RAABTA

Tere mere beech mein hai Ek parde ki doori. The train whistled as it chucked through the forestland and greenery of Bengal towards Calcutta. The chimney let out grey clouds of steam, and the wooden planks of the coaches shone in the sun. Bondita sat by the window, looking out at the scenes passing by, rather mesmerised. Her nose was still red from crying. Aniruddha looked concerned from beside her, as she sniffed a little.  Aniruddha was taken aback by the kind of farewell Bondita was having for a five-day trip away from home. She wiped her tears and hugged Ashapurna, reminded Batuk to give his examination well and even got a pen from Som. To top that she touched Binoy's and Trilochan's feet and started crying. Trilochan too looked teary-eyed as he blessed her to score well. Aniruddha finally had to intervene in this long emotional farewell as she met every house help and instructed them on things before leaving the keys of the house with Trilochan, and remind her they had a tr

Jo khwab tera, woh khwab mera bana. A surprised Asha entered with a smile finding Bondita in the kitchen, "What are you doing here?" She asked. "Do you need anything?" "Just making coffee." Bondita smiled.  "I could have…" she offered.  "No, it's just coffee." She shrugged. "Will take a few minutes." "But your examination is next week. Dadabhai won't like it if he sees you here." Asha reminded her. "Asha, you could have thought about it." Bondita said, "It would have been nice if we could give the examination together."  Ashapurna's smile vanished. She got up to leave the kitchen and stopped spotting Aniruddha at the threshold. "What are you doing in the kitchen?" He exclaimed at Bondita "Aren't you supposed to only study? Your permission was for five days." He shook his head. "I am just making coffee." Bondita glanced over her shoulder. "I told h

  Tolte rishta jo aa unhe dikha de Zid kya hoti hai zid karke ye bata de.  The Thakur dalan and courtyard were overcrowded with married women from the village participating in the Thakur boron before the immersion of the idol. Bina, in a white and red Dhakai saree, inspected the Paan, Mishti and Boron Dala carefully before asking the priests.  "The time is right." They nodded as she smiled searching the crowd.  "Boro Bouma? Mejo Bouma? Start the rituals." She picked up the boron dala. Asha walked up to the Thakur Dalan first. She then turned to search for Bondita. After all, she had the right over it first.  Bondita, clad in a red Kantha stitch saree, took the boron dala as Bina explained "Climb up the ladder, do it thrice, wipe Her tears with your anchol, give Her Paan and Mishti and whisper into Her ears to come by next year." Bondita nodded. She walked up the ladder carefully. Aniruddha looked across the dalan as she caught his attention towering o