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Before you read

Do you have a good memory? Has your memory ever
played any tricks on you?
Forgetfulness often puts you in a tight spot. But forgetting
a part of your life completely may drive you crazy. In this
story, Bepin Babu goes nearly crazy because he cannot
recollect his stay at Ranchi. He has never been to Ranchi,
he insists, though there are many witnesses to the
contrary. What is the suspense all about?

I
Every Monday, on his way back from work, Bepin
Choudhury would drop in at Kalicharan's in New Market
to buy books. Crime stories, ghost stories and thrillers.
He had to buy at least five at a time to last him through
the week. He lived alone, was not a good mixer, had few
idle chat: friends, and didn’t like spending time in idle chat. Today,
unnecessary, at Kalicharan’s, Bepin Babu had the feeling that
routine
someone was observing him from close quarters. He
conversation
turned round and found himself looking at a round
meek: faced, meek looking man who now broke into a smile.
quiet; humble “I don’t suppose you recognise me.”
“Have we met before?” asked Bepin Babu.
The man looked greatly surprised. “We met every day for a
whole week. I arranged for a car to take you to the Hudroo falls.
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In 1958. In Ranchi. My name is Parimal Ghose.”

“Ranchi?”
Now Bepin Babu realised that it was not he but this
man who was making a mistake. Bepin Babu had never
been to Ranchi. He had been at the point of going several
times, but never made it. He smiled and said, “Do you
know who I am?”
The man raised his eyebrows, bit his tongue and
said, “Do I know you? Who doesn’t know Bepin
Choudhury?”
Bepin Babu now turned towards the bookshelves and
said, “Still you’re making a mistake. One often does.
I’ve never been to Ranchi.”
The man now laughed aloud.
“What are you saying, Mr Choudhury? You had a
fall in Hudroo and cut your right knee. I brought you
iodine. I had fixed up a car for you to go to Netarhat the
next day, but you couldn’t because of the pain in the
knee. Can’t you recall anything? Someone else you know
was also in Ranchi at that time. Mr Dinesh Mukerji.
You stayed in a bungalow. You said you didn’t like hotel
food and would prefer to have your meals cooked by a

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bawarchi. Mr Mukerji stayed with his sister. You had a

big argument about the moon landing, remember? I’ll
tell you more: you always carried a bag with your books
in it on your sight-seeing trips. Am I right or not?”
Bepin Babu spoke quietly, his eyes still on the books.
“Which month in ’58 are you talking about?”
The man said, “October.”
“No, sir,” said Bepin Babu. “I spent Puja in ’58 with
a friend in Kanpur. You’re making a mistake. Good day.”
But the man didn’t go, nor did he stop talking.
“Very strange. One evening I had tea with you in a
veranda of your bungalow. You spoke about your family.
You said you had no children, and that you had lost
your wife ten years ago. Your only brother had died
insane, which is why you didn’t want to visit the mental
hospital in Ranchi...”
When Bepin Babu had paid for the books and was
leaving the shop, the man was still looking at him in
utter disbelief: utter disbelief.
complete
surprise Comprehension Check
1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October '58?
3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew
about Bepin Babu.

II
Bepin Babu’s car was safely parked in Bertram Street
by the Lighthouse Cinema. He told the driver as he got
into the car, “Just drive by the Ganga, will you, Sitaram.”
Driving up the Strand Road, Bepin Babu regretted
having paid so much attention to the intruder. He had
(his) head never been to Ranchi — no question about it. It was
reeled:
he was inconceivable that he should forget such an incident
shocked and which took place only six or seven years ago. He had an
confused excellent memory. Unless — Bepin Babu’s head reeled.

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Was he losing his mind? But how could that be? He losing his
was working daily in his office. It was a big firm, and he mind:
becoming
was doing a responsible job. He wasn’t aware of anything mad
ever going seriously wrong. Only today he spoke for
half an hour at an important meeting. And yet...
And yet the man knew a great deal about him. How?
He even seemed to know some intimate details. The bag intimate:
of books, wife’s death, brother’s insanity... The only very personal
mistake was about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a and private
mistake; a deliberate lie. In ’58, during the Pujas, he
was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place.
All Bepin Babu had to do was write to — no, there was
no way of writing to Haridas. Bepin Babu suddenly
remembered that Haridas had left with his wife for Japan
some weeks ago, and he didn’t have his address.
But where was the need for proof? He himself was
fully aware that he hadn’t been to Ranchi — and that
was that.
The river breeze was bracing, and yet a slight bracing:
discomfort lingered in Bepin Babu’s mind. stimulating
Around Hastings, Bepin Babu decided to roll up his
trousers and take a look at his right knee.
There was the mark of an old inch-long cut. It was
impossible to tell when the injury had occurred.

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Had he never had a fall as a boy and cut his knee? He

tried to recall such an incident, but couldn’t.
Then Bepin Babu suddenly thought of Dinesh
Mukerji. The man had said that Dinesh was in Ranchi
at the same time. The best thing surely would be to ask
him. He lived quite near — in Beninandan Street. What
about going right now? But then, if he had really never
been to Ranchi, what would Dinesh think if Bepin Babu
asked for a confirmation? He would probably conclude
going nuts: Bepin Babu was going nuts. No; it would be ridiculous
going mad/ to ask him.
crazy And he knew how ruthless Dinesh’s sarcasm
could be.
Sipping a cold drink in his air-conditioned living
room, Bepin Babu felt at ease again. Such a nuisance!
Just because they have nothing else to do, they go about
getting into getting into other people’s hair.
people’s hair: After dinner, snuggling in bed with one of the new
interfering
thrillers, Bepin Babu forgot all about the man in New
with and
annoying Market.
people. Next day, in the office, Bepin Babu noticed that with
every passing hour, the previous day’s encounter was
occupying more and more of his mind. If the man knew
so much about Bepin Babu, how could he make such a
mistake about the Ranchi trip?
Just before lunch Bepin Babu decided to ring up
Dinesh Mukerji. It was better to settle the question over
the phone; at least the embarrassment on his face
wouldn’t show.
Two-Three-Five-Six-One-Six. Bepin Babu dialled
the number.
“Hallo.”
“Is that Dinesh? This is Bepin here.”
“Well, well — what’s the news?”
“I just wanted to find out if you recalled an incident
which took place in ’58.”

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“’58? What incident?”

“Were you in Calcutta right through that year? That’s
the first thing I’ve got to know.”
“Wait just a minute... ’58... just let me check in
my diary.”
For a minute there was silence. Bepin Babu could
feel that his heartbeat had gone up. He was sweating
a little.
“Hallo.”
“Yes.”
“I've got it. I’d been out twice.”
“Where?”
“Once in February — nearby — to Krishnanagar to a
nephew’s wedding. And then... but you’d know about
this one. The trip to Ranchi. You were there too. That’s
all. But what’s all this sleuthing about?” sleuthing:
“No. I just wanted to — anyway, thanks.” investigating
Bepin Babu slammed the receiver down and gripped (an event)
his head with his hands. He felt his head swimming. A
chill seemed to spread over his body. There were
sandwiches in his tiffin box, but he didn’t eat them. He
had lost his appetite.

Comprehension Check
1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
2. How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or
Parimal Ghose?
3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr Mukerji? Why did
he finally decide to phone him?
4. What did Mr Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add
to his worries?

III
After lunch-time, Bepin Babu realised that he couldn’t
possibly carry on sitting at his desk and working. This carry on:
had never happened in the twenty-five years he had continue
been with the firm. He had a reputation for being a
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conscientious: tireless, conscientious worker. But today his head was

careful and in a whirl.
correct
head was in a
Back home at two-thirty, Bepin Babu lay down in
whirl: bed and tried to gather his wits together. He knew that
(here) it was possible to lose one’s memory through an injury
confused and in the head, but he didn’t know of a single instance of
unable to someone remembering everything except one particular
think clearly
gather his wits
incident — and a fairly recent and significant one at
together: that. He had always wanted to go to Ranchi; to have
make an effort gone there, done things, and not to remember was
to become something utterly impossible.
calm and At seven thirty, Bepin Babu’s servant came and
think clearly
announced, “Chuni Babu, sir. Says it’s very important.”
Bepin Babu knew what Chuni had come for. Chunilal
having a had been at school with him. He’d been having a rough
rough time: time lately and had been coming to see him about a
having a lot of job. Bepin Babu knew it was not possible to do anything
problems
turning up for him and, in fact, told him so. But Chuni kept turning
like a bad up like a bad penny.
penny: Bepin Babu sent word that not only was it not
appearing at a possible for him to see Chuni now, but not in several
place where weeks.
one is not
welcome
But as soon as the servant stepped out of the room,
it struck Bepin Babu that Chuni might remember
something about the ’58 trip. There was no harm in
asking him.
didn’t beat Bepin Babu hurried down the stairs and into the
about the
bush:
living room. Chuni was about to leave, but seeing Bepin
came straight Babu appear, he turned round hopefully.
to the point Bepin Babu didn’t beat about the bush.
off and on: “Listen, Chuni - I want to ask you something. You
now and then have a good memory, and you've been seeing me off
throw your
mind back:
and on for a long time. Just throw your mind back and
think back tell me - did I go to Ranchi in ’58?”
and recall a Chuni said, “’58? It must have been ’58. Or was it
past event ’59?”

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“You’re sure that I did go to Ranchi?”

Chuni’s look of amazement was not unmixed with
worry.
“D’ you mean you have doubts about having gone at
all?”
“Did I go? Do you remember clearly?”
Chuni sat down on the sofa, fixed Bepin Babu with
a long, hard stare and said, “Bepin, have you taken to
drugs or something? As far as I know, you had a clean
record where such things were concerned. I know that
old friendships don’t mean much to you, but at least
you had a good memory. You can’t really mean that
you’ve forgotten about the Ranchi trip?”
Bepin Babu had to turn away from Chuni’s
incredulous stare.
“Do you remember what my last job was?” asked
Chunilal.
“Of course. You worked in a travel agency.”
“You remember that and you don’t remember that it
was I who fixed up your railway booking for Ranchi? I
went to the station to see you off; one of the fans in
your compartment was not working — I got an electrician
to fix it. Have you forgotten everything? Whatever is the
matter with you? You don’t look too well, you know.”
Bepin Babu sighed and shook his head.
“I’ve been working too hard,” he said at last. “That
must be the reason. Must see about consulting a must see about
specialist.” consulting:
(here) may
Doubtless it was Bepin’s condition which made
have to
Chunilal leave without mentioning anything about a job. consult
Paresh Chanda was a young physician with a pair of
bright eyes and a sharp nose. He became thoughtful
when he heard about Bepin Babu’s symptoms. “Look,
Dr Chanda,” said Bepin Babu desperately, “You must
cure me of this horrible illness. I can’t tell you how it's
affecting my work.”

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Dr Chanda shook his head.

“You know what, Mr Choudhury,” he said. “I’ve never
had to deal with a case such as yours. Frankly, this is
quite outside my field of experience. But I have one
suggestion. I don’t know if it’ll work, but it’s worth a
try. It can do no harm.”
Bepin Babu leaned forward anxiously.
“As far as I can make out,” said Dr Chanda, “And I
think you’re of the same opinion — you must have been
to Ranchi, but due to some unknown reason, the entire
episode has slipped out of your mind. What I suggest is
that you go to Ranchi once again. The sight of the place
may remind you of your trip. This is not impossible.
More than that I cannot do at the moment. I’m
tranquilliser: prescribing a nerve tonic and a tranquilliser. Sleep is
a medicine to essential, or the symptoms will get more pronounced.”
reduce stress
Bepin Babu felt somewhat better the next morning.
and anxiety
After breakfast, he rang up his office, gave some
procured: instructions and then procured a first class ticket for
got (with a Ranchi for the same evening.
little difficulty)
Comprehension Check
1. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
2. Why was Dr Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about
Bepin Babu's loss of memory?

IV
Getting off the train at Ranchi next morning, he realised
at once that he had never been there before.
He came out of the station, took a taxi and drove
around the town for a while. He realised that the streets,
the buildings, the hotels, the bazaars, the Morabadi Hill
— with none of these had he the slightest acquaintance.
Would a trip to the Hudroo Falls help? He didn't believe
so, but, at the same time, he didn't wish to leave with the
feeling that he hadn’t tried enough. So he arranged for a
car and left for Hudroo in the afternoon.
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 At five o’clock the same afternoon in Hudroo, two
Gujarati gentlemen from a group of picnickers discovered
Bepin Babu lying unconscious beside a boulder. When
he came round, the first thing Bepin Babu said was, came round:
“I’m finished. There’s no hope left.” regained
consciousness
Next morning, Bepin Babu was back in Calcutta. He
realised that there was truly no hope for him. Soon he
would lose everything: his will to work, his confidence,
his ability, his balance of mind. Was he going to end up
in the asylum at...? Bepin Babu couldn’t think any more.
Back home, he rang up Dr Chanda and asked him to
come over. Then, after a shower, he got into bed with an
ice bag clamped on his head. Just then the servant brought
him a letter which someone had left in the letter box.
A greenish envelope with his name in red ink on it.

Above the name it said ‘Urgent and Confidential’. In

spite of his condition, Bepin Babu had a feeling that he
ought to go through the letter. He tore open the envelope
and took out the letter. This is what he read —
Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory 69
 Dear Bepin,
I had no idea that affluence would bring about the kind of change in
you that it has done. Was it so difficult for you to help out an old friend
down on his luck? I have no money, so my resources are limited.
in retribution What I have is imagination, a part of which I used in retribution of your
of: unfeeling behaviour.
as a Well, you’ll be all right again now. A novel I’ve written is being
punishment considered by a publisher. If he likes it enough, it'll see me through the
for next few months.
Yours, Chunilal

When Dr Chanda came, Bepin Babu said, “I’m fine.

It all came back as soon as I got off the train at Ranchi.”
“A unique case,” said Dr Chanda. “I shall certainly
write about it in a medical journal.”
“The reason why I sent for you,” said Bepin Babu, “is
that I have a pain in the hip from a fall I had in Ranchi.
If you could prescribe a pain killer…”
SATYAJIT RAY

Comprehension Check
1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all
about a trip to Ranchi?
2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says
he has no money; what is it that he does have?

1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man.

What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was
the result of this meeting?
3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was
the reason for this?
4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal
had tricked him?

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1. Look at these two sentences.
He had to buy at least five books to last him through the week.
Bepin had to ask Chuni to leave.
Had to is used to show that it was very important or necessary for
Bepin Babu to do something. He had no choice. We can also use ‘have
to’/ ‘has to’ in the same way.
Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to’/ ‘have to’/ ‘has to’.
(i) I ________________ cut my hair every month.
(ii) We ________________ go for swimming lessons last year.
(iii) She ________________ tell the principal the truth.
(iv) They ________________ take the baby to the doctor.
(v) We ________________ complain to the police about the noise.
(vi) Romit ________________ finish his homework before he could come
out to play.
(vii) I ________________ repair my cycle yesterday.
2. Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the
dictionary in the following way.
First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a
dictionary.
(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or
adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom).
To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look
for the idiom in the dictionary.)
(i) at/from close quarters (close: adjective)
(ii) break into a smile (break: verb; look under ‘break into
something’)
(iii) carry on (carry: verb)
(iv) have a clean record (you may find related meanings under
both these words)
(v) beat about the bush (verb)
Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory 71

 3. Study the sentences in the columns below.

A B
I saw this movie yesterday. I have seen this movie already.
Bepin Babu worked here for a week Bepin Babu has worked here since
last year. 2003.
Chunilal wrote to a publisher last Chunilal has written to a publisher.
week.
I visited Ranchi once, long ago. I have visited Ranchi once before.

Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms.
Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.
(i) Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same
place?
(ii) Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from
the publisher?
(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he
saw?
(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still
fresh in the speaker's mind?
4. Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words
in each sentence to form correct sentences.
You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you
have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its
meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.
One sentence has been worked out for you as an example.
Jumbled sentence: vanished/ The car/ seemed to/ into thin/ have/
air.
Ans: The car seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Idiom: vanished into thin air: disappeared or vanished in a mysterious way
(i) Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you want/the bush
Ans: _______________________________________________________
Idiom: _____________________________________________________

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 (ii) don’t pay/If you/ attention/you might/the wrong train/to the
announcement/board
Ans: _______________________________________________________
Idiom: _____________________________________________________
(iii) The villagers/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin
Ans: _______________________________________________________
Idiom: _____________________________________________________
(iv) Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor’s/eat
early/that he was
Ans: _______________________________________________________
Idiom: _____________________________________________________
(v) the students/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their
lessons/raised/they had revised
Ans: _______________________________________________________
Idiom: _____________________________________________________

1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth?
Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you
think he decided to help a friend in need?
2. Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter
and feel ashamed that you did not bother to help an old friend down on
his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal
promising to help him soon.
Or
A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone
played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.

There was an old woman

Who lived under a hill,
And if she’s not gone
She lives there still.

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory 73

A bargain is an agreement in which both parties promise to do
something for each other. Someone is looking for work, waiting
to be hired. He strikes a bargain but thinks it worthless. He
tries twice again but doesn't like either. Finally, in the last
bargain, when he is hired for nothing whatever, he is happy as
never before. What is the bargain, and why is it the best?

“Come and hire me,” I cried, while in the morning

I was walking on the stone-paved road.
Sword in hand the King came in his chariot.
He held my hand and said, “I will hire you with
my power,”
But his power counted for naught, and he went away in
his chariot.

In the heat of the mid-day the houses stood with

shut doors.
I wandered along the crooked lane.
An old man came out with his bag of gold.
He pondered and said, “I will hire you with my money.”
He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.
It was evening. The garden hedge was all aflower.
The fair maid came out and said, “I will hire you with
a smile.”
Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went
back alone into the dark.

The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke
waywardly.
A child sat playing with shells.
He raised his head and seemed to know me and said,
“I hire you with nothing.”
From henceforward that bargain struck in child’s play
made me a free man.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

1. Who is the speaker in the poem?

2. “The king, sword in hand” suggests
(i) wealth
(ii) power
(iii) more power than wealth.
Mark the appropriate item in the context of stanza 1.
3. The old man offered the speaker a lot of money.
Why did he turn down the offer?
4. Find in the poem, lines that match the following. Read both one after another.
(i) I have nothing to give you
except goodwill and cheer.
(ii) Her happiness was no more
than sorrow in disguise.
(iii) The king’s might was not worth much.
5. How did the speaker feel after talking to the child on the beach?

The Last Bargain 75