Chapter 16: Languid Aphrodite.



“What will you take? Scotch or vodka?” Dad asked me.

I arrived at Dhanbad that morning. Durga puja vacation started and the air was filled up with vibrant mood. Since morning, Bappa was playing with me. I had a tough time to handle that naughty fellow. He was very anxious since the day he left my home. At first, he was not willing to call me brother. After much persuasion and much bribe, he named me BuddhuBabu. We all laughed on hearing that name. I was much happy to see smile on all their face.

We were sitting at the drawing room and Nilanjana Ma’am was preparing dinner for us.

I was surprise at his proposal and asked dad, “Do you really want to drink with me?”

Dad laughed at me and patted on my back, “When a father steps in his son’s shoes then they become friends. By the way, I lost a son long ago now I can have a friend, right?”

I assured dad, “Ok, don’t get emotional now. I will pour you a drink.” I looked at his cabinet and said to him, “Ma’am said that she has thrown away all your liquor then how come all these are here?”

“I bought a bottle of Glenfiddich for you.” Dad whispered in my ears.

“When did you buy this?” we both got startled as we found that Nilanjana Ma’am was standing behind us and looking at us with fiery gaze.

Dad looked at her with pleading eyes, “Only one drink dear. Just for his sake.”

I pleaded to ma’am, “I assure you, dad will have one drink only.”

She roared, “And you?”

I muttered somehow, “Only one on the rocks. That’s all.”

“Remember only one drink. If I find you two drinking more than one then I will throw both of you out of the house.” She warned us.

We sat on the couch with our drink. Pure single malt whisky seemed like molten gold. Chewing cashew and raisin along with fruits, the drink ignited fire in our blood.

I asked dad, “How do you handle ma’am?”

He laughed at me, “Who told you that I handle? Queen Bee rules in this hive.”

Nilanjana ma’am came out of the kitchen with a tray full of delicacies. She smiled at both of us, “Pulling my leg.” She looked at me and said, “Remember only one drink.”

I felt to tease her, “Ok, only one drink. Remember you did not mention how large the drink could be.”

She laughed at me, “So you are trying to fool me. Don’t think that I will spare you.”

I joined my hands and bowed in front of her, “No Ma Durga, today is shasti how can I mock you? Either your lion or your spear will kill me then.”

She smiled at me, “Ma Durga will definitely spare you.” Our conversation went on, on all light subjects. I asked dad as how he handles Bappa. He said to me that he missed my childhood so he was enjoying that in Bappa. I gave him a contended smile.

Ma’am became serious after sometime and asked me, “By the way, have you got any call from Anoushka?”

I let out a deep exhale and shook my head in dismay, “No ma’am. No news until now. I am very much worried about her well being.”

Dad gave a surprised look at me and asked, “What? You have a girlfriend? Good news let us talk with her parents and fix your wedding as soon as possible.”

“Dad there is problem.” I looked at ma’am and asked, “Haven’t you explained to dad yet?”

She looked at dad and scolded him, “I told you the day I came back from his house.” She then smiled at me, “Don’t pay attention to his words. He forgets all the essentials and remembers things that are not required. One day, he sent the Mercedes to bring the workers and the van to my office. I am really fed up with all these.”

I gave her a pale smile, “At least you have someone to scold....”

She warned me, “Come on Budhaditya and don’t start now.”

All of a sudden my cell phone rang. I was surprised to hear Parineeta’s voice on the phone.

“Hello, how are you? Long time we haven’t spoken.” she asked me.

“I am fine. What about you?” I asked her in return.

“I have some news for you.” She paused for a moment. My heart skipped few beats. I anticipated that she was going to tell about Titli. She said to me in a pale voice, “Titli is back in Kolkata and she is getting engaged tomorrow.”

The news shot a hot bullet in my soul shattering it to millions of pieces. I clenched my teeth and growled at her, “This is a lie. She cannot do that.”

Parineeta sounded hurt, “Why should I deceive you, Budhaditya? If you don’t believe then come and see with your own eyes.”

I said to her, “How you got the news? You were not allowed to call at her house.”

She said to me, “I have sources. She has contact none of her friends. That is very unusual of her nature.”

I said to her, “I want to meet her for one last time.”

She asked me, “Do you think that it is a good step?”

I stammered, “I don’t know, Parineeta. I just want to see her before she goes away from my life forever. Where is the function?”

She said to me, “I don’t think it would be a wise decision to go in front of her.”

I muttered, “I don’t want to meet her, Parineeta. I just want to see her once. Can you arrange that?”

“I will try my best. Engagement is at home and dinner at Taj Bengal.” She answered me, “Call me once you make up your mind.”

The soul shattering news brought me down. My face became pale. I looked at my dad and Nilanjana Ma’am and then poured the whole glass down my throat.

Nilanjana ma’am asked me, “What happened? Any news of Anoushka?”

I nodded my head. I was feeling dizzy unable to decide as what I should do. I kept on muttering to myself, “What made you take that decision, Titli? You can’t do this with me. You promised to make a call but you did not.” My chest cramped I felt that someone was choking me by my neck.

Somehow, I staggered to the guestroom with the bottle. I poured the raw alcohol down my throat so as find some respite from the burning pain in my broken soul. Instead of dousing, the liquid fire ignited those reminiscences more in my heart. I was able to visualise Titli’s poignant eyes in front of me. She was walking towards me. I tried to reach her but I was unable to do so. She yelled at me from a great distance, “I will not live without you, Adi.”

“Budhaditya, Stop drinking like this.” I heard Nilanjana ma’am. I turned towards her. Dad and ma’am were standing behind me.

I stammered at her, “Can I get your car? I want to goto Kolkata.”

She sat beside me and placed her soothing palm on my back, “Who called and what is the news?”

I gave a pleading look at ma’am, “One of her friend called me to inform that, Titli is getting engaged tomorrow. I just want to see her from a distance for one last time.”

She assured me, “That’s not a good idea, Budhaditya. If you want to go, I will send you tomorrow morning. We all will go with you don’t worry.”

She tried to persuade me and asked dad to say something to me. I was able to notice their lips moving trying to tell me something but none of their words reached my ears. I do not know what I did after that. I passed out as I gulped last drop of alcohol from the bottle.

I opened my eyes and found that I was lying on the bed. I looked around; dim light was coming from the drawing room. I pulled up myself and went to the bathroom to freshen up. All the million nerves of my brain were tearing me apart. I shook my head vigorously to come out of that bound and face the fact. I took a deep breath and told to the reflection on the mirror, “Let us face the consequence together.”

“Are you ok?” I was surprised to hear ma’am voice.

I nodded at her and asked, “You have not slept? What is the time?”

She shook her head, “It is three in the morning. Both of us were very much concerned about you. How are you feeling, Budhaditya?”

I looked at her anguished face, “I am feeling fine. Can I go now? It will take about eight hours to reach Kolkata.”

She shook her head in dismay, “I have nothing to say. I will ask the driver to take you.”

After sometime as I was ready to go, I observed that Nilanjana ma’am was also dressed up and was beside me. I was bit astonished to find her dressed up.

I asked her, “What are you doing?”

She gave me a faint smile and said, “I am coming with you, Budhaditya.”

I looked at dad, who was standing behind her. He nodded his head and asked me to accompany with Nilanjana ma’am.

She said to me, “Budhaditya, this is not Mrs. Ghosh going with you. You promised me to be a friend, so I think it is a friends responsibility to stand by his side in time of need. This is Nilanjana your friend who will accompany with you.” She then look at dad and said, “Look after Bappa. I will return by today nightfall or tomorrow morning. If something happens I will give you a call.”

The car raced out of Dhanbad. My mind was caught by a tempest as what made her change so much. I was sure that she was pressurised by her parents. I had that faith in her that she would not have taken such step by herself. The question was, what should I do? How much chance do I have to bring her back in her roost? Do I have any chance at all? Am I leaping forward to a failed battle?

For the whole journey Nilanjana kept to herself. Something was going in her mind some thoughts were stirring her soul. I was able to fathom that from the contours on her face. I asked her the reason she answered nothing.

It was noon when I reached Kolkata. I called Parineeta and said her that I want to meet her. I picked her from her house and we headed to the venue.
I introduced Parineeta with Nilanjana ma’am.

She smiled at me and asked, “How are you doing?”

I returned a failed smile at her, “Am doing fine as fine as I can be. It has been months we have met.