Rounak Roy, a man in his Forties is a failed Police Officer. He is still
a Sub-Inspector of Police at Park Street Police Station. He lives with
his wife, Tapati and their son Uttarayan at a rented place in Howrah.
Uttarayan is eighteen years of age and has just appeared for Madhyamik
Examinations. Tapati is a simple house-wife. Rounak had an arranged
marriage and quite early in his life. Within a year of Rounak & Tapati’s marriage, Uttarayan was born. Rounak then was a
constable.
It was quite a while that his job was not satisfying him and his
promotion being delayed. Of late Rounak was very much into alcohol and
didn’t have a healthy relation with his family. Also, the economic
condition of the family was not good. It was deteriorating day by day
with higher expenses and limited income. And with every passing day,
Rounak was becoming more & more irritated with his situation. Tapati
was having a hard time to run the
family and
often the couple would end up in big quarrels. Uttarayan would always
watch but keep quiet because he knew his Dad would thrash him if he
interfered.
Uttarayan was mad about cycling. He would often take his bi-cycle and
roam around like a free bird. He loved exploring places. And that too,
alone. Though he was
in love
with a girl Soma but his trips of desire were always alone. Uttarayan
dreamt of visiting Cities, States, and Countries on his cycle but he
feared his Dad would never let him. His Dad never let him visit
Calcutta. Though, Uttarayan had visited many cities, states and
countries, not in his cycle but through the glorious cycle of internet.
And the places would attract him like hell. He used to dream about
cycling in big cities, mountains, etc. He would go mad discussing them
with Soma. And maybe, once in a while, Uttarayan would take Soma for a
ride. Soma, usually would be thrilled after such rides because Uttarayan
would talk crazily all along.
Rounak was really having serious problems at his workplace and would
remain tensed and frustrated all day along. It was one such time, when
Uttarayan couldn’t stop himself and asked permission from his Dad to
visit Calcutta on cycle. Rounak was furious. Rounak never liked his son
roaming all around on a cycle. Rounak wanted his Son to complete his
studies and join a job, so that the economic condition of the family
improved. Even Tapati wanted the same. But Tapati also being a mother
supported Uttarayan’s dream though Rounak was not aware of this. Rounak
almost thrashed Uttarayan and the poor chap somehow managed to flee the
room.
Madhyamik exams being over, Uttarayan was getting restless and
frustrated with every passing day. His desire was winning over his fear.
And Soma always used to support him. Once again, Uttarayan one evening
asked Rounak about the No-Cycling Zones in Calcutta. Rounak was so mad
that he went and thrashed Uttarayan’s cycle with a cricket bat creating
severe damage to the cycle. Uttarayan was in tears and couldn’t sleep
that night. But that night made his desire, destiny. With Soma’s and a
few other friend’s help Uttarayan’s cycle was back on track. And he
decided to visit Calcutta on his own, without his Father’s consent. He
fixed a date. And on that day, he left with his cycle, early morning.
Rounak had not returned home the previous night because their was a big
political rally
the next day.
Uttarayan seemed to be the happiest person on earth, cycling, as if
to Glory. He had waited for months maybe years and here he was on his
first trip to a city. After almost cycling for 2 hours he entered
Calcutta through the Howrah Bridge. He was thrilled. After roaming
around like a vagabond, Uttarayan was resting under a tree in Maidan.
His happiness was beyond imagination and expectation. After a while, he
started his journey again, it was around noon and he was on Red Road.
While cycling he saw a Police Van approaching him and the fear of his
father coming to know helped him decide to flee.
The police also started chasing him. On the other hand, a huge chaos started in the political rally. The police
had to Lathicharge and through tear gas to the crowd. Amongst this,
Uttarayan was fleeing. After a while, a policeman came down the
jeep
and shot the young man from a long distance. The bullet hit Uttarayan
in the chest and he fell with his cycle on the road. Other policemen
approached and took away the body along with the cycle.
It was quite late and Uttarayan had not returned home. Tapati was
very worried. Rounak arrived quite late and seemed very happy. He hugged
Tapati and said that the way he handled the chaos today will finally
give him a promotion. And the family’s economic condition would improve
to a larger extent. Tapati was happy and worried at the same time.
Rounak also started worrying about Uttarayan. The night passed as the
two helplessly waited for their son to return. They had already been to
almost all his friend’s places. In the morning, Soma, almost broken like
the dead, arrived at Rounak’s place and handed over the newspaper to
Rounak. Rounak fainted
after taking a glimpse of the front page.
It read, “Police Atrocity Takes Another Life of An Innocent” and the photo was of Uttarayan lying dead beside his cycle.
Perhaps, Uttarayan was on another “Trip of Desire”.
Trip Of Desire - A Short Story by Arin Paul | WBRi Online Magazine
