After taking a long haul, Surendra passed on the smouldering cigarette to Siddharth who sat in a corner sulkily. He refused saying he made the New Year resolution today to stop all such bad habits.
"What?" - an instant chorus echoed in the room.
They were a pack of four, the other two being Saurav and Somesh. All were P.G. final year students in the Deptt of Economics of a reputed University.
Date & Time: the 30th December, 2022 @ 8.00 pm.
The Venue: Hostel room of Siddharth, known as the Lion's Den.
Contours of a mischivous smirk erupted in Surendra's darkish lips before he blurted out, "Sid, you know what, promises are made to be broken only. Just think of it, bro."
Saurav interjected, "Quite so. I would say whoever uttered the line must be a genius."
Now it was Somesh's turn. He put in, "Come on Yaar, why torture all of us? And what would happen to our night's program tomorrow? You can't do such injustice to all of us so abruptly."
Siddharth was out of his wits. In the past also he had made such promises several times but each time he failed.
The pattern was quite the same all the time. Someone would push a burning stick to him saying, "Arre yaar, absolutely no harm to have it once just for company."
And he would excuse himself with one, then the 2nd and slowly would fall into the trap again. It had happened time and again in the past and his buddies are familiar with his weakness.
But this time things had come to a pass. He can't just overlook the vulnerability and the trauma he went through today.
It so happened that the day before he had exhausted his monthly allowance of pocket money before time as usual and sadly, his pack of tobaco too.
He could go for borrowing but no, he had promised not to do so to meet his fads.
And the urge to have a puff was so strong that he had to search for butts under the cot !!! Nothing could be more demoralizing, he bemused.
Yet, he knew his gang, they won't leave him. He really was in a big mess and felt miserable.
At this moment, there was a sharp knock on the door. All of them roared, "Come in. It's open."
As the door opened, silhouette of a tall female body in martial arts uniform appeared framed at the doorway.
Next instant, atmosphere in the room changed. There was an errie silence and all the lions sprang up to their feet in panic as if they suddenly encountered a tigress, an RBT to be specific.
And a spontaneous chorus went up,
"Good Evening, Yas."
"Good Evening Everybody."
She was Yasoda, a classmate too.
Yasoda looked around the room for a moment and remarked,
"So, my friends are busy in their studies. Shall I stay or exit?"
Alle but Siddharth shouted,
"Please feel free to have a seat, Yas."
With this a rickety creaking chair was hurriedly dragged before her.
She, however, ignored the offer and straight away went ahead to sit by the side of Siddharth on his bed. Discomfort was manifest in the face oofthe four.
Siddharth broke the silence to ask her about the purpose of her visit.
She smiled and said, "Why Sid, am I not supposed to come for a chit chat with my friend? And I don't think I disturb you any more since you already have a pack here."
"Ah! Yas. You are always so ...."
Siddharth said smilingly while the others showed signs of leaving the room.
Yasoda exclaimed,
"What happened my friends? Why you guys are leaving?
Please stay for a while since I got some important Breaking News for you all."
Actually they had no courage not to heed her words. She was not only the karate champion in the campus and a black belt for that matter but she was also the daughter of the Hostel Supdt. To top it all, she was so aggressive by nature! None in the campus dare challenge her.
Now she began again.
"My dear friends, will you be kind enough to open the windows before I can go ahead? I am suffocating."
All hurried to do the errand. The fan was put on full speed to dispel the poisionous air. After a while, she continued.
"Now, my dear bros, to start with I must admit I am pretty well aware of what you lions are doing in this drain, sorry DEN !!!"
A wave of suppressed laughter passed off across the room.
"And sorry again, but I heard you all before coming in.
May I know why you all are so bent upon to committing suicide?
And Sid, I didn't know you are so weak mentally?
I also know that what you fellows are smoking is not just cigarettes."
There was a murmur in the room, but she went on with her tirade.
"You don't have to confess it. No need for that. I am your friend and would very much like you to be worthy of yourself. All of you are bright guys.
Do I need to explain the harm you are putting yourselves in?"
"But is that the Breaking News?", Somesh asked hesitatingly.
"No. Of course, it is NOT."
"Then why don't you break the news? We are dying to hear it."
"All right then. Listen.
You all know Prithviraj from the Political Science faculty - a chain smoker?"
"Of course, we do. He is one best pal of ours in the campus.
"Must be. I know that.
He has been diagnosed for lungs cancer and the doctor says his days are numbered.
Dad told me a few minutes ago. I came in to break the news to you guys. Because I care for you all."
There was dead silence in the room. All had fear writ large in their eyes.
Yasoda broke the silence and said further.
"Forget the past, you can't help it. But from this very moment you all must take the solemn promise so as not to touch any intoxicant in future.
Is it a big deal? Are you guys so weak?
And Sid, I thought at least you were different."
Now, the four friends looked at each other's face in silence. But the message was clear and each understood the same clearly.
And then slowly four hands came forward over that of Yasoda to make the greatest resolution of their lives.
"A big NO to NICOTINE & DRUGS for the rest of their lives."
That night Life triumphed over Death. It was the beginning of a New Year 2023 and A Journey Towards New Life too.
Viswamitra (01.01.2023)
