10-01-2019, 12:45 PM
Chapter 6. Melting Ice. (#2)
Jhinuk intently watched as Rishu relished the fried rice. He finished his dish quietly and looked at her with contend eyes. She felt very happy but his silence was killing her soul. She quietly finished her dinner. Weather was getting colder with each passing minute and so was the ambiance of the dining room. Before retiring to his room, Rishu informed her in a single sentence that he had morning duty whole week. She gently nodded her head in accordance and entered her room. That night both of them slept in their respective rooms, thinking of eachother. Jhinuk had a blank thought as how to proceed further with her boring life, Rishu thought the same on the other bed.
Next day, Jhinuk woke up early in morning before Rishu got up from bed. Although she was feeling sleepy, yet she prepared his breakfast with whatever she found in the kitchen. Rishu woke up as usual when his alarm went off. After getting dressed up his eyes fell in the kitchen and observed that Jhinuk was preparing breakfast for him.
>He looked into her sleepy eyes and said, “Don’t take much pain in preparing breakfast. I can have that in canteen.”
She handed him the lunchbox and said, “There are no vegetables in the refrigerator.”
Rishu quietly answered her, “The vendors move from door to door here. You can buy from them or you can take the help of maid servant to fetch vegetables from the market. Please don’t go outside.”
She stood with her head bent down, thinking as how she would spent the whole day alone in that huge flat. She asked him in a hushed tone, “Is there any internet-cafe nearby?”
He smiled and answered, “Extremely sorry, I forgot to tell you, I have got Wi-fi connection. You can connect with that. The password is d3e9d1y@.” She gave a bewildered look at him, what a tough password she thought. He smiled and answered, “The password is very easy to remember, they are names of my lovely nephew and niece, Deep and Diya.”
She nodded her head. For the whole day, she was busy in household works. She chatted with Jhilik, Diya and Deep on Skype, and then she opened her facebook page to contact her friends. She kept herself busy for the whole day gossiping with friends and family. She came to know about two of her MBA friends in Delhi, Pallavi and Kingshuk. Both of them newly joined their jobs, Pallavi was in HR in some IT company and Kingshuk was in marketing in some hospitality sector. They were surprised when they came to know about Jhinuk. She was also happy at least she got someone in Delhi with whom she could meet and feel free. Although during the college time, neither of them were close friends however, on a foreign soil they also felt happy to have a batchmate. They were unaware of Jhinuk’s previous relation and the breakup so they were astonished when they came to know that Jhinuk was married to an orthopaedic surgeon. She invited them to her house someday.
Between Rishu and Jhinuk, their single syllables started to make small sentences. After few days, Rishu bought a new mobile connection for Jhinuk and presented a high-end tablet to her. After dinner, Rishu handed her the tablet.
She felt shy to receive the tablet so she said, “What was the need to buy such costly thing? My mobile was good for me.”
He handed her the packet and said, “Keep it. It has Skype and wi-fi. You can now chat even when you move around the house.”
She gently nodded her head in gratitude, “Thanks for that.”
For the whole night, she kept looking at the costly table and experimented with that. She behaved like inanimate object with Rishu around her. She felt shy to call him by his name as he was seven years older. She felt very uncomfortable to address him by his name so whenever she needed to call him, she addressed him as “Hello” or “Mister”. He smiled inside when she addressed him in such manner but he never rectified her. He wanted her to come out of the shell instead of pulling her out as he promised that he would give her the time she needed to. He also always addressed her as “Sanghamitra” he never crossed the invisible barrier.
Everyday he thought to return early but the work pressure in AIIMS pulled him back. She used to keep herself confined to her room most of the day, with her laptop and tablet. He also behaved the same keeping himself busy in reading his books and preparing research papers.
Jhinuk kept busy gossiping on the net most of the time but after few days, she also got bored of it. She watched all the DVD’s that she could find in his cabinet. The programmes in the television could not satiate her restless soul. She hankered something more, but was unable to think of anything as what she wanted. Her blank soul haunted her during the chilled winter night.
They pretend to be very happy whenever they spoke with their families. Both the families were happy to know that Rishu and Jhinuk was doing well, only they knew that they were playing an elaborated drama where scripts were written in invisible words on a blank paper. She felt like a pigeon caged with porcupine. As they never spoke clearly so he was unaware as how she took his past relation, cause his relation broke due to a misunderstanding not by deception. He wanted to speak with her and get things clear but her attitude and blank eyes pulled him back.
A fortnight passed, it was getting tougher for both of them to stay under one roof. Although Rishu compromised with the situation but Jhinuk was unable to come in terms being confined bird for so long. She was boiling to burst out as she felt tormented being confined. Never in her life had she stayed in a room for a whole fortnight. She was educated young and puerile free soul. Whenever she thought that Kingshuk and Pallavi were into job, she also wanted to break free. She wanted to do a job like her friends. She expressed her desire to her mother but she asked her to speak to Rishu for that.
That day he returned from trauma centre by evening, earlier than previous days.
She asked him softly, “Do want coffee?” He nodded and asked for coffee. Since she was looking down so she could not see as what was his answer. Therefore, she again asked him, “Would you like to have coffee?”
He cleared his throat and said, “Yes, please.”
His extreme courteous answer splintered her skin. He changed his dress and waited for his coffee in the drawing room. Slowly she prepared the coffee and placed before him. She quietly stood at a distance fidgeting with her fingers as how to start the conversation.
Rishu observed her fidgeting with her fingers and he asked her, “Do you want to say something?”
She answered in undertone, “I like to do job.”
He looked at her face for some time and asked, “Good, you should think about your life.”
She said to him, “I have two friends here, Kingshuk and Pallavi. They are into some job. I also want to do job and break free from this confinement.”
He took a deep breath, as the silent wall was broken after ages. “See, Sanghamitra, we both are aware in what conditions we got married. I can feel that twenty-three is not an age to get married. Girls in your age like to enjoy and live their life.” She was curious as what he meant to say. He smiled at her as he beholds her curious face, “I don’t want you to compromise with life. You can live a life of your own.”
She gave a quizzical look as what he meant to say by living a life of her own. She asked him, “What do you mean? How can I lead my own life now? You very well know that we can’t separate our ways. My mom and Mamoni will be heartbroken. Do you want that?”
He was hurt for again being mistaken, or his words were not appropriate so he apologised to her, “No Sanghamitra, I did not mean to say that you took a detour”
She fumed, “Than what do you want to say?”
He took a deep breath and asked, “You want do job?”
She grumbled, “Yes.”
He answered, “I meant to say that I have no objection in that. You can go out with your friends also. However I want their address and mobile number.”
Already her freedom was curtailed why he was asking that information. Was he concerned about her or he wanted to spy on her? She winched her brows and asked, “Why do you want to know their address and mobile number? They are my friends and I know them very well.”
He answered in deep voice, “I don’t know them so I can’t give you permission to go out with them. Is that clear to you? I want to meet them or I want their details.”
She was already fuming in angst, “Do you know your problem, Dr. Ambarish Sanyal?” He was taken aback by sudden change in her voice. She played hard bat as she was already cornered, “You live in constant insecurity. You are insecure that you will lose the persons whom you love most if some third person comes in between. You love Mamoni very much so you lived in constant fear that if somebody enters your life that could jeopardise the bond. Now the same thing happening, you fear that if I go out with my friends then you will lose me. You know what, some bonds never wanes whatever may come in between.”
Was she right, probably she was? Rishu was concerned about Jhinuk so he wanted that information. He never had the courage to express but she fathomed that. Before he could read her mind, and apologise she turned away and slammed the door infront of him. For the first time after meeting Jhinuk, he had vacuum in his soul. He walked towards her room and gently knocked her door. But there was no answer from inside.
He stood there for some time and murmured, “I am sorry Sanghamitra.”
On the other side of the door, she sat on the floor just near the door banging her fist on her forehead. Her eyes flooded as she heard him whisper on the other side, “I am sorry.” Again that night two birds were awake in their nest. Rishu kept on rehearsing as how to apologise to Jhinuk, on the other hand, she cursed herself to be that harsh on that calm and quiet gentleman.
Rishu felt after that night that he was little tough on her, if he behaves like that then she would never be able to come out of shell and things might get worsened. He started dropping messages once he reached hospital. She anxiously waited for that small two-word message, “Safely Reached.” She returned his message, “Take your lunch.” To dilute the matter he started to send her longer message as he reached, “Reached safely at hospital.” She tried to write single word but felt to write something more, “Don’t forget to take you lunch.” Gradually sentences build in a short story. “Sorry Sanghamitra, I will be late.” “The coffee will be served cold, Doctor.” “Today I forgot to take lunch due to OPD pressure.” “I want to see empty lunchbox. I don’t care how and when you finish that.” For the whole day, she kept herself busy in waiting for his messages, yet she painted a veiled anger on her face whenever he returned from hospital. He started to return early, sometime with some edibles for evening coffee, sometimes a small cupcake. She felt very happy when he used to bring those small gifts to subdue her temper but kept that veil until he professes his heart.
That day Rishu had an emergency call in the middle of the night. Jhinuk woke up when she heard him and asked him to give a call once he reaches hospital. However, he forgot to drop a message as three accidents victims were there. She tossed and turned on her bed waiting anxiously for his message that never came. Since morning, she tried to call him but his mobile was unreachable. She felt respite when the message came at noon that he was returning. “Extremely Sorry Sanghamitra, I was caught up in emergency and had to perform three operations.” She understood his situation and smiled that her nights would be sleepless as she was wife of an orthopaedic surgeon serving humanity. He returned by noon, all his bones were cracking inside his body. He somehow reached his house and thought to hit the pillow in no time. He knocked the door and waited it to open.
Jhinuk waited anxiously for his return and as soon as she heard the calling-bell, she ran towards the door to open it. She looked at his face, which was very much fatigued and fathomed that his bones were cracking. She reached out to take his bag and apron and while handing those, his eyes fell on Jhinuk. He was amazed to see a vibrant gorgeous siren standing infront of him, a freshly bathed tulip in a long flowing white salwar kameez stood there. All his fatigue vanished as he noticed her beautiful smiling face. She was brighter than ever. A sweet fragrance filled his mind and soul as took his bag and apron. He looked at her from head to toe and she blushed crimson by looking down. His eyes were pouring amorous gaze on her soft slender frame. He felt to touch that siren but restrained.
She softly ordered him, “Go and take your bath. I have turned on the geyser the moment I got your message. Come quick, the lunch in ready.”
He nodded like a meek goat. He heard a jingle and looked at her ankle. A small silver anklet was around her creamy ankle and that was emanating sweet jingle as she trotted around. He took bath and finished his lunch. She ordered him to hit the bed, which he could not reject.
He lay on bed and closed his eyes. The maid servant arrived for housecleaning. He heard the jingles, which were music to his ears. He heard her ordering the maid servant to clean properly. “How many times I have to tell you to keep the utensils in the basket first and once the water dries then keep those in the rack?” “You haven’t swept the kitchen properly.” “Clean the slab once more.” He heard her enter his room, ordering the maid servant in a hush tone. “Do you have back pain? Can’t you bend and sweep under the bed?” “There on the corner, dust that properly.”
He felt her touch the blanket and pulled over his body. He opened his eyes; fresh air breathed his soul to behold the queen of the roost.
She softly scolded him, “Go back to sleep.” And he breezed into dreamy land.
After the maid servant left, Jhinuk sat quietly on the couch watching television. Rishu was in deep slumber and she felt not to disturb him. The evening sun went down the west and she prepared coffee and thought to wake Rishu up. Just then, the doorbell rang once again. She peeked his room to check whether the doorbell woke him or not and felt respite to observe him sleeping like a baby on the bed. She opened the door only to find a lady standing there.
Continued......
Jhinuk intently watched as Rishu relished the fried rice. He finished his dish quietly and looked at her with contend eyes. She felt very happy but his silence was killing her soul. She quietly finished her dinner. Weather was getting colder with each passing minute and so was the ambiance of the dining room. Before retiring to his room, Rishu informed her in a single sentence that he had morning duty whole week. She gently nodded her head in accordance and entered her room. That night both of them slept in their respective rooms, thinking of eachother. Jhinuk had a blank thought as how to proceed further with her boring life, Rishu thought the same on the other bed.
Next day, Jhinuk woke up early in morning before Rishu got up from bed. Although she was feeling sleepy, yet she prepared his breakfast with whatever she found in the kitchen. Rishu woke up as usual when his alarm went off. After getting dressed up his eyes fell in the kitchen and observed that Jhinuk was preparing breakfast for him.
>He looked into her sleepy eyes and said, “Don’t take much pain in preparing breakfast. I can have that in canteen.”
She handed him the lunchbox and said, “There are no vegetables in the refrigerator.”
Rishu quietly answered her, “The vendors move from door to door here. You can buy from them or you can take the help of maid servant to fetch vegetables from the market. Please don’t go outside.”
She stood with her head bent down, thinking as how she would spent the whole day alone in that huge flat. She asked him in a hushed tone, “Is there any internet-cafe nearby?”
He smiled and answered, “Extremely sorry, I forgot to tell you, I have got Wi-fi connection. You can connect with that. The password is d3e9d1y@.” She gave a bewildered look at him, what a tough password she thought. He smiled and answered, “The password is very easy to remember, they are names of my lovely nephew and niece, Deep and Diya.”
She nodded her head. For the whole day, she was busy in household works. She chatted with Jhilik, Diya and Deep on Skype, and then she opened her facebook page to contact her friends. She kept herself busy for the whole day gossiping with friends and family. She came to know about two of her MBA friends in Delhi, Pallavi and Kingshuk. Both of them newly joined their jobs, Pallavi was in HR in some IT company and Kingshuk was in marketing in some hospitality sector. They were surprised when they came to know about Jhinuk. She was also happy at least she got someone in Delhi with whom she could meet and feel free. Although during the college time, neither of them were close friends however, on a foreign soil they also felt happy to have a batchmate. They were unaware of Jhinuk’s previous relation and the breakup so they were astonished when they came to know that Jhinuk was married to an orthopaedic surgeon. She invited them to her house someday.
Between Rishu and Jhinuk, their single syllables started to make small sentences. After few days, Rishu bought a new mobile connection for Jhinuk and presented a high-end tablet to her. After dinner, Rishu handed her the tablet.
She felt shy to receive the tablet so she said, “What was the need to buy such costly thing? My mobile was good for me.”
He handed her the packet and said, “Keep it. It has Skype and wi-fi. You can now chat even when you move around the house.”
She gently nodded her head in gratitude, “Thanks for that.”
For the whole night, she kept looking at the costly table and experimented with that. She behaved like inanimate object with Rishu around her. She felt shy to call him by his name as he was seven years older. She felt very uncomfortable to address him by his name so whenever she needed to call him, she addressed him as “Hello” or “Mister”. He smiled inside when she addressed him in such manner but he never rectified her. He wanted her to come out of the shell instead of pulling her out as he promised that he would give her the time she needed to. He also always addressed her as “Sanghamitra” he never crossed the invisible barrier.
Everyday he thought to return early but the work pressure in AIIMS pulled him back. She used to keep herself confined to her room most of the day, with her laptop and tablet. He also behaved the same keeping himself busy in reading his books and preparing research papers.
Jhinuk kept busy gossiping on the net most of the time but after few days, she also got bored of it. She watched all the DVD’s that she could find in his cabinet. The programmes in the television could not satiate her restless soul. She hankered something more, but was unable to think of anything as what she wanted. Her blank soul haunted her during the chilled winter night.
They pretend to be very happy whenever they spoke with their families. Both the families were happy to know that Rishu and Jhinuk was doing well, only they knew that they were playing an elaborated drama where scripts were written in invisible words on a blank paper. She felt like a pigeon caged with porcupine. As they never spoke clearly so he was unaware as how she took his past relation, cause his relation broke due to a misunderstanding not by deception. He wanted to speak with her and get things clear but her attitude and blank eyes pulled him back.
A fortnight passed, it was getting tougher for both of them to stay under one roof. Although Rishu compromised with the situation but Jhinuk was unable to come in terms being confined bird for so long. She was boiling to burst out as she felt tormented being confined. Never in her life had she stayed in a room for a whole fortnight. She was educated young and puerile free soul. Whenever she thought that Kingshuk and Pallavi were into job, she also wanted to break free. She wanted to do a job like her friends. She expressed her desire to her mother but she asked her to speak to Rishu for that.
That day he returned from trauma centre by evening, earlier than previous days.
She asked him softly, “Do want coffee?” He nodded and asked for coffee. Since she was looking down so she could not see as what was his answer. Therefore, she again asked him, “Would you like to have coffee?”
He cleared his throat and said, “Yes, please.”
His extreme courteous answer splintered her skin. He changed his dress and waited for his coffee in the drawing room. Slowly she prepared the coffee and placed before him. She quietly stood at a distance fidgeting with her fingers as how to start the conversation.
Rishu observed her fidgeting with her fingers and he asked her, “Do you want to say something?”
She answered in undertone, “I like to do job.”
He looked at her face for some time and asked, “Good, you should think about your life.”
She said to him, “I have two friends here, Kingshuk and Pallavi. They are into some job. I also want to do job and break free from this confinement.”
He took a deep breath, as the silent wall was broken after ages. “See, Sanghamitra, we both are aware in what conditions we got married. I can feel that twenty-three is not an age to get married. Girls in your age like to enjoy and live their life.” She was curious as what he meant to say. He smiled at her as he beholds her curious face, “I don’t want you to compromise with life. You can live a life of your own.”
She gave a quizzical look as what he meant to say by living a life of her own. She asked him, “What do you mean? How can I lead my own life now? You very well know that we can’t separate our ways. My mom and Mamoni will be heartbroken. Do you want that?”
He was hurt for again being mistaken, or his words were not appropriate so he apologised to her, “No Sanghamitra, I did not mean to say that you took a detour”
She fumed, “Than what do you want to say?”
He took a deep breath and asked, “You want do job?”
She grumbled, “Yes.”
He answered, “I meant to say that I have no objection in that. You can go out with your friends also. However I want their address and mobile number.”
Already her freedom was curtailed why he was asking that information. Was he concerned about her or he wanted to spy on her? She winched her brows and asked, “Why do you want to know their address and mobile number? They are my friends and I know them very well.”
He answered in deep voice, “I don’t know them so I can’t give you permission to go out with them. Is that clear to you? I want to meet them or I want their details.”
She was already fuming in angst, “Do you know your problem, Dr. Ambarish Sanyal?” He was taken aback by sudden change in her voice. She played hard bat as she was already cornered, “You live in constant insecurity. You are insecure that you will lose the persons whom you love most if some third person comes in between. You love Mamoni very much so you lived in constant fear that if somebody enters your life that could jeopardise the bond. Now the same thing happening, you fear that if I go out with my friends then you will lose me. You know what, some bonds never wanes whatever may come in between.”
Was she right, probably she was? Rishu was concerned about Jhinuk so he wanted that information. He never had the courage to express but she fathomed that. Before he could read her mind, and apologise she turned away and slammed the door infront of him. For the first time after meeting Jhinuk, he had vacuum in his soul. He walked towards her room and gently knocked her door. But there was no answer from inside.
He stood there for some time and murmured, “I am sorry Sanghamitra.”
On the other side of the door, she sat on the floor just near the door banging her fist on her forehead. Her eyes flooded as she heard him whisper on the other side, “I am sorry.” Again that night two birds were awake in their nest. Rishu kept on rehearsing as how to apologise to Jhinuk, on the other hand, she cursed herself to be that harsh on that calm and quiet gentleman.
Rishu felt after that night that he was little tough on her, if he behaves like that then she would never be able to come out of shell and things might get worsened. He started dropping messages once he reached hospital. She anxiously waited for that small two-word message, “Safely Reached.” She returned his message, “Take your lunch.” To dilute the matter he started to send her longer message as he reached, “Reached safely at hospital.” She tried to write single word but felt to write something more, “Don’t forget to take you lunch.” Gradually sentences build in a short story. “Sorry Sanghamitra, I will be late.” “The coffee will be served cold, Doctor.” “Today I forgot to take lunch due to OPD pressure.” “I want to see empty lunchbox. I don’t care how and when you finish that.” For the whole day, she kept herself busy in waiting for his messages, yet she painted a veiled anger on her face whenever he returned from hospital. He started to return early, sometime with some edibles for evening coffee, sometimes a small cupcake. She felt very happy when he used to bring those small gifts to subdue her temper but kept that veil until he professes his heart.
That day Rishu had an emergency call in the middle of the night. Jhinuk woke up when she heard him and asked him to give a call once he reaches hospital. However, he forgot to drop a message as three accidents victims were there. She tossed and turned on her bed waiting anxiously for his message that never came. Since morning, she tried to call him but his mobile was unreachable. She felt respite when the message came at noon that he was returning. “Extremely Sorry Sanghamitra, I was caught up in emergency and had to perform three operations.” She understood his situation and smiled that her nights would be sleepless as she was wife of an orthopaedic surgeon serving humanity. He returned by noon, all his bones were cracking inside his body. He somehow reached his house and thought to hit the pillow in no time. He knocked the door and waited it to open.
Jhinuk waited anxiously for his return and as soon as she heard the calling-bell, she ran towards the door to open it. She looked at his face, which was very much fatigued and fathomed that his bones were cracking. She reached out to take his bag and apron and while handing those, his eyes fell on Jhinuk. He was amazed to see a vibrant gorgeous siren standing infront of him, a freshly bathed tulip in a long flowing white salwar kameez stood there. All his fatigue vanished as he noticed her beautiful smiling face. She was brighter than ever. A sweet fragrance filled his mind and soul as took his bag and apron. He looked at her from head to toe and she blushed crimson by looking down. His eyes were pouring amorous gaze on her soft slender frame. He felt to touch that siren but restrained.
She softly ordered him, “Go and take your bath. I have turned on the geyser the moment I got your message. Come quick, the lunch in ready.”
He nodded like a meek goat. He heard a jingle and looked at her ankle. A small silver anklet was around her creamy ankle and that was emanating sweet jingle as she trotted around. He took bath and finished his lunch. She ordered him to hit the bed, which he could not reject.
He lay on bed and closed his eyes. The maid servant arrived for housecleaning. He heard the jingles, which were music to his ears. He heard her ordering the maid servant to clean properly. “How many times I have to tell you to keep the utensils in the basket first and once the water dries then keep those in the rack?” “You haven’t swept the kitchen properly.” “Clean the slab once more.” He heard her enter his room, ordering the maid servant in a hush tone. “Do you have back pain? Can’t you bend and sweep under the bed?” “There on the corner, dust that properly.”
He felt her touch the blanket and pulled over his body. He opened his eyes; fresh air breathed his soul to behold the queen of the roost.
She softly scolded him, “Go back to sleep.” And he breezed into dreamy land.
After the maid servant left, Jhinuk sat quietly on the couch watching television. Rishu was in deep slumber and she felt not to disturb him. The evening sun went down the west and she prepared coffee and thought to wake Rishu up. Just then, the doorbell rang once again. She peeked his room to check whether the doorbell woke him or not and felt respite to observe him sleeping like a baby on the bed. She opened the door only to find a lady standing there.
Continued......
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