Vinay
Name – Vinay Thakur
Age – 24
Education – high school and a course in piano playing.
Occupation – unemployed
Marital status – single
Hobbies – playing piano, singing.
Jagdeesh was with principal and they wanted to meet the students to make them understand the seriousness of the matter. They went to the house of Vinay Thakur. Raviraj was known at the house because he had met the parents several times. Parents were nice people. Mother was a teacher and father had an office job. They got a small regular family car which hadn’t been used for months now and owned a silver brown Santro.
Vinay was talking in his room. But there was no one else. Principal chuckled. He wanted to go inside and talk to Vinay. Vinay told someone to excuse for sometime. He immediately recognized Raviraj and touched his feet in respect. Then he introduced principal to someone. Principal couldn't see nobody. Pity was that the boy wasn't acting strange. He was completely in consciousness and just like before the accident. Vinay wasn't his favorite student. Even once Raviraj shouted at Vinay because of dirty uniform and sent a note to his home. But right now he was feeling happy after meeting an old student. Vinay was better than he expected. The conditions of others make him feel sorrow and responsible. Such bright students. Such terrible mishappening. Vinay wanted to show him something and he took out a Yamaha piano from inside the study table somewhere. It was in a good condition and seemed new. It might be his birthday present of this year. Vinay played some nice songs and symphonies on piano which was very much liked by both principal and Jagdeesh. And Vinay told someone about the history of the symphony and about the life of Beethoven and Bach. Jagdeesh pinched the principal lightly.
‘Vinay,’ princial asked, ‘you ever meet anyone else from your classmates after your schooling was done.’
‘You mean if I am in touch with someone?’ Vinay asked.
‘Aha, do you know what are they doing or anything else? I am just curious,’ principal asked.
Vinay put pressure on his thoughts and tried to obtain some memory. He moved fingers and then a smile came to his face. And then smile faded.
‘Yes, I met Aniket once before he committed suicide.’
‘Oh, how terrible. I am sorry to ask you such a thing.’ Principal told him.
‘No please, sir. It is not right if a principal would say sorry to a student. And you are my elder on that. He just jumped from the third floor. No big deal, except that he fell on his head and his hairstyle ruined. He wasn't my friend or something. He wasn't the friend of nobody. Nobody was the friend of anyone,’ then Vinay started playing again.
Principal wanted to shout on him again for how could he speak in disrespect of his fellow student who was not even alive. But it was not a right place to say such a thing and not even the right time. Vinay wasn't a school-boy anymore and he could express himself in anyway he wanted. And besides that principal didn't want to tangle with him because Jagdeesh told him that the gas couldn't be trusted. One couldn’t see the effect of the gas. Perhaps Vinay was only looking all-right from surface but from inside he could be completely different for good or for bad. He could be a sleeping volcano or a monster waiting to be provoked. Raviraj tried to concentrate on the symphonies because those were really making him calmer. Vinay was really good at this and Jagdeesh felt that too.
After sometime Vinay's mother bought cookies and tea for the guests and sit there to listen to their conversation. It was her old village habit which never left her.
There were things that he wanted to discuss with Vinay. About his dreams and hobbies or if he was experiencing anything strange. But his reply was the second sign of that accident they saw since coming. First was Vinay's talking with someone who didn't even exist. Jagdeesh remembered that he talked to himself sometimes while working and walking alone. Sometimes extreme or potent thoughts come out thorough mouth. People speak in dreams often and they swear unconsciously sometimes. Speaking and thinking mix-up sometimes and result in this. But Vinay was not talking like a mistake. He was talking so naturally and comfortably like people talk to peers or brother. He shouldn’t have.
Vinay was trying to share his tea with someone right now and mother was looking him like a statue. It was an everyday thing for her now so they could understand. She might cry when they would leave. But Vinay was still in the good condition. Speaking with the air wasn't too bad. They were expecting Vinay to walk on the walls or explode.
Symphonies were mixing nectar to the atmosphere and tea-cookies were perfect combination. It was the best thing in that room and extremely good for the ears. Mother was talking in slow voice to the principal about her family and about her son. That how things changed after her son's schooling and how she was looking forward to the visit of principal. She told the principal that her son was not like before and had become unnatural and unpractical. That Vinay kept talking to someone all day long and kept playing this piano like it was the only thing remaining in the whole universe. She had no objection with that though she wanted him to live like other boys of the neighbor. To study and earn. She wanted him to drive the car and motor-cycle. And to live for taste and beauty. But the things had changed. Though, she was proud of him and kept saying that he played so good piano. It was true. She told them that they organized a small show in the local park so their son could show his talent to other people as well. She invited them also and they accepted it. She wanted his old school friends in that show too. So it would make him remember the good old days and make him realize that life got more to it. Now that felt like irony. Innocent woman didn't know anything. She was luckier than the other's parents. Principal told her that he was in contact with a few of fellow students of Vinay (which was a lie) and he would pass the message to all of them.
Principal had an illusion for a second. He felt like cup was moved slightly itself. Then he started wondering what would happen to him if he was in the lab that day. Could his mature mind shield such a powerful thing which ruined the lives of so many? It wasn't a good idea to put the chemical in school laboratory. And it was an absolutely ridiculous decision to show the laboratory (specially the one full of strange liquids) to the final year arts class. Well, time couldn't be rewind. So it was better to make plans for future and damage control for the things that were remaining. The ruins of that incident were so ugly, his students. Some were dead and some were alive. Perhaps dead ones were luckier. He was feeling sorry for everyone of them. For this boy playing the piano here. It was so peaceful to listen to him. Painful peace. Vinay was playing his heart out. He was completely one with this electronic instrument and all the ears of the room that were listening to him. He was controlling the vibes of the room with his fingers. It was magical. Principal was feeling proud that Vinay was the student of his own school once. It was true that gas couldn’t be judged or predicted. Perhaps he was looking great or different or not doing jobs or study but the way Vinay was moving his fingers on the keyboard, it was marvelous.
Principal asked Vinay on departure to walk with them to their car which was outside the house near the old electric iron pole. The thought of crossing the door and going outside sent shivers to Vinay's body. He couldn't. He simply couldn't. But saying no to his principal (who was even a guest now) was too much of disrespect. But. He looked at his mother in disbelief. Only she could help him right now. Only if she wanted to. How could she let this happen when she knew that he didn't like to go out like this. This simple thing was the most difficult task for Vinay. And principal asked that intentionally. Vinay had to do this now. He combed his hairs for the first time in weeks and while going out principal had another illusion that the door opened itself. This time it was not an illusion. He was sure about that. And even Jagdeesh noticed that too because he exchanged a quick glance of agreement. Vinay wasn't talking to empty air all that time. There was something in the room that couldn
't be seen. Jagdeesh took out a notepad and wrote ‘metaphysical’ over it. Meeting Vinay and drinking tea wasn’t his motive to come here. He had other important things to do. He might be wishing secretly that Vinay would show something extraordinary or this visit would be disappointing. Visit wasn’t a failure. Something was there/ It was around. It wasn't a friend. It could be a highly enhanced or evolved imagination of Vinay or some other devil they couldn't guess. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. Gas had played his cruel game there too.
On the way back Vinay was continuously talking on his left side of body and was even touching the air like a substance matter. It calmed Vinay greatly and was preparing him to move out. The last time he saw the sunlight was one and half months ago. He asked principal for the reason of arrival. Principal told him the whole truth. Vinay throw a glance at his left side again with a question in his eyes.
Why are you telling me all this? To make my life worst. Isn't it enough? What it would change? Vinay asked four questions at once.
Trying to make it right again is my only motive. To preserve what is remaining. Principal answered him.
Done is done. Nothing would change now. You can’t even imagine how it feels like and you want to make a change. You got no idea about its nature. It is real. So real. More than you and me. More than this universe. More than the things. It is like music, God and time. You cant do anything about these. You has to accept it as your own because these are more powerful and everlasting than me and you.
Principal wondered if he was talking to a boy who was barely out of his teenage. It was so powerful, right. And it was inside him. Vinay was telling the truth. More than they thought that it would have been. It was unknown, strange and evil. It could move things and change the nature of matter, mind and life. Emotions and feelings. It could convert the right to wrong and wrong to right. Minus to plus. Multiply to divide. It could change the meaning of rules. It could change the definitions of happiness and sadness. It could play God or Evil. It could play resurrection or antichrist. And it was playing. Principal was angry at Jagdeesh and himself for being a reason of this stupidity. He rubbed his hands on the oily hairs of Vinay before getting inside the car. Jagdeesh was outside and was out of this whole drama for all the time. He was thinking about the more practical things. He looked through the windshield to the principal. Fucking old man.
Principal was watching Jagdeesh with the eyes of request. Vinay was only waiting for these two gentlemen to leave the goddamn place so he could get back inside his house again. Jagdeesh came closer to Vinay and inspected him briefly.
‘Some people get in accidents sometimes. It is no body's fault actually,’ Jagdeesh told him.
‘Yes, sir.’ Vinay gave a small laugh.
‘Jagdeesh come inside quickly.’ Principal called from inside the Sedan.
‘COMING,’ Then he turned towards Vinay again. ‘Accidents happen but the most important thing after an accident is balancing it.’
‘Hmmm,’ Vinay looked confused.
‘To lower the shock. To pick up the things that are survived and to throw away the toxic wastes. That is what they teach science students in the school what you art people don't know about. To dispose the toxic wastes after the experiment very carefully and immediately,’ Jagdeesh told him. ‘We are good at disposal.’
‘What is your point mister?’ It was frustrating for Vinay.
‘That you, Vinay Thakur, is nothing but a toxic waste now. A threat to the nation and society.’
‘Aha, I am listening. Wow.’ vinay said.
‘I got no choice. Sorry kid,’ Jagdeesh produced a revolver and shoot Vinay from close range.
Only it couldn’t touch vinay but stopped by something.
‘You shouldn’t save me,’ Vinay told someone. ‘He was doing this with good intentions. Besides it would end up all shit in an easy way.’
Then Vinay turned towards his home with hands in his pockets. It was evening and cold dryness was covering the city with dark. There was less traffic on the roads than usual and sounds were breaking the silences. Jagdeesh opened the door of the car and sat inside 'I couldn't do this.’
'Do what? I heard the gunshot,' principal asked 'I told you not to harm any of those. They are not dangerous. Keep sitting inside a stupid room all the time isn't dangerous for God sake.’
‘It is. Sometimes it is.’ Jagdeesh replied.
‘Listen. It was all your mistake and now you are making up for it in worst way possible,’ Principal's voice raised. ‘Don't make me forget our old friendship. They are my students and I would go to any extent to help them.’
‘Shut up and get out of here. Start the engine,’ Jagdeesh wasn't comfortable in the creepy silence on that place. As if the thing was still here around them.
‘I am not joking.’
‘Drive.’
A little reunion
Batch of 1999 Page 22
