Friends Forever
Dissecting the vehicles in two rows the tram kept on going. At 76 R.A.K Road junction, near the Calcutta Muslim Institute many people got off and the tram was almost empty.
There were only a few people and most of them were old. Halting again and again, the tram kept creating a jam all along. These days many Calcuttans do not prefer to ride on the tram. For them riding the tram is a sheer waste of time and they believe that it should be discarded from the ‘City of Joy’. But the State Govt. levels it as the heritage and pride of the city. Sujay, a school teacher in his late fifties, was on his way to the Writers’ Building, the State Secretariat. He got onto the tram thinking that it would take him right in front of his destination. But his fate took the other way round. He took out the Bengali newspaper ‘Anadabazar’ from his bag and began glancing through it.
The sunny bright sky began to get cloudier and a heavy storm seemed imminent. The weather of Calcutta had become almost unpredictable. Sujay had left home with a sunny sky. His wife had reminded him to take an umbrella. He had however paid no attention to it. As lightening streaked across the blackening sky, in a sudden blow the paper flew away from his hand. When he bent down to get it, his eye fell on a man who was just sitting opposite to him. He could not spot out where he had met him but he was sure that he had met him. He felt that he had known the man for years. But he couldn’t recall where he had met him. He simply could not avert his eyes from him. He pretended to read the newspaper but he kept on observing what the man was doing.
The whole mystery was soon revealed to him when the conductor came to collect money for the tickets. He saw a Bangladeshi passport in the man’s purse. Suddenly he felt his heart leap within himself. He recognized the man. He was none other than John, his childhood friend. But why did John come to Calcutta? Why did he wear an ashen look on his face? Was he not the most cheerful person he had ever met? The hail of questions kept on coming. His mind went back to the year 1971. The independence war was going on in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The Pakistani army started its programme of genocide all around. Great havoc raged everywhere. As the Indian Govt. extended its helping hand to the Muktijudhas (the freedom fighters), the Pakistani Army targeted the Hindus. They destroyed the temples, burnt the houses and killed the innocent people. Many Hindus started to take refuge in the Church compound or in the houses of Christians. Sujay’s house was in a Christian populated area near Dhaka. His father Sukumar Das was a teacher in a Missionary school. Sensing the great danger, he took shelter in the house of one of his Christian colleagues. It was John’s house. John’s father received them with great warmth and did all he could to fulfill their needs. To prove them as Christians, John’s father gave them a Rosary each and taught them how to make the sign of the Cross.
During the war, the children were forced to remain inside the house. The schools were closed indefinitely. Those days John and Sujay became very good friends. Sujay used to call John’s father kakababu (uncle) and his mother kakima (aunty). Their religion was no way a barrier. They used to play, sleep and even sometimes take meals together from the same plate. One day it so happened that the Army came to their house in search of Hindus. John’s father being a respectable Christian leader introduced Sujay’s father as his own brother. In front of the Army all of them made the sign of the Cross and showed their Rosaries. The Army left them with a warning not to give shelter to any Hindus. After the war was over, Sujay went back to his house. But he continued to foster his friendship with John. They were so close that many mistook them to be brothers.
In 1974 a famine broke out in Bangladesh. Many Hindus left Bangladesh and came to Calcutta in search of food. Sujay’s family too came to Calcutta. Initially their plan was to go back once the crisis was over. But the following year the assassination of the father of the nation, Bangabandu Shikh Mujibar Rahaman created turmoil in Bangladesh. The Military took over the helm of the Government. Many fanatic Muslims started to forcibly take over the property of the Hindus. Once again it became an unsafe haven for Hindus. At this juncture, Sujay’s father decided to settle in Calcutta itself. They went to Bangladesh and sold all their property at a low price and retuned to Calcutta. Sujay still remembered how painful the experience was for all of them. John accompanied him till the station. Just before departure both of them embraced and cried. They were quite sure that they might not meet again. They promised to keep in touch. Initially they did so. But in the course of time, they lost track of each other.
Years went by. Sujay’s father died, Sujay moved on with his life and eventually he got married. He began to teach in a Jesuit School. Many a times, he thought of visiting his ancestral place in Bangladesh. But thinking about the passport, the visa and the formalities involved he changed his mind. Ruminating over the past, his eyes filled with tears. He wished to get back those memorable days. He was so glad to find his childhood friend all of us sudden. For a while Sujay thought whether to approach John or not. Will he recognize me? Is he really John? Questions filled his mind.
“No I must meet him” he whispered to himself. ‘But how to address him? Should I call him bandhu (friend), as I used to call him?’ Finally he took courage and went up to him. He asked him in the Bangladeshi local accent, “Are you John?”
“Yes, but who are you?” John asked.
“Bandhu I am Sujay. Don’t you remember me? During the Independence war we stayed in your house. We played together!”
John eyes were filled with tears. He hugged him.
“How are you? How is kakababu? When did you come to Calcutta? Where are you staying?” Sujay posed forward many questions without taking a breath.
“All are keeping well,” he replied in a rather low voice.
Sujay left his seat and sat next to him. He noticed some sort of depression and exhaustion in John’s face. He asked him “What brought you to Calcutta?”
John gave a smile and showed him a bag full of medical prescriptions and some reports. He understood the matter and did not want to elaborate on the issue at this juncture. He requested him to come up to his home. But John said that he had already made an appointment with the Doctor, and at that moment he was on his way to meet the Doctor. He promised him that the next day he would be meeting him at his House.
The next day John went to meet Sujay at his Park Circus house. The moment he rang the calling bell Sujay came out and opened the door.
“Bandhu come in, I am waiting for you” Sujay exclaimed with joy.
John took a brief look. The photos of Mother Teresa, Tagore and Vivekananda were pasted on the wall. At one corner the harmonium and the tabla set were kept.
“Bandhu, you still play the Harmonium and the tabla?” John asked.
“Sometimes, but my wife is a music teacher. You know I married her because of her melodious voice.” They broke into laughter.
Then Sujay made him sit and called the entire family. He introduced him to all of them as his best friend. He even told them that he was alive only because of the kindness of John’s family during the war. He was indebted to him for his life. John requested him not to make a big fuss about it. But Sujay kept on telling good things about him and his family. His happiness was visible in his face. He asked his wife to get some rosogulla and lal cha (black tea).
After tea, they went to the terrace. Sujay asked him about the report he got from the Doctor. ‘Not good news. The doctor said that I have a kidney problem. My one kidney is already damaged, and the another one is also in the process. If I can’t replace my kidney soon I will die. What will happen to my children bandhu?’ As he said these words tears started to roll down his cheeks.
“Do not worry. Tomorrow I will take you to Dr. Roy, the best doctor in the city. He is known to me.” assured Sujay and he switched over to some other topic.
The next day Sujay took him over to Dr. Roy. The Doctor saw all the reports and asked him to perform some more additional tests in his clinic itself. After examining the entire report the doctor told him that he was already in an advanced stage of kidney failure. His one kidney has to be replaced immediately. As the discussion was on, Sujay asked the Doctor, “Can a person survive with one kidney?”
“Of course”, replied the doctor.
Immediately Sujay said that he would donate one of his kidneys for his friend. John was stunned. He said he could not be so selfish. He did not want to put Sujay’s life in danger. Sujay said that he was still alive only because of the kindness John’s family had showed during the independence war. Now how could he allow his friend to die in front of him? He repeated the words of the Doctor that a person can survive with only one kidney. John said that he would take his kidney provided his wife and children gave the consent.
Sujay took him to his house. In front his wife and children he declared that he was going to denote a kidney. Initially his wife showed her discontent. Then Sujay narrated the particular incident of John’s father saving them from the Army. He took out the Rosary from his pocket and told her how that particular Rosary had saved him. He concluded with a question to his wife, “How can I allow my life-giver to die in front of me?”
She apologized and requested John to take his friend’s gift. This time he could not say no. He embraced Sujay and said, “I have never come across a friend like you. I am indebted to you forever”.
On the scheduled day both of them were admitted in the hospital. Dr. Roy did the Kidney transplant operation. It was a successful one. After being released from the hospital John went to Sujay’s house. He stayed there for a few days. Then the time came for John’s departure. This time he said, “Bandhu, the border should not be a barrier. Your limb is in my body. From now onwards we shall be meeting often.”
Sujay accompanied him till the Indo-Bangla border. Both of them made a lot of promises. Sujay gave him a farewell hug and wished him all the best. John began to walk. The moment he left the Indian soil and entered into the ‘no man’s land’ he waved his hand and shouted, “We are friends forever”.
Sujay waved his hand and said, “Yes bandhu, we are friends forever.”
Once again he looked at John but by then he had already entered into the Bangladeshi soil. God alone knew when they would meet again in the unknown future…
Dissecting the vehicles in two rows the tram kept on going. At 76 R.A.K Road junction, near the Calcutta Muslim Institute many people got off and the tram was almost empty.
There were only a few people and most of them were old. Halting again and again, the tram kept creating a jam all along. These days many Calcuttans do not prefer to ride on the tram. For them riding the tram is a sheer waste of time and they believe that it should be discarded from the ‘City of Joy’. But the State Govt. levels it as the heritage and pride of the city. Sujay, a school teacher in his late fifties, was on his way to the Writers’ Building, the State Secretariat. He got onto the tram thinking that it would take him right in front of his destination. But his fate took the other way round. He took out the Bengali newspaper ‘Anadabazar’ from his bag and began glancing through it.
The sunny bright sky began to get cloudier and a heavy storm seemed imminent. The weather of Calcutta had become almost unpredictable. Sujay had left home with a sunny sky. His wife had reminded him to take an umbrella. He had however paid no attention to it. As lightening streaked across the blackening sky, in a sudden blow the paper flew away from his hand. When he bent down to get it, his eye fell on a man who was just sitting opposite to him. He could not spot out where he had met him but he was sure that he had met him. He felt that he had known the man for years. But he couldn’t recall where he had met him. He simply could not avert his eyes from him. He pretended to read the newspaper but he kept on observing what the man was doing.
The whole mystery was soon revealed to him when the conductor came to collect money for the tickets. He saw a Bangladeshi passport in the man’s purse. Suddenly he felt his heart leap within himself. He recognized the man. He was none other than John, his childhood friend. But why did John come to Calcutta? Why did he wear an ashen look on his face? Was he not the most cheerful person he had ever met? The hail of questions kept on coming. His mind went back to the year 1971. The independence war was going on in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The Pakistani army started its programme of genocide all around. Great havoc raged everywhere. As the Indian Govt. extended its helping hand to the Muktijudhas (the freedom fighters), the Pakistani Army targeted the Hindus. They destroyed the temples, burnt the houses and killed the innocent people. Many Hindus started to take refuge in the Church compound or in the houses of Christians. Sujay’s house was in a Christian populated area near Dhaka. His father Sukumar Das was a teacher in a Missionary school. Sensing the great danger, he took shelter in the house of one of his Christian colleagues. It was John’s house. John’s father received them with great warmth and did all he could to fulfill their needs. To prove them as Christians, John’s father gave them a Rosary each and taught them how to make the sign of the Cross.
During the war, the children were forced to remain inside the house. The schools were closed indefinitely. Those days John and Sujay became very good friends. Sujay used to call John’s father kakababu (uncle) and his mother kakima (aunty). Their religion was no way a barrier. They used to play, sleep and even sometimes take meals together from the same plate. One day it so happened that the Army came to their house in search of Hindus. John’s father being a respectable Christian leader introduced Sujay’s father as his own brother. In front of the Army all of them made the sign of the Cross and showed their Rosaries. The Army left them with a warning not to give shelter to any Hindus. After the war was over, Sujay went back to his house. But he continued to foster his friendship with John. They were so close that many mistook them to be brothers.
In 1974 a famine broke out in Bangladesh. Many Hindus left Bangladesh and came to Calcutta in search of food. Sujay’s family too came to Calcutta. Initially their plan was to go back once the crisis was over. But the following year the assassination of the father of the nation, Bangabandu Shikh Mujibar Rahaman created turmoil in Bangladesh. The Military took over the helm of the Government. Many fanatic Muslims started to forcibly take over the property of the Hindus. Once again it became an unsafe haven for Hindus. At this juncture, Sujay’s father decided to settle in Calcutta itself. They went to Bangladesh and sold all their property at a low price and retuned to Calcutta. Sujay still remembered how painful the experience was for all of them. John accompanied him till the station. Just before departure both of them embraced and cried. They were quite sure that they might not meet again. They promised to keep in touch. Initially they did so. But in the course of time, they lost track of each other.
Years went by. Sujay’s father died, Sujay moved on with his life and eventually he got married. He began to teach in a Jesuit School. Many a times, he thought of visiting his ancestral place in Bangladesh. But thinking about the passport, the visa and the formalities involved he changed his mind. Ruminating over the past, his eyes filled with tears. He wished to get back those memorable days. He was so glad to find his childhood friend all of us sudden. For a while Sujay thought whether to approach John or not. Will he recognize me? Is he really John? Questions filled his mind.
“No I must meet him” he whispered to himself. ‘But how to address him? Should I call him bandhu (friend), as I used to call him?’ Finally he took courage and went up to him. He asked him in the Bangladeshi local accent, “Are you John?”
“Yes, but who are you?” John asked.
“Bandhu I am Sujay. Don’t you remember me? During the Independence war we stayed in your house. We played together!”
John eyes were filled with tears. He hugged him.
“How are you? How is kakababu? When did you come to Calcutta? Where are you staying?” Sujay posed forward many questions without taking a breath.
“All are keeping well,” he replied in a rather low voice.
Sujay left his seat and sat next to him. He noticed some sort of depression and exhaustion in John’s face. He asked him “What brought you to Calcutta?”
John gave a smile and showed him a bag full of medical prescriptions and some reports. He understood the matter and did not want to elaborate on the issue at this juncture. He requested him to come up to his home. But John said that he had already made an appointment with the Doctor, and at that moment he was on his way to meet the Doctor. He promised him that the next day he would be meeting him at his House.
The next day John went to meet Sujay at his Park Circus house. The moment he rang the calling bell Sujay came out and opened the door.
“Bandhu come in, I am waiting for you” Sujay exclaimed with joy.
John took a brief look. The photos of Mother Teresa, Tagore and Vivekananda were pasted on the wall. At one corner the harmonium and the tabla set were kept.
“Bandhu, you still play the Harmonium and the tabla?” John asked.
“Sometimes, but my wife is a music teacher. You know I married her because of her melodious voice.” They broke into laughter.
Then Sujay made him sit and called the entire family. He introduced him to all of them as his best friend. He even told them that he was alive only because of the kindness of John’s family during the war. He was indebted to him for his life. John requested him not to make a big fuss about it. But Sujay kept on telling good things about him and his family. His happiness was visible in his face. He asked his wife to get some rosogulla and lal cha (black tea).
After tea, they went to the terrace. Sujay asked him about the report he got from the Doctor. ‘Not good news. The doctor said that I have a kidney problem. My one kidney is already damaged, and the another one is also in the process. If I can’t replace my kidney soon I will die. What will happen to my children bandhu?’ As he said these words tears started to roll down his cheeks.
“Do not worry. Tomorrow I will take you to Dr. Roy, the best doctor in the city. He is known to me.” assured Sujay and he switched over to some other topic.
The next day Sujay took him over to Dr. Roy. The Doctor saw all the reports and asked him to perform some more additional tests in his clinic itself. After examining the entire report the doctor told him that he was already in an advanced stage of kidney failure. His one kidney has to be replaced immediately. As the discussion was on, Sujay asked the Doctor, “Can a person survive with one kidney?”
“Of course”, replied the doctor.
Immediately Sujay said that he would donate one of his kidneys for his friend. John was stunned. He said he could not be so selfish. He did not want to put Sujay’s life in danger. Sujay said that he was still alive only because of the kindness John’s family had showed during the independence war. Now how could he allow his friend to die in front of him? He repeated the words of the Doctor that a person can survive with only one kidney. John said that he would take his kidney provided his wife and children gave the consent.
Sujay took him to his house. In front his wife and children he declared that he was going to denote a kidney. Initially his wife showed her discontent. Then Sujay narrated the particular incident of John’s father saving them from the Army. He took out the Rosary from his pocket and told her how that particular Rosary had saved him. He concluded with a question to his wife, “How can I allow my life-giver to die in front of me?”
She apologized and requested John to take his friend’s gift. This time he could not say no. He embraced Sujay and said, “I have never come across a friend like you. I am indebted to you forever”.
On the scheduled day both of them were admitted in the hospital. Dr. Roy did the Kidney transplant operation. It was a successful one. After being released from the hospital John went to Sujay’s house. He stayed there for a few days. Then the time came for John’s departure. This time he said, “Bandhu, the border should not be a barrier. Your limb is in my body. From now onwards we shall be meeting often.”
Sujay accompanied him till the Indo-Bangla border. Both of them made a lot of promises. Sujay gave him a farewell hug and wished him all the best. John began to walk. The moment he left the Indian soil and entered into the ‘no man’s land’ he waved his hand and shouted, “We are friends forever”.
Sujay waved his hand and said, “Yes bandhu, we are friends forever.”
Once again he looked at John but by then he had already entered into the Bangladeshi soil. God alone knew when they would meet again in the unknown future…
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