Tere mere beech mein hai
Ek parde ki doori.
The train whistled as it chugged 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 reminded her they had a train to catch. Their suitcases lay under the seats, his bigger leather one and her smaller tin one. Beside Aniruddha sat a basket full of food that Koeli packed for the trip.
"Look." Bondita suddenly tucked at his arm, making him look surprised. The wind from the open window had made the saree fall from over her head, and she didn't care to pull it back up as her sindoor seemed to attract his attention. Aniruddha looked at the smile that was missing from her face. They were crossing a river.
"It's so beautiful." He followed her gaze to the scenery outside and nodded.
"Bondita. Do you remember Pari didi's phone number?" He asked. Her smile disappeared into a frown.
"Yes. Why?"
"Well, Calcutta is a big city, so knowing someone helps in any case of any trouble." He reminded her.
"Is it very crowded?" She asked.
He nodded.
"Too big?" Her eyes were wider.
"Very."
"But you will be with me all the time, why will I be in trouble?" She shrugged and looked out of the window again. Aniruddha looked up at her casually spoken words with a smile.
"Are there cars?"She asked again, still looking out.
"Lots of them. Hand-pulled rickshaws. Carriages. And trams too."
"I heard of trams." Bondita looked surprised.
"There are big roads and traffic police too," Aniruddha added. "One has to be really careful when crossing roads."
"What if I get lost in the crowd?" She made him smile.
"You only said I would be there." He reassured her.
"Yes, but what about crowds? People get lost in the mela all the time." She looked scared.
"Then hold my hand tightly in the crowd." He said, holding her hand in his. "I won't let it go. That way you will not get lost." He smiled. Bondita suddenly noticed her hand in his and, nodding with a smile, she shrugged it away. Aniruddha grew conscious and concentrated on the scenery outside. The chugging of the train picked up the pace.
The Great Eastern Hotel was bigger than anything Bondita imagined. She looked around the massive hallway and the stairs, which looked like a dream. And till now she had thought that the boat ride across the Hooghly to reach Calcutta from the station was beautiful. Her mouth remained open as they were led into the room. It consisted of two single beds, with a side table with a lamp in the middle, a dressing table, a wardrobe, a washroom with a bathtub, a dining table for two and a writing desk and shelf.
"Unpack the things. I will order some food." Aniruddha spoke. "You will rest today and resume studying in the morning." He spoke, removing his shoes. The lack of response made him look up at her. Bondita had undone her braid and stood by the large window overlooking the busy street down below. There were hand-pulled rickshaws, carriages, cars, public transport, and a lot of commotion. So many people doing so many different things together, but the scene seemed oddly in order rather than chaotic.
"Liking the city?" Aniruddha smiled as he walked up to the window beside her.
"Just a little mesmerised and intimidated." She smiled sheepishly. "It's not like I imagined, but in a good way."
"Come. The room service will arrive soon, so freshen up. Today we will have an English dinner." He smiled while taking out his clothes.
"Why?" She frowned, displeased.
"Because you are here. And we will eat what's famous." He smiled.
"Fork. Like we say, folk. With an 'R'." He said from across the table as Bondita frowned.
"I am saying that only. Fork!"
"No, Bondita. Too much emphasis on the R." He shook his head.
"Can I just eat?" She narrowed her eyes. "I am hungry and I don't know how to eat this thing."
"Okay, first let's tell you what we have. We have pie, soup with bread, and custard. Okay?" She nodded. "Now tell me how you learnt to use cutlery sets in grooming class."
This made Bondita happy. A chance to display what she knew. Aniruddha watched her attitude change as she imitated the British. He smiled.
"Have you seen them dine?" He asked.
"When Baba had some people over for dinner." She giggled, "We weren't allowed inside, but I saw them anyway." She giggled. "Once when I was small, I asked Kakababu if I could dress up like them. You know, the dresses they have are like princesses. So pretty." Aniruddha noticed her dreamy rant with a smile.
"What did he say?" He asked.
"He scolded me. Bondita, respect your culture. Imitation leads you to lose your identity." She copied Trilochan, making Aniruddha laugh. "I understood none of it then."
"Do you, now?" He asked. She nodded.
"We shouldn't forget our roots, culture and where we belong, in the taste of something we think to be better, something foreign. We can adapt to the good things. And coexist."
Aniruddha nodded, impressed.
"You understood more than I predicted you would."
"Is that why you didn't want to go back?" She asked, making him stare at her face.
"There are a lot of reasons I didn't go back." He made her stop at her morsel and look up at his face. Their eyes met briefly as she looked away. "But that's for some other time." He smiled. "Finish your food. You must be sleepy. And you need rest to start afresh tomorrow."
She nodded.
After dinner, Bondita arranged her books on the table. Aniruddha sat down on one of the beds and arched. She stood by the table and sighed.
"Can I ask you something?" She spoke. Aniruddha nodded.
"Why do people think a man can balance work and home and a woman can't?" He frowned at her question.
"Someone said something to you? Is that why you have been disturbed and unmindful lately?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No. I… just had this thought… leave it." She turned to find him inches away, looking at her with concern.
"Sit down here." He pulled the chair and made her sit.
"Bondita, most of us see the world the way society wants us to. Where man provides and woman nurtures. It will probably take ages for everyone to see these roles as gender neutral. That doesn't mean a woman can't do two of those together." He smiled reassuringly at her.
"Look at you. Does the Roy Chowdhury mansion function without you there?"
"Asha is there now." She shrugged.
"Yes. But who does Jetha Moshai rely on with keys? Who does Baba ask when he can't find his things? Who does Batuk ask for help from? Who makes my coffee the way I like?" She looked up at his words.
"Everyone relies on you even when you study. You do everything in balance. You don't compromise on your studies, yet keep the house running. Right? Who can dare say you can't do both?" He raised his eyebrows as she looked up at him. Her face looked a little pale. Somnath's words played on her mind. She gulped.
"Besides, I am really tired, trying to get the perfect coffee from Koeli or Ashapurna." He said almost like he was amused. "So get your examinations over with, and I want my coffee back." She smiled faintly at his words.
"Oh, and before I forget…" Aniruddha walked up to his luggage and took out a box. "I got you this." He sat down on his knees in front of her and took out a pair of new school shoes and socks from the box. "You can't go into a school for your examination in those chappals. You need proper shoes." Bondita looked conscious when he held her foot and put the socks on. "I will teach you to wear this, okay?" She smiled at his words as he placed the shoes on her feet.
"Now walk in them." He instructed.
Bondita stood up with a smile. Her feet looked different. Like those of city girls going to school. She walked around the room as the smile refused to leave her face.
"Thank you, Barrister Babu." She made him smile.
"You should sleep now. It's late." He spoke, checking his watch. Tomorrow I will go and buy you some exam supplies of stationery and a water bottle. Did you bring your watch?" She nodded.
"I will get some curd tomorrow before you leave for the examination. For good luck." His words made her look surprised.
"I thought you didn't believe in…"
"I don't, but I know you do." He made her smile.
" Goodnight then." He went across to his bed, and Bondita's smile suddenly disappeared. She sat down on the edge of her bed, her back to him, as she removed the shoes. She suddenly remembered the closed doors and Somnath's taunt again. The closed door was an indication enough, wasn't it? She glanced across her shoulder at his sleeping figure. She needed to move on and concentrate on her studies. She needed to forget her feelings if she didn't want the purity of their purpose and bond to be affected. He was the best mentor she could find, giving wings to her dreams. What else did she need?
Aniruddha stayed still on his side till he heard her lie down. He then turned to look at her sleeping figure and smiled. A few more days and he would make everything all right again. She would understand his reasons. And he would have his Bondita back, this time just a bit differently and a lot more intimately. He blushed at the idea. He wanted to plan something special for her. He could figure out that something was bothering her. But he couldn't understand what. It wasn't only the stress of her examination, for sure. He sighed, eyeing her. He would plan something to get his old cheerful Bondita back.
