Acceptance

The camp was relatively smaller owing to the less number of troops that had assembled there. Ishaan Dev arrived to find only one large tent had been set up in the area while a few smaller, makeshift shelters surrounded it. He glanced over at Priyambada who was helped by one of the soldiers to get down from her horse and she ran to the comfort of the fire that was lit in the middle of the camping area. She rubbed her hands in the fire and comforted herself by hugging her arms. The chills of the evening were slowly setting in.

Yuvaraja Ishaan Dev walked into the tent and splashed water on his face and arms from the basin kept on the side. He then quickly changed his clothes and looked around. A carpet was laid down on the ground, with a single mattress to act as a bed for the night. He sighed. He then walked outside to find Priyambada sitting on the bank of the river in the darkness. He walked up behind her and stopped carefully at a distance hearing her sobbing. His voice of authority was back.
“Go to the tent, clean up and have dinner. My men need to rest and we have to leave at dawn.” She wiped away her tears and stood up. Without glancing at him she moved away towards the tent.
“There is a single tent.” He spoke again. “We have to manage for the night.” His words made her stop on her track as her heart skipped a beat. Did he take her cordiality and cooperation as an invitation? Priyambada’s jaws tightened. Could she save herself here? Amidst his men? She checked the dagger in her waistband and left.

Rajkumari Priyambada had managed to change into a fresh set of clothes from her bundle, as the guard outside announced Ishaan Dev’s arrival. She folded the bundle back and watched the men alongside him lay down dinner on the carpet. She realised how hungry she was the moment the aroma filled up the room. Priyambada watched them lay down the plates as Ishaan Dev sat down to eat.

“You… are eating here?” She asked as he completely ignored her presence in a most unroyal manner and started eating while she stood there.

“You expect me to eat with the troops under the sky?” His taunting voice was back. Priyambada silently walked up to her plate, set it up across from him, and took her first morsel. Ishaan Dev finished his meal when she was halfway through and got up and walked over to his couch. Priyambada’s guards were automatically up and alert as he moved across the tent almost nonchalantly. She had just finished her food and was about to get up when a wrapped piece of cloth landed on her lap. She looked up with questioning eyes as he walked away towards the empty part of the carpet and laid down on the floor, using his arm as a pillow. She opened the cloth and found the ring she had given to the horseman and the bangle from the Den.

“How did you…”

“ Found them on your trail.” Ishaan Dev spoke almost to himself as he turned his back to her.

Priyambada waited for the men to clear away the plates and looked around with a sigh. Her gaze fixed on the empty bed and then back at Ishaan Dev. Was he sleeping? Was it safe for her to put her guard down? She sat down on the bed her mind and body struggling between tired and unsure. She had fallen asleep in that half-sitting position she was in, resting her head against the pillow. Her hair fell across the bedspread as she fell into a deep sleep. Ishaan Dev woke up in the middle of the night, coughing, and looked for the jug of water, in the dark. The starlight made the inside of the tent barely visible as he managed to find the jug. His eyes fell on her half-situated sleeping figure as he finished quenching his thirst. A small lamp was lit on the side of her bed. He walked up to the side of the bed and stared at her uncomfortable position. It felt weird to see the sleeping Priyambada. She looked so timid. His gaze followed the strands of ebony black hair spread across the bedspread to her face she looked sad. Her lips quivered a little as though she was talking to someone. Priyambada was dreaming. Ishaan Dev suddenly felt conscious of himself as his stare at her sleeping figure made him realise she had a black mole on her upper lip line. He looked away and sighed. He turned to go back to his sleep when he heard her murmur in her sleep. It sounded like she was sobbing and speaking to someone.

“Please. Please. Please.” She murmured “Spare him. He is my elder brother. Spare him.” Her words became more than just mumble as Ishaan Dev froze. “No. No. No.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sat up with a jolt. Her eyes were still half closed. Ishaan Dev immediately reached her side as she placed her head on his chest and sobbed inconsolably. Her hands covered her face as she kept fumbling “They mutilated him. I pleaded. I … they didn’t listen to me. They killed Prithvi.” Ishaan Dev froze for a moment as her tears wet his attire. He didn’t know what to say. Emotions toward women were not his forte. He had seen worse than mutilated bodies. Priyambada kept sobbing. “Why? Why?” Ishaan Dev didn’t know what to do to pacify her sobs. He uncomfortably placed his hand over her head. The moment his rough hands touched her head, Priyambada regained her senses. She was seeking comfort from the very man who caused this. A sudden anger rushed through her veins. What was she thinking? She jolted immediately, pushing him away as she moved two inches away still seated on the mattress. She looked away and wiped her tears. Her jaws tightened.

Ishaan Dev understood what she was feeling. He got up and moved away, giving her space to pacify her emotions. He understood the hatred in her eyes was very much justified. No amount of cordiality or her mother's harshness could change that. She held him responsible for everything. He walked out of the tent towards the burning campfire. Priyambada watched him leave as she sat numb and sleepless.

Ishaan Dev yawned as they approached the borders. Priyambada eyed him. He hadn’t walked back into the tent the entire night, as she sat awake. She felt tired and restless. Worse, she was still unsure how she would be treated once they reached Siyori. A captive who ran away was mostly beheaded. Not that she was scared of death, but she knew it would cause further damage to her people. Naive as she was to think of herself and trust her mother above her people. Priyambada felt she had failed her father.

“Subjects over everything else, Priyambada.” He used to say.

Maharani Trinayani Devi’s hug set all her fears to rest. For the first time, she appreciated the queen’s motherly gesture fully. She sobbed in her arms, as Ishaan Dev walked past them into the inner palace. It was only after they had rested that Ishaan Dev was called into the chambers of his father. The queen paced the room as Trikal Dev sat leaning on a couch on the bed.

“I have something to discuss with you.” The king spoke as he bowed.

“As you know, the law of the land says any captive who tries to escape should be tried in the court, in front of all the ministers and the ministers judge whether they should be punished.” Ishaan Dev eyed his mother’s grim face at his father’s words.

“Most of them are executed.” Trinayani Devi added, almost like a reminder.

“Yes, but the ministers are well aware of the political influence this girl holds. Especially with the rebels.” The king shrugged, “I can’t change the law or make exceptions.”

“She didn’t escape.” Ishaan Dev watched his parents exchange a glance at his words.

“Pardon?” Trinayani Devi frowned as though she heard wrong.

“She didn’t escape. She went to find her mother. She was going to come back.” Ishaan Dev looked up at his father.

“What? Are you sure?” The king asked as he nodded.

“Mother said she is not a captive. So her going anywhere shouldn’t be held against her.” Ishaan Dev turned to his mother who nodded in agreement.

“Okay, so be it. I was thinking you would want her tried.” The king spoke almost intendedly at Ishaan Dev who looked away. He bowed and took their leave in silence.

“He looked tired. Is he unwell?” The king frowned “I didn’t expect him to…”

“Something has changed.” Trinayani Devi looked hopeful. “They haven’t tried to kill each other in two days.” Her words met the King’s amused smile.

“I was thinking… of keeping the Fire sacrifice.” She smiled.

“THE Fire sacrifice?” Trikal Dev raised his bushy eyebrows in surprise. “He will never agree. Conducting the Fire sacrifice means accepting her fully as a wife. And why will she…” Trinayani Devi smiled at her husband. “Leave all that to me.”

Priyambada had no face to refuse the queen. She needed to stay and survive in the palace and she had no other place to go. Moreover, the queen was particularly good with her. What harm could sitting in a Fire sacrifice beside him be? The Queen had conveyed the message to Suryapali that upon their arrival the Fire sacrifice would take place.

Rajkumari Mandakini read the message twice over aloud as Nayantara looked excited.

“I will inform Gulabi Bai.” She gushed.

Rani Ratnawati waited for her to leave before she spoke.

“You think he accepted her as a wife? The enemy’s daughter?” She spoke almost in rebuke.

“I have no idea. But something must have happened. Otherwise the queen…” Mandakini stopped. She had to follow orders. But it would be a hard pill for her to swallow. She also wanted an heir for Ishaan Dev. The heir that would seal his lineage. But never in her wildest dream had she expected the blood of Neelambargarh, in the heir of Suryapali. But she loved her nephew enough to accept the difficult truth. Rani Ratnawati’s mind raced. This was trouble. For her. And for Ravi Varman. Ishaan Dev alone could be dealt with. But a lineage? An heir or two? That would push Ravi Varman’s chances back further away from the throne. Something needed to be done.

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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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