Soudamini was well-spoken, well mannered and beautiful. After adjusting to life in Calcutta, she felt that the world was much bigger than the village of Tulsipur and Roy Chowdhury’s home. Aniruddha told her about London in letters he wrote back home. Soudamini wanted to see that unknown world. And the light in the darkness of her mind was his words. Holding her hand he would free her from her little world, and she would settle abroad. Aniruddha's role in her life remained only this little; the key to making a dream come true. She didn't like the practice of exchanging love letters, but she wrote to him because everyone did. She did not often mean everything she said in her letters but she said so anyway because it sounded nice. Was it her fault? No man came into her world except Aniruddha since childhood. Love was just a word in a novel written by Saratchandra. Saudamini did not understand its meaning. But on the day her father came with a pale face and told her about the great sin that had happened in Tulsipur, and Aniruddha's act of madness, because of which he would not go abroad again, suddenly Soudamini felt relieved. On one hand, after living in Calcutta, it would not be possible for her to become a village wife, on the other hand, she wants to know the girl who has done her such a great favour unknowingly. Soudamini admitted to herself for the first time that day, a harsh truth that she had been hiding in the corner of her heart for so long, hoping to fulfil a dream. She never loved Aniruddha. She loved the dream of going to London, loved this life she found on Aniruddha's excuse, her English songs, parties and books; She did not know the address of this other world before she came to the city. Soudamini was eighteen then. She was angry with Aniruddha only once for a short time when she saw his father worried about his daughter's future. Then she decided to build her future on her responsibility. She concentrates on her studies.
Two years later, oneday to her surprise, he knocked at her door. To be honest, she didn't recognize him after so long. Maybe because she never expected him at her doorstep. Aniruddha apologized to her and was happy to know that Soudamini, who taught the underprivileged children, also went to college. He hesitated a little and spoke about Bondita when she asked. The girl was talented. He also wants to send her to college someday.
"That's wonderful! Bring her to me, I will teach her, there will be no problem in the interview. Give some books to those poor kids as my fees.” Aniruddha smiled at Soumadini’s enthusiasm. He said she was only ten years old. Soudamini was surprised. If he didn't mention the age, after listening to Aniruddha, it seemed like he loved his wife very much, now it felt like he liked her, perhaps cared. What are the two different? Soudamini could not know that. She asked about Somnath, Batuk and the family too. Aniruddha tried to help her out of guilt. He bought new books for the children she taught and offered his help with setting up a school for them. In the end, feeling guilty, Soudamini confessed to him that she never loved him. He was needed to fulfil her dreams. She apologised for leading him on and did not look up at his face as she spoke, out of fear. Aniruddha left without saying a word that day. Soudamini thought that would be the last time she would see someone from the Roy Chowdhury family. Aniruddha's anger was natural.
But two weeks later a letter came in her name, inviting her to attend a puja in Tulsipur. A new relationship began again. Traveling back to Tulsipur. Friendship. Not only with Somnath, Aniruddha and Batuk, but also with Bondita. Soudamini had rarely seen a virtuous girl like her. Sometimes she was surprised. She had so many qualities, she knew English, she could knit, she could cook, and she knew many kinds of English baking. She had the look to attract attention at the party. Despite that, she never considered herself worthy of Aniruddha. She wanted to be better and better again. But Bondita? How old was she? Her mind was eager with questions. She stuttered and laughed while pronouncing English words, but she was eager to learn. She was the daughter-in-law of the Roy Chowdhury house. She was friends with Batuk and Somnath and took care of the in-laws. She wants to make a difference in the society with her arguments. Many dreams for the welfare of the women of the country brewed in her young mind. Her husband would fulfil all those dreams; how easily she claimed that to Soudamini. She became Pori Didi for the eleven-year-old Bondita. "You look so beautiful, Didi just like fairies." She giggled.
"You look pretty too." Saudamini would say.
“Dhyat, not like you at all. You go to college, and know so much." The question of Bondita begins soon after, about what college is like.
Soudamini saw Aniruddha being proud of Bondita’s questions. She had never seen him like that, not even when Somnath came first in class. Maybe this was destiny, this was love. How it was supposed to be. Bondita and Aniruddha did not know the value of what they had. If Soudamini told what she felt to Aniruddha, he would deny it, as he repeatedly reminded everyone that Bondita was a child, he didn't want her play days and studies to be interrupted by their relationship. The relationship would remain, but he did not want any hindrance to his wife's education and schooling. Soudamini understood that, because for the first time in her life when she saw them, she felt that there was love in the world beyond Saratchandra's writings, and she had witnessed it with her own eyes.
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