Love Fun
Atin Mukherjee, Abash, Paschim Medinipur

He was Arindam and she was Esha. They Would read in the same class and in the same college. One day while taking running notes in the class, Esha's pen failed and she borrowed a pen from Arindam, sitting by her side. The class was over and she returned his pen and thanked him. Everything was o.k. and the college was closed. The students had returning from the college that day. He did not go to play as always. He was thinking and thinking of Esha. He was determined that he would tell her the next day that she had lost his heart to her. After the first period was over there was a break. Arindam asked Esha to come with him under the near-by kadam tree. He told her that he had thought about her the day before all the day and night. And he told her that he loved her. Esha was surprised. She was at a loss and found no word to express herself then and there. A little later both stood up and went to the class without exchanging a word. The class was over. It was the last class before the summer vacation of the college. The next day esha had gone to her home from her maternal uncle's house. But Arindam got no response from Esha.

A week later Arindam became restless. All the day he thought of her and often wrote her name here and there. And at last just before writing a letter to her while sharpening his pencil with a blade, one of his fingers cut a little. There was blood. Seeing the blood, an idea flashed his mind. Taking the blood again and again with the pencil he wrote the name 'ESHA' at the end of the letter. And below her name her wrote, "your name with my blood / The greatest sign of love".

A few days later a reply came from Esha. The letter was written in red - in blood. And she had also asked him to go to her house. Arindam was very very happy having such a letter. He was now assured that Esha loved him. He read every line of the letter again and again and while in bed, he took it close to his heart. Thus their exchanging of letters went on and in the meantime he had once visited Esha's house too.

The summer vacation was over. The college openede. They two met each other everyday.

They would eat Fuchka, went to the cinema often instead of attending the classes.

The final examination was over. Esha had returned to her house bag and baggage from her meternal uncle's house. But their love letters were coming and going. Esha's letter would come in red (blood !) as usual. Arindam while writing, tried to write with his blood, got afraid and gave up the idea of doing so. He settled to forbid her too to write likewise.
Next morning he began his journey to her house. Getting down from the bus he met Prabir whom he was acquainted with when for the first time he had gone there. Prabir was the neighbour of Esha. He was a little junior to her and most of the times would obey her. Seeing Arindam there, Prabir was trying to hide something in the bag and said, "Arindamda you! You must be going to Eshadi, I suppose." Arindam said, "Yes but what are you trying to hide from me, Prabir?" "Oh! Nothing" Said Prabir. Then he thought that the secret, if revealed to Arindamda, would not harm him or Eshadi and also would not be able to know that he had revealed the secret to Arindamda. He said, "Arindamda, I believe you and if you promise that you will not reveal the secret to anyone else, I can tall you". Arindam promised not to tell anyone elsee. Prabir said, "While Eshadi would read in the college, a boy friend would write love letters to her with his blood. Even now he writes her. To give him reply she would use the blood of goats, which I would supply her from the butchery. But now she remains so busy with her five boy-friends - a salesman, a medical representatives, a quack, a music teacher and an educated unemployed youth that she cannot find time to write him. So she has asked me to give the reply to that old fellow.
He has been made a goat by Eshadi now. Oh! Arindamda" he continued, "You come, I should go sharp otherwiswe the blood will be clotted" - saying this Prabir went away.

"I am not alone in tha love game! "Muttered Arindam looking vacantly at the bizarre path.