Ilya Bhattarai
Today, Udu and his friends are all set to go to Balaju Swimming Pool for swimming. The previous day, while playing cricket at Tudikhel, Binay had made the proposal and all had agreed. They agreed that after lunch, they would gather at Jamal at 11 a.m. sharp and take a micro bus for Balaju. But since they needed permission from home, they proposed that they would first consult at home and then let one another know on the phone.
At around 8 that morning, Aakash phoned Udu, “Udu! We are going for swimming today, aren’t we? Isn’t everyone going? Has anyone told you otherwise?”
“I think we all are going. No one has told me about a different plan,” answered Udu and let a low cough escape his throat.
“What’s wrong? Why are you coughing like that?” asked Aakash, hearing Udu cough.
“No, nothing is wrong. The throat irked without any reason,” said Udu though, the irritant fume of chili fried by his mother in the kitchen was troubling him. So, he continued to cough even as he kept talking with Aakash.
Aakash next phoned Binay, “Binay, you are coming with us to swim, aren’t you?”
“I am. Did everyone get the permission?”
“I am not sure, but I hope everyone is going. But Aakash was coughing very badly. I can’t tell about him.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask either. We are going, even if he is not. Aren’t we?”
Next, Binay phoned Bobby, “What are you doing, Bobby? You are joining us today, aren’t you? Did you take permission?”
“Yes I did. I am going. Is everyone going?”
“That’s what I am trying to confirm. Aakash is going, but I am not sure about He. She is suffering from cough.”
“That’s so bad! What’s wrong? He was fine till last evening.”
“You are right. He could have eaten something unhealthy in the evening. If he doesn’t go, it will not be interesting.”
“You are right. Moreover, it was he who planned today’s program. Let’s tell him to go; we might spare him from swimming. Let me try making a call,” Bobby said.
“Do not call. He has pain on the throat; it is difficult for him to talk. Moreover, he may feel sour knowing that we all are going.”
Bobby phoned Pratik, “Pratik, you are joining the swimming program, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. Is there anyone that is not joining?”
“Udu is not joining. He has pain on the throat. It seems that he has inflammation on the tonsils.”
“What’s too bad! He fell sick at the wrong time. He is most enthusiastic about entertaining. If he doesn’t go, the program will be a failure.”
“That’s what I think too. What are we to do now? Shall we all cancel the plan, instead?” said Pratik sourly, knowing that Udu was not joining them.
Pratik phoned Aayush, “Aayush, do you know Udu is sick? He fell sick when we all were planning to entertain ourselves. It’s very boring.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“His tonsils have inflamed, and he has temperature.”
“What’s his latest temperature?”
“I don’t know, but it must be quite high. Else, why should be cancel the plan?”
All the friends were distressed knowing that Udu was sick and would be unable to join them to swimming expedition to Balaju Swimming Pool. Udu, who was always cheerful, was their favorite.
Though Udu would miss it, the rest of the friends decided to gather at Jamal at 11 a.m. Aayush happened to be the first person to reach Jamal. He was surprise to see Udu standing there, leaning against the railing on the side of the road.
“Why did you come in such an ill health? What are we to do if your case worsens? Come on, return, Udu! It’s no use being obstinate in such things. If your temperature rises, what will Auntie tell us? Go home and sleep. We can always go to swim after you recover.”
Udu was taken by surprise, hearing Aayush. He said, “What’s wrong with you? Whom are you talking about?”
“Lo! Aren’t you sick?” It was Aayush’s turn to be surprised.
“No, I am not sick. Who told you that I was sick?”
“Pratik was telling that you have fever and inflammation on the tonsils.”
“Why did he say so? Why did he have to invent a rumour?”
In the meantime, Bobby and Pratik reached. They too were amazed to find Udu there. Aayush was annoyed with Pratik for the lie he had told. Pratik clarified that it was Bobby who had informed him about Udu’s sickness. Bobby was taken aback.
“Did I tell you that Udu had fever? I just told you he had tonsillitis.”
“I thought, tonsillitis must have raised his temperature,” Pratik clarified.
“When did I have tonsillitis?” Udu asked Bobby.
“How would I know that? It was he who told me that you had inflammation on the tonsils,” said Bobby, pointing at Binay.
Binay was surprised. “Why do you talk nonsense, Bobby? Did I ever tell you Udu had tonsillitis?”
“No, you had not mentioned tonsillitis, but you had talked about his cough.”
“Are cough and tonsillitis the same?”
“No, they are not. But each time the news passed to a friend, a new thing was added up,” said Bobby, admitting his fault.
“And who told you that I had cough?”
“Binay. But I don’t know who told him.”
“It was Aakash who told me,” said Binay. “He was telling, you had bad cough. So, he was doubtful whether you would join us.”
“You were coughing so badly, when t\you were talking on the phone. So I thought, you had had a bad cough and in such a condition, you would not join us to swimming.”
“You were all wrong in making me seriously sick without knowing the reality!”
“Then, didn’t you have cough? said Aaaksh. “I had heard you coughing badly on the phone.”
“You talk nonsense without understanding the fact. While I was talking, mummy was cooking in the kitchen. She was in fact frying red chili. Its fume was making me cough.”
“Holy Mo! How we messed up things, without understanding!”
Translated by Mahesh Paudyal
[Ilya Bhattarai (b. 1955) is a noted storywriter and essayist. Her published works include Ani…(stories), Mann Mann nai Ho (stories), Nishabda Prashnaharu (stories), Jeevanka Rangaharu (stories), Falwarako Waripari (travel essays), Tyo Euta Bihan (stories), Europe: Naulo Pariwesh (travel essays), Dakshinayana (travel essays) and Ma Sachchikai Harayechhu (travel essays). She lives in Kathmandu with her family.]