With a mix of fear and anticipation, I entered the office. My eyes quickly scanned the nameplates on each room until I found the door to the office chamber of the Chief Engineer, the head of the department. His personal secretary, a lovely Khasi lady with a warm smile, greeted me. She appeared to be around 40, dressed in traditional Khasi attire and spoke fluent English. With a friendly tone, she inquired about my identity. Her smile was infectious and talked attractively.
I explained that I had been posted to the office and had come to join. She ushered me into her room and offered me a chair before returning to her typewriter. Soon, her intercom rang, and she hurried to the Chief Engineer’s chamber. After a while, she returned with a smile and gestured for me to enter his office.
“Good morning, sir,” I greeted, feeling a touch of apprehension as I opened the door.
He seemed to be in his mid-50s, with a substantial build, a figure of wisdom and warmth greeted me with a smile, as I noticed the enchanting setting of his chamber. He invited me to sit and warmly welcomed me. He pressed the intercom, summoning a young man in his thirties, who was both tall and handsome. The Chief Engineer ordered tea for both of us. As we sipped our tea, he inquired about my background, including my education and family. He offered his assistance in finding a rented house in Shillong as the company has no official quarters available at the Head Quarter and is only available at project sites, briefed me about the weather in Shillong, and addressed various topics other than the work. He appeared to be a kind and fatherly figure. Later I came to know he is also a taskmaster and strict in maintaining discipline.
He called in his personal secretary, Mrs Kharkhonger, as I know from the nameplate in her room and instructed her to introduce me to the administrative officer, Mr Roy, who sits on the second floor. The Chief Engineer extended his best wishes as I left his office, and I expressed my gratitude before departing.
Mrs. Kharkhonger accompanied me to Mr. Roy’s office, she introduced me to Mr Roy and left. Once the joining formalities were completed, Mr. Roy, a pleasant personality in his late fifties, guided me on the next steps. He also mentioned that another colleague from our appointment list had recently joined. Mr. Roy organized a meal for me through Sharma, the young man who had served tea in the Chief Engineer’s chamber. This was December, and Shillong was experiencing chilly weather. All the rooms were equipped with charcoal stoves as the primary source of warmth. Electric heaters were not commonly used, as far as I could see. After attending to my joining procedures and enjoying a satisfying lunch, I gathered as much information as I could, from Mr. Roy. He also assured me that warm clothing would be provided in the guest house where my accommodation was arranged temporarily. I left his office with a pleasant experience. Mr Roy’s friendly assistance made me feel comfortable
After completing my tasks, I visited the colleague who joined a few days ago to gain insights into the office and our responsibilities. My specific duties were already outlined in my appointment letter. Our colleague’s room was a spacious hall where she sat with another officer. She was of medium height, tanned-skinned, wearing a churidar suit, a long overcoat, a muffler, and a woollen cap. Only her eyes, mouth and nose were visible. It was a frigid month, and charcoal stoves provided the necessary warmth. We were formally introduced and quickly became friends due to our similar wavelengths.
Both of them were from Shillong and promised to assist me in finding a rented house. They explained the office’s organisation and emphasized the importance of discipline, but also noted that the senior officers were cooperative and helpful. The girl, Nina, introduced me to some of the senior officers in the office. I was impressed by the homely and supportive atmosphere, although I didn’t spend much time with them, as everyone appeared quite busy.
During our initial meeting, the Chief Engineer informed me that he wouldn’t assign me any work for the first week so that I could settle in comfortably. The workload was substantial, and everyone was deeply engrossed in their tasks. I expressed my gratitude to Nina for introducing me to the senior officers.
The nights were exceptionally cold, and the blankets provided at the guest house were insufficient, forcing me to light the charcoal stove in the middle of the night. I shivered through the night, and the mornings were equally freezing. I shared my ordeal with Nina the following morning, and she expressed genuine concern. Since Saturday and Sunday were our weekly off days, and it was a Friday evening, I decided to travel to Guwahati to arrange warm clothes and additional blankets. On Sunday, I returned to Shillong well-prepared for the cold. From Monday onward, my primary task was finding a rented house.
During those days, two more officers from our list joined, and we worked collectively to find a suitable accommodation. We often returned to the office, sat in front of Nina’s desk, and had lunch from Sharma. We would then head out to inspect properties recommended by various sources. Nina also generously shared special homemade dishes packed by her mother. Soon, we secured a house near the office, and though it wasn’t in perfect condition, it was habitable. The three of us decided to share the house and began preparing our own meals. The first few days were challenging, but we quickly honed our cooking skills. Although Nina offered advice on cooking, we were sceptical of her culinary expertise, as her mother typically prepared her meals. We occasionally cheekily sampled her tiffin when she wasn’t around and filled her tiffin box with items from the sharma’s basket.
As I became more deeply involved in office responsibilities and travelled extensively for work, I was given a separate room on the first floor. Nina normally came to my room to exchange morning greetings or have a cup of tea sometimes. I also visited her during lunchtime to enjoy her mother’s delicious preparations. Additionally, Sharma became our go-to for lunch and tea, carrying a bamboo basket filled with snacks. In Shillong, people consumed copious amounts of tea, and I, too, developed a penchant for black tea, perhaps due to the cold weather.
The four of us soon formed an inseparable bond, caring for each other like family. One of our friends, Paresh, had a girlfriend in Shillong who was undergoing her Post Graduate Research. The five of us would often embark on day trips, either on Saturdays or Sundays, carrying our food from the guest house or Sharma, ordering in advance. We sang, danced, gossiped, cracked jokes, and playfully targeted each other for amusement. Nina and Momi, Paresh’s girlfriend, were talented singers, adding to our enjoyment. We would return home exhausted but delighted. We used to drop Nina at her house, where her father, deeply concerned for his only daughter, treated her with great care like a kid, sometimes leading to her annoyance.
One evening, during a senior officer’s marriage celebration, the event ran late, and Nina grew worried. She informed me that she could not utilise my car because the driver was heavily intoxicated. I was also drunk then, I had no alternative but offered to drive her home to ensure her safety. When we arrived, we saw her father waiting outside their house, the last house on the end of the bye lane at an elevation at that late hour in the cold. I dropped her off on the road instead of going to her home, avoiding interaction with her father, given my own intoxicated condition.
The following day, we were eager to hear what transpired with her father the previous night. To our relief, it was nothing more than a fatherly exchange of advice.
Days unfolded, strengthening the bond of our friendship. Her parents were well-acquainted with our close-knit group of five, Occasionally, we would receive invitations for meals or special treats her mother prepared. As time passed, all but Nina and I found their life partners, and our weekly gatherings became less frequent. Nevertheless, Nina and I would occasionally venture to the market for shopping. lunch or just roaming around the city although my project workload kept me busy even on holidays.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
( My earlier story Indeciferable Friendship is rewritten as advised by some of my friends)
Email ID: rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
musingofrajat.wordpress.com 