Skip to main content

What If...

Ajabdeh, played all night with the newfound puppy who was already keeping her on her toes. First, he jumps into the trolley bags and inspected her clothes, alarming Heer and making her laugh. He had fallen in love with a pink lingerie Ajabdeh tied to his head like a bow, laughing harder as he tried to open it, going in rounds. Heer saw her carefree laughter with a smile. She may not like the guy, but he did make her sister laugh. Heer shook her head. Something in her felt really awkward as she cleared her throat to ask
"Jija??"
"Hmm?"
"Do you... umm... like Kunwar Pratap?" Heer looked scared to ask.
"What?" She frowned and then smiled as the puppy licked her face. "Of course I like him! He is a friend."
"Jija I meant..."
"Good night Heeriye." She hugged her sister then picked the pup up and snuggled in her blanket as Heer stood watching.

"Let's name you baby?" She heard Ajabdeh talk. "Umm... let us see... you are brown and soft and ... Bruno? No? Bernett? No? Brownie?"
"Woof!" The pup jumped excitedly making the sisters giggle.
"He likes it." Heer agreed.
"Brownie." Ajabdeh clapped her hands.
"Woof!" He wagged his tail as Ajabdeh hugged him.
"She avoided the question." Her message to Shakti read as he smiled.
"Didn't say no, right?" He smiled replying.

Pratap spent a restless night. He had checked the presentations of his dream again and again and stopped smiling at all the changes he had made at her suggestions. 
"Keep the Jharokhas intact, I love them!" She had reminded him. "And that pillar!!" 

He had agreed. He had to make sure everything was perfect. He strolled across his room, then to the roof. Sitting where she sat a night ago he remembered things with a smile. 

As Heer slept peacefully, Ajabdeh walked to the open yard with Brownie. She had sat on the dew-laid grass and felt the breeze as Brownie dug up a hole. She stared at him with a smile as her thoughts trailed. Where was she going? What was she doing? A week ago, she was all ready to be the one who refuses the guy on his face, and here she was smiling at his thoughts? To top it all, his family seemed to be in love with her crazy ways, how was that even possible. She had frowned as Brownie brought her a weed.
"A gift? for me?" She smiled. "Aww." He ran back and started digging.

Her thoughts trailed as the stars shone bright, These write our destiny? She wondered. Taking out her Instagram she clicked a selfie of her and Brownie, busy digging. "Stars far away, distant, strange, mysteries, writing our fate, changing our destinies. From Afar... Life and its strangest mysteries, one is destiny, another love! Ps. Meet my baby! He just gifted me a weed! And I am already in Love, with Him! #giftfromtheguywhomatters #thankyouP" She hit on the post button. The notification rang almost instantly.
"Pratap Singh Sisodia liked your post." She smiled and frowned. 3am. Why was he awake?

His smile faded at her post as his thought trailed to her description of the One. Somewhere in what Ajabdeh said, she believed, she dreamt. He felt so from her words, eyes and smile. And somewhere in all of that was a broken heart, scared to dream, trust or love. This made him feel uneasy. A girl like her didn't deserve to be like this. A girl like she deserved... love. He shook his head the umpteenth time. Love. He never even understood the word, and feelings. How it happened why it happened. He had just had fun, telling romantic lines to girls who saw him as a blank cheque and acted impressed. It was all over their faces! 

But this girl... This girl... needed things more than materialistic pleasures, wealth and fame. She needed something rare, precious and unique, just like her! But... life is so full of possibilities. The three people he trusted most told him that, his idol, his Ranima and his brother. What if... His thoughts trailed in lanes of imagination he had never visited, or dared to. Somehow, putting Ajab in the spot didn't scare him. What scared him was how his thoughts trailed.

What If...Ajabdeh shook her head, taking out a cigarette carefully hidden away in her purse. Puffing at it she stared at the sky again. She couldn't stop those thoughts, could she? Why did she feel so guilty? Why did she want to know why she was perfect for him in his mother's eyes? Why, for once, her heart sank when he told her what he told her? Just why?
"Woof!" Brownie was at the door. She got up. "Time for some sleep, baby." She shook off everything. "I need to help a friend tomorrow. He needs me!"

"Dadabhai?" His sleep was broken by Shakti's voice at dawn as he realized he had fallen asleep on the couch. 
"Why are you here?" He had frowned.
"Was just... umm... came for some fresh air."He shrugged scratching his head.
"Dadabhai... " Shakti had stopped him. 
"What is it?" he frowned cluelessly.
" Do you like Ajabdeh? Enough now?" Shakti asked with a genuine voice "For the marriage?" His face looked rather worried as Pratap's throat went a little dry.
"Shakti, I told you before, I..." He tried to sound casual.
"You don't like her then?" Shakti asked raising his eyebrows.
"It's not that!" came an immediate protest that made him smile faintly. 
It was followed by carefully chosen words "We come with purposes and destiny Shakti, Ajab and me, are not meant to be... like... we are the best how we are now, just need the parents to get we are not really the kind of people who can spend an entire life together, with one person."
" Why not?" Shakti frowned. "Tell me!"
"Because... Because...it's just... umm..." He was blank! 

His intelligent brother would never be convinced by anything less than perfect. For a moment, Pratap couldn't shake off his thoughts from last night. He had once, just once thought to himself, what if they were married. He didn't even want to admit that to himself out loud. It scared him and put his friendship at stake. But he had thought of it. Consciously enough. He had imagined to himself, what if this worked out, what if Ajabdeh was really Mrs Ajabdeh Pratap Singh Punwar? With the Pup, and her bonding with Ranima over rituals, helping Shakti with his business ideas, and going with him to Chavand, wouldn't life be... Perfect? He had dreaded his own thoughts. He cursed the alcohol in his system for it as his heart thumped, her saree-clad image flashed in his mind. He had gulped down his drink raw to make it go.
Pratap now stared at his watch. "Oh shit I am late, I will catch you later." He dashed off keeping Shakti staring at him go with a sigh.

Ajabdeh had frowned thrice at him staring out of the window of the land rover, his fingers playing on the file, while the driver drove quietly from Surajgarh to Udaipur. Pratap was fiddling with the file in hand and was unusually quiet ever since she shot a "good morning" at him. Neither had he replied back, nor had he waved to Heer who said a rather polite "All the best Kunwarsa". He seemed in a different zone since the previous day. This made her frown. He was still staring out of the window. Tapping his file in a rhythm... he had not even shown her what he was carrying inside.

She sighed thrice to give signs of boredom in vain. He looked handsome in the blue suit and white shirt with the tie all in place, she had noticed. She however was not sure of the grey knee-length corporate skirt and white shirt Heer had suggested but she was in no mood for early morning drama with her sister. She had however let her hair loose, not listening to her sister’s suggestions. While Pratap’s car waited at the gates she had made sure her sister knew when to feed the puppy and how to play with him.

“I named him Brownie,” Ajabdeh spoke after thirty minutes of dead silence and file tapping.
“Hmm. Who?” Pratap seemed lost staring at her.
“The puppy. Brownie.” She reminded and frowned. “Are you all right?”
“Just nervous.” He shrugged. “This is practically my first meeting, solo and important!” he smiled faintly. “I am glad you liked Brownie.”
“Breath!” She showed him how to inhale and exhale making him smile. 
“I know what will lighten your mood!”
“What?” He asked eagerly.
“Bhaiya, do turn on some music!” The driver switched on the radio. “There, music!” she smiled.

“Good Morning Rajasthan! RJ Naveet here and today’s topic is “What’s Your Story?” This made Pratap stare at Ajabdeh and back at the radio eagerly. “We all have stories to share in life, inspirations, motivations, love, tragedy, comedy, we want entries from budding writers within a week, and the best will be featured on the show and may also get published, who knows!”
“You can try this.” Pratap smiled.
“Nah, I don’t have a story worth telling.” Ajabdeh shrugged smiling “Yet” she added.
“Ab suniye agla gana requested from the film Badri Ki Dulhaniya, enjoy all you Lovers!”

The music filled in as the car zoomed through the highways.
Tu jo nazron ke samne kal hoga nahi, Tujhko dekhe bin main maar na jau kahi…
Tujhko bhul jau kaise, Mane na manaye kaise, Tu bataa….
Roke na ruke Naina…. Teri ore hai inhe rehna…
“Depressing! Bhaiya change it!” Pratap smiled at Ajabdeh’s irked expression and shook his head as "Kaala chasma" came on air!.

Heer opened the Ramayana quite eagerly and smiled at the replaced piece of paper.
“Love is not pain. Love is what makes its presence felt via the pain. Love is dreams we dream even if we are scared of them. Love brings pain as we expect more from that one person and relationship. If not for pain could love be felt so deeply? Think about it, stranger!
Ps. Can I know your name?”
Heer smiled at the words and scribbled down her thoughts.
“Miss Stranger here, I shine like a diamond, and my favourite fictional character is Ranjhnaa. Guess my name!
Ps. You can tell me yours first, Ajnabee!”

The “Mughal Industries” head office at Udaipur, was a large area with three wings of buildings and an open lawn with a fountain up front. The guards at gate no.5 saluted as the Land Rover with Surajgarh’s royal emblem zoomed through the gate and onto the main entrance.
“This way sir.” Jalal’s designated officer lead them to the board room at 9.45 am. sharp and asked rather politely “You want tea or coffee Ma’am?”
“No Just Jalal!” Ajabdeh’s serious expression confused the man as Pratap shook his head with 
“No nothing! Thank You, Mr Ahmed.”
“Sir will be here any minute.” The man left in a hurry as Pratap and Ajabdeh took seats across each other in the empty boardroom.

“I noticed those employees were staring weirdly at you!” Ajabdeh frowned.
“Well, at us! They haven’t seen Pratap Singh in here for a meeting before that too with a girl.” He smiled sheepishly looking cute in a way.
“Aww! One of his many?” Ajabdeh smirked narrowing her eyes. Eyes met and thumped in denials.
“ One and only friend of the opposite gender!” He smiled back inhaling to stop the thumping “But let's keep it that way for them!”
“Yah!” Ajabdeh tapped at the table looking at her watch. “Jalal seems punctual. 10 means 10!”
“He is. Especially at work!” Pratap agreed still fiddling with his file.

“What’s in that?” Ajabdeh asked at last.
“Pictures of the area, the plans, features I want, I made a presentation yesterday on it.”
“Hmm.” She frowned some more. “It’s an important day, where is your tilak?!”
“ Umm… Actually, I couldn’t tell Ranima about the meeting hence …” He stopped watching her fiddle with her handbag and take out a red lipstick as he frowned. 
“What are you doing?” He asked suspiciously.

In the next moment, Ajabdeh Punwar walked up to him and he could feel her breath on his forehead as she dabbed a little red lipstick on her index finger pressed it against his forehead and did a tilak with her thumb.
“There! Ayushmaan Bhava!” She smirked.
“Umm… should I touch your feet now?” He asked confused.
“You can!” She shrugged smiling at him, as she leaned against his chair still standing and he chuckled “Get lost!” 
Jalal entered to see Ajabdeh Punwar almost leaning over his childhood friend, with what looked like lipstick in hand.

“Ahem!” He made them stare at the door as Ajabdeh straightened herself and flashed a smile. 
“ Welcome welcome make yourself at home! Did I interrupt something?” Jalal asked smirking amused as Pratap opened his mouth with a frown.
“No, not what you think!” Ajabdeh spoke before him and moved to sit on her chair, taking the file he had placed with her.
“I will need that!” Pratap frowned.
“No you don’t.” she smiled from across the table. 
“You thought from here!” She pointed at his left chest, where his heart was actually thumping more nervously all of a sudden. “You will give the presentation from here, not some piece of paper!”
“She is right.” Jalal took the file from Ajabdeh and sat down at the head of the table. 
“My interior and architectural team will be here any minute now, then we can start.”

“Wait a minute.” Jalal frowned at Pratap’s forehead. “Is that lipstick?” Pratap in a reflex wiped off the tilak while Ajabdeh fretted hurt and said “You wiped off the sign of my love!” with a giggle as Jalal laughed, staring at his friend's smile at her. The knock at the door stopped her giggling.
“Come in.” Jalal sat up straight in his chair, straightening his beige suit. The tinted glass door opened and a lady in a turquoise blue long Kurti and a dupatta over her head stood and greeted Jalal with a traditional salaam and a smile. Two men followed her in.
“She is Ruqaiya, the head of the interior…” Jalal started the introduction as Ajabdeh looked up and jumped up shocking everyone.

“Oh, My God! Ruqs!”
“Ajabdeh? Punwar?” Ruqaiya asked eyes widening at the sudden hug she received. “What are you doing here? Umm… this was a Sisodia meeting right?" she stared at Jalal who murmured “She is also now…” and received a kick beneath the table from his fake smiling best friend.
“Ruqs! Such a long time! After College…. You are the interior head Oh my god!” Ajabdeh gushed like she was about to cry.
“Umm yes, she is the best.” Jalal flashed a smile as his hazel eyes met Ruqaiya’s dark black ones and she looked away smiling. Ajabdeh noticed that and stared at Pratap who seemed rather preoccupied staring at the File which was now with Jalal.

“Here, Mr Singh.” Ruqaiya’s address made him smile as she introduced her team “This is Mr Hakim Khan and Mr Jaimal Rathore. My team.”
“We will begin once the architectural team arrives,” Jalal informed. “Please take your seats.”
Ajabdeh dragged Ruqaiya beside her asking in rather an eagerness “So, how do you know Jalal?”
“Umm… I worked with him a couple of times…” Ruqaiya stared at Jalal who continued “She was an intern when her boss did this office.”
“then Jalal offered me my first independent work, at their ancestral home in Agra.” She smiled at him.
“You did well.” Jalal smiled back.
“Khan Bab... I mean Mr Khan… umm… said I can redo their other properties as well.” Ruqaiya smiled at Ajabdeh who suddenly rose much to everyone’s surprise.

“Pri… Kunwar Pratap.” Ajabdeh’s tone of respect made Jalal and Pratap stare at her in surprise.
“Team meeting, outside the door.” She was about to walk out as Pratap frowned a clueless “Excuse me” and followed.
“What now?”
“Did you see them?” She smirked.
“Whom?” Pratap frowned cluelessly.
“Ruqaiya and Jalal, I think they are…” She clapped her hands softly making him look around.
“One of his many probably.” Pratap shrugged casually.
“How many call Mr Khan Khan Baba Princy? Use your brains and ask him!”
“Okay okay, I will.” He waved his hands defensively “Happy?”
“Umm yes, am telling you I got a couple of vibes there!” She pointed smirking.
“Now what the hell is that?” He asked surprised.
“You know vibes… from people… who are or will be potential couples.”
“WOW! You are crazy! Who else gives you such vibes huh?” he seemed rather amused.
“Umm... siblings!” She laughed. Pratap shook his head and gestured her back towards the board room.

In a few minutes, the architectural team arrived headed by Mr Shallavan Tanwar.
“Sorry for being late.” The tall man about their age shook hands briskly with Jalal and Pratap. “Traffic here!”
“Miss Punwar.” Ajabdeh extended her hand with a smile, as the handsome man smiled back approvingly “Miss Punwar, Punwar Industries?”
“Mr Tanwar, you recently worked with the ITS group right? I loved that project.”
“You seem interested in such news.” He appreciated it with a smile “You my lady have a pretty smile.”
“Thank you.” Pratap frowned as she tilted her head with a smile.
“Umm since we are already late, let us begin.” He addressed Jalal who agreed.

Pratap rose from his seat as Jalal indicated to his just-arrived assistant to insert the drive into the projecting device. Pratap gave a confident display of determination about his dream project. Jalal was clearly impressed by how he was clear about what he wanted and what he didn’t. Ajabdeh had nodded confident approvals thrice as he looked at her with a smile on points they had discussed together. He was doing perfectly all right, a part of her felt proud of him.
“And I will end by saying, you will not regret being a part of this great opportunity as I have decided that 70% of the profit goes to the Sisodia Trust for the Poor and our NGOs to help the needy and the remaining 30% will be used to help in the upliftment of Surajgarh, providing the residents of the village with basic necessities, clean environment, water, electricity, hospital and schooling as well as roads and street lights.”

“Excuse me, Mr Singh” Mr Tanwar frowned at him. “You are saying, this whole project will add no profit to the Sisodia Group?”
“Well, Mr Tanwar.” Pratap smiled “Every other business of ours does that, this one is for the people of Surajgarh who were once our subjects and still give us immense respect.”
“Am sorry to say this Mr Singh, but it seems what I heard of you was correct,” Shallavan smirked slightly.
“Pardon?” Pratap frowned.
“You seem rather ignorant about how a business should work, at this rate you will drag down the Sisodias to a loss.”
“Mr Shallavan.” Jalal interrupted before Pratap could speak “I feel your job is to do the architectural heritage restoration and if you can not do that….”
“I think Jalal…” Ajabdeh spoke up as the men stared at her “What he feels is his opinion. Am sure Mr Shallavan meant things in our best interest; hope you do an excellent job at the restorations.” Ajabdeh got up and extended her hand as Mr Tanwar too did. 
“Thank you Miss Punwar. I didn’t want to offend anyone.”
“We know that, isn’t it Pratap?” Ajabdeh smiled at Pratap who looked away.
“We must take your leave now.” Both teams rose as Ajabdeh insisted Ruqaiya stay back for a coffee with her.

“I swear I don’t want him on my team!” Pratap blurted as soon as Mr Tanwar closed the door behind him.
“But he is the best!” Jalal reasoned.
“He's snobbish. Flirty. Arrogant.” Pratap was irked.
“So are you.” Ajabdeh frowned at him.
“I am not…” he stopped at her stare. “Now yeah praise him!”
“Listen, Pratap, I don’t know much about business but I am sure even Jalal will agree with me, that it's safe to be diplomatic at times.”
“She is right.” Jalal agreed. “His opinion. Ignore bro.”

“ I praised him, coz we need him to get the best job done, I didn’t even mean he’s right!” Ajabdeh stared at Pratap who nodded reluctantly. “Whatever you do with your profit shouldn’t be his business.”
“Yeah. And a little flirting always helps get what you want.” Jalal smiled at Ajabdeh’s nod and immediately added “Not that I… ever… do that!” making Ajabdeh steal a glance at Ruqaiya who smiled.
“Calm this guy down with some cold coffee or drinks Jalal.” Ajabdeh got up.
“Where are you going?” Pratap frowned.
“We.” She corrected “Are going to catch up with each other over coffee.” She strolled out with Ruqaiya bidding him a formal goodbye as he sat with Jalal at his office.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...

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...

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...

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...