Trilochon was so overwhelmed that Binoy came for the Pujo and Kirtan on Dol Purnima. Their neighbours, friends and acquaintances had all gathered in the Thakur Dalan, first for the pujo when the idol of Sree Radha and Sree Krishna were worshipped in the Dalan, and Horir Loot of Batasha and Naru were distributed. Unlike in the village, people here, especially children, did not fight over the Horir Loot. Bondita and Batuk took part in the ritual like they used to as kids, counting the number of Batasha each of them had, amusing the elders who reminisced about their childhood and how Batuk snatched Bondita’s share and ran as she chased after him, shouting. The Kirtan followed the pujo, the tales of Sree Krishna’s prowess, his Leela and Radha’s sacrifice were sung with the sounds of Dhol and Khanjani. It followed the devotional songs praising Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his praises to Lord Krishna. Bondita not only liked the stories of Kirtan but also how the crowd joined in the singing and dancing, clapping their hands rhythmically, and the music surged as the night progressed. The Kirtan ended around midnight, when Bhog was distributed by Trilochon to everyone who had arrived, with Somnath accompanying him as Asha helped with the Bhog. It was then that Bondita noticed Binoy take Trilochon’s seat beside Kalindi, and remembering the last time they had talked, she grew concerned. Her eyes immediately searched for Aniruddha in the crowd. Occasionally, amid the chants and singing, she had her eyes hovering on him as he stood a fair distance away from the Kirtan, often with his neighbourhood friends and acquaintances, talking of things far away from this pompous display of faith, in the more real realms of people who struggled every day.
But now that she looked for him, he was not around. Bondita got up and pondered whether she should go to intervene between Thamma and Binoy or find Aniruddha to do it. Not seeing him around, she made her way through the crowd collecting Bhog, and found them.
“Have you got the Bhog?” She interfered while Kalindi was sharing pleasantries with Binoy as she shook her head. “Let the people have some first.” Bondita shook her head. “Your medicines need to be taken.” Kalindi protested that she could take them later. Bondita was adamant. Binoy watched them keenly and interrupted. “She is right, Didi. You should not skip or be late for medicines.” Bondita observed Binoy’s new tone, trying to suppress her surprise. “You are lucky you have her to care for you.” Kalindi smiled faintly, “Not for long, I hope.” She made Bondita narrow her brows as Binoy enquired. Kalindi expressed her desire to find a groom for her. She had some prospective grooms she wanted Bondita to meet. Bondita opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Binoy asked her, “You want an arranged marriage?” The disbelief in his voice was hard to miss as Bondita looked away, murmuring “Thamma…” Binoy watched her feeble protest with keen eyes as he smiled to himself, and Kalindi caught his glance, wondering if she was missing something. As Bondita took out the medicine from her purse and handed it to her, Kalindi and Binoy were joined by Trilochon, who looked around and asked Bondita, “Where is Aniruddha?” The question took her by surprise as she shrugged, “How could I know?” There was a certain reluctance in her voice as she eyed Binoy, observing them.
“Go and find him.” Trilochon made her nod and stroll away reluctantly as Kalindi watched her walk into the house. Binoy cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is here, I wanted to say something.” He had to speak a little loudly, as the Jatra Party, which had arrived at the centre of the courtyard, were now checking their lights and music before they began their show. People dressed as Gods and Goddesses were roaming around, painted on their bodies, weapons made of tin foil around their waistband, as the curious children surrounded them. Today’s Jatra was on Kansha Bodh, the tale of Lord Krishna as a teenager when he killed his evil uncle and freed his imprisoned biological parents. Trilochon sat between Binoy and Kalindi, taking a bite from the Bhog Bihari brought for them and nodded as Binoy eyed Kalindi.
“I should go see…” Kalindi started to get up, “Where Bondita is…”
“Why? She is in the house.” Trilochon stopped her as their eyes met suggestively. Kalindi did not want to be part of a private conversation between brothers. She knew Binoy would not like that. Binoy caught her glare at a clueless Trilochon as a smile formed on the edge of his lips. He remembered times when she used to scold him into doing as she wanted, what she wanted to play, and Binoy used to be annoyed because Trilochon never asserted that they were the landlords and she should be bowing to them.
“I actually wanted to tell you both…” Binoy stopped her from leaving as he smiled at his brother. The microphone was interrupted with the announcement that the Jatra Pala was about to begin, and he had to stop to let them finish.
“I have decided to come back home.” He did not miss the look of disbelief in Trilochon’s eyes as Kalindi smiled at his words. “But… But… What about the business in Siliguri?” Trilochon asked skeptically. Binoy smiled. “Som can take care of it, we will hire a manager. I would visit occasionally. But now I think I am too old to be on the job all the time. I need a break, and I need to be home.”
“Of course you do.” Trilochon’s happiness knew no bounds. “I have been telling you all this while.”
“Things were different, all this while. I talked to Aniruddha about it and…” Binoy smiled at Trilochon as he hugged his brother, “I think you need to thank Bondita for this mediation.” Kalindi was pleasantly surprised at Binoy praising her.
Bondita found Aniruddha with his friend Saikat Da in the living room of the house. She heaved a sigh, straightened her saree and walked in, enquiring how Saikat Da and his family were. He complimented the fact that she was all grown up since the last time he saw her, and Bondita turned to Aniruddha, saying that Trilochon requested his presence. His unsure glance was met with her nod, indicating that Binoy was probably telling him about his retirement, as Aniruddha smiled and excused himself from Saikat. Asha brought in tea as Saikat enquired about Bondita’s job.
“He is your boss?” He seemed amused. “I hope he doesn’t give you nightmares.”
“Oh, Dadabhai is always very considerate with Bondita, tai na?” Asha smiled at her awkward face as Saikat nodded, cluelessly agreeing, “That he has been.” Bondita excused herself and dragged an amused Asha away, telling her what was happening in the Thakur Dalan.
When Binoy hugged Somnath and Batuk and smiled at Aniruddha, Trilochon’s eyes searched for Bondita, who stood in a corner, holding Asha’s hand, exchanging smiles with her. He could not help but feel that if Aniruddha’s mother were alive, she would have loved and blessed Bondita for her efforts to unite the stubborn egoistic Roy Chowdhury men. Trilochon watched Asha and Bondita working together, sharing a laugh or a light-hearted conversation in between chores and ordering people around. Bondita managed to make Batuk sit through the entire Kirtan, something he barely did since she was gone. Somnath listened to her order not to talk about party work when the house was celebrating. The more he observed, the more he felt that his family needed Bondita more than she needed them. Kalindi walked up to where he sat on the Thakur Dalan when the Jatra started, and Binoy excused himself as he wanted to rest. Although Kalindi was happy, she was not pleased with the way Trilochon praised Bondita’s efforts.
“She reminds me often of Aniruddha’s mother. She is nothing less than a Griha Lakshmi for the house.” Kalindi was uncomfortable with his choice of words. She asserted that she was still adamant on looking for a groom and chuckled lightheartedly, repeating, “You will have to learn to live without her around, then. I am sure it will be fine.”
Trilochon Roy Chowdhury could not imagine Bondita not being around. Although it had been barely six months since she was back home, Trilochon felt that the house and its people needed her there. There was a strange fear of losing her that came over Trilochon. His observant eyes followed Aniruddha, who was reluctant in the audience beside his younger brother, his eyes occasionally travelling to the women’s side, to meet hers as the story of Krishna’s Leela and Radha’s pain progressed through the night. He wondered to himself if he had predicted wrong. If he had made a mistake, perhaps in his will to see an unfulfilled desire come true. Aniruddha had always been a go-getter. Trilochon thought his following Bondita to her village meant something more than just his worry about her safety. He thought his request to give her his mother’s jewellery meant something, too. Perhaps he was wrong. Or perhaps his nephew was too comfortable alone. It worried him. That was the only way he could ensure Bondita’s presence and the long-unfulfilled desire to see Aniruddha settled. It would perhaps sound utterly selfish of the old man, but he realised he had never found another woman fitting seamlessly into Aniruddha’s mother’s shoes with qualities of being the eldest daughter-in-law of the Roy Chowdhurys, the way he saw Bondita now. She was a shadow of Kalindi, perhaps a little less prejudiced, a little more free-spirited and a lot more like Aniruddha was. She was his partner in his dream of making a better society. Was it not all that he wanted? But if the children did not feel the same, Kalindi did not like Bondita’s over-involvement in their house and Aniruddha’s instigation of rebellions in her, who was Trilochon to rewrite fate? He could also not deny that, although an age difference of fifteen was quite a normal fashion for their times, it would be frowned upon by the new generation, who often chose partners closer to their age. Perhaps neither Aniruddha nor Bondita could look past that. That day at the Thakur Dalan, Trilochon prayed that his questions would be answered.
