Dhaninjoy

Dhananjoy was all of 13 years when he came to work for us at our maternal grandparents’ house in Kolkata. Gosaba, a village at the border of Sunderban was his home I was told by my grandmother. I had never heard the name of the place before and somehow on hearing Gosaba the picture of a ‘go-shaap’ a huge lizard (Bengal Monitor) came to my mind. I had seen one at the zoo and found it quite scary.

I was younger to Dhananjoy by only a year, but looked little beside him. I was thin, wiry and fair while he was burly, had cropped hair and dark complexion. I felt intimated by him partly because he looked bigger and stronger and perhaps the name of his village had struck fear in my mind at the outset. I had come down to stay with my grandparents with my mother as my sister was due to be born in a few months.

Dhananjoy’s parents were extremely poor, as were the majority of the people belonging to his village and the job of a domestic help at Kolkata was considered prized. It meant that Dhananjoy was now independent and his parents could now concentrate in rearing his five other siblings. One less mouth to feed meant some respite to the family.

Dhananjoy was assigned the job of cleaning utensils, washing clothes and running errands for the house. Both my grandparents were working and hence left home in the morning. During the afternoons he was left with little work and used to come and sit by my side. Soon he became my playmate and we would run up and down the house playing hide and seek or some other game. At that time it was my firm belief that every child born has to study and go thru the grind of learning lessons and going to school. I was really taken aback when I found that the subtleties of the three Rs were beyond his grasp. I immediately took it upon myself to teach him a few things. It gave me a sense of being superior to him and negated the physical inferiority that I had been feeling so far.

Dhananjoy looked most vulnerable during these study sessions and I rebuked him at his mistakes and ordered him to complete his homework in the same manner in which I was taken to task by my teachers and parents for my studies. Internally I felt a pride at my superiority and thanked my teachers mentally for giving me this edge. Once the study sessions were over we got back to our games. I had noticed that from the time we had started these sessions, Dhananjoy was much more reverential about my achievements in games and even purposefully lost to me on a few occasions. I enjoyed this preference and much later realised that this was a purposeful move so that I would go easy on him during his studies.

Around three months had passed and by this time and my little sister had arrived in this world. My grandmother had taken leave from her office and was attending to my mother. An ayah had been appointed to look after the baby and now most of the washing and cleaning was being done by her. This left more time to us as everyone was engaged in attending to the child. Dhananjoy was now more confident and had learnt to write his name in English. He felt elated at this achievement and I considered myself to be a worthy teacher. Making him write in Bengali was my next target and even at the expense of neglecting my own studies I concentrated on trying to make Dhananjoy literate.

Winter set in and days flew by. Soon we were getting ready for Saraswati Puja (prayer ceremony), the Hindu custom of soliciting blessings from the goddess of education – Mother Sarswati. Students of all ages are supposed to seek mother’s benediction so that they come out with flying colours in their exams. The stress was more on crossing an exam hurdle than acquiring knowledge. “Namaskar karo bhalo kore ma Saraswati ke. Balo jeno parikhkha jeno bhalo haye”; (Pray to Mother Saraswati with folded hands and seek her blessing for your examination), was the favoured dictum from elders. We decide to hold the puja (prayer ceremony) on the roof of our house and Dhanajoy was thrilled when he came to know that he would have to play an important part in conducting the puja (prayer ceremony).

I went around the house collecting money for buying an idol of Saraswati mata (mother) and also for the flowers, fruits and sweets that we intended to offer to the goddess. Dhananjoy put together a few bricks to create a platform and then put a few more on three sides to make a place for the idol to be placed. He managed to find some coloured paper with which he covered the bricks. I was impressed by his ingenious idea and complimented him on his work. He looked elated at my kind words and announced that he would go and get the rest of the items for the puja (prayer ceremony). We borrowed the agarbatti (incense stick) stand from my grandmother along with a few incense sticks and a few small plates on which to place the fruits and sweets.

The day of the celebration dawned and Dhananjoy had put on a fresh shirt, one of the two he owned. He had washed and ironed it the day before. All things that we thought necessary for the puja (prayer ceremony) was there. I had purchased the sweets myself and had paid Dhananjoy to get the other things. The sweet was a special sandesh (dry bengali sweet) that both of us liked. I laid them out on a steel plate and put it before the idol. The fruits were washed, cut and placed in another plate. We were ready. I had convinced my grandmother to read out the mantras of the puja (prayer ceremony) and she was getting ready after taking her bath. I left Dhananjoy on the roof and went to invite the other members of the house to come up. My uncle, aunt and a cousin sister agreed to come upstairs.

I returned to the roof and took a place just in the front of the idol. I could not see Dhananjoy and called out his name. He came running wiping his face. I was annoyed and asked him to sit down. By this time everyone else along with my grandmother had come. All of us settled into individual asans (prayer mats) made of patched cloth and shut our eyes as the mantras were read out. Dhananjoy sat at the back causing me to be irked. Soon the puja (prayer ceremony) was over. It was time for distribution of prasad (fruits and sweets offered during prayer). I asked everyone to go inside and sit as I prepared to distribute the sweets and fruits to them.

As I pulled the plate of sweets towards me I was astounded to see that the number of sandesh (dry bengali sweet) had dwindled. Someone had removed it from the plate. Two things happened to me at once. I was outraged about the fact that someone had the audacity to remove the sweets from the plate before the puja (prayer ceremony) was over and an overbearing rage on Dhananjoy, my prime and only suspect who could have done this. I kept my cool with an effort and distributed the prasad (fruits and sweets offered during prayer), dividing the sandesh (dry bengali sweet) into two, so that everyone got a piece.

Once over with it, I went to look for Dhananjoy who was nowhere to be seen. I found him at the back of the house sitting quietly. The moment I set my eyes upon him I was overwhelmed with anger and punched him in his face. He looked stunned but did not try to resist. He started to say something and I threw a few punches on his chest and stomach with all my might. I screamed at him asking him why he had stolen the sandesh (dry bengali sweet) before the puja (prayer ceremony). He did not react nor did he say anything. I asked him to leave immediately, though I was no one to tell him so but I was not in my senses. I felt outraged and cheated. Dhananjoy stood his ground, hanging his head not trying to defend himself at all. After shouting at him for a while I felt drained. I walked away to another part of the house and sat down and wept. I was careful so that no one saw me cry. Slowly I went and sat by my sister. My mother sensed that there was something wrong and asked me what the matter was. I avoided her question and eyes. 

The ayah came into the room and as a matter-of-factly began talking to my mother “Didi you know, Dhananjoy has become so dedicated about his studies that he has been fasting since yesterday. Poor chap he can never bear hunger and today morning I was felt that he was having great difficulty in keeping his fast. When khoka (meaning me) was not there I went up to the roof and found him holding the sandesh (dry bengali sweet) plate and looking longingly at it. I felt extreme pity for him so I picked up two sandesh (dry bengali sweet) and asked him to eat it. He did not want it and asked me to keep it and go away. Just then we heard people coming upstairs and the sandesh (dry bengali sweet) fell on the ground. Dhananjoy looked aghast and quickly placed the plate and carried away the two sweets as he could not place them back after picking them up from the ground. He warned me that what I had done was not good”. The ayah looked pleadingly at my mom and said “Tell me didi did I do something wrong? All I wanted to do was feed a hungry boy.” I was stunned and felt dizzy. I ran as fast as I could to find Dhananjoy. He was nowhere to be seen. I rushed to my grandmother and asked her where I could find him. My grandmother looked at me enquiringly and said “Did he not tell you before leaving? He told me that he was leaving for his village for a few days as someone from his family had suddenly fallen ill.” I kept quiet and stood motionless for a while. I knew he would never come back.          

Bride’s Home Coming

Biswanath Banerjee was up earlier than usual in the morning. He was flushed with excitement, outwardly though he was the epitome of composure. He did not wish to let his wife Sucheta understand what was going on inside his mind. Sucheta too lay awake in her bed much before the time Biswanath babu woke up and left his bed. She had mixed feelings, confused and happy at the same time. Their only daughter Kinnori, or Kinu as her parents called her affectionately was coming home after one year.

Kinnori had completed her Master’s degree in Engineering and was now employed with a software company in Bangalore. Her probation period had just ended and she had managed to get a two-week break to visit her parents. This was not a routine visit though; the Banerjee couple was not only looking forward to a visit from Kinnori but was eagerly waiting to see her groom too. Kinnori had informed them all of sudden that she had found her life partner and together they were coming to seek her parent’s blessings. The formal ceremony of marriage had never appealed to Kinnori and she did not want that her parents should go in for any elaborate arrangement.

Both husband and wife had been intrigued by the fact that Kinnori had refused to divulge any details about her partner. Sucheta had wondered aloud if the boy was from a different community or religion. However disconcerted, she might have felt inside, she put up a brave front and declared “whoever Kinu chooses is fine with me. It is she who has to stay with him so if they are happy I don’t have a problem”. Biswanath babu had not responded to Sucheta’s comments. He had been tight lipped from the time he received the mail and then a call from Kinu “Baba we are coming on Saturday by the morning flight and will reach home by 11 AM. You and ma need not come to receive us, we will get home by ourselves and please don’t worry”.

Biswanath babu was a man of strong personality. He had retired from his government job two years back and led a disciplined life. He looked young for his 62 years. His wife was eight years his junior. From the time she had come to this house thirty-two years ago, Sucheta had played the role of a dutiful housewife, accompanying Biswanath Babu to different cities during his official posting tenures. Kinnori was born six years after their marriage, as Sucheta had needed treatment before she could conceive. Kinnori had been brought up with a lot of care and had the best of education and her father had managed to instill in her a sense of purpose and determination. Hard work and an open and perceptive mind had made her achieve greatness in her academic field. Her parents never made her feel inhibited by the fact that she was a girl. At 5 feet 8 inches Kinnori stood tall and her confident demeanor helped her to be treated at par with men in both her academic field and professional one.

Biswanath Babu had a cup of tea before he bathed and sat down for his morning Puja. Years of staying together had taught Sucheta that her husband hated to be disturbed during his Puja. She waited for him to complete his Puja before asking him “Did Kinu tell you what are jamai’s favorite dishes? Does he love to have sweets? You should have spoken to her in detail. How am I to know whether he is a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian? I don’t even know his name.” Her husband looked up from the newspaper while sipping his second cup of tea, which Sucheta had brought him. He frowned at first and then his expression softened. He looked at Sucheta and in and said “Don’t worry Kinu is a very understanding and practical girl. If there was something about jamai’s food habits which she felt we should know, she would have told us. When she didn't say anything we will assume that he will have whatever we offer him”. Sucheta kept quiet and then started to get up from the chair “I think I should fry some luchis for breakfast and then plan for lunch”. Biswanath babu motioned her to remain seated and after a few seconds spoke up “You know Sucheta, when Kinu was young, she had once told me that she would never get married as she thought that all men other than her father were boring” he smiled as he recalled and narrated the incident. Sucheta knew about the incident, but looked at her husband curiously as she was not used to the softer side in him and she had thought that the incident was long lost on him.

The bell rang and suddenly both husband and wife looked up towards the door. For a fleeting second they thought that their daughter and jamai had arrived. It was the domestic help who had come early today so that she could help Sucheta take care of all that was to be done before their daughter arrived with her husband. “Boudi, how does your jamai look? Is he tall and handsome?” She looked amazed when she came to know that her masters were not aware of how their jamai looked. Actually Kinnori had specifically written in her mail that she did not want to disclose anything, not even the name of her partner before they arrived. Her parents knew that once Kinu had decided not to disclose, she would never change her mind. They had assumed that the boy was either from a different community or a religion and since they were high caste Brahmins perhaps Kinu had felt perturbed to shock them in advance. It was not that they would be disturbed to accept Kinu’s choice but it would be the first time that someone in the Banerjee household had done something that violated their conventional line of thinking; they were, however sure that they would get over it after the identity of the boy was disclosed initially.

The household activity started in the right earnest. The domestic help went about in getting Kinu didmoni’s room in order. The room had a double bed and all the furniture that was required for the duration of the couple’s stay. Dusting, sweeping the floor, tidying and fresh flowers in the flower vase was all that was required to be done. Sucheta got working in the kitchen while Biswanath babu readied himself to go to the market. Whatever he might have told Sucheta to assuage her tension, he had decided to play it safe while marketing. He would buy paneer as well as mutton. Kinu loved to eat mutton curry and just in case the boy was a vegetarian, he would not have to go hungry.

By the time Biswanath Babu had returned from the market it was quarter to ten on the clock. Kinu must have landed at Dum Dum by this time he thought excitedly and picked up his cell phone. “Hello Kinu ma, has the plane landed?” He realized this was not a very smart question to ask as passengers on board an aircraft are allowed to switch on only after the plane had landed, but father’s affection preceded his smartness at the moment. “Yes, baba, we are fine and are on our way home, hope you and ma are alright”. Biswanath babu’s eyes were moist and he did not know what to say “It is ok Kinu ma, we are waiting for both of you” is what he managed to say. He sat down heavily on the sofa in the drawing room and sat motionless for a few moments. Slowly he got up and made his way to the chest of drawers where all photo albums were kept. He picked out two albums which were filled exclusively with Kinu’s photographs and leafed through them looking up each one carefully and trying to recall the exact moment at which the photo had been clicked.

It was ten minutes past 11 and Biswanath Babu paced anxiously on his first floor verandah. Once in a while he tried to make out if any taxi was making its way towards his house. It was another ten minutes before he saw a taxi approaching his building. He quickly moved down the staircase and walked towards the taxi even as it came to a halt in front of him. Sucheta and the maid also ran towards the entrance with a thali full of articles and sweets necessary to receive the groom into the house for the first time.

Biswanath babu stopped in his tracks as he saw Kinu emerging from the taxi. He had expected that his beloved daughter would at least wear a traditional sari while coming to her parental home after marriage. Kinu was dressed in jeans and a white shirt and looked smart as usual, but there was more to come. A little lady in bridal makeup and wearing a red sari was sitting inside the taxi. There must be some mistake he thought. He could not comprehend what was happening, Sucheta looked blank and the maid looked ready to faint.

“Baba, ma, I know both of you will be upset, but let me introduce my partner Mrinmoyee. She is also a Bengali Brahmin and we work for the same organization and like each other very much. We have decided that this is the best thing for both of us and so have gone ahead and tied the knot” said Kinu in her usual confident no-nonsense manner. Biswanath Babu and Sucheta looked as if lightening had struck them. The maid managed a hoarse whisper “A girl has married a girl” and fainted.

Bengali Words used and their meaning

Babu:              Used at the end of a name to show respect

Jamai:             Son-in-law

Boudi:             Sister-in-law

Didimoni:        Elder sister

Luchi:              A deep-fried flatbread made of wheat flour

Paneer:            Curd cheese

Thali:               Utensil