Main teri akhon mein dekhu sapna mera
Bondita placed the gold watch on her left wrist as she checked herself in the mirror. She was wearing a navy blue Tant saree with a golden zari border and a white ruffled three-quarter blouse. A sleek gold chain on her neck, with a pair of simple gold earrings and the Sankha Pola, Nowa (Iron bangles) and a bangle on both hands. Ever since she had come to Calcutta, she had started wearing less jewellery like the tenants around her. She tied her hair into a simple braid with a middle parting and let it hang around her waist. Inhaling nervously she took the Sindur Kouto and filled her hairline with vermillion, and drew a small bindi. She then took the jute Jhola bag from the hook on the wall and placed her water bottle, notebook, pen and purse in it. She would lie if she said she wasn't nervous about her first day. Till then, Bondita had only studied at home, in the comfort of familiar surroundings and alone. She never had the pleasure of getting to attend a classroom. This was her first. The way Aniruddha talked of his college experiences in Kingston, Bondita was sure of one thing, that it would be a very different experience in Calcutta. On one hand, she was excited and on the other extremely nervous.
She stared at the open door and checked her watch again. Aniruddha had gone out saying he needed something for court and would drop her at college for her orientation on the way. He also told her that he would pick her up when it ended and she should in no condition try to reach home alone or accompany anyone she befriended on the first day. His instructions made an amused Bondita smile. He often in his flow or concern forgot that she was not a child, and she could use her common sense when in trouble. The thought of leaving her on unknown premises with strangers even for half a day concerned him. Now they were getting late and there was no sign of him.
Aniruddha walked inside, in a hurry, in his black trousers and white shirt to pick up his coat and gown for the day.
“Where were you?” Bondita spoke almost in relief as he ignored her query and walked into the kitchen prompting her to follow. She saw him place a bowl and pour the Tok Doi (Sour curd) he had brought with him and add sugar to it. Bondita raised her eyebrows a little surprised at her husband as he stirred it quickly and held a spoonful at her mouth
“Here. For good luck.” She took it with a smile and kept staring at him.
“Wow, Barrister Babu, for someone who disregards such things…” She taunted “I am impressed.” He shook his head at her taunt with a smile and held her shoulders with his hands gently.
“Bondita. You are allowed to pull my leg today. I am so happy for you. You are beginning this journey to your dreams.”
“Our dreams.” Bondita corrected promptly, touching his feet as he was too late to move away.
“Bondita, how many times have I told you not to do that?” He shook his head.
“And how many times have I told you I touch the feet of my teacher, not my husband?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Now, we are really getting late.” He shook his head. “Shall we, Barrister Babu?” He asked, giving her his hand as she giggled.
“Let’s go Barrister Babu.” They checked the house before locking it up and went downstairs to give the keys to Sarala Devi.
Bondita sought her blessings while Aniruddha walked out looking for a hand-pulled rickshaw to take them to the Calcutta University Law College.
Sarala Devi spoke to her “You look very smart. Did You have curd?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, Mashima.” She smiled.
“My daughter’s name is Sulekha. In case you have any trouble on the premises.” She spoke as Bondita nodded gratefully. She was fully aware that the University Law College, although close to the University of Calcutta complex, was not on the same premises. Aniruddha hailed a rickshaw and called on her.
Aniruddha noticed how Bondita kept rubbing her hands together throughout the fifteen-minute ride through the busy Calcutta street. He had to hold her hands, in his, to make her stop and look up at him.
“You will be fine. Everyone there is new.” He reassured “And many women will come too. Don’t worry. You will end up making lifelong memories and friends.” He smiled. Bondita nodded at his words and forced a smile. Getting down at the gates of the University, Bondita looked across the black railings of the gate of the white colonial building and sighed. This was it.
Aniruddha reassured her with a nod and told her to go in. Bondita stood for a moment and inhaled.
“You will come to take me home, right?” She asked him as he nodded.
“Of course. See this tree.” He pointed at a streetside tree just outside the gates. “I will be right here when you walk out.”
“What if you are late for work?” She asked unsurely.
“I won’t. This is your day. Now go. Best of luck.” He pushed her towards the gate and she felt a little giddy. She entered the premises and looked back at him waving at her with a proud smile. His smile gave her strength. She went ahead to the query table and asked about her class and orientation.
“Department of law?” A woman behind her made her turn as she nodded gently.
“Great, me too.” She was holding a pen and notebook in her hand and wearing a grey cotton saree with small prints on it. She had no jewellery except for a pair of stone studded earrings and wore a black kajal bindi. Her eyes were drawn with Kajal too, and her hair was side-parted and bunned up. She looked a bit older too.
“So you are married I see?” The woman smiled a friendly smile as they walked towards the corridor leading to the orientation hall. “Are you from the city too?”
“No, I am from a village… Tulsipur. My name is Bondita.”
“Oh look how silly I am, I forgot to ask your name! I am Manorama Bakshi.” She smiled. “I am from the city though. I studied at Bethune Girls School. And you?”
“Our village didn’t have a school.” Bondita smiled sheepishly, “Homeschooling was the only option.”
“Great! You have come a long way!” Manorama admired her genuinely. Bondita couldn’t help but notice how comfortable this woman was in the new environment. She was smart, her eyes sparkled with intelligence and her voice was friendly.
“Tell me why Law then?” Manorama asked eagerly.
“I want to fight for women’s rights.” She smiled. Manorama nodded in appreciation.
“I want to, for freedom fighters. Help them.” Manorama said “Anyone in your family studied law? It is an unusual profession for women.”
“My husband is a lawyer. He studied from Kingston.” Bondita smiled. Manorama’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, “A European graduate staying back home? What a surprise!”
“Why?” Bondita frowned. “Do they never come back?”
“Usually,” Manorama nodded, “I have an uncle in Southampton, that’s in Britain, never saw him in my life. ” She chuckled.
“Who is there in your family?” Bondita asked, trying to be friendly.
“Oh, my parents and elder brother. My grandmother passed away recently. She is the one who motivated me to enrol at the university. My father runs my Grandfather’s paper business. My elder brother works at the Writer’s Building.”
“For the British Government?” Bondita enquired as she nodded.
“But you want to…” Bondita asked.
Manorama smiled. “We are siblings but we can have individual choices right?”
“You just reminded me of my Shoshur Moshai and… Kakababu.” Bondita suddenly felt a little sad.
“Come let’s sit together.” Manorama’s words didn’t let her thoughts wander.
“Nomoskar, I am Anil.” The man beside them introduced himself as they started talking about the unrest in parts of the city that Bondita was clueless about. The orientation started soon. There were many students in the stream and it would perhaps be impossible to know them all, as Bondita gathered. As they were dispersed for the day, Bondita felt a little intimidated by the crowd that came out of the buildings and walked to the gates. She stayed on the side by the curb trying hard not to lose balance in the crowd. She turned back to see she had lost sight of Manorama, Anil and a bunch of girls she had managed to befriend at the orientation. She looked ahead and caught a glimpse of Aniruddha outside the gate, his eyes scanning the crowd for her familiar face. A smile immediately curved her lips as she ran to him.
“How was your day?” They spoke in unison and smiled.
“Good.” He said “I managed to convince my senior to let me go early. He wants to meet you someday.” Bondita smiled at his words. “I made a few friends.” They walked across the narrow pavement and stopped at the crossing. Bondita slid her hand into his, intimidated by the crowd and traffic, making Aniruddha smile.
“Do you want to eat something? Or buy something?” He offered while they looked for a rickshaw.
“Can I call home once?” Her question made his smile fade away.
“I am not sure it's a good idea so soon.” he tried to reason.
“I will talk to Kakababu. I know he will talk to me.” She was adamant. Aniruddha took her by her hand and walked to the nearest phone booth.
“Here.” He smiled, “I won’t upset you today.” Bondita smiled while taking the receiver.
“Hello?” Trilochan Roy Chowdhury’s familiar voice made Bondita’s eyes teary.
“Kakababu!” She fumbled. Aniruddha looked up at her, concerned as she managed a smile.
“Bondita?” Trilochan sounded pleased. “How are you? How is Aniruddha? Did you settle in? Mejo Bouma! Shiggir esho. It’s Bondita.”
“We are fine Kakababu. I had my first day of college today.” She smiled, “I missed all of you today.”
“Oh, we do too, here, here, talk to Mejo Bouma,” Trilochan spoke.
“Didibhai!” Ashapurna sounded happy.
“Asha! How are you?”
“I am fine, You? How was the first day? Give me your address. I want to write to you, Batuk called when he reached, he was asking the same too.”
“Address?” Bondita looked at Aniruddha who gave the address she repeated on the phone. “I will call Mashi sometime soon and talk to Batuk too.” Bondita smiled. “It is so good to hear from you. How is Baba? Somnath Dada? Bihari Babu? Koeli Didi?”
“Everyone is fine Bondita, the metre is running.” Aniruddha interrupted as she frowned.
“Listen, Asha, I have to go. I will call again, and write to you. Take care of yourself.”
“Didibhai. You too.” Bondita kept the receiver down and sighed. Aniruddha studied her visibly upset face.
Truth be said, it was not like he didn’t miss home or regret leaving the way they did. But a part of him knew he did the right thing. A part of him was perhaps in all these years, more detached from Tulsipur than Bondita was learning to be now.
“Okay, I will get some Jhalmuri, while you tell me about your friends.” He tried to divert her mind to happier things as the Jhal Muri Wala tossed the puffed rice with spices and nuts into packets made of leaves. Bondita began talking of her day, experiences and friends as Aniruddha was relieved to find the sparkle back in her eyes. They hailed a rickshaw and reached home by evening. Taking the key from Sarala Devi, Bondita opened the door while Aniruddha walked up to the roof to get their dried clothes down. The women sitting on the roof drew their anchol taken aback finding a man at the chores.
“You must be Bondita’s husband.” One of them smiled. “I am Latika.”
“Oh, she does talk about your daughter so often. I am sorry we were so busy fixing the house that we couldn’t invite anyone yet.”
“That’s fine Dada. I just want to say I am so happy you are letting her follow her dreams.” Latika smiled.
“I am nobody to let her do anything boudi, I don’t own her life.” Aniruddha smiled as the ladies exchanged glances.
He turned to walk down the spiral staircase taking their leave as the ladies giggled and gossipped.
Bondita hadn’t even changed her college attire as she started the oven and began to cut vegetables.
“That’s enough Madam, let me.” Aniruddha’s words were met with a giggle.
“No thank you, Barrister Babu, you will make my work more difficult.” He frowned at her words.
“Excuse me? I did learn to make Ruti in two days, I am a fast learner.” He was defensive.
“Or I am a good teacher.” Bondita smiled. Aniruddha shook his head at her argument.
“Then teach me curries and vegetables. So that you study and I can cook.”
“Ish, what will people say? I enslaved you here.” Bondita shook her head gasping. Aniruddha laughed.
“ Who is this everyone? Stop arguing about everything Bondita. Get your clothes changed at least, till then I will make Ruti, and not try your vegetables. I promise. ” he said, pushing her out of the kitchen area.
“Shotti to?” She asked as he nodded. “Shotti.”
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