Abhiram

I have always been a great fan of Satyajit Ray. He is my favourite film maker, writer, personality, all combined in one. So, as I was reading his collection of short stories in Bengali for the umpteenth time, I thought it would be a great idea to translate his stories into English for the benefit of those people who cannot read Bengali. So, here I am presenting to you one of his many short stories "Abhiram". This is an amateurish attempt from me. If you like the story, the credit goes to the maestro, while if you feel that it is not upto the mark, I am to blame.

Abhiram by Satyajit Ray

“What’s your name?”

“Abhiram Sahoo, sahib.”

“Where are you from?”

“I hail from Uluipur village, sahib. It’s a small village in Orissa.”

“Family?”

“I have an elder brother, sister-in-law and two nephews.”

“Don’t you visit them?”

“Once in a while, sahib. I never married. We have some arable land, my brother looks after it.”

“Will you arrange for a replacement when you are away visiting your native?”

“Of course. But that won’t be necessary. If such a situation ever arises, I will definitely make an alternate arrangement.”

“Let me tell you why I am asking for a replacement. I am afraid of staying alone in the evenings. I am frightened of ghosts. The cook that I have does not stay back at night. He comes only for sometime, cooks and then leaves. I need another person to stay with me through the night.”

“You need not worry about that, sahib. I don’t have any fear of ghosts.”

“Ok then, Abhiram. You can start work from today.”

Sankar liked him. Abhiram was around forty, looked intelligent and was of a cheerful disposition. Sankar worked in The State Bank of India. It was only seven days that he had been transferred to this small town of Kanchantala on the border of West Bengal and Orissa. He was single. He had taken a two room house on rent. It was big enough for him. But the house was in a quiet neighbourhood, so it was necessary to have a servant round the clock. Sankar had a genuine fear of ghosts. For many years, he had tried to overcome this fear but to no avail.

Sankar started liking Abhiram more and more as the days passed. He was good at his work and never tired. And in the evenings, he gave company to Sankar.

One thing that pleasantly surprised Sankar was Abhiram’s stock of stories. He had an unending stock of fables and stories from Orissa. He had heard those stories as a child from his grandmother. He had even suggested narrating some ghost stories to Sankar. But Sankar had just not listened to him.

“I know a lot of ghost stories, sahib,” Abhiram would say.

“Yeah, but you better leave those stories out.”

“As you wish, sahib. But if ever you overcome your fear of ghosts, then let me know. I will narrate you some ghost stories then. I am sure you will love it then.”

“Do you believe in ghosts, Abhiram?”

“Nothing depends on my believing. If ghosts really exist, they do, and if they don’t, then they don’t – it is as simple as that. But yes, I do not believe that ghosts are only evil; ghosts could be good too!”

Sankar did not continue the discussion any further.

Three months after this incident, one rainy morning Abhiram came to Sankar and said, “Sahib, I have just received a letter from my brother. Heavy rains have damaged our crops. My brother is not able to manage alone. Can I take a leave for three to four days?”

Sankar could not say no in such a situation. “But will you be able to give me a replacement?”

“Of course. I will give you a very good person. But he may not be able to keep you engaged like me.”

“That’s alright. All I want is that he should give me company in the evenings.”

“He will do that. He will be with you till you go to sleep.”

Abhiram went away. Three days later, Sankar received a letter from his servant. The news was not good. It will be another three days before Abhiram returned. But Sankar could do nothing about it. The replacement servant was not much to his liking. He always kept a grim face. But Sankar had no complaints about his work.

The next day Sankar was stunned by the news on radio. In Abhiram’s village and a few surrounding areas, there was massive flooding. Thousands of people had died and many more had been rendered homeless.

Sankar sat down holding his head in his hands. He could not decide on the next course of action. There was no use writing a letter to Abhiram. And he could not depend on Abhiram to write to him.

Abhiram’s replacement Nitai could not be any help in this situation. After keeping company till ten in the night, he left.

Sankar entered his bedroom. As he lay on his bed, he realized that he was not going to get any sleep. He was missing Abhiram acutely.

The night slowly turned darker. Somewhere a cricket was wailing. Some jackals also joined in, making the night more eerie than ever.

It seemed that the sky had fallen on Sankar’s head. He was scared like hell and he could sense a cold sweat break out.

What was that?

Did he hear someone’s steps?

Sankar realized that this throat had become parched dry.

“Sahib.”

My God! It was Abhiram’s voice!

“Abhiram?” Sankar asked in a hushed voice, trying to keep his voice from trembling.

“Yes sahib! I have come back!”

“You almost scared me Abhiram! Wait, I will open the door for you.”

“No sahib, do not open the door.”

“Why?”

“You will not be able to see anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“I am Abhiram, sahib, but not the real Abhiram. I am Abhiram’s ghost. I drowned in the floods, I am not alive anymore.”

There was no answer from Sankar’s side.

“What happened sahib? Did you hear me?”

Still no answer from Sankar.

“Sahib!” the voice floated in from the pitch darkness.

“How will I be able to see you?” Sankar answered from inside the room.

“There is only one way you can see me.”

“What is that?”

“You will be able to see me only when you too become a ghost.”

“What am I telling you then! The moment I heard you had become a ghost, my life escaped me. There lies my lifeless body on the bed, my gaze on the ceiling.”

“Then come with me sahib.”

“Coming. Can you narrate me stories, some ghost stories? I am no longer afraid of ghosts. I will spend the rest of my afterlife hearing your stories!”

“Well said, sahib, well said!”