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LOVING RIVALRY
It was late in the night; winter fog swirling around the open
spaces, settling as dirty white curtain, enveloping all and
sundry, turning street lights into vague & pale orange glow!
Few would have dared to venture out that night; blinded by
escalating opacity and frozen by increasingly plummeting
mercury!
Meena was in her room, window curtains drawn together, lying
on the bed mulling over with a frown on her face. During the
afternoon that day, she and Rimi were sitting in the College
Cafeteria. Two glasses of coffee mugs were lying on the table
before them, untouched. They were in no mood to drink their
beverage; both were contemplating each other irritably.
Meena had said, rather angrily, I dont know why you insist to
humiliate me always, in everything I do? Grade I get in my
class review paper is perfectly fine with me. And what you get
is your outlook! You dont have to compare yourself with me in
front of all these guys and gloat!
Rimi had stared at her for few moments! It is not comparison
my dear girl that is the fact... I get much better marks than
you and everybody understand that
And the other day Meena continued on and on in an
agitated manner; most upset about being shown in a lesser
light compared to Rimi.
They were rivals in whatever they did.

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But that late winter night Meena was not bothered about small
and inconsequential rivalries. It was Sahdev who was
uppermost in her thoughts. He, the most handsome and sought
after eligible man in the College, was not within her reach. She
knew she was strikingly attractive, many sought to befriend
her; but she wanted Sahdev and none else! She thought,
what has that ugly girl Rimi done, making Sahdev fall head
over heels for her? She must have bewitched him! That
DAYEN !
How he could ignore her and her beauty, Meena thought. For
many minutes she fantasized how Rimi as a witch had played
her witchcraft JADUTONA on him. She was obsessed with
such thoughts!
Silent tears of disappointment and frustration came out of
Meenas eyes! She wiped her eyes with a vigorous movement
and set her teeth. She had to do something! She couldnt be an
eternal loser before Rimi and all her friends! She had to get her
love.
Meena started dressing! She would go to Rimis house, then
and there, and thrash this out once and for all! She lived
nearby.
Fortunately her parents and also that of Rimis had gone out of
town and were not expected till next few days!
Both were alone that night.
She parted the window curtains slightly, to look out. The fog
was rapidly thickening, but she thought that she could walk
down the block to Rimis house without much bother.

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She locked her main door and stepped out. The mild peculiar
smell of fog hit her nostrils the chill in the air and the white
world threatened to envelope her. She ignored all that and
turned left towards the block.
After some minutes of walking, the terrain was well known to
her, she reached the house. The entire surrounding was in
darkness, even the street lights were not working! The only
source of light, coming out feebly, was from the window next to
the main door; it was half closed and covered by curtain. But
there was a gap in its middle parting.
She wanted to move away from the window and ring the bell!
But something caught her eyes, a moving shadow.!
She went forward and peered in through the gap!
Initially she could not make out. There did not seem to be any
sign of Rimi; instead there was an unrecognizable female figure
moving around in the semi lighted room. Her entire head was
covered with a black hood up to her eyes. She was wearing a
shapeless gown from her shoulders to her ankles, also
completely black. She was moving around aimlessly but
vigorously; then bent down and lifted a long black object!
As Meena peered at the object she realised that it was a stick,
most probably a broom stick which that female picked up and
swished in the air pointlessly. Then suddenly she turned
towards the window. Her face at that instant became visible in
the low light; black masked, and two eyes smouldering through
it!
It was horrifically scary!

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Meena ducked below the window; sweat appeared on her

forehead! She went down on her knees. She felt weak and her
mouth was dry! Her heart started beating painfully and she had
never felt so frightened!
Only one thought crossed her mind WITCH!!
What is this witch doing in Rimis room and where is she?
Meenas thoughts were difficult to be coherent. Or is it Rimi
herself? Is she a witch so I am correctOh my God!
Meenas mind wandered as she desperately started to look
behind, trying to find a way to escape! But her legs wouldnt
move as if they had turned into dead weights. Her body rapidly
started weakening; she collapsed on the ground, lying there,
unable to speak, whimpering!
Then darkness of unconsciousness engulfed her!
When her eyes opened, she found that she was on her bed! The
bright golden sunlight was filtering through her window; a cool
breeze floated in. It was next morning!
Then she saw Rimi standing near her bed with a smile on her
face.
Meena started to get up last night For a moment she
didnt know how to express herself! Varying emotions played
through her thoughts made her head throb! She closed her
eyes, I cant understand .

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I will tell you. Rimi came forward. But tell me why didnt
you give me a call or SMS that you were coming to my house
last night? She continued. I was rehearsing in my home for my
role in a theatre play, with my full dress.. I am playing a witch
when suddenly I heard a strange noise outside. I looked out
from my window to see that you were lying on the ground in
front of my main door frothing in the mouth I came out
immediately and saw that you were uttering strange sounds.
Then you passed away before my eyes. called a doctor. ..
brought you home during the night itself with help of Sahdev.
How are you feeling now? Rimi touched Meenas hair.
Oh! Meena could utter feebly I dont know what to say I
came to you to talk about Sahdev. I want him I love him
tears started coming out from her eyes.
Of course you can have him Rimi said, by the way my
parents have fixed up my marriage, and guess with whom... my
childhood romance
She smiled again Even Sahdev knows how much you want
him he also wants you.
Meena weakly tried to move when a reassuring strong hand
touched her! She turned and saw Sahdev standing near her
bending down, touching her forehead! Dont worry Meena,.
he said in a gentle deep voice, you are fine.. everything is
fine I am yours.
Meena lay on the bed absolutely still, staring at the ceiling and
then with contentment closed her eyes!

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Both Rimi and Sahdev at that moment looked at each other.

Was that Meenas hallucination of a real witch? Or what was the
truth?
AMITAV GANGULY
29TH September 2015