Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire. Read Chapter 7
At dinner, Keya and Binita joined the family at the huge dining table. General Das seated at the head of the table stood up to greet them. Binita realised how right the others were in their opinion of this man. He was affable with an old-world charm which is rarely seen in recent days. He was tall and broad built. However, age and the troubles he had faced over the years was apparent in his drooping shoulders. His round face was creased with lines, but his eyes, beneath bushy eyebrows, were kind and gentle. He had a pleasant mouth, and a thick greying moustache covered his lips. His thinning hair was brushed neatly to one side and Binita could smell the familiar aroma of Brylcream, a hair cream used by gentlemen of a bygone era when gels had not invaded the domain of male grooming. She somehow reminded him of her own father.
“Lahiri tells me you knew my son-in-law” he began as they settled down in their seats. Binita was seated next to General Das with Keya beside her. Facing her, on General Das’ right , sat Nandita. Next to her sat a young man with a frightened mouse-like face who Binita assumed was Nandita’s husband, Somnath. Next to Somnath at the far end of the table sat Shyamal Lahiri.
“Yes. Dr. Bagchi treated my husband for several years right upto his last days. We were in a small town called Rampur that is located near Barrackpore. Dr.Bagchi was posted in the primary health centre there for a few days. He was like God sent in that small decrepit world. He made a lot of changes which benefited the patients there” said Binita with an expression of deep-felt gratitude. Looking at her, for a moment, even Keya began to believe that Dr.Bagchi did indeed treat her father.
“After Dr.Bagchi moved back to Kolkata we continued to visit him travelling all the way from Rampur. He was always patient and caring no matter how busy he would be. Unfortunately, my husband passed away in 1990 when Keya was just a toddler” Binita continued sighing sadly.
“I am sorry Mrs. Sen” said the General Das.
“Oh, please call me Binita. I am about the same age as your daughter” said Binita pleasantly.
General Das nodded silently as he dipped his spoon into the bowl of spinach soup kept before him.
“I had met Mrs.Bagchi a couple of times too. She was just like an angel visiting the patients and caring for them. The small medical centre in Rampur was short staffed and there were no proper nurses. She would come and help around. It was just her presence that would take away half our pain.”
“Yes” said General Das “She was a kind soul. She got it from her mother” said General Das smiling sadly.
Binita looked at Nandita who was sitting with the same blank look picking at her food. Realising she was being observed, Nandita creased her mouth into a stiff smile that did not really reach her eyes. Binita smiled back.
It was when desert was being served that Binita observed Nandita had a plaster wrapped around the pinky finger on her left hand.
“You seem to have hurt yourself?” asked Binita gently “How did that happen?”
“Just burned my fingers trying to cook something back home. It will heal soon enough,” said Nandita casually.
“They never had to do anything of that sort in this house” said General Das looking at Somnath accusingly.
Somnath shifted uncomfortably. He clearly seemed to be out of place in this environment.
“Forget it Daddy!” said Nandita softly placing her hand gently on the old man’s arms “I told you it’s nothing for you to worry about.”
There was a pause broken by the sound of the cutlery against their plates as everybody ate in silence.
Nandita let out a loud sniff.
“Oh, I just hope we get to hear something about Annie. I am really getting worried about her now. This uncertainty is killing me. I hope she is alive.” she said.
“Let’s not have ill-thoughts dear” said Somnath looked at her sympathetically and patting her hand.
“If she is alive, why doesn’t she at least call?” continued Nandita.
“Maybe she cannot” said Somnath. Nandita looked at him dabbing her eyes.
“And what do you mean by that?” asked General Das sharply.
“I..I…mean maybe she …” stammered Somnath.
“I think what he means Daddy is maybe Annie is not in the country and has not seen the notice.” said Nandita hurriedly before he could not finish.
General Das grunted disapprovingly and muttered something under his breath.
A look passed between the Nandita and Somnath. Like a strict teacher reprimanding an errant child. It was just for a few seconds and nobody noticed it. As Binita was facing them it did not, however, escape her sharp gaze.
She looked at Somnath closely for the first time. He looked to be several years elder to Nandita, probably in his mid-30’s years. That maybe one of the reasons why the General objected to the match. However, Binita could not discredit the General much for his objections.
Somnath did not seem the man any parent would want for their daughter. He had a dull sallow complexion with hollow eyes that sunk into their sockets. His eyes were shifty. They constantly moved around nervously checking to see if anybody was watching him. He spoke very less and only with Nandita. Even then he either spoke in mono syllables or simply indicated through non-verbal cues. This was the first time he spoke a full sentence.
By the time they walked up to their room the storm had abated but the rain was falling just as heavily. There was still no electricity and no possibility of it being restored before morning.
“One of the pitfalls of living in the mountains” Mr. Lahiri had informed them smiling as he bid them good night.
Tired with all the excitement, Keya dozed off the moment her head hit the pillow. Binita lay awake thinking of all the conversations with the people in the house. Then there was something else which she knew she was missing but she could not put her finger on it. Something she had seen which she knew was vital, but she simply could not remember what it was. Age must be getting on to her, thought Binita with irritation.
Sleeplessness always made her thirsty. She got up only to realise that she had meant to ask Mrs. Lobo for a jug of water but had forgotten. Picking up the lamp kept on the table in one hand and adjusting her glasses on her nose with her other hand, Binita shuffled carefully towards the door. Once outside, she stood trying to ascertain the right way to the staircase that led to the kitchen downstairs.
Darkness shrouded the house. The wind howled outside echoing through the long dark corridors of the house. Light from the lanterns that were lit on the staircase cast long eerie shadows. As she moved towards the stairs muffled voices made her pause. She stood still trying to listen. The roar of the wind made it difficult to ascertain where it was coming from. Listening carefully, she soon realised it was coming from a room that was towards the left of where she stood. Very stealthily she moved towards the room as silently as she could.
On reaching the door, she looked around to make sure there was nobody around and knelt closer to the keyhole placing her ear next to it.
The voices were clearer now, and she could make out that the voice belonged to Nandita.
“I can’t bear it anymore Som” she was saying.
“It was your decision to come here” Somnath said brusquely.
“I know, I know but then I never realised it would be this difficult” said Nandita with a crack in her voice. Binita realised she must have been crying.
“We will have to be around for some more time. There is nothing we can do about it” said Somnath sighing loudly.
“But what if they continue with the search and then….”said Nandita and stopped midsentence.
“Are you off your head? What is wrong with you?” snarled Somanth in an angry whisper “I thought you would be better than this.”
“I am sorry….I don’t know what got into me. This house does this to me every time. I simply cannot tolerate it.”
“Well, you have to. We cannot hurry them. These things take time. We will have to be patient and keep doing what we have been doing. Just remember keep your calm and the old man is going to melt one day. He cannot turn away from you all his life.”
They talked for some more time before the room fell silent. Binita straightened up. Her brows dug a deep furrow between her eyes as she became thoughtful.
What was it that Nandita stopped herself from saying and why did it agitate Somnath so much?
She was still thinking about it as when she met Mrs. Lobo coming up the stairs.
“Did you need anything Madam?” asked the older woman looking surprised.
“Yes, I forgot to ask you for some water” said Binita.
“Oh my. It is so forgetful of me. I will get some for you right away” said Mrs. Lobo.
She came back right away with Binita’s refilled jug. The two women walked up the stairs. Binita wished Mrs. Lobo good night and moved towards her room.
As she sipped the water thoughtfully, she realised she had not noticed Mrs. Lobo’s room. By the time she slipped beneath the covers, the rain had slackened its pace and was tapping lightly on their window. The last thought that crossed Binita’s mind before she sank into a dreamless sleep, was to find out about Mrs. Lobo room.
Read Next – Chapter 9
[…] Two sisters. Alike in appearance but contrary in nature. Both leave home but where one of them returns the other goes missing. Binita Sen steps in to help in another bizarre search after Debts of Desire. Read Chapter 8 […]