Mainak Dhar - Heroes R Us

'Don't you drink?' asked one of Mishti's friends, an attractive woman called Neha.

'No, actually I don't.'

The guys seemed to enjoy a chuckle at that, but Arnab was thrilled to see Mishti rise to his defence.

'I find it quite refreshing that someone isn't ashamed of saying they don't drink.'

One of the guys, a beefy man called Varun told Arnab he was an investment banker and asked him what he did. His answer was greeted with a look of disbelief.

'A librarian? Really? How do you and Mishti know each other?'

As he was fumbling for an answer, Mishti spoke up.

'He works with my Uncle. Jayantada said he's new in Delhi and doesn't have too many friends here, so I thought he might enjoy going out with us.'

Arnab nodded along and sipped his Coke in silence, but rebuked himself for having been such a fool. How could he have ever imagined that someone like Mishti could have been interested in him? She and her friends belonged to a totally different world, one in which he could never fit in. As he watched the five friends chat and laugh together, he also felt a bit angry. Yes, he was a nobody, and yes, he lived a very ordinary and boring life, but he certainly didn't need Mishti or anyone else to go out with him out of pity. He was happy just the way he was. Mishti's friends seemed to revel in talking about things that were totally alien to the world he belonged to. Varun told them about the huge bonus he had got that year and how he was looking forward to his holiday in Spain. Neha complained about how Delhi discos were just not up there when it came to music compared to what she had seen in Bangalore, while the second male companion, Vivek, talked about how he was being contacted by headhunters about new jobs that would give him a huge jump in salary. Mishti seemed so at ease with them, blending in so seamlessly into their world that Arnab felt truly alone and isolated. What could he possibly talk about that would interest them? Would they really want to know about the missing book he had tracked down, or would his dreams of getting an ordinary government job really impress them? They were the same age as him, but the more they talked about their lifestyles, the more Arnab felt that they had nothing in common, and the more he found himself feeling just how insignificant and boring his life was compared to theirs.

The rest of the evening passed with him being largely a mute spectator to the proceedings or mumbling monosyllabic replies when pushed to make conversation. At about eleven o'clock, everyone decided to call it a night, and as Arnab walked to the door, Mishti caught up with him.

'Arnab, you were really quiet tonight. Is everything okay?'

Arnab replied truthfully, 'I guess I just felt a bit out of place. Your friends are all so articulate, all so qualified, all doing such big jobs…'

Before he could complete, Mishti had put her hand on his arm.

'Oh God, Arnab. Don't ever feel that. You don't need to be anyone else to fit in. Yes, you're so unlike them-you don't drink to fit in, you don't always brag about your designation and salary, you don't always talk about work, but that's what makes you special. That's what makes you Arnab.'

There was such genuine warmth in her voice that Arnab felt almost guilty about how he had felt about her. Still, a part of him was angry at not having been called alone. He realized it was a silly feeling, as he had no basis for expecting such a thing, but then he figured he was only human, and wanting more than one had, or even deserved, was not a capital crime, was it?

Mishti realized that he was still feeling a bit miffed, and she said,

'Arnab, I'm sorry; I had no idea you would feel this way. Look, lemme make it up to you. How about a cup of coffee? Just you and me, no friends, no need to make polite conversation with them.'

Arnab was tempted, but reminded himself of what she had said about calling him because he didn't have friends, and refused the offer, saying he needed to be at work early. Mishti asked him if she could drop him anywhere, as she had driven down in Jayantada's car, but Arnab said that he would be fine. As they were about to part ways, Mishti said,

'Arnab, it was great meeting you. I'll be going back to Bangalore tomorrow, but I do travel to Delhi on work, and I hope we meet again.'

As Arnab walked to the bus stop, he realized he had behaved in a really childish and immature way, but he figured even he was sometimes entitled to having an ego, wasn't he?

***

The next morning when Arnab reached the college he was surprised to find no sign of Jayantada, who had a habit of getting to the library at least an hour before the rest of the college staff. Initially, Arnab had tried to get in earlier to keep pace with his boss, but decided over time to grab the extra hour's sleep every morning when he realized that Jayantada came in early out of habit and didn't really expect him to follow suit. When Jayantada still hadn't shown up by ten, Arnab began to get concerned and called him on his mobile. The phone seemed to ring forever before Jayantada answered, talking in a strangely muffled voice.

'Hello, Arnab?'

'Hi Jayantada. You hadn't come into work so just thought I'd check if everything's okay.'

'Arnab, I can't talk now. I'll call you in ten minutes.'

With that cryptic response, Jayantada hung up, leaving Arnab thoroughly mystified as to what was going on. When his phone rang after about fifteen minutes, Arnab grabbed it and answered after the first ring. It was Jayantada.

'Arnab, sorry, but when you had called the doctor had just come by.'

'The doctor? Jayantada, how are you feeling?'

Jayantada's answer sent a shiver up Arnab's spine.

'It's not me Arnab. It's Mishti.'

When Arnab asked what had happened, Jayantada suggested that he just come by the hospital after work. Arnab certainly couldn't wait that long, and thought that since he could hardly concentrate on his work anyways without knowing what was going on, he somehow pottered around in the library till lunch, and then made a bee line for the hospital, stopping at a flower shop on the way.

When Arnab reached the hospital and tracked down the room Mishti was in, he found Jayantada pacing the corridor outside. He looked up when he saw Arnab approach.

'Good you're here; otherwise I thought I'd go crazy talking to myself. The doctor's in there checking her, so we can't go in for a few minutes. Let's go out for a minute-I need some fresh air.'

As they walked out to the garden outside the ward, Arnab asked Jayantada what had happened. By way of reply, Jayantada asked,

'Mind if I smoke?'

As Jayantada lit up and puffed away, he saw the expression on Arnab's face and took a deep breath,

'Am telling you in a minute. I just need to cool myself down a bit.'

As the two of them walked along the garden, Jayantada started telling Arnab what had happened.

'Mishti had gone to Gurgaon to meet some friends for dinner last night.'

'I know, I was with them', replied Arnab.

'Oh, I didn't know that. Well, after she left, she was still on the highway when a gang of guys in a black SUV started tailing her.'

Arnab felt his stomach tighten involuntarily as he imagined Mishti alone, driving in the dark, being chased by the gang.

'The smartest thing Mishti did was not to stop. She kept driving and it seems the chase went on for several minutes. But when the gang started closing on her, she panicked and lost control of the car.'

Arnab was listening in complete silence as Jayantada continued.

'Luckily, a couple of nearby cars stopped and came to see what had happened, and brought her to hospital. The gang disappeared when they saw others coming to her assistance.'

'How is she, Jayantada?' Arnab asked in a low voice.

Jayantada put an arm around Arnab's shoulder, and Arnab began to appreciate that there was much more to the man than being a cantankerous old librarian.