Reality

“You can’t go in there.” The guards stretched their spears in a criss-cross manner and stopped the woman from going down into the captive chamber.
“Do you know who you are stopping?” She asked, with a smile on her face.
“No, but our Adhiraja ordered that only he can go inside, if anyone else tried to communicate he would behead them.”
“So be it. Tell your Adhiraja that his mother has not followed his orders.” The guards looked a little taken aback as they stepped back, unsure. Trinayani Devi walked into the dimly lit corridor leading to the room where Priyambada was kept. Urvi was looking out of the window at the soldier's movements.
“Are we going to war?” She frowned.
“Impossible. That will be a suicide mission.” Priyambada’s jaws tightened. “He knows better than that.”
“Yes but it seems like troops have been assembled.” Urvi pointed.
“Are we under attack?” Priyambada’s face turned pale.
“Priyambada?” For a second, Priyambada felt like she was hallucinating her saviour. Maharani Trinayani Devi stood at the edge of the locked iron gate and smiled as she stumbled to it.
“Maharani.” She whispered, “What are you doing here?”

Gulabi Bai hurried into the chambers of the queen of Suryapali as she sat reading. Trinayani Devi looked up as Gulabi Bai shook her head.

“Such audacity that nauch girl has!” She looked distraught “To address the queen of Suryapali in a letter.”

“Who are we talking about?” Trinayani Devi asked.

“Tarabai.” Gulabi Bai grunted like she had made a sin taking the name. Trinayani Devi’s brows shot up.

“Should I read it for you?” Gulabi Bai asked, “Why should you touch that flith’s…” She stopped as Trinayani Devi extended her hand for the letter.

“I came as soon as I heard what was going on. You look… have you not eaten anything?” Trinayani Devi cupped her face across the bar, a little concerned. Priyambada sobbed, holding her hand in hers.

“Believe me I didn’t…” Priyambada sobbed.

“I know.” Trinayani Devi wiped away her tears. Then her hand reached for the lock.

“Move back, Mother. You aren’t supposed to be here. You can’t talk to traitors.” Ishaan Dev walked in, rather agitated and surprised at his mother while Priyambada stepped back, consciously.

“What did you do?” He grunted “Send your spies to Suryapali?” Priyambada looked away at his words.

“Enough.” Trinayani Devi raised her hand making him stop, “I am here to see my daughter-in-law and I am well within my rights to do so.”

“But…” A frown formed on Ishaan Dev’s face.

“You may be king now but I know kingship even before you were born. So don’t teach me.” Trinayani Devi snapped. Ishaan Dev inhaled quietly. Priyambada looked up, a little startled. So, there was one person after all, who could silence the angry Ishaan Dev. But who informed her? She wondered.

“Tarabai sent me a letter.” A gasp escaped Ishaan Dev’s mouth like he had been betrayed twice over. “And thank heavens she did, for you were making a fool of yourself out here.”

“Mother…”

“I am not finished talking yet.” Trinayani Devi looked away. “First unchain her. You found no proof against her. She is not guilty.”

“Sooner or later…”

“She is NOT guilty until proven so, Ishaan. Unchain her. Now!” Trinayani Devi raised her voice. Priyambada and Urvi froze in their spot.

“Great! Now you are on her side too?” Ishaan Dev shook his head and stepped back, gesturing at the taken-aback guard to do the needful.

“If anything happens, this is on you.” He gave a warning glance first at his mother, then at the girl sobbing in her arms.

“Urvi, run along girl. Get her a warm bath, clothes and food. Have some yourself. Dress her wounds. I will see you in an hour.” Trinayani Devi reassured Priyambada. “You, show me to my room.” Ishaan Dev sighed watching Urvi lead Priyambada away before he led Trinayani Devi into the inner palace.

“What are you doing, Ishaan?” Trinayani Devi spoke, the moment they entered the guest chambers. Ishaan Dev frowned at his mother. “I thought I taught you to be diplomatic when it came to handling Neelambargarh.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “You are making me feel like I made a mistake, by making Rajadhiraj believe you could handle this alone.”

“But…”

“Do you have any idea the kind of implications this can have on the people and ministers if they come to know you don’t trust their princess? Your wife? The army can revolt, her people can side with Aswar, and uprisings will be difficult to handle.”

“You know?” Ishaan Dev asked, a little taken aback.

“I know now. I have my informants. Ishaan, you can’t do this to her, without proof.” Trinayani Devi shook her head. “I want to see her now.”

“Urvi.” Priyambada still looked tired after she had bathed and eaten. Urvi was dressing the wounds on her knees as her skirt was pulled up to them. “I should thank Tarabai.”

“The danger isn’t over yet, my lady,” Urvi spoke nonchalantly. “He still…” They were suddenly jolted as Adhiraja Ishaan Dev walked into the room and the maids lowered their gaze. Urvi moved away, and his eyes first fell on her wounds before he looked away and she was quick to lower her pulled-up skirt.

“Mother wants to see you in her chambers.”

“Devdoot could bring the news.” She stood up, jaws tightened.

“She told me to.” Eyes met briefly as Priyambada suddenly felt a sense of victory and amusement in the helpless way he followed Trinayani Devi’s instructions. It perhaps showed on her face as he frowned, jaws tightened. She kept her distance, following him into the guest chamber. Trinayani Devi looked up as they approached. She stood up and gestured at them to take a seat. Ishaan Dev took the cushion at the window as Priyambada stood fixed to her spot. Gulabi Bai left promptly, closing the door behind her.

Maharani Trinayani Devi approached Priyambada, cupping her face, and making her look up at her gentle smile.

“I know why you were in the forest.” Trinayani Devi spoke as Priyambada’s face flushed. A frown wore on Ishaan Dev’s face. “My spy system confirmed my fears.”

“Please. Don’t.” Priyambada almost whispered. “She didn’t know…”

“You can’t keep quiet and put your life at risk for someone else like that.” Trinayani Devi shook her head. “I can tell you there are people out there, people close to you, who would do anything to keep you two apart. Don’t fuel their purposes.” Priyambada frowned at her words, as Ishaan Dev stood up.

“What do you mean? What is going on here?” Before Trinayani Devi could speak, Priyambada held her hand making her stop.

“I wasn’t only protecting her.”

“I know, you were also making sure the heirs of Suryapali weren’t at war over this. I am grateful to you for that.” Trinayani Devi smiled. “But some things are inevitable.”

“Can someone tell me what is going on here?” Ishaan Dev shook his head trying not to lose his composure. “Are we playing some games here?”

“No Ishaan, but a lot of people are. To make sure you two keep your misunderstandings alive.” Trinayani Devi spoke as Ishaan Dev’s confused eyes met Priyambada’s briefly. “They were sly enough to frame her for something as grave as being a traitor to her own.” Trinayani Devi shook her head “Whoever these people are, they are close to you, and feeding off your miscommunications.”

“I may not have found evidence but I am no fool mother. I caught her red-handed and she wouldn’t tell what she was doing in the forest.” Ishaan Dev looked angry.

“She wouldn’t tell because she was protecting you. She was protecting Sumedha.” Trinayani Devi shook her head. Priyambada inhaled.

“Sumedha?” Ishaan Dev frowned. “She is a traitor?”

“It is not what you think.” Trinayani Devi shook her head. “She is not the traitor for Aswar.”

“Then how…” Ishaan Dev was now impatient at his mother’s riddles.

“Correct me if I am wrong, Priyambada.” She spoke as Priyambada nodded. “She used to sneak out at night every week, so you started following her out of the palace?”

Priyambada nodded. “I followed her thrice but I lost track every time in the dark, manoeuvring my horse… I got lucky the fourth time.” Ishaan Dev glanced over his shoulder at Priyambada.

“And what did you see in the forest that prompted you to keep quiet?” Trinayani Devi asked as Priyambada inhaled.

“Speak up!” Ishaan Dev stepped towards her as she tightened her jaws. “Please.” He almost begged, making her look up at him.

“Promise me you won’t hurt Sumedha.”

“I don’t think you are in any position to make deals here. Speak up.” Ishaan Dev spoke.

“Sumedha used to have a secret tryst with… Ravi Varman.” It was Trinayani Devi who spoke up. A sudden rush of blood went through Ishaan Dev’s veins. His brother. They were cousins. He looked up at his mother who nodded. “Priyambada saw that.”

“But it started before she got married. She didn’t know that…” Priyambada stopped as Ishaan Dev’s hand reached his sword hold and he walked out of the room.

“Stop him.” Trinayani Devi spoke as Priyambada ran after him.

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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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