Isko gale se laga re.
Bondita looked disturbed on her way back from college. Manorama hadn’t shown up that day and the others feared she was still in police custody.
“I hear they beat people with batons.” Anil made her look scared. “They don’t differentiate between men and women when it comes to revolutionaries.” Bondita had walked away from the discussion, lost in thought.
When she was about to take the key out of her bag to open the lock of the door, she frowned, noticing that the lock was missing. She checked her watch. Why was he home so soon? She knocked on the door knob thrice.
Aniruddha looked up at the wall clock almost in a reflex as he got up from the floor, surrounded by his legal papers and went up to unlock the door. His smiling face met Bondita’s anxious one.
“Are you unwell?” She asked, seeing him already freshened up in a yellow Panjabi. Aniruddha shook his head with a smile, taking the bag from her hand.
“No, I just finished my work early. Needed to study for a case. The woman’s case did well for me, now a lot of them want me to fight for them.” He smiled as he poured water from the earthen jug kept in a corner into a copper glass and offered Bondita. She drank it down and sank back into the couch unmindfully.
“What happened?” Aniruddha frowned, noticing her silence. Usually, when he came home she would chat away ceaselessly about her day, what she learnt, and her friends and professors.
“Huh?” She asked cluelessly.
“Bondita.” Aniruddha sat down on the couch beside her and took the glass from her hand. “What’s wrong?” Bondita’s unmindful glance suddenly fell at Aniruddha’s gown hanging from a hook on the wall. She sprang up and faced Aniruddha.
“You remember my friend Manorama?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.
“The revolutionary one?” Aniruddha nodded “Yes.”
“She didn’t come to class today.” Bondita shook her head. “I am afraid she is still in police custody.”
“That’s odd. Doesn’t she have a family? They must be looking for her, right?” Aniruddha asked.
“No.” Bondita shook her head “From what we heard, her brother is a government employee and her family is not against the British Government so they won’t do anything.”
“I see.” Aniruddha shook his head “That’s sad. Instead of being proud of her they…”
“Can you not help her Barrister Babu?” Bondita stared with hopeful eyes as Aniruddha looked up at her face “You help the revolutionaries, don’t you?”
“I do… but…” Aniruddha placed his hand on his chin and thought a little. “Okay let me go out.” He stood up abruptly “They must be in custody at Lal Bazaar.”
“If they are, will you help her?” Bondita asked. Aniruddha nodded.
“Of course, she is a friend, right?” He said, “Let me get changed.”
“Can I come along?” Bondita asked eagerly. “How will you recognize her?”
“Tell me her name and details. I will find her. You don’t need to come along. The area seems agitated and I may be back late. Don’t worry. I will find her and grant her bail.” He reassured her.
“I will pack some fruits and water for you.” Bondita ran to the kitchen.
The police headquarters at Lal Bazaar beside the Lal Dighi was the busiest part of the city of Calcutta. One of the three main presidential police quarters, the number of criminals hanged across the road from this red colonial building surpassed many countries. The British Police were boastful of their strict laws, although the law itself seemed oddly favourable to their colour. Aniruddha stood at the main gateways to the building and put on his black coat. He walked in and enquired about the prisoners from the college agitation. After a brief wait, he was redirected to the office of one of the lower rank officers who sat in a corner of a larger room full of colleagues, with a simple desk and chair.
“How can I help?” Although he said it, Officer Hallway seemed reluctant. Aniruddha eyed his nameplate.
“I am Barrister Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and I am here to bail out a client.” The man sat up on his chair and observed Aniruddha carefully.
“Ah, a young blood involved with those terrorists, eh?” He seemed to wear a smirk. “Saw so many of you idiots destroy your career like this!”
“My client’s name is Manorama Bakshi and…” He stopped as Hallway got up abruptly.
“ Manohar?” He shouted across the corridor “Where are you, rascal?”
A cadet came running down the corridor and saluted Hallway.
“Ah, who sent him here?” He frowned. “Take him to the special unit. He is looking for one of those who came in yesterday.” The Cadet nodded and gestured at Aniruddha to follow him.
“Are you a family member?” He asked once they were out in the corridors.
“No, I am a Barrister. My client…” Manohar smiled “Well, they keep barristers too I see.” He sounded surprised.
He led Aniruddha through a wooden half-door into a smaller room.
“Sir, this man is a barrister to one of those….” The man looked up. Aniruddha was surprised to see the officer was in fact Indian. Usually, the Indian officers were not in charge of the freedom fighters.
“Ah, Which one?” He asked, opening a thick book.
“Manorama Bakshi,” Aniruddha spoke as the man gestured to him to sit down. His nameplate read “P.N. Banerjee.”
“And your name?” He asked Aniruddha, giving him an observing glance.
“Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. I practice at the High Court of Justice at Calcutta.”
“Ah, any chamber address?” He asked to take the pen from the pen stand. “You have to fill in the details.”
“Yes. Courthouse Street.” Aniruddha took the pen and filled in the details.
“Do you have papers ready?” The man asked as he nodded. “I got it signed by the Judge.”
He had stopped by to do the needful. Banerjee glanced at the paperwork and rang a bell on his table. Manohar arrived again.
“Bring the girl.”
Manorama was a little taken aback when Manohar called out her name. She looked around at her fellow inmates.
“They must be calling you for interrogation.” One of the inmates warned. Manorama’s jaws tightened. For the past twenty-four hours she was in this small cell she shared with ten others, with no facilities of a proper washroom or food. They had refused to touch what was offered. She was weak and her body was slowly giving up on her. But her mind was strong and determined. She wouldn’t utter a word. Not even if they hit her.
“Your lawyer came to bail you out,” Manohar spoke as she was unchained. Manorama looked a bit taken aback and clueless. Who would come for her?
As the cadet led her into the office room Aniruddha glanced over his shoulder at the approaching figure. He got up from his seat and folded his hands as her eyes caught his.
“I am Barrister Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. You may not know me …”
“Bondita’s husband?” Manorama asked, raising her eyebrows a little. He smiled with a nod.
“She sent me here to bail you out. Just sign these papers please.” He pointed at the papers Banerjee was still inspecting. Manorama sat down on the chair Aniruddha had left as he bent over the side of the table to point out where to sign.
“Does my bail come with any price or conditions?” Manorama asked a little unsure before signing.
“Absolutely not. The judge approved it, you can read it if you want to,” he reassured. “You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Manorama signed the papers. Banerjee nodded at Manohar tossing the paper into a file.
“You may leave now,” Manohar spoke as he showed them out.
It was late evening when Aniruddha walked out on the streets with Manorama in tow. She seemed to be limping.
“Are you hurt?” He asked, noticing as she shook her head.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “You saved me.”
“Actually thank Bondita. She was worried for you.” He smiled as he looked away at the coming tram to see its route. “Why don’t you come along and stay the night with us? Bondita will be offended if I let you go alone.” He offered, unsure if she could at all go back home. Manorama smiled as though she read his mind.
“Don’t worry, Barrister Babu. My grandmother was one fiery lady. She inspired me into this and left me half of her house. They can’t throw me out even if they want to. I better go home. This tram will be good.” Aniruddha nodded.
“Please, call me Aniruddha.” Manorama smiled with a nod.
“Do thank Bondita. I will see her tomorrow.”
She stopped the tram with a hand gesture.
“Here. For the ticket.” Aniruddha swiftly took out a rupee from his pocket and offered. Manorama smiled. “How do I give it back to you?”
“You can give it to Bondita tomorrow.” He suggested.
“And what if I am in trouble again, where do I find you?” She asked.
“My chamber is in Courthouse Street.” Aniruddha smiled as Manorama boarded the tram and it left.
Bondita was staring at the clock in eager anticipation as a thousand thoughts crossed her mind. Did she put him in trouble? The knock on the door made her jump and she ran to open it. A relieved look washed across her face as Aniruddha nodded with a smile and handed her the coat.
“I am hungry.” He said.
“I will serve dinner.” Bondita smiled, “Tell me everything.”
The next day as soon as Bondita arrived at college Manorama came to hug her. Her face looked pale and she seemed weak in general. There were marks of bruises on her hands and cheek.
“Why did you come today? You should have rested.” Bondita frowned.
“And listen to my mother’s accusations on how I ruined the family reputation? No, thank you. I owe you a lot, Bondita. And Aniruddha too.” Bondita looked up at her face and smiled.
“He told me the process was smoother than he expected.” Manorama nodded.
Aniruddha was wrapping up work, as he set his files down and checked his watch. He planned to take home some Roshogolla and surprise Bondita. Since she witnessed the agitation the other day he had noticed her being more silent and lost in thoughts. He wanted his chirpy Bondita back and he knew a Bhar of Roshogolla would do the trick. He stopped as he saw a figure approaching him. Manorama smiled as he looked up from his desk.
“Here’s your rupee.” She held out a rupee he looked a bit surprised.
“You didn’t need to take the pain of coming all the way here.” he shook his head “You could have given it to Bondita.”
“No, I wanted to personally thank you for what you did.” She held out a wrapped Bhar and smiled “I got you some sweets since Bondita said you won’t take fees from me.”
“That’s kind of you, you didn’t need to though.” Aniruddha shook his head. “You are her friend and I would have helped you anyway.”
“Well, if you accept this I will feel I am your friend too, Aniruddha. And then I can tell you what I actually came here for.” Manorama smiled, holding the anchol of her saree as his brows shot up, a little surprised.
“Thank you,” he said, taking the sweets from her. “Bondita would love them.”
“Now that means you accept my friendship?” Manorama extended her hand. Aniruddha was not used to women shaking hands and he was quite surprised as he shook it with a nod.
“Now I can tell you.” She looked at the empty chair as Aniruddha said, “Sure, have a seat.”
“You see, initially my grandmother used to help the Anushilan Samiti. I am part of a much smaller group now. And we mainly take part in protests not only in the city but also in district offices.” Aniruddha listened attentively, staring at the papers piled up and nodded as Manorama proceeded “A lot of our members are often jailed or wrongly tried. I wanted to ask if you could help us with the legal process. Bondita said you help freedom fighters…”
“I will be happy to. Now that you know where my office is, come by when you need help.” He nodded and stood up. Manorama took it as a cue and got up with a smile. “Thank you.”
Bondita was surprised to see Aniruddha come home with Rosogollas.
“What’s the occasion?” She asked, wiping her wet hand in her anchol before serving him water.
“Oh, Manorama came by with this to thank me.” He smiled. “I said it wasn’t needed but…” He went inside to change. Bondita frowned slightly.
“That’s odd,” Bondita said almost to herself. “She didn’t tell me anything, otherwise I would have gone with her.” She shrugged to herself and unwrapped the paper to smell the rosogollas with a smile.
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