The Inexplicable Gift

By Ashok Mitra

It was a late autumn evening by the Ganges. A cool pleasant breeze was blowing. The temperature dipped while some of the trees around started shedding their leaves. Winter was almost knocking. The sky was radiant with the glittering moon. One could see a long trail of shimmering light on the water surface. On a seating enclosure was seated a handsome young man, deep in thoughts. A cigarette was his only companion.

A young woman who was walking along the pathway noticed the man and stopped by. She felt the urge to have a relaxing smoke, so went ahead and asked for the lighter. The man obliged. But she could not light her cigarette, because of the strong wind. The man helped. 

She smiled and said, ‘‘Thank you.’’

The lonely man who all this while seemed to be lost in anxious thoughts felt nice at being spoken to. He wanted to temporarily escape from his dismal state of mind, so he tried hard to initiate a pleasant conversation. He introduced himself as Ishan, a resident of Kolkata, who originally hailed from North Bengal.

There was a vendor nearby selling hot beverages and savoury snacks. 

Ishan asked the woman, ‘‘How about enjoying a hot drink in this weather ?’’ 

Before the woman could even answer, Ishan proactively reached out to the vendor for two clay pots of tea and a sachet of salted peanuts. 

‘‘Oh, I forgot to ask your name,’’ said Ishan.

She replied, ‘‘I am Rina.’’ Ishan smiled.

Rina took a refreshing sip from the pot, then added, ‘‘You must have been enjoying your private time in the backdrop of this lovely ambience. I am so sorry for disturbing your solitude.’’

Ishan responded, ‘‘Not at all. In fact, I feel nice talking to you.’’

Ishan was trying his best to hide his anxiety while speaking. He consciously engaged Rina in the conversation and discovered that Rina loves Kolkata, the city where she was born and brought up. He also learnt that she specialized in Psychology and is currently working as a counsellor at a small clinic. 

Quite some time went by exchanging pleasantries and somewhat getting to know each other. As the river breeze started blowing a bit strongly, Rina was feeling really cold. Ishan took off his jacket and gave it to Rina, so that she feels comfortable. Rina was touched by his kind gesture.

Suddenly Ishan received a call. As he spoke on his mobile, holding it firmly, Rina noticed Ishan’s grimacing face and sensed that something was wrong. Once the phone call was over, she enquired whether all’s well. Ishan tried to divert the conversation. But Rina asked yet again and this time with even more concern, ‘‘What is bothering you ?’’ 

For the first time Ishan felt that someone cared for him as evident in Rina’s exuding warmth. 

He said, ‘‘I had applied for giving an audition; but my application has been rejected.’’

Rina : What was the audition for ?

Ishan : For acting ! 

Rina suddenly remembered something, but she chose not to disrupt the flow of the conversation then. Instead she asked, ‘‘What do you do otherwise for your livelihood ?’’

Ishan : Nothing much at the moment. 

Rina : Oh, I see ! 

Ishan swallowing his pride said, ‘‘I don’t come from a very affluent family, nor do I have an influential network of contacts. Moreover, I have never been academically bright. So, I am finding things quite challenging at the moment.’’

There was deep despair and frustration in his voice as he narrated his circumstantial adversities to explain his current situation. At the same time, he began to feel a sense of comfort in opening up to Rina, subconsciously seeking her attention and affection. Rina, in turn, seemed like a trusted confidant, listening empathetically to his woes and insecurities. 

But one thing Rina noticed was the spark in Ishan’s eyes, when he was mentioning about his aspiration to become a well-known actor one day - be it in dramatics or serials or web series or movies. The fire in the belly was palpable, but it was the paucity of opportunity and a slice of bad luck which impeded Ishan’s progress in the intended direction.

As all good things come to end, so did this splendid evening. It was time to go back home. Ishan asked Rina for her contact number. Rina disconcertingly said she doesn’t know. 

Ishan : What do you mean ?

Rina : Yes, I do not know what my new number will be. I am getting married and will leave the country very soon.

Ishan was taken aback at Rina’s response. Hiding his inner feelings, he said : Is it ?

Rina : Yes, I will relocate to Toronto, where my would-be husband is based. 

Ishan seemed to be a bit confused.

He uttered : Oh ! Then why did you come here by the Ganges today evening and that too alone ?

Rina : Since the Ganges is very dear to me, I wanted to spend ‘me-time’ here to take back with me experiences that I can cherish. 

Ishan : Really ?

Rina : I have some such favourite places in Kolkata that are close to my heart. So on the days I am free, I select one such place and visit it alone at my convenient time, enjoying my solitude. I am not sure if, after marriage, I will have the time or opportunity to visit these places whenever I come to Kolkata. Even if I do, I am uncertain whether I will enjoy them as much as I am doing now with my current mindset and free time.

There was a short pause in the conversation. How Ishan wished if Rina could stay put in Kolkata! Perhaps he was longing for her comforting companionship, but he knew it was not meant to be. His newfound optimism about life amidst the current challenges appeared to be suddenly dented. While he was trying to come to terms with that, Rina searched for a number saved in her mobile. She then took out a Sticky Note and a pen from her purse, wrote the phone number and gave the Sticky Note to Ishan.

Ishan : What is in it ?

Rina : A phone number. 

Ishan : What about it ?

Rina : You can call that number, mention my reference and inform the person that you want to join the acting academy and complete the course to become a certified actor. You do not have to pay any course fees.

Ishan : How is that possible ?

Rina : The person that I am referring to is a businessman, who is well established in this city. He is culturally inclined and owns, among other things, an art gallery, an acting academy and a music school. 

Ishan was quite eager to know more.

Rina continued : His son was going through an acute depression and getting into drugs. I helped this only son of his to completely come out of that dark phase of his life. It was long hours of intense, frequent counselling. This person is thus ever grateful to me. He told me that as a genuine gesture of reciprocation, he wants to gift me something really big. I was very reluctant. But he insisted and just to make me feel at ease he said that he was happy to give me the gift, whenever I wanted. He also extended the promise of his support in whichever way I sought, with the reassurance that I could reach out to him at any time of need without any hesitation. 

Ishan : What a nice person !

Rina : Tomorrow, I will call and ask him about my gift. I will inform him about you. I will tell him about your passion and dream of acting so that he not only supports you with free enrolment in the acting course but also uses his influence later to create opportunities for you in the acting world. Yes, that’s the gift I would want !

Ishan was absolutely dumbfounded in astonishment. He could not believe what he heard. His heart was filled with gratitude for Rina. Yet he was sad realising that Rina will soon leave the country. While he was immersed in mixed feelings, Rina thanked him for a nice evening and quite lovingly and reassuringly said, ‘‘Mark my words - you will become a great actor one day, making a name for yourself. Take care !’’ She returned his jacket, bid goodbye and took leave.

Ishan lit up a cigarette again. He was incredibly stunned at what transpired during those quality hours that evening. As he gently ambled across the pathway, his baffled mind was filled with inexplicable questions : What induced Rina to gift her gift to him ? Was it compassion ? Was it generosity ? Was it kindness ? Was it self-aggrandizement ? Or was it the initial feeling and vibe of the warmth of love, though destined to have no fruition?

  By Ashok Mitra