Sharod Utsav

Lakshmi

Utsav and Co. spent the next two days making the old Biswas Bari liveable. Chirantan came in particularly handy with snack breaks. Shinjini couldn't be of much help thanks to her dust allergy. Neighbours would often sneak a peek, especially to see the "bidesh phera" (returned from a foreign country) Utsav. It would make Utsav a little uncomfortable when every other person at his door asked, "Recognize me?" Fortunately, Shinjini handled the situation well. It was around noon when Shinjini came to Utsav and said, "There's someone you need to meet."

"Shin, you know I'm busy making this place liveable. Deal with whoever it is, please."

"Trust me, you want to meet her."

"I'm tired, Shin. No pranks now, please."

Shinjini grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. Standing outside was an old woman of short stature in a yellow saree with a distinctive red bindi and silver necklace complete with a black nose pin and hoop earrings. In her hands, she clutched a shabby, outdated book with a yellow spine.

Tears welled up in Utsav's eyes as he involuntarily said, "Boroma?"

"Utsav? Tui eshechish?" (Areyou here, Utsav?) 

"Haan, Boroma. Aami" (Yes, Boroma. It's me.)

She extended her other hand while firmly gripping the book in her one hand. Utsav held her hand softly and guided it to his face. As she felt the tears on his face, she pulled him into an embrace. Utsav started crying hysterically and hugged her as tightly as he could. She caressed his hair and said, "Shanto, baba. Shanto. Aami eshe gechi toh." (Calm down, son. Calm down. I'm here now.)

"Aro aage ashte paroni?" (Couldn't you come any earlier?)

"Shob ei Shinjini ma er dosh, jaanish toh? Amake aage bolei ni je amar baba fireche" (It's all your sister's fault, you know? She didn't tell me earlier that you have returned.)

Shinjini stood in the corner watching the two as she wiped a tear from her face.

"Ebar toh char, baba. Dom bondho hoye jaabe ebar amar" (Let go now, son. If you hug me any longer, I'll suffocate), Boroma said with a smile.

Utsav let go of the hug with a chuckle and wiped the tears off his face.

"Tor mukh ta dekhte khub ichhe korche, shona", she said as she extended her hand to cup his face.

A sudden wave of realization hit Utsav. He turned his eyes to Shinjini. With a nod, she let him know that Boroma has lost her vision. Utsav collapsed to his knees, clutched Boroma's feet, and broke down into sobs.

"Shob amar dosh, Boroma. Aami bidesh giye shobaike bhule gechilam. Tai aj ei obosta. Sorry, Boroma. Ar hobena erokom kokhono, Boroma." (It's all my fault, Boroma. I went to a foreign country and forgot everyone. That's why it has come to this. Sorry, Boroma. It won't happen ever again, Boroma.)

She handed Shinjini the book and lifted him up with both hands. With her thumbs, she wiped his tears away and said, "Dhur boka. Eto kande naaki? Chol bhetore chol." (Shut up, stupid. Don't cry anymore. Let's go inside.)

Utsav led her inside and made sure she was comfortable on the sofa. He pulled a chair and sat opposite her.

"Shinjini ma?" (Shinjini?)

"Haan, Boroma?" (Yes, Boroma?)

"Boi ta amake de" (Give me the book.)

Shinjini handed her the book.

"I'll go make some tea for us", said Shinjini as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Utsav baba, bidesh e giye kemon laage? Khub thanda na okhane?" (Utsav, how does it feel to be there in a foreign country? It's very cold there, isn't it?)

"Thanda toh ache kintu oshob charo. Tumi kemon acho bolo." (It's cold but set that aside. How have you been doing?)

"Ar ki boli? Roma er toh biye hoye gelo. Naati o hoyeche ekta. Ora majhe majhe ashe. Ar Shinjini ma eshe dekha kore jay majhe majhe. Ta chara toh barite eka e thaki." (What else is there to say? Roma got married and now has a son. Sometimes, they visit and sometimes, Shinjini drops by. Otherwise, I'm all alone at home.)

"Bujhlam bujhlam. Boroma, tomar haath e oi boi ta kisher?" (Hmm. Boroma, what's that book in your hand?)

"Chinte parchis na?" (You can't recognize this?)

After taking a closer look, Utsav said, "Na toh." (Nope.)

"Areh chotobelay toder ke ei Geeta thekei toh shlok pore pore shonatam. Tui, Shinjini, Roma ar Moni boshtish amar shamne ar aami pore pore maane bojhatam toder. Mone porlo?" (In your childhood, I used to read you hymns from this Geeta itself. You, Shinjini, Roma, and Moni would sit around me and I'd read hymns and explain them to you. Remember now?)

By this time, Shinjini was back from the kitchen with three cups of tea. She placed the tray on the table, gave Boroma a cup, then grabbed one for herself before settling down on the couch next to Boroma.

"Won't you hand me my cup?", Utsav asked with a smirk.

An irate Shinjini retorted, "Take it yourself or go to hell."

"Toder ei jhogra gulo khub mone porto" (I used to miss these little quarrels of yours), said Boroma. Both siblings smiled. The three quietly sipped their tea till Boroma said, "Toder Tapan ar Seema er kotha mone pore?" (Do you guys miss Tapan and Seema?)

The siblings' eyes met and welled up with tears. Suppressing her tears, Shinjini, "It's been a while. I've grown used to it."

"Same", said Utsav.

"I miss them a lot. I thought the void would fade with time but it didn't."

"Wow, Boroma! I haven't heard you speak English in years!"

Pulling Shinjini's cheek playfully, Boroma said, "Who do you think taught you English, huh?"

Utsav chuckled. His phone rang. It was Monica. He ignored it.

"Kar phone?" (Who's calling?)

"Spam."

"Oh."

There was a minute of awkward silence after that till Boroma said, "Aami baari jai ebar. Tora bhai bon kotha bol." (I'll head home now. You siblings catch up on all you've missed.)

Shinjini held her hand and led her out. She grabbed her keys to drop Boroma at her place. Utsav checked his phone. There was a message from Monica.

"Call me when you see this. IT'S URGENT."

He set the phone aside and buried his face in his hands. He started sobbing softly. Soon, Shinjini returned to see Utsav sitting like that. She rushed to his side and hugged him tightly.

"Ma baba er kotha khub mone porche" (I'm missing Mom and Dad badly), said Utsav as he melted in her arms and started crying hysterically.

"Amaro mone pore re. Kintu ekhon tui achis toh amar sathe." (I miss them too but now I have you.)

A tear trickled down Shinjini's eyes.

After a while, Shinjini said, "I still can't believe that Dad was drunk driving. As far as I knew him, he would never do that especially with Mom in the car. She was-"

"Pregnant. Mom was pregnant. We never got to meet our sibling. I promise to never leave you ever again."

After a while, Utsav's phone buzzed again. It was Monica. He picked the call.

"Hello? Utsav?"

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Look, I know this might sound very random but I need access to Tapan uncle's study once. I'll drop by tomorrow."

"But why?"

"I can't tell you that now. Bye."

"Hello? Moni?"

She hung up.