Dil mein thi aag jo de apna le jalaya re
Trilochan Roy Chowdhury walked into the empty bedroom with a sigh and stopped at the picture on the wall. It was a picture he had insisted to be taken, during the Durga puja, of the entire family. His hand hovered over the happy faces of Aniruddha and Bondita. Trilochan looked around the empty room. For the last eight years, there weren't a lot of days that Bondita was absent from this house. He had a task at hand. To talk to Binoy and the Mukhopadhayays and set things right in Tulsipur. Then he needed to get his children home. He sat down on the writing desk and looked at the notebooks Bondita had left behind. For the first time in his life, Trilochan felt lonely in his own home.
“Mashima asked me to go downstairs to meet the other tenants in the evening,” Bondita spoke as she made a list of things they needed to buy from the market for Aniruddha. “Can I accompany you to the market and see the things myself?” She made him nod.
“I will have to go to work tomorrow. It’s better if you know the neighbours. I will be less worried that way.” He agreed. “It’s almost a week until your orientation.” He got up to reach for the trunk “That reminds me, we need to buy your books and stationary…”
“Can’t it wait till next month?” His hands stopped at counting the money as she spoke. Aniruddha turned to look at his wife with questioning eyes. “I mean, we already have so many expenses…”
“Bondita.” Aniruddha spoke rather firmly “I will not compromise on your education. We have come all the way here for it. Leave the financial decisions to me. Set up the house in a week and start studying. I was thinking of getting you a teacher…”
“ Won’t you teach me anymore Barrister Babu?” She frowned.
“I will. But I also have work and I don’t want your studies to be neglected.” He spoke almost to himself. “It would be better if I helped you with chores and cooking instead.”
“ Cooking!” Bondita sounded alarmed “You will not make my life easier that way, trust me. My studies won’t be neglected. I don’t want another teacher. I want you.” She frowned, making him smile. He knew she was saying it because of the expenses.
“We will see.” He shook his head.
“Bondita.” He sat down on the newly spread bedsheet on the mattress patting the side beside him for her to sit on. “There is a problem.”
“Problem?” Bondita asked with a narrowed pair of eyebrows.
“Yes, when you graduate do I call you Barrister Babu too?” He asked with raised eyebrows and an amused smile “Or since nobody is here to scold you, you start calling me Aniruddha?” Bondita’s eyes widened. There was no way she would do that.
“You can call me Barrister Babu too.” She giggled intelligently. Aniruddha looked at her with warning eyes and before she could decipher what he meant, he started tickling her, making her throw her head back and laugh.
“Hush!” He laughed amused. “Don’t shout like that or else people will think I am threatening you.” He looked wide-eyed as she giggled.
In the evening Bondita followed Sarala Devi to the courtyard where the women sat with tea and snacks they had made at home.
“I am sorry I didn’t bring…” She looked awkward.
“Oh, it’s your first day here.” Sarala Devi smiled. “We have a lot of time to taste your food.”
“Here are some Narkel Naru I made.” One of the ladies offered “I am Balaka. Mitra Babu’s wife. I have a son. Do you have children?” Bondita shook her head and thanked her for the Naru as she sat down on the porch.
“I made Alur chop.” Another woman smiled, “My daughter loves them.”
“So does Dutta Babu, doesn’t he Latika?” The others teased. Bondita shared a smile.
"Tell me what brings you to Calcutta."
"And where are you from?" The women looked curious.
"You look well off." Someone commented.
"Oh yes, they are Zamindars from Tulsipur." Sarala Devi's words made them gasp.
"What are you doing here then?" Balaka asked, "I thought rich people didn't need to work."
"Her husband is a Barrister," Sarala spoke again.
"Actually we are here because I enrolled in college." Bondita's answer made the women look at one another. "He wants me to be a barrister too."
Some of them gasped. Others had judgmental stares. She knew what they were thinking. A woman dared to share her husband's profession? In villages or cities, mentalities remained the same.
"Oh, you are so lucky you can study. I wanted to when I was married off. Your husband is so supportive." Latika made her smile. "I would like to meet Dada."
"Oh, sure." Bondita nodded. "If you want to study, I can help. I used to teach women in the village." Latika shook her head. "I am glad my husband allowed my daughter to be educated. She is eight. You can teach her if you have time."
"I would love to." Bondita agreed.
After the ladies dispersed, Latika took Bondita to her apartment. The door was ajar and a small child was sitting on the floor playing with dolls. Bondita sat down on the floor beside the child.
"What is your name?"
"Mahasweta." The child smiled. "Will you play with me?"
"Hain."
"Do you know Mohi, Kakima goes to college?" Her mother smiled.
"She does?"
"I will from Monday." Bondita smiled.
"I go to school." Mohi smiled, "Did you go to school?"
"I didn't. I was homeschooled." Bondita shook her head. "In fact, I didn't even start studying at your age." She smiled. "You are lucky."
"Will you attend my doll's wedding on Saturday?" Mohi asked. "Ma will make luchi."
"I would love to. I can make her a saree if you like." Bondita smiled. The child smiled.
"How was meeting the neighbours like?" Aniruddha asked once she was home.
"They seem to be nice." Her words made him raise his brows in suspicion.
"No judgmental looks?"
"Ah, we aren't that lucky." Bondita shrugged. "Latika di is very nice. She wanted to study but was married off. Her daughter is eight." She suddenly smelled something funny and walked towards the kitchen.
"I presume you befriended her?" Bondita nodded at Aniruddha's query.
"She wants to meet you too." She spoke as she noticed the mess in the kitchen.
"What happened here?" She sounded alarmed.
"While you were gone I figured I would learn to make Ruti." Aniruddha smiled sheepishly.
"Show me." Bondita smiled amused. He shook his head. Bondita laughed seeing the shape and texture of the bread.
"Let's make a deal, Sikhshak Babu." She said tying the end of her saree to her waist and started cleaning up the mess. "I am giving you cooking lessons. While you help me study."
"Done." He nodded with a smile.
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