima Goswami to write a ebook on her.
Before leaving, she promised me to keep in touch with me though I know very well that she was lying!!!
Actually, I know nothing about her as a lady who happened to be heartthrob for many of my generation except that she was an excellent dancer and a reasonably good singer. Therefore, I decided to write something about an unknown heartthrob of millions in the perspective of a successful man on his own rights.
As such, one should not expect anything about personal life of Madhurima Goswami in this book. Sorry Madhurima, I could not keep my promise to write a book on you!
I am using my wife’s photograph on the cover page, as she is the mainstay in my real life irrespective of all my world of fantasy. The story is based on fantasy; but photo on the cover page is reality of my life.
I thank all my friends and relatives for their encouraging words. I am thankful to my family members for their constant support. My sincere thanks are always due for Smashwarods for their support.
Author
Chapter I: I know nothing about her
While returning from Kohima, Nagaland I had a halt at Guwahati for three days. On the intervening nights of 26-27 December, 2016 at Guwahati, I was invited by a friend for dinner.
I reached around 7 PM with my casual dress as the host and his wife are my close friends for last thirty odd years. However, my heart started thumping as soon as my friend, senior Police Officer and a classmate of mine at Cotton College, Mr. Pranab Barman told me that, our young days' heartthrob Aparajeeta Saikia nee Choudhury a renowned actress of Assam would join us at our Dinner Party. I felt like, I was cheated by my friend for not informing me well in advance who were coming for the party which resulted me not at the best of attire. I scolded my friend for not informing about her visit beforehand.
He smiled with an intriguing twinkle in his eyes and told, ‘Do not worry, she is no more the glamourous lady whom we used to adore as youngsters. She is a mother of two employed children.’
‘So, what? We are also old now!’ I sighed. Pranab did not replied. Instead he yelled to an orderly to arrange drinks for us.
After second peg of whisky, we started our dirty gossips whenever Mrs. Barman was away from us.
When she came at 9 PM, I was awestruck at her beauty even today. Still she can kill hundreds of lesser mortals like me with her beautiful smile. She was introduced to me as a successful senior bureaucrat and a successful writer.
When Pranab tried to say something on her, I interrupted, ‘Do not tell me her introduction. She happened to be one of my most favourite dancers of all time.’
Again, that beautiful smile hit me very core of my heart. With an apologetic smile, I shook my hand with Aparajeeta’s husband and commented, ‘I was like a fly sitting on a glass container of sweet, so far, your wife is concerned!’
I know my comment made her husband more than happy. Why not? The lady who stole hearts of many young and old with her beauty and charm at her prime, is his life partner sharing everything; yes, everything including a common bed. The very thought of sharing a common bed itself was enough to spoil my evening party.
Chapter II: The Company
Like many, I was also a fan of her dancing skill. Did I love her, perhaps not. Did I fantasize her at night? The answer is yes. At night, under the quilt in a winter of Guwahati or Delhi, I used to fantasise with many celebrities of our time. But I never fell in love with those celebrities. The list of celebrities is a very long one. However, in that list Aparajeeta was extremely bright. The reason of being bright was, she was from Assam and probably, with little luck, I could have married a girl of that celebrity status. No, I am not demeaning her status nor I am over estimating my status. So, you might be interested to know, who am I!
My starting point of my life was nothing to be boasted at All India level nor even at All Assam level. I was born to a middle-class family whose immediate goal was to make me high school teacher or at most a clerk of a Nationalized Bank. As my sister’s version, my father who had given neither a very good financial support nor an emotional support in my pursuit to excel in my life, surprised to see my ascendency in educational and professional life. I had to fight for my life every time to achieve anything in my life. You can call me a bull dog who has to fight for a meatless bone even!
Naturally, my company of friends was also no different from me. Everyone was ready to fight for a position in the society from the day one and still all of us are fighting a space of our own. Pranab is also no different from any fighting bull dog. He also withered all weathers to float himself in the society just after his arrival on this tough world. The persons who refused to recognize him even as a human being once, now bee line for his favour as a senior police officer.
Chapter III: Opening up
I did not know how time had passed like in a Concorde flight. Aparajeeta’s beautiful songs were highlight of the evening. I did not know she can sing so well. To tease me a little bit, she asked me to choose an Assamese song as her first song for the evening. She sang beautifully my favourite song, ‘Jhil mil Jon jale kapalat, tir bir tara jale nayanat (The moon twinkles on your forehead, stars twinkle at your eyes)’
In between, with a deadly smile, she asked me whether I follow in my life what I write in my books and whether I write true story as well.
I said, ‘sometimes I write true stories with lot of spices and yes, I am little bit truthful about myself also! But why you have asked me the question?'
‘Just to know about you. From what age, did you start your writings?’
‘I got a prize for writing a story for the first time in class eight. My first article was published when I was in class X in an Assamese periodical, Bismoy. My first book was published when I was in second year in graduation. In be
tween, I wrote some articles in some other magazines also. But unfortunately, I decided not to write anything after I reached University for my masters.’ I paused for moment.
‘A few years back, I was told by an astrologer that I might die within two years. Therefore, having no alternative, I started writing on every possible topic.’
Pranab interrupted at this point, ‘He has already published more than fifty books in last two and a half years!’
‘What? Are you mad?’ Aparajeeta exclaimed.
‘Long back, I wrote an article on you also.’ I wanted to see her reaction.
‘What! When did you write?’ Her eyes were about to come out of her sockets.
‘When you won the first major dancing title in 1979.’ I said with a calmness which may ignites many memories.
‘Oh, my God!’ Pointing towards her husband, she said, ‘Yes, I remember the article. But unfortunately, I could not find the person behind the article! I have mentioned about the article many times to you in the past.’ Her surprised reaction gave me an unknown pleasure.
Chapter IV: Final Assault
Because of old age or due to some health reason, now a days, it is very difficult for me to control my urge for an urgent pissing. If I feel for that, I have to rush to the washroom. After taking three-four pegs of whiskey, I had developed the uncontrollable pressure under my belly. I rushed to the washroom and felt relieved only after releasing a gallon of the fluid from my body. As I opened the door of the washroom, I saw Aparajeeta was standing.
She asked me, ‘Why you did not find me thirty years back?’
‘I thought, it was a futile exercise considering my economic and social background. I did not know at that time, whether you would even like to talk with me or not. In a similar situation, my son would have proposed you.’ I tried to explain.
‘I am an artist. We never asses any person on the basis of social or financial status. Who knows, if you had met me as a young man, I would have fallen in love with you!’ With the trademark, deadly smile, she entered to washroom.
I think, that was the final assault on my heart.
Chapter V: The Promise
Finally, when we finished our dinner by half past one in the morning, I was able to take permission from Mr. and Mrs. Aparajeeta to write a ebook on her. She appears to be very happy, so was I.
Before leaving, she promised me to keep in touch with me, though I knew she was lying!!!
Her promise reminded me another promise of a friend who accused me of double standard by asking me, 'My dear friend, do you follow what you are writing?'
I said, 'I do not want to be a saint nor a demon. I am trying to write what is good and what is bad for a person. What you want to follow; it is your choice, so is mine.'
He told me, he is not going to read any of my books in future.
I told him, that is his choice. But I requested him to be in my touch, as I may need his help in future.
He said, 'Hiranya, you are extremely selfish.'
I said, ‘Yes my friend, that is why I am here. I cannot remember the number of persons whom I had elbowed to create some space for me.’
He murmured something about me before leaving. I know those might not be pleasant for me. I tried to forget my friend for the time being.
I was thinking about Aparajeeta again while I was on my way to hotel. Her beautiful face disturbed me till then. I asked myself a question, if before my marriage, had I met Aparajeeta, would I have elbowed her husband to oust him from her life! I always consider myself as an uncanny man in that department. After all, my success rate in winning a heart of a lady might be well above than that of an average Indian. I patted my own back with a lot of appreciation looking at the empty dark road of Guwahati.
Moving inside the quilt, I tried to remember how many times I fantasised sleeping with Aparajeeta before my marriage!!!!!!!
The author is a Government servant and a man of vivid experiences derived from his official postings across the country, travels across India and numerous visits outside India. He is presently placed at New Delhi.
His earlier publications are:
1.Random Thoughts through a Coloured Prism
2. Dilemma of a Young Mind
3. Funny Statistics and Serious Statisticians
4. Melody of Fragrance
5. Akhadya
6. Few Cities through the Lens of Hiranya Borah
7. Guilt: Gift of Winter Spring
8. Beautiful Ghost
9. Great Fighters: Grace of God
10. All Blurred
11. Putting kids to sleep
12.How to become unpopular
13. Soulmates
14. My grumpy Face
15. Love and Worries
16. Discussion of own Birth: A Taboo
17. Interview
18. Indecent Love Affairs
19. My Fair Lady
20.Waiting time
21. Two Stories
22. My Mother: Dashami Borah
23. Parineeta
24. Manorama
25. Unwanted
26. First Attempt
27. A father
28. The Portrait
29. Snapped Thread
30. Only He Knows
31. The Stupid Mother
32. The Same Old Story
33. The Old Scoundrel
34. Third Attempt
35. Some of my First Days and First Nights
36. Snubbed Twice
37. Have You Met the God
38. Frequent Flier
39. Messiah
40. Forgive and Forget
41. To Win or to lose
42. Call Girl
43. Beyond Blood Relation
44. Lady with a Black Car
45. My wife
46.Complete Woman
47. Diwali Gift
48. Romance with a Lady
49. Open Hear Surgery
50. My First Love
51. Replacement
52. Pebbles on My Way Home
53. My First Bengali Book
54. Murder Mystery
55. Niharika
56. Swapping
57. Make a Habit to Thank God
58. Killing of A Bird
59. The Hero
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