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.

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 :) ...