This is a very recent happening. Bikash was a student of mine when he was studying B.Com; latter he completed his M.B.A from C.U and was working in a privet firm. Bikash all along was a very ambitious and bright person. He always wished to reach greater heights. He was not contented with the job and wanted to go abroad.
In early 2019 he joined an institute for the I-ELTS exam as he wanted to go to Canada. At the institute he met Malvika, who also had almost the same ambition. The frequent meetings of them made them come closer and then they fell in love. Both of them decided that they would settle down in Canada and then get married. Their plans were big but quite realistic. Both of them gave their best for passing the exam. Malvika fared batter in the exams and as she had some relatives in Canada, she also received a job offer from there and in October she left for Canada. Before going from Calcutta she took a promise from Bikash that he will again appear for the exams and move to Canada.
After Malvika's departure Bikash gave his heart out and was able to pass exams with flying colours in January, 2020. He informed Malvika about the same and she too started using her contact in Canada to get Bikash a good job. Things were taking time and Bikash was getting restless here. He was still employed here but He was no more interested in staying here. This attitude of Bikash also brought rifts within his family but Bikash did not bother.
In the early March Malvika informed him that he would get a job offer by third week of April. Bikash was overjoyed as his dreams were finally getting realized. He was full of energy and got ready in making arrangements for leaving to Canada. He even submitted his resignation in the place he was working and was busy getting his passport etc.
It is not that destiny always supports our wishes; sometimes destiny plays strange games with us. In the last week of March a nationwide lockdown was allowed owing to the Covid situation. All international flights were cancelled and Bikash found things getting out of his control.
For Bikash it was a double trouble he could not leave for Canada and his Indian employer had also accepted his resignation. Bikash was getting totally depressed but Malvika regularly called him up and kept boosting him up with the assurance that soon things would get right.
In the mean time Bikash's father fell ill and he had to face a severe problem to get his father admitted in a hospital, as most of the hospitals were taking in only Covid patients. Bikash was able to get his father admitted in a hospital and after a week's treatment and a bill of 2.5 lacks he was able to bring back his father home.
Time was running hard for BIkash, his savings were melting away and he did not see a bright light in his near future. But it was Malvika who regularly kept on encouraging him for being brave as these heard days would soon melt away. Bikash too took the thing positively and started doing some online jobs to sustain.
Things changed were for 4 days Bikash did not get any call from Malvika. he called up her many times but her phone was always switched off. Finally he received a call from one of Malvika's roommate, she informed him Malvika was Covid positive and she was in ICU. Bikash felt shattered he immediately wanted to rush to Canada, but he was helpless. He wanted to talk to Malvika, but he could not. He felt as if he was losing the grip over everything, but he could not allow it to be so.
For the next two days Bikash Called up Malvika's roommate in Canada and begged her to get Malvika on a Video Call. After his great persuasion the doctors in the hospital allowed a two minutes call. Malvika was on ventilator she could not talk. Tears were rolling down her eyes, Bikash tried his best to talk her but he too could hardly say anything. They kept staring at each other mutely. Finally when the nurse was taking away the phone Malvika raised her hand with great difficulty and just waved at him.
That was last time Bikash saw Malvika. The next day he received a call that Malvika had passed away.
- Anupam……
