She Won't Reveal (3)

        She Won’t Reveal (3)

              Nidhu Bhusan Das

The lunch over, Anu and Nilu went upstairs for rest, and I went to the guestroom. 
We were to go visit the Thlumuwi waterfall at 3p.m. I saw Prafullada at work in 
the garden. I decided it would be better to spend the time with the gardener. I 
went to the garden in no time and got involved with Prafullada in a lively and 
revealing talk. The gardener was thrilled when I sought to talk with him.
“I wonder at your sense of beauty and the way you laid out and maintain the 
garden, “I began.

“No, this is all ma’am's plan. I just executed,” he said, beaming.

“But one thing is missing conspicuously… the queen of flowers is nowhere,” I 
said.

“You mean rose? Ma’am wouldn’t have it,” he informed.

“Why?”

“She said she wouldn’t like to have her hands pricked with thorns.”

“What’s your view?”

“Roses enhance the beauty of a garden.”

“Does ma’am spend times regularly in the garden?”

“She does in the morning and the evening.”

“She’s happy to be here!”

“Often in the garden she remains brooding.”

“Talks to you, sometimes?”

“She does.”

“What does she talk about?”

“Weather and plants.”

“Family and friends?”

“No. Maintains privacy.”

As our afternoon chat continued, Prafullada became more interested in it than in 
the work of the garden. He was now more revealing. He volunteered to share 
certain information unasked for.” Last June mom of ma’am came,” he broke.

“Is it?”

“The moment auntie arrived one Sunday afternoon, it was all emotional.”

“It must be. Maybe they met after a long time,” I observed.

“Mother and daughter were locked in a hug for a long time, sir.”

“It’s natural.”

“They shed tears profusely, sir.”

“It’s a poignant time full of joy of get-together.”

“But there was no change in the mood of the two. No exuberance”

“Did ma’am spend extra time with her mom on weekdays? Did she take leave to be at 
home?”

“She didn’t change her daily routine.”

“How many days was she with ma’am?”

“Seven days.”

“How was the farewell?”

“It’s also highly emotional, tears and sobs. Ma’am took her to the waiting car. Stood there at the gate of the bungalow looking ahead as long as the car was in sight. She came back into the house head down, wiping eyes.”

“What would auntie do all the day in the absence of ma’am?”

“Read books and magazines.”

“Wouldn’t she come to the garden?”

“She would. She also felt the absence of roses.”

“Didn’t she ask you?”

“Yes. I said ma’am wouldn’t have them. She sighed and said the grass is lush 
green, well mowed.”

“Didn’t she appreciate your work?”

“She said she would take me to Kolkata to re-lay their garden. Said they would have new

Varieties of rose planted.”

“Where’s their house?”

“At Salt Lake.”

“Did you tell ma’am.”

“I did, sir.”

“What did she say?”

“Smiled.”

Anu has astonishing capacity to smile her way. Prafullada had never seen her in tears before the arrival and departure of her mother. He has been here since the time she came to the bungalow last September. The ground where the beautiful garden stands now was full of bushes and weeds. He made it into a garden according to her plan and instruction. He broke information.

“Sir, a friend of ma’am also came,” said Prafullada.

“Is it? When? From Kolkata?” I was inquisitive.

“Last June, from Delhi,” he said.

“His name?”

“Ma’am called him Jerry.”

“He stayed here?” I wanted to know.

“One night, in my room downstairs.”

“Any special dinner for the friend?”

“No, it’s as usual.”

“Why you think there’s nothing special?”

“At night in my room sir said some Arup Sen sent him.”

“What for?”

“He said Arupbabu was classmate and bf. What is bf, sir?”

“Friend, nothing special.”

“Jerry sir said the classmate is engineer in Delhi. He has a son.”

I decided no more on this and asked Prafullada about the summer flowers of the 
garden. But he was interested to continue.

“After Jerry sir‘s visit, ma’am one Sunday over morning tea was talking about 
Arupbabu to Nilu ma’am.”

“Interesting!” I said.

“I saw her wiping eyes while talking. Nilu ma’am was consoling her.”

“Nilu is a good friend,” I said.

“Ma’am was saying he had married her friend Mita, and she helped it happen.”

“Nothing wrong. Good friendship,” I said.

“But Nilu ma’am was telling ma’am had been wronged, deceived,”
“I don’t think so,” I said to clear doubt of Prafullada, if any.
“Ma’am said they deceived each other,” Prafullada continued.
What Prafullada reported raises questions. Did he exactly hear the conversation 
between Anu and Nilu? Could he understand? Can he be relied on as a dependable 
observer? He reported Arupbabu was Anu’s bf, he married her friend Mita, she 
consented to and helped the marriage and significantly they deceived each other. 
Anu wiped her eyes while talking. Apparently, this is confusing. If a bf marries 
the friend of his gf, it could be the case of triangular love in which the friend 
wins to the frustration of the gf. Or, contrary to the belief of the gf, the 
winner was the actual gf. Another possibility is that each of the girls was made to 
believe separately that she was his gf. In the age of mobile phones, it’s not 
impossible. What is intriguing is that Anu said they deceived each other.

I understand Prafullada is privy to talk and discussions between Anu and Nilu. Also he is willing to share what he knows. Being interested in my desire to know he has brought a crinkled piece of paper and spread it on the garden table for me to read. It contains vital clues:

“Dear Anu,

Jerry goes to you. He is my emissary. Please read the note and listen to what he says.

Mita cannot forget the betrayal of Kuldip and sacrifice of you. She lives in the memory of the days we four friends were in rocking mood. It’s decided you and I would be a couple and Mita would marry Kuldip. Mita, somehow, blundered when she failed to resist the libidinous advances of Kuldip. She bore the love-child of Kuldip in her womb. Kuldip favoured an abortion which Mita could not accept as the mother in her had arisen. Kuldip in guilt left her and went to the USA. Mita broke down and shared with you her thought of committing suicide. To help your friend you insisted on my marrying Mita. After long sessions of discussions and persuasion I reluctantly accepted your emotional arguments. You wore a cheerful look all through the process till the marriage was solemnized. You didn’t look at me during the wedding ceremony, instead, kept yourself busy with entertaining guests. But while you bade good night as we were on the bridal bed, I noticed your desperate attempt to hide tears.

Mita also cannot help remembering your monumental sacrifice. Her conscience beats. She says,’ I’m a trespasser in the bed which belongs to Anu. I cannot share the bed with you.’ She maintains the sanctity. Now, she is desperate to leave me. Says, ’I must vacate the place for Anu who has the right to it.’ She has proposed a divorce. She would go back to her parents who also feel you should get back your rightful place.

Now, I seek your opinion. I’m eager to get you for life.

I hope you would respond positively.

With love

Yours ever

Arup.”

The missive is a testament to the sacrifice of Anu for a friend. Anu read it, probably several times. Yet she believes they deceived each other. Why? She persuaded Arup to marry Mita. Arup reluctantly gave in to her persuasion. The psychology is difficult to understand. True, Jerry wasn’t a welcome guest in her house. He had to put up in the room of the gardener. Had she listened to the request of Arup, she would have given him a hearing and allowed him in the guestroom. That didn’t happen. Anu is introspective. She has always been since childhood. The loneliness at home made her introvert. She found her companion in her inner self, as a lonely pedestrian on the street in a moonlit night may find his shadow his companion. She introspects and recalls her days and exclusive moments with Arup who had been quite genial and sensitive.

 From Arup’s note it’s clear, he is not responsible for his knot with Mita. The persuasion of Anu led to this. Anu may blame her selflessness and emotional response to the situation. Why, then, does she assert that both of them are responsible? This is puzzling, really, I thought.

Mita paves the way for Anu to be in union with Arup in the long run. Here again Anu’s attitude is puzzling. She didn’t entertain Jerry which, prima facie, suggests she cannot cope with the developments. One may suggest this is a self-defeating/self-undoing behaviour. Is she gratified by personal misfortunes, failures and ordeals? What she tells Nilu is rarely heard of and expected: “No, I cannot see Mita break from Arup. I cannot see it happen.” Nilu smiles, one of her wily smiles.  

(continued on 30 January 2014)