Adventures of Anidita: The Simulbati Case

Chapter 1

Bondita got ready for the court. Sumati ma came with puja ki thali...
"You didn't come for the puja today ?"
"No ma actually I'm too tensed... I didn't get a single case only because I'm a woman..."
"So Anirudh babu wants to help you na.. first chance is essential to prove you self..."
"You are telling this ma?!"
"R a beta now all enimity is over.. there is no bar... even we are thinking of your marriage with him..."
"Ha now you'll think of course... of you elders thought logically years ago so many lives wouldn't be lost..." Sumati feels ashamed "nevertheless Ma.. I don't want to take his help... it's just my ethics nothing else.. and Sakha babu is in Calcutta.. he has a case in the High Court. He's a big Barrister na.. one day I'll be like him.. n without his help..."
Bondita left. Sumati nodded her head "she's still that kid..."

In the court Bondita was sitting as usual. She yawned...
Suddenly she saw a lady  accompanied by an old man. She went to a table but was refused. She went to another table and there also she was refused. Bondita noticed her for an hour. The lady and the man sat on a bench and the lady started crying resting her face on the man's shoulder.

Bondita went towards her.
"What happened sister?"
"See na no one is ready to accept our case.." replied the man..
"What is in your case for which no one is accepting it? "
"Now what to say beta... money is power... we are not from this village.. we are comming from the village of Kalikapur. We have roamed in atleast 5 district courts but no help.. now we are in Deenpur.. here also no help.. my daughter was married to the son of a rich merchant in Tetulbagan. It's the neighbouring village. He said he loved my daughter. But after marriage we came to know that the man is alcoholic. He's a characterless man. He tortured my daughter much but she protested. So the torture incresed.  One night she escaped and came back to me. I went to them with her to settle things but he said he have left her. Now he'll marry another girl who'll give him comfort. They have power they have money again the society. No one is in our for. My daughter is left with nothing other than to give up her life... she's my only child.. her mother passsed away years ago.. now I just want justice... no one will let my daughter live... " the man started crying..
"Don't cry kaka..." consoled Bondita "I'll fight the case for you..."
The man looked at her... "you'll fight the case! Means?"
"Kaka I'm a barrister... Barrister Bondita Das... I've my degree from London... I've seen the society.. struggled much just to study.. but today even after studying so hard I get no case just because I'm a woman.." Bondita sighed..
"You'll fight for us? But they are so powerful.. you are so young and then a woman..."
"You also doubt my abilities kaka? I assure you I'll try my level best to give you justice.."
"Ok... what else to do.. your eyes look promising... I was a teacher.. I can detect people by their eyes... but perhaps I went blind during my daughter's marriage" the man sighed.

Next day Bondita was getting ready to go to Kalikapur.
"Bondita you'll go alone to that unknown place?!..." Sumati asked anxiously
"I'll have to do this Ma.. it's my job.."
"That's why it's a job of men..."
"Nothing is a job of only Men.. it's a false notion... it's a streotype"
"I have nothing more to say... try to return before dask..."

Bondita boarded the train and left for Simulbati... the taluk where Kalikapur and Tetulbagan is located.

Menwhile in Tulsipur. Anirudh returned from Calcutta. He took off his specs and splashed water on his face to wipe off his old brijal expressions (as his ladylove calls it ) he's so long making out of attitude.
Kaka calls him "Anniiiruddhhh....."
Anirudh came out wippong his face...
"Tell kaka..."
"How was your work at Calcutta? "
"It was good kaka..."
"Accha suno... we'll be leaving for Simulbati tomorrow... we have brought that taluk... you'll have to prepare the papers..."
Anirudh stared at him...
"Why are you staring at me?"
"Kaka tomorrow...?!"
"Yes tomorrow... why you have some work?"
"No... yes ... I mean kaka... I promised... I mean I told.... I mean.... actually I have to go to....."
"You actually mean you promised Bondita that you'll go with her in some place now if you don't go then she'll puff her face and hid inside the almirah and it'll be difficult for you to convince her... am I right Biristra Babu?"
This stright attack of Kaka made Anirudh uncomfortable. His face went red. He lowered his head
"Yes kaka" Anirudh replied in a slow tone....
"You are going with me tomorrow morning.. that's final.... beta roaming with your would be wife so much before marriage isn't good..."
"So give our marriage quickly na..."
Kaka showed him his angry face..." I told you before also there is no subh muhrat for your marriage till next year... shut your mouth till then..."
Kaka left..
Anirudh threw the towel on the bed and angrily sat on it.
"Now if you oldie goldie people delay your children's marriage for a year what will we do... don't we have feelings.. aren't any one else marrying in this time period... why there us a special muhrat for our marriage... dhur... now Bondita will be angry... if I tell kaka forced me then she'll not be angry perhaps" Anirudh continued murmuring  to himself

Bondita reached Simulbati. She decended the train. The man and the girl was standing in the station...
"Come beti come... "
The man tried to book a rikshaw but all refused.
"I'm a left woman so no one even wants to transact with us... just for Bhola dada we are getting something to eat..." exclaimed the girl..
"Don't worry Gouri I'm doing something..."

Bondita went to the rikshaw stand.
"Dada how much will you take to go to Kalikapur? "
"4 paise didi..."
"Ok... Bakshi kaka Gouri you two take that rikshaw I'm taking this..."
"But didi they..."
"I'll give you 1 rupee for it..."
The rikshaw driver agreed to take them..
"See kaka here everything is on sale " smirked Bondita. Bakshi kaka gave a smile and nodded his head.

They reached the hut. Bondita gave the drivers their money. All were staring at them. Bondita went in.
"See beti we are poor... we couldn't arrage much..." said Bakshi
"Don't worry kaka... accha Gouri who's Bhola dada?" Asked Bondita
"Bhola dada lives in this village only... he's very forward minded... can't accept anything wrong going on... he's a wresting champion here so no one dares take a panga with him..."
"Accha he's powerful then..."
"Yes he only arranges ration for us..."
"Really if Bhola wasn't there then we would have died starving.... May God bless him..."
Bondita heard to all their problems. Gouri showed her wound marks to Bondita.

Bondita was taking leave from them suddenly a gang of men appeared.
"Who are you beautiful" a man from the gang asked Bondita
"Why do you want to know it..." Bondita countered..
"We need to know na who's visiting this Gouri's house... " the man gave a nasty look at Gouri
"I'm their Barrister... I'm fighting their case..."
The men broke into laughter... "you... you girl will fight case against Ashim babu.... who gave you the barristeri degree dear..." the man looked nastily at her..
"I have achieved it by studying hard.. what right do you have to question on it... if your Ashim babu have that courage tgen tell him to give evidences in his for and fight the case in Court... why fight like a rat by frightening people...."

Bondita boarded the rikshaw. "Don't worry kaka we'll see these rats in court... chaloye dada..."

Amist this gondogol Bondita missed the train... now the next train is in the evening. Bondita sat on the bench. That man came again...
"I'm telling for your benefit beautiful... leave this case... you are a woman..." the man's sight looked suspicious to her... he sat beside her...
"Go away..."
"Why beautiful... you are so courageous.... why are you frightened of a rat like me..."
The man tried to touch her. Bondita got up and put a tight slap on his face.
The man looked at her shockingly...
"I told you before also go awayyyy....." shouted Bondita...
Some men came there...
"What happened didi... ehh Bhotka you dare disturb girls again... "
The nasty men left. Bondita saw a train comming... the station master also came hearing her voice...
"Where will this train go...?"
"This will go to Pandua.."
"I'll get a train to Deenpur from there na?"
"Yes you'll get but you'll be late then..."
"Doesn't matter..."
Bondita boarded the train to Pandua. She sat on the window seat and looked out. The wind made her feel her sweat. Her heart is beating fast. But she has promised herself not to step back at any cost. Not to bow down before the wrong.