AniDita ~ Short stories

Ghar more pardesiya aa

Year : 1920, Bengal

It was a night of winter. A boy near 16 was sitting depressed in a car helding garland of wedding. driver was driving the car. Dens fog was everywhere. suddenly a sweet voice called him. "pati..babu.. mujhe bohat thand lag rahi hain. A 8 years old girl said from behind who was in bridal attire. "thodi der aur hum ghar pouhachne wale hain" The boy said sternly. "thik ache..kintu amr voi kore"(okay but I am little afraid) the girl said. " keno?"(why) The boy asked.

"sosurbari te (sasural mein) sab kaise honge? mujhe datenge to nehi?"the girl asked. " agar haar baat manogi to kiyu datenge tumhe?" The boy replied loudly.
"raksasbabu hain mere patibabu...maa tune kaha fasa diya teri nanhisi bondita ko?" The girl said. "kya kaha tumne? bohat ziyada baat karti ho tum! chup chap baithi raho! The boy replied. The girl kept quite.

Next day the boy was packing his luggage. The little girl came to him running. "aap... aap vilayat jaa rahe hain patibabu? The girl asked. "hmm" The boy replied. "main bhi chalungi apke sath" the girl insisted. "tum abhi bohat choti ho Bondita ... tumhe nehi le jaa sakta apne sath" The boy replied. "accha? jab mujhe vivah karke laa rahe thei tab yeh khayal nehi aya ke main kaise rahungi maa ke bina?" Bondita asked putting her hands on her tiny waist. he kept quite for sometime. "ek din tumhe ish shadi se azadi dilayunga aur tum jaha bhi jana chahogi tumhe bhejunga. par uske liye pehle mujhe jaana hoga vilayat" The boy said. Bondita didn't understood.

"apna dhiyan rakhna kopal" his mother Subhra said patting the boys head. he noded and hugged her. "Anirudh beta humse nehi miloge?" His kaka asked. The boy didn't replied and took his blessings. The man hugged him but he didn't. "Anirudh Chalo warna ship ke liye late hojayoge" His father said. "ji baba bas som aur batuk se mil lu" He bent down and hugged his brothers. They were crying. He wipped their tears.
"tumdono ke dada jaldi wapas ajayege rou maat tumdono hmm?" He said. Then looked at his wife who was standing happily. "aur...tum...tum bhi dhyaan rakhna khudhka" Anirudh said hesitatingly.

"ji... patibabu! aap bhi" The girl replied. Anirudh left with his father Binoy. His mother was crying. Bondita wipped her tears. "roiye maat subhra maa patibabu wapas ajayenge" Bondita said. Shubhra smiled and hugged her.

Years were passing. Bondita kept waiting for her patibabu. After her menstruation she started feeling different for Anirudh. She used to dressup for him. She started taking care of herself so that when she will meet him she looks beautiful. the women of villages filled her head with patni dharm, to treat husband as god, to make and keep husband happy, to take care of husbands every needs, she can't question on her husband's decision. she has to take his wishes as order for her. She had to only live for his husband and family not for herself.

7 year later:

Kaka was in mandir. Shubra was picking pebbles from rice. A girl on her 15s came running helding her heavy banarasi sharee. Pallu was placed on her head. Her feet and hands were coloured with alta. Sindoor applied on her head. "ruko batuk woh akbar mujhe wapas do" Bondita said. "aise kaise de du boudi? taki aao dada ki tasveer ko akbar se alag kar sake?" Batuk teased. Bondita kept running after him. She was about to bump with binoy but she stopped.

"itni badi hogayi lekin abhi bhi baccho ki tarha ho! tum ish ghar ki bahu ho beti nehi. pata nehi kaise sabne maan liya ish ladki ko Roy Chowdhury khandan ki bahu" Binoy taunted. Bondita felt bad and looked down "maaf karna sashur ji"
"kiyu humesa aise baat karte hain ish bacchi se? 7 saal hogayei woh humari ghar ki bahu hain" Shubra said. "haan tumne aur daa ne ish ladki ko saar pe chadake rakkha hain" Binoy said irritatingly. Shubra about to say but Triliochan stopped. "kise samjha rahe ho subhra behen? sabko heere ki parkh nehi hoti. koi kuch bhi kahe humari bahu ki chamak kaam nehi hojayegi? are kya kami hain ush mein? sundar hain, sikhsit hain aur sankskari bhi! Triliochan said proudly.