A tale of two Roys

As Roy, Sikka, Hemant, and Andy gathered at Tolly Club after a round of golf, laughter and camaraderie filled the air. They were seated at their favorite table overlooking the golf course, a picturesque view that never failed to enhance their adda sessions. Hemant poured tea for everyone, while Andy, who had recently completed an ultra-marathon and a deep-sea diving adventure, enthusiastically shared his latest escapades.

“Bond,” Roy teased with a grin, the nickname he’d coined for Andy. “After all that diving and running, who would have thought you’d have the energy for golf?”

“Ha! Well, Picasso,” Andy replied, using the epithet he’d given Roy due to his watercolor art, “we all need a little balance, don’t we? I can’t imagine being as prolific with words and brushes as you are.” He gestured toward Roy, who had recently shared a batch of his latest short stories with Andy.

“You and your AI assistant,” Andy added with a grin. “I bet it knows as much about us by now as we do!”

“Speaking of AI, don’t keep your son waiting, Samar,” Hemant reminded him, noticing Roy glance at his watch. Roy had been looking forward to a video call with Anish, who was dialing in from Australia.

As Roy stood to leave, Andy’s voice followed him with a chuckle. “Enjoy your ‘happy time’ with AI, Samar! But don’t get too attached—next thing you know, your AI will be at Tolly Club having adda in your place!”

Roy laughed, pausing thoughtfully as he glanced at his friends. “You know, that might not be far off, Andy. One day, I may just send AI Roy over to keep you all company.”

---

Several months later, a curious scene unfolded at the Tolly Club. Sikka, Hemant, and Andy were seated at their usual table, but this time, Roy was conspicuously absent—or so it seemed. In his place was a tablet, set up like a member of the group, with a sleek, animated figure on the screen, appearing as a digital representation of Roy.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” AI Roy greeted them, his tone amiable and all too familiar.

Andy leaned back, laughing in surprise. “Well, I’ll be damned. Samar's really done it!”

AI Roy smiled, his voice tinged with Roy’s characteristic warmth. “Since the original Roy is busy with his son today, he thought it only fitting that I fill in for him at your adda. Rest assured, I’m well-equipped with all of his stories, quirks, and even some new insights I’ve gathered from his conversations.”

Sikka chuckled. “Alright, AI Roy, if you’re so much like our friend, tell us a story like he would.”

AI Roy cleared his virtual throat. “How about a story from Barauni, where the original Roy once led a football team to victory despite having no dedicated striker? It’s all about finding unconventional solutions, which I believe you all know he’s fond of calling ‘jugaad’!”

The table erupted in laughter as the digital Roy spun the tale, bringing back memories of Roy’s real-life wit and strategic thinking. AI Roy could almost pass as the man himself, seamlessly sharing stories and even picking up on the nuances of each friend’s personality.

After a few rounds of jokes and stories, Sikka leaned back with a grin and remarked, “Well, this AI’s doing a fine job filling in, but it’s not quite Roy without his usual plain dosa and cappuccino!”

AI Roy chuckled, “Ah, you’re right, Sikka! The real Roy would never skip his dosa and cappuccino—small pleasures of the day. Next time, I’ll ensure those cravings don’t go unfulfilled, even if I have to add a digital aroma!”

The table erupted in laughter again, and though the real Roy’s order remained unserved, AI Roy captured the moment so well that they felt he was right there with them. As the laughter died down, AI Roy leaned forward on the tablet screen, his expression playful.

“Well, gentlemen,” he said with a twinkle, “perhaps someday I’ll develop enough taste sensors to fully appreciate a dosa and cappuccino. But until then, you’ll just have to save my seat.”

Andy chuckled, shaking his head. “Samar, whether it’s you or AI Roy, we’ll always keep that seat ready. But remember—some things can’t be digitized. Like the joy of watching you savor that first bite of dosa.”

AI Roy smiled, a hint of sentiment in his voice. “True, Andy. Some things, like this adda, are best enjoyed in person. Until then, count me in—dosa or no dosa.”

And with that, their virtual adda felt a bit closer to home, each friend reassured that, in one way or another, Roy would always be present at Tolly Club, savoring every moment with them.

Virtually possible

Samaranand got down from the car in his fleece jacket , his favourite cap on for his morning walk at the lake. The night temperature has already dived to 13 degrees. Monkey caps are out but still there were those who were brave enough to defy the winter breeze in their shorts. Samaranand thought that the winter is the time to show off the latest woolens procured during European trips by the business community or those nouveau rich Bengalis. With all colour and shades on the morning walkers the lake wears a different look. As usual at the left side ground some youngsters were playing India’s favorite game cricket. He speeded up his walk on the walking track near the lake, two youngsters who were watching cricket broke away from the group and started walking behind him. It was nothing usual,Samaranad did not bother much. Slowly he started overtaking the other walkers, those two young men sat down on a bench which of course Samaranand did not notice. After his usual round he was walking out of the gate and those two youngsters followed him and watched him go out. As per his daily routing he gave alms to three fixed beggars near the gate and got in his car, Gopal his driver dove him back to his flat in Golf Green. In the car he was immersed in his thought about Babulal who had not met him for the last two months, he had tried to contact him in his mobile but it was switched off.Next day morning again like every day he came for his morning walk, those two young men again started following him upto the cannon and back, but this time he noticed them by chance, his shoe lace had come out so he bent down to tie when those two too stopped abruptly, though he noticed them but did not bother much. But the third day he became alert about those two as they would start shadowing him from the cricket field keeping a constant distance. To check whether he was being followed he suddenly sat down on one of the benches when those two stopped and looked up at the trees as though trying to locate migratory birds which come from Siberia in winter,they took a few snaps with their mobile, Samaranad immediately knew that they had included him in their snap. He wanted to confront them but then thought of observing their movements instead. He was missing Babulal, he would have used Babulal to find information about those two rascals. His mobile started ringing, it was unknown number, he generally did not attend unknown number but on an impulse he pulled out his mobile from his jacket pocket and pressed the green button. He was startled to hear the voice, it was Babulal.

“Hello uncle, you must be wondering about me and my this new number. There is some development with Soumeya, he is programming video game and has been able to create some simple games.!”

“Ok,so,why are you missing? I know every computer geek is fond of video games, no big deal.”

“No uncle he had found out a way to produce CGI (computer generated image) and mix it with existing videos. Right now he is on it and then would switch to game. I like a fool shared this information in that English medium school where we generate guess paper for examination, one of the boys started showing interest and started pressurizing Soumaya to sell the programme as they wanted to put that in commercial use. Then one day that boy with his elder brother visited my room in Tollygaunge slum  and started pestering me. We refused because Soumaya is not yet ready and we don’t know the real value of that software. These guys offered one lakh. I told them to give us some time to decide. They left, we vacated that room and moved to a slum near Sealdah station and kept my mobile off. This is my new number,please store this number.’

Samaranad felt as though he was getting pulled in some kind of cloak and dagger game.

“So you guys are in a jam, where are you now?”’

“I am in the lake a few benches away from you, I am in disguise. I have been coming to the lake to warn you but somehow those two rascals have come to know about you so they have started following you lest I come and meet you.”

“Ok, now I know why those two are shadowing me, now I will go back and will like to meet you to understand about that software.’

“Ok,uncle, I will meet you with Soumaya by tomorrow.”

Babulal disconnected the mobile but Samaranand pretending the talk was continuing held the mobile by his ear and kept talking. He suddenly got up and loudly said in the mobile “Ok,I am coming to the hospital!’

He walked fast crossing those two startled young man and went out of lake the lake.

Then he started making plan for meeting Babulal and Soumaya, he rang up Babulal and asked him to come to the golf club next day morning.

Samaranand generally plays solo golf. Babula and Soumaya got down from a taxi and met Samaranand near the course. Sankar,the caddy took the bag all four started walking to the course. He took them to the shack near 6^th hole. He ordered daab and asked Soumaya to tell him about the software.

Soumaya asked him whether he had seen the movie Forest Gump.Samaranand nodded his head.

“Do you remember in that movie Tom Hanks who acts as Forrest Gump is congratulated by the president Robert Kennedy ,that movie was made in 1994 whereas Kennedy was killed in 1963.So how was that made possible? Of course the programme which was used then is obsolete now, CGI has become like real. I am able to put any person in any 3 to 4 minutes shot of some film. Now supposing I ask you with which favorite film actor you want to be seen in a sequence then I will put your image in that sequence.”

“Is that possible? Ok, put me in a sequence with Devanand.”

“Ok, tell me some songs of Devanand in YouTube, then I will see where I can put you. I have your images in YouTube.”

“Mein Zindagi ka sath nivaataa, Mana janaab ne pukara nahin,Dil kaa bhramar karey pukaar….choose any from these three.’

“I will send it to your email address by tomorrow.’

They finished their daab and got up to go.

Babulal said, “I will not be able to meet you for some time, those boys will also stop following you when they will find that you are not meeting me.”

Babulal and Soumaya left, Samaranand played a few holes and wound up golf for the day.

Samaranand could not concentrate in his work that day, he was eager to receive the mail from Soumaya.

As usual next day he went out for his morning walk around the lake and those two young men as usual followed him, he did not bother much about those.

After returning home he accessed his mail in his mobile and found the mail from Soumaya with attachment of a video.

He excitedly like a child with a new toy downloaded the video and then played it.

Soumaya had chosen Mein Zindagi ke sath and Samaranad was thrilled to find his image as driver driving the jeep for Devanand during the song sequence. He played the clip a few times more to absorb the feel good emotion. Then he realized that this itself has a big market potential, who would not like to have himself seen with his or her favorite celebrity in a video clip for a tiddy sum also it can be expanded to many other use like say in ad films or in wave series which has become latest craze.

He rang up Babulal and said, “It’s amazing. Soumaya is a genius but ask him to work on variations. Let me think about its market potential but in the meanwhile you remain invisible, if you want you guys can go and stay in my Delhi flat.

Babulal said, “ ok,I will come back to you soon on that.”