Short Story: Don’t Cry Tonight
Kolkata.
Hiya waited impatiently near St.Xavier’s College for Ronit. He was supposed to come exactly at five but it was now six. She could not wait longer. She could wait longer for this person some days back. But not now. She had made up her mind about leaving him.
Ronit had totally forgotten about today’s date. He came late from college today and had dozed off. Then at exactly five o’clock he had woke up only to shudder with fear that he had a date with Hiya.
The young man was seeing Hiya for the last one hour. He was observing how slowly her face was changing with emotions. She was waiting for someone.
Ronit came out of his house. He found his bike missing. He could only blame his bad luck. It was taken by his brother.he had to find some other way to reach her or today everything would come to an end. Hiya had agreed to meet one more time to sort out the differences with him and he had to meet her. St.Xaviers college was far from his home. The bike was the only hope. Now what.
Hiya had also seen the smartly dressed man standing a little far from her. Hiya could sense that he was seeing her and hiya due to some unknown reason quiet liked his attention. Maybe it was due to the tumultuous relationship with Ronit or maybe she was also just in a mood to flirt. Hiya waited.
Ronit took a taxi. The taxi was racing fast towards Park Street. Ronit remembered the first day when he had met hiya. He still reckoned it as the greatest day of his life. But today he was losing her.
‘Hello. I am Amit. I am seeing you for the last one hour. you sure are waiting for someone.’ Finally Amit Dasgupta made an approach. The animal in him was rising.
The taxi came to a screeching halt at Bekbagan. Ronit’s eyes just exploded at what he saw.
‘So you were waiting for your boyfriend.’ Amit ask. They were now sitting in the new coffee café day outlet that just opened near St.Xaviers. It took him little chivalry and little persuasion to invite Hiya out for coffee. He reasoned that she could always get a miscall from her boyfriend once he reaches there.
Ronit frantically searched for his mobile. In his hurry he had forgotten it. The rioters were burning cars. They were out on a carnage. The taxi driver had already left the taxi in fear. Ronit sat still not knowing what to do.
Abir, one of the rioters was in full action. He had already broken and smashed cars and faces of some policeman who had tried to stop him.
“Kill them all. Burn them all” He screamed.
“You are so funny.” Hiya laughed at one of Amit’s badly told joke. It was 6:15 pm. No sign of Ronit.
Now its kolkata that’s burning. The city of joy that’s under a scathing attack from some fanatics and in between them is stuck a lover who want to reach his girlfriend to say sorry and make up.
Ronit was pursued by some of the rioters.
“Who the fuck told you to come out of your home today?”Abir screamed.
There was no prior warning regarding this. They just wanted to burn and kill and probably they had their first victim in Ronit.
“I don’t think your friend will come today.” Amit finally said. They were in a different part where the news of the riot was yet to reach.
News reporter Arundhuti Sinha had reached the riot hit part with her crew who were shooting the rioters with great enthusiasm. It was sure going to be a breaking news.
The camera caught the predicament of ronit who was running fast away from the angry mob.
It was nearly seven. Hiya had had it enough. Now she knew Ronit didn’t liked her. She found this new guy interesting. He was asking her to come for a movie. She nodded her sense in a deep sense of loss. Ronit was the chapter in her life she wanted to close down for her own good. She wanted to begin afresh. She said yes. Both of them got up and headed towards Amit’s glittering Hyundai car.
Ronit couldn’t even scream as the sword went right inside his stomach. Images of hiya floated in front of him. He felt hiya was calling him. He was sorry. He couldn’t keep his promise. Abir stabbed him once again with the rusted sword. Ronit felt on the pavement as his face was circulated all across west Bengal via news channel.
Arundhuti sinha was speaking to the news channel. She was happy. It was going to be a breaking news. The police had just started coming in. The bleeding body of Ronit was just shifted to an ambulance. The mobs were dispersing. A few blank shots in the air and they were running. They were not to be arrested. They were the supporters of some big leader.
Hiya shuddered in the hospital bed. Her mom was crying inconsolably. Her dad was speaking to some police officials. Amit was arrested. All due to the alertness of a traffic seargent . but the damaged was done. She had lost what she had.
Ronit’ bloodied was rushed into Ruby general hospital where Hiya was also kept. Doctors didn’t find much hope. He only had few hours. His parents and brother was informed.
He had lost too much blood but who would tell them that he was dying of a broken heart.
“God why did you call me so early?”
“My child I need you.”
“What about her?”
“My child she can wait for you. I have to punish her for not believing in your love.”
Ronit cried. Even as he felt he was dying, the world around him was turning dark he cried. He cried. He cried for Hiya.
The doctors declared him dead.
Hiya was not even crying. She had learnt about Ronit. He was dead. Police officer Samanta Roy was there to take her statement. She didn’t spoke. Tears slowly poured from her eyes. Slowly the realization set upon her that her Ronit was dead. She was crying now. Officer Roy left. He could come again tomorrow.
Reporter Arundhuti Sinha was cutting cake in her office for covering such a deadly situation and bringing out the scoop which boosted the TRPS of Kolkata Times to new heights. Ad offers were pouring in from all over. She was promoted. She could have never been so happy.
That night as she lay on her bed she heard someone singing. She went out to the window. Her mom was still sleeping. She had not heard the song.
“ Give me a whisper
And give me a sign
Give me a kiss before you
tell me goodbye
Don't you take it so hard now
And please don't take it so bad
I'll still be thinkin' of you
And the times we had...baby
And don't you cry tonight
Don't you cry tonight”
It was Ronit’s voice. She was sure. She started crying again. She knew that even if ronit told her not to cry she could keep on crying. Nothing could stop her from crying.
Ronit left. He came back one last time. To see his beloved one more time. Someone was waiting for him up there. Maybe Hiya could manage. She was a strong girl. She had to be.
Ronit left. His heart ached but he saw the teary eyed Hiya one last time and left. Left for heaven.
As Hiya slept..the last few lines of the song lingered in her mind.........
" and don't u cry tonight....
there's a heaven above you baby............."
