The Love Regained 2

Sumanto..................Sumanto................... Look this is your Meghna, this is your love. Do you recognize me Sumanto?

Sumanto looked Meghna for a long and unable to recognize her as the same person changed abruptly.

I know Sumanto you will not. Look here and see the spots of love all over my body. They branded me a mad and deserted me here and never came back.

Sumanto came closer to Meghna and touched those spots of tortures and cried, 'no no no, they are wild beasts. Do not worry Meghna, I'll take you back to your family. I'll convince them'.

No, never, cried Meghna. Its better you desert and do not show your face to me anymore. You the men are same. You don't understand the pain of a woman. You go, you go Sumanto. Meghna was about to turn back.

No my love, you are still in my heart. Please don't misunderstand. You need to file a complaint at a police station and file a court case for a legal divorce. I'll fight your case. I'll take you to my home where you always wanted to go, but I hesitated then. You wanted to meet my father and talked to him over phone one day. Do you recall Meghna?

Yes, everything. How they are? Will they accept me?

Yes, of course! You need an urgent medical care to get cured from the trauma you so long suffered. You need peace and you need rest Meghna. I've told my family everything about you and they are sympathetic to take care of you. My father still can't forget the sweet conversation with you he had over phone. He is eager to see to you my dear. Please don't waste time. Lets go back to our destiny.

Two years passed with a rocket speed. Meghna was a complete changed person. She won her case against her former family those are awarded with full rest in jail by the grace of the God. She became the inseparable part of the Mukherjee family. The son of Sumanto liked her most and addressed 'my good mom'. The wife of Sumanto found her as sister she lost in childhood. The head of the Mukherjee family departed permanently leaving memories of the wonderful moments with Meghna. Meghna everyday stood in front of the photograph of the father to pray for his soul to rest in peace. Still Sumanto never tried to exploit her to demand for a physical relation with Meghna. So, nice gentleman he was ! 

Sumanto had to leave his sweet family for an unsolicited transfer ordered by his office. He never bowed down to anybody and accepted the challenge of the life. He settled in Ahmadabad as a paying guest of his friend. He after a fortnight received a phone call from Meghna who started weeping.

Why the God was so cruel to me? Why He will not allow me to live with you? Will He not even permit me to die in front of you when he never allowed me to come closure to you Sumanto? 

Sumanto replied nothing except waiting for her to finish her cry. 

A week later, Sumanto received an urgent call from his wife to come back home for Meghna who was lying semi conscious and unable to recognize anybody in home. Sumanto air dashed to Calcutta and took Meghna immediately to Neurological Care Center.  Listening the case history of the patient, the doctor advised her to admit. Meghna suffered a shock and a psychological disorder.  A week later, she was released from the Care Center with the advise to Sumanto to stay together with Meghna and follow all medical advice. 

The Mukherjee family was in trouble to settle the issue. The overstay in Calcutta has created a professional problem for Sumanto.  The wife and son being two good human beings came forward in rescue and requested Sumanto to take Meghna with him to Ahmadabad to save her life. Sumanto was needed to Meghna more than the prescribed medicines.  Equally, Meghna was needed to Sumanto what he was unable in order to upholding the family values. 

Meghna is now in Ahmadabad and married to Mukherjee family and she was blessed with a beautiful child fathered by Sumanto. The elder son of Sumanto named his brother 'Abhiroop' who was taken care by his elder mother ('Baro Ma') at their Calcutta home. Meghna found a respectable job of professor of English at a state educational College run by a trust in Ahmadabad  She was determined to see her elder son who was studying in a state medical college in Calcutta to become a doctor.  The love regained and Sumanto bowed down to God for His act of kindness over Mukherjee family. 

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The Love Regained

Sumanto the man in fifties has grown old. Unlike those days when Meghna accompanied him, he gained his sense of spiritualism. One day the God Vishnu summoned him urgently to set his new life to regain his lost love. 

Do you have any regret for whatever you lost in life?

Yes, Almighty.

What you thought of doing if you never regain those ?

I'll carry the wounds till my death.

Means, you wanted not to be happy in rest of your life?

No, not exactly.

Then you try to find happiness from the objects you never turned at. 

Whats that?

The mental asylum where Meghna confined. 

Oh! My God! Excuse me please, let me go there at once.

Sumanto knocked the main gate of the God's Own Home far away from the city of Calcutta.

Gate man, please let be in to meet my love Meghna.

Yes Sir, please check the register first and then go in.

The name was there what exactly Sumanto desired passionately. He heard of a noise inside where a patient was laughing loud and crying subsequently. The voice was almost similar to that of the 'sweetheart' he was looking after. Sumanto was taken office inside by the guard. The gray haired matron asked, 'Yes my son, we never found you here. Do you know Meghna? Sumanto told Ma'am the story inside of his heart he carried so far. Tears brought out of her old eyes and put her hands over shoulder of Sumanto, God bless you, my son. Wait here to see how she was.

Sumanto started waiting on a corner chair of the visiting room. He never imagined to face the situation in his life time. He was so perturbed that he lost his balance while talking to the matron and didn't thought of asking who brought her here and why? The mild sound of  his weeping brought two nurses closer those who consoled him and requested him not to break down before the patient. He realised and sat quietly.

To continue.........   

The Panchayet - A Feeler

For many years I haven't heard of chorus of frogs and many insects in the adjacent wood of my home after incessant rain today evening. After many years it has been raining cats and dogs. The ways are flooded with nearby water bodies. Tonight after 10-00 pm I came out of the home with my son's bicycle to closely watch how the surrounding looked like. The streets lights looked dim  and the lanes and ways were shining with the last leg of the heavy downpour.

The doors are closed with people inside might have taken refuge of semi cold atmosphere surrounding barring a few activists gossiping and cherishing victory of their respective party candidates in local body election a few days ago in Bengal. Two third of the state of Bengal is now a ruling party bastion. Yet there was no victory rally any where. A new political culture is on the surface in a politically ravaged Bengal. The dry politics of so called communists is largely and once again rejected by huge vote by the Bengalies. Yet the past rulers haven't learnt lesson. 

The point is the hope emerged with resounding victory of the new ruling class may not last long if there is no transparency in the affairs of governance. There is no dearth of positive desires from the ruling supremo to make the government function from top to bottom. To the uttered views of the common middle class that point at a socio-political order created minus the critics is not at all healthy. The irrational outburst and abuse of state power against the critics may be backfired in the days to come. The onlookers patiently wait for a mature exposure from their party functionaries towards establishing a healthy democracy to extend a more relief to the poorest of the poor.  

Microbiology

My kid is admitted in science college of Kolkata with microbiology and zoology with chemistry as its pass subjects. But the problem is I may retire after 3 years of service and he will not be able to finish his masters from University. So hard days ahead !

Admission

The magic unfolded. My kid has crossed barrier of school education and trying hard to get admission in college. His love is for botany. I dont know what is written in his fate.

The Love Lost

It was a golden letter day when the fair lady with a magnificent gesture came to shake hand to tender her gratitude for an editing of her management exam project. She did her master in English from Presidency College in Calcutta. Yet she was too compliant to express her so called degree. She was so polite to learn anything and everything that the gentleman possessed. She was magnetized with a baritone sound to hear from the caller. It was Mrs. Meghna Choudhuri who in everyone’s surprise came too closer to Mr. Sumanta Mukherjee.

The day began in the Library of The Statesman, the English daily newspaper situated in the heart of the city. The couple was engaged in finding out some old articles and news. Sumanta turned around at Meghna to coddle her.

I started liking your quest for erudition.

Is it so?

I swear, believe me. Look at the photo of the black Goddess. (Hanging on the wall of the library)

She smiled blank.

Meghna’s father was an ex-military lived in Barrackpore. He and his only son had the habit of consuming whiskey regularly and she was equally accustomed to the smells of wine into their family all the time.  Hence his liking for a son-in-law obviously ended in a man of similar habit. She had a little option to reject her dad’s choice. She hardly found any interest in iron and steel dealt by her man in Bihar. It was an imperfect blend of opposite characters.  She was defiled with a girl child that she never loved. The life she led in far flung area under the plateau cut off from the city life was disgusting. She had only friend in her Mom. She planned to come out of the prison to lead a free urban life. She signed up a job of interpreter in the city of Calcutta. There she encountered with Sumata.

The turbulent river Hooghly roared with her waves. Bay of Bengal was not far from it. Meghna concealed herself behind the curtain of the hotel balcony at the first floor to have a glimpse down at Sumanta who reposed under the tree on the river bank. It was drizzling around puffed with gentle breeze. Sumanta was careless in closely glaring at the fountain pen she presented him as a mark of reverence. 

Sumanta hanged around the hotel cafe waiting for her to join him. It was monsoon. The cloud drew closure to the turbulent river. The sun has taken leave to replace it by the dancing rain in amity with the whirlwind. Meghna sat with a coffee cup and started to sing a Tagore song with her husking but melodious modulation. All utterance suddenly paused at the cafe and those eyes fell on Meghna. The waiter praised, ‘lovely’.

A few days after she was in deep trouble owing to water logging of the streets of Calcutta approaching to Howrah station for her night journey to home in Bihar plateau.  She sought Sumanta’s help. He took her to Howrah by a hired car in time on the evening. She bids him adieu to meet her family by the next morning.                                  

Sumanta had a nice family. A beautiful wife with a kid. He suppressed the affair with his better-half because of his much fondness for them. He felt guilty for his affinity for other woman. Yet he was unable to reject any call of Meghna for her assistance as she lived alone in a flat in north Calcutta. But he never entered her domain except one occasion to meet her kid and mother.

Hallo Mr. Mukherjee! Are you in holiday suit? asked Meghna at Barasat bus stand.

Yes, sweetheart, to take you to another remote corner of the world today. Will you be tied in with me?

As you wish, Sir.

Sitting inside the hired car Meghna lamented, ‘are we not doing wrong in enhancing this relation?’

May be, yes. OK, let’s go back?

No, not at all. Let’s do some wrongs, OK?

Sumanta indulged in indecency and gripped her hand in passion.

Look beyond the water, Bangladesh is on the other part of this river Ecchamoti. Have you ever been there, Meghna?

No. But there is my ancestral home.

Me too.

Is it so? Means we’re both of that part of Bengal. What a similarity!

Over the lunch table, Meghna was annoyed with the quality of food served by the hotel.

Will you cook yourself and serve it to me?

Yes, I shall be pleased to do it, but you find out our own home far from this world of unkindness and vengeance, Meghna became sentimental.

In one morning Sumanta received a phone call from the husband of Meghna.

Mr. Mukherjee?

Yes.

Chaudhuri here. Meghna told me about you. You wrote an excellent piece of paper on health science. I’ve seen it.

Thank you very much. Please come and join the national seminar on Health For All in Howrah tomorrow.

No Sir. I shall be out of the town tomorrow. Don't mind please.

Sometimes Sumanta wondered to listen praises for her husband from Meghna. “He loves me too much on bed. He lifts me on his lap and kisses me like a mad.”

“He was a gold medalist in his engineering degree”, added Meghna.  

“Mr. Mukherjee thanks a lot. For you only I stood first in the management exam”, she was delighted to inform Sumanta. 

“Then change of your job is on the card. Will you venture for that?

Yes, of course, stressed Meghna.

Meghna became pregnant. But she refused to keep it. She clamored for abortion. The murder of a new born was dancing on her eyes. She forced Sumanta to remain with her side and he had to sign on the medical papers as her husband. She was aborted at the Lake Nursing Home but her bleeding was not yet stopped and she was yet to regain her sense. Doctor summoned the husband-on-paper. With a gentle touch of Sumanta, Meghna regained her half sense and vomited over him. With the evening past, she regained her complete sense and was released with the advice to take full rest in home.

Sumanta left for home after handing her over to the maid at her flat with the query in mind, “why she did so without knowledge of her husband and against the wishes of Sumanta?”

From the next day, Meghna never called to Sumanta and never said him hallo. Perhaps she realized of her meaningless life she was leading. She wanted to keep both the ends of life intact but failed. Thus Meghna lost from the canvas of Sumanta for ever. 

 Sekhar Roy

24.05.13

INTROSPECTION - A SHORT STORY

A pair of white couple along with a baby hanging on back of her mother was passing through a muddy pass approaching a nearby village of ISCON Mayapur. Ms Hudson the young enthusiast accompanying the couple was talking on greatness of His Holiness the father of Vaishnaba community, Shri Chaitanya. All three Americans wearing rural primitive dresses as per Indian holy custom greeted me chanting with "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna". I bowed down my head with respect. 

It was post winter days in the last year. The merry-go-round pulled the visitors to flock over the intersection of two rivers known as Ganga and Jalanghee, over which the Chaitanya Temple existed. A million local residents living the adjacent area survived from the earning from small business enterprises connected to worshiping Gods and serving visitors. 

Good afternoon Ma'm. You looked so beautiful !

She reciprocated with a smile and cordially invited me to join the evening prayer in the temple. I accepted gladly.

Well! Why you all moving towards the remote village being foreigners and for what?

We don't consider ourselves foreigners and love this land as much as the locals and we live together the way poorest of the poor leads their lives, countered Hudson.

The lady informed, 'we buy 10 kgs of cow milk from the village folks for selling it to the local confectionery shops. The profit accrued would be ploughed back to our family needs. If that falls short, we move here and there with a begging bowl as per wishes of Krishna. We're not ashamed and don't have any regret.

I remained speechless for sometime. 

In anticipation of further query, she went on saying, 'I'm a doctor served in New Jersey Hospital but now renamed as Shanti. They are Arnold and Ema both worked in Boston as software engineers now married as per Vaishnaba custom and leading life in absolute freedom in this small but beautiful part of the globe devoid of any greed for modern way of life that was left aside in far west.'

I wondered but asked myself,'how was that possible'?

The western world perceived India a country of beggars and fakirs meant most backward people. What they slowly realized of a great civilization and an enlightened way of life hide in the conscious begging. The socalled beggars or vikshukhs in Buddhism leave all human passions, desires, greed, good and bad at the feet of the Almighty. They don't live for immediate gains of life but pray for absolute freedom of soul after permanent departure.

We were hand in hand dancing on the floor of the temple chanting singing songs in chorus following Ms. Hudson and her friends. The dancing disciples adorned with flowers devoted their heart for love of Krishna that made the visiting guests forget everything they left in homes for the time being. 

To everyones surprise Ms. Hudson suddenly fell on the floor. Everything stopped and the crowd flocked over the laying lady. The house physician rushed to check up the patient on the spot and diagnosed the lady suffered a cerebral stroke and lost her voice. Her painstaking eyes wanted to say something with tears that she couldn't. Yet I touched her forehead to reply not to leave her.

The priest had the ultimate say, 'the child was punished by God for sin committed by her father who was an atheist in America.'