Perception

Chapter 2

Bondita was regretting the argument with her sister.  After all, she was going to be married anyway. And her own behaviour towards her wasn't very pleasant . But how can Sampoorna didi  marry any random person just for the sake of Baba? Well, probably she knew the answer. The wound on her calf was stinging. She wasn't unaware of her father. The way he beat her last month was still afresh in her memory.

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Flashback:
The whole family gathered as Arvind Babu shouted at the top of his voice.
"How many times should I tell you that you must enter the house before dark? Look at the other girls! They always stay at home but you, unleashed girl! You don't even hesitate to roam about after dark."

"What is the problem in staying out after dark? I can clearly see my way, there is enough light," replied Bondita in an attempt to be indifferent.

"See for yourself! She dares to reply back to me. It is beyond my tolerance now. Wait! I will set you right today."

By saying so he looked at Somnath and hinted him with his eyes. He clearly caught it and went out. In he came with a thick bamboo stick which he handed to his father. Bondita's face turned pale and she gulped her saliva. And before she could run out Somnath closed the door. She was stuck now. Her mother and sister's woeful appeals were ignored. And the stick swished through the air and landed on her calf with a slap. She felt no pain. But her father waited, allowing the cut to sink in, then he administered the second stroke and this this time it hurt. It stung into her calf, burning up the flesh, conditioning it for the remaining cuts. During the course, her mother and sister cried a lot and tried to save her but Somnath stopped them. Neither did he feel the responsibility to save his sister from pain nor did he let others do it. A caring brother,indeed! At the sixth stroke, Bondita held the stick and out of impulse pulled it from her father's hand and threw it. She stared at him with eyes filled with hatred and before the tears could make their way out she ran into her room.
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How helpless she was then! Although, how strongly she hated feeling helpless. Had her sister refused, only God knew what Baba would have done to her. She shuddered at the very thought. Why wasn't there any value to a girl in this world?  She never hated her father more so. There was a certain fire kindling in her heart. A fire of hatred for her father, for her brother, for every man. She vowed that one day, she would stand at par with them. She did not know when but she knew she would. Maybe tomorrow or maybe the day after tomorrow, maybe someday! But now was the time to reconcile with her Sampoorna didi. It was not a difficult task though. She knew her sister's character too well to doubt that. And maybe Saurav Babu was not bad. He talked decently. And her sister had this amazing ability to find happiness out of thin air , so it wouldn't be difficult for him to keep her happy.

There was a visitor in their house. And it was none other than Jamai Babu. Jamai Babu indeed! There was no way she could avoid calling him so now that the marriage was inevitable. Sampoorna brought some refreshmenments on the tray and kept it on the table. He looked at her and she blushed and...and..so did he. They really liked each other. And before she could analyze more ,a sweet aroma tickled her nostrils. There was no mistaking that rosogollas were just near her. She ran to the kitchen and witnessed three handis whose insides were crowded with soft white balls overflowed with sugar syrup.  Her Jamai Babu was really a good person! And before her mouth was flooded with water she landed a whole juicy rosogolla inside her mouth. The sweetness ran through her entire body as she bit through the soft white flesh. She probably finished one handi  within a period a normal person would take to eat a single rosogolla. Before she could attack another handi Sampoorna entered.

"Hey Dugga Maa! I was just away for a moment and you finished an entire handi of rosogollas!"
exclaimed Sampoorna in disbelief.

"Amazing, right? Thank you!"

"Don't eat the other two handis."

"Of course not! Don't worry for I will only eat the rosogollas not the handis."

Sampoorna sighed as Bondita giggled.

"Well, I think Saurav Babu will make a good Jamai Babu as he brings rosogollas. It does him credit. Bondita is satisfied."

"Bondita! You are...! Just keep smiling like that. Your disappointment really makes me sad."

Bondita caught her ears,"It was me who made you unhappy. Shaarii."

And they started counting for the wedding day.