RAABTA

Outtake to be read after reading all chapters. T he men of the house don’t care for the happiness of the women. Such was an inference Nonibala Debi drew as she spoke her heart out to the Mukhopadhyay Ginni. She gasped a little at her words, taking the Paan Nonibala Debi offered her, subtly eyeing the newly married daughter-in-law who had accompanied her to the Gangopadhyay house. It was winter and Nonibala Debi’s firstborn was back from college while the others were enjoying the winter vacation. She was pestering her husband for a Choruibhati for the children where the Mukhopadhyays could also join in the merriment. The boys would cook, letting her relax with the timid homely wife of Sergeant Animesh Mukhopadhyay who barely went out of her home and preferred to stay within the boundaries that her husband drew for her. For a change, she looked interested in the prospect perhaps because of the children. It was painful for them both to manage their pack in the holidays. “I will tell B

This Outtake from Protibimbo is written as a background story for Kabir, which was edited out of the original novel because I later thought it was unnecessary. You can read it after Chapter One, or for better understanding after the novel is over. Enjoy! The day Kabir got off the train at Sealdah Station with his brother, he was intimidated by the crowd and pace of the city. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. His brother was working as a daily wager in the streets of Calcutta for a decade almost and now that Kabir had passed his matriculation, his brother felt it was time for him to study in the city and earn his living. There was no better place to start a labour job than the streets of Sealdah. With that in mind, Kabir packed his very little belongings, greeted his Bhabhi, and kissed his nephew goodbye as he made his way to the big city. His brother was a member of the newly formed Labour Union and had already talked to his superiors about an odd job for Kabir. Learning that he was al

  This outtake can be read after Chapter Five. Adhir had always looked up to his father. From an early age, he had been home, taking care of his little sister, doing chores around their small Shanti in Barishal’s largest slum area while their father ran a Paan Shop in front of the Police Station. He had always seen his father wake up at dawn before the first ray of the sun, pray to the Lord with his wet clothes still on and leave for work, dangling a Thali of Ruti and Torkari for his lunch that he cooked the previous night. Adhir would wake up right after him, help his little sister, make their tiffins and go to school. Benimadhob had enrolled him in his friend Upendra Gangopadhyay’s school for poor children. That was where Adhir met Master Moshai and Bina. Through his teens, Adhir slowly and steadily discovered a new side of his father, along with Mastermoshai. The Paan shop would be shut around 9 PM, but his father did not return home well after 11. The neighbours gossiped that he ha