Jalsaghar

Khela Ghar

Bukku Jumped from Biren's lap and ran to touch everyones feet, while the thing that Biren noticed is that Mrinu was stricken and nervously looked at Shubhra kakima and Cheeni. And then stood there wringing her hands. And Biren thought....

BULL'S EYE!

Cheeni looked daggers at Mrinu... Mrinu looked at everybody looking at her son with different degrees of horror.

Cheeni: Yeh kya bakwas hai Biren? How can Mrinu's son be yours?

Biren: Oh so you know he is Mrinu's, How? I mean, I think she had vanished around 4 years ago right? And this is the first time she has stepped into this house or met any of you, or am I wrong here?

Shubhra: Its but obvious Biren... She is the only one who has a kid of that age among all here... and we already knew of her illegitimate unborn child when she left kolkatta.

Biren turned and looked at Shubhra. Had she been more intelligent or even sharp she would have known that Biren was just waiting for that cue....

Biren: Exactly, kakima.... That's the point.. 4 saal pehle ek jawaan ladka iss ghar se videsh padhne jata hai aur uske immediately baad, iss ghar ki woh ladki pregnant ho jati hai jo uss ladke ke sabse kareeb hai. Toh aap mein se kissi ka dhyan iss baat pe kaise nahi gaya ki yeh bachcha mera ho sakta hai? Strange !!

Shubhra: Tumhare kehne ka matlab kya hai? Kya hum nahi jante ke tumhari aur Mrinu ki haisiyat mein kitna fark hai... aur hum tumpe shak kaise kar sakte hai? Tum iss ghar ke bete ho... maine apne haatho se pala hai tumhe... Mrinu ke charitra ke charche maine pehle bhi baharwalo se sune the..

Biren: KAKIMA!! Aap bhul rahi hai aap meri Mrinu ke bare mein bol rahi hai... Bukku mera beta hai main apne zubaan se maan raha hu... toh kya aap meri baat par shak kar rahi hai?

(the indication was very clear did any of them had the courage to question Biren Kumar Ganguly's word? Of course not in their senses)

Cheeni the fool ofcourse had much riding on this discussion, her whole life was at stake...

Cheeni: Kya saboot hai Biren ke yeh aapka beta hai...

Biren: This was an intelligent question, I appreciate the thought Cheeni but not the audacity... but here ...( he showed a paper to the whole group, even the servant saw it and understood)

This is Byomkesh Kumar Ganguly's Birth certificate... where in father's name column My name is clearly written ... Biren Kumar Ganguly... and mother's name Mrinmayi Haldar...

Any more question anybody?

Shubhra: But this could very well be Mrinu's doing... kya pata usne jaan bujhkar tumhara naam likha ho?... tumhe phasane ke liye...

Biren: Haa koi aur ladki hoti toh main yeh baat maan leta but kakima... Mujhe phasaya kaha? Bukku ke operation ke liye Mrinu ko 2 lakh rupaye ki zarurat hai, par usne woh paise mujhse lena gawara nahi kiya. Itni der huye isse aaye huye isne toh mujhse Bukku ke baare mein koi baat hi nahi ki... Toh phasaya kaise?

Cheeni: Agar isne tumhe nahi bataya toh yeh Birth Certificate tumhare paas aayaa kaise? Tumhe kya Jinn deke gaya yeh Certificate...

Bukku: Mimi yaha pe Jinn hai sachchi muchhi ka? (Mrinu held him close to her and put a hand on his mounth to stop him before Bukku chose this moment to ask all sorts of questions. But Biren came and kissed his forehead hai)

Biren: Baad mein sunaunga Betu ek bohot bade Jinn ki kahani

(and hi looked in Mrinu's eyes and winked with a naughty smile and then turned with an immediate change of expression all intense and annoyed. Mrinu got it but was helpless to stop Biren. She knew him well, in this mode he is unstoppable. He had been running 4 estates and a huge business since the age of 12... while studying effortlessly)

Another pertinent question Cheeni... I didn't think among all the people you would put up the most important questions...

Day before yesterday, Robi called me to get a grant for a heart surgery case of a 3 year old child. Of course he knows about my Mrinmayi Trust for such situations... Only this morning I was looking through the necessary details for the immediate processing of the grant and VOILA! I found my child and the moment I saw his Birthdate I knew he is Mine..

Are we done? Phew!! Shankar Da prepare the room next to mine for Bukku... Mrinu chalo Upar chalo aur haa... I need you people to be a bit quiet in the house for a few days... till i get Jalsaghar back in shape. Then ofcourse I will shift my FAMILY there. Bukku needs as much rest as possible. Thank you everybody... (he took Bukku from Mrinu in his own arms, and started to move up the stairs)

Cheeni: Mrinu, mujhe tum se baat karni hai, ABHI!

Biren: Oh come now! Abhi toh thodi der pehle tum mujhe daant rahi thi about my manners Cheeni... Mrinu lambe safar se aayi hai use thoda araam karne do. Arey tumhari behen hai, isi ghar mein hai, baad mein jitni chahe baate kar lena...

And then he turned towards the stairs with Bukku in one arm and another encircling Mrinu...