“Why can’t she work? I will too.” Bondita had barged into the Roy Chowdhury living room early in the morning, still in her loungewear, as Aniruddha looked up at her through his glasses. Trilochon was showing Aniruddha some paperwork from one of their investments as Bondita stood by the coffee table, wearing a frown. Aniruddha looked confused. Trilochon cleared his throat as he shook his head at Bondita.
“It's different. She is going to be the daughter-in-law.” Aniruddha eyed Trilochon and Bondita, who shook her head in disappointment.
“So?” She questioned, “She can’t have a life?”
“When a woman marries…” Trilochon stood up, straightening his Panjabi “Her life is about being a good wife and mother.” Bondita gasped. Aniruddha’s jaws tightened as he kept the papers down. Bondita spoke before he could.
“Then by that logic, men should also concentrate on being husbands and fathers.”
“Then who will earn the bread?” Trilochon rolled his eyes. Bondita eyed Aniruddha, expecting him to speak up.
“That means you will be fine with me working until you feel I should get married?” Bondita asked scornfully. Trilochon nodded. “Of course, a woman’s career is more of a choice.”
“Jethu.” Aniruddha stood by Bondita and cleared his throat. He had just reconciled with Trilochon the day before, but he needed to give a piece of his mind.
“You just don’t… Your London and Kolkata are different worlds. This is not…” Trilochon inhaled, eyeing them. “No daughter-in-law of the Roy Chowdhury house has ever worked outside.”
“ Nobody has ever been a politician, either. Why are you?” Aniruddha glanced over to Bondita, a little shocked at her words as she spoke in a very aggressive tone. He expected Trilochon to lose his cool, but he did not.
“I don’t wish to argue with either of you.” Trilochon shook his head. “It's not like she will not marry Som if she can’t work.”
“With this mentality, you will win over the youth for votes?” Bondita raised her brows sarcastically. Aniruddha inhaled. She did not need help. She seemed to have struck the right chord. Trilochon looked a little confused.
“Where did that come from?” Aniruddha stepped back slightly, allowing Bondita to speak to his uncle as he watched with his hands in his pocket, an amused twinkle in his eyes.
“Imagine if anyone comes to know how differently you feel about both genders. If anyone… in this era of women's empowerment hears… You will attract media attention.” Bondita shook her head. “Tsk, Tsk, you will lose votes too.”
“I know what you are trying to do here.” Trilochon gave her a disapproving stare. “ It will not work; my family traditions have been there for generations, and I will not…”
“Traditions need to be reformed with time; they grow and expand.” Bondita interrupted, and Aniruddha nodded in agreement. “I heard some great-grandmother of yours committed Sati. Will you put another woman on the pyre for such traditions?” Trilochon inhaled. Aniruddha tried to suppress his amusement as he found Trilochon at a loss for words.
“If I can work, so can she,” Bondita emphasised. “You go and tell people I will treat the new daughter-in-law like a daughter, and then you do this.” Trilochon stared helplessly at Bondita’s tone as Aniruddha agreed. “Thik Kotha.”
“You have no regard for traditions?” Trilochon asked scornfully.
“Let him be, Bondita.” Kalindi interrupted, pulling the saree close to her body. She had come in search of Bondita, who left abruptly as soon as she shared the news about Trilochon and Som’s visit to Ashalata’s home. Kalindi shook her head with a faint smile and looked away as Trilochon narrowed his brows at her.
“He will never do anything that his ancestors did not agree upon, right, Trilochon Babu?” Kalindi took Bondita’s hand as a gesture to take her home, but she resisted. Trilochon suddenly felt her gaze pierce through his soul, hurting his being. He inhaled.
“Fine.” Aniruddha looked shocked at his uncle’s words. “She can work. But if the hours get odd…”
“It won’t.” Bondita smiled victoriously. Aniruddha suddenly observed Thakuma’s shock at his words as Trilochon nodded slightly at her, and she looked away. Something in that bothered him. He had never seen Trilochon agreeing to something so easily. Not even when Bondita demanded it. He sank back on the couch as Kalindi took Bondita home, and Trilochon walked upstairs. He kept staring at the documents, but nothing registered in his head.
It was evening when he summoned Bondita to brief her about her role in the firm since she was joining on Monday. Bondita arrived at the study, knocking at the door as he looked up from his computer and put his glasses down.
“Why are you knocking?” He asked cluelessly. Bondita smiled.
“You said this was a professional thing… so I thought…” He smiled, amused at her shrug. “Then call me Sir?”
“Yes, Sir.” She nodded with a smile. Aniruddha pressed his lips in a smile and gestured at her to sit down.
“So you will be provided a desk in my chamber…” He cleared his throat.
“Why not with others at the cubicle?” Bondita asked. She was looking forward to having colleagues. Aniruddha looked serious.
“Look, Bondita, you know I am very serious about my work, especially the humanitarian bit of it. I work odd hours, and during office hours, I prefer the one assisting me to be at my beck and call. You will also be expected to give your perspective on cases we work on and…”
“I understood.” She nodded. “I will follow you around wherever you go.” Her words made him smile.
“Yes, you are perfect for the job, since that’s all you have ever done since childhood.” Bondita read the taunt in his voice and ignored it.
“ Also, I know your generation prefers a work-life balance, weekends off and things like that…” Bondita frowned at his words.
“Your generation?” She asked, brows raised. He shrugged.
“Of course, you are almost fifteen years younger than I am. You are practically a kid out of college.” Bondita’s smile disappeared as she nodded seriously. “Understood.”
“I don’t mean to demean you. I mean, I will always see you as…”
“Anything else, sir?” Bondita asked. Aniruddha nodded. “That’s all. Report here on Monday at 8 AM.” Bondita murmured a formal thanks and turned to leave. She was at the threshold of the study room when he stopped her.
“Now come back in without knocking.”
“What?” Bondita looked over her shoulder, confused. He smiled.
“Do as I say. I need to talk to a friend.” Bondita inhaled. She did as she was told, and he asked her to sit on the couch. Bondita looked confused as he sat across her on the chair and wet his dry lips, unsurely.
“Umm… You remember your life in Alamethi?” Bondita nodded, cluelessly. “In bits and pieces, yes.”
“You remember when …” he looked up at the corridor to check if it was empty and lowered his voice. “When Jethu visited?” She nodded. “Of course, the entire village had gathered to see him.”
“Did Thamma do that too?” Bondita looked a little confused and appeared to be thinking. She shook her head. “I don’t think so. She did not like politicians. Said we can never trust…”
“ Did you ever feel like they knew each other from before?” His question made Bondita straighten herself. “What do you mean?” She enquired as he looked uncomfortable speaking his thoughts out loud.
“I mean, they are almost of the same age and belong to the same village. Could they have known each other before?” Bondita’s eyes lit up at his words. “Could be possible…” She eyed him, “Why?”
“You remember when you came here when their teatime ritual started?” She nodded. Aniruddha inhaled. “Was it not abrupt?”
“More like awkward.” Bondita shook her head. “They barely spoke.”
“Yet, they are friends, they share everything under the sun and correct each other. I have never seen him agree to someone as easily as he does to her. You saw today…”
“So?” Bondita shrugged. “ You do the same with me.” Aniruddha was suddenly taken aback and looked awkwardly at her confused face. He shrugged as he stood up.
“Yes, right. Maybe it's nothing. I must have…” Bondita stood up, observing him.
“Tell me what’s on your mind.” She interrupted. Aniruddha looked up at her,
“Alright, one more question. What happened to Thamma’s husband?” Aniruddha deduced from Bondita’s story that around the same time Kalindi got married, Trilochon had moved to Chandannagar. Bondita could now read his mind as he looked perplexed. Her hands automatically covered her mouth in realisation.
“My god, are you saying…”
“Hush!” Aniruddha sounded alarmed. “We don’t know that.”
“We can find out.” Bondita sounded like she was taking up a challenge.
“What good could that be?” Aniruddha looked alarmed. “It's in the past.”
“I don’t know.” Bondita shrugged. “She is a widow, he is unmarried. And I don’t like unanswered questions.” Aniruddha regretted telling her as he inhaled.
“They are old…”
“So?” Bondita frowned.
“Even if something happened back then…” he looked awkward, his eyes lowered.
“Then they must have lived with regret all their life.” Her words came as a realisation as he narrowed his brows.
“Could it be possible he didn’t marry for that and not… for us?” Aniruddha asked. Bondita looked wide-eyed.
“If that is true, how can it be in the past?” She raised her eyebrows. Aniruddha inhaled. “It's too late to bring it up.”
“Why? Does love have an expiry date?” Bondita questioned. Her throat suddenly felt dry at his disapproving glance. “I don’t wish to speak of such things about elders.” He shook his head. “That too, with you.”
Bondita frowned as she pointed her finger at him.
“You told me love is not wrong. That day when…” She frowned, “And what do you mean by that, too, with me?”
“That was about Som…” He shrugged. “That’s different. You came to me.”
“So it's different based on how you are related to people?” Bondita’s question went unanswered. He put his hand in his pocket and murmured. “This was a bad idea, I should not have told you.”
“Well, now you have, and Bondita needs answers. She will find out.” She seemed confident.
“Just do me a favour, Bondita Madam,” He folded his hands and requested as she smirked, amused. “Don’t let them know that we suspect this. They will let you go and throw me out.” She giggled at his concerns. “I am not a child, even if you think I am. I will find out.”
“And how will you do that without asking them?” Aniruddha asked, putting his arms back in his pockets.
“By observing them, of course!” Bondita nodded intelligently. “You can find out a lot about someone by observing them.” Her smile faded as he stepped forward, his gaze on her.
“Hmm…” he smiled faintly “, You know who else used to say this to me?” Bondita raised her brows questioningly.
“Maa.” He smiled. “If she were here, she would know what to do.” There was a melancholy in his voice that bothered Bondita.
“Well, I am here.” She said cheerfully as he looked away. “And I will give you answers.”
“Just don’t get me in trouble,” He warned her. “And land yourself…”
“I know… I won’t be in trouble, I promise.” She smiled reassuringly. She was about to leave, expecting him to move away and give her space, but instead, he inhaled and asked, “Why did you leave suddenly?” Bondita’s smile faded.
“What? The academic year…” She mumbled, looking away, a little colour flushing from her face.
“Not that,” he shook his head. “We had that argument a hundred times before, every time you said you would never leave. Then what happened while I was gone that you made the decision?” Bondita looked away, uncomfortable at his suspicious gaze. “Did someone tell you something?” Bondita’s heart skipped a beat. She shook her head and chuckled awkwardly.
“If anyone said anything, would Bondita not answer them back? Would she not tell you?” Her eyes shone as she looked away. “I just realised you were right and…”
“Why did you not tell me?” He questioned. Bondita looked away. “I thought you would come back on Pujo.”
“They had no holidays for Pujo in Dehradun, and I didn’t want to miss class.” She gulped. “Besides, coming back would mean I would feel sad leaving again… It was easier that Thamma visited.”
Aniruddha did not look convinced. Bondita was not someone to abruptly change her mind over something. She realised he could ask more questions she could not answer, and fumbled an excuse to leave. Aniruddha did not move. Bondita pushed at his arm slightly and walked away. He sat down on the couch, lost in thought.
Bondita was back in her bedroom, heaving a sigh of relief, wondering why he had asked the question. Did he have some suspicion of her actual intentions? But how could he? She had told nobody her real reasons for leaving.
Bondita walked into the study area at 8 AM on Monday after seeking Thamma and Jyatha Moshai’s blessing. She was wearing her new black trousers and white shirt, tucked into her pants, with a black belt and black ballerina shoes. She chose a pearl stud to wear with the bun-up hair and carried the only handbag she had. When she knocked on the study door, Aniruddha stared at the clock and praised her punctuality.
“Bring these files along, there are three client meetings, one appearance in the district court and a conference.” He pointed as she got to work. “From tomorrow, you will find the schedule in my calendar.” She hurried out after him and was unsure of getting into his car. “You can update the schedule once you get the hang of things.”
“What happened?” He asked as she fumbled with an excuse. Should I go to the office in the Boss’s car on the very first day? Aniruddha frowned. “Just get in; you are there to work, not impress co-workers.” She nodded.
Once she was in the office, she could see curious eyes on her. A group of five interns had been hired to work, and they were most eager to know how she landed the dream job. Once she had settled at her smaller desk, which was placed on the right side of Aniruddha’s table and logged into her computer, she walked downstairs to get water.
“She knows him.” She overheard the interns whispering while staring at her. “Hence the job.” It bothered Bondita, for she wanted to say she was qualified enough for it. Instead, she introduced herself to them, and more curious questions followed.
“How do you know, Sir?”
“He is… my neighbour.”
“Oh…” They eyed each other. “Lucky you.” She was about to clarify what they meant, but to her relief, the awkward conversation was over when Aniruddha summoned her.
Bondita was quick to realise that the Aniruddha in office was a very different person. He barely talked about anything outside work with anyone, and he liked to be efficient. He did not like anyone being lazy or taking shortcuts. She attended her first meeting to observe why the clients were impressed with him. He was a straight talker but sympathetic.
Bondita found herself staring at him working from behind her computer, and cursed herself inwardly.
“Did you say something?” he asked, removing his glasses. It startled her into contemplating whether she had cursed herself out loud. She shook her head.
“Draft the papers and show me before you leave.” He had asked.
“Yes, Sir.” She eyed him, putting the edge of the tentacle of the spectacle between his lips as he read something.
Bondita eyed the watch as it was lunchtime, but Aniruddha did not stir. She could hear the people downstairs moving around, chattering, and the aroma of food hit her nose. She had brought some biscuits with her in a hurry, but would it be rude to eat them, especially when he was working? She watched him roll his sleeves up and turn the AC up as he paced to the couch. He held his neck like it was paining, and Bondita contemplated whether asking that would mean crossing a line in the office. She made a mental note to ask later. Her stomach growled as she felt hungry.
“Why are you staring at me?” His question made her turn back to the computer.
“No, I was just… umm… doing this… thinking…” She tapped her forehead and sank her head back behind the screen. Aniruddha inhaled and eyed the watch.
“If you want a break, you can ask for it rather than staring at me like that.” He almost scolded her. “Take ten minutes off. I don’t want to be blamed for turning you into a toxic workaholic.”
Bondita searched her bag for the biscuit and contemplated leaving the chamber. Then she eyed him and cleared her throat, unsurely, asking,
“Will you not…” He shook his head, engrossed in work. His view of the document was blocked by the biscuit packet she offered. He looked up, shaking his head a little and saw her make a face before she went back to her desk. Aniruddha appreciated her professionalism in not lecturing him about food habits in the office. It was around 5 PM, after meeting a new client, an NGO, that he straightened himself and stood up and winced a little like his neck hurt. Bondita noticed that someone knocked at the door.
“We are leaving for the day. Do you need anything?” One of the other lawyers asked. Aniruddha shook his head. He eyed the watch, cleared his throat and said, “You can also go home if you want to. I will be working late, and I have a conference.”
“No, I will stay. I have to learn…” She shook her head. “And make notes.” He smiled faintly at her first-day enthusiasm.
It was around 9 PM when Bondita felt hungry again. She drank the water in the bottle, filled it again and found nothing in the fridge downstairs. Could she tell him she was hungry? She wondered how he had no sense of hunger when he worked. Aniruddha eyed her drinking water for the third time and sighed.
“I am thinking of having dinner. Do you need anything?” He asked. “The downstairs Thelawala makes very nice Tadka Dal and Ruti.” She nodded, getting up from her seat. “I will go get some.”
“Here, take cash.” He extended a note from his purse. Bondita eyed the picture of his mother in his purse. She nodded. Bondita was downstairs buying food when the mobile rang on her desk. Aniruddha got up from his desk and walked up to hers to find the number from home.
“Hello.”
“Dadabhai.” Batuk sounded worried, “Thamma said Bondita did not return home, and it's late, so…”
“Oh, she is here with me; we finished a conference. Tell her not to worry, she will go home with me.” He overheard Trilochon grumbling in the background as Batuk disconnected the phone. Bondita entered the chamber with foil-packed Ruti and a big clay cup Bhar of Tadka when she saw him by her desk.
“Do you need anything?” She enquired as he moved back.
“You should know, you can take the phone with you wherever you go. Batuk called to ask where you are.” He waved the phone and placed it down on her table.
“Oh…” She placed the food on the coffee table as he came to eat.
“Wait…” She stopped him as he took a morsel. “Have this first.” She searched her handbag and took out a painkiller. He frowned at the strip and then at her.
“Your neck hurts.” She reminded him as she opened a pill and handed it to him, searching for the glass of water on his messy desk.
Aniruddha smiled. “You haven’t changed.” She didn’t hear him murmur as she placed the glass of water near him and resumed eating.
“You are running a fever.” Bondita placed her hand on Aniruddha’s forehead as he coughed a little. “No, I am fine; the weather changed…”
“Have this.” She placed the glass of Turmeric milk down on the table. “It will give you strength.”
“Bondita…” Aniruddha resisted “I… am fine…” He eyed the clock “You have an exam tomorrow, don’t you? Have you revisited the chapter?” His query fell on deaf ears as she opened the drawer on his desk and took out a balm.
“You lie down, and I will massage this on your forehead.” He smiled, amused. “You don’t have to.” Bondita rolled her eyes at him. Who would say she was twelve? He was coughing in the hallway briefly, and nobody noticed. Bondita was in Batuk’s room helping him with a project. She came running, and what followed was a set of instructions. Aniruddha had not been scolded for being sick ever since his mother died. He enjoyed the little nuances with which Bondita cared.
Like when Batuk ran a fever, he had told Koeli to go home and sit down by his brother’s bed, ready to stay awake the night and attend court in the morning. She had heard of it from Koeli. After dinner, when Aniruddha came with his pillow to sleep in Batuk’s room, he found her by his brother’s bedside. Who would say they were thirteen? Bondita was applying a wet cloth to his forehead and tracing her hand on his head gently.
“You should sleep; you have work in the morning.” She sounded like a grown-up watching him sit down on the edge of the bed.
“And you?”
“I will skip school, it's not important.” She shrugged. Aniruddha had insisted she go home, but even when he managed to take the wet cloth from her hand, she refused to leave. Aniruddha checked the thermometer, a little worried. He always had a soft corner for Batuk, especially since he was six months old when their mother passed; he barely ever saw her. Batuk was murmuring something as Bondita traced her hand through his head, worried, “Is his fever increasing?” She asked as Aniruddha forced himself to stay calm. “Bring some cold water from downstairs, Bondita.” He had watched her leave as Batuk murmured again.
“Maa.” He could hear Batuk as his heart sank and his vision blurred. Bondita came upstairs when Batuk was still murmuring in the fever. She placed her hand on his head, and he stopped. Aniruddha watched Bondita sit by his bedside till dawn, suppressing her yawns until Koeli came back. Aniruddha could never put into words what Bondita had done or the fact that he was grateful for her presence in Batuk’s otherwise deprived life.
“I will keep a tab of my share,” Bondita said, putting the foils in the dustbin. “I will give that once I get paid.” Aniruddha frowned at her words. “Besi Boro Hoye Gecho?” He scolded her. Bondita opened her mouth to protest. This was the place of work, and he should not be paying for her.
“At least I am eating at 9 PM because of you.” He made her stop cribbing, “So this is on me.” Bondita went up to her desk and started her preparations to leave as he turned off the lights.
“What are you doing?” Bondita sounded alarmed by the sudden dimness of the light as she opened the door to let the corridor light flood in.
“Still afraid of the dark?” He smiled, amused.
“No, not at all.” She lied. “I can’t see my things…”
“You are all packed; let's go.” He walked ahead as she rushed by his side.
“Still not afraid?” He raised his brows as she narrowed her eyes at him. “No, sir!”
“Tomorrow at 8.” He reminded her as she said goodbye in the portico. “Yes, sir.”
“Bondita?” She stopped to turn as he smiled. “We are home, no, Sir.” She nodded with a faint smile.
Kalindi was up, and when she said she had eaten, Kalindi lamented that she did not have to work if the hours were so. Bondita went to the restroom and turned on the shower to stop her ranting from reaching her. In the shower and while making her bed, Bondita wondered. She had overthought her incapabilities. She was perfectly professional and had the potential to learn a lot from him. That was good for her career. Bondita lay down in bed to realise how tired her body was. Her back ached. Something she associated only with old people.
Aniruddha switched on the light in his room and went up to the window to see that her window was shut. He shut his window and turned off the lights.
