Ye wo dandal hai ki jisse tu nikalega mujhko
Kali Pujo always brought about a sudden change in the climate. The fog covered the acres of paddy fields surrounding the village of Tulsipur till the sun was way above the head, and shawls, quilts and blankets were brought out of trunks and scorched in the sunlight, ready to be used. The mornings and late nights became quite chilling too. Bondita wrapped a grey shawl around her as she walked out of the house to the gardens to inspect the newly planted flowers.
“Malkin.” The gardener was quick to pull his lungi down and get up from the flower beds, all soiled. “I was just planting a few seeds.”
“Did you plant roses this time?” Bondita asked eagerly. The man nodded. “And marigolds too. Munshi Babu also brought some other saplings. They grow beautiful flowers.” He pointed at another flower bed.
“Dalia.” Bondita smiled, as she knelt down on the grass. “And Chandramallika.” She caressed a yellow bloom with her painted fingertips.
“Do you want some?” The gardener asked. Bondita shook her head. “Make a bouquet for the sitting hall though, Kakababu will love that.” She got up from the dew-wet grass and wrapped her shawl around herself tighter as the sudden wind caught her in a chill. She smiled at the gardener, then made her way towards the gates. She would be back before everyone woke up.
“Malkin?” Bihari Babu was walking in with some other house help, carrying freshly grown vegetables in a bamboo basket. “Where are you going so early? Should I inform Koeli to accompany you?”
“No.” Bondita shook her head. “I am just out for a walk. Have they caught the trains, Bihari babu?”
“Yes, Malkin. Nikhil Babu’s train to Howrah was right on time, but the train to Benaras was late.” He excused himself and rushed inside.
“I hope Pishima and Jethima reach Benaras safely,” Bondita murmured almost to herself.
Bondita placed her hand on the iron gates and pushed them. It was cold, maybe more so, because the watchman had just finished washing it. She walked out on the dirt road, her Kolhapuri sandals making impressions of her feet on the still-wet soil. She walked past the schoolhouse into the village, the women had gathered at the good side and greeted her warmly, she turned left onto the paddy fields, walking through the mud separators towards the other side of the village.
Biraj Debi had just finished watering her Tulsi plant when her eyes fell on the threshold of her humble hut.
“Malkin?” She was almost in shock. “What a pleasure to have you in my humble home.” Her high pitched shocked and excited voice brought her husband out in a hurry.
“Choto Malkin?” Munshi Babu asked, a little surprised. “You should have called me.”
“No, I just…wanted to meet Kakima.” Bondita smiled. “Can we sit and talk?” Biraj and her husband exchanged a quick glance as she invited Bondita inside. A small picture of Debaditya, in his usual simple self and endearing smile, was the first thing Bondita spotted inside the room. His books, the clothes hanging from the hook on the wall, and his recognizable bag remained intact as they used to be. Bondita sighed. For some a year changes a lot of things, for others, life comes to a standstill. Biraj noticed her glance at Debaditya’s picture as she brought in some Narkel Naru and water to offer Bondita.
“I would have brought some sweets if I knew you would come by, I am so embarrassed to offer you this. The Moira hasn’t opened his shop yet.” Biraj smiled sheepishly.
“It is alright Kakima.” Bondita smiled sitting down on the neatly done bed in the room taking a Naru in her hand, “I just came by to talk.” She patted the empty place beside her. Biraj declined. She might be someone who didn’t value or uphold her position but she was the daughter-in-law of their Malik. Biraj pulled a Rattan seater close and sat on it.
“What brings you here Choto Malkin? How can I help?”
“You remember, Kakima, how you used to make woollen sweaters and mittens for the children around the village?” Bondita leaned in. “And even for me when I wanted one so badly.” Biraj smiled. She remembered Bondita’s childlike innocence when she discarded the fine woven woollens bought for her from Calcutta and wanted her woven ones instead. “So can you teach me that? I am here for a few more weeks and I want to learn how to knit for newborns.” Biraj smiled, almost not able to believe her ears.
“Are you…”
“No, No.” Bondita shook her head “It’s for Asha’s baby. I want to give something and I thought, ``What better than learning something new for it?” Biraj nodded.
“We will need wool, knitters, books if you like to learn more and…” Biraj thought for a while “Let me know when I can come by to teach you.” Bondita nodded, smiling.
“Kakima. There is something else.” Bondita got up to leave, as Biraj stood up in a hurry. “I want you to knit a pair of mittens for a newborn too.”
“I would love to knit for the Roy Chowdhury heir, Malkin, it is an honour.” Biraj smiled.
“No.” Bondita shook her head “It is for Sampoorna Didi.” Biraj’s smile faded as Bondita looked up at her. She was a little pale when Bondita put her hand on hers, reassuringly with a faint smile, and said softly “ I know you thought Didi was the reason Jamai Babu never had a child. It was not so. She knew it and she kept quiet so that you wouldn't know the truth. I know your loss is irreplaceable, but so is hers. It may look otherwise but…” Bondita tightened her grip on the woman’s hand. “She is still your family and I am sure as much as she would like to come back here, you would also like to have a grandchild playing in the courtyard. I know Jamai Babu would have loved to see Didi as a mother.” Bondita’s words made Biraj sob as she hugged her.
“What on earth are you doing?” Aniruddha was back from Calcutta going over a case that needed immediate attention and had brought rosogollas home. He placed the Bhar on the study table to find the carpets rolling with colourful woollen threads and Bondita sitting in the middle, leaning against the couch, knitting needles in hand, trying to remember what she learnt.
“I am knitting.” She frowned.
“I can see that. What are you making?” He asked as Bondita’s eyes caught the rosogollas and she smiled a wide smile at him.
“You got them?”
“I dare not forget.” Aniruddha shrugged. Bondita jumped up and snatched the Bhar from the table and ran to the kitchen. Aniruddha shook his head at the mess around him.
“I have to leave tomorrow again at dawn. The problem needs dealing with.” He followed her into the kitchen as she laid down the sweets. “And probably stay two days in Calcutta.” Bondita looked up at his words. “Will you stay alone?” She frowned “What will you eat?”
“I will manage something. I can cook.” he shrugged.
“Yes, charred ruti and dried curry.” Bondita taunted “I will tell Latika didi to send you some food.”
“I will go pack my things.” Aniruddha nodded.
“You will be back in two days right?” Aniruddha stopped at the threshold of the kitchen at her words and glanced over his shoulder.
“I will be back before you know it.”
“Boudimoni.” One of the maids, appointed to take care of Asha’s needs, stood at the threshold of the kitchen as Bondita supervised the cleaning of the area. It was a day since Aniruddha was in Calcutta and Batuk had returned to Bombay. The Daicame to check on Ashapurna every day as Trilochan had insisted and perhaps she was here, as Bondita gathered. “Dai wants to speak to you.” Bondita dried her wet hands in her anchol and walked in a hurry to the courtyard where the elderly woman stood.
“What is it?” Bondita asked, alarmed. “Is everything alright?” Dai cleared her throat.
“Well, she is complaining of pain and I… I checked.” She looked around as Bondita frowned. “Is the baby alright?” Bondita’s heart skipped a beat.
“Well, for now.”
“What do you mean?” She asked, a little agitated.
“I think the baby has turned sideways and her labour is being delayed. Somehow if the child is stuck there is not much I…” Dai stopped as Bondita suddenly turned and left.
“Dada, Kakababu we need to call a doctor as soon as possible. Also, inform Baba.” Somnath and Trilochan exchanged worried glances at her words.
“What happened?”
“Just trust me, we need a doctor,” Bondita said.
“But Dai is here, she is the one who…” Somnath got up.
“She can’t do it, Asha needs a doctor.” Bondita was firm.
“You think we will let a man see Roy Chowdhury's daughter-in-law like that?” Trilochan shook his head. “If this is one of your rebels, this is not the time…”
“Her life is at risk, if not the baby’s Som Dada. She is in a lot of pain.” Bondita stared at Som’s pale face “Will you still insist on Dai?”
Somnath’s jaws clenched. A part of him was sure that this was one of Bondita’s adamant rebels. He wouldn’t give in.
“Dai has a good chance. She does all the…” Somnath stopped with a frown as Bondita walked away.
“You can take the risk of losing her Dada, I cannot.” She spoke as Somnath looked irked.
“What do you mean…” He followed her out to the portico and stopped to see her get into the driver's seat of the car.
“Where is she going?” Trilochan asked cluelessly. “Stop her.”
Trilochan rushed out to the porch to see Bondita drive away.
“She knows that too?” He asked. Somnath shrugged.
“Where did she go? Call Binoy.”
Ashapurna was in excruciating pain. Dai looked pale as she vainly advised the maids who rushed about making medicines to reduce her pain and induce her labour. Something was amiss. Ashapurna felt it. This pain was not labour.
“Is my child alright?” She managed feebly in between her gasps and sobbing. “Please say something.” Dai nodded an unsure nod, her face said otherwise. Ashapurna looked around the dark room. Where is Bondita?
Binoy and Trilochan paced the sitting area while Somnath stood rubbing his hands and wiping his brows at the threshold of the room Ashapurna was taken in. Koeli prayed at the Thakur Dalan and Bihari rushed to inform Munshi and call Aniruddha home. The silent and tense air around the Roy Chowdhury house was broken only by the cries of Ashapurna in pain.
“My child.” It was her mother at the threshold, worried as Trilochan offered her to go see her daughter. Mrs Mukhopadhyay had entered the dimly lit room, where her daughter lay in pain and sweat and her face turned had turned red. She had seen people die in childbirth too many times. She knew this too well. She suddenly felt sick as she grabbed her daughter’s hand amid her cries. She was only seventeen. Not this soon.
The sound of the car in the portico made everyone look up as Bondita rushed in, with the doctor in tow. Trilochan inhaled. Not only was it a man, but it was also an Englishman. What was she thinking? She wanted to “Dharm vrast” the heir of Roy Chowdhury?
“Bondita?” Binoy asked unsurely.
“Please. Not now, we need to save her.” Bondita looked breathless. “And even Som Dada can’t stop me today.” She directed the doctor up the stairs to the room. Somnath looked up as Bondita took the doctor inside, too scared to react.
Ashapurna’s mother walked out, wiping her eyes in the corner of her saree. She pulled her ghomta down on seeing Somnath standing there.
“Is she…” He was too scared to complete the sentence.
“She is in too much pain, I can’t watch.” She sobbed. “Bondita Bouma is in there with her.” Somnath sighed.
“She brought the doctor from town,” Binoy spoke, breaking the silence of the sitting room. He sounded impressed but was ignored by Trilochan grinding his teeth. Ashapurna’s father looked unsure of the idea as well. Somnath sank down on the couch as the other men looked up.
“They have been in there for hours.” It was Asha’s mother who spoke, scared. Koeli had laid down tea on the table but it turned cold as nobody touched it. The honk of the car outside made them look up.
“Aniruddha,” Trilochan spoke almost in a murmur.
Bondita held on to Asha’s hand tightly as her sweaty palms felt feverish. The doctor had pushed an injection and Ashapurna was coming in and out of consciousness due to the pain.
“We need to keep her awake.” Bondita nodded at the doctor’s instruction as she rubbed Asha’s hands.
“Asha, it is okay, can you hear me?”
“Didibhai…” Ashapurna half opened her eyes and gasped “My baby?”
“It's fine, everything is fine, just stay awake. Talk to me.” Bondita’s voice trembled. Bondita was rarely scared beyond her control in life, she was now.
The doctor was taking out his instruments and following his procedures but Bondita could sense that even he was tense.
“She isn’t physically fit to be a mother. No girl is at this age.” Aniruddha shook his head as Binoy placed his hand on his shoulder making him stop.
“Not now, please, Aniruddha.”
“But Baba…”
“Your mother had two of you when she was seventeen. Everyone…” Binoy stopped as Aniruddha walked away to sit in the study room. He followed his son inside.
“Bondita did well. She brought the doctor in.” Binoy reassured, “There are some things beyond our hands…” Aniruddha looked up at him and nodded silently.
Bondita closed her eyes. She just couldn’t watch the pain Asha was in, scared of the outcome. The maids helped the doctor as per his instruction and Bondita moved away looking out at the light coming from the closed window. After three anxious hours, the silent and tense air of the house was broken by the cries of a newly born. Bondita sighed as she stared at the bed to watch the doctor wash the newborn in warm water.
“Is she alright?” Bondita looked alarmed as Asha could barely open her eyes.
“The mother and child are fine. She is just exhausted.” The doctor reassured them. “It’s a boy.”
Bondita opened the door of the Atur Ghar slightly to slip through to face the eager and anticipating faces of Koeli. Somnath and Ashapurna’s mother.
“It’s a boy!” She smiled as Koeli rushed to inform others.
“How is she?” Ashapurna’s mother sounded worried.
“She is fine, she is resting and exhausted,” Bondita reassured wiping away her tears with a smile. “I will escort the doctor out.”
Munshi Babu met them at the stairways and offered to escort the doctor back to the town.
“Your fees will be sent along with gifts from us.” Binoy thanked him with folded hands.
Bondita turned to go back up the stairs but Binoy stopped her.
“Aniruddha is home.” He said as Bondita nodded and proceeded down the stairs to the study.
Trilochan Roy Chowdhury had declared the distribution of sweets and warm clothes to the villagers on the happy occasion of the arrival of the Roy Chowdhury heir. Although for the next twenty-one days of traditional Atur, they couldn’t see the face of the heir, that didn’t stop them from celebrating. The whole of Tulsipur was made merry. The priests were called to make his Kundli and choose the auspicious letter of his name, to begin with. Bondita had a lot of work. Apart from the household chores and the care for a newborn, the constant visit by relatives and friends kept her on her heels. Her results were also pending soon but she didn’t want that worry to dampen the spirit of happiness that surrounded her family.
Aniruddha walked in after a few weeks, from his usual work at Calcutta to see everyone in the sitting area. The Atur was over and the family hovered around the newborn with curious eyes. Ashapurna was on the phone with Batuk, insisting he visits his nephew, while Somnath and Binoy talked of the gifts to be sent out to relatives far and wide with the good news, and Trilochan was in the middle holding the child, admiring his features.
“His nose looks sharp like ours, isn’t it Binoy?” He smiled. “Has to be a feature of the Roy Chowdhury house.”
Aniruddha sat down, on an armchair at a safe distance from the cooing newborn as Bondita walked in with the tea.
“When did you come?” She asked with a frown. “I have to make coffee again.” She shook her head.
“Your result is out,” Aniruddha spoke matter of factly as everyone stared at him. Bondita’s brows shot up as she asked “What? When?”
“Today.” He said with a shrug.
“And?” Binoy asked as Bondita tried to study his face. Aniruddha leaned forward to take a paper out of the stack he was carrying. “I bought the gazette.”
Bondita snatched the piece of printed paper and laid it down on the table leaning over it as Somnath came by to help.
“Here. Expected.” Somnath pointed as Bondita’s face lit up. She glanced over at Aniruddha who smiled a wide smile.
“Second,” Somnath said aloud to the rest of the family.
“This is a double celebration. I will tell Koeli to bring out the sweets.” Ashapurna smiled.
“Congratulations.” Binoy kept his hand on her head as Bondita took his blessing.
“But who is first?” Trilochan asked as if someone had committed a crime.
Somnath read through the paper.
“Some girl too. Women are going places, huh?”
Aniruddha nodded and smiled at Bondita.
“She just needs to work a little harder next time.” He reassured them. “I have looked up a tutor.” She frowned at his words. “We can’t compromise on her education.”
“A tutor?” Trilochan frowned, cuddling the sleeping child. “But you teach her.”
“I always can’t find time to guide her and she shouldn’t do it alone.” Aniruddha insisted.
“Sweets are here.” Ashapurna interrupted “No more talking. Now it is time for Didibhai to sit down here,” She pushed Bondita onto the armchair beside Aniruddha’s and smiled “And take the baby. Everyone else has.”
Trilochan gave the child in Bondita’s lap as she held the boy a little scared. She caressed the soft fluffy newborn cheeks with a smile as the baby moved to smile at the ticklish feeling and hold on to her finger firmly.
“Aww.” Bondita smiled as she kissed the child.
“Well, not everyone held him.” Somnath eyed Aniruddha who suddenly felt alarmed by the entire family looking at him.
“Yes! Dadabhai, you can’t escape this.” Ashapurna smiled.
“No, I prefer watching from a distance. He is too tiny.” He shrugged as Bondita smiled amused at his scared face.
“You see, your Boro Ma loves you more!” She whispered amused at the child who kept staring at her.
“That is not true, he can’t understand you.” Aniruddha protested.
“Well, he will grow up hearing stories that you refused to take him.” Bondita urged. Ashapurna and Somnath exchanged amused glances as Aniruddha gave in.
“Oh wait, the gift.” Bondita rushed up the stairs as soon as the baby was in Aniruddha’s lap.
“These are for him.” She came back to hand over two boxes to Ashapurna who opened them.
One of the boxes contained a ring, with the initials RC engraved on it, and another was a mitten.
“I made that one.” Bondita smiled as Ashapurna hugged her.
“Since everyone is here, I would like to say the priest chose A as the initial for him.” Trilochan smiled. “So think of names before the shasti rituals and mukhe bhaat.”
“Everyone is not here.” Ashapurna shrugged.
“Yes, I miss Batuk too,” Bondita added. “He should participate in the naming too!”
Ashapurna exchanged a glance with Somnath who nodded.
“About that.” he said, clearing his throat, “Boudi, we would want you and Dada to give him a name.” Aniruddha looked up at his words, and at Bondita who looked surprised.
“Yes, that is a good idea.” Trilochan agreed “After all, I named all of you. This can be a family tradition.”
“I will go get the dictionary.” Bondita gushed as she rushed to the study room.
“There she goes, to her next project.” Somnath shook his head as everyone smiled.
“Animesh? Amol? Anil? Ashutosh?” Bondita looked up from the dictionary as she sat on the spiral staircase of the study room to frown at Aniruddha engrossed in his work. She walked up to tap the pencil on his paper as he looked up with raised eyebrows.
“Are you even listening?” She frowned.
“I am now.” He kept away the papers, cupped his face and looked amused. “Tell me.”
“Ashutosh?” She asked eagerly. Aniruddha appeared lost in thought.
“Can be good…”
“You want better…” She shook her head and got back to the dictionary.
“Bondita I hate to say this now, and I don’t want to upset you but we need to leave soon. Your college starts next week.” His words made her smile vanish as Bondita closed the dictionary and walked up the spiral staircases out of the study room as Aniruddha watched her leave.
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