Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis


Jatinbabu like any other day woke up at 6.30 am in the morning. No matter when goes to sleep the previous day, routinely he wakes up at that time everyday. No the body clock does not wake him up but the alarm setting of the music system does. He was feeling lazy as the previous night he slept late after watching the movie Time Machine in the TV.
After he took VRS from his company he has been trying his hand in various endeavors but nothing satisfied him. He was looking for something which will keep him engaged during afternoon time. He has been successful in keeping himself engaged in the morning. His activities up to 8.30 am has not changed for the last 30 years, toilet, brushing tooth, shaving, tea, newspaper etc in that sequence. His new activities starts after 8.30 am, like he used to take hurried lunch but now he takes leisurely breakfast with his favourite FM radio station on.
That day also after getting up from the bed he went through his regular chores. It was the month of December; the winter has not fully set in. There is a discernable change in weather pattern. The arrival of winter is delayed but there is slight nip in the weather. You require a light rug in the night. Jatinbabu is unmarried, his servant Harihar takes care of him.Harihar is with him for the last 20 years.
He went to his reading room and sat in front of his computer. He switched on the computer, logged in to the internet. As he does every day that day also he checked for e mail. Now a days he makes all his payments like for telephone, electricity etc through electronic transfer from his bank and he gets an e statement from his bank. This e practice also reduced his movements as he rarely goes to bank, post office or for depositing telephone bill etc.He draws money by using ATM card. He is fond of surfing, whenever he reads any interesting item in the news paper he likes to find out more about that from the internet sites. That day he was trying to find out more about buckyball.It is a pure form of carbon where 60 atoms of carbon are linked together in the form of a ball with hollow inside. He used google search engine to get to the pages on buckyball.He could get many pages, he chose some and absorbed the informations.He was feeling happy,he feels like that whenever he learns something knew.
He wanted to become a scientist but because of Higher Secondary, Joint Entrance formula he had to become engineer from Jadavpur.He had a scientific mind and which was misfit in the industry so could not rise much in his service so at the very first opportunity he took VRS.He was not good at tinkering with tools, even if the fuse blew off, his servant Hari (short form of Harihar)will find the fault and attend.Now a days he spends lot of time in front the computer and surfs the net for scientific articles. After getting to know more about buckyball he was elated and started whistling, a tuneless sound started coming out.
He switched of the computer and went to the almirah.He pulled out freshly laundered brown pant and off white shirt. He quickly changed his dress, the pant was tight at the waist, and he wondered whether he has put on weight within last 15 days. Hari has brought his black slip ons from the cobbler. He felt the shoes to be slightly loose; he cursed the cobbler for disfiguring his shoes.
It was already 10.30 am, he had no specific engagement, and he just came out of the house for a leisurely walk to the central park. He observed that the cars were zipping fast all around; he thought that now a days any one can own a car and that is why the car density on the road has increased many folds. He just walked 300 meters or so found a car parked by the side of the road with the hood open and a lady in pant waiting by the side. He generally does not bother much about others but that day he found himself to be pulled towards the car. He hesitantly walked near the car and enquired,” Do you require any help?”
“Yes,” the lady replied,” My car has suddenly stopped, could not find the fault and don’t find any mechanic either.”
“Oh: let me see,” Jatin went forward and took a look at the engine.”
“Looks like, the fuel is not reaching the engine.”Jatin informed the lady.
Then he tinkered with the engine and requested the lady to get in to the car and start the car. She obediently went inside and twisted the ignition key, the car purred to life. The lady thanked Jatinbabu abundantly, gave him her visiting card and noted down his telephone number and drove off. He spent about two hours in the park. He returned home. He removed his shoes, changed his dress to pajama and kurta.Hari informed that the fridge was giving trouble.Jatin had no clue so he asked Hari to try and find fault.
He took bath, then lunch and then sat in front of the TV for after noon movie.
In the evening after tea he again repeated the morning ritual of dressing, putting on the slip on and then  going out for his evening stroll. He was passing the neighborhood garage. He knew the mechanic Santu, he found him busy on a Hyundai Accent. Suddenly Jatin Babu started feeling excited, he went forward and nudged Santu aside and started tinkering with the car engine.Santu was taken aback because he knew that Jatin babu did not own a car. He has never seen him taking any interest in car. But to Santu’s surprise Jatinbabu expertly dismantled the car engine, and after doing some adjustment put that back and asked Santu to start the car. It started with a whisper. Unflappably Jatinbabu walked of.
Next day morning Jatinbabu got a telephone call. It was the voice of a lady.” Is it Jatinbabu?”
“Yes, but who are you speaking please?”Jatinbabu asked conceitedly. Long bachelorhood has made him a dry person.
She introduced herself as a lady whose car had broken down previous day and he has helped her by repairing that.
Jatinbabu was really infuriated now as he hates engineering so he brusquely said” I think there is some mistake.” And slammed the phone.
After finishing his breakfast he went for a hair cut to the nearby saloon, on the way he had to cross Santu’s garage. Seeing Jatinbabu Santu came forward with a big smile and said,”Jatinbabu, I never realized that you are such a great automobile expert. Next time if I have serious problem I will come to you.”
Jatinbabu was really cheesed up now, as though automobile has become a part of him. He did no go for his hair cut, instead he went back home. He is a man of science so he has to logically analyze the events now.
He replayed the previous day’s event one by one in his mind and found that he has no knowledge of meeting the lady or Santu.
This did not satisfy him, he remembered that he has put on freshly laundered dress, his pant was tight. Is it that there is some mix up of pant at the laundry and that has caused something extra ordinary thing happening. He generally does not believe in supernatural but he could not find any other rational explanation. At that time his calling bell chimed, he opened the door and found the cobbler. The cobbler Ramu was carrying a pair of black slip on .Ramu said,”Babu, I am sorry, yesterday I have given you a wrong pair of shoes.”
Jatinbabu enquired from Ramu”Whose pair of shoes have you given me?”
Ramu replied,” I really don’t know the gentleman but every month in the late evening time he comes in a big car leaves the shoes for polishing,pays well.He will be coming today to take his shoes.”
Ramu took the shoes after exchanging and left.Jatinbabu wanted to know more so he went in search of Ramu next day.Ramu’s shop was closed. Again in the evening he went in search of Ramu, found the shop closed. Now it has become his habit to search for Ramu everyday and also He went to Oxford book store and purchased books on Automobile engineering. His visit to Santu’s garage also has become regular. He is fully engaged now in the garage. He helped Santu to modernize the garage.
He could not find a rational reason for all those strange happening of the fateful day. How a switch of his slip on can change his skill. Who was the actual owner of the slip on, was he an automobile engineer? All these questions some times cloud his mind and probably to prove that he had the skill already inside, he has started studying automobile engineering and tinkering with the engines. He still does not believe in supernatural. He has become careful with his clothes and shoes; he has started putting personal marking on those so that he can detect a switch.
SNR

2 comments:

Unknown said...

It has a character of short story.
I hope for more such creations.
Amitabha Ray

Unknown said...

It has a character of short story.
I hope for more such creations.
Amitabha Ray