Minu’s story
Minu stared blankly at the lifeless body of her son as he hung from the tall Mango tree. It was the same tree where she used to lay him down in a hammock when he was a baby and lull him to sleep swinging it gently, as she worked in the Mango orchard sorting the fruits for the season. The tall listless body of Biju was taken down slowly and laid out in front of her. Minu sat in a stony silence as her husband, Shiben, sat hunched next to her. Both remained speechless in their sorrow.
Biju or Bijon was well-known in their village. He was a smart, hard-working and helpful boy. When her elder son, Sujon, eloped with their neighbour’s wife, Bijon was just a young boy and yet he had stood by his mother like a rock supporting her in every way. Over the years, he had grown into her greatest confidante, friend and the primary bread earner of their family. After Sujon left leaving loans unpaid, Shiben, a fisherman, had to sell his boat to repay them. It was Bijon who had stepped in to take on the responsibility of earning enough for the three of them. Minu, however, had ensured he did not stop his education. She pitched in whenever she could and took on whatever work came her way.
It was because of Bijon that Minu and Shiben had a permanent roof over their heads. He had moved them out of their mud house into a pukka house as they called it, complete with a separate kitchen, toilet and an asbestos roof covering the rooms. Bijon had also taken an LPG connection, so that his mother did not have to burn her eyes blowing air into an earthen oven anymore.
It was Bijon’s birthday yesterday, and Minu had cooked his favourite desert, Rice Kheer. Bijon had seemed a bit too quiet for his usual self. Minu had ignored it, thinking it may be because he was not feeling well owing to the sultry weather.
She was in the kitchen, clearing up the dishes, when Bijon had informed her he was going out for a while. She had not looked up when she said “Don’t be too late.”
If she had, she would have probably noticed, his reddened eyes, his glum face and the nylon rope he held coiled in his hand behind his back. She looked on now as she saw them cut the rope and lay him down. As his head rested on the ground near her, she noticed his tongue was still hanging out and someone was pushing it in. That was the last thing Minu remembered before everything turned dark around her and she collapsed on the ground.
Kusum’s betrayal
“You must do this for me, please Kusum” Vinod pleaded reaching out for her hand.
Kusum shrugged him off as she got up to put on her clothes in the wash area attached to Vinod’s grocery store. They would meet there every afternoon. Made love and then plan their future together. It was always that. Plans and more plans. It had been 6 years now and Vinod had not moved beyond making plans.
“For you?” asked Kusum looking at him arching her eyebrows.
“For us. It is for our future. If I get this job, I don’t have to run this failing grocery store any more. Why don’t you understand Kusum, we don’t have any future here. If I get this job then the world will be at our feet. It will give us a stability.”
“Why don’t you go and ask him yourself” asked Kusum irritated. “He is your friend too?”
“It is not the same thing anymore between us. He might refuse me” said Vinod clicking his tongue and turning over to light a bidi.
“And you think he will agree to give me the money?” asked Kusum surprised.
“You will not ask the money for yourself. You will ask him to give you the money for your life together. Don’t you see, a man can do anything for the woman he loves” said Vinod teasingly pinching her cheek.
“But Vinod I don’t think this is right. Bijon is a nice boy. Should we trick him unnecessarily? And besides do you think he has so much money to spare?”
“Oh yes! I know he does. Listen Kusum if you want to start a life with me then you will have to start contributing. It is not such a big deal. You don’t have to sleep with him. Besides he is too good a boy to ask you for that. Just pretend to be in love with him and at an opportune moment ask him for the money. Once I get the money, I will pay Haran, the middleman, and the job is mine. Then both of us will be far away and nobody will even know. Bijon will get over it I am sure. Don’t go into melodrama about being a goody-goody girl now.”
Kusum looked doubtful. She knew Bijon and his family too well to get into this. But she also loved Vinod and could not refuse him. Besides, she had to get married soon. It will be difficult to hide her pregnancy any longer. She was yet to tell Vinod too and just wanted the right moment to do so. Maybe bringing him the money would indeed make him happy and accept the fact that she was carrying his child.
“Okay” she nodded reluctantly “But promise me we will get married as soon as you get the money.”
“Of course, we will Kusum. Don’t you trust me” said Vinod smiling at her.
Making Bijon fall in love with her was not a difficult task. In fact, making any man fall in love with her was a piece of cake for Kusum. Her charming smile, light eyes, fair skin and lissome figure had made her every man’s object of desire in the village. She would walk around with her slow enticing gait and drop her disarming smile at the village menfolk. Women detested her. Mothers would warn their daughters to stay away from her and wives would threaten their husbands if they dared get close to her.
Minu did not realise, when Bijon had been ensnared by Kusum’s bewitching charms. That was her first mistake. Unknown to her, the two would often meet in the mango orchard behind the village school and talk sweet nothings to each other.
Kusum realised Vinod was right. Bijon was indeed a gentleman. Vinod would never have let such an advantageous moment as a lonely afternoon pass without pouncing on her. However, Bijon would sit at a polite distance and tell her what he did throughout the day. All the while Kusum would look for an opportunity to get her work done.
Finally, one sultry summer afternoon, Kusum felt she could not wait any longer.
“Biju, it is getting increasingly difficult for me to come and meet you secretly anymore.” She puckered up her lips pouting at him in the most endearing ways which men found irresistible and gave him one of her most endearing looks “ Why don’t we get married?” she whispered moving closer.
Bijon looked at her with his mouth open.
“Married?” he asked shifting slightly.
“Don’t you want to marry me?” asked Kusum pretending to be hurt.
“No..No…I do! But I don’t know if…you see…I don’t have a fixed job. It is very difficult to sustain a family without a steady income.”
“So, did you think we would spend our whole life chatting in this mango orchard? Or were you just having some fun with me?” said Kusum in a shrill voice to make him belief she was angry.
“No Kusum. Please don’t misunderstand me. I did not think that for one moment. I really like you. It is just that you came up with the suggestion so suddenly I got a bit baffled. I was not prepared for it.”
“So?” said Kusum running her hand through his hair suggestively.
“Let me think about it” said Bijon thoughtfully.
“What is there to think? If a job is what you need to decide then I can help you get it. But…” said Kusum leaving the sentence incomplete intentionally.
“But what Kusum?” asked Bijon innocently.
“You will need to spend some money” Kusum looking at him slyly. ‘You see my uncle was mentioning that he knows a few people in the Police and there is a post vacant for a Havildar. However, you know how it is. You will need to pay an upfront amount of 3 lakhs to reserve the post.”
“3 lakhs?” said Bijon stunned.
“It’s just 3 lakhs Biju. Can’t you arrange for it? If you get the job can you imagine what it will mean for us? A lifetime of happiness.”
“Yes but it is quite a big sum Kusum” said Bijon unsurely.
“Oh Biju. If you love me enough, you will have to do this.” said Kusum putting her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulders.
Bijon felt helpless. He knew he loved Kusum but 3 lakhs was a big amount. From where would he manage to arrange such a huge sum?
“Let me see what I can do about it Kusum?” he said disengaging himself as he stood up looking concerned.
“I will wait for you here tomorrow Biju.” said Kusum looking up at him with her dewy eyes that made Bijon go weak at the knees.
He nodded and rushed off. Kusum sat watching him her lips curled up in a shrewd smile as she knew her work was done. Now all she had to do was wait for the money to land in her hands.
Bijon’s Dilemma
Bijon spent a restless night, tossing and turning on his bed. All he could think about was the sum of 3 lakhs. The amount swam around in his head all night refusing to give him a moment of rest. Who could he approach? He could ask the local moneylender but he would need a collateral. What would he give? The house? But then where would his parents stay. He did have some land but he had bought those along with his mother and he would need her signature to sell it. She would definitely want to know his reasons for selling it. He had not told her about Kusum yet. He knew she did not like Kusum and would object to his decision. He could not afford to lose Kusum at any cost. Bijon got up and came out of his room. Their house comprised of two sections. They had retained the older mud house where his parents stayed and the newer pukka side was where they had built the kitchen and Bijon’s room. Between the two sections lay a sprawling courtyard. The area was carefully fenced and even had a small wicker gate at one end to mark the entry point. Bijon paced around in the courtyard thinking hard. It was still quite dark but the birds had started their chattering marking the beginning of a new day. As soon as it was light, Bijon took out his cycle and rode out. There was only one person he could think of asking.
Minoti, Minu’s elder sister, lived closer to the town that bordered their village. She was widowed at an early age and had no children of her own. She worked in big city homes all her life and had earned enough to live a comfortable life. She was educated and intelligent and had made well-thought out investments which gave her good returns. This gave her a significant amount of financial flexibility. Being childless she adored Bijon and he knew he was always welcome at her house.
“Biju?” she said pleasantly surprised as she sat with her tea in her balcony when she saw him push open her gate and walk in.
“How are you mashi?” he said smiling at her.
“What a pleasant surprise.” she said “What brings you here so early? Is everything alright?”
“I need some help Mashi” said Bijon a bit self-consciously. He had never approached her earlier for money and was feeling a bit uncomfortable. But there was no option left for him.
“What is it Biju?” she asked looking at him with concern. It was clear from his flushed face, his disheveled hair and the tired lines around his eyes that he had not slept all night. Minoti wondered what could have caused him to rush to her first thing in the morning as she got up to get him a cup of tea.
“I need some money Mashi?” Bijon blurted out without any preamble.
“How much?” Minoti asked as she handed him the tea.
“3 lakhs” said Bijon looking at the floor.
Minoti looked at him with narrowed eyes from above the rim of her cup. He didn’t seem to be his usual self. He looked very restless for some reason.
“Does your mother know?” she asked.
“No” said Bijon looking up at her with a start. “She does not know. Please don’t tell her anything. Atleast not now.”
“Bijon tell me what is bothering you” she asked looking at him closely. “Why are you looking so restless”
“Nothing” said Bijon straightening up and flashing her a nervous smile “I am fine. It’s just that I have been thinking of arranging for the amount all night which is why maybe I am looking a bit tired.”
“Okay” said Minoti accepting the justification “But why do you need the money”
“I ..I ..need it to buy some land” said Bijon thinking hard of an plausible reason. He did not want to tell Minoti his real reason. Atleast, not till he told his mother. It would hurt her if she heard it from Minoti and not from Bijon. She was always after him to get a permanent job. Once she saw that he did get one and that too a government one, he was sure she would forgive him and agree to whatever he said, even his wish to marry Kusum. However, till then he would have to keep up his façade.
“Land?” asked Minoti surprised “But you just bought one last month. Why do you need more?”
“This is at a prime location and will get a good price for resale” he said trying to sound convincing.
“Okay. But Biju” she said looking at him affectionately “I hope you know what you are doing?”
“Yes Mashi. I have never been so sure of anything else in my life” he said looking into her eyes for the first time.
Love’s Folly
Bijon pedalled furiously towards the school grounds. He hoped he was not late and Kusum would still be there waiting for him. He patted his chest frequently where the cash wrapped in a towel made a slight bulge. He reached the school and walked swiftly towards the Orchard where they usually met.
He saw her waiting beneath the same tree and rushed over. She jumped up on seeing him
“Did you get it?” she asked excitedly.
Bijon nodded and took out the package carefully and handed it to her.
She looked at the notes with gleaming eyes and wrapped it back and put it inside a bag she was carrying.
“I better be off Bijon. My uncle will be waiting. Need to meet him and get the deal closed. If somebody else reaches there before us and deposits the money, all our plans will be spoiled.”
“Do I see you tomorrow then?” asked Bijon longingly.
“Yes..Yes ..ofcourse.” said Kusum distractedly as she hurried off towards Vinod’s grocery store.
The store was closed as it was its afternoon closing hours but Kusum knew the back door would be open. She moved towards the rear and found Vinod waiting for her.
He whistled loudly pinching her cheeks as she laid the bundle in front of him.
“Fantastic!” he said looking at her with a smile. “I told you it would be easy.”
Kusum simply stood silently. “Vinod, I need to tell you something.” She knew she could not delay the news further. He had to understand the urgency.
“Of course you will! But first let’s celebrate this victory.” said Vinod jubilantly as he pulled her on the ground beside him.
Minu’s Retribution
Minu rummaged through Bijon’s papers to find something which would tell her why he did this. Her days were now filled with thoughts of Bijon. His shy smile when she spoke of his marriage, his unending support when he needed it the most, their long afternoon discussions on the next renovation plan for their house and several such small insignificant moments that had made up her life were now just memories.
Her nights were smeared with an impenetrable darkness of ignorance. She seemed to be swimming aimlessly in this darkness to find the source of light, the answer to the questions that had driven all other thoughts from her mind – Why did he kill himself?
She found the letter in one of his papers. It fell on her lap as she shook out the file in angry frustration. It was a love letter short but reeking of false promises of love daring him to prove how much he really loved her. The handwriting was rough and unpracticed but the words seemed to be taken straight out of the latest Bengali Masala movie.
Minu stared at it for a while. She then crushed it and threw it on the ground before resuming her search for more such proof. She came across two more letters and even a photograph of the girl. She looked at the cat-eyed fair skinned girl that pouted at her from the picture. Her full lips, svelte figure and smiling eyes laughing at her predicament.
Kusum!
Minu sat back stunned. When did he fall into her trap? She crushed the picture and thew it away. It joined the others that now lay as a crumpled heap on the floor. She was behind all this? But if he loved her and she reciprocated his feeling, why did Bijon kill himself? Minu’s eyes welled over with tears as she slumped down on the floor of her son’s room, her body shaking with sobs.
It was almost evening when Minoti walked in. Minu was still lying on the floor. She had probably lost consciousness. Minoti hurriedly splashed some water on her face to revive her. Minu told her what she had found.
Minoti listened to her silently and then said slowly “Minu I did not want to tell you this but do you know that Biju had taken some money from me as loan?”
Minu looked at her sister, her eyes widened in surprise “How much?” she asked.
“3 lakhs” said Minoti “I had asked him why he needed it. He told me he wanted to buy some land. Now I know why he really needed it.”
“Why did you not tell me then?” asked Minu shocked
“Biju forbade me. I never realised why he was asking it and thought he wanted to surprise you” said Minoti wiping her eyes with the corner of her sari.
“If he had taken money for this girl, why did he kill himself even after that” said Minu mumbling to herself.
“Minu, I don’t know whether you have heard. Ever since Bijon killed himself, Kusum has also fled the village. People are saying that she has eloped with Vinod the grocery store owner in their locality.”
“Vinod?” said Minu “He used to be friends with Bijon once. They fell out owing to their political differences. Do you think both he and Kusum could have been involved in this?”
“That is what everybody is saying. They will be holding a panchayat meeting soon and demand that Kusum’s family return the money” said Minoti comforting Minu.
“What will I do with the money?” said Minu with a dry smile. She was staring blankly in to the distance as she said “Can they return my Bijon?”
She thought for a while before she said “Maybe they can’t, but I know who can” She stood up abruptly and started walking.
Minoti looked at her sister in a concerned way and shouted after her “Where are you going, Minu?”
“To bring back my son” she said as she walked away into the fading light towards the river.
Minu’s village was on the banks of the Ganges. The broad clear waters of the river meandered lazily, peacefully watching as the village crept up on its shores. They had built houses, roads, cemented its banks, and established temples to tame the river and call it their own. Sometimes when the river wished to reduce their pride to dust, it would rush in claiming lives and land. Several houses, cemented banks and other constructions made by humans had been swallowed up in its fury. Some temples had also been destroyed and washed away by the river.
There was one temple that had survived the river’s fury time and again. It was located close to the river and yet remained untouched despite the ravages the river had vent on that piece of land. It was a small single domed structure which housed a Shiva Linga. Though it was located at a secluded part of the village, the temple was visited by hordes of devotees owing to its special allure.
The single iron-grill gate that had been installed to keep devotees out, was locked. The priest, would come back in the morning to offer the morning prayers and open the gates. Minu walked up and stood before the gates. She knelt down and touched her forehead to the floor. The single naked bulb that was tied to the grill gate was the only source of light in the surrounding darkness. Minu sat cross-legged and stared at the Shiva Linga that stood glistening in the light. Its long slender body smeared in milk and sandal wood paste and anointed with the three white horizontal lines stared back at her stoically. She sat there the whole night, her silent gaze impeaching him, questioning his judgement and demanding justice.
That was how Minu spent her nights. As sleep evaded her even months after Bijon left, she would visit the temple and sit before the Lingam impaling its aura with her silence. Minoti had tried talking her out of it and even suggested that she at least take Shiben with her as it was not safe to be out there alone at night. Minu had refused.
One night as Minu arrived at the temple, she heard a sound. She looked around surprised because in all these months, she had never seen or heard anybody around this area. She waited for sometime and then she heard it again. It was a groan as if somebody was in great pain. The sound seemed to be coming from the shrubs located behind the temple. She walked stealthily and switched on the torch that Minoti had forced her to carry. The circular blob of light lit up the path ahead of her as Minu flashed the yellow glare around to see if she could notice anything. A slight movement in the shrubs told her that the sound was coming from there.
Minu moved towards it cautiously. As she approached the shrubs, the groan grew louder. Minu stopped when she realised it was a woman’s voice. Who could it be? She wondered hurrying over. As she reached the spot, she saw a woman lying on the wet mud, writhing in pain. It seemed she was in labour. The woman clutched her bloated belly as another contraction ripped through her body. Minu knelt down immediately to look closely as she shouted out in surprise
“Who are you? And what are you doing here in this condition?”
The woman looked up at her. As soon as she saw Minu, she averted her gaze quickly. Minu found that strange. She forced the woman to turn towards her and shone the torch on her face. Her eyes widened in shock as she realised who it was.
“Kusum?” she asked stunned.
Kusum shrieked in agony as another excruciating pain tore through her body. For a moment, Minu forgot everything. She looked at Kusum and knew she needed help. But first, she had to move her from there. She moved closer to Kusum and asked her if she could walk till the temple. There was a place there, she knew, that was clean. Kusum shook her head indicating that she would not be able to walk. Minu looked around and noticed a cycle-cart that was kept near the temple. She rushed over and pushed the cart to where Kusum lay. She helped Kusum climb the cart. She debated for a while whether she should pedal or push. She decided the latter would be easier.
Once Minu got Kusum under the shed in front of the temple, she lay her down on the floor and looked at her in the feeble light from the temple. Her hair was dry and matted, her skin was cracked and peeling in certain places, her eyes had dark circles under them. She had become pale and thin. It was apparent, she was sick and the labour was weakening her further.
The contractions were coming in more frequently and Kusum was howling in agony. Minu had helped in a few births in the village and tried her best to urge Kusum to push harder. It was almost dawn by the time Minu held Kusum’s baby in her hand. It was a boy. The tiny thing, covered in mucus and blood, squirmed and wiggled in her grip. Minu wiped him clean with her Sari and wrapped him in Kusum’s dupatta as she placed it next to his mother. Kusum looked even more pale now after a whole night of suffering. The effort had drained her of her last ounce of strength. Minu feared she may not survive this ordeal.
She was right!
Kusum looked at Minu weakly. Her hands trembled as she joined them together to seek her apology before they fell back limply by her side. Minu leaned closer and laid her ears against Kusum’s chest to feel her heartbeat. She heard nothing. She shook Kusum’s listless body hoping to bring back the life in her. There was no change. Kusum lay limp and wasted on the floor. Minu sat back stupefied. She was at a loss to understand what she should do now. There was nobody around whom she could call for help.
The sharp cry from the infant woke Minu from her reverie. She picked up the little one and looked at him closely. Its small bony size made it apparent that he was several months premature. His skin was shrivelled and red and some of his fingers and toes were joined. He also had a cleft lip, a curse he probably did not deserve.
Minu carried the infant and placed him in front of the altar. She looked up at the Lingam unsurely, asking him yet another question with her silent gaze. What will happen to this little one now?
She was sitting there, still as a rock, when Brojen purohit, the temple’s priest, arrived to open the gates for the morning prayers. He was used to seeing Minu there and was not surprised by her presence. However, her rigid posture and her vacant stare made him realise that something had happened. A slight movement near the altar caught his attention. He moved closer and his eyes widened in shock to notice the little life wriggling weakly wrapped in the tattered clothing. He stared at it for some time to make sure his eyes were not playing a trick on him. He approached Minu and gently shook by the shoulder “Wake up Ma. What happened?”
Minu looked up at him and narrated last night’s incident. She showed him where Kusum’s wilted body lay. Brojen purohit, listened to her story patiently and then smiled gently.
“What will happen to this hapless infant now, thakur? Why should he suffer for his mother’s sins? ” Minu looked at him beseechingly. “”
“Don’t you see Ma” said Brojen purohit smiling at Minu “If you sin, then you need to pay your debts in this life itself. Bholanath has answered your prayers.” Brojen paused as he looked towards where Kusum lay ” May God forgive the girl for she has atoned for her sins . She has returned what she took from you. Bholanath made her do it. And you, like the goddess Parvati, you have reclaimed your son .”
Minu looked at him unsure of what he meant. She followed his gaze as he looked at the infant lying before them. As she realised what he was implying, her eyes widened in shock.
“But thakur, what if people ask me where I got him from? Who is his mother? What will I say?” asked Minu.
“You will be his mother, Minu. You don’t need any other justification. What Bholanath unjustly took from you, he was forced to return. Go home with your son, Ma. Give him a life for which, he will be forever grateful to you” said Brojen purohit smiling at her.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a Dhak filled the air with its deep rumble. Minu looked up to see the eastern sky had lightened bathing the waters of the Ganges in the first light of the day making them glisten and sparkle. The darkness was finally ebbing. In the distance, the rows of white Kans Gras or “Kaash”, the long-stalked plants with their white feathery blossoms,swayed in the mellow morning breeze. A feeling of elation spread through Minu’s heart. She knew Brojen purohit was right. She had won her battle. She bowed before the Lingam and turning towards the writhing bundle of blood and bones, cradled him in the crook of her arm. A smile touched the corners of her lips for the first time since Bijon had left her.
It was the season of homecoming and she was going to take her son home!
Picture Credit: Photo by Souvik laha on Unsplash
