Tag: love

Reunion (Part 4)

Posted Mish5 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

Piyali stopped at the door on hearing the voice which was familiar, but still new. He had been helping with a kids’ dance performance till then. So nobody had heard him sing. But on that morning, he must have gotten carried away. The girl whom he was trying to teach gaped at him open-mouthed. He wouldn’t stop to let her repeat after him. His eyes were closed and his fingers moved graciously on the harmonium. That deep, soulful voice! Piyali could feel his sadness creeping up on her. She hadn’t felt it quite as well when Maitrayee had answered her questions about him. She walked up to him noiselessly, standing right in front of him. When he opened his eyes, her large eyes were the first thing he noticed. She thought she saw him smile, but only for a split second. Then he abruptly stopped singing and turned hastily to his pupil. “I am sorry – you were not following, I think. Let’s start with the aaroha…”

Piyali turned on her heels and went to the other room to help others practice.

—

“Mukundo Babu!” she caught up with him as he was leaving.

“Piyali!” He tried to act normal, but he was clearly uncomfortable.

“The event is in three days…”

“Are you nervous?”

“Kind of… Charu Di has almost pulled out. So…”

“And you are doing a great job. There is no reason to be nervous.”

“You are just trying to make me feel good, but…”

“No! Piyali. I mean it.”

She looked up at him. He was sincere. She could see it in his eyes. Strangely, she felt her stomach churn, as if she were appearing for an exam.

“Won’t you perform?” she blurted.

“What? Me?”

“Please!”

“But Piyali.”

“I know. I know… I had asked Pishima not to pester you. But… Dadu also talked about your singing. And I heard you this morning. It’d be criminal for you not to perform… This event is for an orphanage, you know…” her voice drowned as she found him looking at her with a strange mixture of desolation and admiration.

“You really want me to perform?”

She nodded, unable to find her voice.

He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “Fine. I will,” he said and turned away quickly.

Thankfully there was a tree nearby on which Piyali could lean. The warmth that had enveloped her threatened to melt her down. She couldn’t have articulated why exactly she was feeling this way. She had attracted attention of men for several years now. But she had been too childlike and mischievous to have fallen for anyone. Universally friendly, she hadn’t attached much importance to any attention she got.

But this was different. Mukundo Babu gave into her wishes! She had been hearing about him from her grand-father. And given the respect the old man showed for him, Piyali had already placed him on a pedestal. That such a man should care about what she wanted from him was enough to make a melting poodle out of her.

—

Old Mr. Thakur was a misogynist and didn’t seem to believe in the institution of marriage. Even when his wife had lived, they hardly ever spoke to each other and slept separately. Till some years ago, Mukundo had wondered how they ever managed to produce two children. That was explained to him by his maashima during a conversation in which she held the old man responsible for the Mukundo and his sister never having a real family of their own.

“She didn’t die of any disease or accident, Mukundo. It was the torment her husband inflicted on her that took away her life,” she rued.

“Torment?”

“Torment is not always physical, my son. Years of insult and neglect…”

“I am not even sure how we came into being then…” the question was bugging him, and even though it was awkward, he voiced it.

She smiled, “He was a misogynist all through. But he wasn’t always averse to enjoying the fruits of married life. Not until that cursed letter sprang out, anyway.”

His mother had, in all innocence and bravado of teenage years, had fallen in love with a neighbourhood boy. Those were the days of early marriages and crushed childhood romances. The inevitable happened to her too, and at the age of eighteen she was married to his father. But she carried out one act of defiance. She kept a letter from her lover with her and brought it to her marital home. Still, it didn’t take her long to forget all about that childish affair and immerse herself in the responsibilities of a new bride and soon a mother. Sometime after the birth of Mrinmoyi, however, his father discovered that letter by accident.

“She tried everything. She tried to explain, she tried to beg, she tried to laugh is off. But he wouldn’t listen. He was never an ideal husband. But after that… I am sorry, Mukundo. I know you respect your father. But he is what he is.”

He respected his father, all right. At least he didn’t talk back to him, nor did he argue with him ever. Because his mother had tirelessly taught him to be respectful to his father. Despite how he had treated her. Indian women!

After her death, Mukundo had been sent off to boarding, while Mrinmoyee was brought up by their childless maashima. Mukundo also spent most of his holidays with her. The siblings had come back to Kolkata to live with their father only when they started attending college.

His marriage, like his sister’s, had happened despite his father, thanks to the efforts of his maashima.  Aporna had come to the same house as a bride. Mukundo sometimes wondered if the house wasn’t cursed. Why would their relationship be so cold otherwise? He wasn’t misogynist like his father. He hadn’t found any letters with Aporna. And even if he had, he wouldn’t have held it against her all their lives. She didn’t seem to have any complaints against him either. Still they weren’t comfortable with each other. They could hardly hold even a short conversation. They irritated each other. The only saving grace was that they knew when they were reaching the breaking point. And instead of indulging in a fight or a shouting match, they removed themselves from the scene. What was wrong? Was it the destiny? That the house should not see a happy family?

In that backdrop it was even more dreadful that Aporna should have died during childbirth. The complications had developed unexpectedly in the last moment. “Mother or child?” was the dreaded question he had faced. He had taken the right decision. “Save Aporna,” he had said. But fate had something else in mind for him. On her deathbed, her eyes were full of accusation. As if he were responsible for condition. As if he had wished this for her. Had he? No! No! Lord, no!

After Aporna’s death, he had found his newborn daughter’s presence agonizing. He didn’t want to feel that way. But try as much as he could, he just couldn’t shake the feeling away. His sister took charge of the baby. He let it be that way. And even left the country before Sumedha had even turned one.

She was an orphan despite her father being alive. And Piyali! She was raising funds for an orphanage.

—

To be continued

Reunion (Part 3)

Posted Mish3 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

“Mukundo Babu. Is it okay, if I dropped them home first and then we walked to the bookstore. I would also like to check some books out.”

“Yeah… Okay…”

Mukundo oserved Piyali with the girls. They were only slightly older than Sumedha. She was handling them so naturally as if she had a lifetime of experience with kids. His own guilt towards his daughter threatened to engulf him. To distract himself, he struck a conversation with her.

“Why were they crying? Who scolded them?”

“Oh that… We are organizing a charity event. Charu Didi – she lives nearby – is directing a dance of young children. She loses her patience easily…”

“Hmm… But you don’t?”

“Not with kids. Scaring and scolding is not going to help them learn.”

“True!”

“There! Will you wait for a minute? Their homes are at the end of this lane.”

“Yeah.”

—

Her book shopping could have waited. The real reason she had wanted to walk with him after dropping the girls was that she wanted to clear the air between them. She hadn’t realized earlier that her grand-father and Mukundo were so close. This closeness spelt danger for her… She couldn’t risk getting exposed before her grand-father.

But she couldn’t even open her mouth all the way to the bookstore. Now that the girls were not around, even his interest in conversation seemed to have disappeared. He was keeping his eyes to the road ahead of him and walking wordlessly.

They went in, did their book shopping and came out, without her acting on her intention of speaking to him. He even took her leave and they went their own ways. It was then that she finally found the courage and ran after him.

“Mukundo Babu!”

He stopped, puzzled as she stopped in front of him.

“What happened? Everything all right?”

“Yes. No. I am sorry.”

“Excuse me?”

“I am sorry. About the chewing gum…”

“Chewing gum?”

“You always knew it was me, didn’t you? Thank you for not telling, Dadu. You won’t tell him now, would you?”

He guffawed despite himself. She was apologizing for the five-year old mischief.

“It’s okay, Piyali. It wasn’t a big deal. I had no intention of telling Banerjee Babu. Not then. Not now. Just… don’t do it again, okay?”

She nodded like a chastised child.

“Go home, silly girl.”

She found herself gawking after him as he strode off. He had looked and sounded so different just now. In his melancholy, he looked old, tired and grumpy. But just now, he had sounded young, happy and carefree. A simple laugh could make so much of difference! Why didn’t he laugh more often? She would have to ask Maitrayee about this enigmatic relative of hers.

—

When Mukundo went to meet Mr. Banerjee the next day, he found Maitrayee also there, chatting away with Piyali.

“Boudi?”

“Why! You are so surprised, Mukundo? Did you forget that this is my Kaku’s place?”

“Of course not, Boudi. How are you?”

“I am fine, Mukundo, but my little niece here is in trouble.”

“Pishima!” Piyali flushed. Mukundo also looked awkward.

“She is organizing a charity event. And they don’t have even volunteer performers. The budget for paid performance is limited. Why don’t you help her out?”

“How can I help?” If it was the money, Maitrayee herself could have helped much better than Mukundo. Mukundo was still dependent on his father for the family money, while Maitrayee and her husband were independent.

“How? By performing, of course.”

“Me? Boudi, are you crazy?”

“Oh! Don’t try to fool me, Mukundo. I have known you in the days when you didn’t go around looking like a zombie. You must perform. And you must also help her train the kids who are performing. That Charu is useless with kids.”

“I don’t know about performing, Boudi. But I can try helping others prepare.”

“But Mukundo.”

“Pishima,” Piyali intervened, “You must not pester him. If he can help even with others, I’d be happy.” She turned to him, “If it won’t be too much of trouble, Mukundo Babu.”

“No. It won’t… be any trouble. When do you practice?”

“Mornings.”

“I can come after my jog…”

“Oh, not that early. More like at ten.”

“That’s convenient then.”

—

Helping her with the preparations invariably led to more conversations. He learned that she had finished her post-graduation and was joining a school as a teacher after summer vacations.

“Following your Dadu’s footsteps.”

“Sort of.”

“What will you teach?”

“English and Social Studies.”

“Good.”

“Those are not your subjects, but still you could probably give some tips for being a teacher.”

“Me?”

“You also used to teach before you went to US, right?”

“Yeah. Well…”

“Dadu says you were a very good teacher.”

“That is something only students can know.”

“Well, your students did well, didn’t they?”

“I would like to think so.”

“You are so diffident.”

“I am just aware that schools can teach you only so much.”

“Hmm… You should have been a philosopher, not a Physicist.”

He chuckled and she stared at him.

“What?” he grew conscious of her gaze.

“Nothing,” she shook her head and turned away from him on some pretext.

—

To be continued

Reunion (Part 2)

Posted Mish6 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

Although he was the elder brother and the only sibling, Mukundo did not have much to do at the wedding. His maashima was in-charge of the arrangements. His sister Mrinmoyee too was an expert not only at maintaining a large circle of friends, but also at having comfortable relationships with relatives. So, Mukundo found himself at leisure, because all these people along with the wedding planners his father had generously decided to pay for were taking care of all the arrangements. He dawdled about the house aimlessly running into someone or other from time to time and exchanging necessary pleasantries until Maitrayee, Shroban’s wife, accosted him.

“Mukundo. Are you busy with something?”

“Me? I haven’t been so jobless in years.”

“Why don’t you visit, Kaku? He has been asking about you.”

“Kaku?”

“My Kaku.”

She was talking about Piyali’s father.

“Visit him where?”

“At his home. Where else?”

“Banerjee Babu is in Kolkata?”

“Of course. You have no idea about what is going on in the world, do you?”

That explained Piyali’s presence during wedding festivities. She was too distant a relative to be invited from Haldia for the wedding of his sister. But staying in the same city was different.

“Go Mukundo. You need to be around people. You have cooped yourself up for too long.”

—

Mr. Banerjee welcomed Mukundo warmly. They had met through their common relative Maitrayee, but had developed a relationship of intimacy and respect of their own, based on their common profession and passion of teaching. After the death of his son, Mr. Banerjee had gotten a transfer to Haldia to be with his daughter-in-law and young grand-daughter. That was when Mukundo had visited Haldia as an external examiner and had first met Piyali as a seventeen-year old mischievous girl. After Mr. Banerjee retired and Piyali finished her under graduation, he had come back to Kolkata with both women and was staying in his ancestral house.

“I hope your plans of returning to teaching after Ph. D. is still on, Mukundo?” he asked with his kind smile.

“As long as I manage to finish Ph. D.”

“Oh – you will! I’m sure of that.”

“Ph. D. isn’t just another degree…”

“I’m sure of that.” He paused for a moment; then spoke hesitatingly, “Mukundo. I don’t know if I should be mentioning this. But…”

“Why should you be hesitant is saying anything to me, Banerjee Babu. Please!”

“Between the two of us, we have taught many children. But… what about your own daughter? You have left her to her own devices till now, no disrespect for your sister, but still… What now?”

Mukundo sighed and leaned back.

“I didn’t mean to put you on spot,” the old man added hastily, “I just hear about her from Maitrayee very often. She deserves your attention.”

Before Mukundo could respond to that, they were distracted by a commotion at the door. Piyali walked in with two young girls in her tow. They both were sniffling, while Piyali was lecturing them. “How can you be so silly? You know how she is… You just have to practice a bit more…”

“What happened, Pihu?”

Piyali straightened up in hearing her grand-father’s voice. “Nothing Dadu. Charu Di scolded them about lack of practice for the programme and they started crying. I had to bring them away.” Her deference to her grand-father was quite a contrast to her usual mischievous ways.

Then she noticed him and flushed like last time. But to his relief, she did not run away. Else he would have been left behind to explain to her grand-father the reason behind her flight.

“You know Mukundo…”

“Of course. Nomoshkaar!” she greeted him.

He returned the greeting with a smile.

“Will you ask your mother to send some tea and snacks, Pihu?”

“Yes Dadu.”

Mr. Banerjee did not resume their earlier conversation after Piyali left. Instead he started telling Mukundo about a second-hand book shop that had opened in the neighbourhood and how sometimes you could find rather rare gems there.

Mukundo asked him for the directions to the book shop when he took his leave.

“You plan to go now?”

“Yeah. You said its nearby, right?”

“Yes. But the shortcut is through some mazelike streets. Let me ask Pihu. She would walk you down.”

“Oh no, no, Banerjee Babu. No need to trouble her. I will find out.”

“Don’t worry, Mukundo. She has to take those girls home anyway.”

—

To be continued

Reunion (Part 1)

Posted Mish1 CommentPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

She was twirling around with her dupatta flying high. When she let it go, it flew straight to him and draped itself over him. He slipped it off his face. A sudden chill invaded his nose.

He had slipped the blanket off his face while dreaming and the morning was unusually chill for Kolkata weather. What on earth was he dreaming about? Rather who?

A memory from last night crept in.

He had excused himself from celebrations last night. He had just landed after a 24 hour journey from US and deserved to take rest. But jetlag had kept him from falling asleep. Bored, he had peered through his window and watched people in the yard below. Everyone looked busy. Or unaccountably jolly. Like her!

She had run in laughing, her dupatta barely holding around her long, slender neck. Somebody was following her and bidding her to return his wallet. He was stern, but she wasn’t daunted. Recklessly ducking her pursuer, she couldn’t care less for the elders glaring at her disapprovingly. There was something familiar in her laughter. But the familiarity was distant. As if he had heard it in some other life time.

Jetlag was getting to him, he had thought and had come back to bed. Then he had dreamed about her and her dupatta. And in such a cheesy fashion too! He shouldn’t have come to India. He was losing his mind.

But he had to come back! It was his sister’s wedding. She was going to go away, leaving him with so much to worry about… He hadn’t slept well and was groggy. But at that thought he dragged himself out of bed.

—

“That’s enough, Piyali. You have been wreaking havoc,” he heard his cousin, Shroban, reprimanding someone. Piyali! The name rang a bell.

“What do you know of wreaking havoc, Dada Babu? You have never left a pen at the wrong place in your entire life?” she grinned as Mukundo tried to recall why the voice and name sounded familiar.

“I know all about it, when you are around. Anyway. Mukundo. You remember Piyali, of course?”

Mukudo looked at Shroban quizzically.

“Maitrayee’s cousin, Mukundo! Don’t you remember staying with him in Haldia once? I can’t believe you would not have come across this brat.”

Ah! The memories came flooding back. She had been singing that night. Her room was just above his. Sitting at her window she seemed to be addressing the darkness of night with her song, seeing something cheerful even in that. It was some recently released song with nonsensical lyrics. Her voice was not trained. But it was sweet. And lively. And full of mischief, especially when she had broken into “Pari hoon main…”

Aporna’s death was barely four months old affair by then. He had been consumed by guilt and confusion. The biggest source of his guilt was that he did not mind her death as much as he should have. It grew worse whenever he recalled the accusation in her eyes when she had died. As if he was responsible for it.

Presently he saw Piyali flush unaccountably.

“What is it?” Shroban did not miss the change in her countenance either.

“I was hoping to avoid him,” she replied.

“Whom? Mukundo? Why?”

She giggled and ran away.

“I have no idea,” Mukundo shrugged when Shroban turned to him, although he did have an idea. A faint one… That chewing gum on his coat must not have been an accident. He had thought so even then. But she was the grand-daughter of his host, who happened to be a distant relative, a professional mentor and also the principle of the school where he was going as an examiner. He couldn’t have created an issue over it. He had to do with his regular sweater, instead of the formal coat he preferred for such occasions.

“Baba,” he started at the sound. It was his five-year old daughter, Sumedha, “Dadu is calling you.”

“Tell him, I am coming in a bit,” Speaking to his father was an exercise in enduring unpleasantness. He respected his father too much to avoid him when asked for. But he would need to gather all his will power before he went to him.

“Baba?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t I go with, Pishima?”

“No.” He shouldn’t have been so curt. He should say something tender, comforting. It was his daughter. A five-year old innocent child. But why did she make him so miserable? “Don’t worry, Sumedha,” he managed to pat her head in a gesture of reassurance. It didn’t have any effect on the child.

—

“You aren’t thinking of leaving your Ph. D. for that chit of a girl, are you?”

“I could take her with me…”

“Bah! And you think you can concentrate on your work while feeding a five-year old.”

“What is the alternative?”

“I am not dead yet.”

“Baba. You can’t…”

“Run after her. Yes. But I can afford to send her to a boarding school.”

“I don’t know… I will have to think about it.”

“I have already thought about it.”

To put it mildly, his father didn’t encourage arguments. Not that Mukundo knew what he wanted to argue for. His sister, who had taken care of Sumedha till now, even if less than perfectly, wanted a life and family of her own. So, he had to decide now what he wanted to do with his daughter? He should take care of her. But could he? He had left for his Ph. D. in US when she was less than a year old. In last four years, his only contact with her had been over video chat. She was comfortable in talking to him. But living with him? She had only known her pishima as her guardian all this while. What was he to do if her pishima was abandoning her now? But when her father had abandoned her so long back, who was to blame her pishima?

—

To be continued

Not the Lovers (Part 9)

Posted Mish8 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

Mukundo began typing an apology. He had crossed the lines too soon. Why would she go so silent otherwise? He had either freaked her out or…

The knock on his bedroom door stopped him from hitting send.

“Piyali!” he grew wide-eyed as he opened the door.

She smiled nervously.

“What are you doing here?”

“That’s not a fair question after the message you sent…”

“You shouldn’t have come…”

“Why not?”

“All this is… too much… too soon…”

“Twenty three years of my life… a broken engagement… almost scandalous… Weeks of uncertainty… Confronting my father… It is too soon?”

He let her in before he replied. “You had lied when you said that I knew everything about you. This was a side I had never known…”

“You had chosen to ignore and overlook.”

“And you never tried to show me…”

“You were beyond me, Mukundo Babu.”

He sighed. “I can’t blame you for thinking so. I should have known better…”

“Hmm… But things would have been pretty boring, if we had known all along…”

He chuckled and pulled her in his arms. “Thanks for coming, Piyali. You have no idea what it means.”

She smiled shyly and averted her eyes.

“But you should leave now,” he added, “It’s late…”

She looked offended.

“I will always respect your decisions and judgment, Mukundo Babu. Obviously yours are superior to mine, like they have always been. But I will ask for one concession now. You can’t keep treating me like a child. If you think that ours should be a platonic relationship. Not just now, but even forever, that’s what I will go with. But you still can’t treat me like a child…”

“No. I can’t. And that’s not the reason…”

“We aren’t married yet…” she couldn’t help taking another guess at the cause of his hesitation.

“No silly,” he smiled fondly, “I am not in that camp. I am just scared…

“Scared?”

“Yes. Scared… Of the intensity of my feelings… I had been oblivious of them all these years. And now that I aware… they are so strong that they threaten to tear me apart… And I worry about what they will do to you…”

“Let’s get torn apart together then…”

He looked at her for a long moment, and she met his gaze steadily.

“Yes. Let’s,” he said at last, “Let’s tear each other apart. Let’s get torn apart together. It’s worth it.”

She closed her eyes as his breath on her neck made her hair stand up. Then he went ahead and planted a kiss there.

“Mukundo Babu!” she hissed.

He withdrew slightly, but continued holding her; then led her to the bed.

“It hasn’t been long,” he whispered as he laid her down, “Since I first imagined you here… on this bed… in my arms… But ever since I did, I didn’t remain the same man… The idea of love, marriage, family… It didn’t remain alien to me any longer… It became real… It became a necessity even…  After a long, long time, Piyali… the idea of being rooted, of being connected to one person again became appealing to me…” He held her close and tight as he bared his heart to her, “Everyone, including you, thought that I had over-reacted to a betrayal in my life. Sometimes even I thought so. But you know what I think now? I think it was my destiny that I should react like that to it. So that I had the patience to wait for you… Having you was my destiny… One I can’t complain about…”

He noticed the tears that had filled her eyes and were now running down her cheek. He lowered his lips and kissed them away.

He withdrew for a moment to take off his kurta. As he looked at her shivering form and a thought suddenly struck him.

“I know… it isn’t a good time to ask. But I must know. Is this… your first time?”

She drew in a sharp breath at the question, and closed her eyes before nodding.

He had asked the questions only out of a concern for her well-being. So, he almost felt ashamed that her reply caused his desire to swell even further. Primitive instincts! Checking those with difficulty, he told her, “It might be awkward, or uncomfortable. And if that happens, you must tell me.”

“Mukundo Babu, please!” she was impatient and embarrassed at the same time.

“No. Skirting around won’t do. You must tell me. Promise me.”

She nodded.

His primary urges were so potent that it took him all his will power and some more to not immediately pounce on her. He slowly undressed her and gave every inch on her body his attention. He waited for the confirmation of the effects of his ministrations in her low moans and hard breaths. Only then did he let go of his restraints and enter her. If he hadn’t warned her about potential discomfort, she might have cried out. But being forewarned, she managed to bite her tongue in time.  It was painful, painful enough to drive out all other sensations she had been feeling just moments ago. It, however, gave her opportunity to notice how ecstatic he was.  She closed her eyes feeling his presence around and inside her. After the first sensation of pain died, she realized that it wasn’t that bad. It was still uncomfortable, but not painful. Few moments later, she started enjoying it. And before she knew it, she was moaning again.

—

“Are you okay?” he asked even before he had caught his breath.

“Yes.”

Relieved, he collapsed beside her. After a while, he propped himself up on his arms and gazed at her.

“What?” she asked, happy, but embarrassed.

“So many questions are bubbling up in my head. But I shouldn’t be asking right now?”

“Why not? Ask.”

“Okay… Then first of all… How was it?”

“What?”

He grinned.

“Oh God! Mukundo Babu. No!”

He laughed. A hearty and happy laugh.

“Do you have something else to ask?” she pretended being cross.

“Hmm… yes,” his eyes twinkled with mischief. She had never seen him like this earlier. And it was heartening to think that she was the cause of his liveliness. But to her disappointment he grew sober as he spoke, “It’s odd to be asking this. I don’t know if I should… But with you, Piyali… I tend to think I can take liberties.”

“Of course, you can, Mukundo Babu. Just ask…”

“You and Pronab… I am surprised, you never… You had decided to get married!”

She sighed. “I told him I was not comfortable and he respected that.”

“Hmm…” a slight smile appeared on his face. Given that she had been so forthcoming with him, he assumed that it was an alibi.

“I wasn’t lying,” she said, “I wasn’t comfortable.”

“It feels boorish to say this – but I am happy to hear that.”

“And I am happy to see you happy, whatever be the reason.”

“Don’t be in any doubt about that. You are the sole reason.” He bent and kissed her forehead.

She smiled, overwhelmed.

“We need to get married soon,” he said again, “But right now there are facades to be maintained. You need to go back.”

“Yes,” she sat up, clearly sorry at the realization, but understanding the necessity of it.

“Piyali.”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Mukundo Babu.”

– The End –

Not the Lovers (Part 8)

Posted Mish5 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

His smile after Mr. Banerjee left was strained and she did not fail to notice it.

“I hadn’t planned it, Mukundo Babu,” she started explaining, “It’s just that he asked about you, how you were not quite yourself and then one thing followed from another… I put you in a situation you were not prepared for. I am sorry.”

“It has ended very well, hasn’t it?”

“I would think so…” her throat went dry at the thought that he didn’t sound enthusiastic. “But looks like it hasn’t…”

“Oh! Piyali. Don’t hate me for this. I am just confused.”

“Confused?”

“I don’t know what to do… what to say… What do you want me to do, Piyali? What will make you happy?”

“Mukundo Babu!”

“I am not… not joking…” he sighed.

“Mukundo Babu… I am not a stranger. You have known me all my life. It’s absurd that you should be anxious about me…”

“That’s why I am anxious. Because I have known you all your life. But I have never…”

“Oh God! I got it all wrong, didn’t I? I’m so sorry, Mukundo Babu. I should never have opened my mouth before Baba…”

“Why are you saying that?”

“What?”

“Why should you not have spoken to Kaku? What was that?”

“What’s wrong with you, Mukundo Babu? One minute you look so crestfallen that I said what I did. And the next minute you are wondering why I regret saying it?”

“Crestfallen? Oh no! Now – I am the one doing it all wrong. That’s not what I meant. Wait… Let’s start from the beginning…  Just the thought of you going away had made me miserable. I had been an absolute idiot to not realize what our relationship had to be. And so… I never treated you like a… like a lover… And I may not know how to…”

“Didn’t you claim to know that you now know what romantic tomfoolery I liked?” she smiled assuredly now.

“Yes… yes… And yet…”

“You won’t be arranging for midnight delivery of teddy bears for me?”

“I can, I suppose…”

“But you won’t be comfortable.”

He looked guilty.

“What you need to remember, Mukundo Babu,” she went forward and held his hands, “Is that the romantic tomfoolery did not keep me committed to that relationship. Even though Pronab was a great guy. Because he was not you. He had to give midnight teddy bears, because he could not have given me the comfort of arranging a library I love and know by heart.  He didn’t even know how gardening beside you relaxes me and rids me of all my exhaustion and stress.  He couldn’t have introduced me to, or shared with me, the joys of early morning riyaaz. He wasn’t you. But even he could see that I could do without a lover. I couldn’t do without you, Mukundo Babu. Don’t be lover, if you don’t want to be…”

“But I want to be… Just that… Ideally, we should have given each other time before telling anyone else… But that was not possible. I couldn’t have… gone ahead with our relationship when I had such doubts about its acceptance. I couldn’t have risked both ours heartbreaks…  So, it had to happen the way it did. And now here I am… I want to be the lover you deserve, Piyali. I’m just afraid…”

“Why do you want to be that?”

“I want to see you happy.”

“Then don’t try to be my lover. Just be my Mukundo Babu.”

“And continue scolding you for not being disciplined?”

“Yes.”

“And continue using you as my slave labor?”

“Yes,” she chuckled slightly.

“And continue dragging you out of your bed for riyaaz even on cold, winter mornings.”

“Yes. Please.”

“That sounds simple enough.”

“It is.”

“But I may want more.”

“What?”

He disengaged his hands from hers and cupped her face.

“Piyali!”

The change in his voice was unmistakable. He was her lover, whether he wanted to be or not. He didn’t have to try!

She averted her eyes.

“Piyali. May I?”

She gulped hard, and nodded slightly.

He gently rubbed his lips against hers, and teased them enough to make her open her mouth. But the passionate assault she was expecting after that never came. Instead he withdrew. She looked at him in confusion.

“I need to go slow,” he said in a voice heavy with desire, “You and I – we need to get used to this.”

She wanted to scream out that there was no need to go slow. That she was ready for this and much more. But she couldn’t have said so much to him. Instead she just threw her arms around his torso and gently rested her head against his chest. Then ever so slightly, she planted a kiss there, drawing an audible gasp from him.

He gently pushed her away.

“My restraint is weak, Piyali,” he said, his eyes smiling helplessly, “Don’t test it. Kaku is outside. There will be a lot to answer for.”

She flushed and stepped back.

Much to her annoyance and his, his phone rang.

“Who is it?” she couldn’t help asking.

“Subodh.” That was his accountant.

“Take it,” she said, although she did not want him to take the call at all. But she remembered how anxious he was about playing the role of a lover. So, she didn’t want to stress him out. He needn’t feel that he was under any obligation to live his life differently, just because she was now there…. Well – she had always been there in his life. But now she was there as his lover! She didn’t want him to regret that.

He nodded and picked the call.

“What… Wrong numbers… Last date? … I must come there? … Why Subodh, couldn’t you…. Let me see… I will call you back…”

“What happened?”

“Some property tax papers had to be filed. They got submitted with wrong data earlier. And today is the last day to file corrections without fine…”

“You need to go?”

He nodded, looking guilty yet again.

“Then go. I am not going to disappear,” she managed to smile.

“I will be late in coming back.”

“Till when is the office open?”

“Filing has to be done online. But I must go over…”

“See you tomorrow then.”

“Yeah,” he smiled and awkwardly stepped away. He should have kissed her. He should have said bye. But instead he abruptly turned on his heels when he reached near the door and went out. Piyali slumped back on her bed.

—

“Awake?” she was surprised to see his text. He never texted. He would rather call her, if he needed to talk. But then, never before had he needed to talk to her at midnight. Only she did that, on his birthday.

“Yes. Came back now?” she replied

“Just a while back.”

“Go to sleep now. It’s too late.”

“Probably it’s my turn at tomfoolery now. But Piyali. I have never pined for anyone, not even for you, like I am pining for you now. I wish you were here…”

Her breath caught in her throat on reading that. Was it he, indeed? His romantic tomfoolery was good enough to kill her in a moment. To think that he thought he couldn’t be a lover! She wondered how to reply.

—

To be continued

Not the Lovers (Part 7)

Posted Mish5 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

“What happened, Pishima?”

The old woman looked pale and haggard as she disconnected the call.

“Nothing, my child. Nothing to worry about… It seems Pronab has fallen ill.”

“Ill? He was fine until…”

“Dehydration, it seems. Nothing to worry about, really. But we will have to postpone the engagement… Don’t worry my child…”

“I am fine, Pishima. But will he be okay….”

“Yes… Yes…”

—

The first thing Mukundo noticed on entering Piyali’s room was a pink lehanga laid out on the bed. He smiled uncomfortably at her. “You are all right?”

“I am. But I am not sure about everyone else. Pishima is so miserable right now. I think his parents have confessed to her what he told them. That he doesn’t want to go ahead with the wedding. Baba has only bene told the story about his illness though. What do I do?”

“Put them out of misery. Tell them that you are okay with his decision.”

“Hmm… And I won’t be lying either.”

“Go on, then.”

—

“Pronab told you?” Her Pishima was aghast.

“That’s fine, Pishima. The face is that even I was growing uncomfortable. I am not sure I was ready to go away from Baba and Mukundo Babu.”

“Whatever could you mean… You can’t spend your life waiting on these two men, my child. And this…”

“Pishima. This wasn’t meant to be. It’s not his fault. He just sensed my hesitation. Tell Baba the truth and let go.”

“You? How could you…. Pihu…”

“I didn’t tell him to do this, Pishima. Trust me. But I am relieved. So, please let go…”

—

“You didn’t call me. I have been back from work for half-an-hour.”

“I have gotten out of the habit…” Mukundo smiled weakly.

“Well… Things are back to normal now, aren’t they?”

He took some time before replying, “Are they, Piyali?”

“Mukundo Babu!”

“We can’t keep looking the other way, Piyali. If we really want things to be normal, we have to talk it out.”

She nodded willing her heart to stop thumping the way it was.

“You have sacrificed a great deal for me, Piyali. The promise of a wonderful future…”

“We are starting on wrong foot then. I didn’t sacrifice… I merely got out of a situation which would have made us both miserable.”

“Granted. But even if for a short while, you had dreamt of love, a married life, a family, hadn’t you? Shouldn’t that dream be fulfilled?”

“Can… it… be?” she looked down and asked in a quivering voice.

“I don’t know. There are other people involved… But before we try to find out, we must know whether it will be acceptable to you…”

“Must I answer that first?”

“You are the only one who has to answer that, Piyali. Because as for me… Pronab has been very generous, God bless him. But he took away my peace of mind, by making me acutely aware of all your charms I had missed. By showing me just how desirable a woman you are… God! Piyali. Will I ever get out of this mess I have created…”

“Mukundo Babu!”

“Is it acceptable to you?”

“You know everything about me…”

“I need to hear it.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere except beside you my whole life. And if it helps, I didn’t just discover one day that you are attractive. I had a school-girl crush on you for long time. It just didn’t seem wise to act on it though…”

The most natural reaction for Mukundo was to pull her in his arms and let her feel his need. He even moved forward to do just that. But stopped short. Piyali noticed him clenching his fist and realized what effort it took for him to control himself. She gave him a helpless smile.

“Go Piyali. It is a long way before things can be normal again. I need to figure something out.”

She nodded and turned on her heels to obey him.

—

“Is Mukundo not coming today, Pihu?” Mr. Banerjee asked when the tea was brought in.

“Don’t know, Baba. I didn’t go there today.”

“Is everything okay, Shona? He has been behaving weird since…” his voice trailed away. He didn’t want to remind Piyali of the broken engagement.

“Baba. You don’t have to feel bad about the engagement incident. It was for good, trust me. I wasn’t ready to go away. Me and Pronab are still friends.”

“Are you?”

“We are.”

“If you are all right, what is wrong with Mukundo?”

“He is lonely, Baba.”

He sighed. “Is it a surprise, if he is? That one incident, years ago… And he refused to get married ever…”

“Is it too late for him now, Baba?”

“Why would it be too late? But does he think otherwise now?”

“Suppose he does, but suppose the girl in question is an unlikely candidate… like suppose she is not his age…”

“Why are you talking about, Pihu…”

“Suppose it is someone you don’t quite approve of…”

“Pihu, why are you being so cryptic? Ask him to talk to me. If it is someone he is having difficulty talking to, I am there. More importantly Didi is there. You know how deft she is with all these things…”

“Supposed it’s me…”

“Pihu!”

Just then they heard a click at the door and an unsuspecting Mukundo walked in. He stopped in his tracks though on noticing the expressions on their faces.

“What… what happened?”

Piyali started talking hurriedly. “Baba. Whatever you think, I assure you he hasn’t done anything that you can object to. Don’t be hard on him, Baba…”

“Go inside, Pihu. I need to talk to Mukundo.”

“Baba…”

“Leave.” Piyali didn’t remember when her father had been so firm while talking to her. He wasn’t shouting, but she knew that she had to obey him. With one frightened glance at Mukundo, she left them to go to her room.

—

It would not have been more ten minutes before there was a knock on her door. But Piyali was sure she had waited for at least an hour.

“Is this what you want, Pihu? You are sure?”

“Baba…”

“Answer my questions, Shona.”

“Yes Baba.”

“Well then… So be it. What do I want except your happiness?”

“Baba!” she couldn’t believe her ears for a moment.

“What?” he smiled at her.

She ran to him and hugged him, “Baba. Thank you, Baba. Thank you so much…”

“God bless you, my child. God bless you both…” Only then did she notice that Mukundo had accompanied her father. His smiling face was all she needed to see to know just how happy and content he was.

“Pishima will be mad at me,” she said as she withdrew from her father’s embrace.

“I have left you to other people’s care for far too long. For once, I will take responsibility for your happiness, Pihu. Don’t worry about Didi. I will handle her.”

“Thank you, Baba.”

“Just let me know when you want the wedding to be. I am not risking an engagement this time.”

They all laughed. He planted a kiss on her forehead and left her room, remembering to shut the door behind him.

—

To be continued

Not the Lovers (Part 6)

Posted Mish7 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

“Did he say something, Pronab? Why is he so upset? Why is he drinking non-stop?”

“Sit down, Piyali.”

“Pronab. Is something the matter?”

“You have often worried about your Baba, haven’t you? Who would look after him after you leave? And you have…”

“Mukundo Babu…”

“Yes. He would. He would look after your Baba. But what about Mukundo Babu himself, Piyali?”

“What do you mean? Is there something wrong…”

“Your Baba doesn’t even realize how much he is going to miss you. But Mukundo Babu does. He is already missing you…”

Tears ran down her cheeks. “He is suffering because of me…”

“Piyali. My relationships didn’t work out in past, because I wanted a magic in them. I saw it in you. But I was mistaken slightly. It wasn’t with me Piyali. It was with him.”

That alarmed her. “What are you talking about, Pronab? I accept that Mukundo Babu is… he is the most important person in my life. And would continue to be so. But there is nothing…”

“Nothing even remotely romantic or sexual about your relationship. I know. And yet – he has this all-consuming need for you. What you have… It would be a pity to destroy it for another romantic or sexual relationship.”

Piyali had an uncomprehending, stupefied look on her face.

Pronab had to continue explaining, “Let me guess what you are thinking. You think I have changed my mind and am now playing all these tricks with you to absolve myself of the responsibility. No. Piyali. I have not changed my mind. I am only giving you and him a chance to change your minds. And if you decide not to, I promise that the rest of our lives would go on like we never had this conversation. I do love you, and I will support in whatever you decide to do. For now, I think you should deal with him yourself.”

—

“Pishima. Have you seen, Mukundo Babu?”

“He was complaining of headache. I think he has gone home. Must be tired with all these preparations. Where are you going…”

But Piyali ran out without bothering to reply.

—

“You aren’t exactly her brother, are you?” Pronab’s words would not stop haunting him.

“She is learning to speak better every day. Soon, she wouldn’t tire of calling you by name – Mukundo Dada…” Debangi had remarked all those years ago.

“Why should she call me Dada?”

“What else would she call you?”

“Why? I have a name.”

“But you are elder to her… That would be disrespectful…”

“I am not her brother. She won’t call me Dada.”

“Oh! This is our little rebellious American,” his mother had interjected, “Let it go, Debangi. And who knows…”

But Debangi wasn’t going to let go either. Finally a compromise had been reached. She would call him Mukundo Babu.  It was respectful enough.

This wasn’t the day or situation in his mind when he had childishly fought about what Piyali would call him. But was it providence? What was his mother hinting at with her interrupted “Who knows…”

“Mukundo Babu!” Startled out of his thoughts, he spilled some of the drink from the glass he had again filled up for himself.

“Piyali. What are you doing here? You should be getting ready…”

“After all the love and care and protection you have given me for so long, this was the best I could give you? This pain… This desolation… These drinks…”

“What is your favorite color, Piyali?”

“Pink. Don’t you know?”

“And your favorite sweet dish?”

“The ice cream you make…”

“Have you had a boyfriend?”

“When I was in fourth standard…”

“The one with a running nose?”

“Shut up! Don’t insult him… He is a police officer now.”

“I should be scared, then. Is there anything about you that I don’t know, Piyali?”

“Nothing.”

“Yes. Now I even know what romantic tomfoolery you enjoy. And how beautiful a bride, and how lovely a wife you will make… But it’s too late…”

“Nobody will ever be more important than you in my life, Mukundo Babu. Wherever I am…”

“No. At least on that count your fiancé is right. That is not possible. And that will not be right for you or for him. He will be the most important person for you from now on. And that’s how it should be…”

“Why should it be like that?” Pronab’s voice rang in the library. He was standing at the door.

Piyali and Mukundo stared at him embarrassed. For how long he had been there?

“I am sorry, I could not help listening,” he explained, “Kakima sent me here to find you, Piyali. Why should it be like that? Things can change. We aren’t even engaged yet.”

“I appreciate your spirit of self-sacrifice, Pronab,” Mukundo spoke, “But please don’t do anything rash. It will only result in misery and scandal.”

“Mukundo Babu…”

“No. Listen to me. We are all under a lot of emotional stress. And yes – I will suffer. But all of us know that you two will be happy together. You have also accepted it, haven’t you? Don’t let go of that certainty for a very uncertain alternative possibility that we have here. Me and Piyali, we are not lovers. And nobody might accept us as such. Who knows how Kaku or Pishima will react? Everyone will be unhappy…”

“And what does Piyali think? You don’t think you can make a one-sided decision for Piyali, do you, Mukundo Babu?”

Piyali stood bewildered, looking from one to the other.

“Piyali. Don’t feel guilty. And don’t let your guilt cloud your decision. It’s unfounded. You are not giving me pain. Or desolation… All these years, you have anchored my life; made it worth-living. You deserve your happiness, my love. And I will be very happy, if you are happy. Trust me.”

He was quite unaware of the unusual expression he had used for address her – ‘my love’. But Piyali, and Pronab, noticed.

“Listen to your heart, Piyali,” Pronab said.

“Don’t send me away, Mukundo Babu,” Piyali spoke after a long, uncomfortable pause, “We don’t have to create a scandal. We don’t have to be lovers. I will just not get married. It is as simple as that.”

“But Piyali. Pronab…”

“I’d like to wander some more, Mukundo Babu. In search of that magic. Who knows…”

“The engagement. Guests have been invited…”

“Leave that to me to get it postponed. Without a scandal… I promise… You two go to Kakima. And you would do well to use a chewing gum, Mukundo Babu. I can smell alcohol even from here. I am going home. Mom and Dad are furious that I am here since morning.”

—

To be continued

Not the Lovers (Part 5)

Posted Mish3 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

By the time Pronab and his parents had left, Piyali was exhausted and uncomfortable despite her initial enthusiasm to adorn herself to impress them. She tripped when she got up. Mukundo supported her and walked her to her room.

“Who had asked you to wear this monstrous dress? You look good enough in your salwar-kameez…”

“Well –for a change – it got a complement out of you, instead of complaint.”

“Piyali…” he softened immediately, “I…”

“I was joking, Mukundo Babu. Relax.” She sat down and squeezed a large teddy bear in her arms.

“Where did that come from?”

She blushed. “Pronab! He is mad, Mukundo Babu. He had it sent yesterday at midnight. To celebrate three-week anniversary of our first meeting. Can you imagine such tomfoolery?”

She had worded it ostensibly as a complaint. But she wasn’t complaining at all. It was her romantic dream come true. Since she was old enough keep awake till midnight, she had always wished Mukundo on his birthday at midnight. Either by barging into his home, or at least on phone. But he thought the practice childish and never returned the favor on her birthday. Wishes could wait until morning.

“Change into something comfortable,” he told her and came out of the room.

—

Their engagement was scheduled for after pujo.  The wedding would be in February. Pronab’s family was to stay in Kolkata for pujo. Piyali was on cloud nine.

“We must show Pronab all the Kolkata glory of pujo, Mukundo Babu. He has never seen it. And will probably never see it again.”

“How about you? You will never see it again, either.”

“I will. I will come for pujo, even if he doesn’t,” she was defiant.

Mukundo just smiled. “Where is your hero though?”

“He should be here any moment. There! Pronab!”

“What happened,” she asked him. He looked stressed out.

“It’s so crowded.”

“What is the fun of pujo, if the pandal is not crowded? Come. Have some…”

“Oh! Thakuma has brought home some five different kinds since yesterday. But I don’t like this, Piyali.”

“But it’s bhog..”

“I know. But I don’t like it….”

“No problem. Let me and Mukundo Babu finish it. Then we can walk around pandal…”

“I am suffocating here…”

“Take him out, Piyali,” Mukundo suggested, “He is not used to this.”

“Okay. Let’s go…”

“Umm… actually…” Pronab interjected, “Thakuma is expecting me at home soon. Some guests are coming. You stay here, Piyali. I will see you later.”

“Will you come in the evening? There are performances… Ours too…”

“Yes sweetheart. I will. Promise…” he said and leaned to kiss her, but she stepped back.

“Right…” he grinned, “Not here!”

She found it difficult to meet Mukundo’s eyes after that, even though he pretended that nothing had happened.

—

Pronab was thoroughly bored through their classical performance. But that made him acutely aware of how much they enjoyed performing together. It didn’t look like the rest of the world mattered. He might be a bad listener. But there others in audience who appreciated what they were singing and who had gone crazy applauding the performance. But even they didn’t seem to exist for Mukundo and Piyali.

When they sung a duet next, Pronab had to acknowledge that they deserved all the applause. It was a bliss hearing them sing together.

Gum hai kissi ke pyaar mein, ye dul subaha sham
Par tumhein likh nahin paun, main uska naam….

After the performance, the joined Pronab in the front row. Mukundo went again after a while for a solo song.

Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jayen hum dono…

Piyali tried to conceal it, but he could see tears in her eyes. “What happened?” he asked, concerned.

“Nothing,” she smiled to through her tears, “It’s his singing. Even if he sings the happiest song in the world, I am moved to tears. Don’t tell him though. It will be embarrassing.”

Towards the end of the program Piyali went on stage with a solo performance.

Ye galiyan, ye chaubara, yahan aana na dobara…

“What happened, Mukundo Babu?”

“Nothing. It just her singing. Don’t tell her, please. It will be embarrassing.”

And what was up with the choice of their songs? Those almost sounded like subtle messages to each other.

“An ice cream, Piyali?” Pronab asked as they were leaving the pandal.

“No. It isn’t good for my voice.”

“But you ate one at Mukundo Babu’s place…”

“Yeah. He started making ice cream at home because I could not give up my temptation. There he controls the ingredient and even temperature. Sometimes I only get a milk-shake instead of ice cream,” she chuckled, “But it tastes good.”

—

“Pronab!”

“What’s up, sweetheart? We are coming in the afternoon for the engagement. Couldn’t you wait?” he teased her on phone.

“You have to help me. I don’t know what’s up with Mukundo Babu. He is… He is behaving strangely. He is avoiding me. And he has been drinking since morning. Everybody is too busy with preparations to notice…”

“Arr… what can I do, Piyali? Why don’t you…”

“I… Pronab. I don’t know. Oh God! I am panicking… I can’t…”

“All right. Stop worrying. I will be there in twenty.”

—

“Do you love her?” Pronab found Mukundo on verandah around midmorning.

“Excuse me?” Mukundo was baffled.

“Do you love Piyali?”

“What kind of question is that, Pronab? Of course, I love her…”

“Nah! Not that… Do you fantasize about her? Have you thought about taking her to bed…”

“Have you gone mad?”

“It’s a very valid question. She is an attractive woman. And you two have been so close…”

“For God’s sake, Pronab. She is a baby!”

“Was… She was a baby. We all were, at some point of time…”

“Have you changed your mind? Is this your sick way of getting out of… By insinuating…”

“I am not insinuating. I was only asking. Let me guess. Here is how it is. All you want is that she remained close to you. Closer to you than to anyone else. And you don’t need to take her to bed for that. You don’t feel that need for her. But you do want to possess her. You have… all these years. And right now, probably the only regret you have is that she is going to go away. If only she had stayed in Kolkata… But here is what you have failed to take into account. As soon as she has a lover, or a husband, whether he is in Kolkata, or in Texas, he takes precedence over everyone else. You don’t remain the closest person to her. He becomes that…”

“I don’t know what you are implying. But if you hurt her, Pronab, I swear…”

“No. I won’t hurt her. If neither of you breaks down before the engagement ceremony, everything will go on as planned. She will have my love all our lives. Because I have never had anyone better than her. And am unlikely to have in future either. I will have her loyalty, devotion, unconditional acceptance and affection.”

“Then what is your problem?”

“Problem is not mine, really. I will have a good life. But what you have here – between the two of you – is magic. It is what I wanted in my life. I don’t think I can have it. You, on the other hand, have it. Even without being lovers. But if you won’t be her lover, someone else will be. And then… this magic will be lost forever. And you aren’t exactly her brother, are you?”

“You must be drunk, Pronab. Just go back and…”

“You are the one who has been drinking since morning, Mukundo Babu. Think it over.”

“I can’t be her lover. I have never given her what a lover should… Never pampered her… Never gave her a complement… Never…”

“Point is not what you didn’t do. Point is what you can do. From now on… And even about the past. If you looked at yourself form her eyes, you would be surprised… But to do any of that, you need to stop drinking…” Pronab said and walked out of the verandah.

Mukundo stared blankly at his glass. For a moment, it looked like he would throw it away. But he changed his mind and gulped the remaining content down in one go.

—

To be continued

Not the Lovers (Part 4)

Posted Mish6 CommentsPosted in English, Mukundo-Piyali, Original

It had been a year since their return from US. Mukundo had still not accepted his life in India. He missed his friends, his school, his sleepovers, his pancakes and baseball!  His parents had tried their best to make up for everything, taking him to best continental and American restaurants in the city, enrolling him in swimming classes, getting him video cassettes of his favorite movies and shows, but he had stayed cross with them. They expected him to get over his tantrums over time. But what really worried them that he had difficulty making new friends here. He was a fairly well-adjusted kid back in the US.

Mukundo remembered the fateful day when his mother had dragged him with her to their neighbor and long-time friends the Banerjees. Their daughter, Piyali, was three-months old. He had looked at the baby curiously as his mother had rocked her in her arms. Her eyes were already big then. Apart from them her little hands had drawn his attention. Curious, he had touched her hand, and to everyone amusement she had gripped one of his fingers. It must have been a coincidence that she had decided to exercise her hand at that moment, but Mukundo had found it quite hilarious. He had laughed heartily with others. He had come back the next day on his own.

“Would you like to hold her, Mukundo,” Debangi, her mother, ad asked him.

“She is so little. What if I hurt her?”

“You won’t. I will teach you exactly how to hold her… Come here…”

And he kept coming back. When she grew old enough to follow him, she went to him as often.

Apart from music, in which his father had started training him when he was much younger, Piyali became the anchor of his life.

—

“I haven’t slept the entire night,” Pronab declared when he entered her room. She had decided to meet him at her home instead of a public place today.

“Me neither.”

“So, what was Mukundo Babu’s verdict?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That was the reason for last night’s dinner, right? You needed his approval.”

She shrugged and smiled, silently accepting his speculation.

“So?” he continued walking towards her.

“You passed.”

“In his exam. And yours?”

“That is more difficult to answer.”

“Tell me, then, what should my answer to my parents be, when they ask me.”

“Listen to your heart.”

“Right now, it says that I should…” he drew her in his arms, “crush you in my arms.”

“Listen to it, what can I say?”

“Don’t stop me, then,” he bent down and planted a peck on her lips. Encouraged by her reaction, he sucked her lower lips, then attacked her mouth, tasting her to his heart’s content.

She was shaking by the time he pulled back. He tightened his grip further. “I was very skeptical when I had come here, Piyali. But impossible happened. Your charm was impossible to avoid. I fell in love.”

She rested her head on his chest.

“So, what was the ‘it’ that you saw in me?” she asked him later.

“What?”

“’I will know it, when I see it.’ What did you see?”

“You are fishing for complements?”

“I just want to know, because I want to live up to whatever you see in me…”

“Hmm… Let’s see… I think what bewitched me about you is that you are innocent, without being dumb. I see the hopes of a fairly-tale romance in your eyes. But you will forgive me if the fairy-tale doesn’t come true. Because you accept people with their faults.”

“We have barely known each other for three weeks. How could you have seen that in me?”

“Pardon me for saying this. But your father, for example, is by no means an ideal father. What I have heard from Kakima, and from what I have seen… You have to turn to others, Mukundo Babu, for example to help you in time of need…”

“Pronab, please…” she looked distressed.

“Yes. THAT. See – how you still love me. I hope to learn that from you. To accept people with their faults. My parents,. Myself. And hopefully, my wife – if she has any faults that is.”

“What do you know? I, of course, have many faults.”

“Like?”

“I am not at all disciplined. I would have failed all through if Mukundo Babu hadn’t made me follow a strict schedule for studies. I would keep postponing everything to the day of the exam. It is true with everything. Music practice, getting a job… He has literally made me do everything in time by being a tyrant.”

Pronab smiled, “I will learn to live with that. There is enough goodness to compensate for that one fault.”

“Nobody has given me complements at this rate before. I might as well be floating in sky right now…”

“How is that possible?”

“Why not?”

“Your Baba never praised you?”

“Oh! He is so blind in parental love that he sees no fault in me.”

“Mukundo Babu?”

She laughed out loud, “Can you imagine Mukundo Babu paying me complements? No way. He scolds me all the time. For good reason. But still… Do this… do that… Go home and sleep… Don’t eat ice cream, it will affect your voice… finish your homework first, then only can you go and play….”

“I can’t imagine him doing any of that… All I have seen in him is concern for you and your well-being…”

“That has always been there. But you are right. He has been strange recently. Sometimes too aloof. And other times too tender. So unlike him.”

Pronab opened his mouth to say something, but stopped and changed the topic. “Ready to meet my parents? They are coming tonight.”

—

“Piyali. Are you ready?” Mukundo knocked at her door. Pronab’s parents had come home.

“Mukundo Babu. Come in, please. I need your help.”

“What happened?” he came in hastily and stopped in his tracks as soon as he saw her. She was wearing a deep maroon, taant-silk saree, along with a heavy gold jhumka and necklace set. He worried for a moment that those thick bangles on each of her delicate hands might sprain her wrists. Her hair was already done in a loose, low pony tail and she was finishing her makeup with a simple red bindi. There couldn’t have been a more faithful representation of traditional Bengali beauty. How grown up and mature she looked. No wonder, she was getting married.

“Promila Kaki is too busy with guests, Mukundo Babu. I don’t who else to ask for help. The saree is so difficult to manage. I need a pin in my pleats. I am unable to put it myself. Can you? Please?”

He literally bit his tongue to stop himself from blurting out something inappropriate. He took the pin she chose and knelt to bunch together the pleats of her saree.  It took some effort, but finally he managed to set them straight.

“How do I look?” she was anxious.

“They might not wait for the wedding to take you with them,” he smiled and replied, “You already look like a bride. And the most beautiful one at that.”

She stared at him curiously.

“What?”

“Nothing… You have never given me complements like this before?”

“I haven’t?”

“No. Never.”

Yet another thing he hadn’t realized about her. That she had grown up to be a beautiful woman, who wanted her feminity and beauty acknowledged, appreciated…

Outwardly he just gave her a weak smile. “Come quickly. Everyone is waiting.”

People in the drawing room was as awestruck with her beauty as Mukundo had been. Mr. Banerjees eyes grew moist when he saw her.. He got up and gave her a quick side hug. Mukundo noticed appreciative smiles on her soon-to-be in-laws’ faces and the amorous glow in Pronab’s eyes.

The now familiar knot in his throat came back. He left the room, though he came back soon. In the hustle-bustle of seating Piyali and the introductions with Pronab’s parents, he felt that nobody noticed his brief absence.  Unknown to him, Pronab did though.

—

To be continued