The Unventured Passions

See You Again...

"Hello. May I speak to Miss Raimoti Mukherjee, please."
An indecisive voice had somehow gathered the courage to utter the words.
A battle, generally starts with the self, and if one loses that, there can be a battle with another. A rising escalation of such losses brings the world to war instead of peace. As, when one takes care at the micro level, the macro level takes care of itself.
After a considerable amount of self battle and dilemma, Batuk finally decided to search up the telephone directory and dial the number for the Mukherjee Residence.
An elderly mature male voice responded from the other side.
"Who is speaking?"

"Batuk. Batakrishna Roy Chowdhury."
Batuk responded promptly.

"Oh... What is pleasant surprise." The man sounded a bit elated.
"I'm her father, we met at the party, remember?"

"Yes Sir, ofcourse." Batuk let out a slight formal laughter.
"May I speak to... I mean if that's alright."

"Ofcourse... Ofcourse son. Rai maa is not keeping well. She isn't out of her room since yesterday. I'll send for her."

"Oh well... Then it's fine." Batuk hesitated. "I didn't mean to bother her, really... Um... What has happened? If I may ask."

Neelmoni's deep sigh was clearly audible even over the mechanical telephone line.
"I don't know Batuk, she refused to see a doctor this morning." He paused.
"Aren't you a doctor yourself?"

"Studying to be one sir." Batuk replied politely.

"Very well, very well... Drop by if you can. See if your friend agrees to see you atleast."

"Sure sir. I'll."

Neelmoni hung up the telephone as Batuk sank down on the couch with the receiver in hand.
He wanted to thank Raimoti with all his heart, he wanted to tell her how her generosity had blessed life in his friend. But, the thought of confronting her, the thought of his impulsive actions the other night, the thought of her eager lingering lips on his, had filled his mind with apprehensions of all sorts. He believed with all his heart that Raimoti was an extraordinary woman, hence what scared him the most was the thought of hurting her, for his heart also chivvied the idea that although extraordinary, Raimoti probably was not the ONE for him!
Batuk let out a sharp breath and stood up.
But, whatever it was, he owed her... And the least he could do was to be honest to her, and tell her all about his dilemma.

....................................

It was a forty five minutes journey. Driving in the afternoon sunshine, the warm blacktop leading onward into the horizon gave Bondita a sweet sense of freedom. It was as if the car breathed and took energy like it were part of the cityscape, and so driving was as natural as running free to her.
Bondita was particularly cheerful. The thought of surprising her husband with an unannounced visit occurred to her mind as Girish Lahiri requested her for the lift.

The afternoon at Alipore Judge Court was brimming with energy. Lawyers and clients, defendants and prosecutors, policemen and handcuffed arrestees, all busy in their own bidding, busking in the natural luster of life.

"Water?" Bondita offered Girish her flask as he coughed up a little.

"Thank you." Girish gulped some hastily.
"You know I have a sister, an elder one, married happily with three children."
His eyes reflected a sad longing.
"I wish I could see them once!"

"Where are they?" Bondita narrowed her eyes.

"At home, with their parents ofcourse, Madras." Girish forced a smile.

"So you can always see them, can't you?" Bondita smiled radiating a sparkle of positivity as Girish nodded at her words.

"Who else is in your family?"

"Just my mother." Girish replied.
"She is... She is unwell."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. What has happened to her?"

Girish didn't answer Bondita's question. Instead he let out a deep sigh and turned towards Bondita as she neared the gate of their mutual destination.

"Bondita, you are a good woman. And, I just want you to know that whatever I'm doing, I'm doing it for her, my mother... So that she can be well again... She can breath again... freely."

The sudden, fervourous impatience in his voice trembled Bondita in a trice as she involuntarily closed her eyes muttering a soft silent whisper.
'Dugga Dugga', her heart prayed.

Alipore Judge Court was a grand panaroma, each building designed with medieval western architectural expertise with abundance of Indian greenary. Although the main entrance was open to all, but places inside were restricted to the general public. Large green trees adorned the boundary of the campus overlooking the proscribed Correction Center, it's high red brick walls adjacent to the court premises, the place where countless freedom fighters breathed their last.
Bondita drived through the main gate as the Bihari Security guard in khaki  British uniform pulled a salute to her.
They had entered the campus.

"Here we are." She turned to look at Girish Lahiri's serious face as his eyes scanned the surroundings.

"Um... A little ahead Bondita." He pointed his finger towards the left.

Bondita smiled and took a turn.

Two British police officers were standing at a check post towards the left as Bondita slowed down the car further.

"Madam, this is a high alert security zone, may I have your Identification Card please."
One of the officers bend down, lowering himself to the car window.

Bondita nodded her hand and grabbed the sling bag from the backseat.
"Girish Da, one minute, these policemen are asking for my ID."

"Hm"
Just s soft hum came from the seat beside as Bondita took out the laminated paper and handed it to the officer, glancing once at Girish who had stooped down to tie his shoe lace.

"Barrister Anirudh Roy Chowdhury would be your?" The office enquired.

"Husband... He's my husband."

"And the purpose of the visit would be
...?"

"Personal... Um... You can write it as personal emergency." Bondita smiled formally at the man

"Thank you, Madam. Please proceed."
The officers stood down making way for the car as his hand busily scribbled the entry information in a red fat ledger.

"Thank you Bondita... You saved lot of my time today." Girish had sat up straight as he prepared to leave.
"Here, pull the car under that Banyan tree, I'll walk from there."

"Which place is this?" Bondita noticed the extra high red brick wall that had rose like a mountain beside the tree.

"It's a... You can call it a temple." Girish smiled, getting down from the car as he slowly waved a goodbye to her.

"See you again." Bondita waved back.

"Definately." Girish raised his hand as Bondita saw his calm smiling face fading away in a distance.
"See you in next life, Bondita", he murmured inaudibly before disappearing behind the outstretched prop roots of the primeval Banyan.

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