the Thinker

Mr.Bagchi stepped into the house hesitantly, wondering what would he see inside. What he saw surprised him for a moment.

“When did he come?” he asked Mrs.Bagchi.

“This morning, when you had gone to the market,” Mrs. Bagchi replied with a smile.

“So, Debashish, what happened? We are seeing you after so many days, why didn’t you inform us that you will be coming?” asked Mr.Bagchi.

The boy, who was sitting like a crab on the sofa for so long moved a little now. His face, which appeared nervous and fatigued till now, broke into a faint smile.

“Hello uncle, how are you? I wanted to give you people a surprise, so I did not inform you about my arrival,” replied Debashish.

“Now, now, how does it matter? We are glad that you came, are your B.A results out yet?” asked Mrs.Bagchi.

“Err..not yet, they will be out in another week’s time or maybe a bit longer,” replied Debashish or Debu.

Mr.Bagchi felt for a moment that Debu was not too comfortable answering a query regarding his results. It was natural. Debu was Mr.Bagchi’s sister’s younger son. He had an elder brother, Gautam. Since their childhood, Mr.Bagchi had always been fonder of his elder nephew and he had proper reasons for that.

Gautam was an ideal and obedient child since his formative years, just the way Mr.Bagchi wanted kids to be. Gautam was good in studies, matured, respectful and responsible. Right now, he was completing his MBA in marketing in Bangalore.

On the other hand, Debashish had every quality, which Mr.Bagchi detested. He was three years younger to his brother, very stubborn and laid back since childhood. Some times Mr.Bagchi was unable to understand how could two kids with the same genes have such contrasting attitudes.

Off late, their mother had been expressing a lot of concern for Debu. She had not really divulged details, but it appeared that there was some problem with him.

“Err,” Debu started off again, “I was wondering if I could stay here for a few days?”

“Oh, you need not ask for that Debu, you know you are always welcome,” Mrs.Bagchi cut him short.

“Your mother knows you are here, right?” asked Mr.Bagchi. At this, Mrs.Bagchi threw him a reprimanding glance, hinting that he was sounding impolite.

‘Errr…well, she…,” Debu started to speak.

“Oh, how does it matter? He surely must have informed her. He is here to spend some time with us and we should make the best out of it,” said Mrs.Bagchi firmly.

She then turned at Debu and said, “Debu, don’t mind your uncle, he does not mean to upset you or anything. Stay here as long as you desire; anyways, we do not have many visitors and ever since Meera got married and left; the home seems so lifeless.”

“Err..thanks aunty,” replied Debu and shifted her glance from her face to his uncle’s face, which was still lined with doubt. He quickly avoided his gaze and picked up his bag. Mrs.Bagchi showed him to his room.

***

There was a certain amount of uncomfortable silence on all sides at the dinner table that night. Mr.Bagchi was throwing secretive glances at his nephew, wondering what he was upto. Plus, he was still not able to decide how to disclose the news about Brunno.

Mrs.Bagchi kept herself busy arranging the plates and serving the food. She was trying to maintain peace between her husband and her nephew. She knew about her husband’s dislike for Debu, but she could not trace any reason for his dislike. At times Mr.Bagchi felt that his wife was too naïve. Whenever he tried to drill some reason into her, she will simply retort by saying, “all kids are stubborn and mischievous at a certain age. That does not mean that we blacklist them.”

Debu appeared to be lost in his own world, thinking something very gravely. Plus, he also appeared more fidgety than usual. Mrs.Bagchi attributed it to the welcome he received from Mr.Bagchi in the morning. But Mr.Bagchi knew better. He had always known Debu as a stubborn, lazy and selfish child and this time, he had a strong suspicion that he had come with some motive in his mind. What motive, he did not know still.

“So Debashish, what do you plan to do after graduation?” asked Mr.Bagchi.

“Err..well, I have not thought of it yet,” replied Debu.

“Not yet, then you better start thinking. Your brother is already on his way to complete his MBA and soon he will be employed. Your mother was sounding worried about you when I spoke to her last time,” said Mr.Bagchi.

Debu did not answer and kept eating quietly. Mrs.Bagchi did not like the manner in which Mr.Bagchi had chosen to express his concern.

“What is the hurry? He will decide as and when the time comes,” she said.

Mr.Bagchi decided this was not the best time to discuss Debu’s career options or future intentions. He decided to change the topic.

“You know, I got a pet for us today,” blurted Mr.Bagchi and then bit his lip. The uncomfortable silence loomed over the dinner table once more. Mrs.Bagchi looked shocked and furious at the same time, yet she was quiet and stared at Mr.Bagchi in her most reproving manner, which Mr.Bagchi had witnessed only a few times in so many years.

For the first time ever since he had stepped into the Bagchi household, Debu had a different expression on his face, which visibly represented a shock. After a few more tight moments of silence, Mrs.Bagchi asked, “A pet? Did you say, a pet? What…how, WHY DID YOU…?”

This was one of those moments when Mrs.Bagchi’s rage had managed to zip her lips and her tempo increased by leaps. She was not a very violent women by nature, as in she did not throw vessels at someone who annoyed her largely. But this was one of those instances, when her anger had incensed to a level where words could not make it through her throat.

Mr.Bagchi knew he had made a mistake, he shouldn’t have made. He should not have revealed the news about Brunno in front of Mrs.Bagchi and most importantly, Debu. He now looked down at his plate, not daring to meet his wife’s boring glance.

“Err…what is it?” asked Debu, hesitantly.

“Excuse me?” asked Mr.Bagchi, slightly confused.

“I, I mean, what animal..?” asked Debu again.

“Oh, you mean to ask that…,” Mr.Bagchi paused and cursed Debu under his breath. The fool did not know which questions to avoid at crisis situations like these. “It’s a dog,” said Mr.Bagchi.

Mrs.Bagchi looked livid now.

“You bought a DOG?” she yelled, with special emphasis on the word, ‘dog.’

Mr.Bagchi did not reply.

“Do you know how dirty dogs are? They walk around the house with muddy paws, they mess around with household items, and they sneak around in the kitchen all the time. Moreover, this means filth and fleas all around the house,” Mrs.Bagchi thundered.

She was infuriated to see that Mr.Bagchi did not respond to any of her concerns. She then hit the bull’s eye.

“How much did you pay for it?” she asked.

Meanwhile, Debu looked from his aunt’s purple face to his uncle’s white one. He could not remember the last time when he had seen his aunt so angry and his uncle so worried.

“Generally Labradors pups are priced around Rs12000. But I got this one cheap, the shopkeeper took Rs.8000,” and he kept quiet to hear what will Mrs.Bagchi say next.

Surprisingly, she did not say a word. Mr.Bagchi looked up and saw that she had left the table. After moments of hesitation, he too left the table leaving Debu alone and thinking.

Debu saw both of them leaving and thought, “A dog, that too a Labrador? I got to hurry….”

To be contd…