Life and Lies of M R Maiti

  Disclaimer All the characters and events appearing in this work are in no way fictional. They have all kinds of connectivity to real life. Any resemblance to persons living or dead (inside) is totally intended, not coincidental.    The winter so dreaded has now come and gone. Following it, comes Spring, the most confusing weather of all. Playing a game of hide-and-seek, it makes people hang off their woollens, then catching them off guard blows a wind which shakes them to their cores. During breaks between classes, students rush to sunnier places like Babloo’s café or the adjoining balcony.   The weather takes a turn. Room 101 becomes uncomfortably warm. A request is put on the WhatsApp Group to the people in 102 to turn on the fans. While this architectural glitch appears weird to the outsiders, it has become a normality for us.  The guys in 102 somehow assume that they have higher ground and demand to be called ' the best section ', in lieu of switchin

       His talking a lot is not the problem. The problem is that you don't get to participate in the conversation. It's like listening to a soliloquy. You are not best of buddies still he's your friend, so you can't offend him by telling him to shut up. So you get yourself a routine: at regular intervals, you bob your head in polite affirmation, give an occasional smile when all you are doing is staring at a distance at random people passing by. You wonder if he knows what you’re doing but still goes on. But why would he do that? Or maybe he's as doubtful as you are. The best explanation would be that he’s oblivious to everything when he drones on.  Your resolve weakens at times. You run out of made-up expressions. Therefore, you try to butt in, trying to start a conversation in which both of you can participate, something that concerns both of you. But, no! He thwarts every such attempt of yours by interrupting you and resuming himself. You are not much of