Perception

Chapter 3

No bamboo stick had the power to numb Bondita's feet. She was back onto the street hopping and smiling to explore the wonders of the world.
"Oh ho Bondita, you forgot to call on Tupur,"said Bondita by gently slapping her forehead and proceeded to Tupur's house. On her way she saw a gathering but was in too much a hurry to inquire.

The reason of the crowd was a fascinating scene where a husband was beating his wife. And the crowd stared at it as if it were a cinema. The man was just going to slap his wife but was pulled back by a strong hand.

"What on earth are you doing! How have you got the right to physically abuse a woman?" He asked with an enraged yet contained voice.

"She is my wife. I can do whatever I want with her", replied the other.

"You cannot. I will not let you."

"I'm her husband. Who are you to stop me?"

"Barrister Anirudh Roy Choudhary."

The man was thrown into a heavy thought process the moment after the announcement. The attention of the crowd was now fixed on this new interesting figure. It was found out that Anirudh Roy Choudhary, the son of the Zamindars of Tulsipur had just returned from London after doing his barristery there. He was a handsome young man of about 22 or 23. His look was as polished as that of an English man. Besides, his spectacles spoke to his intelligence acquired by extensive education.

"And you all! How could you just stand and not do anything?" He now turned to the crowd.

"It is a matter between husband and wife. We cannot interfere," said a woman and she received the approval of the whole crowd for such thoughtful words.

"Then why are you watching their personal matter as if it is some cinema , may I ask?

Nobody had an answer to such an attack.

"See, barrister babu this is not your Bilayat . Here, we treat men and women the way they deserve. And it is the duty of a wife bear whatever her husband does to her."

Anirudh was shocked at such a ridiculous ideology. He knew not how people could hold onto such a baseless theory.

"It is the duty of the wife to bear with abuse? Insufferably nonsensical!"

In order to show Anirudh his strength ,the husband slapped his wife again. Now it was too much. Anirudh sacrificed his civility and punched the man hard on his face. Then he went to the wife in order to console her but...

"How dare you beat my husband? It is our personal matter. We will resolve it. Don't make me a sinner by making my husband suffer because of me. Please, I beg you. Go away from here ." The wife finally raised her voice for the sake of patni dharm.

"He was at the verge of killing you and you are defending him?! Pray, do not be afraid of him. I will ensure your safety."

"I will be doomed to death for going against my husband. It was my fault so I must pay for it. I request you to mind your own business. You may find it wrong but this is how we live here in India. It is not your Bilayat , Barrister babu. Leave me to my husband's mercy."

Anirudh was speechless at this. He didn't expect such an ungrateful response. Here he was trying to help someone and that person was trying her best to injure his self respect. He glanced at the crowd and sensed their internal mocking. He was ashamed to see the place where he was born, drowned in the darkness of sexism and barbarism.