Stories  
Ananda Sankaram
by NS Murty

Into a dream-like atmosphere stepped in Ananda Sankaram timidly. That was a farewell party organized for the final year students of Social work by their juniors. And that evening, the University campus wore a romantic look about it. And merging with the steady silence of the evening was the Bismilla Khan’s serene Shehanai music.

Colorful bulbs were hanging on to the long tresses of the damsel-trees. Chairs were arranged in an arc and a small dais was put up in front. Dividing into little groups, the students were chitchatting on the lawns. That was a festival of life! Ananda Sankaram was not at all interested to attend that function. But, how could he help it? His Professor Gangadhar had threatened that he would put zero against internal assessment for the absentees. So he had to attend the function disinterestedly, out of compulsion, and with great unease.

And it was Ananda Sankaram’s nature!

He was scared of the changes that come up in life. He was afraid of walking into tomorrow. He was so fond of mother’s lap, father’s pampering, relatives’ entreaties, and still coveted that wonderful childhood of yesterday. He was brought into the world of youth as though he was suddenly pushed into it. God! How many responsibilities! And the most unbearable amongst them all was the necessity to live in a group. He had to face people; shake hands with them; had to create an amiable atmosphere by exchanging views and opening his heart out. They were all beyond Ananda Sankaram. He felt so insecure and tense if he trespassed the safe enclosure of “I”. But now Ananda Sankaram, more popular in the campus as, ‘A Timid Creature’, ‘Bespeakable’ ‘Ananda Sankaram, Who?’ etc., etc., was preparing to face one of the most turbulent events of his life.

‘Ahoy! That’s Ananda Sankaram!’ Niranjanrao inadvertently blurted his name loudly to his friends. When he was absorbed in gossiping about the secret love affairs of University lady students, he suddenly saw Ananda Sankaram. And only minutes before he wagered ten rupees on Ananda Sankaram that he would not turn up for the party saying that ‘he was a timid creature; a hare scared of people and run away miles if he saw them.’ But he cursed him within himself ‘dirty fellow, turned up.’ Patting him on the shoulder, he said, “Anand! It is thrilling to see you attending this party. That’s the way you should behave. If you try to come into public like this and socialize, you will certainly come up in life! Come on. Go! Go, and wish the Professor!” Niranjanrao was the only friend that Ananda Sankaram had in the University. Niranjanrao got closer to him by identifying their social proximity of belonging to the same caste. In fact, one shouldn’t call it a friendship. It’s an exploitation of necessities: They go to the movies together, but Ananda Sankaram takes the tickets; they take chicken biryani at Alakapuri, but Ananda Sankaram pays for it; books will be issued in the name of Ananda Sankaram, but they remain with Niranjanrao for months together and Ananda Sankaram pays the dues. Though he was well aware that he was the looser in the bargain, Ananda Sankaram could not help it otherwise.

After greeting the Professor, Ananda Sankaram looked around. There were about twenty- five of his classmates and twenty-five juniors, about ten members of staff, the Principal, The Registrar, the Vice Chancellor and their staff. They were all bustling with activity, humor and gay mood. They were everywhere. There was a strange but very pleasant ambiance. Ananda Sankaram longed to be a party to it. But fear, terrible fear, overcame him. He felt heaviness of heart, and was gasping for breath. No. It’s not for him. He can’t stand it. He searched for a corner where he could not be seen and stood all alone like a scarecrow.

“Hello, Anand! What a man you are? You promised that you would come to the library in the morning and did not turn up!” his classmate Vijaya came looking for him. “Last night my uncle and other relatives came to my room. I had been to the bus depot to see them off and, unexpectedly, I was delayed there,” he mumbled. Though he invented a reason off the cuff, he was not sure if Vijaya believed him. He searched into her face for any traces. She was not in a mood to care for what he had said. “In fact I asked you to come to the library to take your advice on a very important matter. You are a very innocent baby. You don’t have any prejudices. And I am sure you give me a solution to my problem. I waited for you till twelve noon. I was terribly disappointed.”

Ananda Sankaram’s looks conveyed he was sorry for that. She telephoned him in the morning and asked if he could come to the library by ten. Though he said yes, he started feeling uneasy from the very next moment. “Library! There will be so many students and lecturers there and can he talk free there? But what exactly she wanted to talk? There was a rumor circulating in the campus that the affair between she and her lover Nandagopal was wrecked.

– Continued

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