Mending The Bridges

Tu karega garv mujhpe aisa karke dikhau

Jo khwab tera wo khwab mera bana. 

Mukhopadhyay Babu was almost shocked to see Roy Chowdhury’s elder daughter-in-law at his doorstep in the early hours of the morning. Ever since she left Tulsipur nothing had been quite the same. His daughter refused to talk to them and mend their relationship despite him rebuking the actions of his family members openly. Ashapurna was suddenly more of a Roy Chowdhury than his daughter. He felt distant and helpless under such circumstances. He had been pleased with the news of the arrival of a grandchild soon but all his plans were crushed after Ashapurna refused to come home even once.

“Kaka.” Bondita folded her hands as Sampoorna held the basket of flowers she was carrying “Nomoskar.”

“You are back home? We didn’t know. Please please come in.” Mukhopadhyay Babu was quick to get back to his senses and welcome her into the Baithak Khana. Bondita had been a regular visitor to their house ever since they were young and she and Ashapurna became friends at eight. Mukhopadhyay Babu and his wife knew very little about the girl’s whereabouts but she was a Roy Chowdhury family member. That was enough in Tulsipur. But things changed. elder, She was now their daughter-in-law, the Thakurain of the estates. Even though Ashapurna was chosen by Binoy Roy Chowdhury to marry his son, unlike the gossip of Aniruddha choosing Bondita himself despite her low birth, she was still the one who ran their house. Mukhopadhyay Babu was well aware of the status and influence she held over the house and his daughter.

“I would like to speak to you and Kakima,” Bondita said, smiling. Mukhopadhyay Babu nodded. Soon, his wife arrived, offering Bondita and Sampoorna tea and breakfast which she promptly but politely refused.

The first thing Mukhopadhyay Ginni noticed was Bondita’s change of appearance. She wore lesser jewellery than the women in the village expected from Roy Chowdhury and there was something about her that had changed. She looked more outgoing than before. Bondita smiled promptly, touching her feet. She was taken politely and aback.

“Thak Thak.” She moved away “I wanted to talk to you. Whatever happened…” She looked awkwardly at her husband.

“That’s in the past, Kakima.” Bondita held her hand, smiling reassuringly “I don’t have any complaints against anyone. Even I should apologise for the way he…”

“What are you saying?” Mukhopadhyay Babu exclaimed. “He is the Zamindar and…”

“Let’s put it all in the past.” Bondita interrupted. “I know Asha has been cold to you, but I also know she misses you terribly, especially now.” She stopped as the teary-eyed elderly woman wiped her cheek with her anchol. “I have come to invite you to the Durga Pujo. Asha will be surprised. Please tell Kakima, Pishima too.” Bondita spoke, getting up. “I better get going.” She turned to Sampoorna who nodded.

“Does anyone know you are here?” Mukhopadhyay Babu asked with a slight narrowing of his brows. Bondita shook her head “But I know they will love to have you there. You are her family.” She reassured them. 

“Do you think Asha will like you meeting her family behind her back?” Sampoorna asked as Bondita nodded.

“I am sure she will once she sees them.” Bondita reassured her “She did something for me, it is my turn to do something for her.”

“Bondita.” Sampoorna stopped holding her hand. “There is something I need to tell you.”

“ That ...you are expecting soon?!” Bondita smiled. “Pishi told me that in the morning. She seemed happy.”

“I am scared. When she accepted me it was only because she thought I was providing an heir. What if it's a girl?” Sampoorna looked up as Bondita shook her head. “Didi. I know it won’t matter to Nikhil Thakurpo. Tell me will you shift back with Pishi?” Sampoorna nodded. Bondita smiled, “That is great news!”

“You can come to visit us still.” Sampoorna reminded her.

“Oh, I will.” Bondita smiled “I will be a Mashi and a Jethi!”

Trilochan was sipping his tea noisily when he eyed both Binoy and Aniruddha at the breakfast table. Binoy was engrossed in reading the newspaper while Aniruddha concentrated on his coffee and didn’t look up. Trilochan cleared his throat drawing their attention to himself.

“Are you ready to go to the Panchayat?” Trilochan’s words were met with a nod from Aniruddha. 

“We will leave right after breakfast.” He nodded in silence. 

“What is your agenda for the day, Binoy?” He turned to his younger brother.

“I have a meeting at home with the lawyer.” He folded his paper, as he noticed Aniruddha’s hand stopped at his cup and his jaws flexed.

“Dada.” Bina arrived as Aniruddha offered her a chair. She refused to sit and stood there as she smiled faintly “ I have decided to take your advice, and take them back home.” Bina’s words made Trilochan smile as Aniruddha looked up a little surprised at them.

“Also… she is expecting.”

“That’s such good news!” Binoy smiled.

“No wonder you…” Aniruddha’s words were cut short by Binoy’s as Trilochan shook his head with a warning glance at his nephew.

 “I wonder what takes breakfast so long.” He said looking agitated “Bihari? Koeli?” Bina walked away trying to figure out why the breakfast was getting late as Nikhil came up to the table.

“Have you seen the newspaper?” He made everyone look up “The Laat Saheb was almost attacked at Shimulia. The protestors were beaten up with batons and the Crown Police fired arms.” He sat down as Aniruddha rushed to the sitting area to get the English daily. 

“It is said many are assumed to be dead.” He read aloud. Nikhil nodded. 

“The man escaped unscratched though.”

“What else do you expect?” Aniruddha frowned, “I wonder who organised it.”

“Heard that they flung the charka-drawn tricolour at the man.” Nikhil sounded amused. “I was in the village in the morning for a stroll. Everyone is talking of it.”

“Such turbulent times, so much violence.” Trilochan shook his head as Binoy checked his watch, a little restless.

“Why people need to be violent is beyond me,” Somnath spoke with a shrug as he came to sit down for breakfast.

“It is beyond many privileged people like you too.” Nikhil nodded as he looked up “But it is the need of the hour to…”

“Sorry Sorry Sorry!” Bondita ran in, with a plate of toast followed by Koeli and Bihari carrying the rest of the breakfast. “I got late.” Her words were met with a frown from Aniruddha. She woke up rather early and by the time it was dawn he observed she was missing from her side of the bed. 

“Where were you?” Trilochan asked, noticing her more decked up than she is during breakfasts.

“Oh, I went to the village temple.” She smiled while serving breakfast as she turned to Binoy, “Baba your medicines are kept on your bedside table. I noticed some of them are missing. I ordered Bihari Babu to get them. I also made a list for Bihari Babu to refill your medicines every month, which will prompt you to actually have them.” Binoy looked up at her motherly tone and nodded in silence. Somnath took some breakfast on his plate making Bondita smile and offered him his breakfast as she turned to Koeli and said: “Take the breakfast upstairs for Didi and Asha please, I made some Chirer polao and it is in the kitchen.” Koeli nodded and left.

“When is Batuk arriving?” Somnath looked up at Aniruddha’s question from across the table.

“By Mahalaya I hope.” Trilochan shook his head “He wrote about missing classes for this holiday.” Aniruddha nodded.

“It is so good that we keep up with the tradition of coming here every year no matter where we are or what we are doing across the country.” Nikhil smiled as Trilochan nodded.

“I was majorly upset that Aniruddha missed so many festivities.” He added.

“Boudi.” Somnath spoke to Bondita who was cutting a few fruits standing beside his chair, “There will be some business-related guests coming over at midday.”

“Should we offer them lunch?” Bondita asked, her eyes not leaving the apple she was piecing. 

“No need. Some snacks will be enough.” Binoy added as she nodded with a smile, putting the fruits on a plate and walking inside to get Somnath some tea.

“See. How everything has been in order since the moment she arrived.” Trilochan praised as Binoy nodded. Somnath observed them and Aniruddha whose face, although not wearing his usual smile, was proud. Aniruddha got up to excuse himself and reassured Trilochan he would meet him at the Panchayat.

“Bondita Bouma?” Bondita stopped inspecting the Shukto and walked up to the threshold of the kitchen, wiping her hand in her anchol as Trilochan stood there. 

“Did you need anything Kakababu?” She asked, “You should have called, this place is so heated and…”

“I came to give you back what belongs to you.” Trilochan smiled, handing over the bunch of keys he was carrying. Bondita looked up. “But I am only here till Kali Puja, you should keep…” Trilochan pushed the keys into her palms and shook his head. “No, I am just a caretaker of what is yours.”

“Bondita! Bondita?” Aniruddha’s shout interrupted them as Bondita shrugged helplessly and Trilochan smiled. “Tell him I will see him at the Panchayat.” He said as Bondita grabbed the keys and ran upstairs.

“Where is my comb? Are you sure you packed it?” Aniruddha looked confused, straightening his messy hair using his hands. Bondita shook her head and pointed at the comb on the dressing table.

“How do you lose things that are just there?” She shrugged.

“So that you find them for me.” He smiled. He proceeded to button up his blue Panjabi while Bondita sat down on a corner of the bed and tied the keys to the corner of her anchol.

“Baba and Som Dada will have guests over, I better get downstairs.”

“Yes I know, lawyers, he said.” Aniruddha sounded disheartened as Bondita looked up.

“Maybe the issue needs…” She started as Aniruddha’s gaze fell on her anchol.

“What is that?” He asked as she smiled. 

“Kakababu gave me the keys.” Bondita smiled, “Don’t lose your cool at the Panchayat.”

“Do I always lose my cool?” Aniruddha shook his head, irked. 

“Umm….” Bondita raised her eyebrows.

“You should come along.” He said as she shook her head. 

“I can’t. There are plenty of things left to be done before puja.” She was at the threshold when the keys loosened from her anchol and fell on the floor, prompting Aniruddha to walk up to her and pick it up instantly.

“Be careful.” He warned as he tied the keys back to the corner of her anchol tightly.

Somnath and Binoy were sitting in the study room with the two Englishmen discussing the issue at hand extensively. Most of their conversation happened in English and when Bondita stepped in with the tea and snacks, she smiled offering the men some.

“Don’t worry, they are made with less oil.” She reassured them in fluent English.

“Our daughter-in-law is a law student.” Binoy smiled, with a hint of pride as the two men looked up at Bondita.

“That is great, where do you study?”

“University of Calcutta.” She smiled and her eyes caught Somnath looking very restless as if he wanted to end the small talk.

“I better get going, excuse me.” She turned to leave. When Bondita was at the threshold as the men resumed suggesting what would be best for Binoy to do at the moment, Bondita frowned.

The men at the Panchayat seemed intimidated at the arrival of Aniruddha. He met a few people from the school and greeted the new teachers he was introduced to. 

“Please come around and see the school. It may be run by the government but it was still started by you.” The newly appointed principal Mr Patra folded his hands and requested Aniruddha. “You are welcome here any time.”

“Maybe my wife will visit soon. The school was started by her.” Aniruddha nodded.

The session started as Aniruddha took a seat beside Trilochan.

“Nikhil Thakurpo.” Bondita whispered at the threshold of the guest room, “I need your help.” Nikhil was working on the desk as Sampoorna sat reading a book. She sat up as Nikhil walked up to the threshold with a frown. 

“What is it, Boudi?” He asked in a hurry “Is everything fine?”

“No. I need you to go downstairs and make sure they don’t leave.” Bondita said, “I will go fetch Barrister Babu.”

“They?” Nikhil looked clueless “You mean Mama’s guests?”

“His lawyers. I am almost sure the suggestion they are giving Baba is biased. It helps the British company he is dealing with if that contract is agreed upon and he may risk losses.” Bondita nodded.

“How do you know that?” Nikhil looked surprised.

“Because I heard them steer Baba and Dada the wrong way, using heavy legal terms.” Bondita shrugged.

“But how will I stop them?” Nikhil asked unsurely.

“Just keep an eye, do something. You are intelligent, figure it out. Ask them questions.” Bondita ran down the corridor before Nikhil could react.

Aniruddha’s eyes fell on her, at the back of the gathered crowd as Bondita waved at him, almost hiding. Aniruddha slipped away quietly as Trilochan was busy discussing a trivial matter with the Panchayat and walked up to her.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Come home quick!” She said Aniruddha's brows shot up “Is Asha…”

“No. Baba.” Bondita shook her head as Aniruddha looked pale.

“What happened to Baba?!” He sounded agitated.

“He’s being duped by those Barristers. He needs you.” Bondita nodded. Aniruddha frowned, folding his arms to his chest “Did he ask for help? Send you here?” Bondita shook her head.

“Then I am not in a place to help him.”

“Are you that selfish, Barrister Babu?” Bondita frowned with her hands on either side of her waist. Aniruddha looked away awkwardly “Is your ego greater than the fact that the family is being duped and needs you?”

“Enough! Every time you do this, push me. Stop it, Bondita. I know why you are doing this!” Bondita took a step back as Aniruddha scolded 

“I am not making things up.” She retorted as Aniruddha shook his head and stormed off. She frowned.

“I don’t get their problem!” Trilochan spoke, getting up in the car with Bondita after hearing everything. “Both father and son are exactly the same.”

“So true Kakababu. I was not even lying to mend their ties. It was true! The man was duping…”

“Binoy is at fault here. He hired an English lawyer. Serves him right!” Trilochan rebuked. “Where did Aniruddha go?”

“I don’t know. He just stormed off as usual.” Bondita shrugged, imitating his voice “Bondita, enough!”

Trilochan shook his head “We should get home and interfere before Binoy signs anything.” Bondita agreed.

Trilochan stopped at the threshold, and Bondita was surprised to see the two Englishmen storm out, visibly infuriated. They stepped inside to spot Binoy hugging Aniruddha proudly in the study room. Bondita smiled victoriously at Trilochan who walked up to them, acting clueless.

“What happened?”

“Dada those men were actually getting paid to steer us wrongly and let the other party benefit. It was at the nick of time when I was about to sign the papers that Aniruddha interrupted. He saved us a big loss.” Binoy beamed. Aniruddha looked up at Bondita who looked away.

“Very well. All's well that ends well. Bondita, how are preparations?” Trilochan turned to Bondita. 

“I checked everything. You don’t need to worry. Now if you have nothing more to add, I will go and visit the school.” Aniruddha smiled at her as Trilochan nodded and let her go.

Bondita stood in front of the schoolhouse and smiled proudly. The board that read “Tulsipur Balika Vidyalaya” in Bengali was written in black over a white background beamed and she noticed that the school now had a playground and a gate. She walked inside a little unsure and spotted Ghosh Babu whom Debaditya had appointed there. 

“How are you, Choto Malkin?” He asked, “Come along, I will introduce you to the principal.” He said redirecting her to a room. Bondita walked through the corridors and noticed the classrooms with proper blackboards on the wall, stationeries, and benches and the girls even had proper school dresses, white sarees with blue borders and white ribbons on their braids. Bondita smiled. While the principal explained to her the subjects and classes, how girls from nearby villages enrolled in the school and how the women’s class she started was shifted to the afternoon and was attended by many, Bondita couldn’t help but wonder perhaps if someone would have been happier today than her it would have been Debaditya. She suddenly missed him.

Somnath stormed into the bedroom as the maid was getting Ashapurna’s hair braided. She stopped as he arrived and Ashapurna gestured for her to leave. As soon as the maid walked away Somnath spoke in frustration.

“They come back after months and do one right thing and everything is back to where it was. They are perfect and everyone is happy!” He sounded irked. “It doesn’t matter how many months of hard work I put in, I am never appreciated with pride like he is.”

“What happened?” Ashapurna asked cluelessly.

“What happened? Do you feel nothing when you see her storm in and take over everything and boss around?” Somnath frowned “Jetha Moshai gave her the keys. She is telling people what to do and… he… suddenly became the perfect son again.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Ashapurna straightened herself and looked at her husband intendedly “ Why are you suddenly annoyed with Didibhai…”

“I am not annoyed with Boudi.” Somnath hid his face in his palms and sighed. “I am irked by how much of my efforts go unnoticed here.”

Ashapurna got up and walked up to her husband slowly and placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly. 

“You know both Dadabhai and Didibhai respect you.”

“I don’t see it, Asha. And neither should you. How do you take her side after she caused you to drift from your own people? Does she even care?” Ashapurna sighed.

“They made a mistake and I didn’t forgive them. She had no part in…”

“Except that her husband insulted them.” Somnath shook his head and walked away trying to avoid a fight with Ashapurna who sat down with a frown.

Aniruddha walked into the bedroom while studying a telegram in his hand, looking a bit grim. Bondita was still acting angry at his behaviour after he shouted at her and didn’t look up as she said in a rather monotonous tone “I went to the school, it was exactly like Jamaibabu wanted it. I wish he were here.” The lack of response from Aniruddha made her frown. Was he angry?

Bondita looked up at his grim face and the telegram in his hand and dropped her pen.

“What is it?” She asked.

Aniruddha handed the telegram over to her, to read in the light of the reading lamp while he walked to the bed in silence.

“Manorama located in Shimulia unrest. Probably dead. Mohitosh.” Bondita’s face turned pale as her throat went dry. 

“Can we not find out for certain?” She found a voice after a good two seconds as Aniruddha looked up and shook his head “Not if she wasn’t in her actual identity there. The chances of which are very less. None of them wants their families to end up in trouble.”

“Hai Bhogoban.” Bondita covered her mouth with her hands like she
was in pain “I was so wrong about her. I was probably even rude to her the last time we…” Aniruddha looked up at her words. Bondita kept shaking her head. “There is no way… she could still be alive, right? What if she contacted me at the Kolkata address?”

Aniruddha placed his hands firmly on her shoulder as she shuddered.

“Bondita. Let it go. It is not in our hands.”

“I was so wrong in judging her, Barrister Babu.” Bondita’s eyes filled up in regret as Aniruddha hugged her reassuringly, placing his hand over her head. He wanted to tell her she wasn’t wrong, but not that day. That day he wanted Bondita to remember and mourn a friend, a freedom fighter and an extraordinarily brave woman. Manorama deserved that.