Somashis Gupta, Editor Epic Words, shares his amusing tale of mistaken identity that unfolds when Bidisha calls to announce the winners of a ‘cyclonic quiz competition’ as Amphan and Yaash.
It was the 29th of October, and I was sipping a cup of Darjeeling first flush. The Telegraph spread across my lap when the phone rang, forcing a diversion to my attention from the article on the cyclones. I glared at the screen. It was Bidisha; I picked up the phone and heard her saying, “Sir, finally it was Amphan and Yaash who won.”
I was confused, as last I heard they were cyclones from two different time periods. I asked, “What?”
“Sir Amphan and Yaash won.” She repeated.
“But were they fighting?” I asked still in a confused state.
“They won against Nisharga and Vayu.” She answered.
“Bidisha, are we talking about the cyclone?” I asked, thoroughly confused by this time.
“Yes sir, it was a cyclone indeed.”
“Bidisha, are we on the same page? Are we talking about Amphan and Yaash the cyclones?”
“Well yes, but not what you are thinking, sir.”
“Then?”
“It was a cyclone that started on the 25th of October.”
“Okay, and then?” I asked, still trying to figure out the dates, as the last cyclone was named ‘Dana’, and the one she was referring to was much earlier.
“After the prelims, it was four of them, and today finally Amphan and Yaash came out victorious.
“How did you judge, I mean were you trying to measure the intensity?”
“Yes sir, we measured in four different stages.”
“Please explain.”
“Though Nisharga was doing very well, as we progressed to the second round, Amphan did miracles, but finally, on the fourth round, we found both Aamphan and Yaash scoring the same points.”
“All right, that is wonderful; why have you not judged ‘Dana’?
“Dana? What is Dana, sir?”
“Well, the latest cyclone.”
“Oh, sir no-no, I was talking about the cyclonic quiz competition.” Bidisha giggled.
“Ah! What a relief you give me. I was desperately trying to figure it out but fell in the mud. So got me, Bidisha.” I joined her in a moment of laughter. “So who were the students?”
“‘Amphan’ was represented by Aayush Sarkar, Nairit Chanda, and Devanshu Bokalial. While ‘Nisharga’ by Bitasta Halder, Utkarsha Sarkar and Agniva Das. Then there was ‘Yaash’ represented by Debarshi Nath, Subhashmita Das, and Sriti Bhuja. And finally, Team Vayu was represented by Devansh Paul, Shreejit Jha, and Soumyajit De Sarkar.”
“Ah great, so congratulate all of them from my side.”
“I will, sir.”
“By the way, sir, what were you saying about Dana?….
