Silchar Diaries

Chapter One: Sweet Beginnings

                           (Disclaimer)
( The following is a pure work of fiction and doesn't want to harm anyone's sentiments. Any resemblance of a person or name , living or dead is purely coincidental)

Silchar, the prominent city of Assam. Its greenery is its testament of its rich culture and people. Situated in the Barak Valley, it plays the role of the doorway to the Cachari culture. Its two sides - one where roads are made for election purposes and other where only half an hour of rain makes the entire road muddy are basically the Yin and Yen. Its noisy traffic which is irritating, is the sign of presence of a working society. Some scenes are common to see here. At morning, elders doing their morning walk, women taking flowers from other's tree. Afternoon, children going to school accompanied by parents. Evening, children return and a dead silence is seen in every house. People chatting with each other talking how BJP is going to win seats. Among all these, the thing that is common here is Love and Unity. People know each other, connect with each other. This makes Silchar the city of Love
Among this town, a boy with hopes and dreams in his eyes and heart walks. Ayan Choudhary was born in Fourteenth of February i.e Valentine's day. He usually says that " I was born in the day of Love to gain all the love the world has to offer". Ayan's life in Karimganj is a chronicle about his privileged childhood. Karimganj is hence another town that is not much far from Silchar. Ayan spent his most of his childhood there. His father used to work in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ( ONGC) which makes him get a eight digit salary. Ayan never lacked anything as a child whether its toys or anything. Even with all these things which was a dreamland for other middle class children, Mr. Choudhary never let his children to be spoilt.
Another aspect of Ayan's memorable moments of his childhood is his mother. She's the typical strong housewife who manages everything, from her husband to her children. Just like every traditional parent, she too like her son more than anyone else.
Another of Ayan's childhood aspect is his elder sister Sayantika. For Ayan, Sayantika is his first ever best friend and he always have a special kind of relationship with her. Either its playing hide and seek with him till Ayan cries or running errands with him at the evening. Sayantika's love for Ayan can be seen when she take Ayan's side when he and her mother quarrel about who will watch the tv. However the biggest problem in their relationship was that Ayan rarely could spend time with her. Its because Sayantika had to go back to her hostel in Silchar making kid Ayan alone. He used to see her either in December - January or during the Durga Puja vacation
Ayan still found solace in the few friends he made without realising their impact in shaping his life story. With Ayan's father staying in Karimganj, some of his colleagues too lived with his family. Introducing Sourav Deb, Ayan's buddy, Ayan's bestie and,what Ayan mockingly says, " his unofficial adopted son". Sourav's name is famous in his neighbourhood, not because of his behaviour but the mischief he does. Ayan's first mischief of stealing mangoes from an old man's tree is the first time Ayan - Sourav's bonding started. Sometimes Ayan's mother used to forbid her son from being with the Mischievous Sourav but deep down she too knew that no one could let them stay apart.
Another friend who's contribution in shaping Ayan's life is pivotal is Riya Bhattacharya. Riya used to play with the typical boring Barbie dolls with her bosom friend Megha but soon one fine day she met Ayan when he and his father came to visit her father. That was the first moment when Riya came to know that boy's life is much interesting than she thought. Every morning onwards, Ayan , Sourav and Riya would gather to play in Ayan's home verandah. Sometimes they would return home when it was dark. Once Riya's mother get her home from Ayan's home while beating her in the way. The three friend's life was their golden period of their childhood.
One fine afternoon. Ayan's life changed when he was separated from the only friends he knew. Sourav moved to Silchar after his father was transferred. Riya moved to Shillong for the same reason. It all happened so fast that Ayan never got the chance to process what was happening. He was alone in the verandah playing himself with the IPL cards he got from cornflakes boxes. He went to home after.Ayan entered the living room of his home. The room can be described as two beds in the east and west side. I wooden table with a box table on it. A wooden window with iron grills and the cold floor indicating its winter time. Ayan's mother sitting in a chair in the dinning room. If someone lies in the west side bed, she could be visible. Sayantika was lying in the bed , listening to what her father was saying while he was sitting in the corner of the bed
" Don't you think Ayan is too young to go to hostel?" said Ayan's mother with a sense of attachment for him
Ayan's father can be described as a man with dyed black hairs and a big moustache. As he rubbed the lime powder in his palm, he said " It's like a traditional to our family. I went to hostel and Sayantika too. Karimganj cannot give him the type of education Silchar will"
Ayan stood on the edge of the door, doesn't even know what was happening. It was hard for a seven years old kid
Ayan's mother in a depressed tone said " But can he live there? Can he adjust there?"
Sayantika rose. " I will take care of him. I and the warden will keep an watch on him".
        Ayan went to the bathroom, without saying anything. He could hear their conversation. Ayan's destiny was set. He was going to the hostel in Silchar.
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Next chapter will release in next Wednesday