Beyond Imagination
Sumit has bizarre feeling of happiness and why should he not be glad as after 15 years he came back to his alma mater since he graduated. He was invited by College literary & cultural society to felicitate him for his achievement in literature and specifically the popularity he had gained after publication of his recent best selling novel ‘ Beyond Imagination’ on the subject of superstition. His popularity graph was increasing with his every novel which came out in the market. He was being termed as an emerging youth fiction writers among his contemporaries.
Sumit enters in the hall where the stage is set up. He looks at covering page of his novel painted on the banner hanging on the wall at back on corner of a stage. Few chairs are arranged on the stage in front of the long table. He glances over the gallaries inside the hall where few students are engrossed in discussion perhaps nobody had recognized him. He walks out of the hall just then he was accosted by one.
‘ You are welcome Mr Sumit Saurabh’
‘ Thank you’ Sumit replies having turned back.
‘ How are you Mr Nabeel’
‘ Fine Thank You Sir, ‘ Nabeel, Secretary of the College Cultural Society replies.
‘ It seems that I came before the given time’ Sumit asks smilingly releasing his grip from Nabeel’s hand.
‘ Be Seated Sir’
‘ Thanks Nabeel, I come back.’ Sumit replies and moves away.
Sumit looks back at the hall where last time he along with his friends were given farewell party 15 years back and now same place he was invited to be felicitated for his work. He slowly walks around the veranda, glances at small playground where he used to play with his friends. He tries to recollect each and every moment he spent inside the campus during the days when he used to be a student of this college.. Sumit looks at his wrist watch he heads towards hall.
He was greeted at the gate of the hall with the pinning up of badge of the cultural society on left front side of his shirt.
‘You are welcome Sir’ Amitabh, Convenor of the Cultural society greeted him with warm handshake.
‘Thank you’
Later Amitab escorts him inside the hall. Sumit glances over the galleries which have now been filled up by the presence of the students. He climbs up heading towards the stage where he is greeted by the others invitess. He glances over the name plate kept on the table in front of respective chairs. Suddenly his eye stops at middle of the chair arranged on stage which was still empty he looks at the name plate ‘ Dr Shubham Tej Rtd Principal – Chief Guest’
Sumit takes his last corner seat as per the order of name plate arranged. He looks around the stage, leans forward to have look at the empty chair. Now his all concentration revolves around on an empty chair and over the name plate. He had lost in the memories of past. He had entered into that particular day when his department had organized cultural program 15 years back.
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‘Sumit, Since you are not participating in the play so you take care of the snack boxes and beverages and make them ready’ Amar his senior says him having assigned him responsibility.
‘Send Asfer and Mishra’ Sumit says moving towards room where snacks were lying scattered.
After a few minutes Mishra gets inside the room’Did you call me’
‘ Yes, We have to prepare the snack boxes. Where is Asfer?
‘He will not come. Neeta is coming. Asfer is assisting in rehearsals. Believe me the play which is being directed by Sir will be mind blowing’
After a pause Mishra continues
‘One more news, Shubhum Sir is also likely to distribute copy of his second novel at 50% discount to the students of his department on this occasion’
‘ Good news, In fact I was planning to purchase it from market. I have already gone through his first novel that was quite impressive.’
‘Don’t you think writing novel is result of creativity and hard work’
‘ Of Course’ Mishra replies arranging the packets in corner of room.
‘How do some develop such an art. Sometimes I wonder how the writer fabricates story, express the story in words. You know I have tried many times to write article or small story but I couldn’t succeed’
‘Ask Shubham Sir, the secret behind writing if you are interested, after all you are student of literature so you must be having affinity to such art’
‘ and what about you’ Sumit asks giving soft smile
‘I dont have any interest in literature I am interested in doing business management after doing my graduation.’ Mishra says.
‘If snacks packets are ready then bring it in hall’ Amar asks entering the room.
Sumit, Mishra and Amar arrange the packets hurriedly in carton. Later they move towards the hall along with cartons with cold drinks bottles where play was to be performed.
‘ What happened’ Sumit mutters after seeing heated arguments among the boys between his department and outsiders.
‘Wait’ Sumit says to Mishra having put down the carton outside the door of hall.
‘ We have already told that the outsiders are not allowed only those who belong to this department can come inside’ Amar said looking up to few stranger standing near the gate of hall.
‘ But we are also from college’ One among them argue
‘ But this program is organized by our department not by the college’ Amar reiterates
‘ Better to close the door instead of arguing unnecessarily ‘ Sumit intervened
‘ Yes, all come inside’ Amar calls all those who were standing at the door.
Sumit and Mishra lifts the carton and come inside the hall. Amar bolts the door from inside. Play had already been started at the stage. Sumit and other students begin to pass the snacks packets with a bottle of cold drink to the invitees who were sitting front row of the galleries. After finishing the work Sumit along with his friends take their seats in second row behind the professors. Cultural program was at its peak as everybody was enjoying the program. Almost half an hour had passed.
Suddenly ‘ Booooom’ a big bang gets the attention of all inside the hall. All begin to look around, here and there, up on the floor. Nobody could understand what happened. Suddenly Prof Shubham raises up dropping the cold drinks bottle from grip of his hand.
‘O Shit. What is this ?’
‘What happened ‘
‘ Shubham Sir’
‘O Shit’
Blood was oozing out from the wrist of Professor Shubham. He was trembling. Nobody was able to understand how did it happen. All had gathered around Prof Shubham Tej.
‘ Sir look at the door ‘ one says
Light smoke is emanating out from the door. All head towards the door. A hole in middle of the door was conspicuous blurred with smoke.
‘ It seems that somebody had fired from outside’ Prof Gautum says.
All come out from the hall. Nobody was outside the door. Nobody was able to understand suddenly what happened. Shubham was hurriedly carried towards the car parking followed by his colleagues. All begun to leave the venue.
Prof Shubham was admitted to nearby poly clinic. Sumit along with his friend visited the hospital to see him. He was safe.
That very night Sumit had completed his first long story which had been later published by leading literary magazine and since then his dream of becoming a novelist begun. He continuously kept writing articles, stories for the magazines and other journals. He had become familiar figure in literary circle when his first novel was published by one of the reputed publication and it was coincidence that he couldn’t come across any other book by Prof Shubham after that incident.
‘ Now we welcome our chief guest Prof Shubham Tej’ Anchor calls on the dias which distracts Sumit who had till now engrossed in the incident of past which had occurred in same venue.
He raises from his seat heads towards Prof Shubham greeted him smilingly then comes back on his seat.
Small speech was going on from other alumni of colleges who were invited for their works in different fields. Sumit was listening their speeches attentively but somewhere he was lost in his thought regarding the subject superstition. A subject on which he wrote a novel which was acclaimed one of the best selling novel. After several incidents which kept happening in and around in past had already strengthened his belief on superstitious, recent book which proved to be best seller was also product of his firm belief.
‘ Now I invite Mr Sumit Saurabh to say few words’ Anchor calls inviting him on Dias
Sumit raises from his seat and moves towards Dias completely lost in thought as to what subject he should choose to speak before the students and dignitaries. Inspiration what he got from Prof Shubham Tej in his student days or spate of incidents he came across which had made him writer………
End
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