The Water Bottle - Part 2

Mr. Roy was deeply disturbed and was delving in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice the mess happened in the hall. He was recalling the moments of planning this meet. Mr. Roy was a well established professor of the college. He had connections with the international scientists and had had published highly cited articles. while he was reading one article online that he came across one paper of a scientist. This one paper was a gem that he kept on reading the paper till the end. He searched for the writer. There wasn't any co-authors, it was a solid single man hard work. Mr. Roy searched this man in LinkedIn, Research Gate everywhere. He got a lot of paper in his name and all of the works had huge citations that may people based their thesis on this man's discoveries as a proving point for their argument. But to his surprise ,not a single photograph of this man was found online. Mr. Roy was more than curious this time. How in this digital age a man is able to hide his identity? He was not available in any social media sites. LinkedIn profile never bore a picture of him. All that was available was his E-mail ID. His name was Rohaan Shahzad. He was a Cyprus based researcher. This was the only detail Mr. Roy gained after his deep search in internet.

Mr. Roy then decided to connect him through E-mail. He never thought that this would embark a journey of beautiful friendship. Their conversation was through mail only. But Mr. Roy always felt a warmth , kindness and peace in the letters. Most of the time the topic was all academic. Despite that Mr. Roy could figure out that the man on the other side hold such a personality and was very philosophical. Mr. Roy once did ask that why Rohaan always maintained a low profile for which he replied that it was what he loved. To work in his lab and then to withdraw to live his own life apart from this. All he thought was to contribute some knowledge to the world and let his work speak. Mr. Roy was convinced with this. Because Rohaan had made his articles available online for free. Mr. Roy never needed sci-hub to access his articles. Mr.Roy was curious to see his this internet friend. But Mr, Roy respected Rohaan so much that he never asked for a picture. Their conversation and friendship never required a photo nor their talks never entered into knowing about personal life. They had had more than enough topic to discuss other than this petty things. Rohaan was very welcoming and open minded. Mr.Roy enquired Rohaan that , how, despite him being most a most wanted researcher of this era, he avoided the academic meets and conferences. ?

For which Rohaan said that , its not that he is not attending any conferences. He do attend. But most of the time he used to be a listener not a speaker. He was always a learner. He rarely goes to meetings where he turns out to be a speaker. If at all he does that , that was mostly confined to Cyprus only. Only once had he attended an International conference which had limited members. To all the meetings he went as a speaker , he always requested the organizers to have mobile jammers in the hall and had asked the participants , not to carry any electronic devices to the venue except for presentations. Even Mobile phones were disliked. Only if people agree to all of this , he used to attend conferences. He disliked clicking pictures. These were the only demand he ever had. He preferred voice calls and mails to discuss his work if people required clarifications and explanations over his work and he was always readily available in such cases. The mails always had prompt reply and phone calls were always answered. That was when Mr. Roy understood , how this man maintained such a low profile life. People rarely see him. All, the people ever knew was this name-- Rohaan Shahzaad and his work. Mr. Roy wondered if this was because Rohaan was an Introvert. But Rohaan said it was not because of this reason. Its just that he doesn't want himself to be celebrated by the people. That has no meaning he said. He was always displeased with such show offs. This friendship of the two years gave Mr. Roy the confidence to go for the adventure of inviting him to a meeting here. May be his second conference overseas.  Mr. Roy , by this time had made the works of Rohaan familiar with the scholars here. People were wondering about the discoveries Rohaan made that used to say that Rohaan must be a prodigy. it was totally on the confidence which people had on Mr.Roy over Rohaan that the organizers agreed for this meet , to call a scientist whom the people had never even seen a picture of! Organizers agreed the demands of Rohaan. That was when Rohaan accepted the Invitation and said to Mr.Roy that he will be in the meet on time. 

Mr.Roy's chord of thoughts just broke when he heard the anchor invites a professor for a welcome speech. Mr. Roy felt Impatient. He felt like his world around is spinning. Because Rohaan is not here yet. He took this gap to go out of the hall, to the locker where everyone locked their mobile phones and gadgets. Mr. Roy was in a hurry. He grabbed the key from the security and opened the locker to check the phone to see if there is a message in his phone from Rohaan or not.

He was not wrong. There was a mail. Received at 9 AM. it just said this much. 

Good Morning Roy,

I am here in this Hall. Just call out my name when my time comes. I will be there to speak.

Rohaan Shahzaad.