Tutul

30.10.2009

I


Pritha took a few breaths to steady herself before entering her cubicle.

Mou was sitting there, she looked at her with the corner of her eyes. Then shifted her attention back to her screen. “You have not forwarded me your daily report last evening.” She said.

“Sorry.” Pritha mumbled, “I must have forgotten to send it, I have made it and was about to send when some one asked for a book.”

“Don’t make it a habit, when shaila will ask me I will have to simply admit the truth, that you don’t send me the daily reports regularly.” Was Mou’s answer.

This was the first time that Pritha has forgotten to send it to her.

She really hated this office and its employees. Some of them were good but they were mute spectators of all the atrocities done by their vicious colleagues, those who ran the office.

She placed her bag in her cabinet and started the computer. Next she called up the reception, “Deepa are the newspapers there?”

“No”” Deepa answered, “Wait for a while Harun will be bringing them from the flat.”

Pritha wished that she could wait, she called up the Peon’s room and just as she has anticipated, Harun was there, filling up the bottles to be placed on every desk.

“Have you brought the newspapers Harun?” she asked.

“No madam. I will fetch them after I fill up the bottles.” Harun politely replied.

“Can you handover the bottle filling to Atish and go?” she asked and Harun consented.

So her day started. She had to go through these newspapers which her boss has read since early morning. There were articles, pieces of news marked under various categories. She had to handle all these categorywise and will have to key in the articles which were marked with the name of her colleagues and mail them those articles in word format before 11 AM.

Apart from this she had to handle their huge collection of books, magazines and CDs. This was an advertising firm which made its main moolah from printing annual reports of various reputed organizations.

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II


Shaila had some special fancy on her. unfortunately of course, because she was gifted with a very sharp tongue and spiteful nature.

All her colleagues said her husband Zakir was the mean guy around but he never mistreated Pritha, he was a man of few crisp words and Pritha simply adored it from her bosses. She believed in hierarchy. She always kept a distance from bosses. She believed in the old adage, its unwise to become friends with a king .. they can make and break you as per your mood.

Shaila never lost a chance to give her the taste of her acid tongue, a colleague of hers once told her, “You are not her favourite target, you are the only soft target available to her.”

Mou was there to help Shaila, somehow she had the complex that Pritha was appointed to take over her place, though Pritha never could guess why, because Mou was an expert manager. She had a wonderful way of handling and coordinating the whole process of publishing a report, starting from the scratch to the end.

The second reason Mou loved Pritha because Pritha was not a good actress and she just could not hide her displeasure at Mou’s coquettishness. She used to observe with great distaste how she loved to be fondled by male colleagues, she used to watch with distaste how easily their hands roamed over her body and her evident joy in the whole thing. Most probably that displeasure was reflected on her face too.. so she made a bad, powerful enemy who had full control over her acid tongued boss.


She was talking with Ramen, “This is the environment of Corporates. Either you become like Mou or quit. It’s a dog eats dog world, no place for humanity. Everyone knows that you are harassed without reason but no one will stand up for you, because no one will love to lose the huge pay packet they are being offerered.”

“I used to laugh a lot before I joined trizem, now I zip my mouth before entering the office and unzip it after reaching home. I don’t talk with colleagues unless its about work.” He said helpingly.

He was one of the staffs of that office who have tried to help her and have always been nice to her.

“You should better not talk any thing about Zakir or Shaila in the office, they mysteriously listen to every thing which is spoken about them, and they are very vindictive.” Another colleague of hers once subtly warned her.

This was one suspicion which Pritha had since long, but it was about Mou. That she somehow overhears the things said about her or someone spies on her behalf.

Then she guessed it herself, most of the big offices install spy cameras in rooms to check on the activities of their employees. As Trizem handled sensitive data it was quite probable that they have installed spycams, and who else but Mou can be trusted for the spying part. So she learnt to keep her mouth shut.



III

Unfortunately her docillity did not worked. The more docile she became the more abusive Shaila became. So she decided to leave the job.

Shaila was fully cooperative. That day she was really unwell, she went to office a little feverish, and used the toilet. Shaila entered the toilet when she was coming out, and instantly came out screaming, “If you cant clean up the mess after using the toilet call me from my chamber, I will do it for you.”

She was shocked but kept silent. She had been called all sort of names by her in the past, unadjusting, arrogant, querelous .. every thing but this one just crossed the limits. She just had enough of this woman. She submitted her resignation next day.

The last day in the office was one of her most memorable days. She handed over all her charges, and every thing which was in her hands but there was one thing pending… a drama, on the last day when she was about to leave the office she noted that the only door of the office was locked.

She asked the receptionist to open it, she was instructed to meet Shaila. Shaila in turn handed her over a huge list of jobs to be completed if she wanted her salary.

After going through that list she realized she will have to work another four months there to get her due salaries of two months. So she asked them to keep it and left the office.

Well, that day her colleagues proved Ramen was right. Everyone watched the drama, some of them were quite friendly with her. But everyone acted as if nothing has happened. She left the office with a mixed feeling of fury and satisfaction. Fury for being shamelessly cheated and satisfied that her humanity, dignity and backbone was not for sale.



IV


She was sitting in the park of her housing when she saw Ramen entering the park with a small child. She was a little surprised, because she thought he was single, in all these months he has never mentioned his wife.

She smiled and waved at him, “Hi!!!”

He smiled back and slowly approached her. Holding the hand of the child.

“How are you?” he asked. Its been a month since they have last met. A month since Pritha has left Trizem. “Got something new?”

“Not yet, looking for one. Have just started to send the c.v.s” she answered. “Your daughter?”

“No, my elder brother’s daughter. Her parents passed away in an accident, she was with us at that time.” Ramen said.

“Hi!!!!” Pritha smiled at the small one.

The little girl blankly stared at her. she was a really cute looking girl, hardly four or five years old.

“Tutul is autistic. Very slow to understand and takes a long time to mingle with anyone. That’s a good thing in today’s world. She howls like a wolf if a stranger tries to touch her.” Ramen said.

Pritha looked at her carefully and realized Ramen was right. There was a slight, very slight shadow of her autism on her face.

Suddenly Tutul giggled and stumbled toward Pritha. Who gently held her and pulled her close.

“Wow!!! That’s a miracle! Do you know magic?” Ramen laughed. “I have never seen her befriending someone on first date. Naughty girl.”

Pritha smiled, “It’s a God given blessing. I love children and somehow that love is almost always reciprocated, actually they love me more than I love them.”

They stayed together for an hour more and then left for homes, promising to meet next day.

That became a daily routine, slowly that extended out of the park and they became inseparable friends.

Pritha became extremely fond of Tutul. That small child with her absolutely unselfish and devoted love captured her heart. She started to dote after her.



Within a year they decided to share the rest of their lives together. Pritha was a little bored with office culture and the harshness brewing in them, so she decided to work from home.

Cursed Part 2

for the earlier part: Cursed Part 1 (october archive)
29.10.2009

After surrendering to seniority, white hair of Keshav uncle I promised to myself I will act just opposite to my nature and show his employees what attitude is all about…

I went to the office, Jhumamasi showed up within an hour. She took one of the girls of the office aside and asked her to call me up during lunch hour.

“Don’t take your lunch alone in your seat, join the girls.” She told me later. “Slowly it will break the ice and will keep the people who are bothering you silent.”

I too thought that and started to eat with them. Even though I could clearly see their coldness hidden under their politeness I practiced polite warmth. Because I knew they can afford to be rude to me, I cant, because it was my aunty’s office, and I was answerable to her.

Slowly their second skin started to fall off. I have been an avid reader of all sorts of detective books. I started to observe certain things in them and then used to test them under the wrap of innocence.

Sometimes my relatives from home used to call me up during office hours, as I did not had a phone at home.

I used to note that whenever a phone came one of the girls used to flitter around me, as if trying to understand the conversation which I was having with the person on the other side. Though they pretended they did not knew a single word of bengali.

I started my own game, I used to watch them keenly and say most offensive things in pure bengali about them to see how the colours of their faces changed. They used to look at my placid face keenly to note if I have guessed their games.

Though they were too sly to be caught red handed, I guessed that a lot of them can understand bengali but pretend that they don’t.

Next I started my experiments with the eavesdropping case. There also I started to play the same game, I used to raise my voice to various levels before getting abusive about the employees of blue star, mentioning their names… and soon I realized that most probably they have bugged the households.

My suspects were naturally Ritumasi and her sons.

31.10.2009

Soma became my shadow. Wherever I went she was sure to go (other than office) even when I visited Jhumamasi’s home she stayed there with me in place of going to her mother’s home. Even if she did, she used to return before my returning from office.

It seemed mystery was second name of Rajpur. Things started to disappear and come back on their own. I still remember the day when I first became aware of this disappearing and returning act. A bunch of letters arrived from my family, I was reading one of them when Sulata called me and I got busy with her.

I returned after half an hour and saw that the letters have vanished, I searched every where but could not locate them.

When I returned from office next day they were back, they were at a place where I always searched first… under my pillow.

That again convinced me someone is over curious about my personal life.. the only person who could smuggle those letters out was Soma. But to whom? Both Sharma and Jain family were hundred percent Marwaris.. though they knew Hindi well but none knew B of bengali.

My suspicion again reverted back to Ritumasi, it was not impossible for Soma to call them up and tell them that a bunch of mails have arrived for me, someone might have been waiting outside to fetch those mails. They might have been done it before without being caught.

As it happens, when an innocent person is forced to suspect, he or she starts to suspect every one.

I always had a feeling about Sulata that she was Bengali, and Abhishek though he claimed he was a Marwari born and brought up upto his college in Sawai Madhopur, looked like a typical bengali guy.

I still distinctly remember how I asked Rik if Sulata was bengali when I first saw her from the roof top, she was in the courtyard below doing something.

A deep suspicion started to form that they were living there with some other intention.

The thing which fuelled my suspicion most were the weird things Sulata used to say quite often.

Things which were often outrageous to my small town taste. She used to glorify the lifestyle and happiness of a friend of hers who became a mistress of a rich old man. I never had the taste of asking her if that man had another wife or not.

Or she used to do things which I have only seen sex workers doing on silver screen. The same gestures of body or eyes, which are trademark of these women.

I used to feel quite uneasy with these behaviours, even though I had deep sympathy for sex workers but I would have never loved it if someone thought her as one. So I one day blurted out some thing about these gestures and some offensive words about sex workers.

I saw the colour of her face changing. Though she recovered it instantly but for a second she lost her composure.

That one incident started a journey of nightmare for me I believe. Wise people say that if you call Jesus Christ evil he will forgive you, but if you call devil evil he will leave no stone unturned to destroy you, such is the fury of a guilty soul.

to be continued ...............

Love is not enough

21.10.2009


It was early morning. A soft veil of mist was lifting itself from the green luscious fields when Abhilash descended on the Railway Station.

He was tired after travelling for more than 48 hours but the moment he inhaled the pure cool morning air his body relaxed.

“Hey!!!! Here!!!!” He heard a shout and turned to face his friend Ashok. “the journey was comfortable I hope!”

“Sort of.. these days vendors enter even the Air conditioned coaches. They kept on disturbing through out the nights..” he muttered tiredly.

They were walking side by side. It was a very small station. Abhilash was the only passenger who descended this morning.

“Here, this one!” Ashok pointed to a sturdy jeep. The jeep looked worn out from outside but was quite comfortable inside.

The driver started the jeep, it started to move forward in the brick road. Jumping a little here and there. Every thing was new for Abhilash.

He noted that the road was not made of concrete, simply bricks were laid on the road and have powdered to dust by heavy vehicles like trucks and wooden wheels of bullock carts.

But some of them were still jutting out from the dust and making the jeep jump. Driving a four wheeler was a matter of ample control, he could see that. He wondered how the drivers of two wheelers managed to drive, especially in darkness. He could not see any signs of electricity any where.


the road:

“Some of these fields are ours, but most of our fields are on the other side of the village. I will show them to you.” Ashok said following his friend’s gaze full of admiration.

“They are gorgeous. I have never seen so much green from this close.” Abhilash gushed.

“You will soon get bored. Just wait.” He laughed. “The whole village goes to sleep at eight in the night.”

“No newspaper, magazines, television or radio.” He laughed. “All we have is a taperecorder and our own library.”

“I think it will be fun for a few days atleast.” Abhilash laughed at his expression. “You are forgetting one thing, I will have you to show me around the village.”

The single storeyed house was situated on the bank of the river damodar. The jeep pulled in the courtyard of the house, they both came down.

Ashok’s father was waiting for them in the courtyard. He hugged Abhilash as he touched his feet.

“Come inside, sit down for a while then go to toilet and have some thing to eat after you are fresh.” He said affectionately.

An hour later Abhilash was out on the village road again, this time on feet with Ashok. Ashok’s father Ramesh and Mother seeta has stuffed him up with breakfast.

“I want to take a long walk to digest it.” he laughed when he went to wash his hands outside.


the village:

“Lets visit the other beauty spots of my tiny village.”, Ashok nudged Abhilash in the afternoon.

They sat down under a banyan tree, the river was spread right in front of them.

Vast banks of white sand, and small streams of water running through them.

“There was a time when this river used to roar like a monster in monsoon, causing a flood every year.” Ashok said. “Things changed after DVC.”

Abhilash could not imagine the scene which it would have made. The roaring river in place of narrow streams of water which barely crossed knees.

“These sands can be very tricky. Sometimes they give away under the feet of careless people and drown them.” Ashok said. “Never venture in the river on your own.”

“I wont. I don’t have any intentions of dying.” Abhilash laughed.

He watched with dreamy eyes the sheer beauty of that rustic village. The other bank of damodar was visible quite clearly. It was outlined by trees and empty spaces.

White autumn clouds were scattered in the sky, white and dazzling like snow covered peaks in the rays of sun. the sun started to set in the western horizon slowly. It lingered on the horizon first as a red, and then as a pink ball for a long time, then bade goodbye.

The tree above them was full of chirping of birds. He has never heard so many birds together. They were busy in settling down for the night. Their chirping sounded sweeter than the sweetest music to his ears.

“Lets go home now.” Ashok patted him on the back. “Don’t worry the sun will set again tomorrow.”

They laughed and left for the house. They were about to enter the house when a young woman came out of the house. Abhilash stopped in his track. In his thirty years of life he has never seen a woman half as beautiful as her.

“Leela, which book today?” Ashok laughed at her.

“short stories” the girl smiled at him. When she noted Abhilash was staring at her she bowed her head and left.

“She is gorgeous, is not she?” Ashok said, he could feel his friend’s condition.


cupid:

She was. A creature fulfilling all the criterias of beauty. She was tall, slim, her skin was like molten gold, eyes huge and dark, with long eye lashes, soft ruby lips and long, very long hair, which reached her knees and was swaying like a snake with her movement.

“Who is she?” Abhilash asked.

“She is the daughter of one of the richest farmers here.” Ashok said. “Can you believe it, that girl has not studied in school?”

“She has learnt all these things from my mother.” He laughed. “Mom wanted her as daughter in law but her parents bluntly refused. They are brahman, we are kayasthas.”

“Mom was heart broken.” Ashok chuckled. “Don’t look at me like that bro, I was not. She is not my type. She is too rustic. I would rather prefer some one ordinary but sophisticated. Who wil share my dull life in this village and add some touch of brain here and there. More than that she will have to be soft speaking and sweet natured. Leela is gorgeous but her tongue is a sharp razor.”

Abhilash could feel the earnesty in his words. He knew different people have different priorities. He thanked Leela’s parents for refusing Ashok. And he thanked God because he was brahman.

They finally retired to bed late after chatting for hours.

One month later when Abhilash left the village he left his heart there and took Leela’s heart with him.

His parents came down a few weeks later to meet Leela’s parents. The marriage occurred within another couple of months.



dream journey:

Abhilash left Leela with his parents and went to Kolkata, to make arrangements for a flat where they will stay.

Soon he brought her over to kolkata. She was happy like a child, she has never been to kolkata before.

“Its such a huge place, is not it?” she beamed. “So many people, buses, cars, buildings…”

“Kolkata is biggest city in west bengal and one of the biggest cities in india.” He smiled at her innocent happiness.

“Is it our home?” she smiled shyly after entering the small flat.

“Yes, its our palace.” Abhilash hugged her.

They spent the day together like to birds building their love nest. Abhilash left for office the next morning with a huge lunch box and stuffed up tummy.

“Leela, we will have to invite my friends from office and housing.” He whispered into her ears when they were lying in the bed.

“when?” she asked.

“I have booked a small hall in the restaurant down the street for Sunday evening.” He said, “It will be handled entirely by the restaurant, all we will have to do is invite them and be present there.”

“We could have arranged it at home. Why did you invited them in a hotel?” she asked innocently. “They wont be able to bless our new home then.”

“My sweet darling, blessing doesnot counts much in Kolkata, formalities do.” Abhilash softly kissed her forehead, “It would have been too chaotic to invite them in home. Think about all the arrangement and cleaning.”

“I have done that at home.” Leela said.

“There were others to help you there sweetheart.” Abhilash answered. “Here you will have to do it all alone, I am not a good help in such cases.” He chuckled. “Shall we sleep now? I have to go to office tomorrow.”

first brush:



“will I have to go out with you to invite others?” Leela asked shyly. “I don’t know how to talk with strangers… I have only talked with other village folks, that too women or relatives when I was back at home.”

“That’s ok honey, you will just have to be with me. I will do the talking.” Abhilash winked. “Lets not fret about such things.. you will have to do a lot of things which you have not done before sweetheart.”

“Like? Speaking in english? Wearing jeans?” Leela giggled. “I wont be doing any of those things, you should have married a memsahab.”

“We will see.. “ Abhilash smiled and hugged her.

The next few days were occupied completely. Every extra minute out side Abhilash’s office was spent on inviting people. They had to visit and invite them personally.

For the first time since seeing Leela Abhilash noted that her choice of colours was very gaudy. He might not have noticed it, as men never do but the wives, or other female relations of his friends or colleagues pushed it down his throat.

Almost everyone confidently asserted from him that she was from village. He could realize that her gaudy make up and flashy colours showed it off too much.

“Darling!” he said next evening, “I have brought some new sarees for you, will you take a look at them.”

Leela jumped with joy, but her face hanged when she opened the boxes one by one.

“These cant be exchanged?” she asked. “Their colorus are so lifeless.. so faded, my mom wont wear them.”

“Honey, in kolkata these are the colours which women wear.” Abhilash said, hoping she will understand.

“I will look sixty years old in them.” Leela complained. “Its been only six months since our marriage. If I start wearing these faded colour sarees people will think that you don’t love me.”

“Wear what you want honey, we will exchange these dresses tomorrow.” Abhilash felt her sadness and gave in.

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Fading:

Just like it happens to almost every love story after a brief honerymoon, it started with them too.

The next day onward Abhilash became myopic, all he could see was the faults in the woman he once adored.

He kept on comparing her to her kolkata sisters endlessly through out the party. How loudly she laughed. How loudly she spoke. How noisily she ate… how limited was her field of conversation.

Every necklace has to face friction, friction of weather, brushing with skin.. the list is endless. A necklace made of gold only loses a little of its gold, returns to its original self after a polish, but a gold coated one chips off, showing off the bronze inside.

Abhilash married Leela without thinking about their vast differences, he got mesmerized by the gold outside, never bothered to test it, if he would love the ingredient inside that gold plate. Result came out soon..



He came back from office next evening a little early. Leela greeted him with a sweet smile.

“Lets go out for a while, eat out and will be back before late.” He smiled at her when she entered with his tea and snacks.

She was a marvellous cook and homemaker, she has decorated the entire flat with her own hands. The whole flat was filled up with her own handmade things, embroidered covers for every thing, small handmade dolls.. he was quite impressed by her skills with hand, a thing which he has not seen in any of his cousins or other female members of his family. They were all highly educated and too engrossed in their careers to spend too much time in kitchen, forget about preparing handmade things like a doll. He had cousins who did not even knew how to cook.

He took her to a nearby library and made her member of that library. It had quite a huge stock of books. Enough to keep her occupied for years.

They took a taxi and roamed around a little, then they stopped at a small restaurant cum bar. Abhilash wanted to have a small drink. He was not a regular drinker, but today he was feeling like having a peg or twon.

They sat down in the restaurant, Abhilash ordered the waiter. Whisky for himself and juice for Leela.

“What is that?” Leela asked when the waiter placed their beverages. “It looks beautiful, can I take a sip?”

Abhilash resisted his laughter, “No, you don’t want to sip it.”

“Why?” she asked innocently.

“Its whisky.” He explained her what it was.

“You drink?” a look of horror and repulsion twisted her beautiful face.

Abhilash was shocked by the look full of hatred she gave to his peg, “Once in a blue moon.”

“No one in my family has ever touched alcohol. What will I tell to my parents if they come to know you drink?” She almost sniffed.

“Please be quiet, lets eat and we will talk at home.” Abhilash turned red when he noted that the people of nearby tables were staring at them under the cover of politeness. Leela’s voice has reached almost all the ears nearby.

They both forced the food down their throats and left the restaurant, none exchanged a single word till they reached home.



“I don’t care what you have been doing till date, promise me you will never drink again, not even a sip.” Leela insisted when they were in the bed.

“Leela, its not possible in kolkata.” Abhilash tried to explain the way of life in kolkata to her, but her ethics were too strong.

She was born and brought up in an environment where smoking might have been allowed but drinking was something which only reckless scoundrells did.

Abhilash just could not convince her that it was alright in kolkata. No one will think him a rogue just because he occassionally drank a peg or two of hard drinks.

“Please don’t do it tonight.” She coldly said when he tried to pull her to him.

“Are you angry?” he asked, disappointed.

“Your breath is full of foul smell of alcohol.” She said.

They distanced themselves from each other for the first time after their marriage and went to sleep. Abhilash turning his back on her and Leela facing toward him.

A cold dawn dawned in their love nest. Leela’s face was sad like a lotus thrashed by merciless winter rain and Abhilash was blaming his own brain, which fell for Leela without thinking about any thing else but her gorgeous looks.

Leela was too strong on her ethics and Abhilash was habituated of this lifestyle to see any thing immoral in it. So a small difference of opinion took the place of a cold war.


Return to home:

Ashok was sitting on the roof, looking at the river glittering in moon light. It wax full moon night, the weather was quite cold but he loved to sit on the roof for a little before going to bed.

He just loved that river and its magical beauty. He was startled when someone touched his shoulder. He turned, it was his mother Seeta.

“Leela has come to her home last night. Her father went to fetch her for Durgapuja. She will stay for a month.” She said.

Knowing his mother Ashok knew that she has something further to say. So he turned to face her.

“Abhilash did not came with her. She is really miserable. Something is wrong with them. will you ask your friend if something is wrong?” Seeta really loved Leela.

Ashok shrugged. He thought it must have been lover’s tiff or something a little more serious.

He left for kolkata next morning because he had to do some shopping too, he went to meet Leela on his way.

When he reached their huge, spacious house he noted it was busy preparing for the upcoming puja. They held their own puja in home.

The first person who saw her was Leela’s sister in law Tapati. She smiled faintly at him and called him in. He was almost like a son to that family. Her faint smile confirmed Seeta’s words.

He was sitting in the courtyard when Leela came to him and touched his feet.

“Dada, how are you?” she asked, her eyes lowered as always.

“I am going to kolkata, do you have any thing to say to Abhilash?” he asked with a smile, trying to put her at ease.

She looked up at him and her eyes told every thing. Ashok decided to not bother her and ask Abhilash instead.



He reached Kolkata late at noon. He called Abhilash to announce his arrival who ordered him to immediately visit him.

They hugged each other tightly. It appeared as if Abhilash was waiting for a single prodding.. he tumbled out every thing to Ashok.

“Abhi, I told you to think before you marry her. Right?” Ashok asked him. “I told you that she is gorgeous but rustic.”

“She is a village girl, what do you expect her to do? Wear jeans, dance at a disco?”

“Or pour down drinks for you and your friends?” Ashok asked in a little impatient tone.

“You are a highly educated guy, if you cant accept her with all your education, how could you expect her to accept your modern lifestyle with her minimal education?”

“You forgot to think about these differences beforehand with your wisdom and knowledge, and you are expecting her to understand them?”

“Don’t lecture, if you cant suggest something let me think of a way out.” Abhilash said. “May be I will divorce her.”

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Mending:

“Abhi, I never expected this from you.” Ashok softly said, “Killing her will be better for her. Do you know the meaning of divorce to a village girl?”

“I will suggest you something only if you promise that you will think about it deeply.” Ashok said.

“shoot out.” Abhilash said curtly.

“You both are married now. Her only fault is her lack of sophistication and inability to adapt herself to modern lifestyle, you can try to slowly mould her. Or you can let her be and simply avoid the things which she hates.”

“For example, you can take your drinks when you are out with the boys.”

“You can simply invite your friends a few at a time during weekends instead of throwing parties.”

“You can enroll her in some grooming class, there are too many of them in kolkata these days.”

“Most of all, you can concentrate on her virtues in place of vices.”

“None of your urban friends will be able to decorate the home like this without taking a single penny from you, or pack such wonderful lunch for you at eight in the morning.”





“I can understand your condition, but you should have thought it before marrying, I even warned you.” Ashok added.

He softly held his friend’s hand in his hand, “Don’t write the death sentence for that innocent girl, try to accept her, you are the wiser and more matured person.”

“I will ask ma to teach her a little about city life, ma was a teacher, her teacher too, so I have a little faith on her wisdom.” Ashok laughed.

“Next time when you feel really upset call me I will send ma to masi’s home for a fortnight and you can drop Leela there, explain your problems to ma in private I believe she will manage perfectly.” Ashok patted his back.

Abhilash tightly gripped his hand in both of his hands.

Distant dreams

The wedding:
21.10.2009

Promit stopped his bike at the gate. The house was getting painted. Fragrance of fresh paint was spread all around. He loved this smell. It always filled him up with energy.

He crossed the small lawn and entered the house. He was a tall, well build handsome man nearing his mid twenties.

“Promit!!!! Come here son, see these things, are they okay?” a middle aged lady called him.

She was Mina, his best friend’s mother. His best friend Swarna was getting married. The whole household was busy and so was he. He has been more like a son to this family for years.

He went inside after giving his approval to them, he was instantly captured by Swarna’s father. “Baba, have you decided the menu?”

“Lets all sit down together and decide these things one by one kaku.” He said. “It is not very wise to go solo on these things. Call Swarna too, where is that lazy girl?”

“I am here Mr. busy guy!!” a voice brimming with laughter said. He looked up and his eyes softened. He doted after her.

She was a very beautiful girl. Tall, slim and pretty. His friends were aghast that he did not proposed to her. He never looked at her that way. His feelings for her were absolutely platonic.

Her parents trusted him blindly, so did Swarna.



Swarna’s would be groom was any girl’s dream come true. Promit has seen Sanjay a couple of times. He was handsome, rich and only child of his parents.

The whole family was settled in UK. Swarna’s passport was already made. She will be on her way to UK after honeymoon in Goa.

“Swarna will forget us within one month of meeting her prince charming.” He laughed with a pang of sadness in his heart.

“We will shift to our village home after she leaves for UK.” Swarna’s father Mohan said. “We don’t have any thing to do here any more, that house needs us more than this rented house.”

“That’s miles away uncle. I will not be able to meet you then.” Promit said sadly.

“This is what life is all about son. People come and people go. Atleast we both will know that the other one is happy.” Mina said. “You can come down to visit us whenever you feel like.”

The marriage was over like a dream. Every one was charmed by Swarna’s inlaws. Only Sanjay and his parents could come down for the marriage. All their relations lived in UK and USA.

“We will have to hold the party there.” Mrs. Rastogi said. “In both places, in London and Miami.”

Senior Mr. and Mrs. Rastogi lived in Miami. They had their own homes in London and Miami. For the time being they will stay with Swarna in UK, and will leave for Miami when she is settled down in the new country.



Sanjay really was a handsome prince, they made a gorgeous couple. Every one was gushing at them.

For the first time since he has known Swarna Promit felt a deep regret. He realized the harsh truth after losing her that his friends were right. She was the love of his life.

He kept watching her smiling and blushing. Sanjay seemed obsessed with her beauty. His eyes never left her face for long.

“Thanks buddy.” He drawled in US accent, “You did not fell in love with her that is why I could have her.”

“It’s a miracle that you two spend years with each other and did not married or even had an affair.” He laughed. They were standing side by side on the balcony after the marriage reception was over.

Their marriage was performed in pure bengali way. “We don’t have any relatives here, so we can marry as per Swarna’s desire.” Mrs. Rastogi said. “If we can welcome a bengali girl as our daughter in law, why shall we not welcome her way of life?”
They left for Mumbai next day and left for UK after a month from there.

Promit accompanied Mohan and Mina to and from Mumbai.

He noted with a deep pang that one month with Sanjay has transformed Swarna into a beautiful dream.

He immersed himself in his career after returning from Mumbai. Mohan and Mina shifted to their village home within a few month. Leaving him lonelier.


Time flies by:

Years flew by like dream. Promit has joined Indian Army as a doctor. He was stationed in a small town. A very peaceful town situated on the bank of river Ganga.

He has not married, his parents have passed away years ago, so there was no one to bug him for that, he preferred the liberty of single life.

He used to often take a stroll on a road beside the river, which joined their barracks to the railway station.

After working all day in the hospital it was a great relaxation for mind. To watch civillians and feel the soothing breeze of the river.

He was walking toward the station as usual, he noted a woman coming toward him from a distance. She was alone, and it was apparent from her dress and accessories that she was returning from office. He noted her because he saw that a group of scoundrells were following her quite closely.

Snatching was a common phenomenon on this road, especially after dusk, so he started to watch her keenly. Suddenly he recognized her. “Swarna?” he asked, when she was about to cross him.

The woman froze in her tracks and stared at him, trying hard to concentrate then a ghost of a smile came to her lip, “Promit!!!”

“What are you doing here? You never told me that you are coming back to India.” He was surprised beyond words.

“I have been living here for last two years. Ma and baba are also with me.” She said softly. “Come to my home, we will talk there.”

Promit started to walk with her. To his irritation he noted that those scoundrels were still stalking them. He was a little surprised, because usually these creeps disperse when they see that their prey has found company.



Promit was surprised when Swarna lead him to a house just a few blocks away from his barrack.

“come!” she opened the gate of a small single storeyed house. There was a small lawn surrounded by flower beds, which were not visible in the semi darkness.

He looked back before entering the house, that group was loitering under the shadows of a nearby house.

The house was neat, clean and properly decorated but he missed the marks of elegance and beauty which were Swarna and Mina’s second nature.

“Baba, ma.. see who has come!!” Swarna called out and Mina and Mohan came out from two rooms almost together.

“Promit!!!!” they hugged him tightly as he bowed down to touch their feets one by one.

Swarna has disappeared inside to change her clothes. He sat down with them.

“When did you shifted here from village?” he could hardly hide his utter surprise, “Why did not you informed me? You always had my address.”

“When and why did Swarna returned to India, where is her husband” he continued. Suddenly he noted the embarassed silence of Swarna’s parents and looked at their faces deeply.

Suddenly a truth dawned on him. The thing which was missing from his best friend’s family and her was their life. They were a very happy family, always laughing, joking and enjoying the life. The three people who are in front of him now have forgotten to live. Their faces were tired and gloomy. As if their ages have shot up mysteriously and they have become old within five years.



“We don’t know where Sanjay and his family are.” Mohan answered. He was about to continue when Swarna entered the room with a tray.

“You are taking your dinner with us, call your wife and tell her to not cook dinner; you will be picking her up within an hour.” Swarna said.

“I will happily have my dinner with you, I will have to first marry to get a wife, then only can I call her..” he smiled.

“You are still single?” Mina asked. “What a boy!!!! This is what happens when parents pass away too early.” She grumbled. She really loved this young boy.

Then they all clustered around the drawing room table and started to chat. An hour later Mina and Swarna left for the kitchen and Mohan and Sanjay went out to the garden.

Ganga was clearly visible from their garden. It was looking gorgeous after darkness. The lights on both sides illuminating the water. A soft breeze was blowing from the river, soothing the very soul.

“Uncle, what happened with Sanjay?” he asked, he was dying to know what tragedy has struck his dearest friend, a friend who has become a piece of his soul.

“He has simply vanished with Swarna’s only child.” Mohan started to cry silently.

He gathered his nerves and shared a strange story with Promit –


The story:

Swarna was in seventh sky when they landed in London. She was not a very smart girl so she preferred staying indoors before she could understand the new country.

Their neighbours were mostly British, that prevented her from mixing with them too much. His parents had to leave after three months to attend some urgent business in Miami. She was left alone there, well partly. Sanjay was there but he had to tour a lot, sometimes for weeks.

Hardly a month has passed since Mr. and Mrs. Rastogi left for Miami Sanjay returned home with a sad expression on his face.

“Sweetheart, I have good news, and one bad news!” he said.
“I am promoted but I will have to go for a three months training in Belfast.” He said after a little pause.

“I have talked with a woman, she will come here every day and stay with you all day and will help you with every thing you need.” He said.

She hugged him happily and sadly but showed him only her smiles, hiding the fear.

He left, time passed away slowly, too slowly. She was not much surprised when she missed her first period, but she got alarmed when she missed the second one. She was thinking about consulting the woman who helped her, Ms. Singh, but Sanjay returned after his training that very day.

She felt her world crumbling down when she came to know that she was two month pregnant. Sanjay was shocked beyond words.

She told him that she did not know how it happened but he naturally did not believed her and coldness started to creep in between them.

Those months passed like a nightmare, Sanjay asked her to pass last few months in a rented home so that his parents don’t get the real picture.

They rented a house in a nearby place for six months. She does not know what he told his parents. The baby was born in a small nursing home there, run by an Indian doctor; the baby was boy, still born.

“Let’s forget the past and start life again. We all make mistakes.” Sanjay softly said, holding her hands in his hands.

She hugged him tightly, feeling an overwhelming gratitude for his kindness.

Life fell back to old routine, Mr. and Mrs. Rastogi could not make it back to London because their business was in trouble.

A few months later Sanjay left for Holland on an official trip, for three months again. Ms. Singh was again appointed.

This time Swarna was super cautious, she used to check doors and windows after her leaving the house. But she noted a strange thing, she was a very light sleeper. She used to spend her nights in a very light sleep. But ever since Sanjay went away she was sleeping like a log. She used to go to bed early and wake up late…. That too at one go. Never waking up for a single time in the whole night. Not even to turn.

Then the history repeated itself. She became pregnant again. This time Sanjay said its over. They will part their ways after the delivery, she can go back to India, he will make the arrangements.

Swarna knew she did not had any choice. She will just have to do that. If she tells any one what has happened to her they will think that she is a dumb adulterous woman. Who is lusty enough to have extra martial flings but does not know how to avoid pregnancy.

The same arrangement was made again, Sanjay told her they should make the arrangement of divorce before the baby is born. They will file the suit on mutual consent. So that she can go back to India asap.

The child was born, a boy again, a lovely boy with deep black eyes and curly hair.

Her ticket was booked after divorce. Sanjay asked her to pack her things and left for office. The baby was sleeping in cot. When Swarna went to check him after a couple of hours the cot was empty.

She tried to reach Sanjay on his cell but it was switched off. She went out of the flat and knocked the next door. A middle aged lady came out, after listening to her she said that she will call the police and send someone to her flat.

A few minutes later the bell rang and a Bengali woman was standing outside the door. She lived just below them.

Then the worms started to tumble out of the can one by one. This flat was not owned by Sanjay, his family leased it for two years just before their marriage. No one has seen Sanjay or his family before. The Bengali lady has been living in this housing for last fourteen years.

Swarna came back with a horrible awakening. The thing which she could gather from the police and the Bengali lady Jayabati Datta was she fell in the net of some sick creature, who has disappeared after swallowing her jewellery, the cash and her children. Jayabati said that there are high chances he had sold them, and the first child was alive, not still born. They have connection with these nursing homes. They sell babies to childless couples lying to them that the mother knows it and is willingly giving away the baby.


The end:

“After her return to India we realized that we have fallen into the net of a vicious spider, and its spread vastly, strongly. Their comrades followed Swarna to here, and have expertly branded her as a woman of easy virtue.”

“They always keep her under watch. Most probably they are scared that if people start to believe her their business in UK and other countries will end. The police will start to watch over such activities more keenly. So they are terrorizing and branding Swarna as a strumpet and liar.” Mohan finished speaking and reached out for a glass of water.

Promit nibbled with the food and left after a while. He has hardly turned a corner when those men approached him.

“Dada! That family is not good!” one of them said.

“That woman goes to kolkata every day on pretext of working but people see her coming out of seedy hotels.” The second one joined.

“We know you are an army doctor, stay away from those leeches, they will suck you dry before you will realize.” The third one said in a preachy tone.

“Thanks for the information.” Promit said and left for his barrack taking long strides.


“It’s a bizarre story! But in today’s world, when educated people are willingly involved in all sorts of crime nothing is impossible.” His best friend Major Ghatak said.

“They must have used date drug on her. And who can say, may be it is Sanjay who slinked back to the rooms after she was asleep, using duplicate keys.” He added.

“It seems your friend has been picked up by a strong racket, so they must have strong camaraderie with the local administration too, as her kids are still in their hands its no use trying to fight them.”

“If you really trust and love her, marry her, bring her within the walls of our cantonment, no one will dare to cross those walls.” He said after patting Promit’s shoulder.

Next day was a Sunday, Promit reached Swarna’s home early in the morning. Mohan was sitting in the lawn, reading newspaper.

“I will take the lunch and dinner here.” He said after touching his feet.

“Ma, bring some breakfast and tea for Promit” Mohan requested Swarna who was approaching them with a cup of tea in her hands.

“Tell your mother that Promit will stay with us today.” He added.

Promit sat down beside him. “Baba, I want to marry Swarna immediately. And we all will live in my quarter after that.” He said.

“I have thought about the whole thing for a while then I decided that I cant leave Swarna in this condition, I have always adored her and you all.” He blushed a little. “I cant throw Sanjay and his family to jail but I can take care of my family.”

“But .. Swarna ..” Mohan was not very sure.

“That’s my department, I want your promise and blessings.” Promit said confidently.

The Phoenyx

19.10.2009

“Its easy for the person who does the wrong to forget it. especially if he is under the illusion that he has ruined his victim beyond repair. He has crushed him to the ground, and he will never be able to raise his head.” Robin said.

“When Ravana touched Sita’s hand he never thought that he was inviting his own destruction. He thought he was abducting the wife of a poor sage.”

“He was sealing his own doom, such is the power of dignity and purity.”

“You can reduce it to ashes and it will rise out of it as a phoenyx.”

He was speaking to a small group of friends.

“Nothing in her threatened Kanai when he was chasing her for years.” He continued.

She was a small town girl. Heaven only knows what attracted a demon towards her. They did not had any similarities. She was from a educated, honourable family. His family had generations of criminal background.

She was not even good looking. Forget about being beautiful. May be it was the strength of her goodness and purity that attracted him to her. And he decided to snub that light so he could swallow her.

21.10.2009

It was her sheer misfortune that their paths crossed. She was a very shy, introvert girl, engrossed in her studies and college life.

Her neighbour was kanai aka kanu’s girlfriend. He used to spend his nights in her home often and used to see the girl in her home. The home had a high boundary wall, but was visible from the first floor window.

Kanu used to watch her in stealth while she spent hours in the garden. Sometimes studying and sometimes just relaxing. Her childish innocent ways were most probably irresistable to his twisted mind.

The mind which only looked for the darkness all of a sudden found a ray of light. He got so obsessed by the light that he forgot that to get that light he will have to get rid of his heart and soul’s darkness.

He started to crave for that light even at the cost of snuffing it out. Such is the reasoning of passion.

Lo!!!! They want the light but without the light, never even thinking that the moment light will stop being light it will become darkness.. so what was it that they actually wanted?

He first requested his girlfriend, then insisted and finally forced her to make arrangements of getting him married to the girl.

“She will never marry you. Her parents wont agree either.” She pouted. “They are not that type of persons kanu. Specially the girl.”

“You are her neighbour, If you want you will be able to find out a way.” He hissed. “If you cant do this little for me I will stop coming here from tomorrow.”

25.10.2009

Kanu left after issuing his order. His girlfriend spent the day fuming. She knew that if she ignores Kanu she will have to pack her bags, leaving behind every thing. He had that power on the town. He was the law there.

On the other hand listening to him meant she will lose access on her monthly instalments. He sure will not entertain her after marrying.

She dressed up and went to Sujata’s home. “Hi Jababhabhi, how are you?” Sujata smiled at her.

“Where is aunty?” Jaba smiled back.

“She is in the kitchen.” Sujata said. She went back to her studies.

“Come Jaba! What brought you here?” Ruma Sujata’s mother was genuinely surprised to see her rich neighbour visit her.

Jaba sat down at the chair which was offered to her, “You know aunty, I cant visit any one because I stay engrossed in my own work.”

“That doesnot means I don’t care about you.” She continued. “I have something important to tell you. But you will have to promise me that you wont tell it to any one else.”

“One of my friends, Kanai Dey has seen Sujata, and he wants to marry her.” Jaba said, sounding as casual as possible.

“The right hand of local MLA?” Ruma asked, hiding her shock.

“Yes, he, is not it a great news?” Jaba said.

“I will have to consult with Sujata’s father about that.” Ruma said. “Please have some tea.” She added seeing Jaba standing up.

“No aunty, I will be back tomorrow, Kanu I mean, Kanai is eager to know the answer.” Jaba said, walking toward the door.

27.10.2009

Ruma started to wait for Sujata’s father Tanmay to come home eagerly.

“Jaba gave me a surprise visit today.” She told him when they were alone in the night. “She was asking Sujata’s hand for Kanai Dey.”

Tanmay clenched his teeth. “That ……. I will rather strangle her myself.”

“Otherwise she will kill herself. But what can we do? We cant let her die or let him touch her.” Ruma asked in a frightened tone.

“When that … comes tomorrow buy some days from her, give her any excuse, but keep her at bay. I will find out some solution within a month.” Tanmay said.

As Ruma has anticipated, Jaba came the very next morning. “Hi aunty. Did you talked with uncle?” was her first sentence after sitting down, “Kanai is getting on my nerves.”

“He was happy beyond words. But he requested one thing, earnestly. Sujata’s final exams are six months later. He has asked me to beg you to keep Kanai waiting till then.” Ruma replied.

“If Sujata gets the air that her marriage is fixed she will go slack on studies and he always wanted that her daughter comes out of her college in flying colours.” Ruma added in an imploring tone.

She could see that the hammer has struck the nail, there was nothing to be suspicious in this request. Every guardian will want that their daughter performs the very best, especially if they have sacrificed a lot after her studies.

“Don’t worry, I will convince Kanai.” Jaba answered, “I can understand you.”

Jaba left happily, she too got six month time to woo him back to her again, while Sujata studies.

29.10.09

A couple of months passed by, to Jaba’s deep anguish, Kanai started to skip his visits to her home. Whenever he needed to talk to her she was invited to his office, during office hours.

Well, there was only one topic.. Whats going on with Sujata.

A month later Jaba noted something was wrong with her neighbours. Sujata did not came out with her books for the third day in row.

She paid them a visit, she went to the kitchen uninterrupted, “Aunty, how are you?” she asked Ruma.

Ruma smiled faintly and asked her to sit down.

“Where is Sujata? I have not seen her in the garden since Wednesday?” she asked, “Is she unwell?”

Ruma blanched, “Well, she has gone to visit her aunty, your uncle’s sister in Delhi.” She said after gulping hard.

Jaba could see that she was lying, so she started to dig deep. Ruma could not fight her grilling for long, “That evil girl has eloped.” She started to sob.

“I think she guessed that her marriage has been fixed with Kanai and she eloped with one of her college mates. We don’t know where she is right now. She did not even called us once since Wednesday.”

Jaba said some consolatory words to her and excused herself before her face betrayed her happiness.

“Kanai, Sujata has eloped with a friend.” She was sitting in his office.

Kanai looked at her with his beady eyes, trying to gauge the truth behind her words, and if she was happy or sad.. but Jaba was a good actress.

“Lets see..” he sounded really ominous. “You can go now.”

She did not, she went outside his office and slithered back to his toilet through a back route which she has frequently used.

“Tanmoy Roy’s daughter has eloped with some boy, I don’t know his name, I will give you her photograph. I want to know about that girl within a month.” She could hear kanai hissing like a snake.

“Dada, it will be really tough for us to find out. Why don’t you ask your friend, Chatterjeebabu, the police officer?” she heard the voice of one of his henchmen.

She softly slunk out of the toilet, with the realization that Kanai wants that girl at any cost.

31.10.2009

“Dada, I will have to lose my job if these things get exposed.” Chatterjeebabu said pleadingly.

“Don’t worry, we will frame that girl falsely. I will get you half a dozen evidences who will say that they have seen Jaba’s handbag in her hands.”

“Try to keep the FIR secret, and conduct your searching in secret. In case things are exposed then only show that FIR.” Kanai said.

A false case was charged in her name, she has stolen Jaba’s handbag which Jaba has left at her home by mistake. More than half a dozen people have seen her using it.

Jaba has registered the case late because she came to know about the loss just a few days ago. She has been thinking all the while that she has stuffed it somewhere.

“I will suggest you one more thing dada, Chatterjeebabu said, I know a very good private detective. You can take his help too. But his rates are quite high.”

He was quite surprised by the way Kanu was chasing the girl. He has himself seen the girl, she used to pass the police station on her way to college.

Well he failed to realize one thing which Jaba instantly realized, vengefulness has taken over lust. Kanu was absolutely furious that the girl had the audacity of refusing him and selecting some one else.

She felt immense pity for the girl, because she knew with his power and vengefulness Kanu will sooner or later track her down.

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LAST PIECE OF UPDATION ON: 15,12.09
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The python:

I

Kanu appointed his men to keep a round-a-clock watch on Roy household and some of Sujata’s most intimate friends. It did not took him long to find out that Sujata was still within his clutches. Her parents have hidden her somewhere in Kolkata.

He tried his level best but could not get the address. Then Tanmay and Ruma were killed, by a burglar. Sujata came back for the funeral and last rites.

Kanu wanted to see her, he planned to visit her with Jaba, so he called her up, the phone was switched off. He went to her home, the home was locked. Neighbours said she has left without leaving any explanations last night.

His hopes of meeting Sujata was gone with her. He asked Chatterjeebabu to talk with Sujata’s uncle and ask him if he will get Sujata married to him.

Her uncle, as he lived in Kolkata and had his own position in the society bluntly said what Tanmay could not say.

“Really?” he hissed at Chatterjeebabu, “I will turn that girl into a criminal, and then I will see that she ends up into jail for the rest of her life.”

He married immediately after that incident, brought a beautiful bride from a distant state, whose parents did not had a roof over their head. He arranged a palace for them so they give their daughter away to him forever. And, in future, if she realizes the real source of Kanu’s income she just stays put.

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CONCLUDING STORY POSTED ON 17.12.09
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II

Sujata’s uncle and aunty were normal people like you and me, they thought that taking her away from there solved the whole problem. They were not very much aware of the dark side of human nature.

A year passed, Sujata joined college. Just like all girls she made friends, quite a few of them, not too many in numbers because she was introvert and serious natured.

One of them was Suparna, she was from a very poor family, her father ran a small tea stall. Her brother was a duffer, who stopped studying after class ten and utilized all his time in local clubs. Highly active in political field hoping that will earn him a well paying job.

Sujata used to visit Suparna regularly because she borrowed her notes. She was a girl of huge heart; she happily shared her notes, even her self prepared notes with Suparna. Slowly a deep friendship formed within them and Sujata started to spend her free evenings at her home, they lived nearby.

Sujata had a very big flaw, her curiosity level was extremely low, so she never got curious about certain things, like why the girls who mix so freely with her don’t mix with Suparna or why none but her visit her home.

Soon she started to see that a lot of boys and girls, especially who were from the nearby areas were avoiding her though they were her good friends before she became Suparna’s friend. But again she did not paid any attention to these things and concentrated on her only close friend.

Suparna’s father and brother used to be present at home often when she went there. Slowly, with a little uneasiness she started to observe that she was hearing “one too many” nasty remarks in the street. She thought it might have some connection with her karate classes or wearing jeans. None of which are normal affairs in kolkata till date. People still prefer “girls acting like girls”.

Later when she looked back at those days, she wished that her parents had taught her a little worldly wisdom. Then again, they never thought that devil’s eyes will fall on her or they will pass away all of a sudden and she will end up with her uncle.

Sujata’s uncle Tarumay and aunty Tanima were very soft natured people, they simply did not had least experience with the evil or nasty type. They lived in their self made Shangri-La of literature and literary minded friends. They loved Sujata a lot though they were not rich but they were happy to share their bread with her.

But sweetest fruits become fondest home of worms, there only son Parth was a money hungry young man. He was in his early thirties. Working in Railways as a junior clerk but that was not enough to satisfy his greed, because he wanted to have every thing in the world. Before stretching out his hands for a thing he never bothered to ask the price, that wounded his ego, as a result he has formed huge debts.




III

Parth got married the very year Sujata completed her graduation, his wife Mithu was nice to only one person in the whole home… her husband. But she was too cunning to show her true nature to anyone, even her husband.

From the very first day she started to give all hints that Sujata was a burden on the family. She did not had any right to live there and share their bread.

Sujata became desperate to get a job and soon landed in one, its been hardly a few weeks since her joining she saw that her boss’s behaviour has drastically changed. He has become so mean and abusive that she had to change the job. It started to happen everywhere, no one it seemed wanted to keep her more than a few months, and every where she went she was sure to meet a colleague, a female colleague glorifying the lives of women of easy virtue, who make the moolah these days.

Slowly she started to lose her faith on life, at home Mithu was always ready to get on her nerves and out on street some people always popped up from thin air to crack nasty comments at her.

She discussed her problems with some of her friends but they said that she was imagining things.

One of them referred her to an office of his cousin, a detective and she joined him as computer operator. He was a very nice guy. A few months passed there and to her utter surprise she noted that no one was disturbing her here.

A few months more passed and her boss proposed to her. “I have loved you since your college days, you have never noticed me but I used to have my office right opposite your college that time.”

“I asked Garbito to give you my office address when he told me about the problems you were facing.”

“One month after you joined, two men came to meet me, local political hotshots, they said that you have a case against you in your hometown, of theft and the local police suspects that you have terrorist links.”

“They said that they will send one of their cadres to keep an eye on you, because that’s necessary.”

“I told them to get going and never mess with me. Then I asked some of my men to find out the story.”

“They gave me the story a few months back, I asked them to collect some photographs. They did.”

“Mr. demon had his eyes on you since you were a kid, he approached your parents for your hand but they arranged your staying with your uncle, instead of giving in to him.”

“That freaked him out and he started to search you, finally he saw you with your uncle and asked him again to give your hand to him. This time he received blunt refusal and he decided to ruin you.”

“Your cousin sister in law is one of his pet beauties, so was your college mate Suparna, thats why your other friends avoided her, your cousin owed Mithu's father a huge sum of money. That money was transferred to Kanubabu’s hand and your cousin became his slave.”

“She used to inform him about your whereabouts and his beauties and beasts used to stalk you. Apart from her, the tea stall which opened after your return from your hometown was opened by none other but Kanubabu.”

“So you were under his constant vigilance. Neither you nor your poor uncles imagined any thing such twisted, that gave him greater advantage.

“Now do you want that filthy rat to be punished or forget the past? He is the one behind your parent’s accident, my men are almost sanguine but we don’t have any proof for that. But I have proof for some other things which are really fantastic. But before we do that you will have to leave India with your only well wishers, your uncle and aunty.”

“I am basically from USA, I came to India to settle down but it seems I came here to meet and marry you.” He laughed.

“So if you give me green signal, we will get married next month, after that we will go to USA and my men will do the rest.”

Three months later Kanu went to his office and saw the door was locked.

“Dada, Sir has asked you to meet him before joining office.” His peon said.

He entered the chamber of the local leader of his party. He was sitting in his chamber.

“Your political career is gone I believe!” he said on seeing him, “The party will have to suspend you at-least for now.”

“These leaflets have been distributed to every house last night, even the jhuggis have not been spared.”

That was a small book, to be precise, full of colourful pictures of him with multiple women, in not very sweet positions and the rest of the book contained the proofs of most of his dark deeds.

He felt faint, he returned home. His wife was not there, nor was his baby son.

“Boudi left after you left for office.” His servant said. She never returned. Her parents said she has not come to them either.

One romance, two twists

19.10.2009

“Nat!!!” he turned around to see who was calling.

“Hi Mahua, what are you doing here at this hour of the day?” he asked.

“I just wanted to meet you and talk. To see if every thing is alright.” She replied.

They were walking side by side. Nat was fair, blue eyed and tall. Yes he had a unique feature, even though he was pure and perfect Indian but his eyes were blue, which is some times seen in Kashmir. It did not enhanced his looks, dark eyes would have suited him better. Mahua was simply gorgeous , fair complexioned, short heighted and cute as a doll. They made a lovely couple.

“Lets sit down for a while.” She pointed at a park bench. They sat down side by side. The bench was still warm from the rays of setting sun.

A cool breeze was blowing. Evening was about to settle in the city. The water of the lake was slowly rippling in the breeze, creating a beautiful picture.

The benches were occupied by couples like them or friends and famillies.

Small children were running around startling human beings and scaring crows, pigeons and other birds which were strutting on the grass for some thing to eat.

The trees were resonating with chirping of birds, returning to their nest one by one.

“I don’t know what I will do with them. I have told them a hundred times that I want to marry you but they just wont listen.” Nat fumed.

“Why don’t you talk with the girl and tell her that you are in love with me?” Mahua asked softly.

“Dad told me he will disinherit me if I marry without his consent.” Nat said. “That will mean a hand to mouth life. I don’t have any existence outside his office.”

“Lets see what we can do. Seems we will have to twist our fingers to get the butter out of the jar.” Mahua replied. “whats her name? your dad and mom’s choice?”

“Rekha.” He said

“Will you point her out to me in stealth? I will make it sure that she refuses you.” She laughed.

“That wont be a problem. Lets go and eat something. I did not had my lunch. I am famished.” He stood up pulling her to her feets.

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20.10.2009

They entered a restaurant, a soft light was illuminating the restaurant. Nat looked at her face. She was awesome. Her dark, huge eyes were magical, so was the remaining face… soft, rosy lips, dark hair. She knew how to dress up. Every one was looking at her repeatedly.

He sometimes felt scared that someone will steal her from him. “What will you have?” he asked her, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Dosa, masala dosa and ice cream.” She replied.

Nat called the waiter and placed the order.

He has hidden one thing from Mahua, who was his secretary. He was infatuated with Rekha when he studied in college. His family has told him again and again to get over her but he has refused to abide.

Whenever her parents fixed a match for her his friends used to poison the mind of her might have been groom or his family. Telling them that she was having an affair with Nat. Every thing happened without the knowledge of Rekha and her family.

His father came to know about his mischiefs and consented to their marriage, but asked Nat to become independent first. Well he got independent and also got Mahua.

When he went back home and told his parents that he wanted to marry Mahua his father exploded with fury. “Get out of my home and marry any one you want.”

His mother who doted after him took his father’s side without second thought, “Don’t give my love a bad name. you should be ashamed to say these things. You have ruined the reputation of that girl without any reason? That’s what you want to tell us?” she stomped out of the drawing room and banged the door on his face when he tried to follow.

Mahua was his only hope. He did not wanted Rekha any more. He was obsessed with Mahua. He reached out and clutched her hand, “You are my only hope.”

21.10.2009

They left the restaurant chatting happily, forgetting every thing that has happened during the day but their love for each other.


Mahua was sitting in her bedroom, a soft moonlight was spread all around her. She lived outside kolkata, commuted to kolkata to work. She has fallen in love with Nat instantly, and his reciprocation was a miracle to her.

She was from a middle class family. Her father worked in a factory as supervisor. The love of a rich businessman was a dream come true for her. A guy who was handsome, well educated, sophisticated and madly in love with her.

She started to softly hum, then a thought crossed her mind and she started to smile.

Rekha was coming out of her school the next afternoon. The weather was simply fabulous. The soft winter sun was basking the world. Children were screaming with happiness. Some were waiting for their buses to pick them up and others were heading home either on foot or by some other means.

She started to stroll toward home.

“Rekha!!! Hey!!!! Is that you?” she was startled to hear someone shout her name. She turned around and saw one of her college friends Jeet walking toward her.

“How are you? Its been ages since I last saw you!” He smiled. “Meet my friend Mahua.” He introduced the gorgeous girl standing beside him.

23.10.2009

“Lets sit down in the park” Jeet pointed toward the small park just beside the road.

They sat down side by side. “You teach in this school?” Mahua asked Rekha. “I work just around the corner.”

“In private concern or government office” Rekha asked casually.

“Private concern, Singh Automobiles.” Mahua said. She noted the slight blush on Rekha’s face.

Then they got engaged in myriad conversations and after a while when the dusk started to settle down on the city they parted their ways.

“Rekhadidi!!!!” Rekha turned her face to meet Mahua when she was coming out of school next afternoon.

“What a pleasant surprise.” Rekha smiled. “It seems we both go home at the same time. Yet we have never noted each other before.”

They started to stroll together toward the bus stop. “Didi can I ask you some thing?” she asked after a while. “Jeet told me you and Nat were collegemates!”

“He has proposed to me, but there is a problem. His parents want him to marry someone else otherwise they will throw him out of his house and disinherit him.” She said innocently. “How is he as a person? I am planning to accept his proposal even if he is penniless.”

“Nat has proposed to you?” Rekha hid her surprise. She was a very calm lady, who rarely showed her emotions too much, deepest pain are easiest to hide. She just hid her eyes from Mahua.

“Yes, didi, again and again. We are very good friends. We often go out together. He has told his family again and again that he wants to marry me but they have made their own choice.” She said. “If I knew who that girl is I would have begged her for my love. But Nat says he will leave his home and marry me.”

“Marriage is a decision to be taken after being thought about thoroughly.” Rekha said. “Again it’s a decision one should take independently or jointly with one’s spouse. Third persons always mess up.”

“Nat is a good guy, as far as I know him. We have never been very close friends.” Rekha said. It was true. Nat was the one who stalked her but never dared to propose her.

“Your bus has come didi, bye bye!” Mahua said with a smile, “till we meet again tomorrow.”

Rekha sat down on her bus seat immersed in deep thoughts. Mahua started to walk toward the nearest restaurant with a soft smile upon her lips, Nat was waiting for her there.

25.10.2009

“Baba, tell them I wont marry Nat.” Rekha softly told her father when Nat’s parents approached him.

“But Rekha…” he stopped in midway, he knew his daughter very well.

“Rekha does not wants to marry Nat.” he told Mr. Singh.

“It has something to do with that monkey. I can swear about it.” Mr. Singh told his wife, who has mysteriously joined his side after doting after Nat for years.

“As Rekha is not interested in marrying him, we don’t have any thing to say. Well, lucky for her.” He added.

A few weeks later Nat popped up the question of marrying Mahua again.

“You can marry any one you want, but you will have to vacate my home and look for a job for yourself.” Mr. Singh said calmly. “But I will not disinherit you, as Rekha has denied marrying you. You will get all my property after I am dead.”

thats all :) ...

Cursed Part 1

11.10.2009

“hi!”, Shruti beamed at me, her pretty face lit up in one of the sweetest smiles I have ever seen.

“I want a real big treat!”, she continued, slipping under the rug which was enveloping me in its cocoon of warmth in calcutta winter,.

Shruti was my cousin, therapist, mentor, friend since my parent died in a freak accident two years ago. It was she I found whenever I needed some one to hold on to, whenever the despair gripped my soul in its dark claws.

“you remember Jhumamasi?”, she continued in answer of my questioning glance, “she called me up today, when I was in chamber, she is coming to Kolkata tomorrow for a person referred by me, who is willing to shift to Rajpur and join them as her private secretary and ultimately run her business as a manager independently. That person is you!” she grinned from ear to ear.

Jhumamasi was Shruti’s mother’s sibling. She married a rich Rajasthani businessman against her father’s wishes, because that guy had a wife and two children, her family did not had any choice but to accept her wish because she was already pregnant with his child. They shut their doors on her citing her a bad example for her other siblings, she shifted to Rajpur with Keshav uncle, her husband. But her strained relationship with her family came back to normal when she showered them with help after her father’s accidental death and they observed that Keshav uncle’s first wife and sons have accepted her with warmth and respect.

I looked at shruti with tears of gratitude in my eyes. She winked at me.

She knew very well about the grave financial condition I was in. the little money my parents could leave for me was already almost exhausted because I had to finish my graduation studies and vocational courses with that. The few Fixed deposits in bank and the single room in my ancestral house shared with my uncles barely took care of my present, forcing me to gaze at a bleak future.

I knew the meagre money in fixed deposit will never meet the expenses of an average marriage, forget about a standard marriage- a marriage with a person of my type. My parents passed away suddenly leaving me in dire straits, but i was being brought up with good education and taste. They could not send me to the best schools but family background and their way of bringing up has turned me into a very sophisticated girl in comparison to my current financial position.

Every time uncle, Shruti’s father tried to find a match for me dowry became the roadblock. They never searched for a hi fi guy, all they looked for was an educated guy of decent family background and decent job. They all liked me initially, because of my looks and manners, but the moment they came to know about my financial condition they backed off. After about half a dozen rejections I requested them to not look any more, I will find my match by my own and prepared myself for the worst.

I knew it was almost impossible for me to get a groom of my choice, hence I concentrated on job, but that too was betraying me. A few interviews I faced brought further despair, the amount of salary that was being offered, to accept that and continue the work, I would have to spend from my own pocket.

Shruti’s words opened a floodgate of security and happiness. I could not utter a single word of thanks as I hugged her tightly, she hugged me back tightly and laughed.

13.10.2009

One month later I landed in Rajpur. It was a tiny town, studded with small hills and numerous lakes… a thing which I never thought could be possible in Rajasthan. I was quite amused about my lack of knowledge in geography..

Jhumamasi was waiting for me in the Railway station. “How are you? How is didi?” she clasped my arm warmly as I bowed down to touch her feet. “Don’t touch my feet, unmarried women don’t touch feet of others in this province.” She smiled.

Her airconditioned car was waiting outside the station. She opened the door and I sat down beside her. She drove the car to her home. A house made of sandstone. The real surprise was inside.

It was a piece of art, the floor was of marble and every inch talked about extravaganza and taste.

Keshav uncle was waiting in the bedroom. I noted that he was lot older than aunty. He has expertly dyed his hair but his face was betraying his mask. He gave me a warm loving smile which instantly won my heart and I started to worship these two kind, generous souls. Who were rich beyond measure and kind beyond words.

I was placed in aunty’s guest room. She asked me to settle there till they think about my future.

14.10.2009

There was something in that room, I felt really bad there. I admit I was scared of ghosts, but not that much. My ancestral home was a centuries old building.. and my nerves have settled down after living there for years but this room made me really uneasy.

I used to go for the switch right after entering the room and changed my habit.. I started to sleep with the night lamp on.

I still recall the first night there, I was about to go to bed after spending the whole day talking with Jhumamasi, she accompanied me to the room.

“There is one thing, we don’t close the bed room doors from inside. Its strictly prohibited. One of Keshav’s sisters committed suicide.” She told me.

“Its alright, there are only us, no outsider can enter these rooms. A guard sits outside the gate all night.” She added reassuringly.

“That’s ok masi, I will not bolt the door from inside.” I replied.

Well I did. The moment I heard her mounting the stairs to her bedroom I softly bolted the door, soundlessly and went to sleep.

15.10.2009

She knocked my door early next morning. “Good morning child!”, “Did you locked the door from inside?”

“No, I was changing when you knocked!” I told her. After all she could not prove any thing from outside.

“Get ready quickly. I will take you to the office.” She smiled.

It was not much far away from aunty’s home. Keshav uncle’s first wife and her two sons along with their famillies lived just a few blocks away from Jhumamasi’s home. Both the sons went to office, only Ramit was studying away in Doon School.

He rarely visited Rajpur, Jhumamasi and Keshav uncle went there to meet him. They of course had a resort there, and that resort had a special suite for Ramit. He could stay there whenever he wanted.

Keshav uncle ran a few hotels and restaurants in Rajpur and surrounding. Its Jhumamasi’s lady luck he openly says which has enabled him to open a worldwide chain of resorts, restaurants and hotels. Well, it had two things behind it, her lady luck and her sharp brain.

When her car pulled in the driveway a guard ran to open the doors. he saluted in local dialect. I noted he was wearing an uniform.

The office was quite spacious, it consisted of a huge hall – partitioned and three separate chambers for uncle, romit and ronit. Yes the name of uncle’s eldermost son was Romit. Heaven knows why they named their youngest son Ramit.

“I sit with Keshav whenever I come to work. My seat is in his chamber. His first wife Ritu visits office once in a blue moon as a guest.” She answered as if guessing my curiosity.

“Just like me, Rekha and Sunaina sit in the chambers of their husbands whenever they come.” She continued in a way of explaining. “Rekha is housewife, sunaina is smart. She cant come here right now because of two young children but earlier she used to help Ronit a lot. Rekha is issueless, its been more than ten years after their marriage, so…”

She introduced me to the staffs. Who stared at me as if I was an exhibit from zoo. There were a huge number of employees. The entire network was maintained from here very meticulously. Apart from these there were executives. Who were based here but handled the supervising of resorts/hotels.

“Keshav prefers local people. He thinks that reduces the chances of cheating.” She said. “Lets see whats he planning for you.” She smiled.

16.10.2009

I joined the office as computer operator. “We will take things slowly, so that people don’t get jealous.”

“Start with this job and then we will slowly lift you up the steps…” Jhumamasi said.

The more I saw the people attached to Jhumamasi’s company Blue star my amazement increased, starting from jhumamasi to her peons every one seemed to have found the key to el dorado, the city of gold, there was no limit of their wealth.

Keshav uncle was a little partial about his first wife ritu and her sons Romit and ronit, he has built two houses for his two wives, situated a little further from each other. Each of them owned a personal car. Even Jhumamasi’s son Ramit who was studying in Doon School and came to Rajpur only on vacations had his own car standing in garage. The houses with their elaborate decoration and size will make millionaires envious.

Jhumamasi’s explanation to it all was, “If you can make a solid base of satisfied customers, you will earn more than you can even dream of, all you will have to do is retain the customer base and increase your business assets in a way that it adds up to your present business.”

She further explained how she has slowly invested all the profits of first 15 years in building a chain of hotels in the tourist spots in which Blue Star had restaurants , so they could offer their customers rooms there at a reasonable and honest rate.
“This was my idea!” she proudly said, “And this idea brought in the harvest of gold, in last fifteen years we have built more than hundred hotels in India, and a chain of restaurants outside India, but outside India we will stick to small hotels, because it will be foolish to compete with big hotels. We should better reap the craze of Indian foods.”

She had found the long wanted listener in me. She used to share her dreams, hopes and expectations with me while we sat on the swing in her balcony or I helped her in kitchen. She preferred cooking herself.

She said even though the entire idea was her but she did not hesitated to share it with her husband’s first family and his sons, even though its because of their hostility she had to send her only son to Doon, because she was always afraid for his life.

17.10.2009

A few weeks later when I returned Jhuma masi was sitting in the kitchen. Two women and a girl was sitting on the floor. I knew the women, they worked for her but the girl was a new face. A small girl about thirteen or fourteen years old.

“Gina, we have finally been able to find out a suitable accomodation for you.” She said when she saw me standing at the door of the kitchen.

She has already arranged for a two wheeler for me on loan, I have practiced it enough to use it for travelling since last week. So she was spared from the duty of taking me to and fro the office.

“Lets go and see the flat tonight, and we will see it again on Sunday, ok?” she said. “Any way, Keshav has already finalized it, he is the big boss.. as you know, we will have to just see if there is some problem which has slipped his not so keen eyes.” She smirked.
My landlord Rajendra Jain was Jhumamasi’s employee, one of her seniormost executives. He and his family lived in the ground floor and another tenant and I shared two separate flats on the first floor.

Mr. Jain looked after jhumamasi’s Jaipur office. He used to come there every weekend, as Rajpur was couple of hours away from Jaipur. When I shifted there he was in Rajpur for a month, to attend annual meeting and exhaust his leaves.

There was not much to finalise the flat, I liked it very much so I shifted there next month, along with the girl.. Soma, who was the daughter of one of Masi’s housemaids. She said this will be the very best for me.

“Keshav trusts Rajendra with his eyes closed. But living alone in a small town can have lots of disadvantages. It should be better if you have a local, trustworthy girl with you. Soma’s mother have worked for me since I stepped in Rajpur, that is last twenty five years.” Jhumamasi said.

Jhumamasi decorated my two room flat with her own hand. She forced me to take a loan of fifty thousand rupee which she said will be deducted from my salary, she wanted to utilize that money to properly decorate the flat so people don’t look down upon me. I did not had any choice but to say yes because it was her prestige attached to it, I knew that people will think negative of her if they come to know that I am too poor in comparison to her peons. Who according to my observation were pretty well to do.

19.10.2009

I was still not very habituated with driving my two wheeler, Mr. Jain requested Jhumamasi that his brother Rakesh who works in Blue star will take me to and from office till I become expert in driving.

Every one warned me against the horrible manner in which people or Rajpur drove their vehicles. Specially the local minibuses. They told me to simply stay out of their path.. they were like rhinos.. come in their path and they will bulldoze you. Wont even stop to look.

Rakesh lived near Mr. Jain’s home, he promised he will pick me up from the door and drop me there.

I loved the home at the first sight. It was a spacious house, with a huge courtyard and big balconies. The roof was huge and commonly shared.

Mr. Jain’s wife Mona was a very friendly woman. Mr. Jain was charmingness impersonified. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Both were very cute.

My flat had two bedrooms, a drawing room, kitchen and toilet.

Soma declared that she will sleep in my room at night because she is scared of ghosts. Though I did not liked to share my bedroom with any one I had to give in to her. She seemed truly scared of ghosts, and she was my responsibility too.

I smoothly shifted to the new house and to Jhumamasi’s great relief I settled down well. She called me up every evening in Mr. Jain’s phone to know if I was alright. Or used to call me in office to ask the same.
Later when I started to commute to and fro office independently I used to make a short visit to her home on my way back home but I soon realized that visit without appointment was not very comfortable for her. So thereafter I used to wait for her invitation.

22.10.2009

Jhumamasi and uncle has taken me under their wings of affection from the very first day. They even expressed their desire to adopt me, but I politely refused. It was not possible for me to give the place of my deceased parents to any one else.

Then they made up their mind to get me married to some suitable groom of Rajpur. To which I naturally did not objected, only told Jhumamasi that I wont marry any one who will ask for a dowry. She insisted a lot that they will give the dowry but I stood my ground. Hence groom hunting became pretty tough for them.

To my deep despair two things became clear within first three months and I started to regret my decision of coming to Rajpur bitterly.. yet I could not leave because of Jhumamasi and uncle’s affection. The first reason was the huge debt on my head, which was being deducted from my salary @1000 rupee per month. To add up to it Shruti and her parents have shifted to Mumbai, there was only one family of my relatives left in my ancestral home and I had very bad relationship with them.

This cousin of mine and his wife left no stone unturned to throw me out of my own home. They tried every possible trick that could be applied. Some of them were simply monstrous and others unthinkable.

He was a man without any moralism or value. He squeezed his own widow mother dry, threw out his younger brother and usurped their share in the house. He found out a woman exactly of his own material. That was quite a surprise, because every one said that God/devil has broken the cast after creating him.

I knew that if I go back there on my own, without Shruti and her family to watch my back - whole hell will break lose on me. So I waited, hoping that things will improve here.

The things which were bothering me were not very trifle. They were amply grave. Jhumamasi and ritumasi had an venomous relation, they hated each other and were always ready stab each other at their back if given a chance. Same was with their children, even school going Ramit was not above it. Under keshav uncle’s strict supervision they met the world as a single, devoted family but the venom was spewing inside forever.

I have landed in the battleground of two tuskers. I, being the only relative of jhumamasi available they immediately set their eyes on me, and my being young and woman became their triumph card.

They had every thing well planned, I realized it step by step later. There were hand counted female staff in the office, because Rajpur was a remote area. Their seats were all in one place whereas my seat was away from them, situated among a cluster of male staffs.

Being born and brought up in a normal family, and west bengal I took it naturally, because they have seated me with the person who will be guiding me. But it never crossed my mind that it may cast an adverse shadow on any small town guy.

May be that was the reason that I noted a lot of the men there were flirts or were eager to flirt with me. Though they did not dared to show it off openly but body language spoke it all.

Fortunately I always walked on ground, firmly. So those fleety gazes, flittering around my desk without work did not made any impact on me. I knew that none of them will marry me without dowry. The lowest rate in Rajpur was lakhs plus other facillities.

From the very first day I found their behaviour very disturbing. It appeared that they were forever ready to flirt with me, even though I was ordinary looking and there were some beauties in the office, they did not looked at the other stylish girls and were always stalking at my heel.

That was extremely embarrassing for me, because I had to keep in mind Keshav uncle, Jhumamasi and their sons. Something inside me warned that there was some thing seriously wrong. Which helped me in keeping my reserve amongst those over romantic guys.

Within a little time I observed that they all had a common habit of crowding in the room of Keshav uncle’s son Ronit with or without reason. Then a suspicion creeped in my mind that may be they want me out of the office. They must have chosen their side in the war. The side of ritu aunty, and my appearance there must have made them suspicious that jhumamasi wants to increase her strength.

They detested jhumamasi thinking that she is a woman of easy virtue and greedy nature. They showed her respect only in front of her and keshav uncle, due to the fear they had for him. She had her shield but I had none. Hence when I tried to talk politely and sweetly with female staffs they snubbed me and one smile to one of the men resulted in his outrageously flirting with me. In short they made my breathing in that office impossible.

24.10.2009

I tried to discuss my problem with jhumamasi, she replied with a smile, “They are jealous of you. They just cant accept that someone of your age, experience will ultimately issue orders to them within a couple of years-they are trying to make you pack your bag and leave”, she said after hearing every thing.

“you can do one of two things-either pack and leave or stay. No matter what happens and keep score of each and every insult, and settle your scores once the power is in your hands.”

“This world is not a bed of roses sweet heart! It’s a really tough world. Here you will have to fight for every foot hold. Every one knows you are an orphan, so they will try to crush you. Thank god that you have me and keshav uncle or else they would have torn you apart like a pack of wolves.” She concluded.

I too realized the blunt truth hidden in her words and shuddered. And my heart filled up with the gratitude of a devotee towards god.

I got her reasoning and decided to stay and fight. I stopped mixing with everyone and started to receive them with cold politeness with which they used to treat me. Even though it was exactly opposite my nature but their open hostility did not left me any other choice.

I had only one true friend in that hostile city, sulata, the gorgeous wife of the second tenant of Mr. Jain, Abhishek Sharma. They were one of the most warm and sophisticated couple I have ever seen. Sulata was a beauty beyond words and Abhishek manly, sophisticated and handsome.

Sulata became my closest friend within one month of meeting, I started to love her with all my heart, and did so for a long time. She was one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. At first she was distant and cold but finally she gave in and we became almost as close as I was to Shruti.

I used to share all my experience with Sulata, who was a good listener, and she always gave me good suggestions.

There was a nagging feeling, which used to disturb me a lot. It appeared whatever I said to Sulata was reported to the people of Blue star word to word. The same thing happened to the conversations held at Jhumamasi’s home too, where I was a regular visitor on weekends and used to often spend my Sundays and holidays.
And the people of my office brazenly used to let me know that all my petty conversations reach their ears by mocking me indirectly, or by repeating the sentences including even comma and semicolons.

25.10.2009

My prime suspects were Jhumamasi’s maids who worked for Ritu aunty too, and Rakesh, Mr. Jain’s younger brother, who used to live a couple of houses away from his. He was a sales representative of Blue star and almost a daily visitor of Mr. Jain’s home. I used to see his car standing outside when I returned from office.

It was due to my phobia for him I never dared to visit Mr. Jain’s residence for long span. It was inevitable that if I stayed there for more than half an hour he will appear there like Jack out of box. As if he sniffed my presence. He did not dared to visit Sharma household because all he received there was curt and cold politeness.

Mr. Jain has requested Rakesh to give me lift to and from office. That opened the door for one of the most disgusting problems I have ever faced. Which made me bitterly regret my decision of going to Rajpur.

From the very first day he started to flirt outrageously with me, even though we both knew that he was married with two children. No matter how much I ignored him it only enhanced his shamelessness. He started to flitter around my desk in office like a fly hovers above honey,

Not only that, he used to do it in a sly way, pretending that I liked his presence, or am giving him some kind of lift to continue such behaviour. I stopped going to office with him within a month, and started to drive my two wheeler. But to my shock he started to stalk me on my way to office and way back. Whenever I came out of home or office his car was following me from a considerable distance.

Slowly eyebrows started to shoot up and whispering bega., I was naturally the one who was branded the culprit for wrecking a family. After all I was jhumamasi’s sister. I tried to ignore it for a few days by openly showing my dislikation for Rakesh but it did not worked because his shamelessness increased and along with that the sniggering of my colleagues. One day I just lost my temper said some rude words to a colleague and left the office in tears.

When I reached home Sulata was back from school, “Hi!!! You are back home at this hour?” she was surprised.

“Didi, Jhuma madam called and asked you to go back to her home immediately.” Rik Mr. Jain’s son peeped from his door.

I left the home for Jhumamasi’s home. Keshav uncle was waiting there.

“Its all your fault. Nothing of this type has ever happened in Blue Star.” Keshav uncle said firmly.

“Then I wont go there from today onward.” I replied. I was not one of those persons who get intimidated easily.

“This is not West Bengal, this is Rajasthan. You should act in that manner.” Keshav uncle has not yet finished. “I don’t blame the staffs of my office, I have seen them for years.”

“People here don’t talk with the opposite gender.” He continued adamantly.

I had a deep impulse of asking him that do people use duct tapes to seal their mouths when they are placed in a seat surrounded by only males.

“I have talked with Mr. Jain and the second tenant of his home. I have told him to transfer Rakesh to his Jaipur office. He has told me that its all his fault.” He added further.

I went back home after his lecture was finished. Sulata was waiting for me eagerly. The moment she heard my scooter entering the courtyard she came out.

26.10.2009

“What happened?” she asked after a little time, we both were sitting in my drawing room.

I blurted out the whole thing to her. “The people of this place are like that, it took me years to adjust myself with their narrow mentality.” Sulata said. She and Abhishek both were from Delhi and have been transferred to Rajasthan. Abhishek worked as a Zonal manager of a Medicine Company, a reputed one but I have forgotten the name now. He toured the whole Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra from Rajpur while Sulata and Sonu their daughter stayed in Rajpur.

A part of my heart was relieved to get away from that office. But my relief did not lasted for long.

“Its very tough to survive in private concerns of Rajpur with dignity. As you don’t have a B.Ed degree you wont get a job in school but I can help you with tutions.” Sulata said.

I looked at her gratefully. We bade goodbye to each other. She had to make preparations for sonu and her sleeping and I had to cook my dinner.

I was brushing my teeth in the morning when Jhumamasi’s car pulled in the road. She came out of the car and started to mount the stairs, “Keshav wants to see you.” She said with a smile. “Change and come now.”


I went there apprehensively, and was shocked to see Rakesh standing there, Keshav uncle started to thrash him left to right and ordered him to call me sister and give me the respect he gives to his own sister or else he will see to it that he had to leave Blue star and Rajpur. Rakesh was as meek as lamb and left after mumbling an apology to me.

“I always do justice.” Keshav uncle said haughtily. “Rakesh thought that he will get away with it.”

“You will have to join the office, that’s where you belong and you are our responsibility.” He made the final statement. “I want you to promise two things.. first, you will always treat the employees of Blue Star as your subordinates, and second you will marry any one I select for you. I don’t want to hear any excuses.. you are a child, so you should never interfere in the things adults decide for you.” He ended his short lecture.

I meekly agreed and promised him because I was the one who was caught in the wrong foot. Even though I was innocent. But even then I did not changed my anti dowry stand.


will be continued as Cursed Part 2......