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Trilochon and Kalindi were having tea in the morning in their living room when Binoy walked downstairs in his Pajama Panjabi, pipe in hand and found them. Watching him unusually in his home attire, Trilochon frowned.
“Are you sick? I thought you had already left.” Binoy sat down on the single chaise chair beside the couch as Kalindi poured some tea for him.
“ I told you, Dada, I am here to retire.” He said, putting his pipe in his pocket. “Today, Som is going alone. We will see how that goes.” Their conversation was interrupted by Asha coming into the house in a white and red saree, with a red sindoor Teep on her forehead. She had a basket with her, and Koeli was accompanying her as she offered them the sweets she had taken as Prasad.
“Since it’s his first day at the new position, we went to the temple together.” Asha narrated to Kalindi. “He left for work from there.”
“Do you not have school today?” Kalindi enquired as Asha shook her head. She smiled, eyeing Trilochon, who narrated to Binoy that they would be going to the mountains in summer. “Dadabhai has a case in the Barasat District Court; he left early, so I packed his lunch.” Asha eyed Kalindi, who nodded.
“Bondita left for work early, too. She was talking about a new client she needs to meet. Aniruddha Babu sent her there.” It did not miss Binoy how she spoke of them without a hint of grudge against his son, which was usually her demeanour recently. Asha could sense that too as she exchanged a glance with Trilochon, who nodded at her.
“Should we talk about it, Jethu?” She asked as Trilochon shrugged. “You can talk about whatever you want to, Ma.”
Asha cleared her throat as Kalindi eyed them. Binoy smiled faintly.
“Well, I feel lonely in the house, especially when everyone is busy with their lives and nobody talks to me,” Asha complained. Kalindi narrowed her brows and shrugged. “Oh dear, you feel lonely? You can come by anytime, and we can talk.”
“No, Thamma.” Asha shook her head. “I also have chores.” She shrugged, “It will be nice to have someone who can share that while being my companion.” She raised her brows suggestively. Binoy smiled, shaking his head a little as he asked, “Asha, you want the conversation now?” She shrugged, “Why not, Baba?” She eyed the three of them, “All of us are here, and we have waited long enough for them to do something about it.” She eyed the elders at her bashfulness, but nobody seemed to stop her, so she continued. “I was thinking, since Thamma had been looking for a groom for Bondita and we all want Dadabhai to get married…”
“We talk to them about it.” Trilochon nodded at her as he eyed Kalindi for her answer.
“Fine.” Kalindi shrugged. “If that makes you happy.” She eyed Binoy, who nodded.
“Bring some sweets, Bouma,” Trilochon suggested. Asha frowned at them, slightly shaking her head. “No, No.” She sounded disappointed. “Do it properly. I should have a story to tell.” She made them laugh as she shrugged. “They are not saying anything, you are not saying anything. It's like this house skipped a class on conversation skills.”
“Alright, Madam. You don’t have to treat us like your students.” Trilochon shook his head. “Do as she says, Binoy.” He looked amused.
Binoy cleared his throat as he turned to Kalindi, “Kalindi Di, we want your Bondita’s hand for our Aniruddha.” Asha smiled, satisfied as she turned to Kalindi. “Now, Thamma.” Kalindi nodded first at Binoy, then at Asha. “Hoeche?”
“When do we tell them?” Kalindi eyed the over-enthusiastic Asha. “Anyway, I am getting some sweets first, then we can decide.” She made Kalindi smile as she strode into the kitchen.
“She looks happier,” Kalindi commented as soon as she left. Trilochon smiled. “Perhaps she is slowly getting used to being a Roy Chowdhury after all.”
Binoy stood up to excuse himself and find a book to leisure through the day when Asha brought in the sweets and placed the plate down on the coffee table. Asha picked up a sweet and held it to Kalindi’s lips. “You first, Thamma. You are the bride’s side.” She made Binoy and Trilochon exchange glances as they smiled.
Bondita was working on digitalising a document when she spotted Aniruddha hurrying to his chamber, with a few juniors following him. Bondita tried hard to concentrate on her work. The edited copy of the terms of the partnership deed lay under her stack of papers, and she wondered when would be a good time to address it. She was unsure of speaking of it at home; perhaps the office was a better idea. The last thing she wanted was to be unprofessional about it. But as soon as she had gathered the papers and decided to go, she heard the juniors scramble out of his office, scared that he was in a bad mood. Bondita frowned slightly at that, wondering why his mood was sour. Her train of thought was broken by the sound of her mobile phone ringing as she picked up the call from home. It was Kalindi.
It was around seven when Aniruddha breathed a sigh and decided to take a break. The noise of people downstairs had decreased to the occasional sound of a peon or one or two employees who had to stay back to finish their work. His eyes were throbbing, and he admitted that it was probably due to a lack of sleep. He was just wondering about leaving for home when a knock sounded on his chamber door, and he found Bondita peeping in. She was in her usual white blouse and dark pants, not different from his attire, and she had walked into his office a million times before. Yet, Aniruddha felt aware of his surroundings as if it were forbidden. At home, even if they were alone, they were never truly alone. The lack of privacy, the thought of someone walking in at any moment, kept his impure inner thoughts in check. Now, they were truly alone, with nobody to interrupt, and Aniruddha was suddenly aware of it as he was of his attraction to her. He straightened himself and tried to keep a straight face. The last thing he wanted was for Bondita to be offended by him after he had successfully angered her by interfering between her and Thamma. Bondita cleared her throat, watching him look away at his work as she walked in. Was he awkward? Bondita wondered if she imagined it. She placed the papers down on his desk as he looked up with sceptical questioning eyes.
Bondita observed a little amused, as a mischievous twinkle reflected in her eyes. She was suddenly more confident now that he was aware of her. She could sense his carefulness not to let his eyes stray from her face if he looked up briefly, not even to the nape of her neck or in her eyes. He shifted uneasily in his chair and looked redder than usual when she mentioned she was there, after waiting for the others to leave. Bondita enjoyed the reaction, realising why her reactions often amused him.
“You … did not like the offer?” He enquired as he eyed the paper she placed on the table. Bondita shook her head. “I added a few things… like I can work outside the firm, especially when I want to go to Alamethi…”
“You said you are not going back.” He protested, narrowing his brows a little as he looked up at her, shrugging. “When did I say that? I said I am not going home.”
“Yes, but…” he protested faintly.
“You would be there.” The ease with which she said it made Aniruddha look a little taken aback at her newfound confidence. “Will you not?” She watched him nod.
“And… I can help anyone I deem fit without monetary benefits.” She pointed at the point she had written with a green pen using her painted nail. Aniruddha tried to focus on the paper she had laid out. His eyes briefly travelled to her face as she explained her position, especially with poor people, and he hoped his eyes were not wandering to her parted, glossy lips or her cleavage as she leaned in. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel aware of the fact that he was attracted to her.
“Are you sure about it?” He cleared his throat as she narrowed her brows at him. “I mean… You read the conditions, right? It's a minimum five-year tenure, so you can’t switch jobs in between.” He looked up briefly at her as she nodded.
“Um.. hmm…” She observed his reluctance to look at her while he spoke, as she wondered if he was shy. If he was, it was an odd contrast to the person she had encountered all this time.
“Like… I mean… even if you have a better offer…” He spoke again, “You can’t leave.”
“I am aware. I don’t have better offers.” She emphasised.
“I know.” He nodded. “But you can if… I mean… in a few years… you are still young.”
“I think I will stick to what I committed to.” Bondita’s words made him look up at her amused face briefly, like she knew what he was talking about.
“Have you told Thamma?” He asked, lowering his gaze back to the computer screen. Bondita could see the screen reflected in his spectacles and that it had no tabs open. She smiled. “Yes, she called me around lunch and I told her.”
“What did she say?” Aniruddha asked, raising his brows as she shrugged. “She does not say much about my career.” Bondita looked away briefly before adding, “She would perhaps have been happier if I were in Kolkata.”
“Perhaps. Hence, I told you to think about it.” He emphasised. “I don’t want you to regret…”
“Who told you that I will make my decisions solely based on what Thamma thinks is good for me?” She frowned. “ I have deliberated it and analysed the pros and cons before I said yes.” Aniruddha looked up at her words with a faint smile. His eyes gave away the relief he suddenly felt at her words.
“Is there something else you want to say?” Bondita made him stop smiling as he looked away briefly before staring back at her, her hand resting on his desk, leaning in with narrowed, scrutinising eyes. Suddenly, the room felt too small for Aniruddha and the air from the AC too hot as he loosened his tie in a reflex. “Umm… No.” He shook his head, unsurely. Bondita sighed as she shook her head. “Fine.” She shrugged. “When do I get the official document?”
“I will hand this over soon.” He once again avoided her glances as she nodded and turned to leave. “Thank you very much… Sir.”
She stopped at the threshold when he had expected her to leave, removing his tie and unbuttoning his top two buttons to breathe more easily.
“ Oh, by the way…” She half turned as he straightened himself. “Jyatha Moshai wants us home early.” Her odd words made him narrow his brows slightly. “Why?”
“I have no idea, but I guess it has to do with Boudi going on a holiday.” That drew Aniruddha out of his chair as he stood up, unsurely staring at her, trying to decipher her tone.
“What are we supposed to do about that?” He looked sceptical.
“How will I know?” Bondita shrugged as Aniruddha frowned.
“By the way, don’t forget about the party tomorrow.” He reminded her. “I will wait at five?” Bondita nodded.
Bondita stopped at the threshold of Trilochon’s room, still in her work clothes, a little alarmed by Kalindi being present there. Then she spotted Binoy walking in from the balcony and looked sceptically at them as Aniruddha arrived right behind her. Asha brought in tea for everyone with biscuits and sweets and placed the tray down, and took a spot by the four-poster bed, eyeing Bondita, who stared at her, trying to decipher what this was about. Was Jetha Moshai angry about her conversation with Thamma? If so, Binoy wouldn’t be involved. Were they trying to talk her out of her career choices? Bondita inhaled.
“Is this about the partnership offer?” She made Trilochon look up a little uneasily as she shook her head. “I don’t need a family meeting to decide for me.”
“What is she talking about?” Trilochon looked confused.
“It is not, sit down,” Kalindi spoke calmly as Bondita stayed in her spot by the threshold, still wearing an unsure look. Aniruddha took the opportunity to walk past her and find himself a corner near Jyatha Moshai’s desk.
“Is it about the fight then? I apologised to you yesterday.” Kalindi shook her head and scolded, “Will you keep quiet for a moment?” Binoy smiled at the conversation as he eyed his firstborn, who looked confused.
“So, you know your Thamma has been looking for a groom.” Trilochon cleared his throat. Bondita inhaled. “You complained to him?” She shook her head. “I am not meeting anyone.” She said firmly. She felt Aniruddha straighten himself from leaning against the desk and eyed him, expecting him to speak up on her behalf. Suddenly, Aniruddha was aware of his father’s words and Thamma’s scrutinising eyes.
“But you have to get married…” Trilochon shook his head as he sat down on the rocking chair.
“Why?” She retorted. “Why should I have to… where is the rule?”
“Well, Thamma will not stop until you do, just like I won’t…” Trilochon eyed Aniruddha briefly. “Until he does.”
“Jethu…” Aniruddha frowned as he eyed his silent spectator father. “ Not again. I said…”
“You never said you won’t marry. You keep saying you did not find someone the way you wanted.” Trilochon retorted as Aniruddha felt silent. Ashalata pressed her lips together, trying hard to keep a straight face as Trilochon acted upset. “You have been giving us a hard time for a long time now.”
“Nobody told you to decide for others.” Bondita shrugged as Aniruddha eyed her and then the elders. Kalindi watched her with a hopeless stare as she said, “This is 2009 and not 1920.”
“Had your parents not been in arranged marriages? Had they not been happy?” Trilochon asked.
“Here we go again,” Aniruddha murmured. “You called us from the office to talk about this? After we have had this conversation a thousand times? Baba…” He turned to Binoy, “Please, tell them.”
“They aren’t listening to me.” Binoy shrugged. Bondita shook her head.
“The goal of life is not marriage, nor is it an achievement.”
“Yes, it is just a part of life,” Aniruddha added. “Why are you obsessing over it?”
“Look at her talking.” Kalindi rebuked. “The voice is hers, the words are his.”
“No, it's not.” Bondita protested. “The words are very much mine. If my belief is the same…” She eyed Kalindi, briefly scared of what she might have told Trilochon and stopped.
“If you are so similar, why don’t you marry each other?” Trilochon answered her as Bondita was about to say something, but her mouth remained open.
“What?” Aniruddha looked at his father. “Where is this coming from?”
“You are so… out of your mind… right now…. I can’t even…” Bondita shrugged as she turned and left abruptly, running down the corridor. Aniruddha was a little flabbergasted, first at the words and then her reaction and took some time to speak.
“What are you trying to do?” He turned to Binoy. “I told you… it’s not… its…” He fumbled.
“It was their idea, not mine,” he shrugged.
“Why did she run away like that?” Trilochon frowned at Kalindi, who stared amused at him. Ashalata interfered.
“This house and its men are so naive. She did not run because she is upset, I assure you.” She made Kalindi nod at her. “I will go talk to her,” Ashalata spoke as she turned on her heel and left. The men stared at each other, confused as Kalindi smiled and shook her head. Aniruddha stood there, a little aware of the elders' glances and unsure of what to do.
“Do you want to run away too?” Trilochon scolded, amused. Aniruddha watched them laugh as he shook his head. A part of him was worried about Bondita’s reaction, no matter what they said.
Bondita stopped when she was in her room, breathless and heart racing. Her cheeks were red, her ears warm, and there was an involuntary smile on her lips that refused to go. Ashalata walked in slowly behind her as she held on to the chair and calmed her racing heart. Asha tiptoed behind her and cleared her throat, amused. “You know you are scaring Dadabhai, right?” Her amusement made Bondita stare at her, still blushing, eyes raised in a questioning gesture. “Poor Roy Chowdhury men, they have no idea what you are thinking.” She shrugged as Bondita hugged her. “Boudi…”
“You should thank me before you become the eldest sister-in-law, and I have to call you Didi.” Bondita suddenly looked aware as she shook her head and blushed. “No…” She protested. “No? You won’t thank me?” Asha drew out of her embrace and lifted her face by the chin, “I was the one who told them to talk about marriage.” A sudden thought crossed Bondita’s mind. “What if… he…”
“Oh, Bondita.” Ashalata shrugged. “You know him better than that. He is dying to marry you.” She teased as Bondita shrugged off her hand. “Don’t over exaggerate.”
“Am I really? Like, I don’t see how he looks at you. Poor Roy Chowdhury, men don’t even know how to express their feelings.” Ashalata laughed a little, amused as Bondita asked, “Did Som Dada too…” Ashalata nodded, “Of course, I waited for him to speak to me for six months, and then I talked to him first. He said he wants to get married. Never said specifically to me, never said he loved me.” Bondita looked a little wide-eyed at Asha’s words. “I thought…” She looked confused. “Those are important.”
“What can I say? Roy Chowdhury men. Nobody taught them to be emotional.” She shrugged, “But now that we are here, we are going to change them for the better.” She reassured Bondita, who looked a little scared. “Boudi, how can I… face him?” Her eyes were wide, and Asha laughed at her condition, “You poor thing! Tomorrow is Saturday, you don’t have work anyway…”
“But the party…” She gulped.
“Oho, the party.” Asha looked enthusiastic. “I wonder how he will react when I dress you up.”
“Boudi.” Bondita made Asha hug her again as she warned her repeatedly not to tease her in front of him.
Aniruddha did not wait for Asha to return before he mumbled about work and walked out of the room where Trilochon, Kalindi and Binoy were busy discussing about calling the priest and fixing a date. He walked into his room and breathed out like he had forgotten to breathe all this time. He paced the room a little restlessly, wondering why Bondita ran away like that and if she was okay. It would be too weird to ask Asha. He sat down at his desk and wondered if anyone had told Batuk. The last thing he wanted was for him to hear from someone else. But could he tell Batuk himself? That would be awkward, especially when they never had such a bond. Perhaps Bondita could. But how could he tell Bondita? Aniruddha wondered if he should cancel going to the party, as it would be too awkward for them. Perhaps she would not want it. He stared at Batuk’s number for a while on the phone and kept it down as Asha arrived with his coffee.
“Dadabhai, I had to make this.” She placed the cup down as he looked up with awkward questioning eyes.
“Is she upset?” He wondered. Ashalata shook her head. “She is flustered. It happens to women when…” She eyed the coffee and wondered if his question was about that. “Jethu said she is not allowed into the kitchen until we do a Satyanarayan Pujo and get you engaged. I heard him speaking to the priest on the phone.” She eyed his eagerness even when he did not ask anything. “Thamma suggested that you at least get engaged in a small…”
“Is she upset? Thamma?” He enquired. “If she tells Bondita…”
“She was, then we fixed it,” Asha said with a hint of pride. “You don’t worry about these things. Worry about Bondita. She will be upset if you keep yourself hidden in the room and refuse to see her.”
“Did she say that?” Aniruddha enquired. Asha shook her head with a smile and left him to his coffee. Aniruddha eyed the closed window of her room from his window and wondered if it would be wise to call her or perhaps give her the time she needs and meet for the party. What if she did not want to go? Asha stopped at the threshold and turned. “Dadabhai?” Aniruddha acted like he was fixing his curtain as he glanced back at her. “She is happy,” Asha reassured him before she left. Before he could contemplate it, his phone rang. It was Batuk.
“What is happening?” There was a panic in his voice before Aniruddha managed to say hello. “Bondita called.” Aniruddha waited for Batuk to narrate whatever he had heard from her, about the partnership he had offered, about what the family wanted.
“Did she say …” Aniruddha was unsure. “What …she wants?” He could hear Batuk breathing. “I am not getting in between you two. You always do this. Then you two become one and bash me.”
“Batuk… I just asked what she…”
“As if you don’t know.” Batuk taunted. “I just called to say congratulations, and don’t come after me next for this marriage thing. I am not ready.”
Before Aniruddha could speak, Batuk disconnected the call. Aniruddha sat there for a while, wondering how the thought of telling Batuk came to Bondita almost telepathically when he thought of it. A smile curved his lips. No matter what everyone said, a part of him wanted to talk to her, wanted to know what she wanted, aware of the fact that they both felt it was too early in her career to settle down.
