The Unventured Passions

Revolting Realities

"A woman in the pink of Healthy Skin... Boroline!... La... Lala...La... Boroline!"

The commercial jingle on the radio made baby Rudhi nod her head as Bondita pinched her nose gently and blew a kiss to her.

"Amar Shonai... Now they will talk about your Baba... Do you want to hear about your Baba... Do you...?"
Bondita ruffled Rudhi's soft brown hairs lovingly, uttering mothereses as the baby cooed happily at the mention of her familiar favourite word, 'Baba'.

"Welcome back after the brief commercial. The second half of the sensational case about the Swadeshi Custodial Death would start shortly. Our representatives have already reached the Alipore Judge Court and are delivering news over the technical wonder of the century... Telephone! Yes, dear audience, we will be sharing the latest updates with you on Radio... So don't go anywhere and stay on radio."

Rudhi cooed again.
"Bab... Bab... Baa...baah..!"

"Oh baby... They are talking about your Baba now... Let's listen quietly... Alright? Alright Sonai?"
Bondita picked up Rudhi on her lap and made her lie down. She tapped her knee and patted her head gently, letting the baby calm down with a small yawn.

"The famous Barrister Anirudh Roy Chowdhury seemed to have entered the courtroom about ten minutes ago and the court is in session now. He has brought some serious accusations about Ex-Justice Ray Bahadur Neelmoni Mukherjee and his connection in the custodial death of a civilian, Ramakanto Sardar, whom the police had arrested earlier this month for illegal Swadeshi actions. Barrister Roy Chowdhury very efficiently had placed his points forward on how Neelmoni Mukherjee, in order to hide his illegal smuggling deals with the French, had played part in the murder of Ramakanto Sardar. Our representatives have spoken to the eye witnesses inside the court and..."

Rudhita had already fallen asleep on her mother's lap as Bondita cradled her tiny frame carefully before shifting her into the cot kept near the couch. She gestured Manimala, who was seated on the floor nearby to keep a watch on the sleeping baby as she tiptoed inside the bedroom with the radio in hand.

"The juries seemed quite content with the argument of the prosecution so far. Roy Chowdhury and his team exhibited brilliant prowess so far. The evidence needed to be presented to the court day after tomorrow, and till then, the British government has put a stay order on Neelmoni... "

The radio commentator continued as a drop of tear fell from Bondita's eye unknowingly.
Tears of happiness...
She smiled and wiped it from her cheek.
How lucky was she! How lucky to have been under the love and guidance of such a great man!

The commentator continued to rave,
"Bengal needs more of Barrister Anirudh Roy Chowdhury. May his tribe grow.
And, with this, we take a small break from the live updates of the Swadeshi Custodial Death Case, directly from Alipore Judge Court. Coming up next... Sacrosanct Satyakirth strikes again. Looting a whooping 100 tons of rice and salt from the British granary, Satyakirth has proved once again that the Swadeshi movement in India is not to be curbed so easily. As usual, the police is clueless about his whereabouts. An angel or a devil is up to you to decide, but what Satyakirth has done this morning would definitely feed food to thousands of Indians whose lands are captured by the British government..."

Bondita was listening to the news with a gaping expression. She sat upright on her bed and took a deep breath. Her hand had reached for the sling bag kept on the bedside table, slowly bringing out the black revolver from it.

'Ill have to find a way to give it back to him', she thought, tucking it away under her pillow.

Angel for sure, her heart had no doubt... And that evening, she particularly felt blessed with the two angels looking over her motherland at the same time.

"Soon... Very soon... And my Rudhi would grow up in a free country." She murmured.

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"Baba... I'm going out."
Raimoti had startled her father who was seated in his study, glued to the radio.
The commentator had just given his concluding statement, as a familiar commercial jingle played over the air.

"Where?"
Neelmoni looked up at his daughter.
It's been almost a month and a half that she hadn't even stepped out of her room, and now suddenly, all decked up, she was standing infront of him, seeking permission to go out?

"To a friend's place." She looked away.

Neelmoni frowned.
"Which friend? May I know."

"Romila." She muttered, turning away to leave.

"Raimoti... Stop."
Neelmoni let out a sigh and stood up.
"I haven't raised you to lie... Where are you going?"

A gradual fuming fire glowing in her eyes had suddenly burst in an all consuming flame.
"Lie? You are lecturing about lying Baba?" She turned towards her father and looked straight into his eyes.
"I know what you are planning with Anirudh Babu... And, I won't let that happen." She walked a few steps closer.
"My father is better than this... I heard the radio Baba... Smuggling??" Her eyes were burning, the fire giving birth to uncontrollable jets of tears.
"Tell me they lied Baba... Tell me you didn't do these?" She held the collar of her father's dress shirt and sank her head in his chest.
"Tell me Baba... Please..."

Neelmoni had nothing more to lose, as at that moment, he already knew that he had lost his dear daughter forever.
He had raised his daughter to be a righteous one, and God knows... the motherless girl had turned out better than he had hoped for.
His jaws had stiffened and his gaze turned stone cold as he slowly started to speak.

"That Barrister will have to die... tonight..." he paused and Raimoti shuddered at his words.
"I have done nothing but sold gold in the land of riches, Raimoti. The Britishers aren't our own... And I have taken their arms and given it to those who deserves."

Raimoti shuddered at his words again. She had stepped backward as a low scream escaped her mouth.
"Sold Baba...You sold! Not given!" She sobbed. "And more deserving? Who? the French? How could you?"

Neelmoni banged his fist on the table.
"How could I? How could I not?? Why do you think the British has given me this title? RayBahadur!!" He scoffed.
"It's because I'm rich... Because, I have money... Then why care where I'm getting it from?"

"Then why did you kill that Swadeshi in jail?"
Raimoti had held the door, supporting her shivering body as she countered her father with all her might.
"Why??"

"Collateral Damages... Raimoti... It's pure business!"

His words felt like poison to her eyes and a sigh of disgust left her lips.
"Chhi Baba... Chhi!!" She turned around and prepared to leave.

"Raimoti... You won't leave the palace."
Neelmoni had walked past his daughter, holding her wrist with force as he let out a loud roar... Loud enough for the guard to hear from outside.
"Raimoti wouldn't leave the premises of this palace... Not until I tell her to...Shut the gates!!"
His voice had a shattering effect... First the silent serenity of the evening, and next her heart... Again!

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