'I have no idea how it works and I suspect I will have a tough time learning how to use it, but it is, as you young folks say nowadays, quite cool.'
With that, Jayantada walked off, chuckling to himself and leaving Arnab smiling in amusement. At night, Arnab would prepare furiously for the interview that was fast approaching. When he did go for the interview, it ended up being much smoother than he had anticipated. In school and college, Arnab had found himself tongue-tied whenever the spotlight was on him, but now he felt no fear. He walked into the room, looked the three interviewers straight in the eye, and calmly answered all their questions. When one of them asked what his goal in life was, he answered,
'To earn a decent living and to do honest work which I can feel good about.'
All the interviewers smiled, having heard dozens of other candidates bullshit about wanting to improve the lot of people, and of wanting to make a difference to the bank they would work in. Arnab was not the brightest or most highly qualified candidate, but his confidence and disarming honesty won them over. When a day later, he was informed he had got he job, Arnab was ecstatic. Not once did he pause to consider that this newfound self-assurance and confidence had a lot to do with the side of his life that he was intent on leaving behind.
Arnab was at work when he got the call to inform him that he had been selected. He shocked Jayantada and earned glances of disapproval from the few students reading in the library by standing up and shouting 'Yes' at the top of his lungs.
'So Arnab, won a lottery?' Jayantada asked him.
'Even better, I got the bank job!'
Arnab rushed out and returned a few minutes later with a large box of sweets that he proceeded to give out to everyone in sight. All the students and staff alike were caught up in his infectious energy, and soon Arnab found himself mobbed by people wanting to wish him well, and also grab a few free sweets. Even Jayantada grabbed two sweets and wolfed them down. Arnab looked at him with surprise.
'Jayantada, I thought you were watching your blood sugar.'
'Arnab, my boy, its not every day that I both regret losing my best Assistant and celebrate a fine young man like you moving ahead in life.'
He then further shocked Arnab by engulfing him in a bear hug. Arnab hardly remembered anything of the trip back home, so caught up was he in imagining how his life was about to change. He'd earn a fortune compared to what he made now. Add to that the prospect of a steady career, a government house down the line, a car, and it certainly looked like Arnab Bannerjee's lifestyle was about to change so much as to be almost unrecognisable. On the way home, he bought some sweets for Mrs Bagga and chocolates for Chintu. When he reached their house, Mrs Bagga congratulated him profusely while Chintu sulked at first, still remembering the scolding he had got. That disappeared as soon as Arnab produced the chocolates in his pocket. There was one more person Arnab wanted to meet. Someone whom he owed an apology to.
Arnab was planning to change before going to meet Khan, but when he reached his apartment, he was surprised to find Khan pacing the corridor outside his door. He rushed up to Khan, and temporarily forgetting his own strength in his excitement, lifted the old man cleanly up in the air.
'Khan chacha, I got the job!'
He put Khan down when he noticed the forced smile on his face.
'I am so sorry for what I said to you that day. It was not right of me to say that to someone I owe so much to. I hope you're not still angry with me.'
Khan looked down and started to leave, but Arnab stopped him.
'Khan chacha, what's wrong? Aren't you happy for me?'
'No, my son, I am so thrilled for you and to see your dreams come true. It's just that I don't know how to bring up what I came here for.'
'What is it?'
'Nothing, Arnab. Let's just celebrate-it's your day today. Come to my place tomorrow and I'll cook you a dinner you won't forget. Till then, let me get the ingredients. The last time I made Chicken Biryani was on my wedding anniversary 10 years ago.'
Khan laughed and hugged Arnab and left.
Arnab spent the rest of the evening daydreaming about a cabin with 'Arnab Bannerjee, Branch Manager' written on the door.
Things were finally looking up.
***
Arnab's joining date was June 1, and with just about two months to go, he spent the next day planning his next steps. His last day at the college was to be May 15, after which he would take a week off to go visit his relatives in Kolkata. With all the ups and downs of the past year, Arnab realized that he had not called or written to them even once. At lunchtime, Jayantada called to him to join him for lunch, and soon they were tucking into their food at the Cafe.
'Arnab, I forgot to tell you something.' Jayantada said between mouthfuls.
'Mishti's engagement date has been fixed. It's going to be in November, and the crazy girl has already started shopping.'
Arnab smiled and congratulated Jayantada, though he did feel a pang of regret. Hearing about Mishti brought back the one regret he had about the choices he had made. If only things had been different. If only.
That evening, Arnab reached Khan's place at about eight, and found the old man bustling about in the kitchen, running from one corner to another, the ex-army man looking totally out of place amidst the pots and pans.
'Khan chacha, can I help in any way?'
'No, no. You just wait in the living room. I'll be done in just five minutes.'
Arnab pottered around the room, and saw Khan's old boxing gloves lying in the corner that had served as their makeshift gym. He picked them up, smiling as he remembered his boxing lessons, and even more so, the time he had spent with Khan. But then, he had made his choice, hadn't he? Khan walked into the room loudly proclaiming,
'Mr Bank Manager, please join this poor old man for dinner. Who knows, if you like my Biryani, you may give poor old me a huge loan someday at zero interest.'
The two of them ate, chatting away like the old days. There was no mention of Arnab's decision, no discussion of what Arnab had said to Khan. Arnab was grateful for that, and glad that all he had to do that evening was to share his happiness with the man who had given him so much. Over dinner, Khan asked Arnab all about what his work would be like, to which Arnab truthfully replied that he had absolutely no idea of what a bank manager did other than wear a tie and sit in a cabin. The two of the shared in the laughter, and as dinner ended, Khan walked up to a cabinet in the kitchen and produced a bottle of rum.
'Arnab, join me for a drink.'
'Khan chacha, I don't drink.'
As if not hearing him, Khan poured pegs into two glasses, topping them up with Coke before handing one to Arnab.
'My boy, I'm not asking you to get drunk. Just give this old man some company as he gets drunk.'
As Arnab accepted the glass he asked Khan why he was in a mood to drink. In all their months together, he had never seen Khan drink alcohol before. As the two sat down, and Khan took a sip of his drink, he responded.
'Arnab, in my army days, we would all get rations of rum. To keep out the cold, to steady our nerves, and yes, also to prevent us from losing our minds after an operation. Many times in Kashmir, we would come back from patrols or skirmishes-having killed men or seeing our brothers die in our arms. At times like that, I would drink to forget.'
Arnab took a hesitant sip from his glass. It was sweeter than he had imagined, and not altogether unpleasant.
'So, Khan chacha, what are you trying to forget tonight?'
Khan's expression suddenly turned more sombre.