The Unventured Passions

The Rituals of Togetherness

The Darjeeling trip had proven to be a disaster for Zamindar Trilochan Roy Choudhury. His daughter-in-law was blossoming, she wasn't that little child anymore, and his old observant eyes hadn't missed that longing in her gaze, that unsaid hankering that her shy eyes would convey everytime they meet his nephew's restraint glance.
Anirudh had always been like this!
Righteous, a little too much, and for all the wrong reasons.
He, although protective of her, would call her his responsibility, a sweet responsibility, but Trilochan needed them to be more! More than his notion of right or wrong, it was the future of his family, the burning need for a progeny that guided his thoughts. Anirudh would proclaim his affection towards Bondita, in the most uninhibited manners, in his own quirky ways, but infront, he would never agree to this spouting affection that had long escalated from responsibility to love. In his heart, Trilochan felt his nephew's emotions, and had hoped to unite these two, desparately, and he believed that at times probably a little harsher means, a little more than just a nudge, were needed to get the work done.
The Darjeeling trip was a ploy too, to leave these two in seclusion, amidst the vastness of the nature, nudging their hearts or perhaps their entire beings to unite, but his dreams were nipped in the bud as Anirudh at the last moment declared his sudden unavailability.
Bondita was no doubt sad, but the saddest was perhaps his younger nephew who had dreamt of learning Snow Golf from his elder brother all summer long.
And as for Trilochan, the entire stay was more of an intervention than relaxation.
Batuk and Bondita would squabble all day long, their trivial disputation rising into heated contention, and Trilochan would have to rush to pacify and reconcile the two luring them with coffee flavored chocolates.
The ten days trip had reduced to six, and on the seventh day they had returned back to Tulsipur, with their tired sleepless eyes and pouted lips.

"Anirudh..." Trilochan had called his elder nephew into his bedroom, his tone a little commanding this time.
"Borodidi, that is, your PishiMaa would be coming to stay with us for a couple of weeks. And, this is the first time in last five years, after your marriage, that she would be visiting us."

Anirudh was nodding his head quietly.

"Whatever your relationship is with Bondita, its your personal matter, but she is the daughter-in-law of this family, she is a Roy Chowdhury... And under no circumstances I would let anyone badmouth about her, or about your relationship."

"What do you mean Kaka?"
Anirudh had asked politely, as Trilochan took a deep sigh.

"You know how your PishiMaa is, don't you?" He tried to smile.

Anirudh knew exactly how she was...

Kashibashi widow Thakurani Nanibala debi, Trilochan Roy Chowdhury's elder sister was what you would call an epitome of orthodoxism.
She was everything that Anirudh wasn't, and yet the childless widow had loved him as her own.

"So, what are you suggesting Kaka?"
Anirudh's eyes were thoughtful, already contemplating the ordeal that her presence would bring in their lives.

"All I'm suggesting is don't let her find out about you and Bahu. I mean, behave like a normal wedded couple, stay together, sleep in one room... "

"Kaka... you know I can't do that! Bondita is still a child!"

"She is fourteen for goodness sake Anirudh! She was a child... not anymore!"

"But... there is so much she would need to..."

Trilochan took a deep calming breath, inciting his nephew was never his intention.