In continuation of the previous article, once I was on an official visit to Calcutta. My Punjabi friend Darshan Singh accompanied me. On reaching Calcutta, I introduced Darshan Singh to one of my Bengali friend Bapi and requested Bapi to show him around as I was busy with my official work. Bapi, my childhood friend readily agreed and did the needful. Both Bapi and Darshan Singh got along very well and almost formed a mutual admiration society. Bapi fulfilled every wish of Darshan Singh and took him to all places worth seeing . Darshan, on his part, being a large hearted Punjabi, matched Bapi’s rupee for a rupee in expenses and was not a burden on Bapi. So all went well for the two of them, that is, until the last day when Darshan left for Delhi.
Darshan Singh and I were to return to Delhi together, but I had not finished my work. So Darshan decided to return alone. On the D day, Bapi and I went to see him off at the Howrah station in Bapi’s car. We found Darshan’s seat, put his luggage and were standing and talking on the platform when another of our mutual friends (Bapi’s and mine), Vivek spotted us. After preliminaries like ‘hi’, ‘hello’, Bapi introduced Vivek to Darshan:
“Darshan, meet my friend Bhibhek and Bhibhek, this is my friend Darshan from Delhi.”
Darshan, not knowing Bhibhek was for Vivek, and thinking that this was some Gujariti name he had not come across, said in all innocence:
Oh yes, Bhibhek, nice meeting you Bhibhek.”
While returning to the city in his car, Bapi could not contain himself: ‘shaaaala, tomar bondhu. Eto shob korlam or jonne. Betaaa, jete jete bans diye galo.’
(this your friend, I did so much for him and he made a fool of me while returning).
There was no use explaining Bapi of Darshan’s innocence. Later, back in Delhi, Darshan asked me: ‘strange name this, Bhibhek, what does it mean’?
You tell me.
Darshan Singh and I were to return to Delhi together, but I had not finished my work. So Darshan decided to return alone. On the D day, Bapi and I went to see him off at the Howrah station in Bapi’s car. We found Darshan’s seat, put his luggage and were standing and talking on the platform when another of our mutual friends (Bapi’s and mine), Vivek spotted us. After preliminaries like ‘hi’, ‘hello’, Bapi introduced Vivek to Darshan:
“Darshan, meet my friend Bhibhek and Bhibhek, this is my friend Darshan from Delhi.”
Darshan, not knowing Bhibhek was for Vivek, and thinking that this was some Gujariti name he had not come across, said in all innocence:
Oh yes, Bhibhek, nice meeting you Bhibhek.”
While returning to the city in his car, Bapi could not contain himself: ‘shaaaala, tomar bondhu. Eto shob korlam or jonne. Betaaa, jete jete bans diye galo.’
(this your friend, I did so much for him and he made a fool of me while returning).
There was no use explaining Bapi of Darshan’s innocence. Later, back in Delhi, Darshan asked me: ‘strange name this, Bhibhek, what does it mean’?
You tell me.
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