CHAPTER 2

Surprise visit of the co-traveler

A pop up of tender feelings

It was about 9A.M. and the portress came to me to say that there was a visitor for me. I was surprised to hear that. There was nobody in my mind. As my friend Leena was married and gone to Machalipattanam quite far from here she would never come. “But who?” I asked the girl to which I got the answer “your cousin.” Very confused and puzzled I stepped down to the parlor. But through the open door to the church yard I saw Dinesh standing looking at the door from a distance. It was a real shock for me to see him.

I exclaimed- “Dinesh, you here?”

Dinesh- “You went out of the train without even saying a goodbye. So, I came to say goodbye to you under the pretext of being your cousin. I will come to say goodbye to you every-day.”

For the first time I felt something, a feeling of pound in my heart. “You said, you introduced yourself as my cousin? I cannot have a cousin by name- Dinesh. Everyone knows I am a Christian by my name and your name sounds obviously you are a Hindu. If it’s going to be goodbyes frequently you should have a Christian name.”

Dinesh- “that sounds good. I take the name you give.”

Me- “OK. Then take the name Johnny”. The reply came – “Oh ! Not that. That’s the name of the servant boy in our hostel who sweeps and mops our rooms. Select another name”. I thought for a couple of minutes and said- “how is Raju? This name goes with Christian and Hindu.”

Dinesh- “OK, Ok. I like it. So, from now on I will be your Raju and to all your friends you introduce me as Raju.”

I – “you will be my Raju? What do we know of each other to jump to that?”

“We will come to know each other, our principles, nature and character day by day, week by week and month by month.” Dinesh said.

I said, “why stop there Dinesh? Year by year I would say.”

He- “no more Dinesh. Let both of us take it for granted. I am Raju, Raju, Raju.”

I said, “OK”. I could not just say Raju. I had to train my mind and my tongue.

He said, “why did you add years?”

I said, “you told me you need three more years to complete your BDS. Nothing else till that is over. By then we get ample time to know, understand, make decision to break up or continue”.

Raju- “you seem very sensible, my like, appreciation and love are enhanced”.

I paused took a little strain and said-

“Raju, don’t use the word ‘love’. We are nowhere near to that. Keep in mind “haste makes waste.” Keep balanced thinking. Ok Raju?” I pronounced the name as if to get used to. There were benches in the campus there but we both were sitting on the lawn comfortably. That was the first day we two sat together only by ourselves. He had to reach his hostel for lunch lest he would miss his meals. So, he wanted to go. So, we parted. Before parting Raju wanted to express his feelings for me. He asked me to place my hand in his. I told him that I wouldn’t do it to which his question was if that was a sin. I told him that in itself, it wasn’t, but I would tell him something concerning that question if he could see me the next day being Sunday. He was more than happy to accept.

After my lunch I went to lie down as nothing else to do. Each sentence Raju spoke to me was repeatedly coming to my mind and I started enjoying every casual talk of his. I had my dinner after which I went to sleep. Sunday morning dawned. After the Holy Mass in the church in the campus, had breakfast and was in wait for Raju. The clock struck ten, eleven, twelve after the lunch 1P.M. He didn’t turn up. I felt that I was missing him, a bit sad too. I realized and taught my mind and heart “that was the end of it”. I took Robinson Crusoe and started reading. I was reading Robinson’s encounter with Little John. That was very interesting. I got immersed in the story. The portress’s voice- “Hai, your cousi