🌟 Chapter 4 – Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
Author: Satyajit Ray
✨ Summary in Detail
Bepin Choudhury was a middle-aged man who worked in a big firm in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was known for his punctuality, honesty, and habit of reading books. One day, something strange happened that shook his peace of mind.
While visiting a bookshop in New Market, a man named Parimal Ghose approached him and claimed that they had met in Ranchi in 1958. Bepin was confused because he had never been to Ranchi in his life.
But Parimal Ghose gave so many details:
- They had gone to Hudroo Falls together.
- Bepin had slipped near the waterfall and injured his knee.
- A doctor was called to treat him.
- His wife had died some years earlier.
- He did not have children, so he lived alone.
All these details were correct about Bepin’s personal life — except the fact about Ranchi!
Bepin began to doubt himself. Could he really have forgotten such a big trip? Was he suffering from memory loss?
To confirm, he tried:
- Asking a friend, Chunilal – But Chunilal was in his own financial problems and didn’t give a clear answer.
- Doctor’s advice – The doctor told him his memory seemed fine, but asked him to take rest.
- Visiting Ranchi – At last, Bepin decided to go to Ranchi himself. But when he reached there, nothing seemed familiar. He fainted in despair.
Finally, the truth came out! Chunilal, his old friend, had played a trick on him. Bepin had refused to help Chunilal when he was in need of a job. To teach him a lesson, Chunilal created this entire story with the help of Parimal Ghose.
Thus, it was not Bepin’s lapse of memory at all — it was a planned prank!
🌈 Key Themes
- Human weakness and doubt.
- Revenge and trickery by a friend.
- Loneliness of a man without family.
- The dangers of overthinking.
📘 Word Meanings
- Lapse – slip or error.
- Intrigued – very curious.
- Relief – feeling of comfort after worry.
- Suspicion – doubt.
- Prank – trick played for fun.
📝 Q&A (30–40 words each)
1.
Q: Who was Bepin Choudhury and where did he work?
A: Bepin Choudhury was a middle-aged man living in Calcutta. He worked in a big firm that did a lot of trading. He was respected for his punctuality, honesty, and had a passion for reading books.
2.
Q: How did Bepin first meet Parimal Ghose?
A: One afternoon, while browsing books in New Market, Bepin was suddenly approached by a stranger named Parimal Ghose. This man claimed to know him from a past trip to Ranchi, which left Bepin puzzled.
3.
Q: Why was Bepin confused by Parimal Ghose’s claim?
A: Bepin was absolutely sure he had never visited Ranchi in his life. Yet, Parimal gave so many accurate details about his personal life that Bepin started doubting his own memory and became deeply disturbed.
4.
Q: What details did Parimal Ghose share to convince Bepin?
A: Parimal mentioned their visit to Hudroo Falls, Bepin’s knee injury from a fall, his wife’s death, and the fact that Bepin had no children. All were correct, except the Ranchi part, which shocked Bepin.
5.
Q: How did Bepin feel after meeting Parimal Ghose?
A: Bepin was shaken and restless. He could not concentrate on his daily life. The thought that he might be losing his memory troubled him greatly and filled him with anxiety and fear.
6.
Q: What steps did Bepin take to confirm the truth?
A: First, he asked his old friend Chunilal, but Chunilal was busy with his problems. Next, he consulted a doctor. Finally, he travelled to Ranchi himself to see if anything looked familiar.
7.
Q: Why did Bepin consult a doctor?
A: Bepin feared he was suffering from a lapse of memory or some mental illness. He wanted medical assurance. The doctor listened carefully and suggested that rest might help, but Bepin remained doubtful.
8.
Q: How did Bepin behave when he visited Ranchi?
A: In Ranchi, Bepin tried hard to recall places but failed. Nothing looked familiar. He was so distressed that he collapsed unconscious near Hudroo Falls, fully believing that he had lost his memory.
9.
Q: How was Chunilal connected to the story?
A: Chunilal, an old friend of Bepin, had asked him for help in finding a job. When Bepin refused, Chunilal decided to take revenge. He planned the prank with Parimal Ghose to trouble Bepin.
10.
Q: What was the doctor’s opinion about Bepin’s condition?
A: The doctor said Bepin did not appear to have any serious memory problem. He advised him to take rest and avoid stress. However, Bepin’s anxiety only increased, leading him to go to Ranchi.
11.
Q: What role did Parimal Ghose play?
A: Parimal Ghose was Chunilal’s helper in this prank. He pretended to have met Bepin in Ranchi and confidently narrated false details. His performance was so convincing that Bepin almost believed he had memory loss.
12.
Q: Why did Bepin finally faint in Ranchi?
A: When Bepin could not recognise any place in Ranchi, he became convinced that his memory was failing. At Hudroo Falls, overwhelmed with stress and despair, he collapsed and fainted, believing he was mentally sick.
13.
Q: What made Bepin trust Parimal’s story?
A: The personal details Parimal knew were so accurate—like his family history and habits—that Bepin found it hard to deny. This led him to suspect his own mind rather than doubting the stranger’s words.
14.
Q: Why did Chunilal want to take revenge?
A: Chunilal was struggling financially and hoped Bepin would recommend him for a job. But Bepin refused to help. Hurt and angry, Chunilal decided to teach him a lesson through a clever prank.
15.
Q: How did Bepin feel when he learnt the truth?
A: When Bepin discovered that it was only Chunilal’s trick, he felt embarrassed and humiliated. He realised how easily he had been fooled. His pride was hurt, but he had no choice but to accept it.