Trouble In Paradise

Kyun na jaane teri chinta ho rahi hai mujhe

Har ghadi ab kyun hai dhyan tera.

"Eyes on the road." Aniruddha scolded almost in a reflex, putting his right hand vigilantly over the steering wheel. Bondita's painted hands were on the wheel but her eyes kept wandering to the cattle on either side of the road.

"You can't be distracted while driving. You will kill someone." He said in a rather monotonous voice. His hand didn't leave the steering wheel nor did his eyes leave the road. But he made sure instinctively that his hands stayed furthest away from her touch. Bondita breathed in as the morning breeze hit her face. She had removed the saree from over her head when they had stopped by the road to exchange places. 

"If you push the car into a tree again, it's your last lesson." He had warned while she giggled. 

Bondita couldn't tell Aniruddha why she was distracted the last time. It was almost dusk and while he instructed her on the wheel, he had placed his hands unknowingly close to hers. She, in a reflex, had taken both hands off the steering wheel making the car go haywire. All she did was nod. This time it was different. The broad daylight and easier understanding helped. Like Aniruddha didn't need to say aloud his instructions. He just made sounds and gestures and she followed. Aniruddha eyed Bondita's excited face with her eyes on the road. A few bullock carts zoomed by. Although Aniruddha didn't care to look back at them he was sure some of them were gasping or rolling their eyes at them. And he was happy with how aloof and unnerved Bondita was by those judgemental stares.

The landmark of Tulsipur, the old banyan tree was visible on the horizon a little before midday. Bondita suddenly stopped the car, alarmed, making him look up at her.

"What's wrong?" He asked, "You are driving well."

"I… we should switch places. I am tired." She looked away.

"What?" Aniruddha frowned a little "We are just a few kilometres away from home. You drove half the way here."

"I know. I am tired. Switch places please." Before he could react Bondita had got down from her side of the car and went over to his. Reluctantly Aniruddha got down and noticed her pull the saree over her head. He shook his.

"Are you sure you are tired and it's not something else, Bondita?" He asked as she glanced over at him. 

"I… yes… I…"

"You know you don't have to care about what people think as long as I am here. Right?"

She nodded. 

"I know Barrister Babu but… I will care if someone tells something to Kakababu because of me. Or even Baba." He suddenly felt a loss of words. Obviously, he didn't care, but his family did. And Bondita being a Roy Chowdhury daughter-in-law was the "maan samman lojja shorom" of the family. Aniruddha started the car.

When the car stopped at the portico of the mansion it was Batuk who ran out.

"Bondita. Bondita." He ran down the stairs to reach them as Aniruddha smiled. Bondita got down from the car and glared at him. Her glare made Batuk stop.

"Sorry. Boudi." He bit his tongue rather annoyed. "Thank god you are here. Help me with my project before I leave for school." She nodded at his words. "Dada would make me fail." Aniruddha's smile faded at his words. 

"What? I…? You ran away, Batuk."

"You scared me." He retorted. "You know how scary he can be right?" Aniruddha found Bondita giving a sympathetic nod.

"This is brilliant." He shrugged. "Don't come asking me for help. Both of you." He left, making them giggle.

"Come to the study room. Let's fix your project first." Bondita smiled as they walked into the mansion. 

She walked into the mansion to be greeted by Koeli. 

"Choto Malkin, I am so glad that you are home. Please help me. I am clueless. What should we prepare for the Mukhopadhyays? Mukhopadhyay Babu, his brother and brother-in-law are coming for lunch."

"I…"

"Bondita … " she stopped as Trilochan approached her. With a smile, she touched his feet. 

"Thank heavens you are here. Please see to it that all the preparations are taken care of. Help me choose jewellery from the family heirloom to bless Asha. Also, you need to shop for her clothes and jewellery."

"Don't worry. I will see to everything." She spoke, taking a key out of her bunch. "Koeli Didi, you take out the rice and cut the vegetables. I am coming." She reassured her. 

"My project?" Batuk sounded alarmed.

"Go to the study room and start. I will be right there." She reassured walking away to the locker room with Trilochan.

"Bondita. Thank heavens you are home." Binoy looked pleased. "I can't find my grey suit."

"You gave it to the dry cleaners in Kolkata three months back Baba." She reminded him, as she unlocked the locker.

"Oho Binoy. You are looking for clothes, we are doing something more important here." Trilochan snapped. "you want to see what we should give Ashapurna for the wedding?" Binoy shook his head as Bondita took out the boxes.

"Kakababu how about this?" She picked up a beautiful neckpiece.

"No not that. I gave you bangles. Something lesser than that." Bondita frowned at his words.

"Why lesser?"

"You are the eldest."

"Asha is older than me." Bondita frowned.

"Not like that Bondita." Trilochan shook his head. "In relation." He picked up a pair of bangles. "This will do." He smiled satisfied. "lock the rest of it up." She nodded. "Besides, that necklace was given to Subhra Boudi when Aniruddha was born. Someday it will pass on to you." He almost murmured under his breath as Bondita's hands stopped at the boxes alarmed. 

"Boudi!" It was Batuk's call that made her hurry to study. 

"Bondita," Binoy spoke as she served tea to the guests in the sitting area. Trilochan and he had welcomed them. "Do let Somnath and Aniruddha know they are here." Bondita nodded with a smile. 

She ran up the stairs and smirked as she knocked on Somnath's room.

"Yes?" She peeped in with a sly face. 

"What are you doing Somnath Dada?" She asked, entering the room. Somnath sat at his writing desk with a book open in front of him. "I… was… umm." Bondita giggled. 

"Waiting for them? Don't worry. I overheard them say the wedding will happen on the earliest possible date." She smirked again. "You don't need to meet her in the afternoons in the mango orchards anymore." Somnath's eyes widened.

"Bondita… boudi… How did you know?!" She giggled. "I know everything." She tapped on the desk. "Go on. They are calling you downstairs."

"By the way…" Bondita stopped at the threshold at his words. "I happen to have seen Dada spend sleepless nights without someone too." It was Somnath's turn to smirk as Bondita's cheeks grew warm.

"Does that mean you weren't sleeping either?" She was quick with a comeback. "I bet Asha isn't sleeping much either." Som shook his head as Bondita walked away. 

"They are here." Bondita rushed into the bedroom almost like a gust of wind making Aniruddha look up clueless as he was engrossed in work.

"What?" He asked with a frown.

"Ohho." She tapped her forehead with her painted hand and gave him a hopeless stare. "Mukhopadhyay Babu is here and Kakababu is looking for you." She turned to leave.

"What will I do there?" He sounded awkward. "the elders are talking and…" Bondita walked back to give him a cold stare. "Kakababu is giving all of us duties for the wedding. Will Som Dada do all the work for his own wedding? No. You will go ahead and ask for work from Kakababu of course."

"I will?" He frowned. Bondita nodded. "You can't just be Choto Malik by name." She shook her head. "Act like one and go there." Aniruddha sighed. "Okay. Okay." He nodded. "Whatever you say, Choto malkin, you are in charge." He folded his hands making her laugh as she said "That I am."

"Listen Bondita." His smile faded as he sounded serious. "I know you do all of this efficiently and don't need anyone. In fact, everyone here relies on you. But your matriculation is a few months away and you can't ignore your education."

"I promise you, Barrister Babu, I will not." She shook her head. "I will study every day and do all the homework you give me." 

"Bondita!" She heard Trilochan call as she tapped her head. "See. I forgot. I will talk to you later." She ran off as Aniruddha followed downstairs reluctantly.

"A month and a half is too little time but then there will be Durga Puja and Malmash so better do it before that." Trilochan agreed as Bondita served them lunch. "Subhashyashigram."

"Yes, that way Asha can be here for Durga Puja." Bondita gushed as everyone smiled.

"Yes, the two Bouma would celebrate their first pujo together." Mukhopadhyay Babu spoke as Aniruddha smiled faintly at the words directed at him. Bondita eyed Aniruddha.

"I always wanted the daughters-in-law to get along," Trilochan spoke. "Otherwise everyone wants to divide their properties nowadays. Isn't a family stronger together?"

"Absolutely." Asha's mama agreed. "Your Boro Bouma can teach Asha everything. Guide her." Trilochan nodded. Bondita left to bring in the sweets. 

"My eldest one is as beautiful as Maa Lokkhi and as skilled as Maa Saraswati. She has a heart of gold." He gushed. "She is more than what we deserve."

"And sometimes she is a bit fierce like Kaali, Jetha moshai omitted that," Batuk spoke under his breath, making Som and Aniruddha stare at each other amused. 

"So all of you have to work," Trilochan spoke after the Mukhopadhyay's left. "There are only a few weeks left and lots to be done. Binoy, sit with me tonight for the budget. Aniruddha, look at the billings and accounts. Batuk, help with the decorations. Bondita will take care of the Totto, Pronami, sarees and jewellery. Som decides the menu." Everyone nodded. "Also, Aniruddha, sit with us for the guest list," Binoy added. "In case we forget someone."

"Baba, I have a case pending at Calcutta tomorrow. I will be back the next day." He said, "Can we sit after that?" Binoy agreed.

"Be back the day after tomorrow." Trilochan nodded. "Pishima will be here."

"Who is Pishima?" Bondita asked as everyone stared at her. 

"Pishima is my father's widowed sister," Trilochan spoke. "Thakuma to you. She became a widow at the age of nine and has been living in Varanasi since. She was here the last time when Subhra boudi…" he shook his head. "She is the oldest living member of the family so I invited her over to stay a few months. Make sure you set up the room fitted for her traditional way of life." Bondita nodded. "And make sure she feels welcome. She is a bit traditional." 

"Don't you worry Kakababu! I will make sure everything's proper and she can't complain." Bondita nodded. 

"Oh, you don't know her. She will find fault even in God perhaps." Binoy chuckled. Trilochan glared at him.

"Anyway Bondita, I told the saree seller from Calcutta to come by in the evening, see what he has and order what you need, "Trilochan said.

She nodded. 

Bondita walked into the bedroom to see Aniruddha with an open trunk, and a mess of his clothes in heaps on the floor.

"Thank god you are here." He sighed.

"Can you pack for me?" He asked, making her look a bit taken aback.

"Me?" She asked unsurely.

"Yes, you. Who else is here?" He frowned. "You pack for Baba, don't you?" He looked around. "It's just for a day. I have tons to work on." He eyed the mess as she nodded with a smile.

"Don't you worry! I will do it." She sat down on the floor. "You work."

Aniruddha was about to leave with a pile of work when she suddenly asked "You didn't tell me when you will be back." He turned to see her on the floor and smiled faintly. "As soon as I can."

When Aniruddha walked out of his study he saw the saree seller sitting on the living room floor with a display of various colours around him. Bondita walked over to investigate each one. Trilochan smiled.

"Koeli will help you. Choose sarees for Asha and for yourself. You aren't going to attend Som's wedding days in old ones." Trilochan spoke, "O Bhaya don't give bad quality things." The man bit his tongue.

"Never Zamindar babu. Malkin will be very pleased. Don't you worry!" Trilochan left. 

Aniruddha stood away from the sight of Koeli and Bondita, near a pillar, with his hands in his pocket and watched. 

"This costs too much. Don't fool me. I am educated." Bondita bargained, making Aniruddha smile.

"But Malkin this is Murshidabad Silk. And the Kantha stitch on it…" She raised her hands like she knew everything already. "Fair enough. Reduce the price."

"It's the cost price, Malkin. I can't incur a loss."

"You think I am a fool that I will believe you are selling the Roy Chowdhury house at cost price?" She raised her eyebrows.

"I have never seen a Zamidarni bargain so much." The man spoke with folded hands.

"Why? Do the money grow on trees in our house?" She frowned "It's my Sasur's hard-earned money." 

"How many will you take Malkin?" His words made Bondita select a few.

"Choto malkin." Koeli interrupted. "Take a few for yourself too."

"Yes yes, malkin. I have the perfect Baluchari to suit you."

"No. Koeli Didi, what will I do with the new ones? I just got them a few days back."

"But Malik said…At least take one." Koeli insisted.

"Yes, take one." The seller pushed. "Here is a red one, or a blue…"

Aniruddha eyed Bondita looking confused at two short-listed sarees. She stared at one, lingered over the other, and then went back to inspecting the first. Aniruddha walked into the sitting area as though he was looking for something.

"Malik." The man folded his hands as he acknowledged. 

"You carry on. I am just here looking for a pen." Aniruddha spoke almost to himself. Bondita didn't look up. She found his hand on the pen, then tapping over the blue saree thrice making her look up at him. He nodded at her stare and left. 

"I… that one…" Bondita took the blue one on her lap and smiled. 

Bondita was studying late at night when Aniruddha walked in with a bunch of files. "Please put them in the trunk." He said and walked away to the washroom. "I will leave at dawn."

Bondita got up and packed the files in, staring at the closed door of the washroom.

"I have given you some homework." He spoke from inside, making her search the table. "I hope you do it before I come home the day after tomorrow."

"I will." She nodded.

"What are you studying now?" He asked, walking up to his side of the bed.

"Science." She spoke. "Goodnight Barrister Babu."

"Goodnight Bondita."

When Bondita woke up the next morning Aniruddha had already left. She sat on the bed a little disappointed that he didn't wake her up before leaving. Then she suddenly remembered Trilochan's instructions to keep the room ready for Thakuma who was due to arrive the next day. She rushed with her chores. 

It was evening when the phone rang and Trilochan picked it up. 

"Hello? Aniruddha?" Bondita's hands stopped as she served tea to Binoy and the moment Binoy looked up she dashed into the kitchen making him smile.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Trilochan was nodding his head.

"Yes, we are all fine. Pishima is coming in the afternoon. Oh late? How late?" He nodded again. "Will you be back by evening?" Trilochan smiled. "Okay. Take care." He kept the receiver down and sat down on the table.

"Dada. What happened?" Binoy asked, sipping his tea.

" Aniruddha was asking when Pishima will come." He smiled. "Aniruddha has always been her favourite." Bondita walked over to give him his snacks. The telephone rang again. This time Bondita ran to the sitting area and caught it before Batuk could.

"Hello?" She gasped.

"Why are you out of breath?" He frowned.

"Oh, that's nothing." She shook her head at his familiar voice. "I was in the kitchen."

"Bondita? Who is it?" Trilochan asked from the sitting area.

"Oh, it's Dada." Batuk ran in. Bondita stared at him.

"What, again?" Trilochan frowned. Binoy shook his head. "Maybe he got the wrong person the first time." He smiled, making Trilochan shake his head. "Oh, he's so shy to ask for her." He smiled.

"Hello?" Aniruddha spoke again. 

"I... Yes…"

"I can't find my towel." He sounded confused "Where did you pack it?" 

"It's in the second smaller box. Check that." She frowned.

"Oh. I was looking for the bigger one. Thank you."

"Barrister Babu?" She asked.

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you wake me up when you left?" Her tone was almost accusingly sad.

She could hear Aniruddha exhale like he had smiled. "Because you studied till late."

"So?"

"So I'd be back tomorrow. Do your homework." 

"I will. " She kept the receiver down.

After the day went by in selecting jewellery and cleaning the empty rooms up for guests, Bondita was drained. Trilochan reminded her to wake at dawn and clean the last room, Pishima's one. Bondita sat down at her desk, to study. But before she could write a page, she fell asleep on the chair.

Sadhana Debi was in her late seventies. She wore a crisp white linen saree, without a blouse, had a rudraksha mala around her neck, and a Jaap mala wrapped around her fingers. Her hair was shaved, and a small Chandan tika adorned her wrinkled forehead. Although now old and wrinkled her skin glowed and it was quite evident that during her prime days, Thakuma was a pretty lady. After her parents had married her off at the age of seven, she had only two years of marital bliss. The flu took away her husband who was barely in his twenties leaving her at the mercy of her in-laws. Her brother had talked them into leaving her at Varanasi than letting her die in the pyre of her husband. Since she was nine Sadhana Debi had called Varanasi home. Her brother was kind enough to send her money, and write letters. But Sadhana didn't know how to read them. She had to pay the page boy of the Ashram for it. She had been home or rather, at her brothers' home only on a few milestone occasions. Once when he passed away, once when Binoy married Subhra and another time when Aniruddha was born. She doted on the grandson. He was after all the firstborn heir to the Zamindari. 

Bondita walked downstairs to find this lady in the sitting room and Trilochan at her feet. Sadhana was caressing his hair. It was a little odd for Bondita to picture her Kakababu being doted on as a child by a mother figure but she smiled. Koeli followed her downstairs and stopped at the threshold and Bondita walked over to the new guest.

"Bouma?" Sadhana Debi stared at her and back at Trilochan who moved away quickly beside her. 

"Yes, Yes." He nodded. "Aniruddha's…" Bondita bent down to touch her feet but she stopped Bondita's hands.

"What do you think you are doing, girl?" Bondita looked up confused. "Had your parents not taught you anything?" She scoffed. "A married woman shouldn't seek the blessing of a widow. It brings ill luck." Bondita stared at her face and at Kakababu who gestured at her to keep quiet.

"But my ma is…" she stopped as Trilochan interrupted. 

"Pishima Bondita has arranged your room well. She had been doing so since morning. Koeli, take her belongings upstairs." 

"No." Sadhana Debi shook her head in disgust. "First of all, Trilochan, I don't take help from the house help. Whatever I need, I will expect her to be there." She looked up at Bondita. 

"Yes of course." Trilochan nodded.

"My food, my clothes, cleaning my room, everything." Bondita nodded.

"And why are you not calling her Bouma? Does she still have a maiden name?" She looked away and shook her head. "It's a tradition in this house to rename the daughters-in-law. Have all the traditions been forgotten by sending the heir to London?" She snapped.

"Of course not Pishima. Bondita is not her maiden name." Bondita looked up at Trilochan's blatant lie. "I named her that. I will call her Bouma henceforth." 

"Good." She sounded pleased. "Pick up my bundle girl. And take me to my room."

"Yes, thakuma." Bondita bent down to pick up her things.

"Ram Ram Ram!" She made Bondita look confused. "Do you have no shame?" She shook her head in disgust. "pull your saree over your head, your sindoor shouldn't be visible to anyone. It attracts a bad omen." She didn't wait for Bondita to respond and pulled the saree down to her eyes limiting her visibility. 

"I am very disappointed with you, Trilochan. You chose this girl? For my Aniruddha? Didn't you see her Caste and creed? Her background? Whether she is fit for the Zamindar house and the Barrister that my Aniruddha is? I expected someone to fit the role of Boro Bou in this house." She snapped.

"Pishima, give her time and you will…"

"I am experienced in judging people, Trilochan. One keen observation is enough for me to know." She dismissed him. "Lead the way, girl. I am not going to stand here all day, am I?" Bondita turned towards the stairs. 

The low visibility made her walk slow and trip on the last step. She balanced herself as Thakuma spoke.

"Tch tch. A girl who can't even walk with grace." Bondita inhaled. 

Placing her bundle down, Bondita offered her water from the separate set of pots Trilochan had ordered. She didn't eat with metal utensils. Taking the water she glared at Bondita.

"Remove the veil." Bondita looked confused at the instructions. "Remove it. I want to inspect you."

Inspect? Confused, Bondita removed it. Sadhana Debi stood up and circled her. 

"Hmm. The colour is fair. Not as fair as him though." She wrinkled her nose. "The height is short. But you will grow. How old are you?"

"I… fifteen or sixteen. I don't know." She shook her head and looked away, intimidated.

"Hmm…" Thakuma inspected her hair. "Can you sing? Or paint? Or do embroidery?"

"Yes. A bit of everything." She spoke.

"Ah, jack of all trades, king of none." She shook her head. Sadhana then placed her wrinkled finger on her chin making her look up.

"The eyes look fine. The nose is a bit big. Hmm." She spoke. "Walk."

"What?" Bondita looked a bit taken aback. She wanted to protest. But she remembered the promise to Trilochan.

"Walk." She did as she was told circling the room.

"Hmm." Sadhana nodded. "Prepare boiled rice and potatoes for me in a separate Unun (Chulha) and bring in these pots. I will eat by noon." She nodded. "Take out the clothes from the bundle and put them up in the cupboard. I will go to the pond with your house help. Once I am back, clean my clothes and dry them." Bondita nodded. "Every morning and evening, bring me flowers for my Gopal. Clean my room. And replace the oil in the lamp. I don't use electricity." Bondita nodded. 

"Where is your husband?" Thakuma made her look up. "He…"

"Eyes on the floor. Never look up at elders." She snapped.

"He…" Bondita looked away. "Is in Calcutta. He will be back soon. Today itself."

"Fair enough." Thakuma nodded. "And Som and Batuk."

"Batuk is in school." Thakuma gasped at her words. 

"Don't call him by name." She shook her head. "He is your Dyayor. Call him Dada." Bondita looked confused.

"But he is my age."

"So?" Thakuma shook her head. "Never answer back. Seems like I have to teach you everything here. Don't worry I am here till Durga Puja. I will make sure you learn everything by then." She shook her head. "Now leave."

Bondita walked back to the kitchen lost in thoughts.

"Are you okay Choto Malkin?" She nodded at Koeli. But she couldn't get Thakuma's words and actions out of her head. The car honked outside making her face light up as she ran down the corridor to the threshold.

Aniruddha got out of the car and glanced at her at the threshold and smiled. 

"Is Thakuma here?" She nodded. He ran past her into the house making her smile fade as he looked for her.

When Bondita had knocked at Thakuma's door she found him on her bed, with his head on her lap as she caressed it. She placed the food down as Thakuma gestured at her to pull the saree down over her eyes which she did. 

"You eat now. I will go and get fresh."

Aniruddha got up to leave. "I will come by in the evening and tell you stories of London. Bondita?" He made her look up as Thakuma glanced at her, making her look away. "Please take out my clothes, I will go take a bath." She nodded. 

"I already have, Barrister Babu."

"Tch Tch." Thakuma shook her head. "Kids these days have no shame. Speaking to each other in front of elders." She made them look at her confused.

"And stop calling her Bondita." She smiled at Aniruddha.

"But her name is Bondita."

"In our days, people had children early. They used to address each other as ma or baba of the child." She made Bondita look away. "Nowadays…" she shook her head. " Call her like you call elders, use Ogo." Bondita's eyes widened as Aniruddha frowned.

"And you, girl." Thakuma shook her head again "Call him the same. He's your husband. Not Barrister Babu."

Bondita nodded and silently left the room.

"Bondita! Bondita?" She looked alarmed as he shouted at the top of his voice and she could hear him from the downstairs kitchen. 

"I...yes?" She tried hard not to shout back.

"Bondita. I can't find my comb. Why do you always keep your things over mine?" He was still shouting as Trilochan shook his head. "Please go check on him. Before he scares the crows away." He made Bondita run upstairs. 

Sadhana Debi stood at the threshold of her room alarmed. What is happening in this house? She shook her head as she spotted Bondita almost running down the corridor, the saree slipping over her head.

"In our times we never used to even look up at the husband's face. This girl is not fit to be Roy Chowdhury. Pedigree matters." She shook her head. "Trilochan made a mistake. That's why you need women in the house. Only women can judge girls."

Bondita entered the threshold and stopped. He was searching the dressing table, in his pyjamas, with the towel around his neck, wet hair, shirtless, for the comb.

"This place is full of your things. Where is my comb?" He spoke without looking up. The musk perfume he wore hit her nostrils and Bondita gulped to look away.

"Don't just stand there. Look for it." He spoke. She walked over to his side, the perfume smelling stronger, as she tried to look away and find the comb. Her eyes travelled to his toned fair torso in the reflection of the mirror as she forced herself to look away. Thakuma was right. He is fairer.

"Wasn't it in the luggage?" She managed as he looked up at her face like he was a fool. Bondita lowered her eyes and went across to the luggage and took the comb out. She handed it to him, eyes still lowered as he took it carefully avoiding touch. 

"Are you okay?" He made her look wide-eyed as she nodded. "You look flushed. Do you have a fever?" He checked her forehead almost in a reflex as she felt his cold fingers. "No." He shook his head. "you must be overworked."

She nodded and turned to leave the room as he put on the shirt and was about to button it up. He stopped.

"Wait a minute. I know what this is about." She stopped alarmed.

"Bondita?" He made her look back as he patted the chair to tell her to sit. She sat down, a little nervous. He knelt down before her. 

"Is it about what Thakuma said?" He asked. "You know you can call me Barrister Babu right? You are comfortable with it and I don't mind. You don't need to do anything uncomfortable." He made her look up. Her eyes travelled to his bare chest and she looked away again. 

"Besides, nobody calls me that except you, right?" He smiled reassuringly as she nodded.  "She is a guest. Don't take her words to heart."

"I… won't." Bondita got up to leave, pulling her saree over her head. "Come down for lunch." He nodded. Aniruddha walked over to the study table and turned the pages. He immediately looked disappointed at the empty pages of the homework. She hadn't kept her promise.