Family Ties

Yehi hai pyar tera jo

Yehi hai rishte saare

The morning newspaper was delivered to the sitting area of the Zamindar House of Tulsipur by trusted house help Bihari, in a hurry after he rebuked the paperboy for arriving late. It was almost midday. The boy murmured about some railway blockage as Bihari dismissed him. Binoy Roy Chowdhury, who was already suited up and about to depart for a business meeting, sipped on his English Tea in chinaware while Trilochan Roy Chowdhury sat going through some property papers that the Munshi had brought in. He stood in a corner, waiting for the files while Somnath came down hurriedly and snatched the newspaper from Bihari’s hands, startling him.
“What happened?” Binoy rebuked. “What is the hurry? You will tear the newspaper apart!”
“Is there some news of relevance?” Trilochan looked up at his nephew, frowning. “Did something happen at Calcutta?”
Binoy’s glance met his words. Somnath scanned through the first page and turned the leaf.
“A friend of mine informed me that the Disobedience movement is quite at its peak,” Binoy added.
“There.” Somnath sat down on the couch beside Binoy and pointed at the anchor news. 
Unrest near the University, Students arrested, the newspaper read.
Trilochan clutched his cane. Bihari looked worried. He was about to go inside when Somnath stopped him.
“Not a word to her.” Bihari nodded and left to inform Koyeli.
“When did you last talk to them?” Somnath asked, scanning through the news. Trilochan looked taken aback. 
“I don’t know what you mean.” He stopped at his nephew’s suspicious stare.
“Dada, don’t act. We know you and Bouma are in contact with Bondita.” Binoy snapped.
“I can be, I am a man of my own free will.” Trilochan nodded. “Very well, the day before yesterday, I told her to come back for Durga Pujo. Told both of them to come, actually.” He glared at Binoy. “This is my house too.” Binoy looked away, shaking his head.
“This says a majority of students were picked up from in front of the law department, and some of them were not even involved.” Somnath frowned.
“My goodness.” Binoy got up. “That boy will be too vain to ask our help if they need it. Do you know a way to contact them?” Trilochan shook his head. 
“We can send Bihari to Calcutta?” He suggested.
“And wait for more than twenty-four hours?” Binoy shook his head. “Somnath, call someone you know who might know the number of the University offices.” Somnath nodded and ran to the telephone.
“And Dada, next time she calls, for god’s sake, take a number we can contact in case of emergency.” Binoy shook his head.
“Oh, now you are suddenly worried?” Trilochan snapped. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“Dada, whatever the reason behind my anger with Aniruddha, it has nothing to do with Bondita. I hoped you knew that.” Binoy shook his head and sank back on the couch. Trilochan paced the room. Somnath came back in a hurry.
“Baba. I found a number.” He said.
“Then dial it, and ask for Bondita Roy Chowdhury.” Trilochan snapped. 
“I?” Somnath looked unsure as Binoy nodded.
Bondita was surprised that the office clerk was looking for her in the classroom. She ran to the office and picked up the phone, her heart beating fast. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. Someone might be unwell. It could have been her mother, Kakababu, Baba or even Asha… Her heart skipped a beat. Please don’t let it be Asha, Dugga Ma.
“Hello?” She spoke, catching her breath. “Hello?” She repeated.
“Umm… Boudi?” Bondita suddenly looked pale. “Som Dada? Is Asha alright?”
“She is… she is…” he sounded normal “I am calling since Baba and Jetha moshai read about the agitation in the local paper and…”
“Oh.” A smile curved her lips. “We are fine, Dada, how are you?”
“Everything is alright here too, Boudi. Baba wants to know if there is a number we can contact in case of an emergency?” He asked as Binoy nodded.
“Sure. The owner of the house has a telephone. Please write it down.” Bondita was happy to speak to Somnath like nothing had changed.
“Take care, Boudi.”
“You too, Dada, and take care of Asha.”,
“This is no way to protest.” Binoy shook his head at the newspaper “So many are dying every day. They should have the patience and trust the government to…”
“Trust the government?” Trilochan taunted “Like you? Pleasing them by adopting their ways?”
“Dada, the Government has talked of round table conferences with the leaders of these revolutions. Many believe that if we help the British when war and uncertainty are looming over their head, they will give us freedom.” Binoy shook his head.
“Oh, you mean the sons of this country should die for the British Crown in foreign lands rather than for their own motherland.” Trilochan snapped. “The British are not in a favourable stage if rumours are to be believed of an impending war.”
“Dada, we saw what happened in 1919. Not only the war, but also the flu pandemic and cholera took away so many lives. So many people around us were gone. Nobody wants that. But sometimes it is unavoidable.” Binoy said, fixing his pipe.
“Exactly, Binoy, hence what better than dying for the motherland?” Trilochan asked.
“Maybe living for it, trying to make it better?” Binoy smiled faintly.
“You and I will never agree on this,” he shook his head. 
Trilochan stopped pacing at the sight of a pregnant Asha being helped into the sitting area by Koeli. She was glowing and her baby bum was visibly showing now that she was in her second trimester. She held onto Koeli’s hand firmly as she walked due to the swellings of her feet but otherwise appeared content.
“Why did you come down, Bouma?” Binoy asked. “You should rest.”
“I came to talk to Jetha Shoshur Moshai about Janmashtami. Every year, Didibhai arranges it. Koeli is forbidding me to…” She glanced over at Koeli, who nodded.
“She is right, the Dai  has advised you to rest.” Trilochan agreed. 
“But then, who will take care of the arrangements?” Ashapurna asked.
“I will,” Trilochan reassured. “This house ran without a woman for a good number of years, don’t forget that, and who taught your Didibhai all that she knows anyway?” His words made her smile.
“Bihari! Come immediately, we need to talk about the Janmashtami arrangements. Make sure we please Lord Gopal so that he blesses the house with a little Gopal of our own.” He smiled as Binoy smiled reassuringly and left followed by Somnath in a hurry. 
Ashapurna sat down on the couch, helped by Koeli, as Trilochan started instructing the house helps.
“Bouma Trilochan sat down across from her. “Today, I saw both Binoy and Somnath talk normally about Bondita. I hope by the time Durga Pujo comes, they will also start interacting with Aniruddha.”
“I may sound otherwise, but I fear that won’t be the case, Shoshur moshai.” Ashapurna sighed. 
“Why so, Bouma?” He asked.
“You might not know this, but … all the men in this family are quite stubborn.” Asha looked scared for saying that out loud, hoping she had not offended him. Trilochan Roy Chowdhury looked taken aback for a second and laughed out loud, surprising the house help and Asha.
“Oh, you are right there, Maa, it must be tough managing us.” Ashapurna smiled.
“Didibhai and I are quite used to it; it's Batuk who needs to worry now.” She smiled. “I'd better get back to my room now.” She looked up at Koeli for help.
“Bouma.” Trilochan stopped her as he spoke, “I may not have said it out loud, but I am proud of you for standing up against your family for Bondita. Dhonnobad.”
“What are you thanking me for, Jetha Shoshur Moshai, please don’t embarrass me. I stood up for my priyo sokhi and my family. I know Didibhai would do that for me too.” Trilochan smiled acknowledging her words. 
“We are lucky to have both of you. Otherwise, we are impossible.” Asha smiled, embarrassed.
“And don’t you worry, I can’t tell you about anyone else, but I will make sure that Dadabhai gets his brother back when he comes here.” She reassured him.
“So is it okay to call them home this Sunday?” Bondita asked. Helping Aniruddha keep his coat and gown on the hook. 
“Absolutely.” He agreed. “I will help you with the cooking, now that I know a few things.” He smiled.
“Oh, don’t sound like a cook.” Bondita teased, 'You know how to boil rice and make Ruti.’
“And Dal and alu potol. And don’t forget to say round Ruti.” He added. She laughed.
“So you will serve people like that?” She asked, amused.
“I can at least survive on my own for some days if I need to.” He shrugged.
“And why would you need to do that with me here?” She asked, raising her eyebrows. His smile faded.
“Well, you said you want to go home for Asha’s…” He stopped at her cold stare.
“I meant we will both go home. You have missed enough Durga Pujo to miss another. Kakababu won’t let me enter the house without you. On top of that, I am never leaving you alone here.” She snapped. “Go and clean up, dinner is ready.”
“We will see about that.” He added quickly.
“Oh, there is nothing to see, Mister. That’s an order.” Bondita spoke, narrowing her eyes at him as he stopped at the threshold, rather amused. 
“And whose order is it?” He asked, half-turning.
“Justice Bondita Roy Chowdhury’s.” She said very firmly. Aniruddha’s eyes widened a little as she smiled.
“Now, now. Is Missus giving me another goal in life?” He asked, amused.
“Right now, your goal is to get to Tulsipur during Durga Puja and not create a scene with Baba.” She said sternly, “Do you understand, Barrister Babu?”
“I do understand Barrister Babu, have I ever tried to argue with you?” He said copying her tone.
“One can’t win an argument with the wife, and neither can a better barrister.”
“Stop calling me that in the first year of my studies. As it is, I am worried about my examinations.”
“Oh, you will do fine, Barrister Babu. I have faith in you.” He smiled. She glared at him.
“Well. I will call you that till you start calling me Aniruddha,” he was amused.
“That is not happening.” She shook her head as she placed down the dinner dishes. “Not even if you annoy me this way.”
“We will see.” He smiled like it was a challenge.
“That we will.” She smiled back.
“Oh, I forgot to mention. Manorama came by.” He said as he poured some dal over the steaming rice. Bondita stopped at the morsel.
“Why?” She asked in a reflex. “I mean, her paperwork was done with, right?”
“Yes, she wants me to take up some cases of her fellow workers,” Aniruddha spoke, putting a morsel in his mouth.
“Oh, will you help them?” She asked.
“Of course, she said she will help with the case histories before the trials.” Aniruddha added, “That was generous of her.”
“Yes, it was.” Bondita smiled faintly. Aniruddha looked up at her.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“Oh, nothing. She never told me that she would meet you.” Bondita shrugged.
“Maybe she wants to keep it professional and not discuss her activities with friends. Many people live dual lives, especially people like her,” he shrugged. Bondita nodded. 
“Yes, many people do live dual lives.” She agreed, “Like Jamaibabu did.” The mention of Debaditya made Aniruddha sigh. He finished his food and got up to wash his dishes.
“She did tell me something else,” Aniruddha spoke as Bondita came near the choubachha in the kitchen with the dishes. “I was hoping to hear it from you first.” His words made her frown slightly.
“Do you mean the phone call?” She asked, “What did she say?”
“ Just that someone called you in the middle of class, and she hoped nothing was wrong at home.” He shrugged.
“I wish she would ask me before telling you.” Bondita shook her head and sighed. “Anyway, I was going to. Somnath Dada called.” She started washing her dishes as he moved away. His hand stopped at the Gamcha as he frowned. “Is Ashapurna…”
“She is fine, he said. Baba was worried for us after reading the newspapers. They have written about the agitation.”
“I see.” Aniruddha’s jaws tightened. “It's good that they worry about you.”
“Us, Barrister Babu. They worry for us.” She made him stop at the threshold.
“Well, if that was the case, they would have contacted me when they saw my name in the newspaper instead of waiting for something like this, don’t you think?” He smiled faintly and shook his head. “Yes, it perhaps would have been wiser if you hadn't shared. I am sorry I asked.”
He walked into the bedroom as Bondita followed him.
“You asked because you were as worried for them as they were for you.” She looked cross. “Why are all of you so stubborn?”
Aniruddha glanced over at her words. Bondita exhaled. She walked up to him and placed her hand over his Panjabi, where his heart thumped.
“You don’t need to lie about your emotions, at least to me. I know you better than that!”  She shrugged. He smiled, placing his hand over hers and pulling her into an embrace. 
“You know me best.” He placed a gentle kiss just below her hairline, drawn with sindoor. She smiled, closing her eyes.
“Does that mean we are going to Tulsipur?” She asked, hugging him tighter.
“I didn’t say yes,” he frowned.
“You didn’t say no. I will write to Kakababu. I hope Batuk comes too. Thank you, Barrister Babu.” Bondita smiled.
“I can’t argue now, can I?” He asked as she shook her head.
“Also, I don’t approve of how Manorama told you this.” She frowned “This is a family matter. It should be between us.”
“Oh, she might not have known. Don’t give her your peace of mind and scare her away. She is a friend of yours,” he laughed. Bondita nodded silently.