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“Ei Bondita,” Asha called her from the stairs as Bondita placed down some papers Aniruddha wanted from the office and was leaving the house. “Come up to my room.” She waved.
“Aschi, Boudi.” Bondita walked up to her room, removing the waistcoat from over her Kurti. She sat down on the edge of Asha’s bed and closed the door. Bondita looked perplexed. “What… is wrong?”
“Where is Dadabhai? Is he here?” Bondita shook her head. He was probably still working.
“Sir.” The newly recruited junior knocked on the chamber door of Aniruddha’s office as he looked up from the screen. “Your father is here.” Aniruddha frowned a little at his words. Binoy never visited the office. He asked the man to bring him in. Binoy walked in, in a polo-necked navy blue t-shirt over a pair of beige pants, as Aniruddha observed him remove his glasses and look around.
“What brought you here?” He enquired after waiting a little in vain for him to speak.
“Just came by… for a chat.” Binoy sat down on the seat across the table from him. Aniruddha waited for him to speak as he lit his pipe. “You told me you would tell me if you found someone worthy of getting married to.” Aniruddha looked a little startled by his father’s words as Binoy wore a hint of a smile on the edge of his lips between puffing out smoke. “So, is it safe to say you have not found someone since the last time we talked?” Something told Aniruddha that the question was rhetorical. Binoy knew the answer. It made him wonder.
“Why, suddenly?” he raised his brows, wondering.
“Have you talked to the interested family yet?” It was a pleasant evening, and Trilochon did not wait for Kalindi to pour a cup of tea as he sat down on the lawn chair and threw the question at her. Kalindi eyed him with raised brows. “I asked Bihari to ask some of the boys from your party to do a background check first. It is no joke, finding a groom just like that. My Bondita deserves the best.”
“Of course she does, a good home, people who would respect her, a husband who would appreciate her work…” Trilochon nodded. Kalindi poured tea from the pot as she nodded, “And hopefully not very far so that she can visit me.”
“What if I told you I have found a groom for her?” Trilochon’s words made Kalindi stop pouring tea into her cup and place the pot down. She shared a dubious glance as Trilochon smiled at her. “I think he would be perfect for her.”
“I don’t think you are right.” Kalindi’s jaws tightened as she stopped him. “You are being selfish because you want her around.”
“But you only observed he is possessive of her, respects her work, and motivates her. You said…” Trilochon frowned. Kalindi shook her head.
“A marriage needs more than that. You and I both know that. You are seeing their similarities, not their differences. That is what matters in a marriage.”
“Are you talking of … age?” He asked, unsurely.
“Well, yes, first among many… he is fifteen years older than her. When she is in her forties, he will be past his prime. I don’t want my Bondita to marry someone to be a nurse in his old age.”
“You have seen that kind of age difference before; people used to have happy marriages,” Trilochon argued as Kalindi pushed the porcelain cup and saucer in his hand. “Times have changed.”
“But you have to agree that nobody will take care of her or understand her the way he does.” Trilochon retorted.
“Has he told you he likes her or something?” Kalindi mumbled disapprovingly. “I should have known that nobody is that involved in helping anyone just like that.”
Trilochon looked disapprovingly at her words. “You are mistaken, he has not said a thing. I am saying it.” Kalindi looked at Trilochon, surprised as he continued. “I am well aware of the differences you are talking of, and to me and everyone in the family, it doesn’t matter. If I am here, saying this, you know me enough to know I have thought things through.”
“And you are aware of how stubborn your nephew is. Do you think it's a good idea to even speak of this with me without talking to him…” Kalindi shook her head. “The last time…”
“This is not anything like last time.” Trilochon asserted. “Or any other time. You know that.”
“Look.” Kalindi inhaled. "Bondita is young and naive. She always looks up to him and admires him. But what you are speaking of … it's different. I don’t want him to confuse her into believing she likes him when she perhaps feels protected by his gestures. Those are different. She had never had a man make her feel safe as he did, and maybe she is misreading the feelings.” Trilochon smiled at her explanation.
“Don’t put this on her; speak for yourself. I just wanted to know you would not stand in the way if they want to be together.” Trilochon emphasised. “Bondita is not as naive as you assume; she will know if she feels differently about him.”
“What makes you think I will ever think that Aniruddha Babu is good for my Bondita? Yes, he helped us, and we will forever be grateful for it. And he is your nephew, so whatever I say might sound rude.” Kalindi retorted.
“Go ahead. Say it.” Trilochon insisted. Kalindi hesitated. Trilochon kept insisting on her until she gave up. Kalindi inhaled, gathered her thoughts so as not to sound overtly rude and spoke.
“Honestly, I have never seen such a short-tempered and stubborn man as he is. The way he opposes elders is not how well-raised children behave, and his lifestyle is questionable to me. He works all the time and encourages that. He instigates her to believe that money is not important in her profession, but helping people is. Honestly, I believe it is a luxury of a thought only the privileged should have.” Kalindi eyed him as she added, “I don’t mean for it to reflect on your upbringing. Somnath and Batuk seem fine. But he seems to have been inspired by something he perhaps saw abroad…” She suggested, “All this looks rosy initially, but if he doesn’t save or spend wisely, it would cause an issue later. Bondita doesn’t have the privileges to follow in his footsteps.”
“Tell me this. Had he not been all of that, could he have managed to rescue her when he did? Could he have been able to convince us to send her to boarding, or even to accept her choice to pursue law, if he had kept his head down and obeyed us? Kalindi, truth be said, if he were not all that you suddenly think of as ill qualities in him, he would have been like me, spineless and escapist. You would not want that for Bondita, would you?” Kalindi inhaled sharply at his words.
“There is no point in this discussion. What ifs are…” Kalindi was not comfortable with his self-degradation or guilt, but she was too self-esteem to reassure him otherwise.
“There absolutely is. Kalindi, yes, I am selfish, and I want to address this. Yes, I want to have Bondita in my home as the eldest daughter-in-law. You may find it selfish, but this is my attempt at redemption, my attempt to make sure that whatever I could not do when I was supposed to, I do for them.”
“Where is my Bondita in all of this?” Kalindi frowned. “You are making it all about yourself.”
“Really? Were you not the one concerned about her unhealthy dependence on Aniruddha when she left for boarding? You told me she would not survive alone without his help…”
“Yes, but…she was fifteen then.” Kalindi protested as Trilochon shook his head, “I have observed them, Kalindi, and if you keep your denials aside, you will too see what I see.” Trilochon shook his head. “You are the one who pointed me in that direction, and now you are being stubborn.”
“And what do you see?” Kalindi asked with raised brows.
“I see what we could have been, and never could be.” Trilochon made her look away as he smiled faintly. “I know you don’t want to talk about it. I understand that there is no point. But please, let’s talk about them when we have a chance and not let history repeat itself?” Trilochon surprised Kalindi by folding his hands in front of her. “I ask that, not as a friend, but as an uncle who raised them both.”
“I need to find Bondita. Ask her what all this means.” Kalindi stood up as Trilochon shook his head.
“ I knew you would say that. You would convince her to tell me otherwise, and she will, because she doesn’t want to upset you over what could be.” Kalindi looked alarmed at Trilochon’s accusations. “ So, Asha Bouma is talking to her right now.” He stood up to face her.
“Are you accusing me of putting my own opinion over Bondita’s happiness?” Kalindi fumed.
“Will you be ready to agree if this is her happiness?” Trilochon suddenly found the strength for the first time to be firm enough to fight Kalindi. “You find pleasure in your misery.” Kalindi gasped at his words.
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. You are not the only one who suffered, Kalindi. You are not the only one who was wronged by circumstances.” Trilochon watched her eyes sparkle as she shook her head. “Huh, says the man who promised to save me and left.” She was suddenly alarmed because she never meant to say that out loud.
“I did not leave.” Trilochon protested. “You would have known it had you let me explain myself. I trusted the wrong people. I was fourteen, Kalindi. I made a mistake. I am paying for it every day.” Kalindi eyed his agitated red face and inhaled. “ I don’t want to talk about this. We are talking about them…”
“Too late, we are talking about it.” Trilochon shook his head. Kalindi had never seen him exert so much firmness, and it softened her.
“What good will it do?” She asked in a dejected tone.
“I don’t know, Kalindi. But you should know how many times I tried to reach out, write to you. I realised they intercepted my letters and made sure they never reached you.” he shook his head.
“Even if they did, I would not have responded. I was newly married and my husband…” Kalindi inhaled. “He was a good man. He did not deserve to be deceived.”
“You think a letter would have caused the harm and not the fact that deep down you could never be his?” Trilochon made Kalindi step back at his accusatory tone.
“Wha… What makes you think I was not a good wife?” She asked, “How dare you even accuse me of…”
“I did not say you were not a good wife. You and I both know you had very little time with him. Perhaps enough to respect him. Not enough to love…” He stopped at her glance.
“Love?” She shook her head. “Does reading novels make an old man like you feel that is what successful marriages need?” He frowned at her words. “Successful marriages are so because people compromise, respect and care. Love doesn’t even count. But what would you know?” His jaws tightened at her words as a teardrop trickled down her cheek, and she wiped it away, tightening her jaw.
“You are right, Kalindi, what will I know?” He shook his head as she looked up at him. “I have not waited for anyone all my life to admit, even if for a moment, that she cared for me the way I respected her. To me, love was that.” Kalindi lowered her gaze from his.
“I have nothing to say except that you are delusional with your dreams.”
“Perhaps I am, Kalindi. But I don’t understand why you are so resistant to…” Trilochon stopped, for she turned around, her back to him as she firmly said,
“Sometimes people ignore reality in their imagination of a perfect almost. I cannot ignore how different Bondita and Aniruddha are and how it can cause issues in the house… Instead of mending things, it can break things further. But you are too head in the clouds to see that.” She expected him to protest, but Trilochon had had enough of her excuses. He walked away briskly towards the house. Kalindi knew she angered him, but when Bondita was at stake, her happiness was in question; Kalindi could not help but be doubtful and vocal about it.
“I was just thinking about you.” Asha smiled as Bondita eyed her, folding the sarees that were kept in a bundle.
“About me? What about me, Boudi?” Asha smiled as she mentioned a phone call with Mini Didi.
“ I was telling her about your plans for marriage.” Asha smiled. “Told her that Thamma is looking for a groom. Perhaps she could help.”
“Oh, please, Boudi, now you don’t start again!” Bondita shook her head. “She has been on her toes since I came here. But…I actually wanted to see you too… to ask if I can lend a saree.” Bondita asked, unsurely.
“A saree?” Asha raised her brows. “What’s the occasion?”
“There is a party in Kolkata this week.” She shrugged. “A reputed senior…”
“Dadabhai is taking you?” Asha stood up, looking excited, as Bondita eyed her and nodded. “That’s great. You can borrow one of my sarees. I have some party wear…”
“It's really more about work. I don’t want to be overdressed.” Bondita protested. Asha shook her head.
“Oh, shut up, I will do your hair and makeup.” Asha started looking through her wardrobe. “Bondita, it's a party, right? Dress up a little.” Asha suggested a messy bun. “You can borrow my earrings and bracelet.” Asha made Bondita eye her enthusiasm with mild protest.
“I am not dressing up like that. He doesn’t like it too much…” Bondita stopped, alarmed as Asha stared at her. “I mean…”
Asha smiled, turning to face her. “I know what you mean.” Bondita looked flustered as Asha eyed her keenly. “He would not like you getting unwanted attention. Even Mini Didi said our Bondita is all grown up.” Asha looked amused. “She will be aware of attracting attention.”
“What…” Bondita protested. Asha looked amused as she pressed her lips to suppress her chuckle. Bondita eyed her and shook her head.
“If you do like this, I will not go.” She turned to leave, embarrassed as Asha blocked her way. “Why are you blushing, Bondita?” Asha asked, “Is there something I should know?”
“I am not… I have no idea what you mean…” She stammered.
“You are a terrible actor, so tell me what is going on?” Asha insisted in her teacher-like tone.
“Nothing is going on.” She shook her head, “You two are wrong.”
“Unfortunately, Bondita Madam, I have eyes. And I can see. My job is to be observant.” Asha giggled, “I know something has changed since your little visit back home, I have no idea what.”
“Please, Boudi.” Bondita held her hand, surprising Asha as she pleaded. “Don’t speak so loudly, people can hear you,” she sounded alarmed.
“What about what people can see?” Asha raised her brows and giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “You don’t seem to realise that.”
“What… who else…” Bondita gulped. Asha’s eyes widened.
“So my observation is right.” Asha smiled. “Then tell me how it started?” Asha nudged, “What happened in Sunderban that changed everything?” Bondita knew Asha would not believe her if she said she had no particular answer to her question.
“What about him?” Bondita stared at Asha wide-eyed, “Is he in the same boat as you?” Bondita feigned cluelessness.
“I have no idea what you mean, Boudi!” Bondita shook her head as Asha hugged her with a smile. “Oh, Bondita!” Bondita looked a little unsure at Asha, as her feeble protests fell on deaf ears. Asha appeared enthusiastic, calling Saudamini, whom she insisted would speak to her better and put her on speaker. “We were right, Didi, I was right. Here, Bondita.” Asha spoke as Bondita could hear Mini chuckle, amused on the other side of the phone. “Should I just tell Ani he’s an idiot?” She sounded amused, “The day I came here, I thought I saw something in his pride for her. I was right!”
“Mini Didi, please.” Bondita pleaded, alarmed, helpless as the women laughed.
“Have you not told him how you feel?” Mini sounded surprised. “Seeing you two, we thought…”
“It's not like…” Bondita protested again in vain. Asha looked even more excited.
“Perhaps she can tell him after this party? Oh, she must look stunning.”
“I agree. And Bondita, for your sake, clear things up.” Saudamini spoke with sincerity.
Somewhere, Bondita knew where she was coming from. A misunderstanding could be dearer to her than it had been to Mini Didi. But what about all the moments they shared? How could she randomly bring it up? Bondita felt nervous. Bondita stood up from the edge of the bed as Asha smiled after disconnecting the call. She could not help but blush profusely at the same time, contemplating Saudamini’s advice. Maybe she was right.
“I don’t know how aware you are of our past in Alamethi.” Binoy puffed on his pipe as Aniruddha watched him pace the room, waiting to see where his father was going with the conversation. “But you should know we knew Kalindi Di and their family before you knew them.”
“I am aware.” Aniruddha could sense Binoy being awkward to mention the details as he looked surprised. “Bondita and I found letters.”
“What? When?” Binoy asked.
“Before Pujo. We decided to let things be, so that equations don’t sour.” Aniruddha shrugged at his father, who seemed to reflect briefly on his words.
“Is that why you keep getting reluctant about her?” Binoy’s question made him stir awkwardly in his seat. His father had no hint of doubt in his voice.
“No… I…” he opened his mouth to protest, but Binoy interrupted.
“Then what is it? What makes you think she is going to just be there as she is now, waiting for you to come up with one excuse after another to hold on a little longer?” Binoy shook his head. “One day you are going to run out of excuses.”
“I am not looking for excuses. It is just there is a right time… for everything.” Aniruddha shrugged.
“When it is the right person, it is always the right time,” Binoy emphasised.
“She is too young to be tied down to things that hamper her work”, Aniruddha shrugged. Binoy smiled faintly. “You know Kalindi Di is looking for a groom, right?”
“I also know she won’t agree to it because she knows it's not the right time.” Aniruddha appeared confident.
“Maybe, but that doesn’t guarantee she will never say yes to the idea. Sometimes, if things are delayed too long, you lose control over them.” Binoy paused to watch Aniruddha contemplate his words. “Do you want to regret it all your life like Dada did?”
“No… I… It’s different.” Aniruddha was reluctant to talk about it to his father when Binoy walked up to him and patted his back.
“Your Ma used to say that when the boys grow up, I must try to be a friend. I could not even be a father, give me a chance here.” He made Aniruddha shift uneasily as he cleared his throat.
“Baba… I… don’t think we are really in need of talking about this yet.” Aniruddha shook his head. “ I mean… she knows me… She probably knows what I want. Saying it out loud can complicate things, especially between Thamma and Jethu. I don’t want that.”
“I beg to differ, Aniruddha. I think it is their issue to deal with, not yours to think about. Especially when so much is at stake. You know how your Jethu feels about Bondita. If you end up hurting her…” Binoy’s voice had a hint of doubt. “...In your reluctance to commit.”
“It’s not that, Baba.” Aniruddha exhaled. “I don’t want her to be rushing into anything for my sake. She is just twenty-five, her career has just started, and I don’t want to be an obligation…”
“So what do you plan on doing?” Binoy asked, puffing on the pipe in between his thin lips. “Have you thought of anything at all?”
“I actually have. I want to make her a partner in my firm. One of the partners is going to walk out soon. He will be practising in the Supreme Court under his senior. So I thought…”
Binoy smiled at Aniruddha’s words. He was planning a future with Bondita, unlike what Binoy thought about his reluctance. He was fearful that Aniruddha would sit on his feelings due to his commitment issues, guilty of entrapping Bondita in it, and procrastinating till he lost her. But he was glad Aniruddha was making plans in his own way.
“Please don’t tell anyone yet. I want to surprise her.” He exhaled. “I am still going to give Bondita an option to refuse the offer for the firm and…”
“You know she won’t refuse.” Binoy shook his head. “She won’t refuse anything you propose. If you don’t know that… know it now.” He emphasised. He left Aniruddha contemplating.
