The Pact between us both

The Two and the City of Calcutta

The Calcutta of the 1880s was a haplessly romantic city. Chaotic people, chaotic roads, protests by numerous patriots against the white-skinned rulers. But can chaos ever stop anyone from appreciating Life itself ? The  clever creations of nature prevails and enchants us all even in a black and white era. 

In the loud and "un-restful" city, even the Mighty Mother of all Rivers -  The Ganga slows down obediently, and seeks penance to the Glorious Sun God who, with His gaze over the river, over the rice fields, over the people, brings prosperity. The whole lot of people take due advantage of this, constructing numerous Ghats or "staircases" for their own needs.
It is these sacred Ghats, constructed years and years ago, that witness the most heartwarming, painful and happy stories of life.

One such story was of the youngest son of the Roys and the only daughter of the Ghose's - two of the most aristocratic families of  Old Calcutta- the Jewel of the Raj.

The Roys had done pretty fairly in the materialistic race, their Big House in Bhowanipore was just enough to shame the majestic houses of the English Governors. The owner of the house, Sir Nagendra Nath Roy, had earned a good name as a government pleader and lived a lavish life with his numerous sons and daughters and his uneducated wife who was known for losing temper. But remember, she was but ignorant, being married at a tender age of 10.

The Ghose's were not behind in the race, the master of this Family, the old Madan Mohan Ghose, was well known in the city as a 'pucca'(meaning pure) Englishman, without even having been to England -  thanks to his numerous friends amongst the English population in Calcutta. He was  a rich Zamindar, who's wife died while giving birth to yet another heir to his extensive wealth. But he had no regrets, his life was already full with a family of 3 sons and a daughter to take care of.

The Youngest son of the Roy's did not, unfortunately seem fit to be a heir to the high level aristocracy of his family. Debendranath, shortened Deb was a wayward, idler and "good-for-nothing" young man who had no idea what he wanted to do with life. All he did was read impossible English plays, go to the theatre and when he had nothing better to do, sit in one of the quiet ghats of the Golden river of the afternoon. 

He would spend hours of his time, brooding over his aimless life and daydream of being a rich barrister or a doctor....or a governor perhaps ?? A rich husband of a heiress seemed more fitting to his idle persona..... He wouldn't have to do anything, just keep accounts, make his wife do the chores and sit back and smoke hookahs, and along with it smoke the pathetic worries of his life....That had to be a lavish life.....

And it would be almost dark before the ship of his dream reached the shore of practical life. He would rise sleepily still, and go back home.

What he didn't know was that he wasn't all alone in his day dreams- he had a secret companion...perhaps behind the old banyan tree ??