Fruitcake - Volume 1: The Chapter 23 23: Journal: God Speed

Losing your loved ones can be devastating.

The entire experience of reading what Abhinu and Aarohi went through on that disastrous day on the 14th of July was emotionally excruciating. I shuddered to think what my dear sister Monika must have gone through during this entire ordeal and felt annoyed at myself for failing as a brother to notice and come in her aid during those difficult days. I could not continue reading the journal and kept it down, instead, I made up my mind to check on Vikash and Master da.

As I was loitering through the hospital, at around 7 a.m. I caught a glimpse of the same person I witnessed the other day in Geeta’s room. He was reclining on the bench placed a few rooms away from where Geeta was admitted. As I walked towards him, he noticed me coming towards him and got up and left. I tried following him, towards the exit of the hospital, but by then he was nowhere in sight.

I felt both disturbed and perplexed at what was happening around or to me. The last few days have been quite a turbulent ride for me. Military Police, Cops, Naxalite. who knows what will come next, perhaps the Marcos, FBI, CIA, FSB or maybe Mossad.

I went back to Geeta’s room right in time when she was waking up. I helped Miss Sengupta raise Geeta’s bed in a reclined position to help her sit better. Miss Sengupta told me that Aunty had gone out to fetch some tea.

I placed my hand on Geeta’s head and said “Child, Its time to get well soon. I want to see your expertise in the basketball field again. I want to see in your best form.”

Geeta smiled and replied, “I know who you are Joe dada, I have met you a long time ago, back then, you were not able to defeat us. Let’s see if will you be able to defeat me now in my diminished form.”

Even though I couldn’t remember which match was she referring to, however, the last few days I have received quite a few surprises which have made me seriously question my ability to remember or recognize past incidents from my own life. In light of this, instead of contradicting her, I conceded and instead replied challengingly: “We will see about it?” and winked at Geeta.

Deep down, I rooted for her to win if ever we get a chance to play a match. At least that would bring a smile on her face.

She smiled again and I replied back “Bye Sister, I will be back in the evening, I have not been home for 2 days now, I need to go and see my parents too you know.”

“Besides I am stinking really bad, Monika is gonna make my day miserable, you know, if she comes to know I have not bathed for 2 days”

Geeta excitedly looked at me with a smile and raised her left hand and waved her fingers indicating a goodbye and see you later.

I only hope that she would be able to keep this smile forever, after what she had suffered, a smile would bring happiness to her, Uncle and Monika.

I left the room and Miss Sengupta decided to stay put. Before leaving the hospital I went to where Vikash’s car had been parked and found that both of them were awake and talking over tea. I informed them that I was going home and left.

Before leaving, Vikash told me that he had called Koushik to be with Geeta and keep an eye on her. They will be leaving too once Koushik reaches the hospital.

I reached home in 20 minutes, my mother was awake. I had been to my home after two days, although I must say due to all the events happening during this time, it felt much longer.

Looking at my mother after two days soothed me. I had my breakfast and went to my room, My mind was already in a dilemma about the topsy turvy turn of events during the past 24+ hours. Everything felt like some incident out of an Agatha Cristie novel, only that this was real life with real consequences.

Without wasting any-more time in contemplation, I took a quick but refreshing shower and continued reading the journal.

17th July 1993

Today I was called to our training center. We were informed that there will be a candlelight tribute to the 9 players who lost their lives in the crash.

One of the basketball grounds was designed to resemble a shrine and photographs of all the players whose lives were lost in the tragic accident were arranged in a pyramid structure. There were 9 basketballs placed too, one next to each photo, which was signed by those players. Signing a basketball is a tradition a sportsman follows before they play the first crucial match of their career.

As I looked around, I was welcomed and deeply touched by the sight of all the sub-junior players from all the states of India gathering and coming together to pay homage to our lost souls.

Before the ceremony started, a policeman stood in the podium and made an announcement. He was the IG Crime Branch Kolkata Police Mr. Nishi Nath. Monika’s brother Joe who was standing next to me said that Mr. Nath liked everyone to call him N.N.

He started by saying how deeply distressed he was at the loss of the 9 brave kids who gave their everything to make the state proud and how special they were. He announced that the state government has announced a bravery award for me and Aarohi.

I saw him coming down the podium and proceed towards the court, he bent down a little and placed a medal on Aarohi’s photograph, stood up and saluted looking into her picture. He turned around, got on the podium once again and called me up.

As I walked up to him, he placed another medal on my neck and gave me a salute too.

After this, players from the various states went to the shrine and started to light a candle there. I saw the same person I met during our match in Shillong, Father John. He approached me and told me that what I and Aarohi did for the parent of those 8 children, was a brave and significant act. The first reaction of anyone during such a big accident is to ensure one’s safety. Its an implicit and undeniable urge that cannot be ignored but in our case, we did ignore our personal safety and decide to save the remaining team members from the wreckage. This requires a lot of courage.

The blessings of all those parents will always keep us safe. He also told me to remember something “Of all the good things we do during our lifetime, there is always one deed which the Good Lord would always hold dear to him, and in our case, he believes that this deed is the one. ”

He took out a chain from his pocket and placed it on my neck. He told me that the chain has a pendant of Mother Mary and it has been blessed with holy water. Mother Mary will always protect me.

He finally said no matter how sad you are, try to smile and make others smile and everything will be alright.

**** Wow… that’s nice… reading this it seems like Father John is a great man but this time I am not going to say I wish I could meet him someday, lest I find out that I had already met him and was ignorant about it. Besides, I also understood that I am a certified stupid and forgetful baboon for the last time. It feels like God had given me a lot of chances to meet this boy, but I am still unable to recall how Abhinu looks like or any of the incidents I am mentioned in. I started to feel the strong urge to discover, where this journal was leading to, and where does Geeta come into picture in his Journal****

18th July 1993

Today was a Sunday. Doctors at the hospital allowed me to go home. The house felt really silent today. Normally on Sunday’s Aarohi always lightens up everyone’s mood and keeps the house lively. She was the shining light of the family, but with her gone, everything felt so different. Aamaya didi is in her room, Uncle is also looking sad, Aunty is trying to cope up with her loss by trying to cook something. Suddenly uncle called me and said that during the last match, someone came to him and said that we both were selected for the national team. However, he told me that he doesn’t want me to go. I asked him the reason and he got angry and told me not to answer him back. If he is saying no that means no, I am not going. I kept insisting and out of anger he caught hold of my arms and said that he had lost his favorite daughter and he cannot bear to lose me. No more basketball for me and from tomorrow, he is going to drop me to school and pick me up as well. It felt like uncle is unable to cope up with Aarohi’s loss. He misses her more than me.

19th July 1993

I was back to school after 10 months. Principal sir had made arrangements to get me promoted to the next class. Amongst all the faces, I was still unable to digest the fact that Aarohi and Sunaina are no more. Monika came and sat next to me and said she will always be with me in every step of my life. She told me that even though she cannot fill the void that Aarohi has left in my life, but it’s upto us to make the class believe that Aarohi’s loss has not gone in vain. I told her that I had promised uncle never to play basketball ever. She told me that it’s ok, she will teach me karate that will help me control my mind and also help me cope up with the loss of Aarohi. I felt like it was a great idea and agreed to learn. It was good that the new session just started 2 weeks back. I have not missed much. Monika agreed to help me with whatever I had missed. During the second period, Surya came over and also sat beside me, she told me that she will help me with my studies and cope up with my loss. Amidst all this, there was one person who had not changed a bit. Soham. He came and started to taunt me and kept telling me that I was cursed. He even told Surya that she should not be even sitting next to me lest it would be her turn to leave all of us. It felt like he was really afraid of Monika because when she stood up to confront him, he stepped back and ran.

**** Wow, this boy has not learned his lesson. Why can’t he be good towards him? I hope Monika has not done anything bad to him. I continued reading. Abhinu writes that the school continued as usual, Now everyone from school has started calling Monika, Abhinu, and Surya as the new musketeers. Abhinu has been learning Karate from Monika extensively and within 4 months he surpassed the yellow belt and was also ready for an orange belt. The level of dedication this guy is showing is really good. He writes that Monika’s Sensei was pleased with his performance but when he was asked if he wants to be a pro, he declined the offer. He just wanted to learn martial arts to control his emotions. He also writes that he took part in interschool Karate competition that year and won a bronze. A month later in December, they had their half-yearly exams. ****

3rd December 1993

We have another 2 days before the halfyearly exams start. We have been spending most of our time preparing for the exams. however, today was special too. It was my birthday. Uncle and Aunty came early in the morning to my room and wished me a happy birthday. Aamaya didi, Garima and Darika also came and wished me. I asked uncle if we can go and visit Aarohi’s grave and light a candle there since it was her birthday too. Uncle agreed to it and we went to visit her grave. As we approached the grave, I saw 2 girls wearing a black dress and carrying a bunch of roses. It was Monika and Surya. Monika told me that today was the birthday of her best friend and how could she forget that. I hugged both of them and we bent down to put the roses on her tombstone. Aunty was crying silently when we bent to put the roses on the tombstone. The rose plant I planted the last time when I came to meet Aarohi had blossomed and have grown. However, I found I did a mistake, it was a yellow rose plant, not a red rose. I remember Dad once mentioning to me a long time ago that yellow rose symbolizes true friendship. But then even in this mistake, what happened was good. After all, I and Aarohi were the truest of friends. After that, I bid adieu to Aarohi and left home.

**** Abhinu writes that over the next 1 week they had their exams and were mostly busy in their studies. He writes that the days have been really good and he feels that he is going to top the class and make Aarohi proud. after the exams, he writes that the exams were declared on the 21st of December and he topped the class followed by Surya and Monika. However, during this time, an incident happened which ruined Abhinu’s life forever. ****

21st December 1993

Recently Soham has started to tease and taunt me more. He has started telling everyone in school that I cast a black spell on anyone who tries to be my good friend. I keep ignoring him every day however today he took a step further by telling a few of my friends that they should stay away from me because whoever close to me ends up dead. I couldn’t say a single word. Even though I was good at self-defense, I promised Monika never to use it on anyone. As I tried to control my anger Monica came and consoled me and said to ignore them, they are bullies it was Aarohi and Sunaina’s destiny to leave before their time. I reached home and asked aunty what should I do if someone tries to bully me, and she told me that bullies are always coward from the heart, all you have to show them you are not afraid of them and they will stop. I should stand up to them.

*** Yes, Aunty said it right, If someone bullies you we should stand up to them and let them know we are not afraid of them ***

22nd December 1993

In another 2 days, it is Christmas. Monika had come and invited me and Surya to their home for Christmas. However, what happened today ruined my life forever. It was the worst day of my life. As usual, Soham was mocking me. He told me that I am a ragamuffin.

Even I had cast a spell on my parents and that’s the reason they ended up dead. I lost my calm and started punching him. I had no control over my temper and felt all my helplessness and despair at losing my family and friends unleashed on him. I did not remember how long or how severely I beat him. I also don’t recall who pulled me off him. It seemed I was in a fugue state and all seemed very hazy at that moment in my blind rage. But the consequences were pretty severe. Soham had to be admitted to the hospital.

I was called by our principal while he was having a word with Soham’s parents. After some time a few policemen came and told me that there has been a complaint against me and I will be taken to the Juvenile Detention Center until my parents come with a lawyer and release me. I didn’t know how the matter escalated so bad.

I was crying and the policemen didn’t even care that I was just a child. He told me that this is a habit or tactic of young children and they think that if we see them cry we would let me go. I kept praying to God that somehow my father comes and takes me away from this place. I was very scared. At around 8:00 p.m. I saw aunty at the police station, with another man wearing a black coat.

They discussed something and a nice and kind policeman came and took me to aunty. As he was taking me to aunty, he told me, that he met me there today, but I should never meet him there ever again. I was so ashamed at myself that I was not able to look at aunty’s face.

**** O my God!!! Damn, this is bad. having your name on police records is a bad thing. Hope they don’t make a criminal out of him. I am feeling sad about this Abhinu if all his troubles were not enough, now Soham comes to ruin his life. Is he ever going to get some happiness in life? Can someone really be born with such a destiny? All things considered, I could not shake this feeling that even though good things are coming to him, someone is rewriting his destiny.

Wait-A-Minute did Miss Sengupta talk about Abhinu that day. Was this the child she helped. Abhinu Banerjee.****