One Summer Night

By Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bora

Summertimes! It’d been a common occurrence of long power cuts. Nobody could sleep well. Study well. Or gossip well. The soaring heat was unbearable. The buzzing mosquitoes enormously increased the plight.

In those stifling days, some of the sincere hostel boys devoted themselves to the dream of a better future in the reddish glow of flickering candle flames. They would neither come out of their rooms nor would they curse the miserable nights of summer. They’d just confine themselves in their rooms, opening the windows opposite the door for fresh air, shutting the doors against other hostel boys who’d regarded the hostel life wasn’t just study and studying, rather, a perfect blend of fun, excitement, and study. One such notable room was Tapan da’s. Most of the time, he dined alone, went out alone, studied alone. He didn’t mix up with others. But amusingly, and raising everyone’s eyebrows, he’d an unbelievable number of girl guests in the daytime. The unknown, unfamiliar beautiful girls, wearing their smart outfits, quite often visited his room and stayed inside longer than usual. The other frustrated hostel boys would just pace here and there, nonchalantly, before his room, either to get a glimpse of those beautiful girls or to catch some part of their conversation. But the door was always locked, and their conversation didn’t rise above a certain level. So, it was obvious that he didn’t have a nice reputation amongst his friends as well as juniors. Be it jealousy or frustration on their part, the hostel boys regarded him like an alien. His first-year roommate, who’d been from a remote village, had soon been influenced by his senior roommate. He couldn’t flout the rules being imposed by his senior. He too soon learned how to dine alone, go to the classes alone, or study alone. Of course, sometimes, Tapan da accompanied him to Pan Bazaar in the evening.

One summer night, when the whole surrounding had been submerged in darkness due to a power cut, the hostel boys came out of their rooms and gathered in the verandah. Some gathered in the small field in front of the hostel. Hostel Superintendent’s room was nearby, and the boys never did mistakes on such nights by raising unnecessary hullabaloo that might break the tranquillity and finally get caught in Hostel Superintendent’s attention. He’d been a very strict man and everyone knew how he’d adopted the policy of no mercy if someone crossed the boundary.

As minutes turned into hours in the vain hope of electricity coming back, the boys grew restless and most of them cursed the Electricity Board for such a long duration power cut because the weather was absolutely fine. There was no foreboding of any stormy night. One by one, even the sincere boys sneaked out of their rooms, blowing their candles off, and took part in the gossip with their friends. Strangely enough, Tapan da and his roommate didn’t come out, and the faint glow of candlelight could be seen from the curtained windows. Then, one boy invented an idea of how to break Tapan da’s perseverance and sanity. As planned, a few boys gathered around his room and knocked on the door, without creating an unnecessary commotion. No reply came from inside. Tapan da was certain it was the plan of some of his haters and so he decided to ignore it. The boys knocked on the door and soon ran to the field. Then waited. No response. They came back to his room, then knocked and ran to the field. A burst of faint, half-suppressed laughter broke out amongst them out of that fun-making. Soon it became like a game. To knock on Tapan da’s room and vanish. Knock and vanish.

Gradually Tapan da lost his patience and temper. He soon grew like a tortured tiger being caged before some mocking spectators. He grumbled helplessly. His roommate said nothing but enjoyed the scene.

Suddenly a whisper just waved over the field. A silhouette emerged from the nearby quarter and gradually approached the boys. All the boys instantly resumed their sincerity because it’d been none other than the Hostel Superintendent.

Sir came closer to the boys, and said, “Such a hot night!”

‘‘Yes sir,’’ the boys responded in unison.

Sir looked at the hostel. It was dark except for a faint glow from one room.

‘‘Whose room is that?’’ Sir asked the boys.

‘‘It’s Tapan’s sir,’’- One of Tapan da’s friends said.

“Oh really! What is he doing for so long on this hot and humid night? Is he here?’’

‘‘No Sir. He’s in his room, reading.’’

Sir was impressed. Said, ‘‘Oh such a sincere boy! Try to learn from him. I must meet him.’’

Sir stepped forth and the boys followed him in silence.

Sir knocked on Tapan da’s room. No response. Sir turned to the boys, and said, ‘‘See, how sincere he is!’’

Another knock.

By this time Tapan da lost his conscience and barked from the inside, ‘‘Hey you….? Stop abusing me like this.’’

Needless to say, it was some kind of rough, unsocial words directly aimed at Sir.

Sir got baffled. He didn’t expect such a response from Tapan da. As it was mentioned earlier, Sir was a very strict man. Now he fumed in rage, – ‘‘Hey Tapan, what do you mean? What is ….?’’

Immediately Tapan da got to his feet and rushed to the door and opened it. Before he was the Hostel Superintendent. The little glow that came from his reading table was sufficient to shine on Sir’s angry face. Tapan da shook to his feet. Such a coincidence!

Sir said, – ‘‘Tapan, don’t utter such nonsense words to anyone. Not even to your enemies. Do meet me tomorrow morning at my residence.’’

The trick played well.