Offering unsolicited advice to the people in the neighbourhood was a hobby Amar Nath relished. Exaggerated estimates of intellectual superiority and wisdom enticed him to meddle in the affairs of all, thus accounting for his loss of popularity. Only last month, he met Sudip Babu at the grocery store and urged him to buy peace by gifting a bigger share of the ancestral property to his younger brother.

The domestic scenario was not much different. Ratan, quite tired of his father’s persistent interference, burst forth quite vocally, while his sister, Radha was less scathing though she was also in consonance with Ratan’s views. She clothed her displeasure in concern for her father’s health,

‘At your age, you should be relaxing, Baba, instead of burdening yourself with the well-being of others.’

‘You are right. These days people see motive in everything you say or do,’ Amar Nath conceded.

Ratan, who had a history of face-offs with his father, jumped into the fray, ‘You believe that what you think is always right. That the world survives and runs on your advice. If that be so, why not go and advice the CM and the PM? They need good advisers to improve the state of affairs.’

Not having an answer to this snide remark, Amar Nath gingerly stepped out of the house and headed straight to Bapi tea stall where he would sip tea and browse the evening newspaper in relative peace.

As he sat there sipping lemon tea, a stranger suddenly approached him, ‘Excuse me, Sir. Do you know where the Headmaster of Government High School lives? Actually, I am late. I was supposed to meet him at the school premises.’

Scanning the young man from head to toe, Amar Nath spoke with composure, ‘So you want to meet Pranab. What brings you here?’

The stranger introduced himself quickly, ‘I am Sunil Poddar. I am here to teach the subjects, History and English.’

‘Go straight from here and then turn left where you come across a pond. From there…okay, I’ll take you to that rotten place. Once upon a time, he used to seek my advice though we don’t talk now.’

Sunil Poddar seemed eager to follow him, though Amar Nath took time to finish his tea and then proceeded in that direction. After walking some distance, the conversation began to flow on a load of issues. Taking pride for sending many talented boys to reputed technology and medical colleges, Amar Nath made it clear that the town was not so small in stature.

When they came near the pond, he pointed to a house painted blue and white. Sunil expressed apologies for troubling a senior citizen. Pleased with the meek fellow and his manners, Amar Nath said with sudden avuncular concern, ‘In case you require any assistance, you will find me at the tea stall every evening around five. Bapi knows my address. Oh yes, let me advise you a bit. Arsenic cases are being reported here. So, I suggest you avoid drinking the tube well water.’ Sunil touched his feet, keeping his suitcase on the cobbled path. Amar Nath felt nice to win respect from the man and wished him well, ‘Hope you like your stay here.’

That night, after dinner, when Radha was pressing his feet, he spoke warily of his waning popularity with his children, ‘Tell me one thing honestly, have I not been a good father? You two seem to consider me your enemy.’

Radha stopped him mid-sentence, ‘There’s nothing like that. You know how short-tempered Ratan is. He lacks refinement. We are just concerned about your health and the extra load of worries you bring home. Worrying is not good for you.’

‘It’s true that I’m worried but that is because of you. At times, I feel bad for not being able to do anything for you. Couldn’t even find a groom for you,’ he rued.

Radha felt shy hearing about his worry. At the same time, it warmed the cockles of her heart that he was seriously considering marrying her off.

Amar Nath continued with greater angst, ‘To make matters worse, this brother of yours is no good. Does not think that he has a sister who needs to be married? He contributes nothing to the family, just sits in the club, plays carrom or vanishes for months to god-knows-where. When will he grow up and stop living off my pension? He could at least conduct some tuitions to pay the electricity bill.’ He knew Radha would communicate his concerns to Ratan and he at least would listen to the sister’s concerns with patience.

Radha resumed pressing his feet. And he poured out his encounter with the young man at the tea stall, adding traits of his personality that would attract her. ‘Luck was on my side. Met a good guy. He is Sunil. A teacher of English. Quite handsome, tall and well-built. Tell you more about him when I learn more. I’ll bring him home on a Sunday. Prepare some nice dishes then.’

He had broached the subject of her marriage earlier as well. Radha used to feel embarrassed and retreated into the kitchen. This time she listened attentively about the stranger, who was in all probability being discussed as a suitable match.

During the weekend Amar Nath met Sunil at the tea stall where he had come to meet him. He informed him of the arrangements made. He spoke of the people being friendly and helpful in the school and the locality where he lived and that he was teaching classes eight and nine. And the students were quite easy to manage and teach. Wanting to show his hospitality Amar Nath asked Sunil to visit his house. Initially, Sunil was hesitant but ultimately relented to the kind offer. This was a nice chance to know about the boy and so Amar Nath went about digging into his personal matters. ‘You seem to belong to a good family. You speak with a polish unlike many educated youngsters these days. But why did teaching attract you? It’s certainly not going to make you rich.’

‘I simply love to teach. It gives me satisfaction. Children are our future and values have to be imparted,’ Sunil said with conviction.

Amar Nath got a fair insight into his mental make-up and had more or less short-listed him as his son-in-law. Only one vital question remained to be asked and that was about his marital status. As they reached near the main gate of the house, he could not resist asking, ‘Are you single?’ Sunil was quick to furnish a firm yes that brought a wide smile on Amar Nath’s face.

Sparks flew when Sunil and Radha saw each other. She could not resist his charms and neither could he take his eyes off her beautiful face. She welcomed him into the house and offered him Amar Nath’s rocking chair to slip into. Her father excused himself from their company to let the young couple spend some moments together. Radha kick-started the conversation repeating all that her father had said about Sunil. He felt glad to have been discussed in the family with such interest.
 

*****
 

Radha had sort of accommodated him as her partner without her father influencing her decision-making process. After a couple of meetings at their place, Sunil dropped a bombshell that shattered both Radha and Amar Nath.

‘I will be leaving this place soon. In another two months.’

Amar Nath looked guilty as if he was responsible in some way for his early departure. Curious to know the reason, he gave him multiple choices at one go, ‘Why? Don’t you like this place? Any problems with the Headmaster? Did anyone create trouble in your area? Ego hassles with colleagues? Any political pressure? I can discuss it with your boss if need be.’ Amar Nath sounded desperate to retain him in the town and he had a strong motive to do so.
Sunil brought clarity to the issue, ‘I was here as a temporary teacher, to fill up a slot lying vacant because the permanent teacher was on leave for medical treatment. Since she is resuming, I have to leave. I got some valuable experience here and that would count in applying elsewhere. I have fallen in love with this quaint town and I feel I have been living here all my life.’

Amar Nath, who had helped many a young boy secure job based on his recommendation during his heydays, felt he needed to do something for this talented man. He asked Sunil if he was willing to consider any other job. Sunil declined a change in career and was unmovable about his choice. He was willing to put in more years of struggle to succeed in the academic field.

Radha had heard everything from behind the door. Amar Nath did not turn around to see her face but this news was surely going to hurt her a lot. Sunil sounded firm about moving out of this town. When Amar Nath said that it was time for him to set up a family, he said, ‘I have a sister to marry off and I cannot think of having my own family yet.’ That left no room for further discussion on the subject of marriage. Amar Nath still made a brave attempt to suggest that there was plenty of time for him to ponder over his decision. Sunil pretended to take it seriously though he was sure that his future lay elsewhere. Perhaps that is why he did not get intimate with Radha although he had a soft corner for her.

Amar Nath called up all his contacts listed in a tattered diary in over a month. It was a futile exercise as many of the numbers had stopped functioning and those who picked up were either too busy or could not recognise the caller. Left with no other choice, he decided to meet the Headmaster and plead to retain the talented teacher.

One fine morning, he got up to leave for the school. As he reached the gate, he bumped into an unexpected visitor. Sunil did not wish to enter the house and said hesitatingly, ‘I am sorry I could not honour your wishes and I regret it. So, I have come to apologise. Besides, there is another important information that I have to pass on but I do not know whether I am the right person to do so.’

In a bid to make Sunil comfortable, Amar Nath said, ‘Surely you can speak your mind. I was going to your school anyway, come let us go there.’

‘No, please, I am in a hurry. I just came to thank you for taking care of me. For advising me just like your son. I have one small request. Advice, if I may use the word. Radha is a good, homely girl. Any boy would like to marry her. There’s a good proposal for her but I do not think you will accept it, based on what I have heard from you and other sources.’

Amar Nath had not been lectured before. He asked Sunil to stop talking in circles. It was enough to make him blurt out the purpose of the visit. ‘Your daughter is very much sought after by the Headmaster for his son, Arun. From what I have been told, he is a bank officer. Good salary. Looks good.  Well-settled. He is willing to talk with you but since he knows you brought me to his house, that we get along well, he asked if I would like to play a role. I promised to do this bit. You can convey whatever you think to me or if you so wish the Headmaster is ready to come to your place any day.’

Sunil had canvassed for the match with a lot of passion. Amar Nath saw it was difficult for him to hide his feelings. Amar Nath who had built ill-repute of advising people had been doled out advice on a very important personal matter.

He did not show any offence at being suggested to patch up with his arch-rival. Rather, he took a practical view of this development. But he did certainly regret that the words came from a person whom he had liked in a very short period. Without revealing any emotion, he said, ‘I need to discuss it with my son, Ratan, and of course, Radha. It will be their decision.’ Ratan was a name that rarely rolled off his tongue, the son he was not proud to have, the son who went missing for several weeks at a stretch without informing the family concerning political work, was now given the prerogative to decide on the match for his sister. This came in handy to shift the responsibility. He wrapped up the conversation with some stiff, formal words, ‘Thank you very much for your concern and mediation, Sunil Babu.’

Amar Nath shut the gate and hobbled in angrily only to be accosted by Radha who was surprised to find him back so early: ‘Why did you not take the umbrella in this hot sun?’ she thrummed.

‘Stop your advice and cook.’ He slammed the door of his bedroom.

Unable to understand what had happened, Radha came out into the drawing-room and caught a glimpse through the window of a man in a white shirt walking toward the main road. He did cast a look around, a long, sad one, as if he would never get to see the house and its people again.