Three days later, Shivaji found himself following Chhotu mama on the enormous Railway Station of Howrah, Kolkata.

" Re Shivaji! Walk fast. What are you seeing around? " , he looked back and called time and again.

Chhotu mama didn't realise, what Shivaji was going through exactly.

A boy, who had never stepped out of a little town, was suddenly flooded by people on an enormous platform. Time and again they bumped against him, slowing him down, or pushed him hard, pacing him up.

Within an upheaval of emotions that included all sorts of negative vibes, uncertainty, fear and loneliness being the foremost, Shivaji often lost track of the world surrounding him. A completely new world, where everything and everyone moved ahead of time.

Leaving Digha was difficult, but not more than hugging the corpses of his maa, and didaa.

Shivaji cried for two long nights, finally breaking all ties. The hut still remained, with all his belongings. Because he was very sure he would have to return. Kolkata would not accept a failure like him, who could not even save his own family.

" Shiva re!! We have to reach in time. I've only been twice here. Though, Ganesh will meet us near Esplanade and take us to the housing where your boss resides. " , Chhotu now held his hand like he were a child, almost pulling him out.

" I haven't even passed the interview that you're calling someone my boss. " , Shivaji softly replied back. He hardly did though.
Chhotu smiled at this unexpected comeback.

Leaving the station, Shivaji was hit by a gust of polluted air that choked his lungs. He began coughing.

" Re Shivaji!! This is citylife. You won't get clean sea breeze here. " , mama patted his back as he coughed.

Controlling himself, Shiva stared at Chhotu, wondering, what had he done in life to deserve this unconditional love from his side.

Before he could get out of the sudden trance, he found himself being pulled by the elderly man, through oceans of people, while Shivaji stumbled time and again.

" We have got to board a bus. 24A/1. You keep holding me tight. Boarding buses are very difficult here. "

Shivaji suddenly felt extremely insecure. He held only Chhotu's shirt, as if he were a school kid.

Seeing thousands of people run towards the bus stoppage, he began sweating.
What if he could not get on the bus while mama could? What if he was left behind? A tremendous fear unnerved him from top to bottom.

" Re Shiva!! Why did you stop? " , Chhotu was taken aback when Shiva stopped, still holding onto his shirt tight.

" Mama, let's go back. I can't handle any of these. Please Mama. Don't force me. " , his eyes had almost welled up.

Chhotu heaved a huge sigh. Then cupped his face.
" Shiva! When we are born, we know nothing of the ways of the world.
We learn it slowly.. "

" But mama....
A child has his mother.
To guide...

I don't...

And you too will leave me...amongst strangers....  " , Shivaji choked.

Chhotu could bear everything, but not the pain of this child.

" Arey oh Shiva!! God has his plans fixed for each one of us. Whatever happens, happens for a reason.

We all have someone who guides us when we are lonely. They appear in our lives suddenly.
Just imagine, if your boss is a very good person, he'll be your guide.

Or maybe, someone else in the house.. or office.

And I've told you re, if you don't like even one thing about the whole situation, we will go back to Digha.

But don't move back even before taking the first step. "

Shivaji wiped his eyes, and gave in again, while Chhotu pulled him towards the bus.

______

" Madam, coffee or beer? "

" Mmmm..... Mix both. "

" What? "

" Yupp. Try new things in life. "

The staff exited with the dumbest expressions, and Kalpita sat holding her breath, before she burst into a feat of uncontrolled laughter catching her stomach.

Dr. Kalpita Chatterjee.

She was enjoying one of the best phases of her life, the life of a house-surgeon.
She got paid handsomely, just showing her face twice a week to the department. Though they would love to see her tremendously attractive face quite a number of times more, she was not interested.

Her phone beeped.

Tarun was texting.

Kalpita rolled her eyes.

" Kalpita...

Hey...

Hey Kalpi... Reply back.. You are online and reading my texts.

Hey sweetie.. "

" Don't call me that. " , Kalpita replied with angry emojis.

" But you're a sweetheart. "

" And you're a duffer. Remember how you failed your final professional exams? "

Tarun stopped texting.

Kalpita felt bad, a bit, just a bit.

Tarun used to be her half boyfriend in college, but as soon as he couldn't make it in two papers in the finals, she began treating him non existent.

Firstly, Kalpita couldn't stand failures. Secondly, she herself was a topper and remaining anyway connected to a loser would demean her self esteem.
Thirdly, she was a sadist, enough to keep reminding Tarun, how he failed, whenever he texted.

Another notification popped up.

Kalpita lay flat on the sofa now.

" How was last night? "
Rimjhim. Her school friend.

" Bad. Like too bad. " , Kalpita hurriedly texted.

" Why? Why even? He was so hot! "

" Yeah, that's how it looked.
He couldn't even make it to proper smooches. Forget about breaking the bed. "

" Ewww, is it? He looked quite vigorous though. "
Rimjhim sent in heart eyed emojis.

" I wish you looked better than me and he chose you. He ruined my night. "

Rimjhim stopped texting.

Kalpita felt bad. A bit, just a bit.

The problem with her was, she could not fake it anyway. And, she was quite happy about that.

Last night was the usual Saturday night, her usual pub visit with a bunch of bimbo friends, and her usual hook up with a random stranger. Not that she always made it to the bed.

She tested them quite well, even did physical examinations of body parts, pallor, oedema, jaundice, facies....took good history of diseases they were affected with in the past and present, and ultimately bonded them on papers that they would have to pay her 25 crores if she got any of the sexually transmitted diseases, even with complete protection.

They gave in...even after everything, because she was breathtakingly beautiful. And the next morning, if she happened to make it to the bed, she would always go for a post exposure prophylaxis, no matter what.

" Kalpi.... "

Mom walked in the room.
" What did you order? Coffee mixed with beer? Are you going insane everyday? Didn't you have enough last night, or are you still high? "

Kalpita's mother, Mrs Suchandra Chatterjee was a professor in Comparative Literature, at JU.
A highly sophisticated woman, the grey streak on her neatly done hair resembled that of Indira Gandhi.

" Ophho Mom! At least you don't stop me from trying new things.
Like Dad does. " , Kalpita still lay on the sofa, while her mother walked over to sit on a settee.

" Of course. New men every Saturday night, new phone every month, new ideas of suturing, to your HOD, new punches in Karate...
Have I ever said a no? "

Kalpita now sat up. She sometimes couldn't gather, if she was taunting, or praising.

" Life stagnates if you stick to one. " , she murmured.

" That's not my opinion. But I respect yours. "
Suchandra got up.

" Is Dad home? " , Kalpita asked.

" Yes. He's.
Someone's coming to meet him for the PA post. " , Suchandra walked over to the door.

" Oh no!! Why can't Dad do without a PA? " , she rolled her eyes.

" Why can't you do without a phone? "
Suchandra disappeared, with no intention to wait for a reply.

Because Kalpita had none too. She sat with her lips twisted.

New PA? 

She buckled up and put on her flip flops.

Whoever it was, needed to be cultivated by Kalpita Chatterjee too.

She ran out of her private lounge.....aiming at Dad's workroom.

" Madam, your coffee plus beer! " , the staff saw her running and dumbly declared, standing with a tray.

" Try it yourself. I'll be busy now, and don't you dare give it to me in front of Dad. "

The staff kept standing with his jaw dropped, as she disappeared without looking back.