(The story so far- set in 1937 in Germany, the story revolves around a love triangle between Paul, Lydia, and Ben. Paul, whom Lydia calls lovingly Polly, is her next-door neighbour and has loved her since he can remember, but his love goes unrequited, and he finds out that Lydia has fallen for Ben, the boy who joined school midway.- Now Read On
Three winters passed after that day, when I saw the love in Lydia’s eyes for Ben. I may have moved aside physically, but my heart still ached at the thought of Lydia. I knew her breathing through the thin wall that bifurcated my house from hers at Görmarsche Gasse. I knew when she was happy or when something was stifling her. I knew when she was sick. I knew everything about her, but did she know that my heart was bleeding? Well, if she had known, she wouldn’t have come to me last evening with that grin.
“Hey, Polly, I am getting engaged this Sunday at Gasthof Zur Rose.”
I took the small handmade invitation card. She hesitated for a bit. “Polly, I need your help. Ben has been called to fill in an opening in Leunawerke, I mean the place where you work; please do help him. Dad has specifically said he wouldn’t mind breaking the engagement if Ben doesn’t get confirmation for this job. You are there as a lab assistant, and it is a respite.”
“Oh, that is great news. When is he joining?” I asked. “The day after the engagement.” She smiled. “Don’t you worry, he will be fine.” I nodded.
So, Ben was there the day after the engagement, which I did not attend under the false pretext of a neck sprain.
“How is your neck?” He asked when he saw me in the laboratory.
“Better,” I said, still trying to look stiff. At that moment the Chief Chemist called for me.
I felt a sudden wave of pride. I had survived the initial probation, knew the lab layout, and handled the delicate glass equipment, while Ben had just joined as a laboratory candidate. He was trying to pass his multi-week hiring trial and secure an open, permanent slot in the same department. And if he didn’t, Lydia’s father was going to call off the engagement.
The Chief Chemist wasn’t an easy guy to please, and given Ben’s nonchalant behavior, I was sure he would land in trouble soon.
Life was not going to be easy for Ben because yet another boy, Felix, also from our school, had joined as the Laboratory candidate and had to undergo similar training. At the end of 45 days, the Chief Chemist would decide which one of them could be retained.
“I hate this,” Ben said, twitching his nose on the very first day. “The air constantly smells of sulfur, ammonia, and coal dust. The laboratory tables are lined with complex Apparaturen, Bunsen burners, and pressurized metal canisters. They make me sick. And this white lab coat, worn over rigid, formal clothes. This is tiring.” He grumbled.
“Listen,” I said, trying to keep my pressure cool. “The Chief Chemist has asked me to train you and Felix. Youboth have to learn measuring chemical yields, regulating the temperature of pressurized reactions, testing the purity of synthetic fuel samples brought in from the massive smokestack reactors outside, and meticulously logging data by hand in leather-bound laboratory journals.”
Ben looked at me with awe and shook his head.
“I am sure a broken engagement sounds worse than this,” I said, throwing him a stern glance. His face turned rigid and he began concentrating on his work.
I must agree that love can change a person completely. The irresponsible Benedikt Schmidt began showing keen interest in his work. Felix was sweating it out equally well. He was also known to be a hardworking boy in school. A reticent type of guy who mingled with all of us very little during school. He hadn’t changed much, even now.
Forty-five days of training, and today was the day the Chief Chemist would put both candidates through the same experiment and give his verdict.
Ben looked tense, and so did Felix.
“You can stay out of the laboratory till the two perform their work. I will need you at the end,” The Chief Chemist gestured to me to go out and relax. But something kept me glued to the laboratory window.
When the Chief Chemist was nowhere near, I peeked through the window.
I had to act fast.
“Hey Felix, please go; Mr. Neumann wants you at the store,” I shouted, and Felix moved. Ben had gone to relieve himself. I swiftly swapped their beakers, and moved fast.
“The store assistant is not there in the store; why did he call me?” Felix came sprinting.
“I will find out; you better finish your laboratory work. The Chief Chemist will come any time now,” I said, pushing him.
In a few minutes, the Chief Chemist arrived, and there was a serious reprimand.
“What is this? You have wasted a good amount of rationed chemical reagents. The reaction has completely failed. Get out right now, don’t even dream of a job here.”
Felix walked out, throwing me derisive glances. “I know it is you,” he said.
“Of course it is me. What did you think you could drop sulfur into Ben’s beaker and make him a loser in front of the Chief Chemist?”
If Ben lost the job, how can Lydia be happy? And if she can’t be happy, how can I live in peace?
Alles für die Liebe!