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Abstract

The narrator of this story, the son of a wealthy contractor, was extremely jealous of Nilanjan, his brilliant classmate, during college days. He even prayed for Nilanjan’s death. During an army operation against a terrorist outfit, Nilanjan was severely assaulted and left permanently impaired. He dropped out of college, much to the narrator’s secret relief. To establish his superiority, the narrator worked day and night to become an assistant professor. Eventually, he became an assistant professor—and at a university. But he proved to be a bad teacher. To get a promotion to associate professor, he needed a PhD. But six years after enrolling, he still had not submitted his thesis, and only two months remained before his final deadline. His supervisor reprimanded him for failing to obtain a crucial book. While searching for the book, he unexpectedly encountered Nilanjan on campus. He began to feel all his old fear. To his utter surprise, Nilanjan gifted him that book. But the moment the narrator learned that Nilanjan's sister would pursue her MA in his own department, he was shaken, made an excuse, and quietly slipped away.