About the Author
Satyajit Ray was a great Indian artist born in Kolkata on May 2, 1921. He is best known for making wonderful films that won many prizes around the world. But he was also a talented writer who created exciting stories for children and grown-ups. His father was a famous poet and artist, which inspired him a lot. Ray loved drawing, music, and books too. He wrote simple yet fun tales full of clever ideas. He passed away in 1992, but his works still make people happy and think deeply.
What’s the Story About?
This is a funny and clever story about a man named Bepin Choudhury, or Bepin Babu as his friends call him. He is a busy and hardworking person who lives alone in Kolkata after losing his wife many years ago. Bepin Babu loves reading books, especially thrillers full of mystery and adventure. Every day, he goes to a small bookstore run by Kalicharan to buy new books. He has no kids, so books are his best friends.
One sunny afternoon, while buying a book, a stranger named Parimal Ghose stops him. Parimal smiles and says, "Hello, Bepin Babu! Don't you remember me? We met in Ranchi back in 1958!" Bepin Babu is shocked. He has never been to Ranchi, a hill town far away. But Parimal talks about small details from that trip—like how Bepin Babu hurt his knee while walking in the hills, stayed at a place called Hudroo Falls, and even bought a bamboo walking stick. Parimal says Bepin Babu's friend Dinesh Mukerji was there too. Bepin Babu feels confused and says it must be a mistake, but the words stick in his mind like glue.
That night, Bepin Babu cannot sleep. He wonders if he really forgot something big. The next day, he calls Dinesh Mukerji to check. To his surprise, Dinesh remembers the trip clearly! He even jokes about how Bepin Babu slipped on stones near a waterfall. Now Bepin Babu is really worried. He thinks, "Am I losing my memory? Is my brain playing tricks on me?"
Around this time, an old school friend named Chunilal comes to visit Bepin Babu. Chunilal is poor and jobless. He asks Bepin Babu for help to get a job, but Bepin Babu avoids him because he feels too busy. Chunilal leaves sad, but Bepin Babu does not notice his pain.
The worry grows so much that Bepin Babu visits a doctor named Paresh Chanda. The doctor checks him and says it is a rare case of forgetting just one part of life. He tells Bepin Babu to go back to Ranchi. Maybe seeing the place will bring back the lost memories, like waking up a sleeping part of the brain.
So, Bepin Babu packs his bags with his driver Sitaram and heads to Ranchi. He walks the same paths, sees the hills and waterfalls, but nothing comes back. He feels even more lost and sad. On the way home, he slips and hurts his knee badly—just like in the story Parimal told! But still, no memory returns. He comes back to Kolkata feeling broken.
Then, one day, he finds a letter slipped under his door. It is from Chunilal! The letter says it was all a big joke—a prank to teach Bepin Babu a lesson. Chunilal made up the Ranchi trip because Bepin Babu kept ignoring his pleas for help. He got Parimal and Dinesh to join in the trick. Chunilal was hurt and wanted Bepin Babu to feel what it is like to be forgotten.
Bepin Babu feels ashamed. He realizes he was selfish and unkind to his old friend. When the doctor comes for a check-up, Bepin Babu pretends everything is fine. He says, "Oh, my memory is back now! I remember the whole trip." And to hide his embarrassment, he asks for medicine for his sore knee instead.
The story ends on a light note, showing how a small trick made Bepin Babu a better person. It is full of laughs but also makes you think about being kind to friends.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Bepin Choudhury (Bepin Babu): The main hero of the story. A lonely, book-loving man who gets tricked into thinking he forgot a big trip.
- Parimal Ghose: A friendly stranger who starts the prank by pretending to know Bepin Babu from Ranchi.
- Dinesh Mukerji: Bepin Babu's old friend who joins the trick and confirms the fake trip story.
- Chunilal: Bepin Babu's school friend who plans the whole prank because he feels ignored and needs help.
- Dr. Paresh Chanda: A kind doctor who tries to help Bepin Babu with his "memory problem" and suggests the trip to Ranchi.
- Kalicharan: The friendly bookstore owner where Bepin Babu buys his books every day.
- Sitaram: Bepin Babu's loyal driver who takes him on the trip to Ranchi.
Themes and Moral
Themes
- Forgetting and Confusion: The story shows how easy it is to doubt your own mind when others say something different. It makes us think about how memories can trick us.
- Friendship and Kindness: True friends help each other, but ignoring someone can hurt them deeply. The prank teaches Bepin Babu to care more.
- Tricks and Lessons: Sometimes a joke can make us see our mistakes. It is fun but also shows that lies can feel very real.
- Busy Life vs. People: Bepin Babu is so caught up in work and books that he forgets real people around him.
Moral
The main lesson is: Always help your friends when they need you. If you turn away from someone in trouble, it might come back to you in a funny or sad way. Like the old saying, "What you do to others, others will do to you." Be kind, listen, and share your good luck—it makes life better for everyone.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story. I have explained them in easy, everyday language so you can use them too.
- Lapse of Memory: When you suddenly forget something important, like a name or an event, even though you should remember it.
- Thrillers: Books or stories that are exciting and full of suspense, like detective tales where you guess what happens next.
- Acquaintance: Someone you know a little, but not a close friend—like a person you nod to at school or market.
- Puzzled: Feeling mixed up and unable to understand something, like when a riddle does not make sense at first.
- Ailment: A small sickness or problem in the body, like a headache or a bad cold that bothers you.
- Reviving Memories: Bringing back old thoughts or pictures in your mind, like smelling grandma's food and remembering childhood.
- Dejected: Feeling very sad and low, like after losing a game and wanting to hide.
- Confidential Letter: A private note meant only for one person, like a secret message you do not share with anyone.
- Prank: A playful trick or joke on someone to surprise them, often funny but sometimes mean.
- Sleuthing: Acting like a detective, searching for clues to solve a puzzle or mystery.