We Come So Far

Red- A Pious Beginning

Bondita's POV

"Koeli Didiiiiiii.......O Koeli Didiiiii" I shrieked at the top of my vocal cords while pulling the enormous brass bucket in my left hand to wash up our piled up clothes kept aside at one end of my washroom since yesterday night to my worry.

"What's wrong bouraani? Your vocal cords might come out of your mouth if you continue to yell like our young master" our chief maid Koeli came running on toe gasping heavily out of anxiety.

"What do you mean Koeli Didi by 'like our young master'? Do you mean to say my Pati Babu shouts so loud that his vocal cords may come out some day?" I stood straight glaring at her after keeping down the bucket and my closed fists placed on both ends of my waist with scrunching nose and a raised eyebrow expressing a sudden gush of anger at her offensive remark.

Koeli (nervously) - Arey na na.....seta bolte chaiye ni Choto bouma? (No I didn't mean to say that young mistress) I just meant.....

"Whatever you meant.........was absolutely right Koeli Didi. Pati Babu does yell like that as if his vocal cords might really come out one day...." watching Koeli stammer out of nervousness, I giggled out loud as she stood startled at my sudden transition of mood.

"Hhaaww choto bouma....do you feel the same too!!" Koeli didi bursted out into laughter on my backbiting of Pati Babu.

"Cholo cholo help me carrying these clothes, today the washerman will not come so let me help myself with our clothes." I procedded with the bucket as koeli didi called me back.
"But Choti bouma you have your school to attend...leave the clothes, I'll ask Aarti to wash all these at the pond side."

"No...didi I'll wash our clothes and then leave for school, today Rudro mastermoshai is on leave so first two classes are cancelled. Hence, no issue if I attend a little late." I assured Koeli didi and quickly rushed downstairs at the open verandah with inbuilt waterlogged wash basin beside kuon (well).

After washing the clothes and hanging it downstairs in the sun, I climbed the stairs with a certain unease and reached my room panting heavily, shutting the glass door from inside.

"Bonditaaaa.....Bonditaaaaa" came his voice calling me knocking on my door, as soon as I sat resting on my bed.

"Coming Pati Babuuu" I got up and slowly walked towards the door, unlatching and pulling it open, only to witness his irked face and frowning eyes sticking over me.

" What happened? Why so late? Why didn't you go to school till now? Look at the time, are you in your senses Mishti? It's more than 1 hour since your classes must have already begun, you have not even changed? Who asked you to wash our clothes? I saw you from our balcony upstairs, why did you turn to be a washerwoman today? Am I sending you to school for studying to become a barrister or a washerwoman?" He went on and on with his shooting questions as I stood fidgeting with my Saree end, hanging my head low out of disappointment.

"Ki holo Mishti? Mukh diye kotha berochhe na keno? Uttor er opekkha korchi (What happened Mishti? Why no words are coming out of your mouth? Waiting for your answer?) He yelled crossing his arms opposite one another, shooting another deathly glare with raised up eyebrows.

"No...Pati Babu, I am just waiting for you to finish....If you have then I'll answer" I spoke in a meek voice looking downwards.

"Ok...ok...." drawing two long deep breaths, he continued bending down a little sniffing "I am done. Speak now."

"Today Rudro mastermoshai isn't coming so I decided to wash our clothes and then leave for school a little late. I am not intentionally missing classes, Shottii!!" I looked with my wide eyes and pinching my throat as an assurance of my truth.