Hijr: Dreams

She was running through a meadow. A lush green endless vast land meeting the sky on the horizon. She stopped for breath and turned. There were mountain ranges behind her. Suddenly she realised although she was part of the scene, she wasn't quite herself; her name, her identity. Yet it was her. She stopped under a royal Poinciana in full bloom. A lady was playing the flute. The tune was quite familiar. The lady was she. His familiar face suddenly met her eyes. Hoor woke up with goosebumps.

He was attracted by the flute like a bee was to honey. In a trance, he could see himself walking towards her flute. He sat down at her feet, mesmerised. Her eyes were closed, and her lips trembled to make music on the flute. The wind and the rustling leaves made music with her, it seemed. He wanted to talk, but no words came out. Finally, she stopped playing and opened her eyes. Taraksh sat up in his bed. What was that?

They had been in the programme for three days now, and Taraksh barely found time to talk to anyone except Hoor. He shook off the dream as a figment of his subconscious mind, which was probably intrigued by this woman he had just met. As Hoor eased her sleepless heavy head with a cup of tea, she tried to reason her dream due to continued interaction with the same person. But, somehow, her heart disagreed with her mind.

And then met the same day again, for it was time to continue their research. They noted down everything they found vital. However, sitting across the table since the morning, they were silent. Finally, their team leader approached with a smile.

"Don't just work here. You have come here from two different places. Know each other too." He patted Taraksh's back. Eyes met briefly at his words.

Words of greetings that escaped their lips were frivolous; the thoughts behind them were far more different. None of them spoke of what they dreamt, but none could brush it off either. Hoor and Taraksh stared at each other for a moment and an unspoken past dissolved in the air. Eventually, it was Hoor who broke the silence- "Seems your night was cachectic!"

"Well, not quite, just a few random thoughts. Do I look devoid of sleep?" He smiled sheepishly.

"In some ways, yes." Hoor nodded. Taraksh wondered a little, staring at her face, trying to put it in his dream. She fitted perfectly, making him feel a little ill at ease. Hoor could feel his stare. She shifted a little.

"Same goes for you too. Guess it's the excitement of this event." He broke his stare and looked away, feeling her uneasiness.

"Most likely, yes." Hoor had a faint smile on her face as they resumed work in silence.

After the usual security checks on the artefacts they had taken, Taraksh asked, "Which one are you going to take first?"

"I would definitely want to have a look at the seals again. More than monetary value, it seems to me that those people were trying to communicate. What about you?"

Taraksh replied in an excited tone, "This indeed is a surprise! I share similar thoughts. The clay tablets and writings are something quite unexplored, and the interest of witnessing those brought me here in the first place."

Hoor darted an agreeing smile towards a beaming Taraksh, who continued towards the section where clay tablets and Indus symbols were kept.

It was noon, and both of them were chatting away at the museum cafeteria. Apart from the food, photographs of certain clay seals and tablets that they had picked up for the day lay in front of them. The food went cold, and both continued scrutinising the findings.

"This is the most astonishing!" exclaimed Taraksh casually, taking a sip at his cold coffee. Watching him sigh in distaste, Hoor continued his exclamation, "So it seems. Of all the clay tablets, these series of four writings are somewhat similar and yet pretty different." Watching him ponder deeply in one of the clay writings, Hoor questioned, "What's your theory?"

"There is an unmistakable pattern at the end of each writing. Additionally, if you look closely," Taraksh passed the photographs to Hoor, "a certain group of symbols are repeating themselves. Unlike the seals, this seems like whoever wrote this was trying to communicate something to someone."

"How can you be so sure?" Hoor asked, intrigued.

"Well, look here," Taraksh started marking each photograph with a marker, "The symbols in the footnotes are repeated in alternate clay tablets. Both these groups of symbols can be found in other places too. My theory, you say? I think these were journals or maybe letters. Ahhh! Only if their writing was deciphered."

Hoor gasped, "Wow! That's pretty accurate, I must say, but will it not be far-fetched to claim they wrote letters and journals? I mean, there is no evidence that the Indus people actually wrote or maintained records, right? I think we should just record the similarity." Looking at Taraksh, she remarked, "There are also a few things you missed pointing out. Let me do the honours." Taking the marker from his hand, she continued, "If you look closely, each of these symbols is scribbled in a pattern. According to my guess, it almost seems like a person or two people were communicating. So to a larger extent, keeping aside the mind, my heart says you're right."

"Could it not be possible that they must have adapted communication through writing like the ancient Egyptians or Sumerians did? I mean, we have evidence there, and these are contemporary civilisations with trade relationships."

"Possible." Hoor agreed, "But we need more than theories and our gut feelings to actually prove that we are right. So let's put the similarities in our reports, not what we assume them to be. We are archaeologists. We aren't here to make stories."

A glint of humbleness sparked in Taraksh's eyes, "But just for the sake of it, imagine. To think, of two people communicating with each other thousands of years ago and us, trying to decipher thousands of years apart, is such a divine oxymoron. Maybe, they were siblings; maybe, they were lovers. It's rightly said-the paper burns, but the words fly away."

The shadows of the late noon brightened the face of Hoor. The apogee of her contrast took Taraksh by surprise for a moment, and the dreams of the previous night came floating by. Unaware of his gasp, Hoor said, "If what we are thinking is the truest message behind these tablets, then hopefully we did bring together two people who strived to meet but could never. The problem is their language has still not been deciphered."

Looking at Taraksh for a reply, she noticed his eyes shine brilliantly with joy. How curiously he looked towards her, it seemed he knew her for ages! Again, the dreams of the night now weighed on her mind. She stared blankly at the eyes of Taraksh, which seemed to search for something on her own. How familiar they were, but how? Hoor had never been a fan of romance. Yet, somehow today, she was.

Time had stopped as even their breaths went cold in memories. Finally, the bustle of the cafeteria brought them back to reality and breaking the uncomfortable silence, Taraksh spoke, "I think we should head back to the office or I guess, I mean, we can hit the library to cross-check references."

Hoor suddenly found herself at a loss for words, "Oh yes! I mean, sure. The library seems good and uh… the office too. No, right. The library, yes." Hoor suddenly dreaded being in the silent, empty office with him. Did he get that she was conscious? She hoped not.

Taraksh nodded, and Hoor got up, following his cue. The day after was supposed to be the conclusion of the event. They had to submit their reports soon. The closing ceremony would end with a small keynote speech from the respective archaeological departments of India and Pakistan. Then, there would be borders once again.

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Protisruti

প্রতিশ্রুতি বন্দিতা মা কে জড়িয়ে ধরে যেন প্রাণ ফিরে পায়। “ভাল আছিস?” জিগেস করে সুমতি। বন্দিতা হঠাৎ খেয়াল করে আগের মতো তার মুখ দেখেই তার মা আর তার মনের অবস্থা বুঝতে পারেন না। তার সাথে হঠাৎ মনে পরে কত অনায়াসে অনিরুদ্ধ বোঝে যে তার মন খারাপ। একবার জিজ্ঞেস করেছিল সে স্বামীকে, কি করে তিনি বোঝেন তার মন খারাপ। ছোট বন্দিতাকে তার মতন করে বুঝিয়েছিলেন তার স্বামী। আজ বন্দিতা বড় হয়েছে কিন্তু সেই প্রশ্ন সে আর করতে পারেনা। বন্দিতাকে খাটিয়ার উপর বসিয়ে এর মধ্যেই সুমতি যায় তার জন্য মুড়ি মুড়কি আনতে। বন্দিতার চোখ পরে পায়ের নূপুরের উপর। তিনি বলেছিলেন “তুমি খুশি হলে তোমার নূপুরের আওয়াজ অন্যরকম হয়, আর তোমার মন খারাপ হলে অন্যরকম।” বন্দিতা নূপুরটা বাজিয়ে দেখেছিল সেদিন। আজকে সে জানে পার্থক্য তার নূপুরের শব্দে নয়, অনিরুদ্ধের পর্যবেক্ষণ শক্তিতে। আবার কেন তার কথা ভাবছে সে? বাড়ি এসেছে মায়ের কাছে। আর ভাববে না সে, হয়তো দু তিন দিন পর ত্রিলোচনবাবু পাঠাবেন বিহারী কে বন্দিতাকে বাড়ি নিয়ে যেতে, ততদিন মায়ের কাছে একটু শান্তিতে থাকুক না সে। দুপুরে আম দুধ দিয়ে ভাত দেয় তাকে সুমতি। “তোর প্রিয় খাবার দেখ, মাম...

Answers

Aniruddha could not work all day. It started raining heavily outside, the curtains of the room swayed in the gusty wind, and things around the room toppled over. Koeli came to pick them up, to see if he wanted to eat anything but Aniruddha wanted to be left alone. Countless questions and fears raced through his mind. Bondita never went home like she did that day. Rather, once a year, even before Jamai Sasti, she checked the household chores a hundred times. If Batuk had a test, if someone was sick, she was reluctant to go. She just packed a bundle so quickly and left for her mother’s place. Had she distanced herself from Aniruddha? Was it his fault? Anirudha started thinking. Could she not take him as a husband because he pushed her away and hurt her? Aniruddha repented for his actions. If indeed Bondita denied their relationship knowing the truth behind it, could she be blamed? But was that why she was pretending to be asleep even though she was awake that night? What did she think ab...

Promises

Bondita hugged her mother as if to find herself again. "Are you okay?" Sumati smiled. Bondita suddenly noticed that her mother couldn't understand her state of mind just by looking at her face anymore. With that, she suddenly remembered how easily Aniruddha understood that she was upset. Once she asked her husband how he understood things without her saying it. Her husband explained to little Bondita in a way she would understand. Now that Bondita was grown up she could perhaps never ask him that question again. Meanwhile, Sumati hurried to get her some Muri Murki while she sat down on the bed. Bondita's eyes fell on her feet. He had said, "When you are happy, your anklet sounds different, and when you are sad, it is different." Bondita stirred her anklets unmindfully. Today she knew the difference was not in the sound of her Nupur but in Aniruddha's powers of observation. Why was she thinking about him? She came home to her mother. And she would not th...

Choices

The winter rains and gusty wind were unpleasant weather for Adhiraja Ishaan Dev. The Suryapalian capital was far more tropical weather of the plain lands than that of Neelambargarh, situated on a plateau rather close to the Heemdevi. It rained more in Neelambargarh, and the winters were cold. The wine did very little to comfort him as he kept the lamps of his chamber lit in an attempt to feel warmer. On the contrary, he observed how Priyambada complained that the winter isn't cold enough. It had been a quarter of the moon cycle since Maharani Priyambada met Kumari Advika of Mait. Although Ishaan Dev was eager to know what the ladies did talk about, he wasn’t sure whether to ask Priyambada. So he waited for her to tell him something, anything! But Priyambada seemed to act like the meeting never happened. She didn’t even disclose anything to Smriti as per Kumar Viraj. Ishaan Dev was perplexed. What was talked of in the meeting? Worse, did Advika mention him? She must have. The last t...

Going Home

Bondita's Mama came to Tulsipur to meet his daughter. He was a poor man and wore a short dhoti and a Batik shirt. It was wrong to come empty-handed to the daughter's house, so two pots of sweets accompanied him. Reluctantly, he had to go to Roy Chowdhury's house. They were the Zamindar of Tulsipur, the master of the father-in-law of Sampoorna, they needed to be respected. Apart from that, the fate of the sister and niece who he was reluctant to shelter and spent day and night rebuking them about had turned, the same sister now handed over some money to him by the end of the month, because of the kindness of Aniruddha Babu. He did not have the luxury of pushing Lakshmi away. Hence it was necessary to come to the landlord's house to meet his niece. In their house servants also dressed better than him; Look at the fate of the girl . Where he had arranged for her to stay in a corner of an old man's house, now Bondita was living a queen’s life. Zamindar Trilochan Roy Ch...

Uttor

উত্তর সারাদিন কাজে মন বসেনা অনিরুদ্ধর। বাইরে অঝোরে বৃষ্টি হতে থাকে, ঝোড়োও হওয়ায় ঘরের পর্দা দোলে , জিনিসপত্র এলোমেলো হয়ে যায়। কয়েলি আসে ছোট মালিকের জিনিস গুছিয়ে দিতে, তিনি কিছু খাবেন কিনা শুধোতে কিন্তু তাকে চলে যেতে বলে ঘরে খিল দেয় অনিরুদ্ধ। একা থাকতে চায়। তার মনে আনাগোনা করে অসংখ প্রশ্ন এবং আশংকা। যে ভাবে বন্দিতা স্বেচ্ছায় মায়ের কাছে গেল আজ, সেরকম সে কোনদিন যায়না । বরং বছরে একবার জামাই ষষ্টিতে যাওয়ার আগেও একশো বার বাড়ির কাজকম্ম দেখে শুনে যায়। বটুকের পরীক্ষা, কারুর শরীর খারাপ হলে তো কথাই নেই। সেই বন্দিতা আজ হঠাৎ বাড়ি যাবে বলে কি তাড়াতাড়ি পোটলা গুছিয়েছে। এতই কি দূরে চলে গেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের থেকে? তা কি তার নিজের দোষে? ভাবতে থাকে অনিরুদ্ধ। সে দূরে সরিয়ে দিয়েছে বলে অভিমান না কি তাকে স্বামী রূপে গ্রহণ করতে পারেনা বন্দিতা? অনিরুদ্ধ পশ্চাতাপ করে। সত্যি যদি বন্দিতা সব জেনে তাদের সম্পর্ক অস্বীকার করে, তাকে কি দোষ দেওয়া চলে? তবে কি তাই সেদিন রাত্রে জেগে থাকা সত্যেও ঘুমের অভিনয় করছিল সে? কি ভেবেছে সে অনিরুদ্ধের ব্যাপারে? কেন চারিদিক বাছবিচার না করে এমন করল অনিরুদ্ধ? নিজের প্রতিজ্ঞ...

Adornment

The rainy night had given way to a rather pleasant summer morning in Suryapali. The temperature was no longer soaring and a gentle breeze blew through the plains of Suryapali. The sun peeped out through the floating clouds occasionally. Priyambada walked into her chambers after a luncheon to find trays laid with drapes and jewellery, waiting for her. “The Maharani sent this for some celebration in the evening,” Vrinda spoke, bowing at her mistress who nodded silently. Priyambada eyed the trays and exhaled. She wasn’t sure if anyone talked to Ishaan Dev about the rituals. She dismissed Vrinda and decided to read the scripture. As Priyambada sat down on the edge of the bed, scripture in hand, her thoughts travelled to the happenings of the night and she inhaled as her throat felt dry. Why did he stop? Did he feel that he had offended her? Priyambada wondered. She walked up to the attire laid down for the evening and picked up the drape wrapped into a bodice and wrap-around skirt. They w...

Ghore Fera

ঘরে ফেরা বন্দিতার মামা মেয়ের সাথে দেখা করতে আসেন তুলশিপুর। গরিবের ঘরের ছা পোষা চেহারা তার, পরনে খাটো ধুতি ও ছিটের জামা। মেয়ের শশুরবাড়িতে খালি হাতে আসা অন্যায় তাই দুটি মিষ্টির হাড়ি সাথে। অনিচ্ছা সত্তেও রায় চৌধুরী বাড়িতে যেতে হয় তাকে। তারা তুলশিপুরের জমিদার, সম্পূর্ণার শ্বশুরের মনিব, তাদের সম্মান করে চলা মঙ্গল। তা ছাড়া যে বোন ও বোনঝিকে আশ্রয় দেওয়া নিয়ে দিনরাত কথা শোনাতে বাঁধতো না তার, সেই বোন এখন মাস গেলে তার হাতে টাকা তুলে দেয়, অনিরুদ্ধ বাবুর দয়ায়। হাতে আসা লক্ষ্মী পায়ে ঠেলার বিলাসিতা করার মত মুরোদ নয় তার। অগত্যা বোনঝির সাথে দেখা করতে জমিদার বাড়ি আসা। এদের বাড়ির চাকররাও তার থেকে ভাল পোশাক পরে; ভাগ্য দেখো মেয়েটার। কোথায় কোন বুড়োর বাড়ির এক কোণে পরে থাকার ব্যবস্থা করেছিল সে, এখন বন্দিতা রাজরানী। জমিদার ত্রিলোচন রায় চৌধুরীর যাকে পছন্দ নয় তাকে তিনি সেটা বুঝিয়ে দিতে দ্বিধা বোধ করেন না। বন্দিতার মামা তার তেমন এক অপছন্দের পাত্র । বৌমার মুখে তিনি যা শুনেছেন তারপর বৌমার তাদের প্রতি টান দেখে আশ্চর্য হন ত্রিলোচন বাবু। কিন্তু কুটুম্ব তারা। হাতে কর...

Trust

Ishaan Dev woke up at the sound of the hourly bells and trumpets and found himself alone in bed. It took him some time to realise that he had perhaps overslept as he looked confused, half asleep first at the hourglass and then at the sun rays coming into the chambers through the swaying curtains. He sat up to suddenly remember the happenings of the night, as his eyes travelled to the blood stain on the sheet and he sat in contemplation for a good few minutes. He finally had his moment with Priyambada and it was nothing like he had imagined it to be. A part of him that yearned to touch her and taste her was satisfied enough to realise that his longing for her was not only physical. When bodies entwined in the union, and he had pushed himself in, as he had with a hundred other women before her, something in him felt a different sense of completeness and fulfilment that he realised was missing from his life. He had seen Priyambada react to the sensations that were completely new to her, m...

Gratefulness

Aniruddha did not return home that night, he informed on the telephone that he was stuck in urgent work so he would return home the next day after spending the night at the client's house. Bondita spent a sleepless night. What would she tell Barrister Babu? And why would he believe it? She was lost in her thoughts twisting and turning in bed all night. She was hurt. Was her husband so reluctant towards their relationship that he did not wish to return home because of her? Once he was busy with some work and was pacing in the study room. Bondita was a child. Her Jetha Shoshur Moshai had taught her to serve her husband. She used to see Bihari take a cup of tea to the study room every day. Despite Bihari's resistance, she picked up the cup of tea that day. "Don't do this, Ginnima ," Bihari was terrified. “Barrister Babu does not like to talk or be disturbed during his work. If he gets angry, I will lose my job.” Bondita ignored his words and entered the study room w...

RAABTA

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