After my MSc examination I casually told my friends in the Coffee House one day that I needed some extra cash to replenish my pocket-money which, till then, was supplied by my father. I said I would like to give tuition classes in science subjects and asked whether they might find such a student for me.

Akmol was one of my friends present there and he immediately said, “Will you teach my sister’s friend? I know her quite well actually because my sister and she are very close.”

I said, “Akmol, you are my friend, how can I take money for tutoring her?”

“Be practical man. She is rich enough to pay the amount. Actually they are a bit conservative and if you teach the daughter of the house they will feel comfortable. They have heard a lot about you from me.”

“So you gave me a clean character certificate?”

“Sophia is an excellent student and a very good girl.”

I started taking classes on Saturdays and Sundays at her Jhautala residence in Kolkata. Sophia was 19 or 20 and a diligent student — her final examinations were just three months away. She was by no means a paragon of beauty but there was something special in her simplicity and sophistication and in her expressive eyes. She had a unique personality, which I liked. But on the very first day she said something that shocked me.

“Will you take tea at our place?”

“Sorry?”

“No you are a Hindu and we are Muslims…”

“So? Do you suggest that I am apprehensive of the possibility of being cast out by taking food here? And then I shall have no other option except conversion to Islam… But for your kind information let me tell you, I eat the flesh of both the animals forbidden in my religion and yours. So you can understand…”

Sophia broke into laughter and that sounded so musical. And despite myself, I started liking her.

Soon enough, the MSc results were out and I got a job at a private company. The salary was moderate but as a starting amount, it was enough for me. Sophia cleared her school leaving examination with flying colours and was admitted to Lady Brabourne College.

Now a college teacher was tutoring her for the physics

honours papers but since that was my subject too, I was especially requested by Sophia and her father to continue helping her at least for a day in a week. Once there was a particular problem, which Sophia felt she could not grasp properly and the next day, I brought my own notes on the topic. Sophia was copying them and I suddenly felt her lips were so innocent and on her cheek, there were a million unarticulated words.

Almost involuntarily I said, “Sophia, don’t you think of marriage?”

She looked at me and calmly asked “Are you going to marry shortly?”

I told a lie, “Yes, my parents are pressing me to marry.”

“Splendid! Won’t you invite us?”

“Of course yes, but only if I marry…”

“Why? Is there a problem? Do you want to be a fakir or what you people say a sanyasi?”

“The truth is I like somebody but cannot say anything to her.”

“It is a regular drama sir. Can I mediate? Tell me her name and give me her address.”

“You know her!”

“Really? Still give me her details.”

“Go and stand before that mirror and you’ll get the details.”

Sophia became pale and started trembling. I felt confused. I did not expect this reaction from Sophia and expected that she would take it as a joke. I did not know how to manage the situation and in a bid to overcome the wretchedness, I felt I said something that made things more complicated.

“Sophia, will you marry me?”

Her face turned pink either with rage or in disgust. “Are you ready to embrace Islam?”

“Why? Is there any necessity for that?”

“I shall never be a Hindu. I shall never worship idols. I shall go to the mosque regularly and read the Koran five times a day. I shall bring up the children as true Muslims. Now, do you still have a desire to marry a Muslim girl?”

“Why are you thinking that way? Let us have one religion — the religion of man…”

“Sir, please leave our house immediately. Never come again. We shall send your fees through Akmol bhai.”

I was stunned and did not know what to do but left their house. I felt so low. No it was not simply insult; I felt it was me who insulted Sophia. Did Sophia think that I was impelled by carnal desires? Shame on me! I had loved her. Did I really love her? But what is love? Was it a kind of infatuation? Love and infatuation are two different things. I did my schooling at Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission and my college was Belur Vidyamandir and then I came to the Science College. I did not have much scope to associate with girls in any capacity. Is it for that I was so intensely enamoured by this girl, having, for the first time, come so close to a young and attractive person of the opposite sex?

I narrated the whole incident to Akmol who, too, was annoyed with me. “What have you done brother? Why did you do this? Especially…”

“Please finish your sentence.”

“It is by family arrangement that I am supposed to marry Sophia.”

“My God… I can’t show my face to anybody. Please pardon me.”

“Don’t get so upset. I will manage everything. Do one thing; go out of Kolkata for a few days. Digha will be a perfect place. Enjoy the sea there and take rest for a few days. By that time I hope to settle everything. But one thing surprises me. You were never a romantic guy…

Anyway…”

I went to Digha and booked a room at Hotel Sea Hawk right in front of the sea; enjoyed a sumptuous lunch of prawns and had a fine mid-day siesta. In the afternoon I went to the sea beach, and sat on a stone staring blankly at the waves. Suddenly I was startled by a voice.

“So you ran away.”

“Why would I run away? It is just an outing.”

“Why did you not come to our house again?”

“You had forbidden me.”

“And you had to listen to what I said?”

My cellphone was ringing. My sister was calling me, “Dada, why did you miss Akmol da’s wedding feast? He was complaining…”