Mo Yaling

The New Friend

I became so dumbfounded that I couldn’t say a word. All of us remained silence for sometime. Then Nayna broke the quiet, ‘We must go and search for Steve!’

‘WE!’ I was surprised, ‘What do you mean by WE? I cannot take you with me! It’s too risky!’

‘Yes bhabi. Bhaiya is right. You stay here. I’m going with bhaiya!’

‘Ey! Hello! Nobody is going nowhere except me! Just peg it in your mind – both of you!’

‘Neel! Dear! If it is risky – it is applicable for you too! How could you think that I will allow you alone there!’

‘I won’t be alone there! I would have a team!’ I exclaimed.

‘Team or what – I don’t care! Either you take Shankar with you – or me – that’s my final word!’

‘C’mmon Nayna! Please talk sense! None of you have any sort of experience in any kind of expedition! I don’t even know what has happened there! There – there - might be some political reasons – or may be – any kind of terrorist activities – who knows!’ I tried to put forward my points.

‘Okay. I understand,’ Nayna stated after a long pause, ‘there might be problems, as I am a woman, if I come with you. But you must take Shankar with you. He may not has any kind of experience, but he is smart enough to cope up with any situation. What do you say Shankar bhaiya?’

‘OH! Of course bhabi! Of course!’ Shankar addressed joyously.

Shankar! Out of everybody! Why! But I didn’t thought it right to argue with a very recently wed wife. She will always have other means to make me agree. Who wants a cross-legged wife on bed! Damn it! I will shake him off in the first chance! Now, first things first. I have to collect as many as data regarding Steve and his expedition.

I entered my study and opened my computer. I have to study minutely each and every document sent by Steve.

There were five attachments Steve sent me. One is the ticket. I opened it, heaved a sigh and closed it on the next moment. May be if I could have use the ticket – Steve won’t be missing today! The second one is a jpeg file. I opened to see a selfie or as they say - groupfie. Steve is standing in the airport with 5-6 more peoples. His ear-extended smile brought me a heart-burning sensation! I asked him for the important documents related to the expedition! How a groupfie with dental show-off could be that important! I immediately closed the picture. Bullshit man!

Now! Now! This is really important. A government letter of permission for the expedition. It has been issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change. Okay! So Steve went to Arunachal Pradesh. I carefully read the letter three or four times but couldn’t find any clue except that he wanted to search some special kind of long-living bees. The fourth document is the name and phone number of the guide, who was supposed to escort him through the Mouling National park. That's a very important information. I immediately called the number, but it said that it is switched off. Okay, may be he is a late riser. I will try him later on. The fifth and last document too is very, probably the most important document for me, issued in my name. The permission to carry my Winchester model 70 hunting gun and use it in self defence only. It is exclusively mentioned there NOT to harm any kind of animal. Anyway, I’m never a hunter for hunting’s sake. A blank sound of gun along with a small fire is fair enough to keep away wild animals from the camp.

Next I booked two tickets from Delhi to Dibrugarh in the same flight that Steve caught a couple of days ago. I kept one full day for me to arrange my belongings. I have to plan very carefully. I don’t know how much time I have to spend there. I have to read a lot and have to make few calls to search out any details about this expedition.

Two days just passed in a jiffy. I couldn’t gather any extra information within this time that would help me to find out any whereabouts of Steve. Except one thing for sure that it is neither a case of any political issue, nor any case of terrorism.

It was seven o’clock in the morning. Nayna was taking out the car from the garage. She will drive and drop us to the airport. I was cross checking every equipments for the last minute as well as worrying about Shankar. He should be here right now.

‘Papa!’ I called my father. ‘Please give a call to Shankar. He is supposed to be here right now!’

‘I am calling beta! Continuously! His phone is out of reach!’ My father answered.

To hell with that stupid! I wanted to shake him off anyway. Its only a few thousand bucks that I lose to buy a ticket for him! I just started to put my things on car the stupid came by panting like a fat pig!

‘Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Very sorry! It was my blue undie! Couldn’t find it! Finally ... that's a very lucky inner for me! I always wear it when I go for any adventure!’

‘You mean theft!’ I couldn’t control myself to pull his leg.

‘No no! Not only that – but-’

‘Can we have this ‘underwear’ conversation later? We have to catch a flight!’ Nayna abruptly says as she stops Shankar.

‘Oh yes yes bhabi!’ Shankar relied hurriedly, ‘are these all?’

‘Yes almost,’ I replied, ‘only my gun is kept on the sofa inside. I’m just coming from the toilet. Coming back right now.’ I ran inwards.

My parents were standing in front of the door. I quickly bend and touched their feet. Mother touched a flower to my head and promptly slipped it into my pocket.

‘keep us informed always.’ My father said.

‘Yes,’ I nodded and entered the car. Nayna drove off calmly.

We were almost half the way. The traffic is free. The weather is cool. I was acquiring a very good mood. Suddenly I looked back and saw Shankar is sitting with his legs up on the seat. I became a little angry. I am a little bit particular about my car.

‘Hey! Put your legs down!,’ I yelled, ‘What do you think is it! Your SOFA!’

Shankar gave me a dazed look.

‘Hey! What!’ I shouted.

‘You said ‘sofa’ bhaiya!’

‘Yes! SO!’

‘Bhabi – can you take the car back to home? I’ve forgotten to take the gun.’ Shankar said so casually as if he is saying that he has seen a crow to fly away!

‘WHAT!!!’ I yelled so loudly that Nayna was almost losing her control over the car.

What this insolent oaf is saying! He has forgotten to take a most important thing for a expedition and he is saying it so casually!

‘You NONSENSE!’ I couldn’t kept my cool down! ‘You didn’t forget to take your blue underwear but you forget to take my gun! And you!’ I turned to Nayna, ‘You are sending this stupid with me for my safety!’

Nayna stopped the car fast. ‘Now listen both of you. This is NOT the time to lose your cool! Just step down and book a cab immediately. Take as much as luggage you can carry. After reaching airport – Neel – you will carry on with the procedure of tickets and luggages – and Shankar – you will wait for me near the gate. I’ll go and fetch the gun as quick as possible. Trust me!’ She spoke in one breath.

WHAT can I do in this situation! I HAD to get down. I was feeling so angry that I felt to throw Shankar from the top of Qutab minar with his blue chaddi!

Only my tension was eased when Nayna called me back on her way back to airport. I calculated that I will have at least ten minutes board the plane. I found an empty seat and sat unstrained. I have total faith over Nayna.

When it is only eleven minutes to go Nayna called me.

‘What’s up dear? Is everything okay?’ I asked eagerly.

‘I just handed the gun over to Shankar bhaiya.’ She replied.

I heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Okay Nayna! Thanks baby! I’ll contact him. Love you! Will call you after boarding.’ I cut the phone and dialled Shankar’s number. Busy. May be he too is trying to call me. I left my seat and slowly approached towards terminal two. I took out the boarding passes and stand aside. It is seven more minutes to go. I tried Shankar once again and found his phone busy. An uneasiness with an anger was embroiling inside me. Three minutes! A rage is tangling within my brain! One minute! Thirty seconds! Fifteen! Five! And I saw the gate get closed just fifty meters from me! The plane took off with my luggages!

I was so infuriated at first that I couldn’t think out what to do. I was searching for Shankar like a furious bull. Suddenly I saw him roaming casually with his phone in his ears. I ran towards him. He just noticed from a distance and came hurriedly near me.

‘Where were you bhaiya! I was trying to-’

I couldn’t stand his casual voice. I raised my hand to slap him, but somebody called my name right that moment - ‘Neel! Is that you?’

I turned to see a tall blue eyed lanky figure smiling at me. I couldn’t recall him. He forwarded his hand and said, ‘Hi! I am Quentin.’