Jamshedpur City Ghosh Pharmacy, at the entrance of a colony, Morning Hemant pulled up the shutter of the medical with a heave. The shutter slid with a screech and banged at the upper end. The sound produced by the shutter reflected Hemant’s irritation. He muttered in his mouth, “Shokaal shokaal Badol da’r mukh ta dekhe niye chhi. Aajke bohni-batta-o hobe naa (I have seen Badol da’s face in this morning hour. There won’t be any opening sale from the first customer today.” Badal da was standing on the other side of the street, waiting impatiently for the medical shop ...Read More

Badal da had just come out of the toilet when he met Shyamal babu. Shyamal babu greeted him with ‘Good Morning' and asked, "How is your Stomach?" But before Badal da could answer, he hastily entered the toilet. By the time Badal da reached his desk, almost all staff of the office had asked him about his stomach condition, but no one had time to listen to how he accidentally stumbled upon a magic pill. Ms. Swati sitting next to his desk, was busy on her computer screen. She never asked him anything personal. She would only smile at ...Read More

Step one: But before taking step-one, Badal da went straight to Ghosh Pharmacy. He thought if he found the Pill, then step two of the secret game plan would be over, and step one would naturally go smoothly. He bought both the strips of tablets, tore the strips of medicines, and found that none of them was the Magic Pill. He instructed Hemant to put his brain to work and try to find that Magic Pill as soon as possible. He took a promise from him that he would inform him immediately after he has remembered the name of ...Read More

Step two of the secret game plan Straight from the office, Badal da went to the Central Market and The Medical Hub. There was quite a rush at Dr. Joydeb Mukhopadhyaya’s clinic. He asked the lady behind the desk for an appointment. "No appointment is available for the next two months," the lady answered back mechanically, "You can book for any date after two months, and then every day at 10 in the morning, you check with us on the phone. If someone cancels the appointment on that day, then you get the appointment in his place.” "Bulls…... I ...Read More

The next morning Badal da was on time. Members of the reception committee of the Corporate Hospital were all to receive him. They, first of all, sucked around half a litre of his blood. Then they also collected his urine sample and did an ECG. A nurse came and asked him to remove his clothes and to wear a white gown. After wearing the robe, he felt like he was still naked. Why they make such gowns which reveal my body parts more than covering it, he thought A doctor came with a pen and paper. He sat down ...Read More

In the morning, Badal da rang Mr. Trilok three times. He did not pick up the phone. He packed bag and called the travel agent. Hired a cab and started for Ranchi. On the way, he received a call from Mr. Trilok. He told him that he was going to Delhi and may not be available for next two to three days. Mr. Trilok complained, "This is not good, Mr. Badal. You should proceed on leave after getting your leave sanctioned." “Sir, I had to leave Jamshedpur in a hurry because there is a marriage proposal for my daughter. ...Read More

Before climbing the stairs to her apartment, Nivedita looked around for Badal uncle. She could not locate him. She the watchman. He was ignorant about his arrival. She rang him, but his mobile phone was switched off. She looked a little worried. "He must have reached home long back. Where is he stuck? I hope he did not get lost in the city," Nivedita muttered. She saw a boy stopped his bike near her. A girl climbed down from the back seat and asked the boy to come with her. He hesitated a bit and requested her to go ...Read More

Badal da entered the Airport with swollen red eyes and running nose, which he wiped with his handkerchief every and then, His face was drained of all colors. Anyone would know from his face that he was not well. The girl sitting behind the desk looked at him more than once while she was booking his seat. She asked very politely, "Sir, you don’t look well. Are you suffering from any disease?” Badal da frowned at her, "Yes, I am a sick man. I am suffering from C A P S caps." “Sir, is it very contagious?” the girl ...Read More

Badal da walked past the biometric attendance machine. Shyamal babu called him from behind, “Hey Badol da, you forgot make your attendance.” Badal da did not reply and went inside the office. While marking his attendance, Shyamal babu watched Badal da intently. Nitai joined him. Shyamal babu said in astonishment, “What happened to Badol da? He did not make his attendance.” Nitai said in a sad tone, "He must be upset. I have heard that management has forced VRS upon him like they did with me. Why does the Company doesn't understand that at this age, where will we ...Read More

It was impossible to identify who had leaked this news Next day Badal da could hear his colleague discussing matter, sotto voce. As it happens always, the topic was discussed among the office staff one at a time. By the evening, all office staff came to know that Badal da gave a bit of his mind to his bosses. As a result, the management denied him to avail of the benefits of VRS. Over and above, everyone also came to know that Badal da was asked to tender his resignation if he wanted to leave the organization. But the ...Read More

The next morning Badal da got the GOOD news. Mr. Trilok informed him, "Lastly, you won Mr. Badal. Management decided to be considerate on you and allow you to avail the VRS. Congratulations. ........ Now Happy?” But Badal da was far from any happiness. He did not expect that the management will grant him VRS. It was only because of the recent turn of events that he got trapped into his emotional framework. “I don’t know I should be happy or sad,” Badal da confided in Swati, “Why did they approve my application? It is their defeat. ………I fail ...Read More

In the morning Badal da’s phone started ringing. He opened his eyes and found out that Swati was calling. looked at the wall clock. It was ten past ten. He lazily picked up the phone. His head was still spinning and he did not feel like talking. "Hello, Swati madam." “Hello, how are you doing?” Swati chuckled. “I am good.” Well, I am going to give you some trouble. Will you help me find out one or two BHK apartment?” “Where, In Jamshedpur?” "Yes, of course," Swati replied. "I will try my best. Who is going to stay …...a ...Read More

On the fourth day morning, Swati made her tea and thought she should give one cup to Mr. Badal. knocked at the partition door. There was no response from the other side. She thought he must be sleeping. In the afternoon, Mr. Tanmay came and gave her food packet and informed her that he has come to know about two vacant Flats. He said he would come around four in the evening and take her along to show her the two Flats. She was about to open the packet when she heard Mr. Tanmay's voice calling Mr. Badal loudly. ...Read More

There was a knock at the door. It was ten past two in the afternoon. Swati was busy in kitchen with the maid. She asked the maid to see who had come. She was wondering why the Puja cultural team members have started coming in so early for the practice. The maid opened the door and found a girl standing at the door with her luggage. She looked at her with inquiring eyes. The girl also looked a little puzzled. She asked, "Where is Papa?" "Papa?... a madam lives here." "Where did he go? …. Can you call your ...Read More

It was early in the morning. The sun was rising in the east. Birds were chirping around. Badal da his eyes and batted his eyelids to get accustomed to his surroundings. He was lying on a bench in the garden. He slowly got up in the sitting position. It was a little cold outside. He yawned and shrugged his shoulders. He felt the pressure building up in his stomach. He walked back home. The entrance door of his room was partly open. He went inside his room. When he was about to open the toilet door, he saw the ...Read More

Babla and Tumpa were sitting in the lounge after the security check-in. Both were silent. They were waiting for to start. Tumpa was going to Hyderabad and Babla to Delhi, from where he had to catch the flight to Australia. Babla asked Tumpa, “So, when are you going to marry Yogesh?” "Never," Tumpa turned her head in the other direction, "He went to New Zealand last month." She heaved a sigh and said further, "Papa wanted us to come back home. I left my job, disposed of my things, and came to settle down in Jamshedpur. But when I ...Read More