Skip to main content

Appeasement

If anyone had ever told Aniruddha that stopping child marriage was a big mistake on the part of the Brahmo Samaj and the British government, he would not have hesitated to voice his protest. The idea of ​​initiation into the Brahmo society also came to his mind. He was not afraid to opine that many rules of society were wrong.  One such was that no one from the Zamindar's house ever went to any villagers’ ceremonies. He wanted to go to Devaditya's wedding, and he even argued with his father to allow him to be there. His first revolution was that. On that day, mass weddings were organised in Devipur village. It was good for poor fathers who saved a lot of money. Devaditya has already said that Sampoorna belonged to a poor house. Aniruddha's desire to see such a program had been there for a long time. But little did he know, he would find Bondita there. On that day, Anirudha changed his fate by choice.

People said that he brought disaster into his life that day. But Aniruddha often thought that he did not rescue Bondita; rather, Bondita showed him the way to freedom by taking care of his home with her little Alta-clad hands. He never told anyone that. Nobody would understand. Not even Bondita. She brought a touch of femininity to the deprived house and made it a home again. Aniruddha was repeatedly assured by her thoughts that his stubbornness was different but not madness, even if no one else understood the meaning behind his words, little Bondita surprisingly understood why he said what he said. At first, seeing her around, seeing the vermilion on her hairline, he felt a little uncomfortable. Maybe that's why he would sometimes be rude to her. But like others, she was not the girl to keep quiet in fear. By questioning everything, she points out Aniruddha's mistakes, which no one else had ever done before. Aniruddha was not deprived of the Midas touch that bound the whole family. Admiring her keen intellect, he saw her desire to learn, interest and respect for her studies, Barrister Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury saw a bit of himself in her. Beginning with a teacher-student relationship, a loving friendship developed between them. That's when it happened.

On the one hand, almost immediately after the start of her period, a Satyanarayana Puja was performed, and Jyathamoshai and the neighbours started talking about her. Bondita was a minor, a mere child whose play days were barely over. Neither her mind nor her body was fit to establish a relationship with her husband. Who would understand that? On the one hand, it was very difficult to stay away from Bondita. Her suffering was not unknown to Aniruddha. But what could he say to her? She was not mature enough to understand the nuances of his love.

With whom could Aniruddha share his dilemma? Soudamini helped him during this turmoil by wiping away his sense of guilt towards her and clarifying her feelings. She became a friend. Aniruddha understood the mistakes he made at a young age. What he thought was love was a habit. As his sense of guilt faded, his affection for Bondita grew stronger. But he didn't want to make any mistakes. He didn't know what Bondita understood, but he thought in his heart that the day he realised that Bondita was old enough to understand the complexity of their relationship, he would tell everything to his wife. Now was the time for him to wait; the responsibility of fulfilling the dream of Bondita was on his shoulders. She would grow up and show the path to other girls, that was Aniruddha's only dream. 

Bondita was fifteen when Somnath's marriage was discussed at home. One day, a Jetha from a close relationship came to meet Trilochan Babu. He offered to find a girl for Somnath. Bondita drew the Ghomta and touched his feet before serving the tea. He spoke to Trilochan with a slight disregard, "If you understand, Bhaya, finding a girl for the son of a Zamindar house is very difficult. Not any random girl can become the daughter-in-law without the house being humiliated.” Trilochan understood quite well what he was implying. "That's what I was saying."

"Right, do you understand, Bouma?" Stopping at the words of Trilochan, Bondita nodded, and a frown appeared on the face of the stranger. 

"That's it, your Thakurpo's wife, you will see, judge and teach." Many questions came into Bondita’s mind, how would she see and judge? But the guest was present. Would she remember all her questions?

"You know them well, you also know Somnath's preferences." He shook his head. 


When Aniruddha came home, the questionnaire came before him, even before the glass of water. 

"If you go to see a girl to be your bride, what do you have to judge?" Aniruddha choked on his water. 

"What?" He asked his wife with wide eyes. 

"That's what the Jetha Shoshurmoshai said." Bondita sat down in the corner of the bed, looking worried. Aniruddha narrowed his eyes as she said, "You will teach Somnath's wife." Aniruddha's hand stopped at her words, "What? Somnath's wife?"

"Yes, that’s what I’m talking about!" Bondita suddenly jumped in excitement. "There will be a wedding at home, new jewellery, clothes, lots of sweets." Her eyes sparkled.

"And an excuse to skip school? That's the real thing, isn't it?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Oho!” Bondita shook her head "I thought you'd be happy to hear that, you have such a headmaster's nature." She complained. Aniruddha advised her to calm down while opening the watch. There is no reason to be happy so soon. First, the girl would be met, then if the families like each other, then the wedding dates would come, arrangements to be made, and jewellery sarees come much later. Bondita suddenly felt dejected. She had not thought this through. 

"No need to tell Somnath now." She nodded at Aniruddha's words. Then she walked out of the room slowly as the sound of her anklets faded into the hallway. Aniruddha looked up and wondered. Perhaps the disappointment of not getting to eat the sweets of a wedding that year was bothering her.


Aniruddha was checking her schoolwork in the evening when Bondita came into the room, wiping her hands on her Anchol. They had an unspoken routine now. Aniruddha would read and work till she fell asleep or pretended to sleep; he would then go to the reading room to sleep. Again, he would return to the room before anyone woke up. Aniruddha would take his place on one side of the bed, and then Bondita would get up and go to school after completing household chores. Both pretended as if the other did not know this secret. But no matter what, the village would still speculate about them.


"Look what I brought for you, don't give it to everyone." Aniruddha points to a box placed next to the bed. Bondita did not move, she could see what it was. Imported Chocolate. 

Oma, I wanted to eat something very sweet,” Bondita said with a cheeky smile. 

"I know."

"How did you know? I didn't say." The answer did not come. He was probably absent-minded. Bondita opened the wrapper and took a mouthful of chocolate. 

"Who will I give it away to? Do I tell Batuk about everything that you bring?”

"You have no shortage of people to give things away to." Aniruddha replied, "Now read the geography chapter."


One day, Aniruddha had just come home from work and sat down after washing his hands and face. Bihari had kept food and water in front of him when he heard the sound of the familiar anklets. Bondita was coming towards the room very slowly. Aniruddha frowned and looked up at the door. Bondita felt startled as soon as the curtain was removed and their eyes met briefly before she turned back and called Batuk to the room with a smile. Aniruddha knew the meaning of the two of them entering the room like that. Either they needed to save from complaints after doing something wrong, or they wanted something. He didn't have to wait for his answer. 

"Look at this." Bondita took a book hidden inside her Anchol out and placed it on the table. Aniruddha had no difficulty understanding that the book was from Somnath's college. He brought it himself from College Street. Batuk looked scared as he once said, “Give up, Bouthan. Why bother Bardada..." Aniruddha stared at his wife with a questioning look. "Suddenly, you want to read Somnath's book?" Bondita thumped her fist on her forehead and sighed. Batuk laughed. Then Dada’s angry look made him stop. 

“No, not that!!” Bondita sounded like a typical housewife as she jingled the keys tied to her saree’s anchol. “Look inside.” Aniruddha opened the book. A picture emerges from the folds. A blurry picture of a sixteen and seventeen-year-old girl. "Who is this?"

"My Boudidi." Batuk shook his head. 

"What?!" Aniruddha left the chair and got up. 

“Som Dada’s choice of a bride,” laughed Batuk.

“Oh so..” Aniruddha sat back down, Bondita frowned at him, “What did you think?”

"No, I don't know anything." Anirudha shook his head at his wife.  “So I…”

"Don't worry, Dada, I'm not implying otherwise, how many heads do I have on my neck?" Batuk eyed Bondita. Anirudha glared back at him. Batuk knew this was the right time to escape. Then who can say whether Dada would beat him up or Boudi would kill him?

"You have a job to do." Bondita took the photo and spoke. "You can understand that Baro Thakurpo liked her."

"Really? How did you know?" Aniruddha sounded amused.

“I know everything. That's why Jetha Shashurmoshai said to me, You will know what Somnath thinks, Bouma ."

"And just like that, she left her studies and ran to take charge." Bondita ignored Aniruddha’s taunts.

"What you need to do now is to find out what kind of girl she is."

“I'm not a policeman nor a detective but a Barrister. What can I do..?” Aniruddha was surprised. 

"There is no job in this world that you cannot do." There was a hint of pride in Bondita’s voice.

"Is that so?" Anirudha smiled. "Why do you have so much faith in me?" Bondita wanted to say that she knew the truth, so she had no qualms about what Aniruddha could do. But if she told the truth, would Aniruddha be happy?

“I don't know, your brother, you will check. I am done with my responsibility." Bondita walked away. Aniruddha decided to give this job to Soudamini.


A few days later, Soudamini informed in a letter that the girl was not sixteen but thirteen. Greedy about the offer from the Zamindar's house, her father had lied. She also informed him that the man had many debts to his name. He had the habit of gambling at the race course.  Aniruddha thought he should give this news to Somnath himself. That day, he returned home and sent for his younger brother to his room. He let him read the letter. Inevitably, Somnath would have questions in his mind, but he did not ask anything after the letter, only saying, "You should inform Jethamshai." Aniruddha shook his head. That's when Bondita entered the room. Aniruddha handed the letter to her and went to talk to the elders. To be honest, Bondita liked the picture of the girl, but who knew more than her how inappropriate child marriage was? Thinking about her first few days scared her. What would have happened if not for Barristra Babu?


The day when Bondita first set foot in Roy Chowdhury's house, such a big house seemed like a maze to her; So many rooms, so many people, more outsiders than the people in the house. They all worked at Roy Chowdhury's house. That’s what Bihari told her. She did not understand why her in-laws were unhappy, but she understood that her new husband was the only supporter in the whole house. No one except him had seen her enter the house. No one wanted to know her name and didn't introduce themselves, but Bondita was intelligent. She understood that the elders were the fathers-in-law, and the other two were her husband's brothers. But where was the mother-in-law? There is no one to call a sister, even. Bihari Babu said Ginnima had died several years ago. Suddenly, it was as if the fatherless Bondita found similarities between herself and the new husband.


"Take her to the room, Bihari." Aniruddha suddenly said in the middle of the quarrel. Bondita was looking at everyone in surprise. 

"Which room?" Bihari asked. Aniruddha remained silent. 

"The room of the one who brought her into the house." Trilochan Babu said in anger. As soon as she left the room with Bihari, Binoy politely enquired with his brother, "Should the minor stay in his room, Dada?" He stopped at Trilochan’s glare. 

"Yes, she will, the one who took her responsibility should be the one bearing the brunt, let him understand that everything has consequences. Let him realise what wrong he had done!" Trilochan Babu left Binoy behind him, trying to explain that although Aniruddha married the girl to save her, she can never be his wife, she is a child. A minor.

"Vermilion is not child's play, Binoy," Trilochan said firmly. “Even if we don't agree, she is Aniruddha's wife, the eldest daughter-in-law of this house. We are elders. This is our responsibility. If Bouthan were alive, she would have opened her arms for the girl today. Don’t you know that? I will perform all her duties in her absence." No one spoke in Roy Chowdhury's house after Trilochan's last words. He raised these motherless boys, so he had the last word when it came to everything about them. 

"The girl has to be taught, whatever happens..." Trilochan stopped. Aniruddha stood at the threshold. He looked reluctant. Seeing him, Binoy left annoyed. He came and sat on the floor in front of his uncle, leaning on the armchair.

"I had no choice, believe me," he cried. Trilochan put his hand on his head that day.

"Can you do this? Honour this relationship?” He asked. Aniruddha wiped her eyes, "But I..."

"She is your wife from now on; you are responsible for her good and bad." Aniruddha nodded his head.

"I can, and I will never let her understand that the beginning of our relationship is not like the others.”

"Maa Lakshmi is coming to this house after a long time Aniruddha, make sure she is never disrespected.." Anirudha looked up at Jetha Moshai's words. A while ago, he was strongly opposed the marriage. 

"I promise." Aniruddha smiled softly; He knew his uncle could be a strict Zamindar, but he was a soft man.

"Tomorrow, we will do all the rituals, now go." He got up.


When he came to his room, he saw a bundle of sarees torn open on the floor, many toys, some sarees and combs, ribbons, bangles, and other girls' accessories came out of it. The one who was sitting around these was looking at Aniruddha with questioning eyes. Aniruddha, in a somewhat normal soft tone, asked, "What are these?"

"The man said I would stay in this room, so I was taking things out. Ma told me to unpack my things myself, but I can't." Aniruddha smiled and sat in front of her, "I will tell Koeli tomorrow, she will arrange everything. Alright?” She nodded. 

"Who is Koeli?" The girl asked the first question. 

"She works in our house, she will show you everything. Now..." Aniruddha looked around, "You do one thing, lie on that bed, I..."

"And the food?" The girl seemed upset, "Won’t you let me eat?" To tell the truth, there was such a storm that brewed in his life that Aniruddha did not even feel hungry. 

"Oh..." He said, a bit unprepared, "Wait", he called Bihari, and the food came on a brass plate for the new bride. She saw with surprised eyes, she had never seen so much food, and she had never eaten like that. Mami used to wrap it in leaves and let her eat whatever was left over. Didi sometimes secretly brought good things, but that was not every day. 

"Eat as much as you can," said Aniruddha, as if he could read her mind. "What's your name?"

The girl suddenly chuckled. Her Ghomta fell as she tilted her head, but she didn't pay attention to it. "What, you brought me here and you don’t know my name?"

"Do you know my name?" Aniruddha suddenly sounded irked. The girl stopped laughing. But there was a hint of mischief in her eyes. 

"Oma, my Maa said not to take your name, you are God." 

"Am I God?" Aniruddha shook his head and sat down, the girl began to eat and he observed the hint of intelligence in her eyes, "Why is that?"

"How will I know?" She was surprised. "My mother said so, do mothers ever lie?"

"I'm telling you something today, listen carefully." She stopped eating, looked at Aniruddha, and nodded,

"Never obey anyone without question. You will ask as many questions as you want, whatever you think, you will believe only if you get the answer you want." The girl's eyes widened. 

"I used to ask, but Mami used to beat me up. What if someone beats me here?”

"No one will beat you, and if anyone asks, tell them, Aniruddha said. That's my name."

"Aniruddha." The girl mumbled. Staring at him, as if he couldn't quite believe it. "Maa said..."

"Do you always listen to everything she says?" She stopped at Aniruddha's question and shook her head. "Did she not tell you to obey me?"

"But, you are older than I am. Taking an elder's name is disrespectful. Maa told me to respect you.” Aniruddha did not expect such an argument in the mind of an eight-year-old child. At her age, his brothers didn't dare to speak against any of Dada's words. Was this girl different? 

"What's your name?" Aniruddha asked again. 

"Bondita." She smiled and Aniruddha noticed one of her front teeth was missing. Aniruddha suddenly felt pity for her. Those who still had their milk teeth, how could they understand the relationship complexities in an in-laws’ place, what kind of society was this?

"Bondita," Anirudh says with a smile. “Good name. Well, I agree with you. Then you can call me..." Aniruddha thought for a while. "Barrister Babu?"

"What is that again?" Bondita asked, raising her eyes. 

"I guess it’s another name for me."


"Barristra babu?" Aniruddha laughed at her pronunciation. But the day Bondita came from school and addressed him properly, he felt bad. 

"You say Barristra." He said, "That's good, different from everyone else." The ten-year-old girl had nodded. 


At the end of the meal, when Aniruddha showed her the bed and decided to leave with his pillow, she suddenly grabbed the corner of his Punjabi. The more effortlessly she did it, the more awkward he was. 

“I can't sleep alone, Maa sleeps with me. I'm afraid of the dark." Aniruddha thought for a while. Who would he call to sleep with Bondita? There is no maid in the house at night. 

"Okay, well, you sleep, I'm here." He made up his mind that when Bondita fell asleep, he would go to the adjoining reading room and sleep. But Bondita slept clutching his Punjabi corner with all her might. He was her only asset amid new places and unfamiliar faces. That day, Aniruddha felt more affection for her than a sense of responsibility. Since then, it has been like this every day. Bondita slept holding a corner of his Panjabi as if to make sure he was always there. Aniruddha gradually got into the habit of sleeping next to her.








Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. His spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...

Purnota: Chapter Three

“Did you ask for me, Dadu?” Bondita asked as the old man smiled at her. She looked fresh, with her hair neatly braided and a cotton pleated skirt, Thamma sewn with a faded top of one of her cousins, as she stood before the old man sitting on the porch. “Yes indeed, Didibhai, you didn’t come for chess yesterday.” The man smiled. “Oh, Pradhan Jyatha wanted me to look out for the …” She stopped as she saw Aniruddha walking towards them down the corridor. She eyed him as the old man followed her gaze. “Oh Aniruddha Babu, come here. This is Bondita Das.” Aniruddha smiled at the child as she looked away. “She is the only girl in the village who has appeared for her final examinations this year. She is very intelligent and…” Aniruddha nodded “She helped me a lot yesterday.” He made her look up, with a cold stare at him as he smiled politely. “Yes, I have called her here to show you around the village. He wants to see the affected areas of the Adivasis, Bondita.” The old man made her nod. “But...

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as ...

You Deserve More

Ajabdeh woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm on her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between them, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly, but he was holding on to it so tightly. Ajabdeh's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused.   " Am I...In love?" Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on the bed as he stared back at the rain. Then he frowned as he noticed that she shivered. He closed the windows of the room to make it cosy, then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always, and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound, breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it ...

Purnota: Chapter Four

The group of youth provided by the Pradhan proved efficient for Aniruddha’s liking as they helped him survey the villages, create a set of data and provide a rough idea of how much fund was needed to rebuild the roofs and fallen walls. “What if we make them permanent? That way, the next cyclone will cause less damage. Pakka houses may also get other facilities like toilets and…” Aniruddha suggested as his eyes shone in the flickering light of the dimly lit kerosene lamp in the living room of Pradhan’s house. Drops of perspiration had formed on his forehead in the load-shedding, and the mosquitoes buzzed around them. For the first two nights, Aniruddha could barely sleep in the unfamiliar surroundings with buzzing insects, sounds of the unknown, and eerie animals here and there at a distance. Stories of snakes climbing up to the second floor through windows despite the mosquito net protecting his four-poster bed kept him alarmed. By the third day, after a day’s survey through the villag...

Purnota: Chapter Six

Kalindi waited outside the hut, on the torn mat they usually slept on, using the hand fan to drive away mosquitoes as she stared at the empty path leading out of the house, the path Bondita had taken some time back. It was almost an hour. Did the foolish girl escape or land in trouble? To her relief, she could hear her nephew snoring away indoors, reassuring her that they were at least not caught by the villagers till now. She was sure Bondita would return empty-handed and hurt, and that she would have no other way than to accept the proposal from the Pradhan. That morning, her Kaka would accompany Sarkar Moshai to the adjacent village to talk to a family friend of the Sarkars. They were looking for a bride for their sixteen-year-old eldest son, who worked as a labourer in Sealdah. Kalindi had tears in her eyes. Not much had changed in these years; not much of women’s fate was different, wasn't it? Kalindi was about ten years old when her father took her to the Roy Chowdhury house ...

A Heart at War

Legend has it that Pratap had to struggle for his father Rana Udai Singh's approval on his wedding with the daughter of Bijoliya's chieftain's daughter, Ajbante Kanwar Punwar. It is so because he was the crown prince and his first queen was supposed to be the next queen of Mewar. Hence his father expected his first bride to be a powerful princess who would aid his political needs. But stubborn as he always was, Kunwar Pratap had other plans. The water of the Bhimlat was still. The sound of the waterfall could be heard in the silent afternoon in the dense forest. A pebble caused ripples in the water and alerted the horse gazing nearby. He looked up at the source of the stone. Then began grazing peacefully once again. The source of the stone however was far from being peaceful. His face wore a frown as he stared around restlessly for the umpteenth time. He sat unmindful on the large rock on the bank of the water body watching the ripples closely, lost in thoughts. The soun...

Purnota: Chapter Five

Aniruddha finished reading the book he had carried with him in the dim light of the bulb in his room and decided to pack it away. He was leaving in a few days and wanted to make sure he left nothing behind. The construction work on the school had started, and the Panchayat wanted to give him a thankful farewell he humbly refused. The spotlight should be on Trilochon to help with his next election campaign. Aniruddha did not want to associate himself with the party or the job. He contemplated going back home and telling his father that he had decided to pursue a career in India instead of his initial plan of going back to London. He had been giving it a thought for quite some time, and the day he said it out loud to Bondita, he knew in his subconscious mind he had already decided on it. The more he saw the village, the more sure he was that he was needed by his countrymen. Dadu put faith in him that he could be part of something bigger than himself and his career, and he intended to kee...

Life and You

" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The maid-in-waiting ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai, who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room, followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The maid sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes could not believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed, shouting, " Quick. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabdeh. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. Sajja Bai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap had not noticed anything except her calm, unconscious face. Now that he noticed his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. "Kunwar Pratap! Tell me w...

Unsaid

"Keep the Lehenga in this one, that jewellery in the box." Jaivanta Bai was ordering the ladies in the Ranimahal around. Kunwar Shakti entered with an equally stunned Kunwar Pratap at the scene as the hall turned into a mini market thanks to their mothers. " Kunwar Pratap is here." Dheerbai smiled at the duo as she walked up to them. " Choti ma, what are all these?" He asked, surprised. " Shagun!" Sajjabai answered excitedly."For Kuwaranisa. She will be blessed with these for the Sagaai. " Sajja Bai smiled at Jaivanta Bai, who nodded. "What Sagaai ?" Kunwar Pratap frowned at his mother. "Your engagement , aree , no one told him?" Sajja giggled a little, amused. " The four of us are choosing separate gifts of our own choice for your bride, Kunwarsa, come and see." Veer Bai urged him.   "The Sagaai is in three days, followed by the wedding on the Seventh, Rajpurohitji had said," Dheerbai informed ...