Chal yaha se sath mein chalang hum lagaye
Kare paar riwaazo ka ghera
“This husband of yours seems something different. What does he work on? Civil law?” Manorama asked, offering her the notes she had missed.
“No. He works with a senior Barrister Mukherjee, on bail pleas and trials of revolutionaries.” Bondita spoke as she read through some of the notes.
“Can I take these home today?” She asked as Manorama nodded.
“You mean the Barrister Mukherjee who helped many during the Civil Disobedience?” Manorama raised her eyebrows. Bondita shrugged.
“Oh, I would die to get an internship with him but he trains only the best. How good is your husband?” Manorama asked, surprised. Bondita suddenly had a hint of pride in her eyes.
“He is a gold medalist.” She watched Manorama’s reaction as she smiled.
“Can you introduce me to this husband of yours?” She asked, surprising Bondita.
“Maybe he can recommend me to Barrister Mukherjee?”
“I was thinking of inviting you all home one weekend anyway, so you can ask him then.” Bondita smiled.
“Invite us where?” Anil jumped in from the bench behind them, startling the ladies.
“To her place.” Manorama pointed.
“To meet her husband?” Anil asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Why not?” Bondita smiled. “He would like to know my friends too.”
Aniruddha entered the house with Rashogollas, hoping to find her home. Instead, he frowned at the empty apartment and stepped out into the corridor worried. Bondita had insisted she could attend college in the last three days of her periods, Aniruddha didn’t want to stop her but at the same time was worried as she sometimes felt weak during those days. She also insisted on returning home alone and he had to oblige. Aniruddha walked to Latika’s threshold and knocked. Latika opened the door and smiled as though she was expecting him.
“Boudi…”
“Bondita! He is here.” Aniruddha frowned a little at her words as Bondita looked up at the door, from the living room floor. She was busy playing with a few kids who seemed to be building blocks. She got up, thanked Latika for tea and walked across Aniruddha sharing a glance as he followed her quietly.
“What were you doing there?” He asked once they had climbed up the stairs to their floor.
“I was bored. I came back early from college and was thinking of reading when they came and asked if I could play.” She shrugged “How was your day?”
He ignored her question and surprised her with the Rosogollas. Her eyes went wide as she smiled. “I like this. Dhonnobad.” She took it inside to put on a bowl and came back outside.
“You didn’t eat it?” He asked surprised. Bondita suddenly looked kind of worried as she wet her dried lips with her tongue.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Will you do something for me?” She asked, surprising him “If I really badly wanted it?” She made him smile.
“Of course. What do you need?”
Aniruddha didn’t expect this. He, who never believed in rituals and mantras, was sitting in front of the small table, where Bondita had kept the idols of gods and following her instructions through the Lokkhir Panchali.
“Put the Aamer Pollob (a bunch of five mango leaves) in the Ghot (Metal pot) and draw a swastika with that sindoor on it.” She pointed. He did as he was told, rather reluctantly.
“Remind me why we are doing this?” He asked.
“Because I did this at home every Thursday, and if I didn’t or couldn’t, Asha or Koeli Didi did it,” Bondita answered.
“You do know your periods aren’t impure. We have talked about this, Bondita.” He frowned, placing a few marigolds on the feet of the Goddess of prosperity.
“I know. I am just respecting some traditions of the family. Kakababu likes it this way.” She shrugged, “Unlike you, I grew up here, among these things, I can’t shed them all even if I know and believe they are wrong. I sometimes want to uphold some traditions too. They have history.”
“I am not saying you shouldn’t do this at all. Why not in your periods?” He stopped and stared at her. “We need one voice, one right question to undo anything wrong happening for ages. We believe that. Don’t we, Bondita…” He turned to her as he spoke “I am not saying I won’t do this for you, I will. But you also need to know, and understand that these traditions, untouchability and confinements during a very natural process hold no science.” Bondita interrupted him, by asking him to take some flower and place it at the feet of the Goddess. “Here, happy? Do the rest of it, come on!” Aniruddha shook his head and resumed reading the Brata Katha.
"I have something else for you." Aniruddha made her look at him with questioning eyes. "Close your eyes."
Bondita frowned.
"Hurry up and close your eyes and give me your hand." She did as she was told as Aniruddha smiled, placing a bundle of cash on her palm. She looked at it and back at him, a little taken aback.
"Back home, all the monthly earnings that I managed to save I used to give Jetha Moshai as a contribution to the household. Now, I think you should keep it." Aniruddha held her hand, with the bundle in between.
" But what will I do with the savings Barrister Babu?" She frowned. "Why don't you keep it?"
"I always saw Baba hand over his savings to Maa. I think Maa would have wanted me to give it to you." He said as she held the savings in her palm and he reassured her with a smile. Bondita touched the earning to her forehead, thanked Goddess Laxmi and put it away in a box.
Bondita brought out the Rosogollas for dessert as Aniruddha sat down on the couch with the morning newspaper.
“I will have to copy all these notes till late.” She said “Manorama helped.” he nodded without lifting his head from the paper.
“I was wondering…” Bondita spoke as she took a bite of one of the Rosogollas. “Of inviting my friends home one of the weekends.” She looked at his face. “They are eager to meet you.”
“Me?” He frowned. “Why me?”
“Because I may have mentioned to them a certain gold medalist.” She spoke with a sheepish smile. He looked up from his paper at that.
“Mrs Bondita Roy Chowdhury, did you just say you proudly flaunted me?” He asked, raising his eyebrows as she shrugged.
“I might have.”
“That’s a first.” He shook his head “Didn’t expect I would hear that ever.” She frowned at his taunt.
“What do you mean?” She stood up, with her hands on either side of her waist, wearing a frown on her face.
“I mean I never heard you saying good things about me to anyone.” He shrugged.
“That’s not true!” She defended.
“Really? I heard you tell Mashi I look okayish.” He spoke, placing his hand on his chin like he was thinking.
“You aren’t devilishly handsome if you ask me.” Bondita shrugged, suppressing her giggle with her palm.
“Some people may think otherwise.” He shrugged as she frowned.
“Like who?”
“Not important. You keep complaining about my anger.” He reminded her.
“Because you get angry and intimidate everyone.” She shrugged.
“So hearing a compliment is a first.” He reasoned “Anyway, you can call them to our home of course. Tell me what you need, and I will get them from the market and help you cook.” Bondita smiled, sitting down again, beside him. “Thank you!”
“Oh yes, I might have told Manorama you work with Barrister Mukherjee.” She said while copying the notes. “She wants you to recommend her if possible for an internship.” Aniruddha looked up at her words and placed his newspaper down.
“About that… I needed to talk to you.” Bondita glanced over at him with a frown as he spoke.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I might have quit working under him.” He said as Bondita looked wide-eyed.
“Quit? Why?” She looked alarmed.
“He is a good barrister no doubt, but there was this one case… a woman revolutionary. She was up on trial and suspected of freighting a relationship with a British officer for information. He didn’t take it up, because to him, what she did was not honourable for a woman. But I felt she was helping the motherland. If a man did this, they would not say it's morally wrong. Not everything done in revolution is justified right?” He looked up at Bondita as she nodded. “So I took up the case without informing him and he found out. It resulted in a verbal altercation and he ordered me to either drop the case or quit. So I…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Bondita asked, surprised. “You did the right thing.”
“I didn’t want to worry you since obviously independent work is difficult in the big cities and I just started out…” He smiled faintly “I didn’t want you to concentrate on anything except your studies.”
“That is ridiculous. We are in this together. You always stand by my problems, you can’t shun me from yours.” Bondita frowned. “Inviting people can wait a few months.”
“See. This is why… I don’t want you to compromise on something thinking I can’t afford that.” Aniruddha shook his head “So invite them.”
“Fine. I will. But you have to promise me, you will tell me everything big and small, henceforth.” She gave him a warning glance. Aniruddha nodded. “I will.”
“And just so you know, I am very proud of you.” She smiled, holding his hand in hers.
Anil and Manorama had dragged a rather reluctant Bondita to have street food with them. She wanted to save the money Aniruddha gave her for tiffin breaks and buy some books, but she gave in to her friends' pleadings. They had Jhalmuri and tea from a stall and walked back to college to find a crowd gathered outside it.
“Inquilab Zindabad!” “Zindabad Zindabad!”
“What is happening there?” Bondita asked, alarmed at the huge crowd that now blocked the main road.
“Welcome to the revolutionary movement at Calcutta, you will see more.” Manorama smiled with a hint of pride. “The Civil Disobedience Movement is really starting to make an impact. Groups not affiliated to Congress too are joining in, in their own way.”
“We should go back inside, otherwise when the police arrive, we can be in trouble.” Anil looked alarmed at the agitated crowd growing in numbers.
“Why are you afraid of your own people, Anil?” Manorama retorted.
“I am not. I'm afraid of the police batons and jail. They pick up anyone they find on the streets. Bondita, let’s go.” Anil went ahead as Bondita followed to reach the gates. She turned back to see Manorama had disappeared into the crowd. She searched for her, “Manorama?” She called out in vain as Ila pulled her inside.
“Don’t you know? She takes part in such things.” Ila almost scolded “Don’t be so close to her. You can land up in trouble.” Bondita frowned a little at her words.
Why did Manorama never mention her revolutionary activities to her? But then, neither did she ever tell anyone about Debaditya or Mahesh da. Such things were barely spoken of. She looked at the agitated crowd burning puppets of the British outside the gates. Ila dragged her inside as they heard the siren bells of the police vehicles and the commotion outside. Bondita was suddenly worried. When the chaos died down and eager people stepped out to see the aftermath, she stopped scared as a chill ran down her smile. There were half-broken banners. Burning puppets lost slippers and blood spatter on the road outside. The police were questioning anyone who appeared suspicious. Bondita had never seen such a sight. She now understood why Aniruddha was scared of her helping the revolutionaries.
“Where did Manorama go?” She spoke almost in a whisper. The others exchanged glances.
“She either escaped or is in jail.” One of them spoke.
“We have to wait a little longer before we can step out.” One of the men spoke, “Otherwise the police will suspect us too.”
“I am sure some of these agitators are on our premises too.” Anil looked suspicious. “If you see anyone unknown, be alert.” The men nodded.
Bondita sat with Sudeshna beneath the shed of a tree as Anil and Ila argued about the need for violence.
“Gandhi Ji said cooperation and peace will bring in freedom. They are going to have civil meetings with the Government.” Anil shrugged. “These young blood only know violence.”
“ But haven't we cooperated enough since Polashi, Anil? What happened to us? Oppression? Injustice? Loot?” Ila frowned. “They have successfully made us suffer for two centuries.”
“ You are speaking like Manorama.” Anil shook his head.
“She isn’t entirely wrong.” Bondita stood up. Her eyes suddenly fell on the pathway leading to the gate where she spotted a worried Aniruddha. Anil noticed him first and looked rather suspicious of this stranger as he placed himself between the girls and him.
“Bondita?” Aniruddha’s words made him frown and move out of the way as Bondita looked a bit taken aback.
“Barrister Babu. What are you doing here?” She asked as he rushed to her.
“I was worried. I heard of some unrest and….” He eyed Anil who he had noticed blocking his way. “Let’s go.” He didn’t wait for her response and held Bondita’s hand, making the girls stare at each other.
“The outside isn’t safe,” Anil spoke to nobody in particular.
“Well, it is my responsibility to take my wife home safely, so I know better. Thanks for the advice.” Aniruddha didn’t wait for his response as he took Bondita’s hand and led her away. Bondita stared at him, and back at Anil and realised that Aniruddha didn’t really approve of the unknown man standing in between him and her. While he looked out on the fairly empty road, holding her hand firmly in his, Bondita smiled at her own thoughts.
They reached home when they exchanged their first words.
“I got the lady her bail,” Aniruddha spoke first, sounding happy.
“Congratulations.” She smiled.
“What happened?” he frowned. “You look worried.”
“One of my friends, Manorama, was with the agitators. I don’t know where she is.”
“Well, if she doesn’t come to college tomorrow you will know. Don’t worry, if she is held. I will make sure she gets bail. What’s her name?”
“Manorama Bakshi, she is about my age and height. Well, maybe older than me.” Aniruddha nodded, making a mental note of the description.
“I was worried for you today when I heard…” He spoke as she smiled at him.
“I know.” She nodded “I saw it on your face.” Aniruddha stared at her longingly before pulling her into an embrace.
“I want to protect you, always.”
“By the way.” She said in an amused voice “I like the possessiveness.” Aniruddha frowned at her words clueless as she smiled. “I think you scared Anil.”
“Good for him.” Aniruddha shook his head. “He will stay away from you.” Bondita laughed.
“He was trying to protect me too.” Bondita reasoned.
“Uhu. That’s my job.” Aniruddha made her smile.
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