She Won’t Reveal (41)
Nidhu Bhusan Das
The doctor decided Dr Arindam’d go home next
morning.Anupama’s informed as soon as she entered the cabin in the evening.
Anu’s so happy. The smile of the daughter lit the face of the father, and
Anupama and Sujata shared the joy.”Son, I’ll cook for you. You don’t know of my
culinary art.Sujata’s all praise for the delicious food I cook, don’t you,
dear?” Anu said, confident.”Uncle, how do you feel that Anu’s with you?” Sujata
asked rejuvenated Dr. Anirban.”Well, I can’t be happier,” he said with smile in
his eyes.”Ain’t I right Anupama?” he added. None other than Anupama and her
mom-in-law knew how much joy he must have at the return of the daughter.”Son, I
won’t let you drive any more,”Anu cautioned her papa and said” You must take
food, medicine and rest punctually. Don’t be naughty any more. I’m there to
govern you. I’m a strict mom, not like Thammi, indulgent” A great moment indeed
for the family.
Anu planted a kiss on the forehead of her papa
and they emerged out after the visiting hours. On the way back home, Anu didn’t
look at the lit street of Kolkata.Her eyes were downcast in the car during the
journey. To her, mega cities like Kolkata and Delhi
Back home they planned the ‘Welcome
back home’ of Dr. Arindam.Anu drew up the plan and placed it for the
consideration of her mother and Sujata.The plan itself suggested the intensity
of feeling of Anu for her papa. He’d be received at the gate with the blowing
of conch and a bouquet of red roses. She’d wear a sari and touch his feet
prostrate for the first time. Then she’d lead him into his room which’s already
given a new look through rearrangements of the furniture.Anupama’s so happy
understanding the profound feeling of the daughter. They enjoyed the simple
dinner ,being relaxed and would go to bed soon to get up early in the morning
for preparation to receive Arindam.But Anu’d a different plan. She’d spend the
night with Thammi in her room.Anupama’s phone rang.Yes, it’s Prafulla calling.”
Hello! How’re you Prafulla?”she asked.” We’re fine, auntie.what about uncle and
Anu? We’re anxious.Anu’s Guruji came this morning. We didn’t let him in. The
gate’s kept locked. And I said Anu’s busy with her Thammi.”
“You’ve done the right
thing,” assured Anupama.
“And…”
“We’re fine. Your uncle comes
back home tomorrow morning.”
“Very nice. We’re relaxed.
Are in prayer for you all.”
“You’re our family member.
We’ll meet soon. Rest assured. You’re my son and Angshu grandson.”
“Please keep us updated, auntie.
We feel the absence of Anu, acutely.”
“Sure.”
The reported visit of
Guruji’s a matter of concern for Anupama. She’s
scared of tantric practice
prevalent in the north-east. She knew Anu’s inclined to tantra sadhana.Prehaps
that’s a cause that Anu opted for the north-east, she thought. She couldn’t
like it but didn’t question it because she wouldn’t like to interfere to the
chagrin of the daughter who liked being independent.
Anu said she’d spend the
night in the room of thammi.Anupama encouraged it as she knew her mom-in-law
had an overwhelming influence on her daughter and recalled the grand old lady
whispered to her the other night. Besides, this would give her an opportunity
to talk with Sujata exclusively to understand the present state of mind and attitude
of Anu, her latest trials and tribulations.
Anu went into that room and
closed the door.Anupama beckoned Sujata to her room. “Sujata, dear, do you know
who’s guruji? she asked, anxious.
“Auntie, he’s the guide of
Anu’s tantra sadhana.”
“Do you think it’s good for
her?”
“If it’s good why troubles
dogged her, auntie?”
“Prafulla told me he came to
the bungalow to meet Anu.”
“Is it? Auntie, don’t tell
Anu of the visit. She may change her mind. Where’s her handset?”
“It’s here. May he make a
call?”
“Not unlikely. I’ll persuade
her to change the SIM so that trouble makers wouldn’t be able to disturb her.”
“Who’re the trouble makers?”
“Some of her erstwhile
friends. She made friends indiscriminately, and they maligned her a lot.”
“Do it then tomorrow, positively,”Anupama
said, her lips and voice trembling.
“Don’t worry, auntie, I’ll do
that. She believes me.”
“Sujata, can you tell me
about the telephone call that visibly perturbed Anu?”
“Which one, auntie?”
“She said ‘don’t disturb me’.
That one.”
“Ain’t sure, maybe it’s from
Anuradha.”
“Who’s Anuradha?”
“Her online
friend-turned-adversary.”
“Please save her from such
people. She’s an emotional fool.”
“Auntie, that phase’s going
to be over. She understands now.”
“I hope her thammi’d help
tonight. Let’s see,”Anupama said, her eyes shedding tears.
“Auntie, let’s sleep together
now. We’re to rise early,” said Sujata and took her to bed.
A new fear of loss gripped
Anupama. She lost any hope that her daughter would return to them. They rather
came to believe Anu’s embroiled in a web of problems which she’s fighting alone
to come out of. She didn’t know that two messiahs in Sujata and Prof Sanyal
were there to help her out of it. The illness of the father’s the proximate
cause, and the two benevolent souls accelerated the process of her return.
Anu didn’t leave her parents to have a family
of her own. Her parents never interfered with her love affairs and personal
decisions. In this she’s unlike Anuradha who eloped to marry Maqbool without
the knowledge of her parents. She’s unlike Nilu who didn’t mind flouting the
conventional morality. Yet they could be her friends who maligned her and
precipitated her crisis at Amlarem.”This’s enough to justify the suggestion
that she’s an emotional fool,” thought Sujata.”Has she learnt from experience?”
Sujata would like to understand.” May be. She said ‘Don’t disturb me’ obviously
when called by Anuradha.This’s, of course, a positive development,” Sujata
tried to be convinced.
Anupama thought her husband’d the
quick recovery because of the return of the daughter. He’s so delighted getting
back Anu.He wouldn’t be able to bear the shock if she left again. It would be
fatal for him. The man who’s the red heart and cannot verbalize his love has
such an intensity of feeling that his heart bleeds when the loved one leaves
him, whatsoever be the reason. She couldn’t sleep but was in prayer all the
night for good sense to prevail on Anu.The night’s more terrible than any other
for her. ( continued on 26 February 2015)
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