Short Story- the Bitter Gulabjaaman

The Bitter Gulabjaman

In this village there were two schools one primary school was meant for boys and the other primary school was for girls only. The post of lady teacher had been lying vacant for the last five months and the teaching work of girls wing had also been given to me. I had been eagerly waiting for the appointment of lady teacher because I needed a company. The town was situated at a distance of about 6kms and I was a daily visitor. In this sandy area the roads were not meant for even cycle. I had to complete this daily journey on foot.

One day when I was just leaving the town boundary, I noticed that an old man and a young girl were waiting for me. They were standing under the tree. When I reached them, the old man pronounced ‘Sat Sri Akal’ I stopped a reciprocated the salute. He informed me that the girl standing by his side was his daughter and she had been appointed as a teacher in the same school where I was functioning. I paid my good wishes to the girl and she also reciprocated. The old man asked me that I should be taking her to the school daily and she shall also be coming back daily to the town because the old man had just retired from service and he has settled in this town. They told me about the location of their house and I also told them the details of my location in the town and also the timing of the school because this was not a case of transfer, but a case of new appointment.

The old man left and we both proceeded to the direction of the school. The girl was not of my dream. But she was a girl and a company which I could enjoy. I noticed that she was with a very few words and most of the time I had been speaking. In the school she took over from me and since both the wings were in one small building, we arranged tea and some eatables jointly. She helped me in preparing tea and also in warming lunch, if any.

She had got no experience and therefore, I had to help her in preparing all the reports and returns and at times she took my help in teaching some new methods of mathematics and also some instructions in the subject of English language too. We both were unmarried and therefore, we had got no hesitations. She was with reservations, but whatever questions were put by me, she answered that question. Within a few days, we were developing love and affections. The love from my side was just time- pass and there was nothing like lover and beloved. She too was not so ahead with love. Since I had been helping her, she was close to me.

Her father met me once or twice and he had got all praise for the help I had been affording to their daughter. I had been called once or twice at their residence and I had been given a very sweet welcome. The people in her house were happy that their daughter could get a companion like myself.

They thought that her honour and respect shall be safe with me.

Once she proceeded on leave for three days and she did not tell me the work for which she was taking leave. I did not bother because it was the end of the calendar year and she was having some casual leaves at her credit. I was also to proceed on leave, but the Block Education Officer gave us directions that only one of the two can go on leave so that the other should be present in the school to avoid complaint from the panchayat. For these two three days I had been going and coming back all alone. On the fourth day, she appeared and we both started our long journey towards the school. I noticed that she was looking somewhat charming. She was wearing a new suit and there were some signs of makeup too. I could calculate that she might have been to the beauty -parlour. But since she was from the other sex, I could not ask such questions from her. But I noticed that she was eager to tell me something.

When we were at half way, I sat on a chabutra which had been constructed under an oak tree. She was still standing and within seconds, she started opening her purse.

She brought out a small envelop. She forwarded that envelop towards me.

- “ What is this?”

- “ Please open it.”

I opened the envelop. There were two or three Gulabjaamans. – “what is the occasion? “You should calculate and tell me what could be the occasion”. For a while I had a complete survey of her body and wearing. I said, “You are looking better. I could imagine that you have found a boy for you.”

She laughed and forwarded her right hand towards me. I took hold of her hand and pressed her and without any further permission from her side, I actually kissed her hand. I got up and we both started towards the school. She had been pressing me to eat the Gulabjamans. But I had been postponing this eating ceremony. I said that we shall be taking this sweet with tea which we shall prepare in the school.

I had been postponing the eating ceremony. She had been pressing hard that I should join her in this happy occasion, but in spite of the fact that she was not a girl of my dream, I could not tolerate that she had been engaged to someone else. I took one Gulabjaman, but it was so bitter as I had been eating something bitter. And from this day onward she was a burden on me. I always kept space and most of the time I completed Journey without speaking any word to her. She once said,

-“You are a changed person.”

-“Yes I am a changed person. I have grown elder.”

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