"Cold, huh", he murmured.
He was professor of the English department at Indian Overseas College, an interesting
fellow and brilliant old guy. He was as jaded about the world and people around him as I was.
He picked up a cigarette and lifted it to his lips. He could hold the smoke in longer than anyone I
knew. He must have been a whale in previous life, as Indians believe seven lives are lived in this
world. We smoked wildly. The smoke coiled around us.
Ramnath was looking sad and dejected. It was something new because he was a loving,
jolly fellow.
"You seem to be engrossed in something," I said.
&quit;Have you heard the B.B.C. News today?"
"There is nothing new for me -- tell me if there is ," I replied.
"American Space Shuttle Columbia burst in the space, just before landing," he told me.
"Yes, and there was some Indian lady, named Kalipna, yes it is a sad news," I replied.
"But Kalipna was not someone in the news for me, since I knew her personally," Ramnath
said.
"Personally, but how?"
"She was my student, and I had great love for her."
He uttered the word love in a sad tone. There was a world of revelation in that word. I
found tears in that word. He was looking out the window where one seagull was diving to catch
mackerel. Professor Ramnath could not prevent the flood of memories from washing over him. It
seemed as though the past grabbed him. All was going to reveal in his eyes with great aching
clarity. He could not conceal a single detail, nor could any pain conceal itself from him.
"Go on with your story." I said.
"I met her when I just started teaching at the Punjab Engineering College. Kalipna was in
her second year as graduate student. She had shoulder length black hair that she clearly did not
feel like worrying about. It was tousled and covered the sides of her plain, unadorned face. When
she looked right at you, you could see that her eyes were slightly lazy and her features were not
what you would describe as traditionally pretty. But there was something in her eyes; I would
say certain sparkle, which made you magic-bound. There was also a slight curl to her lips that
made her seem intelligent and alert. Overall, she was a very attractive girl. To me she was
beautiful,. I know I loved her."
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