Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory

Bepin Choudhury prided himself on having an excellent memory. He had never forgotten anything important in his life. When Parimal Ghose insisted that Bepin had visited Ranchi in 1958 and even gave detailed information about the trip, Bepin was deeply disturbed because he had absolutely no memory of such a visit, making him fear he had lost his memory.

Bepin first asked his friend Dinesh Mukerji, who confirmed that Bepin had indeed gone to Ranchi that year. He also consulted Dr Chanda about possible memory loss. Finally, Bepin himself travelled to Ranchi hoping the familiar surroundings would bring back his memories. He visited places Parimal had mentioned but still could not remember anything about the trip.

Chunilal was an old friend of Bepin who had fallen on hard times and desperately needed help. He had approached Bepin for assistance, but Bepin coldly refused to help him. Feeling hurt and ignored by someone he considered a friend, Chunilal planned the elaborate prank about the Ranchi trip to teach Bepin a lesson and make him experience helplessness and confusion.

While visiting Ranchi to jog his memory, Bepin slipped and fell near Hudroo Falls, injuring his hip. Parimal Ghose had mentioned that Bepin had slipped near those very falls during the 1958 trip. When Bepin fell at the same spot, he believed it was proof that he had indeed been there before, which made him even more convinced that he was suffering from a genuine lapse of memory.

The story teaches us that true friendship means being there for others in their time of need. Bepin ignored Chunilal when he needed help, showing selfishness and indifference. Chunilal's prank was a way of showing Bepin how it feels to be helpless and alone. The story reminds us that we must value our friends, respond to their needs with kindness, and never be too proud or busy to help someone in genuine difficulty.