Dhanyawaad ( An Anidita Story )

Ch 10. My Feelings For Her

*Devipur*

*Night before marriage*

The elders in the house have their dinner as both the girls have to fast till their marriage.

"Maa, bhojan bhi nahi milega kya ab?", Bondita said in a grave tone.

"Bondita, beta, vivah se pehle ladki ko vrat rakhna pdta h. Ye reet h."

"Fir se reet." She murmured under her breath. "Ma ye reet jisne banayi h usse ya to purush prajati ke baare m nahi pata tha ya vo khud purush prajati se tha. Kyuki ye saari bematlab ki kathor reete ldkiyo ke liye hi kaise bni h?"

"Bondita, aisa nhi kehte. Dobara aisa mat kehna." Her mother was scared.
If people knew her daughter was questioning all the things they had followed blindly for so many years, she might be outcasted from society.

"Kyu ma. Kiska darr h. Aur galat kya kaha maine. Kya vivah se pehle var bhi bhookha rehta ,uska bhi vrat hota h? Nahi, nahi hota. Ho hi nahi sakta. Kyuki jiss mahan vyakti ne saari reet banayi h vo sirf auraton ko daba ke rakhna chahta tha in rudiwadi soch aur khayalo se. Lekin m aisa kuch nahi karne wali. Mujhe bhookh lagi h aur m khaana khaaungi. Jisse sirf vivah hone ki baat se bhookha rehna pd rha h, jaane jab vivah hojayega tab kya hoga."

True, she was hungry. But not that much. But once it was mentioned that all this had to be done as a part of another of those 'reets', she was more adamant on breaking it. Her hunger had already vanished. She just wanted to eat to show her opposition now.

"Bondita beta aisa mat kar. Idhar aa apni maa ke paas aake baith."

She goes near her mother and sits down. Her mother gently holds her face and turns it towards herself.

"Bondita, hum kuch nahi kar sakte beta. Yahi samaj ka niyam h. Aurato ko chup chap ye niyam apnane hi pdte h. Niyam k liye na sahi apni maa ke liye beta, vrat rakh le."

"Par ma-"

"Tujhe meri saugandh." Bondita looked at her with a done face. Yeah always, she uses that tactic to make her follow things. But she can't oppose it.

"Thik h ma. Tu jeeti. Ye acha tarika h tera."

"Nahi beta. Mujhe chinta h sasural m kahi teri ye tark karne ki adat aur niyam na maanne ke karan samasya na ho. Acha, tujhe pata h na ki Sampurna har mahine chaar din piche wale kamre m soti h. Aur mein aur teri mami bhi."

"Haa ma, pata h aur mujhe ye nahi samajh m aata kyu? Ye to sab k sath hota h. Dugga ma ne sharir hi aisa bheja h to ye to vardaan hua n. Lekin hum isse ashuddh samajh kar aise teen din tak ek kamre m band ho kar rehte h."

"Nahi bondita, ye paap ho jayega. Ek to tu 15 saal ki ho gyi h jaane teri mahavari kyu nahi aayi. Lekin agar sasural m aisa kuch hua to alag kamre m rehna aur mandir, rasoi ya bahar kahi bhi mat jaana , apne pati babu se bhi mat milna."

"Maa,nahi ye tu fir se mujhse ye be sir pair ki cheeze manwana chah rahi h."

"Beta, mein tere hath jodti hu-"

"Maa kya kar rhi h?"

"Bondita tu nahi samajhti ki ladkiyo ko kitna tyag karna padta h."

"Ha maa m janti hu. Aur ye bhi janti hu ye galat h. Humesha ladki ko hi tyag kyu karna padta h?"

"Mein nahi jaanti beta. Lekin aisa hi hota aaya h aur hume bhi aisa hi krna padega. Tu manegi na maa ki baat. Saari rasam niyam sab maanne honge sasural m. Manegi n."

Bondita just nodded her head, knowing there was no way she could change her mother's mind. Only if she could find someone who'd do it for her.

*Tulsipur*