"Hi! Mr Arjun, how are you? Don't you know me? I am Betal, we spent a sleepless night in Malda, inside an ATM, do you remember? "Betal urged.

Initially Arjun failed to understand the head and tail of Betal's claim. As he presented himself before Arjun alighting from the driver's seat of an auto rickshaw, Arjun accepted him as an auto driver. But the rest of the clues pushed him into the down memory lane.

In his semi vagabond life, he came across so many people and remembering all of them is next to impossible; but the claim and clue of present auto driver indicated something more than normal acquaintance. Being absentminded he just gave a smile of recognition which encouraged Betal to deliver few more information regarding their past meeting; but to stop him, Arjun ordered a cup of filtered coffee for Betal.

Suddenly Arjun remembered the said meeting with Betal at Malda, a district town of Bengal, far away from Bengalore. Their first meeting was really unforgettable. It was like the following:

Arjun was undertaking a long walk from Darjeeling to Digha, from mountain to sea in Bengal and he decided to touch almost all popular and unpopular visiting spots on his way. Since it was an unorganised tour, he encountered a large number of colourful characters and events.

People remember two types of characters; very good or ideal personalities and extremely bad or the worst type of person. Betal belonged to the second category with certain unforgettable peculiarities.

One night at around half past ten, Arjun was crossing Malda. He used to walk in the night and rest during day, if needed.

Suddenly a rickshaw hit him from the back and he would tumble down, had he not been in adequate speed. Committing blunder, the rickshaw puller came near Arjun and asked for an apology and requested him to be a passenger in his rickshaw; of which Arjun instantly denied but the man seemed to be too humble and probably ashamed for his unintentional error. He assured for a free ride but Arjun didn't agree.

A tug of war went on for some time and finally Arjun had to surrender. He had never come across such a humble and gentle rickshaw puller.

Having crossed the English Bazaar traffic point, he stopped before a budget restaurant as by that time Betal came to know that Arjun was not going to go anywhere in that town, naturally he became a self appointed host of Arjun for that night; and being a host he didn't like to allow his guest walking through national high way in the night like a ghost.

Like other rickshaw puller, Betal too was not an exception, he was extremely talkative and a born philosopher too. He claimed that the restaurant in which they were going to have their dinner was the best restaurant in that town.

Anyway, at the time of taking order, the waiter informed that except cold dal and rice, they couldn't provide anything more. Betal tried to manage boiled eggs or omelettes for his special guest but in vain. After dinner Arjun tried to pay the bill but Betal openly announced that in that case he would be violent if he was disturbed in carrying out his responsibility as a host.

"I hope my next treat will provide you ample satisfaction. I think you have been suffering from extreme heat of Malda but don't worry I will provide you an air conditioned bedroom for tonight. " Betal assured.

By that time, Arjun started getting the smell of fun and adventure in the hospitality of Betal ; thus he decided to give up his desire for walk at that night, it seemed he didn't like to leave the pleasure of sleeping in an air conditioned bedroom while it was extremely warm and humid outside.

Ultimately Betal stopped before an ATM and asked Arjun to go inside. Having entered there, Arjun found that the AC was working properly and it was really pleasant inside the counter.

Betal prepared bed for them and asked Arjun to relax and feel himself at home. Arjun accepted the unusual comfort casually.

Suddenly Betal left a heavy sigh and said, "I wish I could go to Digha on foot along with you.”

Arjun asked, "who stops you doing so? '

" That's a long story; I don't like to bore you. "

"Go ahead; you can share your boring story with me. "

"I was never good in study. To me school used to be the worst place to visit. Anyway knowing nothing, with the passage of time I reached in class seven. One day a teacher asked us to talk about our aim in life. Most of my friends remained silent, probably they failed to take any decision about their life; but since I was determined about my future, I replied. "

"That's good. What did you say? " Arjun asked him.

"I want to be a film star. Listening to my answer, the whole class laughed loudly including my teacher. I didn't like the things to go on like that, so I left not only school but also my home. Stealing money from my father's safe I set out for Bombay but having reached there I realised that I committed a blunder. I couldn't come across a single star there but I met plenty who ruined their life and career and became either bagger or labour. "

"How long did you stay there? "

"More than two years I waited for a break but in vain. Leaving Bombay I went Punjab in search of better job or a job with better wages. For few months I worked in fields as a farmer but still I wasn't satisfied and then I got a new job there. It had lots of thrill and excitement, I liked that job. "

"What was that job? "

"Peddling drugs. It was a very profitable business but one day I got caught by Punjab Police and they put me behind the bar for few weeks but ultimately they failed to prove my guilt. But my stay in their custody was not totally fruitless. I became a very good friend of them for my loving nature. "

"You mean to say, you became a friend of Punjab Police? "

"Yes, they gave me an appointment for their assistance. "

"As a spy? "

"No, no that sort of job is beyond my ethics. I became a stock criminal. "

"How is that? "

"Very simple, I had nothing to do. When required, they used to arrest me to stay for a period in their custody. In fact, after any heinous crime, public becomes restless regarding the immediate arrest of criminals; as if the immediate arrest of criminals would bring back their sleep and peace. I used to get paid for my stay along with comfortable food and shelter. And the police used to get ample time to investigate the case and run after the real criminals. But after some time I felt that job too was very boring; so one day I left Punjab and returned home. Hello sir, are you feeling sleepy? "

"No, I am listening to you, go ahead. "

"But at home, a new drama was waiting for me. My grandfather had only two sons; my father and my uncle who died long ago along with my mother, people say they had an illicit relationship and therefore got killed by my father but it was labelled as a case of joint suicide. I left home to become a hero while my cousin having married lived happily and took good care of my father, his uncle. "

"But till now I failed to understand what stops you accompanying me? "

"Yes sir, I am coming to the point, returning home I found my only cousin died in an accident; he became the victim of thunderstorm while working in the field. My father became utterly helpless losing his nephew whom he loved more than his own son.  My father asked me to marry his just widowed daughter in law and some wise people of the village advised me to marry both mother and daughter at the same time. "

"From where does the daughter come? "

"Oh, yes, I forgot to mention earlier, my cousin had a marriageable daughter too. Being a kind-hearted man I couldn't refuse them and ultimately married them. "

"How strange! Is it possible? How did your society approve such marriage? "

"If I didn't agree with them, they would take offence; they all praised me a lot for my noble action.”

Arjun became speechless for the time being. He felt that he had come across a prehistoric man named Betal.

Betal continued, "Now how can I join you leaving them behind?  I really feel sorry for my helplessness. "

Arjun nodded his head in appreciation and left a shy of relief.

In the meantime, forgetting all about his disappointment, his narrative took an unexpected turn and with enthusiasm he started explaining his bedroom encounters with his newly married old and young wives.

In order to change the topic of discussion Arjun said, "I find certain similarity between your life and my life.”

Feeling happy Betal asked, "You too have double wives? "

"No, I have two fathers but no wife. "

"How strange! How is it possible?

“Yes now listen carefully the story of my life.”

Taking a pause, he resumed, "I consider Mr Paul as my real father who brought me up with love and care as I lost my mother right after my birth. And Mr Choudhury was my biological father. I was informed like that by my real father when I became eighteen years old. "

"It seems there's a Hindi film behind your birth. "

"Yes, almost like that, they were very good friends and they fell in love with a single lady; Mr Paul was an artist and he wished to get her as a subject or model for his sculpture while Mr Choudhury got attracted by her amorous appeal.”

"Very interesting, very interesting, but you can't believe how good my old wife is. She is perfect in all respect. I prefer her to her daughter, I mean to say my young wife.. .. "

Once again Betal's narrative took amorous lane and gradually headed towards vulgarity and obscenity. Arjun realised that he  had  been missing his bed partners badly, so finding no other option he handed over to him a five hundred rupees note and asked him to go somewhere for the satisfaction of his lust.

Initially Betal denied but finally accepted that note most unwillingly and before departure he said, "You go to sleep and don't worry I will return within half an hour.”

Since Arjun's desire for sleep got evaporated, he decided to resume his walk once again.

While Arjun was busy in recapitulating his past meeting with Betal then the later was found enjoying the filtered coffee at his heart's content. Paying the bill when Arjun was about to leave the tea stall, Betal followed him. Being surprised Arjun asked "Where are you going leaving your auto?”

Betal replied, "Exactly, I was about to ask you why are we walking in spite of having an auto in hand?”

Though Arjun needed a vehicle like that badly, he didn't like to fall into the trap of Betal. Thus being indifferent he said, "I am not going to go any far away places, so I don't need any auto now. Thank you so much. Bye. "

Betal was not going to leave Arjun so easily. He proposed,” Come in my auto, I will leave you in your hotel. "

"I am not going to any hotel. "

"Ok, then I'll not take you in any hotel. Just let me know where do you like to go? I will drop you there. "

"Strange! I don't need any auto. Why do you nag me? "

"I would like to pay my debts. "

"Who lent you? "

"You lent, you can't deny that. "

"If it is so, then pay me back. The matter is over. "

"No the matter is not so easy. I don't have money. How do I pay back? "

"Then don't pay.”

By this time Arjun realised that Betal started his old game; may be a tug of war. Knowing the ultimate end of the game he took his seat in that auto.

His sudden change in behaviour made Betal extremely very happy. He said, “Sir, I think you like to avoid me but please be informed that I gave up my old business. In fact coming in connection with you I realised my fault and gave up that prospective business. "

"Which business are you talking about?”

"I was a tout; I used to bring customers for my employers."

"Who were your employers? "

"Night queens better to say nocturnal pleasure provider."

"Very good, it seems you are like onion, a vegetable of endless skins. "

" Tell me; whatever you like to tell, but please don't abandon me like before. That night I kept on telling you all obscene and vulgar stories to drag you towards my clients but in vain. "

"You mean to say all stories, not your own experience. "

"Yes sir, I don't have any wife."

"How strange! That means the story of your life as you shared is a product of your imagination! "

"No sir, I made only my marriage part and bedroom scenes for my business purpose."

"So, there was no surprise waiting for you when you returned from Punjab? "

"Yes sir!  There was a surprise for me. How do you know that?  I found my father who is about sixty, got married to a girl of about fourteen. I didn't like to disturb them, naturally I left home again. "

"You as well as the story of your life are really very interesting." Remarked Arjun.

"Anyway let me tell you what happened after I took leave from you. I went to my client and wanted to share our night's income with her but listening to everything about our encounters, she requested me not to treat her as a beggar; she was proud of being a prostitute. Her opinion opened my eyes and I became ashamed of my meanness and returned to that ATM within fifteen minutes but by that time you abandoned me. That time only I took an oath that one day I must find you out and return your money. And at last I rediscover you. "

Betal's free and frank confession made Arjun very happy; he shared his problem with Betal and being happy both of them set out for a new search; in fact, life is nothing but a search for them.