Treaty

Raja Viraj struggled to open his eyes to find the structure of the tent above his head. One of the nurses murmured something and the next moment he could feel some of them walking around in urgency. He tried hard to open his eyes fully but he felt drowsy. Observing how his pain was numbed he assumed it was the medication and fell back asleep. The next time he woke was because he heard the trinkets of a royal lady near him.

“Smriti?” He whispered as his lips moved a little and he once again tried to open his eyes.

“What are you trying to say?” The old medicine man leaned in. The Maharani of Neelambargarh walked up to the other side of the bed.

“No, it’s me. Priya.” She said leaning a little over him. “Are you fine now?” Her voice trembled. Raja Viraj opened his eyes with great difficulty. Seeing Priyambada made him a little disoriented. Where was he? Was he dreaming?

“You killed him.” The medicine man said “And now you are fine. Have some wine.” He chuckled amused himself before gathering his bundle and bowing to the queen who sat down on his spot.

“Do you want me to tell her?” Raja Viraj frowned a little disoriented at Priyambada. He wasn’t hallucinating, what was she doing there?

“Priya.” He managed. “It is… not safe…” A faint smile appeared in the corner of Priyambada’s lips at his words.

“So, he keeps saying. But it’s all over now.” She sounded confident. “I assure you.”

“The war is over?” Raja Viraj repeated the words as though he couldn’t believe it. “Did we win?” How many days was he unconscious?

“Well…” Priyambada shrugged.

Near the temples of the Blue Necked One, on the border of Suryapali, the Maya often flooded the banks. Legends said a part of the Maya often ran under the temple base and it was a miracle. Ishaan Dev had grown up hearing about those legends from his aunt. So, he wasn’t surprised when his offer to sit and talk was accepted by Ravi Varman who wanted to meet there. It was a secluded spot a little away from the main battlefield. The dawn hence heard no conch shells or metals clashing. The soldiers in both camps were alert and tired, hoping it was all over. Ishaan Dev had asked Raja Girik to accompany him to the talk. Raja Girik was eager too, because he wanted to thank Ravi Varman for not taking his life. And if the treaty worked in peace, he would give both the brothers a piece of news he had received a few days earlier. He was going to be a father soon.

Ravi Varman had bathed and dressed, as the servants helped him with the attire and jewellery. When he was handed over the crown of Suryapali he stared at the gem-studded golden crown just for a while before placing it down and shaking his head. “I am going to see my brother today.” He murmured almost to himself. Raja Sarthak of Gandak was insisting that he should accompany the Maharaja. Ravi Varman declined his offer as politely as he could. Instead, he decided to take one of the surviving generals, one of the finest of Suryapali, along. It stunned Raja Sarthak.

“You are my family. Even if I don’t agree to your ways, you are still my daughter’s…”

“I am going to meet my brother and my brother-in-law. They are family too.” Raja Sarthak wondered what an emotional fool and unfit ruler the king of Suryapali was. Raja Sarthak had given in to his impulsive choices and told his daughter to leave for Suryapali from Gandak. She must be on her way. He knew the letter from Maharani Sumedha that he received after the battle the previous day changed his mind, whatever the reasons were. He wondered about how Devastuti promised him to be an important aid to Suryapali. Did she not see how the queen held influence over the king, enough to change his mind about a war? Raja Sarthak made a mental note of letting Devastuti have a piece of his mind about her wrong observations once the baby was there. Perhaps the baby would change their equation.

Raja Girik rode ahead of Maharaja Ishaan Dev of Neelambargarh and reached the clearing first. The general from Suryapali bowed to him and Maharaja Ravi Varman of Suryapali walked out from the temple premises to surprise him with an informal greeting of a hug. He found it odd how Ravi Varman was there with only the general. Perhaps he wanted to come across as trustworthy like Ishaan Dev did. Raja Girik’s senses were alerted. Usually, such cases involve bluffing from either or both parties. He might not know but there could be soldiers lurking around, perhaps raiders too. He could not die without seeing Nayantara now. The leaves rustled jolting him from his thoughts as Ishaan Dev came out of the clearing and Vidyut stopped. He got down from his horse and observed how Ravi Varman chose not to wear his title to the treaty the way he did. Whether it was emotions or simply strategy, who could tell? But after a long time, when Ravi Varman approached him for a hug, Ishaan Dev felt a sense of nostalgia. He did not remember the last time they had acted like brothers.

“We should sit down here.” Raja Girik looked a little alarmed.

“Look, I could have continued the war. But I don’t wish to because of the losses incurred by my people. Our people. They have suffered enough.” Ravi Varman spoke first. He wanted to make it sound like he did have the resources to continue even if he was unsure for how long. Ishaan Dev nodded in agreement. They were sitting down, legs folded at the shrine of the Lord and both the general and Raja Girik were assigned the task to carry scrolls of the conditions. "And I know you will also honour Father's wishes." Ishaan Dev nodded silently. Ravi Varman still found his silence a little intimidating as he cleared his throat. A smile formed on the tip of Ishaan Dev's lips as though he could read his brother's mind. He seemed pleased with it,

“I simply want you to respect the territories and stay in the borders.” Ravi Varman had expected a backlash. Perhaps a cold stare or even abuse. Instead, Ishaan Dev cleared his throat and continued. “And just to be clear, the kingdoms without a king now, Meendeep, Aswar, and Mait are ours.” Ravi Varman frowned a little. “We won over Meendeep fairly.”

“You can have the other islands. I am not letting Meendeep go. Vairath is yours.” Ravi Varman realised there was no point starting another feud over the island. He nodded.

“I will hand over your mother to you. She is healthy and well.” Ravi Varman said as Ishaan Dev’s jaws tightened.

“Fair enough but I want justice on her behalf.” He said, remembering Priyambada’s reminder about the non-negotiable last condition.

“But you already have it, Trishaan is…” For the first time, the brothers looked at each other at his mention and inhaled. Were they fools to be played by his elaborate plans or did he simply turn the keys where it worked? Tempted them about things they wanted to be tempted of. More often than not, people blame others because they can’t accept their flaws and mistakes. It is always easy to blame someone who cannot defend himself. Was Trishaan that?

“I am not talking about the imprisonment. I am talking about the poisoning.” Ravi Varman looked up at Ishaan Dev’s tense face, as he nodded embarrassed. “I swear Ishaan, neither Sumedha nor I knew… We already have her in prison.”

“Execute her.” Ishaan Dev’s words made Raja Girik gasp, as he silently put his hand over the handle of his sword. He was sure the brothers were going to kill each other any moment then.

“Ishaan… she is my mother…” Ravi Varman appeared calm though droplets of perspiration were visible on his forehead under the morning sun.

“And she killed our father.” Ishaan Dev spoke firmly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that.” Ravi Varman sighed.

“I assumed it was Trishaan. In revenge for his mother…” Ravi Varman shook his head.

“But it wasn’t. He wanted the throne, he wanted us dead, yes. But not father. He waited all his life for his approval and affection and…”

“I never knew he could be a contender to the throne… none of us did, right?” Ravi Varman lamented. Ishaan Dev shook his head.

“He told me aunt knew, and if she did so do our mothers…” An eerie silence followed as the breeze rustled against the dried leaves and the birds chirped. Once in a while the horses neighed and an animal or two could be heard in the distance.

“I will do that.” Ishaan Dev looked up as Ravi Varman nodded. “I will execute her. She put the future of the state in jeopardy, she killed the king. She…” Suddenly there was a lump in his throat and he stopped. I did it for you. He could hear Ratnawati’s voice ring in his ears. Ishaan Dev knew what he was thinking.

“Don’t blame yourself for her choices,” he said in a brotherly tone. “You were taught to want what she wanted.”

“Yet I am not ready to give it up too.” Ravi Varman confessed. “At any cost.” Ishaan Dev observed him keenly. Was it a threat? Perhaps not. It was honesty.

“We should honour Father’s wishes properly." Ishaan Dev nodded.

“And sign a treaty not to overstep each other’s boundaries in the future.” Ravi Varman agreed.

“As long as I am king, you have my word on it, but Neelambargarh will not help Suryapali in its battles, neither do we expect you to side with us.” Ravi Varman nodded as Ishaan Dev spoke.

“And neither will the respective allies.” He added.

“This is the first time in history perhaps…” Raja Girik wondered aloud. “That Suryapali and Neelambargarh are entering a peace treaty after a war.”

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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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