"Is General Paul in?"

"Yes, but Saab has some guests."

He stares at me. Why the hell are you disturbing me in whatever I was doing? I stare back at him.

"What do you want?"

"I work in Texas Instruments. I have some work with General Paul."

"But Saab has guests." Please go away.

"I shall take only a couple of minutes of his time."

He shrugs, walks back a couple of paces.

"Saab, some saab has come to meet you."

"Saab has come? So soon?"

"No no no!" Vigorously shaking his head. "Some Saab has come..."

I had expected General Paul to be tall, stern, burly, with an erect stature. However, the person who came out to the door was short, small, and hardly looked military if you know what I mean.

"General Paul?"

"Ye-es?"

"I work in Texas Instruments. We want to organize a football tournament... blah blah blah ... so they asked me to meet you."

"Ya, I know the procedure. I will give you the information. But I have some guests right now. Do you have a card on you? I will give you a ring."

"Yes, I have." I fumble with my wallet, take out a business card, and hand it over to him. "You can call me on my mobile." I indicate the correct number.

"Hmm." Pause. "Somshubhra Paul?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Bengali?"

"Yes." Modestly, nodding.

"Kotha theke?"

The rest of the conversation was partly in Bengali, and partly in English. For easy readability, I will translate the Bengali portions.

"From Calcutta."

"Been here long?"

"A couple of years."

"Okay I will give you a call."

"Thanks."

"By the way, which University?"

"I am from Jadavpur University."

"Bloody Hell!"

I look at him surprised.

"Which batch?"

"2002."

"Ohh."

"Are you from Jadavpur too?"

"'55 batch."

"Ohh."

"Have you heard of AJUB, our alumny association here....?"

"Yes."

"We organize picnis and stuff...you can join..."

I nod politely.

"Okay then. Will call on your cell, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Nice talking to you."

"Thanks."


It's a small world after all!