19-12-2019, 11:27 AM
I asked her what happened.
She answered ---“Maithili was asking about you. She wanted to tell me something but she resisted.”
“Tell me the whole incident” I pulled her more to my chest. “But why are you looking so tensed?”
---“It is because of the heavy weather among those two. Can’t you feel that after you arrived they have not come out in front of you, not for one instance?”
I let out a deep exhale ---“What can I do, if they don’t approach me.”
She looked at me ---“Why don’t you go and talk to them?”
I got bit annoyed and loosened my arms around her narrow waist ---“Why should I? If I approach them, then it clearly suggest that I have done something wrong. But I have done nothing.”
She walked away a little and looked back at me ---“I know you haven’t done anything wrong, but the tension has spilled out somehow. Meghna and my mom were also asking me. What answer should I give to them?”
I lit another cigarette and inhaled a long puff and asked her ---“What was Maithili asking to you or wanted to say to you?”
---“She tried to say something. Only she said to me ‘Can you tell Abhi, that I am sorry’. I asked her that why she was telling me all these. She only told me that she can’t come out in front of you and her face was very gloom.”
I felt a burning rage in my head ---“Why did you go to her room?”
“What can I do? I have to act that I know nothing. Don’t you understand these things?” she yelled at me softly.
I pulled her on me and looked into her eyes ---“Tell them to meet me at night, any night before we return and don’t forget to bring the cassette recorder with you while you come. You should also be present there while we speak.”
She gave a queer look and asked ---“Why should I be there, while you speak? They will feel uncomfortable in front of me?”
---“That whore can open her dress in front of me and she can’t talk in front you? I will surely teach that son-of-a-bitch and his whore wife a very good lesson.”
She patted my cheek and smiled at me ---“Come on, keep your head cool and goto sleep.”
She kissed me sweetly on my lips and we came down the roof.
Our days came to an end in that house. Mom and dad were to arrive on Sunday morning flight. So we had to be at our house by Saturday evening.
On the penultimate evening in that village paradise, Grand Aunt was offering her evening puja. I sneaked quietly behind her and sat silently behind her. She was reading some holy book. I looked at her face. In the yellow light of the earthen lamp, I saw a pain in her eyes. The pain of separation from her youngest daughter, Paree.
After she finished her puja, she felt that someone was sitting behind her. She looked at me over her shoulder. Like the old childhood days, I stretched my right hand to her and asked ---“Won’t you give me my sweets?”
She was surprised to see me ---“When did you come here?”
---“Long ago. You were totally engrossed in that holy book. So I didn’t disturb you.”
She handed me a sweet meat and asked me---“Is Paree doing well at your house?”
---“Why are you asking me such questions? That is her other home, whatever she does here she do there also. Don’t worry about her.”
---“Tomorrow you will be going away. When will you come again?”
I took her hand in mine ---“Any time, it is your daughter’s house. My mom is also like your daughter, so you can visit anytime. You don’t have to hesitate for that.”
She said ---“Your mom is more than a daughter to me, she is like my sister.”
---“Please leave all these emotional talks. Let us talk something different.”
She smiled at me ---“What do you want from an old lady, now?”
I kneeled before her and looked in her old but queer eyes ---“One day I will come to ask for your doll from you.”
She could not understand as what I was asking.
She pointed to the idol placed on the deity throne ---“Which one, this one?”
I smiled at her playfully ---“May be that one, may be some other doll.”
She ruffled my hair and laughed at me ---“I don’t understand as what you are saying. But whatever you are asking for, if it is my hand then I will surely give that to you. I know you are very precious.”
______________________________
I murmured in my soul “Grand Aunt, I love your daughter, Suchismita and I am asking for her. Will you give her hand to me?”
After dinner, Paree was engaged in packing our bags. I stole few hugs and sweet kisses from her while she was packing. We fought like two small kittens before she went to bed.
I reclined on the bed, resting on few pillows on my back and reading a novel of SarathChandra, “Srikanto”. I heard a knock on the door and Paree entered the room. She was hiding something under her stole and pushed that under my pillow.
She looked bit tensed and said to me ---“Subroto and Maithili wants to talk to you.”
I gestured her as what she had pushed under my pillow, she signaled a square with her finger. I nodded my head, understood that it was the cassette recorder.
I told her to usher them inside. The hour was late and everybody in the house was in deep sleep.
Subroto came in and looked the other way and said in an apologetic voice ---“We want to talk to you alone.”
On seeing his face, I clenched my jaws and looked at him over my specs.
Paree looked at me and then to Subroto and was about to leave. I signed her to stop and come to me. I sat up on the bed and asked Subroto as whatever he wanted to speak he can say in front of Paree.
He looked very disturbed and hesitated to say anything.
I sneaked my hand under the pillow and switched on the cassette recorder.
In a deep groaning voice I said to him ---“Why are you silent? Speak up.”
He looked at me and said to me also in a deep groan voice ---“I want to talk to you alone. Paree should leave.”
I clenched my jaws and stood in front of him and pulled Paree behind me ---“She will not leave. Whatever you have to say, you have to say in front of her. This time; don’t try to play any game with me.”
Paree’s eyes were filled up with anticipation as what was going to happen. She clutched my shoulder bone hard and looked at me. Her warm breath I could feel on my right shoulder bone.
At last Subroto spoke ---“Whatever happened was a misunderstanding.”
I tweaked my index finger under his nose ---“Whatever happened was not at a misunderstanding, it was a well calculated step taken by you and your bitch. You were also aware of her steps and may I know why you gave the consent? Where is your bitchy wife? Call her here.”
Upon hearing the word “bitch” from my mouth, he clenched his jaws and gave a fiery look at me.
I groaned at him ---“Don’t dare to give that look at me. My ‘Bihari’ punch will smash your damn head on that wall.”
He yelled at me ---“You stepped first. You ogled at my wife. You sang that song during our visit to your house.”
I looked at Paree over my shoulder.
---“That was a joke. That doesn’t mean that I was eyeing your wife. Tell me the truth. What was the reason, your wife tried to entice me? There is something else behind all these.”
The next sentence shook me and Paree from our toes till the tip of our hair.
---“Maithili caught me along with Arunima, few weeks after our marriage. Arunima told her that she would somehow try to find some person who will court her along with satisfying Maithili also. So that, whatever happens, the game remains between four of us.”
On hearing that, I felt Paree’s nails dug deep on my shoulder bone. She gently banged her forehead in dismay, on my back.
Subroto continued ---“When I felt that you had an eye for Maithili, we planned to entice you. But we were very much wrong, that you would be such a gentleman and true to your words to someone you have loved.”
I felt to bang his head on the wall. I slapped my forehead.
---“Where is your wife?”
---“She is standing outside the door.”
---“Call her inside.”
Subroto pulled Maithili, who was standing behind the curtain. She stood with her head stooped down as if she was asking for the mother earth to open up so that she could enter in her lap. I saw tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes. But there was no mercy in my heart.
I again pushed my hand under the pillow to switch off the cassette recorder and took that out and waved it in front of them.
______________________________
---“You know what this is?”
They nodded their head as I played the cassette recorder in front of their eyes. Both their faces turned bloodless in sheer horror, as if they have seen death in front of their eyes. As if they have heard the death call from the hell.
Subroto held my hand and pleaded ---“Please don’t do that to me. My life will be devastated.”
I shook my hand and freed my hand from his clutch ---“Tell me a reason why I should not do that.”
The room was filled up with a bitter silence.
After long time I spoke up ---“You have to do, whatever I will tell you to do.”
Both husband and wife looked at me with pleading eyes and horror as what would I ask them to do.
I pulled Paree from my back and held her; both of them looked at us.
I took a deep breath before taking a deep plunge ---“That night, I sang the song for Paree. The night I stayed with you at your wedding was also for Paree. I love her to the core of my heart. You know that there is no blood relation between our families. But as my mom is very close to your mom and I am two years younger than her. So everyone will oppose our love.”
I paused for a little ---“You have got two years. Paree would finish her masters by then and I would have a job. You have to convince two families. You have time. Gradually fill the mind of these people that age doesn’t matter. I don’t know how you will do that. But if I lose her, I will make your life hell. I know her house at Ranaghat, I have been to Arunima’s place at Dhakuria and this is your house. So no more playing games with me.”
Paree looked at me in utter disbelief. She was really shaken as what I was talking about.
She clutched my left arm ---“What are you saying Abhi?”
I looked at her and smiled ---“They will do anything now.” I looked at them. Those two, husband and wife stood still and was unable believe as what they just heard.
---“Don’t be surprised. Just do what I have said. Now leave me alone. I need some rest and more important, keep that bitch in reins or I make your life hell.”
They silently walked away from the room. Before leaving they promised me that they will obey to every word of mine.
After they left the room, Paree slapped hard on my face and screamed ---“What have you just said to them?”
My glass flew on the bed. I held both her wrist in my clutch and looked into her fiery eyes. She was trembling in anger.
To persuade her, I said ---“Why are you so angry? I had to play the same cards they played with me.”
She screamed and thumped her fist on my chest in dismay ---“But now they know about us and we can be in danger.”
I pulled her head on my chest and hugged her tightly in my arms.
---“They won’t dare to tell these even to a crow, honey. They know their key lies with me. Calm down and let me play my cards.”
She hid her face on my bare chest and wrapped her arms around me. Her hands were locked on my back. I felt her soft bosom melting on my broad chest, with each deep breath she took. I felt her sweet lips to caress my left chest just above my heart.
She purred ---“I love you Abhi. I will not live without you.”
I crushed her in my arms and kissed her head and whispered in her ears ---“I can do anything, to win my love. Everything is fair in love and war.”
We stood there for long time, melting in our amorous embrace. Then I showered her with good night kisses on her lips.
Next day, on Saturday, after lunch we started from the village home. All were heavy hearted to bid us good bye. But as time and tide waits for none so we had to part.
Most of the journey back, Paree talked about her stay in her house and about Lahul-Spiti tour.
We reached home by evening.
In the evening we visited the gynecologist for her check up. She prescribed some medicines and advised to take iron and calcium tablets regularly.
Mom called at evening to enquire whether we have reached home or not.
______________________________
She answered ---“Maithili was asking about you. She wanted to tell me something but she resisted.”
“Tell me the whole incident” I pulled her more to my chest. “But why are you looking so tensed?”
---“It is because of the heavy weather among those two. Can’t you feel that after you arrived they have not come out in front of you, not for one instance?”
I let out a deep exhale ---“What can I do, if they don’t approach me.”
She looked at me ---“Why don’t you go and talk to them?”
I got bit annoyed and loosened my arms around her narrow waist ---“Why should I? If I approach them, then it clearly suggest that I have done something wrong. But I have done nothing.”
She walked away a little and looked back at me ---“I know you haven’t done anything wrong, but the tension has spilled out somehow. Meghna and my mom were also asking me. What answer should I give to them?”
I lit another cigarette and inhaled a long puff and asked her ---“What was Maithili asking to you or wanted to say to you?”
---“She tried to say something. Only she said to me ‘Can you tell Abhi, that I am sorry’. I asked her that why she was telling me all these. She only told me that she can’t come out in front of you and her face was very gloom.”
I felt a burning rage in my head ---“Why did you go to her room?”
“What can I do? I have to act that I know nothing. Don’t you understand these things?” she yelled at me softly.
I pulled her on me and looked into her eyes ---“Tell them to meet me at night, any night before we return and don’t forget to bring the cassette recorder with you while you come. You should also be present there while we speak.”
She gave a queer look and asked ---“Why should I be there, while you speak? They will feel uncomfortable in front of me?”
---“That whore can open her dress in front of me and she can’t talk in front you? I will surely teach that son-of-a-bitch and his whore wife a very good lesson.”
She patted my cheek and smiled at me ---“Come on, keep your head cool and goto sleep.”
She kissed me sweetly on my lips and we came down the roof.
Our days came to an end in that house. Mom and dad were to arrive on Sunday morning flight. So we had to be at our house by Saturday evening.
On the penultimate evening in that village paradise, Grand Aunt was offering her evening puja. I sneaked quietly behind her and sat silently behind her. She was reading some holy book. I looked at her face. In the yellow light of the earthen lamp, I saw a pain in her eyes. The pain of separation from her youngest daughter, Paree.
After she finished her puja, she felt that someone was sitting behind her. She looked at me over her shoulder. Like the old childhood days, I stretched my right hand to her and asked ---“Won’t you give me my sweets?”
She was surprised to see me ---“When did you come here?”
---“Long ago. You were totally engrossed in that holy book. So I didn’t disturb you.”
She handed me a sweet meat and asked me---“Is Paree doing well at your house?”
---“Why are you asking me such questions? That is her other home, whatever she does here she do there also. Don’t worry about her.”
---“Tomorrow you will be going away. When will you come again?”
I took her hand in mine ---“Any time, it is your daughter’s house. My mom is also like your daughter, so you can visit anytime. You don’t have to hesitate for that.”
She said ---“Your mom is more than a daughter to me, she is like my sister.”
---“Please leave all these emotional talks. Let us talk something different.”
She smiled at me ---“What do you want from an old lady, now?”
I kneeled before her and looked in her old but queer eyes ---“One day I will come to ask for your doll from you.”
She could not understand as what I was asking.
She pointed to the idol placed on the deity throne ---“Which one, this one?”
I smiled at her playfully ---“May be that one, may be some other doll.”
She ruffled my hair and laughed at me ---“I don’t understand as what you are saying. But whatever you are asking for, if it is my hand then I will surely give that to you. I know you are very precious.”
______________________________
I murmured in my soul “Grand Aunt, I love your daughter, Suchismita and I am asking for her. Will you give her hand to me?”
After dinner, Paree was engaged in packing our bags. I stole few hugs and sweet kisses from her while she was packing. We fought like two small kittens before she went to bed.
I reclined on the bed, resting on few pillows on my back and reading a novel of SarathChandra, “Srikanto”. I heard a knock on the door and Paree entered the room. She was hiding something under her stole and pushed that under my pillow.
She looked bit tensed and said to me ---“Subroto and Maithili wants to talk to you.”
I gestured her as what she had pushed under my pillow, she signaled a square with her finger. I nodded my head, understood that it was the cassette recorder.
I told her to usher them inside. The hour was late and everybody in the house was in deep sleep.
Subroto came in and looked the other way and said in an apologetic voice ---“We want to talk to you alone.”
On seeing his face, I clenched my jaws and looked at him over my specs.
Paree looked at me and then to Subroto and was about to leave. I signed her to stop and come to me. I sat up on the bed and asked Subroto as whatever he wanted to speak he can say in front of Paree.
He looked very disturbed and hesitated to say anything.
I sneaked my hand under the pillow and switched on the cassette recorder.
In a deep groaning voice I said to him ---“Why are you silent? Speak up.”
He looked at me and said to me also in a deep groan voice ---“I want to talk to you alone. Paree should leave.”
I clenched my jaws and stood in front of him and pulled Paree behind me ---“She will not leave. Whatever you have to say, you have to say in front of her. This time; don’t try to play any game with me.”
Paree’s eyes were filled up with anticipation as what was going to happen. She clutched my shoulder bone hard and looked at me. Her warm breath I could feel on my right shoulder bone.
At last Subroto spoke ---“Whatever happened was a misunderstanding.”
I tweaked my index finger under his nose ---“Whatever happened was not at a misunderstanding, it was a well calculated step taken by you and your bitch. You were also aware of her steps and may I know why you gave the consent? Where is your bitchy wife? Call her here.”
Upon hearing the word “bitch” from my mouth, he clenched his jaws and gave a fiery look at me.
I groaned at him ---“Don’t dare to give that look at me. My ‘Bihari’ punch will smash your damn head on that wall.”
He yelled at me ---“You stepped first. You ogled at my wife. You sang that song during our visit to your house.”
I looked at Paree over my shoulder.
---“That was a joke. That doesn’t mean that I was eyeing your wife. Tell me the truth. What was the reason, your wife tried to entice me? There is something else behind all these.”
The next sentence shook me and Paree from our toes till the tip of our hair.
---“Maithili caught me along with Arunima, few weeks after our marriage. Arunima told her that she would somehow try to find some person who will court her along with satisfying Maithili also. So that, whatever happens, the game remains between four of us.”
On hearing that, I felt Paree’s nails dug deep on my shoulder bone. She gently banged her forehead in dismay, on my back.
Subroto continued ---“When I felt that you had an eye for Maithili, we planned to entice you. But we were very much wrong, that you would be such a gentleman and true to your words to someone you have loved.”
I felt to bang his head on the wall. I slapped my forehead.
---“Where is your wife?”
---“She is standing outside the door.”
---“Call her inside.”
Subroto pulled Maithili, who was standing behind the curtain. She stood with her head stooped down as if she was asking for the mother earth to open up so that she could enter in her lap. I saw tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes. But there was no mercy in my heart.
I again pushed my hand under the pillow to switch off the cassette recorder and took that out and waved it in front of them.
______________________________
---“You know what this is?”
They nodded their head as I played the cassette recorder in front of their eyes. Both their faces turned bloodless in sheer horror, as if they have seen death in front of their eyes. As if they have heard the death call from the hell.
Subroto held my hand and pleaded ---“Please don’t do that to me. My life will be devastated.”
I shook my hand and freed my hand from his clutch ---“Tell me a reason why I should not do that.”
The room was filled up with a bitter silence.
After long time I spoke up ---“You have to do, whatever I will tell you to do.”
Both husband and wife looked at me with pleading eyes and horror as what would I ask them to do.
I pulled Paree from my back and held her; both of them looked at us.
I took a deep breath before taking a deep plunge ---“That night, I sang the song for Paree. The night I stayed with you at your wedding was also for Paree. I love her to the core of my heart. You know that there is no blood relation between our families. But as my mom is very close to your mom and I am two years younger than her. So everyone will oppose our love.”
I paused for a little ---“You have got two years. Paree would finish her masters by then and I would have a job. You have to convince two families. You have time. Gradually fill the mind of these people that age doesn’t matter. I don’t know how you will do that. But if I lose her, I will make your life hell. I know her house at Ranaghat, I have been to Arunima’s place at Dhakuria and this is your house. So no more playing games with me.”
Paree looked at me in utter disbelief. She was really shaken as what I was talking about.
She clutched my left arm ---“What are you saying Abhi?”
I looked at her and smiled ---“They will do anything now.” I looked at them. Those two, husband and wife stood still and was unable believe as what they just heard.
---“Don’t be surprised. Just do what I have said. Now leave me alone. I need some rest and more important, keep that bitch in reins or I make your life hell.”
They silently walked away from the room. Before leaving they promised me that they will obey to every word of mine.
After they left the room, Paree slapped hard on my face and screamed ---“What have you just said to them?”
My glass flew on the bed. I held both her wrist in my clutch and looked into her fiery eyes. She was trembling in anger.
To persuade her, I said ---“Why are you so angry? I had to play the same cards they played with me.”
She screamed and thumped her fist on my chest in dismay ---“But now they know about us and we can be in danger.”
I pulled her head on my chest and hugged her tightly in my arms.
---“They won’t dare to tell these even to a crow, honey. They know their key lies with me. Calm down and let me play my cards.”
She hid her face on my bare chest and wrapped her arms around me. Her hands were locked on my back. I felt her soft bosom melting on my broad chest, with each deep breath she took. I felt her sweet lips to caress my left chest just above my heart.
She purred ---“I love you Abhi. I will not live without you.”
I crushed her in my arms and kissed her head and whispered in her ears ---“I can do anything, to win my love. Everything is fair in love and war.”
We stood there for long time, melting in our amorous embrace. Then I showered her with good night kisses on her lips.
Next day, on Saturday, after lunch we started from the village home. All were heavy hearted to bid us good bye. But as time and tide waits for none so we had to part.
Most of the journey back, Paree talked about her stay in her house and about Lahul-Spiti tour.
We reached home by evening.
In the evening we visited the gynecologist for her check up. She prescribed some medicines and advised to take iron and calcium tablets regularly.
Mom called at evening to enquire whether we have reached home or not.
______________________________
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