Whispers and Words of M R Maiti

For a moment, I was up in the air. And for a moment, I had travelled back in time. Back in 2011, I was watching a movie with my friend on a Nokia 5233. Our monthly expense budget didn’t include theatre tickets. But the songs were everywhere. Not a single day went by without hearing the voice of Mohit Chauhan. I had to watch the movie. “Did it end,” I asked as the end credits rolled out. “The Cyber Café guy must have given us a faulty mp4 file.” “Whatever,” my friend replied. “I didn’t like the movie.” “What are you talking about? It’s one of the best Bollywood movies I have ever seen.” “Really,” my friend was surprised at my reaction. “This movie was about lust… and obsession.” I was thinking of contradicting him when I noticed the chemistry textbook lying nearby. We were studying for the upcoming test when we thought of watching the movie. I picked up the book and rushed through some pages until I reached the one I needed. “See, substrate and enzyme,” I showed it to my friend who look...

The corridors are empty. The lights are dull. Over a sea so vast, Fell a saddening lull. As I look back in the rear-view mirror, Memories do shine. The rush that heralded the day, Every morning in C9. Omar, Kangla and I boarded an auto in a hurry. Desperate times, desperate measures, not a luxury. Sheets unbalanced, forced STP, An hour into the lecture, the doors bang open. Then... enters TP. Slides transited, words flew around. The battle for the AC was fought in the background. The warriors of Section A, An enthusiastic Hermione Granger raged war against a sadistic Severus Snape. Sameer’s doubt... Never understood what it was about? Weaving magic with her words, the girl in the blue scarf, Joined the class only after the first half. The story of this section... You’ll hit a member of Mad House, if you Hurl a stone in any random direction. A Bong marketer found his love for trade. "Now Soumojit will answer", when...

Date:  Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:24 PM        Venue: NH 109 “Kiyeeeennnnn” A sudden screech reverberated across the room. “Cut it, Jon,” a whisper of voices, containing an undertone of warning, immediately followed. Jon retreated, back to his shell, waiting for his chance to pounce on them again. It was the dead of night. The entire hostel was engulfed in darkness. The students, breathing behind shut doors, were deep asleep. At least most of them were. In a room on the third floor - the first one on the right of the staircase and on the other side of the hallway - the fellows were not dead yet. A laptop, along with a borrowed 2.1 speakers sat on top of a double-bed, shedding its luminescence on the four figures: Maiti, Prez, Divy and Jon (in that order), their shadows thrown at the wall. “Oh, f***,” Prez crooned and hid his head under the blanket. “Kitni fattti h be teri,” Maiti mocked a subdued Prez. Nobody knew that Maiti himself had kept hi...

  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 ...

I am a bouquet My life began yesterday Gathering all sorts of flowers, the florist could get I was brought to life at the SDA market Piece by piece and part by part These flowers became a part of my heart Held together by a harmonious string I was excited about life and the adventures it would bring Brought to the stage, enclosed in a silver wrapping I felt overjoyed seeing all the people clapping Flaunting reputed companies’ logos, stood a tall banner Under it sat dignitaries in a sophisticated manner Now, before I could have a chance To take another glance In a brief rush of moments, I exchanged hands Then left forgotten in some forsaken lands Stood beside me two acquaintances, I had just made A bottle of Kinley and a bottle of Minute Maid Such a huge crowd who would not adore But these two remained indifferent to all the galore They say it’s nothing new they are witnessing It’s in their JD to be part of such...

Jerked awake by the sudden loud alarm I realize, my favourite tone has lost its charm I run to the washroom holding my toothbrush Like every other day, I need to rush Breakfast seems like a thing of the past Don’t even remember when I had it last Hurrying along, I reach the college gate The guard smiles at me and I know I’m late Beyond this gate, lies a whole other kingdom Holding its banners stands the Wings of Wisdom A vibrant democracy you might want to see But this kingdom is run by IMF and PC There’s no thrones, no games to be won Forget the winter, ‘You-know-What’ has begun No longer a child, I’ve reached a certain age My biggest worry is my CV, still half a page Sitting in class, staring at empty space Wondering what awaits me at the end of this race GCPL, ITC or some company further down the row Or maybe I’ll end up with TCS or Wipro To change into formals, I run back to C9 Have to be seated in Audi before 4:2...

Every day, same fight Trying again with all my might To avoid any sleep During the lecture of Mr. Jaydeep One slide comes, another slide goes What you speak seems verbose The words you highlight Are they not spelled right Nothing seems familiar, it’s all international But we all love you, Mr. Singhal Miss Symss, you are so full of credit But I don’t understand one bit of it When you teach, my headlight dims In a pool of dark water, my dead brain swims Miss Ruppal, the way you go Speaking in one flow I wonder if you breathe Or you are a sword forever out of its sheathe Miss Parul, when you say, ‘right’ Your eyes shine bright Then your forehead folds into a crease And out of your mouth comes, ‘QUIET PLEASE’ Tick tick tick Bring me a stick Hush hush hush Sir please elaborate, don’t you rush Has it been a day or a week Mr. Das, time stands still when you speak Your lecture sounds like a lullaby ...