Bhuke Bacche

“Shakti, did Pratap go to pick them up? I haven't seen him since the morning.” Jaivanta frowned at her younger son who seemed busy smiling at some text message.

“Umm… Yes, I called him, He has reached.” Shakti sat up looking at his mother who frowned doubtfully. “They are on the way.”

“Aree Rama.” Jaivanta turned to the maid in waiting.

“Ji Ranisa?”

“Make sure they get a proper welcome.”

“Ji.” The lady in waiting dashed off to make the arrangements.

“Welcome with aarti?” Shakti raised his eyebrows watching his mother prepare the lamp. “The last time Dadabhai got that was when he came back from the UK after grads” Shakti had a hint of amusement in his voice. “What did he achieve today?”

“Bahu is coming home for the first time… Isn't it achievement enough?” Udai smiled at his son who burst out laughing.

“ First time! How many more will he bring, Papa?” Shakti laughed.

“ Ohho! Stop it both of you. My Pratap is not that bad, he is just difficult to understand…” Jaivanta was overprotective of him as Shakti’s smile faded. Dadabhai I hope your decisions don't hurt Ranima!

The village seemed pleasant to the eyes as Ajabdeh smiled at the passing scenes unknowingly. The huts. The cattle. The meadows and trees. The Pond, The children running. The women with the matkas. The men in turbans. She smiled as most of them stopped to join their hands and bow to their prince.

“They respect you a lot.” Heer sounded almost surprised at them as Hansa gave her a warning stare.

“They should after all we heard you have done a lot for them.” Ramrakh smiled.

“No, Uncle…” Pratap cut in a little embarrassed “I did nothing really, they just respect me out of fear of our family name. Everything is handled by Dad and Shakri.”

“Don't be so modest, Ranisa told us everything.” Ramrakh smiled as Pratap’s eyes widened a little. The last time he went to his apparent office chamber was on the day of the annual report when the media was there and Shakti dragged him to the boring conference. Ajabdeh caught his expression and hid a smile pressing her lips as the car zoomed into the palace complex.

The Surajgarh Palace compound was built by Pratap’s great-grandfather and stood on a large acre of land, surrounded by the employees’ quarters, Guest houses, cottages and servant’s houses. The large gate with the sun disk was opened by four men in security uniforms as the car zoomed into the road with Gardens on both sides, fountains and colourful flowers in bloom.

“On the left are the employee's quarters, and on the right are the palace servants’. “ Pratap said as they went past a fountain in the middle of the road.

The quarters had adjoining grounds for the children on both sides and then started a huge orchard of tall trees and shadows.

“As kids, Shakti and I used to escape from the palace and hide here and Ranima would send the securities to catch us and we had our own little game of hide and seek. Beyond these orchards lie the old ruins of the Palace of our ancestors.”

“The one you told me about?” Ajabdeh sounded excited all of a sudden as Heer looked at them suspiciously and the parents smiled. They take time out of flirting and drinking and talking too!!

“Umm Hmm,” Pratap nodded. “That part is now secluded."

Ajabdeh realized her mother’s smile and bit her tongue. Shit! I forgot to pretend we are not getting along!

As soon as the orchards gave way to the long road ahead, meadows and flowers on either side, a huge palace made Hansa gasp inwardly. She had attended all of Jaivanta’s Kitty parties in their city farmhouse or at the hotels, never had they even been to this traditional palace property. The three-storeyed palace with a porch and stairs from either side that lead up spirally to the entrance of the main palace.

“Behind the palace and the swimming area, there is another forest-covered area crossing which we have the Royal facilities for us as well as our employees, their families and guests. The school for the employees’ children, the library, the Auditorium Hall, and a small museum of antiques and weapons that is accessible from the Highway we just crossed across the village. And our Business Office as well.”

“Wow it must cost a fortune to maintain all these” Hansa gushed as Ramrakh rolled his eyes.

“We have Trust. The Sisodia Trust for Surajgarh” He smiled as the car drove across the roads of the lawn to the porch.

“Oh yes, I remember you have NGOs under it as well.”

“Yes, old age homes, orphanages, workshops for women and schools.” He smiled. “Ranima takes care of them all.” He seemed proud of his mother’s associations.

“What do you do?” Heer murmured loud enough to make her parents feel awkward as Pratap stole a glance at Ajabdeh who was clearly amused at his “help me” face.

The car stopped at the porch right where Jaivanta, Udai and Shakti stood smiling to welcome the guests as Pratap felt relieved.

“Welcome,” Udai came forward to shake hands with Ramrakh as Hansa hugged Jaivanta.

“You need help?” Heer got down quickly to share a courtesy smile with Shakti before turning to her sister.

“I am fine. I think.” She held her dress to step out of the car.

“Don’t fall.” Pratap chuchkled under his breath.

“Shut up!” Ajabdeh’s voice was louder than usual as everyone stopped to stare at her getting down. Her eyes widened a little as Shakti and Heer shared a glance at them and at the elders as Pratap seemed amused.

“I was… talking to Heer.” Ajabdeh pointed at her sister who frowned. Pratap shook his head and took his place beside Shakti.

“How are you?” Shakti smiled.

“Tired, hungry, sleepy.” He murmured.

“Where were you two all night?” He seemed amused.

“Hush! I was...”

Pratap stopped a little awkwardly as Heer touched Udai and Jaivanta’s feet prompting Ajabdeh to do the same in return of which Jaivanta was happy to bring the aarti thaal.

“What was the need of such….” Hansa smiled placing the Chunri over Ajabdeh’s head as Pratap received a cold helpless stare from her. He shrugged.

“How is it not important when my Lakhsmi came home for the first time?” Jaivanta smiled.

“Dadabhai?”

“Hmm?”

“Does Ranima know that her Laksmi is Maata Chamunda as well?” Shakti’s serious voice made Pratap smile.

“You all must be hungry? Come have breakfast then Shakti will escort you to your cottages.” Jaivanta smiled leading the way into the large hall with beautiful jharokhas, large candelabras and pictures on the wall.

"I am very hungry." awkward silence followed as Pratap and Ajabdeh spoke in unison and then stared at each other.

"Jija!" Heer warned whispering.

“What? Am hungry.” Ajabdeh murmured as Heer warned, “Slowly and gracefully Jija, remember?”

"The children are hungry and rightly so, come along please!" Udai smiled welcoming Ramrakh who smiled rather awkwardly as Hansa gave Ajabdeh a warning stare.

A text on Pratap’s phone read NEXT STEP PLAN! As he looked across the table at Ajabdeh who just put down her phone and smiled as Hansa praised the palace.

The table was laid with a variety of options from cornflakes, bread and cheese to desi parathas. Everyone stopped to notice how two plates were filled with every possible option they found much to the parents' embarrassment.

“Did Jalal not serve dinner, Pratap?” His father’s warning voice rang a bell as everyone laughed a little and Pratap froze mouthful.

“No I... the dinner was good…” He lay staring across the table at the one who seemed in a different world with her cheese omelette melting in her mouth.

“I had dinner at my hotel room.” Shakti sounded indifferent. “I left early.”

“Why?” Jaivanta frowned.

“I had to drop someone off….” He stopped amused as Heer’s fork landed on the ground with a sound.

“Am sorry.” She murmured.

“Don’t be clumsy.” Her mother warned.

“Jalal is their friend by the way, Jallaluddin Mohammad Akbar,” Udai informed nodding to Ramrakh.

“Ohh he is the next big thing in textiles I heard!”

“Yes, he cracked a major deal recently.”

Udai smiled at Shakti and stopped watching how disturbingly his elder one was using both his hands on the cheese sandwich, in a way some melted cheese fell on the table. His eyes rolled to stop at Ajabdeh licking the melted cheese off her fingers as Heer caught his gaze and pinched her sibling to stop. Udai Singh shook his head and sighed.

“Shakti, show the guests their cottages. We arranged one for the girls and another one for you two.” Jaivanta smiled. “Please rest, we will see you all at lunch.”

“ Ji Ranisa, thank you so much” Ramrakh smiled as they got up to take leave prompting Ajabdeh to get up with an apple in hand her mother signalled her to keep back.

“Are you not fed at home, Ajab?” she scolded under her breath.

“But am hungry,” Ajabdeh whispered back making Pratap stare back at her.

“Am going to finish the rest in my room.” He picked up his plate as Shakti got up to show the Punwars their cottages. “Excuse me.” His father opened his mouth to protest but he left nevertheless.

“He must be hungry.” Jaivanta defended her elder one rather awkwardly.

“It’s okay.” Hansa smiled as it faded with Ajabde picking up the apple again.

“Take it beta, eat it on your way to the cottage.” Jaivanta smiled as Ajabdeh smiled back biting the apple and making her parents stare at each other. “Please come with me.” Shakti smiled at Ajabdeh’s antics and lead the way to the cottage.

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Protisruti

প্রতিশ্রুতি বন্দিতা মা কে জড়িয়ে ধরে যেন প্রাণ ফিরে পায়। “ভাল আছিস?” জিগেস করে সুমতি। বন্দিতা হঠাৎ খেয়াল করে আগের মতো তার মুখ দেখেই তার মা আর তার মনের অবস্থা বুঝতে পারেন না। তার সাথে হঠাৎ মনে পরে কত অনায়াসে অনিরুদ্ধ বোঝে যে তার মন খারাপ। একবার জিজ্ঞেস করেছিল সে স্বামীকে, কি করে তিনি বোঝেন তার মন খারাপ। ছোট বন্দিতাকে তার মতন করে বুঝিয়েছিলেন তার স্বামী। আজ বন্দিতা বড় হয়েছে কিন্তু সেই প্রশ্ন সে আর করতে পারেনা। বন্দিতাকে খাটিয়ার উপর বসিয়ে এর মধ্যেই সুমতি যায় তার জন্য মুড়ি মুড়কি আনতে। বন্দিতার চোখ পরে পায়ের নূপুরের উপর। তিনি বলেছিলেন “তুমি খুশি হলে তোমার নূপুরের আওয়াজ অন্যরকম হয়, আর তোমার মন খারাপ হলে অন্যরকম।” বন্দিতা নূপুরটা বাজিয়ে দেখেছিল সেদিন। আজকে সে জানে পার্থক্য তার নূপুরের শব্দে নয়, অনিরুদ্ধের পর্যবেক্ষণ শক্তিতে। আবার কেন তার কথা ভাবছে সে? বাড়ি এসেছে মায়ের কাছে। আর ভাববে না সে, হয়তো দু তিন দিন পর ত্রিলোচনবাবু পাঠাবেন বিহারী কে বন্দিতাকে বাড়ি নিয়ে যেতে, ততদিন মায়ের কাছে একটু শান্তিতে থাকুক না সে। দুপুরে আম দুধ দিয়ে ভাত দেয় তাকে সুমতি। “তোর প্রিয় খাবার দেখ, মাম...

Answers

Aniruddha could not work all day. It started raining heavily outside, the curtains of the room swayed in the gusty wind, and things around the room toppled over. Koeli came to pick them up, to see if he wanted to eat anything but Aniruddha wanted to be left alone. Countless questions and fears raced through his mind. Bondita never went home like she did that day. Rather, once a year, even before Jamai Sasti, she checked the household chores a hundred times. If Batuk had a test, if someone was sick, she was reluctant to go. She just packed a bundle so quickly and left for her mother’s place. Had she distanced herself from Aniruddha? Was it his fault? Anirudha started thinking. Could she not take him as a husband because he pushed her away and hurt her? Aniruddha repented for his actions. If indeed Bondita denied their relationship knowing the truth behind it, could she be blamed? But was that why she was pretending to be asleep even though she was awake that night? What did she think ab...

Promises

Bondita hugged her mother as if to find herself again. "Are you okay?" Sumati smiled. Bondita suddenly noticed that her mother couldn't understand her state of mind just by looking at her face anymore. With that, she suddenly remembered how easily Aniruddha understood that she was upset. Once she asked her husband how he understood things without her saying it. Her husband explained to little Bondita in a way she would understand. Now that Bondita was grown up she could perhaps never ask him that question again. Meanwhile, Sumati hurried to get her some Muri Murki while she sat down on the bed. Bondita's eyes fell on her feet. He had said, "When you are happy, your anklet sounds different, and when you are sad, it is different." Bondita stirred her anklets unmindfully. Today she knew the difference was not in the sound of her Nupur but in Aniruddha's powers of observation. Why was she thinking about him? She came home to her mother. And she would not th...

Choices

The winter rains and gusty wind were unpleasant weather for Adhiraja Ishaan Dev. The Suryapalian capital was far more tropical weather of the plain lands than that of Neelambargarh, situated on a plateau rather close to the Heemdevi. It rained more in Neelambargarh, and the winters were cold. The wine did very little to comfort him as he kept the lamps of his chamber lit in an attempt to feel warmer. On the contrary, he observed how Priyambada complained that the winter isn't cold enough. It had been a quarter of the moon cycle since Maharani Priyambada met Kumari Advika of Mait. Although Ishaan Dev was eager to know what the ladies did talk about, he wasn’t sure whether to ask Priyambada. So he waited for her to tell him something, anything! But Priyambada seemed to act like the meeting never happened. She didn’t even disclose anything to Smriti as per Kumar Viraj. Ishaan Dev was perplexed. What was talked of in the meeting? Worse, did Advika mention him? She must have. The last t...

Going Home

Bondita's Mama came to Tulsipur to meet his daughter. He was a poor man and wore a short dhoti and a Batik shirt. It was wrong to come empty-handed to the daughter's house, so two pots of sweets accompanied him. Reluctantly, he had to go to Roy Chowdhury's house. They were the Zamindar of Tulsipur, the master of the father-in-law of Sampoorna, they needed to be respected. Apart from that, the fate of the sister and niece who he was reluctant to shelter and spent day and night rebuking them about had turned, the same sister now handed over some money to him by the end of the month, because of the kindness of Aniruddha Babu. He did not have the luxury of pushing Lakshmi away. Hence it was necessary to come to the landlord's house to meet his niece. In their house servants also dressed better than him; Look at the fate of the girl . Where he had arranged for her to stay in a corner of an old man's house, now Bondita was living a queen’s life. Zamindar Trilochan Roy Ch...

Uttor

উত্তর সারাদিন কাজে মন বসেনা অনিরুদ্ধর। বাইরে অঝোরে বৃষ্টি হতে থাকে, ঝোড়োও হওয়ায় ঘরের পর্দা দোলে , জিনিসপত্র এলোমেলো হয়ে যায়। কয়েলি আসে ছোট মালিকের জিনিস গুছিয়ে দিতে, তিনি কিছু খাবেন কিনা শুধোতে কিন্তু তাকে চলে যেতে বলে ঘরে খিল দেয় অনিরুদ্ধ। একা থাকতে চায়। তার মনে আনাগোনা করে অসংখ প্রশ্ন এবং আশংকা। যে ভাবে বন্দিতা স্বেচ্ছায় মায়ের কাছে গেল আজ, সেরকম সে কোনদিন যায়না । বরং বছরে একবার জামাই ষষ্টিতে যাওয়ার আগেও একশো বার বাড়ির কাজকম্ম দেখে শুনে যায়। বটুকের পরীক্ষা, কারুর শরীর খারাপ হলে তো কথাই নেই। সেই বন্দিতা আজ হঠাৎ বাড়ি যাবে বলে কি তাড়াতাড়ি পোটলা গুছিয়েছে। এতই কি দূরে চলে গেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের থেকে? তা কি তার নিজের দোষে? ভাবতে থাকে অনিরুদ্ধ। সে দূরে সরিয়ে দিয়েছে বলে অভিমান না কি তাকে স্বামী রূপে গ্রহণ করতে পারেনা বন্দিতা? অনিরুদ্ধ পশ্চাতাপ করে। সত্যি যদি বন্দিতা সব জেনে তাদের সম্পর্ক অস্বীকার করে, তাকে কি দোষ দেওয়া চলে? তবে কি তাই সেদিন রাত্রে জেগে থাকা সত্যেও ঘুমের অভিনয় করছিল সে? কি ভেবেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের ব্যাপারে? কেন চারিদিক বাছবিচার না করে এমন করল অনিরুদ্ধ? নিজের প্রতিজ্ঞ...

Trust

Ishaan Dev woke up at the sound of the hourly bells and trumpets and found himself alone in bed. It took him some time to realise that he had perhaps overslept as he looked confused, half asleep first at the hourglass and then at the sun rays coming into the chambers through the swaying curtains. He sat up to suddenly remember the happenings of the night, as his eyes travelled to the blood stain on the sheet and he sat in contemplation for a good few minutes. He finally had his moment with Priyambada and it was nothing like he had imagined it to be. A part of him that yearned to touch her and taste her was satisfied enough to realise that his longing for her was not only physical. When bodies entwined in the union, and he had pushed himself in, as he had with a hundred other women before her, something in him felt a different sense of completeness and fulfilment that he realised was missing from his life. He had seen Priyambada react to the sensations that were completely new to her, m...

Adornment

The rainy night had given way to a rather pleasant summer morning in Suryapali. The temperature was no longer soaring and a gentle breeze blew through the plains of Suryapali. The sun peeped out through the floating clouds occasionally. Priyambada walked into her chambers after a luncheon to find trays laid with drapes and jewellery, waiting for her. “The Maharani sent this for some celebration in the evening,” Vrinda spoke, bowing at her mistress who nodded silently. Priyambada eyed the trays and exhaled. She wasn’t sure if anyone talked to Ishaan Dev about the rituals. She dismissed Vrinda and decided to read the scripture. As Priyambada sat down on the edge of the bed, scripture in hand, her thoughts travelled to the happenings of the night and she inhaled as her throat felt dry. Why did he stop? Did he feel that he had offended her? Priyambada wondered. She walked up to the attire laid down for the evening and picked up the drape wrapped into a bodice and wrap-around skirt. They w...

Ghore Fera

ঘরে ফেরা বন্দিতার মামা মেয়ের সাথে দেখা করতে আসেন তুলশিপুর। গরিবের ঘরের ছা পোষা চেহারা তার, পরনে খাটো ধুতি ও ছিটের জামা। মেয়ের শশুরবাড়িতে খালি হাতে আসা অন্যায় তাই দুটি মিষ্টির হাড়ি সাথে। অনিচ্ছা সত্তেও রায় চৌধুরী বাড়িতে যেতে হয় তাকে। তারা তুলশিপুরের জমিদার, সম্পূর্ণার শ্বশুরের মনিব, তাদের সম্মান করে চলা মঙ্গল। তা ছাড়া যে বোন ও বোনঝিকে আশ্রয় দেওয়া নিয়ে দিনরাত কথা শোনাতে বাঁধতো না তার, সেই বোন এখন মাস গেলে তার হাতে টাকা তুলে দেয়, অনিরুদ্ধ বাবুর দয়ায়। হাতে আসা লক্ষ্মী পায়ে ঠেলার বিলাসিতা করার মত মুরোদ নয় তার। অগত্যা বোনঝির সাথে দেখা করতে জমিদার বাড়ি আসা। এদের বাড়ির চাকররাও তার থেকে ভাল পোশাক পরে; ভাগ্য দেখো মেয়েটার। কোথায় কোন বুড়োর বাড়ির এক কোণে পরে থাকার ব্যবস্থা করেছিল সে, এখন বন্দিতা রাজরানী। জমিদার ত্রিলোচন রায় চৌধুরীর যাকে পছন্দ নয় তাকে তিনি সেটা বুঝিয়ে দিতে দ্বিধা বোধ করেন না। বন্দিতার মামা তার তেমন এক অপছন্দের পাত্র । বৌমার মুখে তিনি যা শুনেছেন তারপর বৌমার তাদের প্রতি টান দেখে আশ্চর্য হন ত্রিলোচন বাবু। কিন্তু কুটুম্ব তারা। হাতে কর...

Gratefulness

Aniruddha did not return home that night, he informed on the telephone that he was stuck in urgent work so he would return home the next day after spending the night at the client's house. Bondita spent a sleepless night. What would she tell Barrister Babu? And why would he believe it? She was lost in her thoughts twisting and turning in bed all night. She was hurt. Was her husband so reluctant towards their relationship that he did not wish to return home because of her? Once he was busy with some work and was pacing in the study room. Bondita was a child. Her Jetha Shoshur Moshai had taught her to serve her husband. She used to see Bihari take a cup of tea to the study room every day. Despite Bihari's resistance, she picked up the cup of tea that day. "Don't do this, Ginnima ," Bihari was terrified. “Barrister Babu does not like to talk or be disturbed during his work. If he gets angry, I will lose my job.” Bondita ignored his words and entered the study room w...

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