Life’s like that!

 

I have been on the Facebook since 2008. All my internet adventures were handled by my grandson Anuneet Krishna who was then in school. He is now in the US, a power engineer, and still my handler and guide. I have had around a thousand FB friends all these years, appearing and disappearing on my friend list. Now I’ve around 500.

One day I was discovered on FB by my old student Tannaji Bannerji through my daughter Vanita. Tannaji is now a retired Army Colonel living in Ambala, a widower like me. Around 1961, when I had just joined as lecturer in English in RD &DJ College, Munger (Bhagalpur University), Tannaji was my student in I.Sc. Tall and lanky, he was was always more interested in cricket than his classes. I had my own proxy-proof method of roll-call – calling numbers with eyes fixed on the responders’ faces, and only dotting the absentees. This trick completely outwitted the proxy makers, as also some who were adept in slipping out from the side doors of the lecture hall.

Tannaji sent me this story in a post one of these days in Feb. 2023. Here it is with my photograph taken around that time. ( There are many more on this blog in an earlier post!). It’s for everyone to enjoy !.....

 

I was then a first year student in college. Was more eager to enjoy the freedom than aquire knowledge. Not very interested to attend classes. Cloud of notoriety started gathering over family fame.

[ Later he became my neighbour. His family was well-known because of his uncle Sharadendu Bandopadhyay who was a famous Bengali writer of detective fiction.]

Very busy, thrilling life!

It was English period. I sat on my seat.. Near the rear exit ( it was easy to skip you know!) A lady ( yes not a girl) entered through the rear door and sat next to me. She was from senior class. Abha. She looked at me and gave a cute smile and said " I am your senior.. Henceforth I will attend English period with you and sit next to you. You are very cute and I am in love with the professor. " She smiled again. I was shocked. Then " Jyada chu chu karega to dant tod dungi". This type of lingo and behavior was not expected from a 20 odd years old lady. Those days College Girls used to wear saree and keep oilfed long hair. But this lady was wearing trousers and a blue shirt.Her hair was short.

" Ssssh.. He is coming.... "

Then a man entered the classroom. Not very tall... Needed some flesh on his bones. Boyish haircut. He looked like a senior class student.
Kept his books etc and turned to face athe class and adjusted his specks.

" He is a professor!!!? " I was amazed .
" Shut the hell up you *#@**" Abha hissed. " Didn't I tell you I love him and want to marry him? "

The professor introduced himself and started teaching. And I also fell in love of his teaching.
I found Abha in goa when I was posted there. Then lost her.

And I found that professor today.
I salute you sir. I am amazed that you still remember me and Abha too. You remember my cricket too!!