“Mukundo Babu?” she found him waiting for her at her college gate was taken by surprise. It had been three days since their last meeting. It was very rare for her to not go to him even for one day. The only times she did avoid him was when she would pretend to be angry with him for something. But in those cases within couple of days, she would still be back and wait in his room for him to start reconciliation. That was not the case this time…

“I was coming back from the board meeting. So, I thought I would pick you up on the way.”

Despite what most of his servants and neighbors thought, Mukundo wasn’t ignoring his family business. He didn’t take part in day to day management. But despite his drinking, and visits to the escorts, and the habit of bringing ‘strange’ women home, he did keep an eye on what was going on in the business. As the largest shareholder he took his board duties seriously. Except for attending monthly board meetings, and other occasional meetings, he did not go to the office regularly though. And people assumed that he didn’t care; and was only living off what his grandfather had built and earned; and was wasting time in paintings no one had seen or cared about. He didn’t bother correcting them. He didn’t want to. He was happy being left alone. He didn’t even tell them that his paintings sold. They sold at pretty good prices. But under a pseudonym. He didn’t want to be visible to the world. It was bothersome dealing with people, judging them, correcting them… He didn’t want to do any of that. The only person who knew anything about him was Piyali. She had known since her childhood. And somehow, since early on, she had learned to keep it to herself. A little, pleasant secret of her own!

Presently she didn’t say anything and followed him to his car. After they had started driving, she spoke, “Board meeting usually happens in the first week of the month.”

He was caught. He was lying! He had come only to see her. It was ridiculous to come all the way to her college to see her. But at home, he couldn’t ask anyone. Both her parents worked in his house. Her mother as a cook, and her father as a driver. They stayed in the servant quarters attached to his bunglow. So, if he asked his mother, she wouldn’t be able to rebuff him. But she would frown, and everything in her facial expressions and body language would tell him how unwelcome his queries about Piyali were. Most of the time he wouldn’t be bothered with such behavior. But when it concerned her, he couldn’t tolerate it. He would react. And that cannot be good for anyone. So, the only way out was to not talk about her before anybody. When she did not come back to him after their last meeting, he grew anxious. He was left with no option, but to find her outside the house, in her college.

“You are angry at me,” he said.

“Me?” she almost jumped out of her seat, even within the confines of the seat-belt.

“Ummhmm… I haven’t seen you for last three days.”

“I thought… you were angry at me,” she said in a small voice.

“Don’t be silly, Piyali.”

Her heard her let out a breath. She had been anxious. As anxious as him! It felt good.

—

“So! Big girl, eh? Getting married?” he put up a brave face and teased her about the news. She had just finished her final year exams. Mukundo was returning from a visit to his agent, when he had found Debangi excited distributing sweets amongst all the house staff.

“What is going on?” he had asked.

“There is great news Mukundo Babu,” Debangi today was cheerful even before him, “God bless the girl! Piyali’s marriage has been fixed.”

Mukundo had gotten the shock of his life. Piyali? Married? Already? But he had managed to respond appropriately, “Congratulations Mashi.”

She had taken care of him as a young boy, when his mother was alive, and after she had died. She herself was fairly young then. But he used to call her Mashi. Any bonds of affection had long been broken. The way of addressing had still lingered on.

While picking up a Shondesh from the packet Debangi had offered him, his eyes had fallen on Piyali. She was standing near the kitchen door, look pale and anxious. He did not eat the Shondesh and walked away to his room. Waiting for her to come.

And when she came, he didn’t know what to say or do. So, he had tried to hide behind the humour which would be considered natural under the circumstances.

“You look happy?” she merely said that in response.

“What is the hurry, Piyali?” he shed the façade and asked her miserably. She had always wanted to study further, to get a job, to be independent. And he had encouraged her to. He had financed her education. In one of the best schools in Kolkata. To avoid gossips, he had done that for her younger brother too. Unlike him though, she had done very well in school and got admission and scholarship to one of the most sought after college in the city. And then there was her dance. Something she was devoted to. What would all of it come to? Nought?

“Since Baba’s illness, Ma can’t think of anything else. She can’t focus on Priyendra’s future if I am sitting at home.”

Right! Every Indian mother’s worry. Daughter’s marriage. And a concern for her son’s future if the daughter is not sent away at the earliest. He found it ridiculous. But that couldn’t change other people’s concerns. Debangi would act on hers. And apart from the issue of seeing him, Piyali was an obedient daughter. She wouldn’t defy her.

Mukundo knew exactly what he had to do if he wanted to save her from the potential disaster. But he wouldn’t be able to do that. He just did not have the confidence. He couldn’t be a good husband, or a good family man. His grandfather wasn’t. He still shuddered to think of how violent and abusive a man he was. Thankfully not towards his grandson. But otherwise…  And then his father. It was witnessing his father’s most cruel act that had been Mukundo’s undoing.

“Who is the boy?” he asked presently.

“A senior from college. Apparently he…”

“Apparently he?”

“He had noticed me in the college and wanted to… He sent his parents…”

“What does he do?”

“He is an upper division clerk. He stays in Haldia.”

“What? Haldia? You are going away from Kolkata,” he looked crestfallen.

She just nodded.

Feeling miserable was going to be of no use. He shouldn’t make her feel bad about it. It was a question of her life’s happiness. Since he could not change anything, he should at least try to ensure that she was satisfied and hopeful. Her life need not become a disappointment like his own.

“Don’t look so sad, Piyali. Obviously, he loves you. I’m sure he will support you too. In all your dreams. You will be happy.”

—

“Where are you going?” Piyali was panting as she entered his room. She must have been informed just then!

“To Delhi. My agent wants me to meet someone.”

“When will you be back?”

“I don’t know. It might take a couple of weeks.”

“You won’t be attending the wedding?”

He smiled. A sad; and a brave smile! “Here is your wedding gift,” he handed her a rectangular wrapped package.

“I am not asking about the gift,” she cried in anger.

“Piyali…” he didn’t scold her for being impertinent; just tried to calm her down by gently calling her name.

“Your work can’t wait a week?” she asked miserably.

He looked away for a moment before answering her, “I am afraid, no. But that doesn’t mean that my wishes and blessings are not with you. Here. Take this. And open it after your wedding. Okay?”

She took the package with trembling hands and tearful eyes. She did not answer or acknowledge his question and walked out.

—

To be continued