LOVE ADDICTION
It was the darkest night because it was new moon night. Mohan was riding his bike for a long time. He was now somewhere on the outskirts of West Bengal.
Where am I now? asked Mohan.
Mohan didn't come here alone. Even he didn't come here for his need. He was here because his friend Ratul had requested him. Ratul, Mohans childhood friend and neighbour as well, was sitting on the back seat of Mohans bike.
Even I dont know. He told me only the name of the jungle. You should ask someone, replied Ratul.
It was a time when they were bosom friends. They would eat together, sleep together, even roam together. But now they hardly meet because they are very busy for their respective careers. In their childhood, Mohan was not so good in the study as Ratul. But Ratul helped him a lot to educate him.
When they passed their 12-class exam, they together entered into university. But in the university Ratul fell in deep love with a girl. The girl dumped him and he ruined not only his study but also his life. Gradually, he became a drug addict.
At least ask someone, cried Ratul.
Cant you see? There is no one to ask, replied Mohan getting irritated.
Now you say. Why did you request me to come here? inquired Mohan.
Mohan was reluctant when Ratul had told him to visit a jungle on the outskirts of West Bengal in a new moon night. But Ratuls constant imploring made him come here. Although Mohan inquired many times the reason for visiting a jungle but Ratul told nothing.
You will see when we will reach there, replied the same answer as he had told him before.
Suddenly, Ratul took out his mobile and dialled a number. After some tries, a voice was heard over the opposite side of the phone.
Im almost there. Did you leave that thing in the jungle? asked Ratul.
Yes, you dont need to worry. You are my customer now. You paid for this. We never lie. We have a good reputation, answered the voice.
After hearing the voice some fear penetrated into Mohans mind. He knew Ratul after his break up. How he became bad Ratul from good one. It was time when Ratul had hated people who used to smoke and drink alcohol. But after his break up he completely changed. First, he addicted to alcohol and then drug. Mohan heard a lot of times in the late night that Ratul was quarrelling with his parents in drunk. He had got a good job but got fired because of his addiction to the drug.
Stop here! Ratul screamed pointing a nearby place. Before Mohan knew anything, Ratul jumped from his back seat of the bike and ran towards a place in a jungle. Taking out a torch, he turned it on and ran here and there for some time.
Look! He didn't lie. The thing is there. They kept their promise, pointed Ratul.
In the bright light of Ratuls torch, Mohan saw a medium pitcher there in a place of the jungle. There was a small hole in the upper part of the pitcher and pitcher opening was tightly covered with a black cloth. It seemed something was there in that pitcher. Before Mohan saying anything, Ratul threw his torch to him and asked him to stay afar, flashing the torch to the pitcher. Mohan did so.
In the torchlight, Mohan saw that Ratul slightly moved the pitcher. No sooner had Ratul moved the pitcher than a peculiar sound came out of that pitcher. Ratul then happily stretched his tongue through the small hole.
What are you doing? screamed frightened Mohan.
Suddenly, Mohan saw Ratul was shoved by something in the pitcher. He fainted the very moment falling a distance. Mohan noticed the pitcher was moving. It seemed something was trying hard to come out of it. Mohan ran towards Ratul, found him salivating.
Ratul, what happens? Talk to me, sobbed Mohan.
I tried hard to die but failed but today I must, reply Ratul in semi-conscious condition.
Mohon was scared. He was not able to decide what to do. He took Ratuls numb body, putting on the back seat of his bike; he rode off to find a nearby hospital. As they had come a long way and Mohan did not notice the sideways, he almost lost his way. He, taking Ratuls numb body, rode here and there to find a hospital but failed.
After roaming almost a mile, he luckily looked at a light emitting board written "Government Hospital." He entered in the hospital compound and called for a doctor. In a few moments, some stuffs came out of the building and examined Ratul. Seeing his position, they took him in operation theatre. Mohan waited outside bench.
When Mohan took out his wallet to see how much money he had, he found a letter in it. It was Ratul's letter. He gave it to Mohan while they were starting their journey tonight. Ratul instructed him not to read it. He told him to read when he would not be with him. Without wasting a minute, he started reading the letter.
The letter reads, "my dear friend Mohan. I'll not be with you when you'll read the letter. I think you're in deep curiosity to know what was there in the pitch. Before that, I need to relate my story why I wanted to come here and why I forced you to come here. We together entered into university with big dreams. I wanted to become a professor. You know that I was dead against those people who had any sort of addiction. But my dream was ruined by only Ridhima, the girl I loved most.
I had no wish to befriend Ridhima but Ridhima tried everything to make me her friend. Even I would often hide from her but you and some of our friends helped Ridhima to find me out. Ridhima was obsessed for me. One day when she proposed to me for the first time, I said no. As a result, she slit her hands and admitted to the hospital. I had to say yes because I knew she might attempt suicide again. But gradually I was obsessed with her. Whenever I tried to concentrate on my study, she would demand me to take her somewhere. I lost my focus. It was the second year, when I called her several times but she didn't pick up my phone. Later she sent me SMS not to call her because she's preparing for exams.
I knew that she was playing with my emotions. When I confronted her, I found her dating someone else. My whole life broke into pieces. I had to start smoking to lessen my pain. But it didn't work. Then I drank alcohol for the first time on one of my friend's suggestion. As I was new to it I vomited bitterly. But this addiction helped me to forget her but for some hours. So, I started drinking alcohol so that I could forget her. I was in bad condition but she didn't visit me once. Meanwhile, I got a chance in a reputed company but because of addiction to alcohol, I was fired from there.
I thought she would come back for me but fifteen days before I got a news from our close source that she got married. I lost all my hopes. I had nothing left to live. But I could not commit suicide. Day and night I consumed liqueur.
After a few days later, one of my friends told me about ultimate addiction that is a snake bite. Even he provided me the mobile number of the agency who suply snake bite. when I contacted them, at first, they did not agree to supply it as it is illegal but on my constant request, they agreed on one condition. They clearly said that they would not supply it to my home, instead, put a pitcher on the outskirts of West Bengal. They charged 12000 rupees by debit card. That time I hardly had 3000 rupees in the bank. In order to pay the full money, I sold my bike, gold chains and my sports equipment. After getting their full payment, they gave me the address and instructed to visit in new moon night. They told me that in that pitcher there would be a king cobra. Only I have to stretch my tongue through a hole of that pitcher.
I know you are my best friend that's why I forced you to come with me. I don't know what will happen to me but never hate me. I may die that is only for the addiction to love. Your bosom friend Ratul."
No sooner had Mohan finished the letter that he saw a doctor by his side.
"How is Ratul", cried out Mohan. The doctor stood silent.
