XOMANTORAL

Chapter 23

'Krishnawax', the house was named after their grandfather, Krishna Kanta Baruah. The name didn't exist at the time of its construction. But after his grandfather's death, their grandmother wanted his name on the empire that he built alone. But, now it was unknown to Arohan. The house was still the same, but a sense of hesitation overwhelmed him. Kaka closed the gate. They came out of the car. When kaka saw Arohan's face, a drop of tear fell down his eyes. He went near him. Arohan's were filled with tears after seeing kaka. He softly touched Arohan's face and his hair,

Fighting back tears, Kaka said with a shaky voice,

"Babu! Ima... Iman dinar murot."

Arohan couldn't hold himself. He broke down in Kaka's arms. Kaka held him with the same care that he used to hold him when he was small. Kaka said,

"Tumi juar pisot bor khali hoi goisil o ghor khon!"

Arohan put his chin on kaka's shoulders and said,

"Tumi bhale asa Kaka?"

Kaka pulled Arohan in front of him. He said,

"Bhale Asu diya. Tumi bhitorot jua. Haat bhori dhui lua."

Arohan nodded and walked inside of the house. On reaching the door, Kaka came running towards him. He forwarded a key to him and said,

"Babu, tumar room tur sabi pat mor tatei asil. Loi jua."

Arohan took the key and stepped inside the house. 

The house, which was once his, was now unknown to him. He remembered how he took out the bag with only two pants and three banyans to get out of the house. His mother followed him. But, his father grabbed her hands and pulled her. She fell down on the floor, but Arohan was unknown about it. His father said,

"Jabole diya joteii jai. Moio sau, kune rakhe ei pakhondo tuk."

Arohan kept waiting outside, expecting his mother to come, hug him and take him inside. But, nothing happened. His mother kept lying on the floor, begging his father to stop. He didn't. His heart broke into thousand pieces, realising no one ever cared about in that house. He went to the small room where kaka lived. He said, crying,

"Kaka, moi mama kokar ghorot jaam. Moi jam."

Kaka held him in his arms and consoled him. Not realising the seriousness of the situation, kaka also informed the driver to drop him to his mama kaka's house. Who knew, Arohan would never return to the house. 

The next day, when his father went to his office, his mother went to the house, to bring him back.  She took apples with her, because she knew, Arohan would fight with her, but at least would talk to her, shouting at her for bringing apples. He hated apples. But, everything turned upside down, when Arohan refused to even meet her. How hurt could a child be, to no even wanting to see his mother's face. 

He wanted his mother to come and take him, from upstairs. But, kaka called her, whispering,

"Baidew gusi ahok, ghorot obostha bhal nohoi. Parile Babak nanibo. Sire dekhile ki kore thik nai."

 She rushed out of the house, saying to her mother,

"Ma, tak sabi olop. Moi nuwarilu. Toi e sabi ma. Moi hari golu ei sobor majot.'

She cried, having no other option. Her mother consoled her and asked her to go home. That day,  she was kicked and slapped. She was warned,

"Kunu dorkar nai anibo. Jonmo dii jiman pap korila bohut hol. Nalage amar logot thakibo. Aru jodi maror ghorot jua xunu, eibar xosaai mari pelaam."

She saw hatred in her husband's eyes, hatred towards her own son. She said,

"Xoru e ase, kio nu khong kore?"