RAABTA

Larr Liya tere liye sabse Tujhe bachaya maine The Roy Chowdhury house was decked with garlands of  Bel, Jui and Rajanigandha with roses sprouting from bouquets in the hallways, as guests poured in for the rice ceremony of the family’s first daughter. Trilochan Roy Chowdhury came from the courtyard full of attendees to sit on the couch, cane in hand, instructing Bihari and Munshi to look into arrangements while Bina came to sit beside him. “Dada, there you are. Why did you come away? The Holud Choano and bathing have been done, now they will sit for the puja.” Bina smiled as she looked around at the decorations. “I have never seen such grandeur at any house over the birth of a girl child.” Bina smiled as she took a seat across from him. “Not even ours.” “You know Bina when we lost our sister she was just nine, and newly married.” Trilochan’s eyes were moist. Bina nodded. She didn’t even remember her elder cousin's sister much. “Maa was devastated. She could get out of the tragedy o...

  READ ALL CHAPTERS “Rishta Tera Mera” “What are you reading?” The husband frowned as his wife remained hooked to the novel at hand, dismissing his presence. “This book is so inspiring.” She placed it down on the table as she spoke. “A woman wrote it under a pseudonym.” The man picked up the book and read the title “Barrister Babu?” He frowned “What is it about?” “How a man encouraged a woman who dared to dream against society’s norms to follow her dreams and become a barrister alongside him.” The wife smiled. The man shook his head “All the fiction is eating up your head. Those stories are not true.” “She claims it is. The writer claims she has witnessed this closely and knows these people.” She frowned. The man shrugged. “She might have said so to sell her book.” “True or not, some stories are worth telling because it inspires generations to come.” The woman shrugged. The man nodded silently. “So you want to be a barrister?” he asked as she shook her head. “No, after my matricula...

  Main nasamajh gyani hai tu, main dhool hu aasmaan tu Ha yoon mil hi jayenge jaise sanjh aur savera The World War was slowly showing its effects around the country. Curfews were put in place and occasional lights out and sirens tore through the night sky. Although the British Government was absolutely sure that Calcutta was beyond the reach of the enemies yet the vigil around the city made it look otherwise. As yet another siren rang through the night air, Bondita sighed, turning the light bulb, already wrapped in brown paper bags, off and staring at the cot. Aniruddha sat up on the bed, anticipating Patralekha to cry as soon as the sirens went off. Bondita kept her books aside and rushed to pick Patralekha up before she gave out a startled cry and covered her ears with the end of the Kantha . “It is okay, I am here. You are safe.” She whispered as she looked up, tired, at Aniruddha. “Ma...mam?” Lekha’s babbling words made her smile. “Yes, I am here.” She reassured the child. He g...

  Tere kadmo ke nishano par chalegi duniya Main teri akhon mein dekhu sapna mera “What is it, Barrister Babu?” Bondita asked as Aniruddha held her eyes tightly closed “Where are you taking me? I will be late for …” “Hush,” Aniruddha spoke as they descended the stairs of the building carefully, followed by Nikhil carrying Lekha and Sampoorna smiling. “No cheating.” “What is…” Aniruddha opened her eyes at the threshold of the house as Bondita gasped with a smile. “Surprise.” She looked startled.  The Roy Chowdhurys stood at the threshold of their Calcutta home, with smiles. Somnath quickly took Patralekha from Nikhil’s arms as she looked a little intimidated and Bondita nervously tried to draw her anchol over her head at the sight of Binoy and Trilochan.  “It is alright, Bondita.” Binoy stopped her as she looked up, still not able to believe they were there to witness her graduation. “We are here today for the daughter we are proud of, right dada?” “Yes.” Trilochan gently ...

  Nark jaisi ye jagah hai kaun mujhko bachaye Bheed mein ab dhundu chehra tera “ You have to understand and accept the reality, Jetha Moshai.” Aniruddha checked his voice over the phone call. “Tulsipur is not safe.” “Oh, and you are going to tell me that?” Trilochan Roy Chowdhury rebuked. “The one that doesn’t stay home?” “Jetha Moshai now is not the time to think emotionally.” Aniruddha shook his head, trying to be calm. “This is my home, these are my subjects, Barrister Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. Your British Government has done enough damage already.” Trilochan rebuked “They said our Bengal will become another country, after all the hard work, sweat and blood we shed, this is what we get.” “The protests against that at Dhaka and Calcutta were quite effective.” Aniruddha interrupted “But…” “But they will divide our nation anyway. A bunch of power-hungry leaders can’t decide where our homes are.” “Jetha Moshai I understand your sentiment and I am assured that Tulsipur will fall in I...