Barrister Babu OS

Dil toh paagal hai

'Sakha babu ruk jaiye na, mai itni tez nahi bhaag sakti saari mein. Kyun jaa rahe hain aap vilayat. Maa se keh kyun nahi dete ki nahi jaana chahte.'

A fifteen-year-old exasperated running behind the sixteen-year-old near the river bank.

'Mishti, Maa ne isse pehle kabhi kuch nahi manga mujhse, unke bete hone ke naate mujhe jaana hoga. Unke liye kuch banna hoga.'

'Aap kya banna chahte hain?'.

'Maa mujhe barrister bane dekhna chahti hai toh yahi sahi. Unke liye kuch bhi.'

'Wapas kab aayenge?'

' kaafi wakt lag sakta hai Mishti. Aath saal, Mishti, Aath saal reh logi mere bina.'

'Kyun nahi, acche se reh lungi aap itna pareshan jo karte hain mujhe roz.' – Bondita said sniffling.

'Bondu, aaja Maa bula rahi hai.' — Sampoorna called out.

'Hey Dugga Maa, aaj bacha lena. Maa bohot daantegi. Sakha babu mei chalti hun.'

'Suno Mishti, tumhe Maa bula rahi toh aa jana.'

'Ji, unse kahiyega mera intezaar karein. Aur apke liye bidaya.'

With that, Bondita ran her way home in the anticipation of getting scolded. The dangerous scene of Sumati Maa holding a rolling pin in her hand, ready to run for it was replaying in her mind.

'Maa aisa nahi karegi woh pyaar karti hain mujhse.'

After another five minutes of running, she reached home. Sumati Maa instead of getting angry had made her favorite Roshogulla.

'Maa aagayi main.'

'Tu aa Gayi, chal ye chakh kar bata kaisa bana hain.'

'Ekdum tere jaisa Mishti.'

Thukumaa had brought us a small home in Devipur, adjacent to Mama Mami's. Having this privacy, Maa had the freedom to cook the food and have it. She always loved cooking, especially for me and Baba. Society had put so many boundaries on her after Baba's death that one would feel suffocated even in the fresh air. Sakha Babu and ThakuMaa brought her lost smile back.

'Maa, wo Sakha babu keh rahe the ki Maa bula rahi hain toh main jaun?'

'Ab Shubhra Boudi ne bulaya hai toh jaana toh hoga. Tu Jaa.'

Roy Choudhry haveli was not so far away. With a five-minute walk, Bondita was at their doorstep.

'Bhari Babu, Maa kahan hain.'

' arey aap, Malkin toh peeche wale aangan mein hai.'

'Dhonobad Kaka.'

The aangan of the Roy Choudhry haveli was one of its kind. A big tub of water with water lilies in it seemed peaceful. Maa sat on her signature rocking chair in distant deep thought.

'Maa apne bulaya mujhe.'

'Maine tujhe shaam ko bulaya tha aur tu ab aa rahi hain.' — Shubhra faked anger.

'Ismein meri kya galti Maa agar Sakha babu mujhe pehle bata dete toh main pehle aa jati. Unhone hi Mujhe jaate jaate bataya.' — A dangerously cute expression had taken over her face.

'Abhi toh main gaya nahi aur tum abhi se meri shikayat kar rahi ho.'

'Aur nahi toh kya? Maa se nahi toh aur kis se karun mein apki shikayat.'

'Chal Kopal ab tu jaa, mujhe meri beti se baat karne de.'

Aniruddh had started packing for London. To adopt a new culture, a city with new people. It was hard for him. How scared would he be? A mere sixteen-year-old out on strange roads in a strange city in a strange country. It was overwhelming for him but he loved his mother enough to do it.

'Boliye na Maa kya kaam tha?'

'Mai tujhe humesha kaam se bulati hun kya. Aise hi nahi bula sakti.'

'Aisa nahi hai Maa. apka hak banta hain aaap kabhi bhi bula sakti hain mujhe.'

'Ab Aniruddh jaa raha hai na toh tu milne aati rehne, kahin uske jaane ke baad aaye hi na.'

'Ye koi kehne wali baat hai kya Maa'

In a week, she was at the port with her Sakha babu. Trying not to let the tears loose. Who knows what the future has in store?