3 Rays by Satyajit Ray

Author:Satyajit Ray [Ray, Satyajit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2021-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

It struck him again and again that it would have been better if Manilalbabu hadn’t come into his life. Even if there existed two identical men, it was wrong that they should meet. The very thought that they might continue to meet even after returning to Calcutta made Ratanbabu shudder.

One of the shops was selling cane walking sticks. Ratanbabu had always wanted to possess one, but seeing Manilalbabu haggling with the shopkeeper, he checked himself. Manilalbabu bought two sticks and gave one to Ratanbabu saying, ‘I hope you won’t mind accepting this as a token of our friendship.’

On the way back to the hotel, Manilalbabu spoke a lot about himself—his childhood, his parents, his school and college days. Ratanbabu felt that his own life story was being recounted.

The plan came to Ratanbabu in the afternoon as the two were on their way to the railway bridge. He didn’t have to talk much, so he could think. He had been thinking since midday of getting rid of this man, but he couldn’t decide on a method. Ratanbabu had just turned his eye to the clouds gathering in the west when the method suddenly appeared to him with a blazing clarity. The vision he saw was of the two of them standing by the railing of the bridge. In the distance the mail train was approaching. When the engine approached to within twenty yards, Ratanbabu gathered his strength and gave a hefty push—

Ratanbabu inadvertently closed his eyes. Then he opened them again and shot a glance at his companion. Manilalbabu seemed quite unconcerned. But if the two had so much in common, perhaps he too was thinking of a way to do him in?

But his looks didn’t betray any such thoughts, as a matter of fact, he was humming a Hindi film tune which Ratanbabu himself was in the habit of humming from time to time.

The dark clouds had just covered the sun which would in any case set in a few minutes. Ratanbabu looked about and saw they were quite alone. Thank God for that. Had there been anyone else, his plan wouldn’t have worked.

It was strange that even though his mind was bent on murder, Ratanbabu couldn’t think of himself as a culprit. Had Manilalbabu possessed any traits which endowed him with a personality different from his own, Ratanbabu could never have thought of killing him. He believed that there was no sense in both of them being alive at the same time. It was enough that he alone should continue to exist.

The two arrived at the bridge.

‘Bit stuffy today,’ commented Manilalbabu. ‘It may rain tonight, and that could be the start of a cold spell.’

Ratanbabu stole a glance at his wrist-watch. Twelve minutes to six. The train was supposed to be very punctual. There wasn’t much time left. Ratanbabu contrived a yawn to ease his tension. ‘Even if it does rain,’ he said, ‘it is not likely to happen for another four or five hours.’

‘Care for a betel nut?’

Manilalbabu had produced a small round tin box from his pocket.

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