Chapter 7: Dark truth unravels
-----------------------------------
Everyone from groom’s house was present at the door step to greet the lady. My mom, her aunt, Meghna, and lots of ladies were there to greet the newly wedded bride. Paree was smiling and
giggling with Maithili. They two have got friendlier during the journey.
My eager eyes were looking at her, when she will give a look at me. I slowly walked up to mom. I looked back searching for dad; he was standing at one corner. Dad called me asked me was
everything alright at the bride’s house or not. I answered him affirmatively.
As Paree ushered Maithili into the house, she glanced at me. Our eyes met. There was only a quiet smile on her lips and she vanished into the crowd.
Mriganko asked me to join them at his place. His house was near to this one. I told them I need to change myself from Dhuti and Punjabi before going out.
As I entered the house, my mom caught me and asked about the shawl. I said that the shawl was with Paree.
My mom questioned me, why have I given that to Paree. I told her that she was feeling cold so I gave her that to wrap around her. Mom appreciated me for my did. As I was about to enter the
restroom to change, I saw Paree entering our room. She playfully embraced my mom from back and over her shoulder glanced at me. She still has not changed her dress. Mom scolded her and
asked her to freshen up herself.
Paree asked my mom, whether she has talked with her mom about her ambition or not. My mom said that, to night after the entire crowd gets settled and all the rituals gets finished up then they
will have a family discussion regarding the matter. Paree kissed my mom on her cheeks.
Paree ---“You are my darling Didi; from now on I will call you ChotoMa. Can I?”
Mom patted on Paree’s cheeks ---“You are always the apple of my eye; forever. Come sit by my side. I want to see you with my heart’s content.”
I stood at the doorway of the rest room looking at the ladies deeply engrossed in their affection. My mom looked at me.
Mom ---“What are you looking at, go away. This is pep talk between a mom and her daughter.”
Paree lied on the bed placing her head on my mom’s lap. Mom affectionately combed her plaids with her fingers and looking at her.
I entered the rest room to freshen up and change my dress.
When I came out after changing my dress, I saw Paree sobbing, hiding her face in my mom’s lap. Mom had tears flowing down her cheeks, gently rubbing Paree’s back, consoling her.
______________________________
I looked at mom and enquired as what happened. Mom asked me to leave them.
Same time I heard Mriganko calling me. I went outside leaving those ladies crying. Only thought that swirled in my head was what on earth could have happened that brought tears in their eyes.
Mriganko escorted me towards his home. On the way he said that Subroto would also join us in the party shortly.
On reaching his house, I found Subroto was already present. We settled down in his room.
Samir was the bartender, the glasses were filled up. We cheered for Subroto’s marriage and we all laughed as he was the first among us to get married. So it would be a big day for Subroto
tomorrow.
The conversation flowed as well as the glasses. Samir had brought vodka for drinking. Our conversation turned to girls. Bartender Samir was aptly looking at every glass so that the drinks must
keep flowing. Subroto and Mriganko felt tipsy. I and Samir were in full control on ourselves.
The alcohol took it reins in the veins of both.
Mriganko suddenly said ---“I had a crush on Suchismita for long time.”
Subroto patted his back ---“Oh come one, you coward, you have not told her once in your life time.”
My ears got red. I forgot to take a sip the moment I heard that. I took a deep breath.
Mriganko ---“Due to your elder brother, I could not gather enough courage to approach her.”
Subroto ---“My brother is like my dad. He is just like a coconut, Man. Hard shell on outside but soft and juicy inside.”
Mriganko ---“Ok, then, I will approach Sumanto Da, asking for her hand.”
Suddenly a gush of blood raced to my head. I felt like punching Mriganko hard on his face. But I controlled myself. I poured down the whole glass down my throat.
Subroto pointed at me and said ---“This guy, Abhimanyu has to say something. Don’t you?”
My ears became hot as if someone poured down lava on my head. I reached for the bottle of rum, opened the cork with my teeth and gulped the neat rum. I could feel the burning sensation as
the alcohol travelled down my throat.
I clenched my teeth and looked at Subroto ---“What have I to say?”
Subroto ---“Anything about your girlfriends or anything tasty spicy.”
A huge load came off my chest, Oh my god so no one has yet smelled anything fishy.
---“I do not have any girlfriends in college. Everyone is book worm bitches over there.”
On hearing that everyone laughed.
Mriganko ---“I want to marry Suchismita, please Subroto.”
Subroto looked at him ---“Do not even think of that now. Paree has definitely something in her mind and that is why his mom, Ulupi di, has been invited to my wedding.”
He looked at me ---“I can sense a huge storm coming and that will happen either tonight or tomorrow. I have vague memories of my childhood days, but I have heard that his mom once did a lot
for our family and Paree specially, when my father passed away. I have heard that she used to maintain our family as if her own, we were only mere children then. She bought us clothes to wear
and fed us during that time. Many years have rolled down. Something happened between our families which resulted in cut-off of our relation. And I am sure, for whatever reason Ulupi di has
arrived will make a mark in our family.”
All the affects of alcohol vanished from my brain while Subroto was telling these.
Subroto also kept his glass down; I could see tears in his eyes also as my gaze became hazy.
Samir sensed that the situation was taking a serious turn to a tearful situation. He tried to talk some nonsense to douse the situation.
But Subroto was nowhere in stopping mood. He took my hand and asked the reason why my mom has arrived.
I was now in a very peculiar situation, whether I should tell or just keep mum. Everyone looked at me expecting something.
______________________________
Subroto ---“Let me talk. I am definitely aware of the reason why our families have not come along together for long time. The reason is my two elder sisters, Indrani di and Chandrani di. They got
somehow married to some wealthier families and they became egoist. They tried to forget the people who helped them in past. For whatever reason Ulupi di has come, I will stand by her side.”
I felt in my mind that I must tell them the reason.
---“My mom has come only for Paree Mashi. Paree Mashi wants to pursue her higher studies and become a teacher, but there was a furious objection from your family, from your two sisters
mainly.”
Subroto patted my shoulder ---“Do not worry, anything, your Paree Mashi will pursue whatever her heart wants to. Today I will speak. I will not get suppressed by my sisters today.”
Just then Dushtu came running into the room. He was panting hard. He said that we have been called at the house. Some meeting was going to happen in the dining hall.
Subroto and I both looked at each other. All the drowsiness vanished. We hurried down to the house.
As we entered the dining hall, we found every one seated. Dad, Mom, then Grand Aunt, then Indrani and Chandrani along with their husbands, then Shasanko and Meghna and eldest of all
Sumanto.
Paree stood behind my mom with her arms around her shoulder. Subroto looked at me gave me a thumbs up sign.
Indrani ---“Ulupi di, see, no ladies in our family has graduated. But we continued Paree to pursue her studies. I see no harm now to get her married. We will definitely get a well placed groom for
her also. See us, Chandrani and I both got married to well to-do families.”
Chandrani nodded in accordance with her elder sister.
My mom ---“I just want to say that; what is the harm, if Paree pursues her higher studies?”
Chandrani adamantly said ---“No she can’t. By her age I was wife of someone.”
Subroto spoke up ---“What Ulupi di is saying has to be obeyed. Paree will continue her studies as her will.”
Everyone in the room looked at Subroto. Probably Indrani and Chandrani did not even expect that Subroto will give his view regarding this matter.
Shasanko spoke ---“Subroto, you are young so do not meddle in elders.”
Chandrani ---“Has any one asked your opinion, here?”
Subroto ---“I am a part of this family. I should have a say.”
The matter was getting worse. I saw Paree’s eyelids soaked in tears. Grand Aunt looked at Paree. Paree was holding my mom as her last straw.
Grand Aunt asked Sumanto about his opinion.
Sumanto ---“I think that Paree should be allowed to pursue her studies, in the mean time we will search for a suitable groom for her who will not oppose her studies.”
Paree nodded her head ---“No, I do not want to get married now. You all want that I leave this house.”
Mom tapped Paree and requested her to keep quiet.
Indrani asked my mom ---“Why have you come to our family after so long?”
Grand Aunt; in a scolding voice to Indrani ---“I have asked Shasanko to invite her. Do not ever try to say those words to Ulupi.”
Indrani ignored her mom completely---“We two sisters have done lot for our family, what has she done? What say she has here after seventeen long years?”
There was a dead silence in the room. Bomb has been dropped.
I saw rage in mom’s eyes. She spoke in a bit shaky yet commanding voice ---“Do not ask what I have done. I have come here only for Paree, and I will make you all obey my orders. You all want to
hear the reason.”
Everyone in room was looking at my mom. Grand Aunt pleaded my mom to keep quiet.
Grand Aunt ---“I will allow Paree to study. Please Ulupi, please keep quiet.”
Mom ---“No, they have asked the reason why I am here. They should know.”
She looked at Chandrani and Indrani ---“You father passed away, when Paree was only one and half years old, and my son was in my womb. There was no one to look after all of you. Every one of
you was little children then. Aunt used to cry all time. Shasanko left his school to work in a rice barn, so that he could buy some rice for you. Those five years of my life, I gave my earning to your
family. I fed you all, it is me due to whom you all are here and standing in one piece and you are asking me that what I have done?”
______________________________
Grand Aunt took my mom’s hand in her and asked her to stop. Paree looked at my mom’s face with tears rolling down her cheeks. But my mom showed no sign to stop. There was a pin drop
silence in the room. Subroto looked at me as I looked at him.
---“I fed Paree, my breast milk along with my son. Every one of you cursed Paree to be evil child. You all use to say that she took her father away. I tore my heart into two so that she can live.”
Subroto approached my mom; he kneeled down and sat by mom’s feet. Everyone in the room, except Indrani, Chandrani and their husbands, had tears in their eyes.
My dad stood up from his chair and silently walked away from the room, hiding his emotions.
Mom continued ---“If I could show you my heart, I would even show you that. Paree is not my daughter, but she is like a daughter to me. I have not come here for anyone of you. I know you all are
rich people now. Your heads are filled with your rich ego as both of you are married to business families.”
Paree and Grand Aunt were crying profusely. I was also unable to control my tears.
Mom ---“Tomorrow, after everything ends. I am going to take Paree with me to Kolkata. I will ensure that she gets admission in the best college of Kolkata University and she pursues her studies.
From now on I will bear every penny for Paree. I give a damn to what all you say or feel or do.”
A long sigh came out from my mom’s chest. Paree was really uncontrollable by then. She sat on the floor beside my mom’s chair hiding her face in my mom’s lap and cried profusely.
Shasanko and Sumanto got up from their chair, approached my mom and bowed down to touch her feet.
The whole scene seemed to me as a big family drama, full of emotions running down from everywhere.
Sumanto spoke up ---“I am with Ulupi di. I think she has every right to take away Paree from us. We all forgot what she did for our family.”
Sumanto then dropped the atom bomb ---“Day after tomorrow, the first thing I am going to do is mutation of this property. This property will be divided in seven parts.”
Indrani queried ---“Why seven parts, we are six siblings only?”
The Lion roared ---“You just keep quiet. Each part, for us and one for Mother. She has her right to give her part to whomever she chooses.”
Shasanko nodded in accordance with his elder brother.
---“I don’t want this discussion to happen outside this room and mar the enjoyment of the marriage of Subroto. End of discussion, chapter closed. Now everyone retire to your work.”
The whole discussion has taken a fair amount of time. It was already nine o’clock at night.
-----------------------------------
Everyone from groom’s house was present at the door step to greet the lady. My mom, her aunt, Meghna, and lots of ladies were there to greet the newly wedded bride. Paree was smiling and
giggling with Maithili. They two have got friendlier during the journey.
My eager eyes were looking at her, when she will give a look at me. I slowly walked up to mom. I looked back searching for dad; he was standing at one corner. Dad called me asked me was
everything alright at the bride’s house or not. I answered him affirmatively.
As Paree ushered Maithili into the house, she glanced at me. Our eyes met. There was only a quiet smile on her lips and she vanished into the crowd.
Mriganko asked me to join them at his place. His house was near to this one. I told them I need to change myself from Dhuti and Punjabi before going out.
As I entered the house, my mom caught me and asked about the shawl. I said that the shawl was with Paree.
My mom questioned me, why have I given that to Paree. I told her that she was feeling cold so I gave her that to wrap around her. Mom appreciated me for my did. As I was about to enter the
restroom to change, I saw Paree entering our room. She playfully embraced my mom from back and over her shoulder glanced at me. She still has not changed her dress. Mom scolded her and
asked her to freshen up herself.
Paree asked my mom, whether she has talked with her mom about her ambition or not. My mom said that, to night after the entire crowd gets settled and all the rituals gets finished up then they
will have a family discussion regarding the matter. Paree kissed my mom on her cheeks.
Paree ---“You are my darling Didi; from now on I will call you ChotoMa. Can I?”
Mom patted on Paree’s cheeks ---“You are always the apple of my eye; forever. Come sit by my side. I want to see you with my heart’s content.”
I stood at the doorway of the rest room looking at the ladies deeply engrossed in their affection. My mom looked at me.
Mom ---“What are you looking at, go away. This is pep talk between a mom and her daughter.”
Paree lied on the bed placing her head on my mom’s lap. Mom affectionately combed her plaids with her fingers and looking at her.
I entered the rest room to freshen up and change my dress.
When I came out after changing my dress, I saw Paree sobbing, hiding her face in my mom’s lap. Mom had tears flowing down her cheeks, gently rubbing Paree’s back, consoling her.
______________________________
I looked at mom and enquired as what happened. Mom asked me to leave them.
Same time I heard Mriganko calling me. I went outside leaving those ladies crying. Only thought that swirled in my head was what on earth could have happened that brought tears in their eyes.
Mriganko escorted me towards his home. On the way he said that Subroto would also join us in the party shortly.
On reaching his house, I found Subroto was already present. We settled down in his room.
Samir was the bartender, the glasses were filled up. We cheered for Subroto’s marriage and we all laughed as he was the first among us to get married. So it would be a big day for Subroto
tomorrow.
The conversation flowed as well as the glasses. Samir had brought vodka for drinking. Our conversation turned to girls. Bartender Samir was aptly looking at every glass so that the drinks must
keep flowing. Subroto and Mriganko felt tipsy. I and Samir were in full control on ourselves.
The alcohol took it reins in the veins of both.
Mriganko suddenly said ---“I had a crush on Suchismita for long time.”
Subroto patted his back ---“Oh come one, you coward, you have not told her once in your life time.”
My ears got red. I forgot to take a sip the moment I heard that. I took a deep breath.
Mriganko ---“Due to your elder brother, I could not gather enough courage to approach her.”
Subroto ---“My brother is like my dad. He is just like a coconut, Man. Hard shell on outside but soft and juicy inside.”
Mriganko ---“Ok, then, I will approach Sumanto Da, asking for her hand.”
Suddenly a gush of blood raced to my head. I felt like punching Mriganko hard on his face. But I controlled myself. I poured down the whole glass down my throat.
Subroto pointed at me and said ---“This guy, Abhimanyu has to say something. Don’t you?”
My ears became hot as if someone poured down lava on my head. I reached for the bottle of rum, opened the cork with my teeth and gulped the neat rum. I could feel the burning sensation as
the alcohol travelled down my throat.
I clenched my teeth and looked at Subroto ---“What have I to say?”
Subroto ---“Anything about your girlfriends or anything tasty spicy.”
A huge load came off my chest, Oh my god so no one has yet smelled anything fishy.
---“I do not have any girlfriends in college. Everyone is book worm bitches over there.”
On hearing that everyone laughed.
Mriganko ---“I want to marry Suchismita, please Subroto.”
Subroto looked at him ---“Do not even think of that now. Paree has definitely something in her mind and that is why his mom, Ulupi di, has been invited to my wedding.”
He looked at me ---“I can sense a huge storm coming and that will happen either tonight or tomorrow. I have vague memories of my childhood days, but I have heard that his mom once did a lot
for our family and Paree specially, when my father passed away. I have heard that she used to maintain our family as if her own, we were only mere children then. She bought us clothes to wear
and fed us during that time. Many years have rolled down. Something happened between our families which resulted in cut-off of our relation. And I am sure, for whatever reason Ulupi di has
arrived will make a mark in our family.”
All the affects of alcohol vanished from my brain while Subroto was telling these.
Subroto also kept his glass down; I could see tears in his eyes also as my gaze became hazy.
Samir sensed that the situation was taking a serious turn to a tearful situation. He tried to talk some nonsense to douse the situation.
But Subroto was nowhere in stopping mood. He took my hand and asked the reason why my mom has arrived.
I was now in a very peculiar situation, whether I should tell or just keep mum. Everyone looked at me expecting something.
______________________________
Subroto ---“Let me talk. I am definitely aware of the reason why our families have not come along together for long time. The reason is my two elder sisters, Indrani di and Chandrani di. They got
somehow married to some wealthier families and they became egoist. They tried to forget the people who helped them in past. For whatever reason Ulupi di has come, I will stand by her side.”
I felt in my mind that I must tell them the reason.
---“My mom has come only for Paree Mashi. Paree Mashi wants to pursue her higher studies and become a teacher, but there was a furious objection from your family, from your two sisters
mainly.”
Subroto patted my shoulder ---“Do not worry, anything, your Paree Mashi will pursue whatever her heart wants to. Today I will speak. I will not get suppressed by my sisters today.”
Just then Dushtu came running into the room. He was panting hard. He said that we have been called at the house. Some meeting was going to happen in the dining hall.
Subroto and I both looked at each other. All the drowsiness vanished. We hurried down to the house.
As we entered the dining hall, we found every one seated. Dad, Mom, then Grand Aunt, then Indrani and Chandrani along with their husbands, then Shasanko and Meghna and eldest of all
Sumanto.
Paree stood behind my mom with her arms around her shoulder. Subroto looked at me gave me a thumbs up sign.
Indrani ---“Ulupi di, see, no ladies in our family has graduated. But we continued Paree to pursue her studies. I see no harm now to get her married. We will definitely get a well placed groom for
her also. See us, Chandrani and I both got married to well to-do families.”
Chandrani nodded in accordance with her elder sister.
My mom ---“I just want to say that; what is the harm, if Paree pursues her higher studies?”
Chandrani adamantly said ---“No she can’t. By her age I was wife of someone.”
Subroto spoke up ---“What Ulupi di is saying has to be obeyed. Paree will continue her studies as her will.”
Everyone in the room looked at Subroto. Probably Indrani and Chandrani did not even expect that Subroto will give his view regarding this matter.
Shasanko spoke ---“Subroto, you are young so do not meddle in elders.”
Chandrani ---“Has any one asked your opinion, here?”
Subroto ---“I am a part of this family. I should have a say.”
The matter was getting worse. I saw Paree’s eyelids soaked in tears. Grand Aunt looked at Paree. Paree was holding my mom as her last straw.
Grand Aunt asked Sumanto about his opinion.
Sumanto ---“I think that Paree should be allowed to pursue her studies, in the mean time we will search for a suitable groom for her who will not oppose her studies.”
Paree nodded her head ---“No, I do not want to get married now. You all want that I leave this house.”
Mom tapped Paree and requested her to keep quiet.
Indrani asked my mom ---“Why have you come to our family after so long?”
Grand Aunt; in a scolding voice to Indrani ---“I have asked Shasanko to invite her. Do not ever try to say those words to Ulupi.”
Indrani ignored her mom completely---“We two sisters have done lot for our family, what has she done? What say she has here after seventeen long years?”
There was a dead silence in the room. Bomb has been dropped.
I saw rage in mom’s eyes. She spoke in a bit shaky yet commanding voice ---“Do not ask what I have done. I have come here only for Paree, and I will make you all obey my orders. You all want to
hear the reason.”
Everyone in room was looking at my mom. Grand Aunt pleaded my mom to keep quiet.
Grand Aunt ---“I will allow Paree to study. Please Ulupi, please keep quiet.”
Mom ---“No, they have asked the reason why I am here. They should know.”
She looked at Chandrani and Indrani ---“You father passed away, when Paree was only one and half years old, and my son was in my womb. There was no one to look after all of you. Every one of
you was little children then. Aunt used to cry all time. Shasanko left his school to work in a rice barn, so that he could buy some rice for you. Those five years of my life, I gave my earning to your
family. I fed you all, it is me due to whom you all are here and standing in one piece and you are asking me that what I have done?”
______________________________
Grand Aunt took my mom’s hand in her and asked her to stop. Paree looked at my mom’s face with tears rolling down her cheeks. But my mom showed no sign to stop. There was a pin drop
silence in the room. Subroto looked at me as I looked at him.
---“I fed Paree, my breast milk along with my son. Every one of you cursed Paree to be evil child. You all use to say that she took her father away. I tore my heart into two so that she can live.”
Subroto approached my mom; he kneeled down and sat by mom’s feet. Everyone in the room, except Indrani, Chandrani and their husbands, had tears in their eyes.
My dad stood up from his chair and silently walked away from the room, hiding his emotions.
Mom continued ---“If I could show you my heart, I would even show you that. Paree is not my daughter, but she is like a daughter to me. I have not come here for anyone of you. I know you all are
rich people now. Your heads are filled with your rich ego as both of you are married to business families.”
Paree and Grand Aunt were crying profusely. I was also unable to control my tears.
Mom ---“Tomorrow, after everything ends. I am going to take Paree with me to Kolkata. I will ensure that she gets admission in the best college of Kolkata University and she pursues her studies.
From now on I will bear every penny for Paree. I give a damn to what all you say or feel or do.”
A long sigh came out from my mom’s chest. Paree was really uncontrollable by then. She sat on the floor beside my mom’s chair hiding her face in my mom’s lap and cried profusely.
Shasanko and Sumanto got up from their chair, approached my mom and bowed down to touch her feet.
The whole scene seemed to me as a big family drama, full of emotions running down from everywhere.
Sumanto spoke up ---“I am with Ulupi di. I think she has every right to take away Paree from us. We all forgot what she did for our family.”
Sumanto then dropped the atom bomb ---“Day after tomorrow, the first thing I am going to do is mutation of this property. This property will be divided in seven parts.”
Indrani queried ---“Why seven parts, we are six siblings only?”
The Lion roared ---“You just keep quiet. Each part, for us and one for Mother. She has her right to give her part to whomever she chooses.”
Shasanko nodded in accordance with his elder brother.
---“I don’t want this discussion to happen outside this room and mar the enjoyment of the marriage of Subroto. End of discussion, chapter closed. Now everyone retire to your work.”
The whole discussion has taken a fair amount of time. It was already nine o’clock at night.
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