My dear Panditji,
I have wanted to write to you for several days. However, for fear that deep in your heart you will misconstrue me as a brazen woman, I held back. I cannot contain myself any longer. You seem to have cast a spell on me, so much so that I am unable to put you out of my mind for even a second. Your devout countenance, radiant expression and your threadbare clothing are always uppermost in my mind. I detest ceremony and formality but around me everyone seems immersed in observing fake ceremonies and practices. It seems as though everyone has fallen in love with me, but I am quite familiar with such Romeos. All of them are merely debauched oglers and rakes. You are the only person in whom I perceive genuine feeling and truthfulness. Are my perceptions ill-founded?
Time and again, I have felt the urge to speak with you, but you sit so far away from me that it is impossible to engage in a conversation with you. I entreat you to sit close to me from tomorrow, so that if nothing else, proximity to you will soothe my heart brimming with emotion.
Please tear up this letter after you have read it. Write me a reply and place it under the thirteenth cupboard in the library.
Yours,
Lucy
This letter was posted and people began to observe its effects stealthily. They were not put through too much trouble waiting. The very next day in college, Chakradhar wanted to sit beside Lucy. The two young men who had made friends with him were the ones who mostly sat beside Lucy. One of them was called Girdhar Sahai and the other was Mirza Naim-ullah. Chakradhar went up to Girdhar and said, ‘Friend, you can go and sit in my place while I sit here.’
Naim responded, ‘Why? Are you jealous?’
‘Oh no! I am not jealous. I cannot listen to the professor from there.’
Girdhar was piqued. ‘Since when has your auditory perception suffered a change? You did not have such complaints earlier!’
Naim continued, ‘Besides, the professor will be farther away from here.’
Chakradhar remarked, ‘So what if he is farther away from here? I will be better placed over here because sometimes I tend to doze off. I do not wish to sit in front for fear that he may catch me napping.’
Naim said, ‘All right, you may sit but I must tell you that I am exercising severe restraint. I would not have left this seat for a gift of even a hundred thousand rupees for anyone else.’
Girdhar added, ‘Janaab, it is heavenly to be here, just heavenly! Nevertheless, for your sake I’m willing to move away.’
Chakradhar expressed deep gratitude and sat down. In a short while Lucy came in and sat in her usual seat. Chakradhar cast expectant looks at her every now and then so that he could strike up a conversation with her, but she seemed completely engrossed in listening to the professor delivering the lecture. He thought that perhaps she was shy. He began turning his head in her direction again and again. She appeared to be disgusted by his paan-chewing habit. Again and again, she turned her head away. Chakradhar did not understand this. He was feeling quite thrilled! He looked around conceitedly; his eyes seemed to speak his mind, Can any of you be so fortunate? Who can hope to enjoy such a privilege?
The day passed. That evening, against his usual practice, Chakradhar visited Naim in his room and said, ‘Friend, I need a letter writer. Who has the best letter writer?’
Naim responded compellingly, ‘What will you do with a letter writer?’
Girdhar joined in saying, ‘It would be quite useless. Naim is as good as any letter writer.’
Chakradhar said shyly, ‘What form of address should one use to begin a love letter?’
‘One can begin with “Darling” and if the person is very dear, then one can begin with “Dear darling”.’
‘And how should one conclude the letter?’
‘If one is deeply in love with the beloved, one should write “Your dying lover” but if one loves only a little then one can conclude with “Yours forever”.’
‘Some complimentary expressions should also be employed. Isn’t it?’
‘Most certainly! Has ever a letter been written without complimentary expressions, that too, a billet-doux? One employs the most evocative language to address the beloved. You can write “God give you everlasting beauty. May you remain happy and lovely”.’
That night Chakradhar bolted the doors of his room and carefully drafted a reply. He dipped it in fragrant perfume and on the following day placed it under the cupboard in the library. His friends were on the watch. They picked up the letter and had a whale of a time reading it.2
Three days after this incident, Chakradhar received yet another letter. It read:
My dear Chakradhar,
I received your letter of deep adoration. Again and again I held it to my eyes and kissed it. Ah! It was so sweetly scented. I consecrate our love to such everlasting purity and fragrance. You complain that I do not speak with you. Sweetheart, one loves with one’s heart, not with the words one exchanges. When I turn away from you, no one can guess how my heart aches. You do not know how many pairs of eyes are fixed on us at all times. At the slightest suspicion, we will be forced to suffer permanent alienation. Therefore, we need to be extremely careful. I have a request. Please forgive me. I am very keen to see you in English attire. Nevertheless, you will always be dear to me, irrespective of your clothing. I am especially fond of your simple kurta but I would like to see you in the clothes with which I have been familiar with since my childhood. I feel certain you will not disappoint me. I have sewn a waistcoat for you with my own hands. Do accept it as a humble gift expressive of my feelings for you.
Yours,
Lucy
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