She Won't Reveal 46

          

          She Won’t Reveal (46)

                      Nidhu Bhusan Das

            “LET us go then, you and I”

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

“What’s that?”

“A poem by T.S. Eliot.”

“What’s it about?”

“Oh, do not ask ‘What is it?”’

“What’s the problem?”

“In the room the women come and go/Talking of Michelangelo.”

“So what!”

“It’s modern day moral and spiritual vacuity, dear,” explained Sujata “that’s the problem with your Arup.”

“How?”

“Prufrock relays the thoughts of a sexually frustrated man who wants to say something but is afraid to do so, and ultimately does not, as your Arup came to convey but couldn’t.”

“Forget Arup.He isn’t relevant in my life,” Anu asserted.

“Is it?” Sujata asked, with an impish smile.

   “Yes dear, definitely because ‘But I have promises to keep/ And miles to go before I

   sleep/ And miles to go before I sleep.’’’

“What promises and to whom?”

“To the wide world, to my parents, to you and your son,” Said Anu categorically.

“Won’t we sleep now?”

“Let’s.”

“Then how would you keep your promises?”

“This sleep is rest only, dear,” explained Anu.

“Then you’ve promises to Arup to keep before you sleep with him, perhaps?”

“I see, you’re also a fool.”

“Why?”

“Don’t understand Arup is dead for me?”

“I can’t believe, somehow.”

“Should I die to prove it?”

“You should live to prove.”

“That I will do with your support. Your son and you’re my mentors.”

“Your parents?”

“They’re my children. I will have to live for them.”

“Means you enjoy being like a mother, isn’t it?” Sujata suggested.

“No, I like being a mother,” Anu asserted without thinking.

“A virgin mother?” Sujata asked obliquely.

“A biological mom.”

“But Arup’s, you’ve said, dead for you.”

“I haven’t Arup in mind.”

“Then?”

“Then what?”

“Who’s the other man?”

“Don’t know,”Anu said, visibly taken aback.

“You’re really a mystery, difficult to understand, really, a puzzle indeed,” Sujata’s quick to react.

“Dear, why didn’t you have a bf, usual for our Y-gen?”Anu asked, casually.

“Because I don’t belong to your generation,”Sujata’s prompt.

“But we’re peers!”

“In physical age, not mentally. I’m the real mom of my parents and my son. By the way, I think Arup’s lucky. He could find and marry a virgin mom,” Sujata insinuated.

“Virgin mom! Mita? You don’t know. It’s an interesting story.However, you won’t believe me, think I’m jealous,” Anu snapped.

“Why, can’t there be a virgin mom like Kunti? What the tantric literature says and your sadhana?”

“I know the father of the child. It isn’t Arup.”

“I see, you’d been in a vicious circle!”

“Don’t go for such hasty generalization, please Sujata.”

“Well, if you don’t like…”

“Do you think I’m naughty, involved in nasty things?”

“Forget. Let’s not dwell on things unpalatable.”

“But I won’t remain misunderstood.”

“Do you mind being misunderstood? Had it been so you wouldn’t, perhaps, cling to Arup, snap relations with parents, go for sadhana with guruji, give indulgence to the whore Anuradha and remain linked with Jerry, the incarnation of evil and Maqbool? Do you think what you’re in is sane?” Sujata’s forthright, sadly.

    Anu couldn’t cry at the outburst of her buddy, she couldn’t even sob. The whole world of her past association for pleasure hovered over her to tumble her to the ground and beneath. She only looked on blankly and couldn’t see even Sujata sitting before her. Her sight had become hazy as the mind’s being dashed and lashed by the turbulent waves of terrible remembrances. She hasn’t learnt how to repent. She grew pale, unable to answer. She’s led a life without moorings, roaming between extremes of Yankee values and tantric misrepresentation. She stooped forward in a stance and tumbled on Sujata, unaware.

     Sujata knew it’s the result of her sense of alienation. She remembered way back on 16 May 2010 Anu’d the same kind of sickness. She’s there to nurse her back to health and heartiness. She’s relating how Arup stunned her.” I’m leaving tomorrow for the US to study medicine,”Arup informed Anu at the university cafeteria in the afternoon.”Why, we planned to go together to study film,” she said despaired.” that isn’t possible, dear,”he said, smiling and sought to plant a departing kiss on her. She resisted and ran to the room in the hostel, tumbled on the bed of Sujata.

    While nursing Anu with the head of the buddy on  her lap,Sujata’s keeping track on the scores of the semi-final match of the Cricket World Cup 2015 at Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia between India and the hosts. She’s tensed as India had to chase 327 of Australia who captured two Indian wickets in quick succession. The performance of Vice Captain Virat Kohli, out on 1 facing 13 balls despite the presence of his gf, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, at the stands was disturbing, she thought. Kohli failed to gauge the extra bounce off a Johnson delivery going for a pull and spooned it for Brad Haddin to have a simple catch.

     Sujata dreamt that back to normal Anu looked at her face and said,” Look sad, but why?”

“It’s all about a gf who cheered her bf to disaster,” Sujata said, perturbed.

“Who’re they?”

“Anushka and Kohli.”

“You mean the marriage of Bollywood and cricket?”

“It’s your opinion. I see the disaster for the bf, as in your case it’s just the opposite,” Sujata blurted.(continued on 2 April 2015)

She Won't Reveal 45

          She Won’t Reveal (45)

                      Nidhu Bhusan Das

         “What! What’re you doing.’ tis wild, like lesbian, you tit,”Sujata sniggered, taken aback as Anu huggled her. The dinner over they’re now in the room of Anu ready to go to bed.Anu giggled, only. Silence fell as Sujata chose to remain shut and observe how Anu behaved.

“Not lesbian. Love you, Sujata. That’s all. No other peer to love. Can’t we live the rest of life together? “Anu thought, confused and unsure.

“Maa and papa morose again. I’ll tell them I’ll remain with them.Arup is past. They are present in my life. Also Sujata and her son,”Anu ruminated.

”29 years now.1987. Thursday. 10^th September. Dawn.I cried for the first time. In the nursing home. Maa relieved of pain. Papa was told. He smiled. In the morning sweets were distributed in the nursing home. My birth was celebrated thus, immediately. Papa arranged it.Thammi was brought .She was so happy.Maa saw me first in her presence. So happy everyone in the family. I was three days old. Brought home. Celebrations again.Thammi invited her friends. Some of them celebrities. I was blessed.Thammi told me all this,”Anu remembered.

“Papa didn’t put up his plan. I should ask him tomorrow morning. Time to be open with him. I must share. Ready to go by what he suggests.Maybe, the plan be modified through discussion.Sujata will be with us, her son also. Sujata, you silent? Feel you think it pervert? No, dear it isn’t. I love you, rely on you, that’s all, the big deal,” she called Sujata, nudged her into laughter.

“Was thinking. Can’t you forget the bf? Parents are important. Am eager to meet mine, tomorrow positively, before I leave. My son is concerned, alone there. Have the duty to parents and son,” Sujata turned emotional, unusually

     It’s strange how they could be friends, by nature quite apart. This happens sometimes. The common attribute’s compassion. They’re compassionate.Sujata’s now sad because she cannot figure out the future of Anu which appears to be hazy and uncertain. But she’s certain of her own future, she’s charted it out.” If Anu fails to reconcile with her parents, enough is enough.Maybe, I won’t be interested any more to salvage her. You cannot go along with a fool for ever. She doesn’t know what’s good for her, and how to be back to peace, harmony and stability,”Sujata concluded.

“Sujata, dear, I understand you’re puzzled thinking how quizzical I’m. Actually I’m sadly glad. You don’t know why. The presence and going away of Arup reminds me of a story he once related to me. He said it’s real and possible. Would you listen to it?” asked Anu, eager.

“Maybe,” said Sujata, terse and reluctant.

“He later shared the audio version of the story with me,” Anu said and played the cassette on the PC in her room:

              She notices me even to-day.  She is younger than I, by seven years. I am 35.  Mother of two, Jharna has still those profound eyes though the moderate wrinkles on her face betray her dream remains unfulfilled. Her hair is graying. Five feet four inches, she does not have the graceful gait she had in her twenties. She smiles only when we are face to face, and feels free to talk to me. In fact, we often meet.

               We talk about the days when we were in our twenties. The other day, we had the same nostalgic stance during the routine tryst. ‘You are so nice, madam’, I said. ‘Don’t try to pamper, I know what I am. You didn’t care --- to know my mind.’ I would not say she is wrong --- accusing me unreasonably. During my university days I would come from time to time to our village to meet my widow mother. She would live alone at Ghagra, our village, two hours away from Dhaka by train. We have the same family tree, and the district board road separates our house from theirs. Jharna would regularly cross the road to visit my mother in the afternoon. In one such afternoon she came to my study with a cup of tea. She would make tea for my mother. Sipping, I said, ‘Your tea is so intoxicating.’ ‘Is it? ‘she asked, taking interest. ‘I am not lying, girl --- it is true’, I sought to assure her. ‘Let me see’, she said taking the cup. She sipped and smiled betraying her joy at sharing the cup with me.

             We dwelt on the tea for some time, and this led to what you would say philandering and amorous advances. Meanwhile, she was leafing through my Shakespeare, leaning forward close to me. We were breathing hot and quick. She broke the spell of silence: ‘Will you take mother away from the village when you have a job once university study is complete?’ ‘I have the mind’, I said candidly, and noticed her smile had vanished. She rose to leave, eyes brimming with tears. This happens in case of a village maiden that cannot hold back emotion. I began to rub her head embellished with long dark hair made into two neat and tidy buns. In a moment, we were kissing and cuddling on the couch. How long, I cannot remember. But the memory lingers.

            I postponed my return to Dhaka the next day. Jharna came to know about the postponement. She heard I had bathed at noon and swam across the river as we did during our school days. Many of my school mates are now working men but our friendship remains. After lunch I was lying on the couch. I was brooding over the closeness with her last afternoon and its significance when she crept into the study and planted a kiss on my forehead, desperately. I reciprocated. ‘Why have not gone to Dhaka?’ she asked, smiling, triumphantly. I felt ashamed and said laboriously, ‘I thought I should stay with my mother one day more.’ She chuckled and softly said ‘Is it? An obedient boy, indeed! When will you return then?’ I asked, ‘Are you eager to see me away from the village? ‘Do you think so?’ she snapped, her cheeks swelled. I pulled her and kissed indiscriminately for a few minutes. She gave in and lay on my lap, holding my stooped neck with two hands. I said, ‘Tomorrow.’ She said, frankly, ‘I love you. Will you remember?’ I smiled and kissed the village girl, saying ‘I shall remember and be with you for ever.’ She was assured.

             But the parents of the girl would not like to see it happen. The next 25 Baishakh (8 April) wedding songs greeted my classmate Rekhan who exchanged garland with reluctant Jharna and reddened her forehead with vermilion the next morning. It was a negotiated marriage in which the bride did not have any say. I dared not go and take her to me for life.

              We did not forget the tea party that afternoon and what followed. I remember, she said, ‘I love you.’ Last night we met and again vowed, ‘We love.’ On Face book regarding status our profiles read: In relationship with ---.’ We are in dream. Though in different countries, we dream and love. We go back to our twenties.

 Wrinkles on her face betray her dream remains unfulfilled. Her hair is graying. Five feet four inches, she does not have the grace in movement she had in her twenties. She smiles only when we are face to face, and feels free to talk to me. In fact, we often meet.

               We talk about the days when we were in our twenties. The other day, we had the same nostalgic stance during the routine tryst. ‘You are so nice, madam’, I said. ‘Don’t try to pamper, I know what I am. You didn’t care --- to know my mind.’ I would not say she is wrong --- accusing me unreasonably. During my university days I would come from time to time to our village to meet my widow mother. She would live alone at Ghagra, our village, two hours away from Dhaka by train. We have the same family tree, and the district board road separates our house from theirs. Jharna would regularly cross the road to visit my mother in the afternoon. In one such afternoon she came to my study with a cup of tea. She would make tea for my mother. Sipping, I said, ‘Your tea is so intoxicating.’ ‘Is it? ‘she asked, taking interest. ‘I am not lying, girl --- it is true’, I sought to assure her. ‘Let me see’, she said taking the cup. She sipped and smiled betraying her joy at sharing the cup with me.

             We dwelt on the tea for some time, and this led to what you would say philandering and amorous advances. Meanwhile, she was leafing through my Shakespeare, leaning forward close to me. We were breathing hot and quick. She broke the spell of silence: ‘Will you take mother away from the village when you have a job once university study is complete?’ ‘I have the mind’, I said candidly, and noticed her smile had vanished. She rose to leave, eyes brimming with tears. This happens in case of a village maiden that cannot hold back emotion. I began to rub her head embellished with long dark hair made into two neat and tidy buns. In a moment, we were kissing and cuddling on the couch. How long, I cannot remember. But the memory lingers.

            I postponed my return to Dhaka the next day. Jharna came to know about the postponement. She heard I had bathed at noon and swam across the river as we did during our school days. Many of my school mates are now working men but our friendship remains. After lunch I was lying on the couch. I was brooding over the closeness with her last afternoon and its significance when she crept into the study and planted a kiss on my forehead, desperately. I reciprocated. ‘Why have not gone to Dhaka?’ she asked, smiling, triumphantly. I felt ashamed and said laboriously, ‘I thought I should stay with my mother one day more.’ She chuckled and softly said ‘Is it? An obedient boy, indeed! When will you return then?’ I asked, ‘Are you eager to see me away from the village? ‘Do you think so?’ she snapped, her cheeks swelled. I pulled her and kissed indiscriminately for a few minutes. She gave in and lay on my lap, holding my stooped neck with two hands. I said, ‘Tomorrow.’ She said, frankly, ‘I love you. Will you remember?’ I smiled and kissed the village girl, saying ‘I shall remember and be with you for ever.’ She was assured.

             But the parents of the girl would not like to see it happen. The next 25 Baishakh (8 April) wedding songs greeted my classmate Rekhan who exchanged garland with reluctant Jharna and reddened her forehead with vermilion the next morning. It was a negotiated marriage in which the bride did not have any say. I dared not go and take her to me for life.

              We did not forget the tea party that afternoon and what followed. I remember, she said, ‘I love you.’ Last night we met and again vowed, ‘We love.’ On Facebook regarding status our profiles read: In relationship with ---.’ We are in dream. Though in different countries, we dream and love. We go back to our twenties.

             “Arup believes, foolishly, he’s the hero and I’m his heroine willing to be with him anyhow. Stupid thought, indeed,”Anu curled her lip. (continued on 26 March 2015)

She Won't Reveal 44

            She Won’t Reveal (44)

                      Nidhu Bhusan Das

           “Don’t know what papa would discuss. Is he anxious about my future? He, it appears, is weak, even mentally. Wasn’t so. I haven’t seen him so broken down. It’s a pity for me. I’m the cause. But what’s his plan? Will he say I need a family of my own? May be. Parents desire it. They cannot be happy with the uncertain future of their children. I’m their only child. They might have many dreams spun around me. But what can I do? I also dreamt of a family. The dream shattered long ago,”Anu remembered.

         “Should I speak my mind? I’m really in agony. Don’t know what will happen to Anu after we’re no more. She’ll become more lonely, vis-à-vis difficulties. Doesn’t one need a family? What would happen to me had Anupama not been with me? I don’t know what’s in the mind of Anu.Is she really determined to remain single? God knows,” Dr. Arindam thought, uncertain.

        “My parents are different, I should say, unique. They know how to build a family and sustain it. Our family web has four nodes. One node disturbed the web, but still it exists because the other nodes are stable-my parents and thammi-in-absentia.I’m the other node, unstable,”Anu analyzed.

        “Anu’s our hope; it’s she who could perpetuate our legacy. But she doesn’t seem to perceive it. She’s her own world of phantasy.She failed to realize her potentials. She’s a good human being but her goodness terminates into a utopia. We cannot point it out.Maybe, she wouldn’t take it kindly. She’s headstrong,”Dr. Arindam thought in retrospection.

       “If I go for having a family now, it’ll mean I renege on a pledge .We pledged to build our own nest-Arup and I.Arup’s his family. But I cannot turn back. In fact, I cannot forget,”Anu studied her weakness.

       “Should I pour out to Sujata? Anu depends on her emotionally. I don’t know if Anu has any plan for future. Sujata might know. We may understand Anu through interaction with her buddy. Let me first talk to Anupama,”the doctor decided.

       Dr. Arindam’s a meticulous man. He’s meticulous both in profession and family.Anupama’s like him- tender, thoughtful and understanding, never decides alone.Tired, she went into sleep when her husband’s talking to Sujata and Anu. Arindam wouldn’t disturb her sleep. He understood she’d sleepless nights while he’s at the nursing home.This’s the second time since the birth of Anu that they stayed separated for days together. Earlier it’s for 8 days when Anupama went to Amlarem to visit Anu.Both of them felt the pang of separation.Anupama went alone to explore the way Anu lived and had charted out her roadmap. They didn’t go together because Anu wouldn’t be open in the presence of her papa.Anupama was reticent and a keen observer, and didn’t ask Anu any probing question. She simply tried to understand all the seven days she stayed with the daughter. Back home, she reported to her husband everything she’d observed. They lost hope and despair led to the attack on Arindam.But the return of Anu to be beside her ailing papa brought back hope, as a blessing in disguise. They could come to think anew.

     Anupama rose. It’s time for Arindam to take medicine. He’s awake and asked Anupama if it would be wise to talk to Sujata to know the mind of Anu.She encouraged him.

     “Uncle, how are you?” Arup asked, concerned as he entered the room.

“You!” Arindam raised his brow in amazement at the unexpected turnout of Arup who had never communicated since his breakup with Anu.

“I didn’t find Anu by phone.I became worried. Thought I should come to know,”Arup’s candid.

“So, after a long time. How are your parents? Where are they now?”Arindam was eager to know.

“Okay. They’re here.”

“You often visit them, possibly once in a couple of months?”

“Cannot make it so often. Have to stay with Mita every Sunday.”

“The rest of the week?”

“I’m posted at Haridwar, come to Delhi Saturday evening, leave early morning Monday.”

“Been better had you been in Delhi or Mita could be with you at Haridwar.Well, you know better.”

“Have been told at the entrance you had an attack! How are you now?” Arup tried to divert.

“Survived, recuperating, convalescing,”he answered, disturbed as he looked back.

      Anupama didn’t raise her eyes, and would run out of the room had her husband not been in the present state of his health. The presence of Arup’s annoying. He had been the epicentre of the terrible quake in the family. She knew the cause of the attack on her husband. The presence of Arup accentuated the hurt she felt the night Anu came head hung, attending the wedding of Arup-Mita.She went straight to the room of thammi and howled.Thammi took a long time to comfort her into sleep. The next morning Arunima Devi cried profusely. The wise lady understood the long-term effect of the shock on Anu.A long struggle began to purge the sense of loss of Anu, but in vain. The struggle continued but the damage couldn’t be controlled. Even today the grand old lady’s busy trying when she should have been in rest. And the cause of all the trouble and turbulence in the pacific family’s now, for the first time, face to face with her husband. Her heart pounded at the apprehension of another, possibly ensuing, attack on her husband. She won’t ever forget how their daughter went crazy and melancholic after Arup ditched her.

     Arup dared not ask for Anu given the gloom looming large in the room. Neither his parents nor the parents of Anu brought him to Kolkata; it’s to know about Anu and her whereabouts that led to his instinctive decision. He’d come to know from Nilu and Jerry that Anu left LIC and was psychologically wrecked. When he found himself shut out from her by phone, he rushed to the city.” It won’t be wise to ask about Anu,”he thought and decided to leave.” Well uncle, I’ll be back tomorrow before I leave in the afternoon,” said Arup without a word with Anupama and rose to go out when Sujata followed by Anu entered. It’s like looking at the ghost of Arup who beamed at his former fiancée. Forgetting about the gloom in the room, he asked Anu,”Kemon aachhis?”(How are you?)

“Tui ekhane! (You are here!),” Anu exclaimed in surprise, mixing a tone of annoyance.

“LIC chhere diyechhis shunlam (Heard you’ve left LIC),” Arup enquired.

“Tate tor ki? (What does it matter to you?),” Anu retorted, perturbed.

“Changed SIM? I couldn’t find you by phone,”

“Should I ask you about what I should do?”Anu’s harsh.

“Not that, I’m sorry. Bhalo thakis (Wish you good luck),”said Arup and left hurriedly.

     All the room was relieved; a few drops of tears fell off the eyes of Anu.A tempest within tormented her. It’s a sudden whirlwind which left her shattered again. An unreal reality. She’s reluctant to think over the spilt milk. But the encounter brought forward to her the past which she would like to forget. He’d entertained those who’re out to malign her, and came to see how much she’s wrecked, she thought. He’s a ghost to her and materialized before her as a ‘real’ entity. An eerie silence enveloped the room.Anupama saw red. She felt Anu’s turning into a stone. She came to her, took the daughter into her bosom, kissed and rubbed her face.

“Maa, how did that rag-picker enter the house?”Anu asked.

“Rag-picker! No, there’s none. What do you say?”Anupama asked, confused.

“Maa! I mean that guy who left. He rag-picked Mita, with a child in the womb,” Anu broke in anger.

“What! Mita was carrying on the wedding day? Is it true, or you’re venting your ire?”

“I never malign anybody, you know it, Maa,” Anu asserted.

“That I know, you’re our daughter, and cannot do that,” Anupama tried to assuage Anu, in case she’s hurt.

“Okay, forget, he’s irrelevant. We must have our own way to continue with our family,” Anu’s serious.

“But …I don’t understand, really,”Aupama drawled, peeved and scowling while her husband gazed at the ceiling without a blink, lying on his back.

     The unexpected materialization of Arup changed the mood of the house. A change followed. The anger of Anu gave way to a kind of nostalgia and suppressed cheerfulness. Her parents turned pale again. In the discussion that they had with Sujata and Anu couldn’t be warm and participatory in the gloom and uncertainties.Anu’s participation appeared to be perfunctory, and Sujata couldn’t help bring back the enthusiasm of Anu’s father. They’re sipping coffee and there’re slips between the cup and the lip.Anu, quizzically blurted,”Arup’s a fool” as Sujata spied a smile rose up to her eyes. (to be continued on 19 March 2015)

     

She Won't Reveal 43

            She Won’t Reveal (43)

                      Nidhu Bhusan Das

              It’s a day of hope, doubts and fulfillment. The house rose early in the morning.Anu’s first to leave bed. In fact, she didn’t have a wink of sleep that night. Was it for joy of the ensuing return home of the father or the turmoil in the mind? The turmoil’s because of the sense of guilt she developed in course of her conversation with thammi whose angst she could understand. She went by the plan she’d drawn up to welcome the papa back home. Her mom Anupama and buddy Sujata followed her while thammi remained confined to her bed. They got things ready by 8 a.m. and the mom and buddy rode to the nursing home to bring home Dr. Arindam.Anu sent a note with them which read: ‘Welcome Back Home, Papa.’ Sujata telephoned her son at Guwahati to inform that Anu’s papa’s going back home where the daughter’s ready to receive him ceremoniously.Prof Sanyal’s so happy that his mission’s going to succeed.

          Dr.Arindam came downstairs with his right arm on the neck of Anupama and boarded the car on the left of his wife with Sujata beside her. Around 10 a.m. they reached home. During the drive, the papa’s curious about his daughter and mom.” How’s Anu? Is she happy, really?”he asked.” You’d find how fond she’s of us. We must thank Sujata and her son,” Anupama’s prompt. The cardiologist looked out to see the asphalt road ahead. His view’s obstructed by the vehicles which didn’t leave room enough for one to look straight unhindered. Now he looked inward:” Should I Iook forward with hope, should I dream, does dream have meaning at all. If I dream and it comes to nought will it not be an irony of fate – a cardiologist dies of stroke? I remember a quote from Hitopadesha translated by Sir Edwin Arnold – Sickness, anguish, bonds, and woe/Spring from wrongs wrought long ago. Maybe, I’m responsible for some wrong deeds.Or, I could have been happy. It’s for me that Anupama’s unhappy. So innocent a soul, so caring a partner-in-life so anguished! It’s only for me. It’s for me my virtuous mom’s joyless. I’ve failed to raise a family.” Could his companions understand that the cardiologist’s mind’s in turbulence? They might have thought Dr Anirban’s dreaming because there’re no creases of agony on his forehead and his face creased into a smile.

           They came out of the car-Sujata first, Anupama followed and the doctor’s helped by the lady of the house.Anupama clad in vernal sari’s ready below to welcome her papa sticking sandal wood paste to his forehead with her fingertip which augurs good luck and then touching his feet with hands and forehead as a mark of respect and devotion. Overwhelmed, the doctor took his daughter onto his bosom in a tight hug, a never-before-happened scene in the house.Sujata clicked the rare event of the family. The two smiles merged into one signifying unity which turned into a happy trinity when Anupama joined at the behest of her joy. She stood in the middle flanked by Dr. Anirban and Anu. The photo session at the insistence of Sujata over, they climbed the stairs to the first floor of the two-storeyed house and went straight to the room of the reigning goddess of the family to make obeisance.Arunima Devi smiled on them.Sujata grabbed the scene in her camera. Now they’re in the drawing room. Admirers soon gathered in the lawn to have a glance at the people’s doctor back home hale and hearty. Anu, overwhelmed, asked her papa to appear in the spacious porch and wave to the crowd. He obliged and the admirers wished him joy and good health. Now he’s led to his room which was felt to be warmer and more beautiful, more because of the presence of Anu than its rearrangement. His face beamed with a lingering smile as he sat on the easy chair with his little mom on his lap.

           While the family’s enjoying the get-together, Sujata went out to get a new SIM for Anu as planned last night to insulate her from those who might disturb the new-found peace of the family. She took pains to reload the numbers omitting the unwanted ones from the old SIM which had been discarded and destroyed.

         Anu told her papa to rest and sought to go to the kitchen where she would cook special dish for him.” Don’t be naughty, son.Going to cook for you. Take rest undisturbed.Maa, let him rest,” she commanded. The tone and gesture of authority of the girl pleased the papa. He smiled, hopefully.Sujata followed her into the kitchen.”Now, dear, take your handset. The old SIM’s replaced. Those people wouldn’t be able to disturb you any more. Do you feel for them?”Sujata’s categorical.

“No, I shouldn’t. No more experiment. It isn’t my cup of tea,” she said.

“My son would be so happy to know this.”

“He’s a great man, a saviour.”

“Dear, would you go and visit my parents with me?”

“I’m a bad girl. Should you take me to them?”

“Who told you, you’re bad?”

“My conscience.”

“It isn’t conscionable to take you as a bad girl. You’re misconstrued”

“I’ll go to my parents today after lunch. I would be happy if you could accompany me.”

“I’ll take my son and mom also with me. Agreed?”

“But your son needs rest.”

“That’s true. Okay, let me tell him. He may feel lonely in my absence.”

“Why, auntie’s there with him.”

“But I understand he cannot let me be out of sight.”

“Well, I’ll tell uncle.”

“Let’s go together and tell him. I’ve a mischief. Please tell him I’ll accompany you to Guwahati wherefrom I’ll proceed to Amlarem.”

“Why, dear?” Anu asked, smiling.

“To see how much he needs me, how he reacts.”

“Do you’ve any doubt?”

“No, not in the least. It’s for fun, dear.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

“By the by, what about your Anuradha?”

“She must be happy with her man.”

“Are you jealous and feel deprived?” Sujata poked.

“You’re so naughty, dear. Do you suspect, really?”

“Should I, indeed? Let’s go,” said Sujata and they walked into the room of Dr. Arindam.He lay on his back, eyes closed.

Anu kissed on and rubbed his forehead. The eyes opened to see two smiling faces.” Uncle, Anu’d go with me,”Sujata sought leave.

“Where?”Dr Arindam asked, surprised.

“To my parents, at Shakespeare sarani,”she informed.

“Are you going?” the doctor asked, put out.

“No, papa. You’re really…We’ll be back within hours. I’ll never leave you and Sujata won’t leave me,”Anu assured.

“Can’t it be tomorrow? Maybe, Anupama and I’ll accompany you,” Arindam said, hopeful.

“Tomorrow, then,”Anu suggested to her friend.

“But I’ve told them we’re going,”Sujata said.

“May I talk to them for you, mom?”Arindam asked, apologetically.

Sujata made a call to her mother and said,” Maa, Anu’s father would talk” and handed over the cell phone to the doctor.”Namaskar, Sujata would stay with us today, and if you please, we would visit you tomorrow evening.”

“We’d be so glad to have you with us. Sujata told us about you. We’re sorry we couldn’t visit you. We should have..”

“It’s alright.We’re meeting tomorrow.”

“Maa, then we’re coming tomorrow. Would you mind?” said Sujata.

“Why should I? You’re doing a good job. We’re proud of you, dear.”

“I mayn’t live long. I’ve some plans to discuss and share. I’ll die in peace if you and Anu can accept and implement the plan,” said the doctor, sad in tone and appearance.(to be continued on 12 March 2015)