Embrace

Kaise kahu kya lage tu meri,

Tu saanse meri parchayi meri.

A few months went by, and Aniruddha received a phone call from his friend informing him that he had collected a matriculation form for Bondita. Excited by the same, Aniruddha decided to rush to Calcutta to meet his friend. He also promised to bring Batuk some gifts, much to his joy.

"For how many days do you plan to go to this friend of yours?" Binoy asked at the breakfast table.

"For a few days. Maybe three." Aniruddha smiled. "He insisted I stay with him for a few days."

"Great. Then go for lunch at Bhowmik's one day. He would like that." Aniruddha's hand stopped at the bread as he looked up. First at his father, then Trilochan, and Bondita, who was serving him. 

"Baba, there is something I need to talk about." Trilochan looked up at his words, and Binoy frowned. Bondita's hand stopped at the bowl as she looked up at him.

"I am not going back to London anymore." He said a little awkwardly. Bondita smiled faintly as Trilochan looked happy. Binoy took off his glasses and shook his head.

"Why would you do something silly like that? You have a better future there. A career. A comfortable life."

"I don't want a comfortable life, Baba. I want to work for my country. I want to serve it. Not some Britisher." He shook his head. "That is not home. This is." He looked up hopefully at Trilochan, who smiled.

"Oh, I am so happy with your choice." Trilochan got up from his place and went over to hug him. "He is right, Binoy. This is home. He belongs here." Aniruddha smiled faintly at his words.

"His heart is here. Let him stay." Trilochan patted his back. Aniruddha's eyes travelled to Bondita, who smiled at him reassuringly. 

"But I already told Bhowmik he will settle there." Binoy snapped, making Trilochan frown at his words.

"Will Bhowmik decide where our son stays?" Trilochan laughed. "Tell him Aniruddha changed his plans."

"But he promised his daughter because  Aniruddha settled in London." Trilochan frowned at his words as Aniruddha looked up first at his father and then at Bondita. Bondita seemed surprised by this development. She stared a little at Binoy, then back at Aniruddha when their eyes met. He looked away.

"What!" Trilochan looked angry. "How can you do that without asking me? Do I have no respect left in this house?" Trilochan stormed out of the dining area as Binoy followed, perplexed. 

"Listen to me, Dada. It's not that. She is perfect to be Roy Chowdhury. She is well-groomed and…"

"This won't happen, Binoy." Trilochan's voice disappeared into the corridor.

Bondita stood across the dining table from Aniruddha in silence. He looked up at her and opened his mouth to say something.  

"Congratulations." She smiled." l didn't know."

He shook his head. "Neither did I."

"Pari didi is… She is…" Bondita looked for the right word. Somehow, 'beautiful' was not enough.

Bihari came in a hurry and informed, "Your car is ready, Choto Malik."

"I will be there." He nodded. He walked around the table to Bondita and asked, "Will you be okay?"

"With what?" She looked up, raising her eyebrows.

"The studies. For three days. Don't skip it." She nodded. "Anything happens…" He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to her. "Call this number. I will be staying there." She nodded again. "Have a safe trip." She smiled.

"Stay safe." He smiled back. "Away from trouble." She almost giggled at his warning glare.

"I will try."

"I will not be here to save you."

"You said you are a phone call away." She reminded him. He shook his head and looked up at the stairs. 

" Can you handle them?" He asked.

"Sure. They fight all the time." She shrugged. "Don't worry, I am sure Kakababu will eventually agree." She reassured him. 

"I hope he doesn't." She looked up, baffled, as he murmured to himself and walked away.

"Dugga Dugga." Bondita folded her hands to her forehead, unmindfully.

"Binoy. You can't agree to this because of your business." Trilochan snapped. "Saudamini is not fit for Aniruddha." Binoy looked perplexed. "She is perfect for him, Dada. They had the same kind of upbringing. They played together." 

"He can't marry Saudamini. That's it." Trilochan shook his head. 

"What do you mean?" Binoy asked, confused. "Why can't he?"

"Just know that he can't. I won't let him." Trilochan spoke.

"That's ridiculous. Why?"

"No reason."

"Dada. This is stubbornness. Tell me one solid reason why he can't marry Saudamini."

"I could, but you will discard it."

"I won't. I promise. Tell me."

"Because he is already married." Trilochan looked away.

"WHAT?!" Binoy looked perplexed. "To whom?" 

Bondita wiped the dust off the books she neatly kept back on the shelves of the study room. It's been hours since Binoy and Trilochan have not come out of the closed room. She could hear occasional raised voices and arguments. Then it was all quiet again. Bondita put the last book back on the shelf and sighed. Then she opened her copies to study. Her eyes travelled to his empty seat, and she couldn't help but wonder if he had reached safely. 

"Are you kidding me, Dada?" Binoy shook his head. "You kept Bondita here all these years over that? The poor girl doesn't even remember." 

"Aniruddha does." Trilochan nodded with a smile. 

"I don't think so. Neither do I think he believes in destinies. He won't think of something of that sort as a marriage, nor do I support this. Bondita is at least ten years younger than him. He can't spend his entire life mentoring her." Binoy shook his head.

"Have you ever noticed your son around her? He cares. He supports her. He…"

"Dada, I have no heart to break your dreams, but no. He said he'd do that for any girl. He doesn't remember her. If he did, he would have argued with you to send her back. He would have never…"

"It is useless arguing, Binoy. I have made my choice. You have made yours. But it is Aniruddha who has to make the last call. Let him come back home. We will sit down calmly and discuss it."

"Fine with me. But if he doesn't acknowledge his marriage that way, you won't stop me from making Saudamini the daughter-in-law of this house."

"He will agree that Bondita is his wife," Trilochan spoke as Binoy shook his head with a sarcastic smile and walked away. 

It wasn't until lunchtime that Bondita saw Trilochan and Binoy. She served them lunch and had no idea why both of them were observing her.

"She learned to cook so well." Trilochan smiled. Bondita looked up at his words. She had been cooking for the last two years.

"Yes. But when Bondita gets busy with studies and … college, right? How will she cook?" Bondita looked up at Binoy's words.

"So what, she can't cook?" Trilochan said, "We have plenty of house help." 

Bondita frowned at the men. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing." Both of them shook their heads.

"Am I in trouble again? Did I do something?" Binoy looked up at her. 

"No. No. Not at all."

"Can I go to meet Sampoorna Didi after I finish here?" She asked. Trilochan smiled.

"Of course, you can." She nodded and left, still frowning at their eerie behaviour.

"Look, Dada, I love having Bondita around. Khubi Mishti Meye. But being a partner is different." Binoy spoke softly.

"That's what I am telling you. They are perfect for each other. And fate got them married, who are we to question god?" Binoy shook his head at Trilochan's words.

Bondita was in the study room writing an essay when the phone rang. She ran to get it, but before she reached for it, Trilochan picked it up. 

"Hello? Hello? Can't you hear me? Hello?" Trilochan put the phone down and shrugged. "Why do people call if they don't want to talk?" He walked away. 

Aniruddha stared at the receiver for some time. He had no idea why he did that. He just wanted to ask if everything was fine at home. He hoped Bondita would pick up the call, and he would ask about the fight. He was taken aback by Trilochan's voice and slammed the phone down. 

He cursed himself. Why would he do that? But then could he ask Trilochan to hand the phone over to Bondita? He couldn't. He paced a little and dialled again.

There were barely two rings when Bondita picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Bondita?"

"Barrister Babu." There was joy in her voice.

"Yes. How are things at home?" He asked.

"They seem fine." She looked around to check if anyone was listening to her. "But then both of them are behaving oddly."

"How so?" He frowned. Suddenly, Bondita giggled.

"This is the first time I am speaking on the phone with someone. Your voice seems different." She made him smile.

"You were saying they are behaving oddly?" He reminded her. 

"Oh yes. Kakababu complimented my cooking. Saying I learnt well. But I learnt it two years back." Her voice seemed confused. "Then Jomidar Babu told me that if I go to college, I can't cook. And Kakababu said there are many house helpers here."

Aniruddha frowned a little at her words.

"Did they… er… mention Mini?" She shook her head.

"Hello?" He frowned at the lack of response. 

"Oh. No. No." She spoke. "I also went to Sampoorna Didi."

"Is there any news of Debaditya yet?" 

"No." Bondita sounded low. "I am really scared."

"Okay, listen, I got your form." He spoke, trying to change the topic.

"You did?" Her eyes sparkled.

"The examination is in six months. You have a lot of time for preparation. I will help you make a routine, and we will follow it." He spoke. "Is that okay?" She smiled.

"Okay. But what about…" She heard footsteps and slammed the phone down. 

"Hello? Bondita? Hello?" He frowned. 

Bondita jumped onto the couch and started reading the newspaper in front of her. Binoy walked in looking for something. 

"Have you seen my smoking pipe?" He asked her. 

"I will look for it." She started looking around. The phone rang. Bondita's face flushed. She eyed Binoy and ran towards the receiver. 

"Wait. I will get it, you search for the pipe." Binoy stopped her. Reluctantly, she moved away.

Binoy picked it up, but before he could speak, Aniruddha spoke.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

Binoy shot a glance at Bondita, looking for his pipe half-heartedly. 

"Aniruddha?" He asked as Bondita looked up almost in a reflex and found Binoy staring at her. She sat down on the floor to look under the couch.

"Baba." Aniruddha sounded awkward. "I…"

"Were you expecting someone else?" Binoy asked. Aniruddha looked alarmed.

"No, I was calling to tell you that I can't make it to Bhowmik uncle's. I got a case, and I will meet with the client." Binoy rolled his eyes.

"We will speak once you are home." He nodded. "Goodnight."

Bondita was sitting in her room, looking out of the window, when she heard a sudden commotion around the main entrance. She frowned at the gathered crowd. There was panic and wails. She looked alarmed. She knew some of the voices. 

"Sampoorna Didi." She ran down the stairs to the gates and reached them before the rest of the Roy Choudhury family. She saw Sampoorna in tears and immediately hugged her. 

"Where did your son send Debaditya?" One of the panchayat heads spoke. "He surely wasn't in Calcutta."

"Why? What happened?" Binoy looked calm. 

"We found his body in the woods. People are saying he was one of the revolutionaries. Is that true?" Another of the Panchayat heads spoke.

"What are you saying?" Trilochan snapped. "How will we know?"

"We respect you a lot, Zamindar Babu, but we need to speak to Aniruddha Babu. We need closure." Munshi folded his hands in tears. "Either my son was murdered or the police killed him. If the police killed him, we can't even complain to the police. Our entire family will land in jail for anti-national activities. I have a daughter. My wife. Sampoorna. We need answers."

Trilochan looked shocked. Bondita held Sampoorna close.

"You knew him well. Tell me, please. Did he tell you anything?" Sampoorna sobbed, holding on to Bondita. "Please."

Bondita's throat went dry. She let her tears flow. She looked up at the Munshi family, at the villagers and at the Roy Chowdhurys. They deserved the truth. 

"What? You helped him?" Binoy looked furious "Are you out of your mind?" He spoke under his breath. "Do you have any idea what would have happened if the British had found out?"

"What you did was reckless and dangerous even for yourself." Trilochan agreed. "Let alone us."

"Please let me go to Sampoorna Didi," Bondita begged, sobbing. "I will bear the brunt of everything silently later. Please."

"You are not stepping out of the house." Trilochan snapped. "Let Aniruddha come."

"Yes, Dada let him come and see all this and decide for himself." Binoy shook his head. "This girl will someday risk her own life and ours."

"Binoy, you are being harsh. I am sure she was unaware of the danger."

"That's no excuse, is it?"

Bondita looked up at the men and wiped her tears.

She then ran to her room to look for the piece of paper Aniruddha had given her. The phone number. She needed it. She needed him here. Otherwise, they couldn't reach Sampoorna.

"We have arranged for the crematorial ceremony at dawn." She overheard someone say. "Sampoorna will perform sati." Bondita couldn't breathe. In her frustration and agitation, she threw the pillows on the floor and cried.

Aniruddha had called five times, and never once did Bondita pick it up. Frustrated, he dialled the Mukhopadhyay house.

"Hello." He thanked his stars that Ashapurna picked it up.

"Hello. This is Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury speaking." 

"Aniruddha Babu," Ashapurna spoke. "Where are you? Something terrible has happened."

Aniruddha entered the Roy Chowdhury house in the wee hours of the morning. It was awfully quiet, and he immediately dropped his bags and ran to Bondita's room. The door was ajar, and she wasn't inside. Aniruddha looked perplexed. He then went down the spiral staircase to the study room. It was dark. He turned on the lights. 

"Bondita?" He looked under the study table. There she was, her eyes red from the sobbing, her hair undone, cheeks wet. 

"Bondita!" She looked up at him, eyes wide. A smile came in relief, but it was drowned again in tears. 

She got up from under the table to face him. Worry swept across Aniruddha's face. 

"I came as soon as I could. Are you alright?" He managed to place his hand on her head.

Bondita broke down in tears.

"Ja….Jamai ba…" Aniruddha was overwhelmed with emotions as she stammered. "I couldn't be ...Brave Bondita anymore." He wanted to comfort Bondita. Let her know none of it was her fault.

He hugged her, placing his hand over her head and another on her back, patting her head gently. 

"I know. I know." He fought back his tears in vain. Bondita rested her head on his chest instinctively as she hugged him back tightly, putting her arms around his waist, and closing her eyes to control her sobs.

Aniruddha placed his head on hers. He breathed in. 

All the emptiness he was feeling while driving all the way home vanished. It was replaced with a feeling of soothing balm on his bruises. Only these bruises couldn't be seen. All the way, he had memories of Debaditya and their childhood haunting his existence. He remembered their last conversation. He remembered all the times when he was young. He felt worse knowing Bondita was facing the questions alone.  

Bondita inhaled. She was not alone anymore. Now she had the strength she needed at this hour. She had someone who trusted her. And her decisions. Bondita opened her eyes and moved back consciously, making him come out of the embrace. Aniruddha too suddenly felt conscious of his actions. What would she make of it?

"We need to save Sampoorna didi. She is going to perform Sati." She wiped her tears away. "Hurry." He looked shocked. A sudden rage gripped him. 

"Let's go." He gave her his hand. Bondita looked up at him with questioning eyes. Women weren't allowed on the crematorium grounds. She looked at his hand again. And gave hers in his with a nod.