"Whose letter?" "I'm not able to recognize the handwriting." "M. Mitra." "Must be someone from your mother's side." "There's no one called M. Mitra." "Whose letter is it?" "Whose letter is it, Mother?" " Wait, dear." "Wow!" "The matter is terrific." "What is written?" "Anything bad?" " I don't know." "You don't know?" " Whose letter is this?" "Your younger grandpa." " The one who had left home?" "It's been ages since he left home." "35 years, he left in 1955, I was 2 years old then." "He left immediately after clearing his B.A. exams." "I don't remember anything." "Whatever I've heard, was from my mother." "We last heard of him in 1968." "Mother, elder uncle, no one was informed about him." "Only Shetalbabu used to receive cards, occasionally." "From the various cities in the West." "We couldn't reply to him as his cards never carried his address." "Shetalbabu means, that family friend of yours?" "Yes, he was Grandpa's friend." "He has even come to our house." "Yes, the one who used to work in A.G. Bengal!" "He's retired, now and stays in Shantiniketan?" "Isn't it?" "He has come to know about us from him." "From where has he sent the letter?" "Delhi." "Qutub hotel." "What has he written?" "Read it aloud." "Let me listen." "His Bengali is still too crisp and classy." "My dear Khuki." " Khuki!" "Who's that?" "Let me read it first." "I don't know your actual name, that's why" "I'm addressing you with this name." "Oh my!" "It sounds like the language of saints!" "When I sacrifice my body, then, you're actually Khuki." "Anyway, I've finished my tour around the West and have settled here." "Through Shetalkanto uncle, I came to know that you're the only one surviving of my relatives." "In fact, you're happily living with your husband and children." "In a few years, I'll be giving up this material life of mine." "It's my wish to be your guest for a week in my birthplace, Kolkata." "You won't be able to recognize this uncle of yours and I, too, will not be able to recognize you." "I understand that under such circumstances, this wish of mine will be like an imposition to you." "In our country, the customs that prevailed regarding guests under that, even a stranger wouldn't be denied access as a guest, into a family." "Due to that custom" "I gathered the courage to put forward my request." "I've decided that on the 16th, I'll board the Rajdhani express." "and reach Kolkata on the 17th, morning." "With the help of a taxi, I'll find your house and be there." "Your decision regarding my visit as a guest is up to you, and your decision will be respected by me." "Remember, whether sweet or bitter, I'll listen to whatever you say." "Blessings, your younger uncle, Manomohan Mitra." "You were saying that you didn't have any relatives." "Short, thin, dark, fair, don't you remember anything!" "?" "No!" " Then, there's only one way." "We've to send an immediate reply." "Not a letter, but a telegram." "Why should I lie?" "What's a lie?" "Don't people go on holidays?" "He doesn't know that I work in an office." "Suppose I was a college professor?" "Then, I must've been enjoying my Pujo holidays, now." "But you aren't a professor." "What's the assurance that this person isn't lying?" "Do you know how many kinds of frauds take place these days?" "Babaramdev's collection, Francis' collection." "There're goods worth Rs. 78 lakhs, in this wardrobe." "Forget that, if one sells those bronze elephants on that book shelf to a foreign tourist, one can make a fortune." "Do you want to say that this man is coming with a motive to steal?" "Uncle was very dear to Mother." "Even Grandpa used to love Uncle very much." "And that too, not without a reason." "Uncle had many prized qualities." "He was never second in life." "In 35 years, a man can change completely." "Do you know that?" "It doesn't appear so from this letter." "I accept that he's your uncle, and that he's very good." "But won't you think over what your husband's saying?" "What are you trying to say?" "This gentleman is coming on Friday." "He'll stay here for 7 days." "It means that our whole weekend would be spoilt." "It's Saptami on the 21st." "I had thought that I would relax during Pujo." "But that's not going to happen." "This old man will be sticking to us." "Come in!" "Sit, brother!" "I'll spread the carpet!" "I'll lay the table!" "I do not like it, at all." " What?" " Your attitude, what else?" "That telegram isn't the right way to reply to this letter." "This is such a good letter." " I'm not denying it." "It's not only good, it's overly good." "That's where the problem lies." "The one who has been out of the state for so many years how does he manage to write so nicely in Bengali?" "Maybe he has written the letter with someone's help." "The language is someone else's." "But the thought is his." "No!" "No, there's definitely Something wrong in this." "Ok." "Mother, want Grandpa to come?" " Ask your father." "What happened?" "Are you angry?" "Do you want to say that having any stranger as an uncle is better than not having an uncle?" "I just want to say that he has written that he would be arriving on the 17th." "Let him come." "What's the necessity to send a letter?" "If, on arrival, we find that he isn't my uncle or that he looks suspicious, then I, myself, will send him back with due respect." "You don't need to do anything." "Is it alright?" " Bravo!" "Wow!" "Mystery grandpa!" "Clean properly under the wardrobe." "It's too dusty." "And Madhu, when your job is done place a glass of cold water over here." "You stay there." "And when he comes, inform me." "Mother!" "He has come!" "Listen, you all, come down." "You've to lift some luggage." "What's your name?" " Satya." "Satya, what?" "Krishna's disciple?" "Or Sundindra Bose's son?" "What's your name?" " Anila." "Please, come in." "Did you get my letter?" " Yes, I received it." "But I didn't get your reply." "Did you write a refusal?" " No." "Please sit." " Shall I sit here?" " Yes." "Don't I know that I've troubled you?" "The one whom you haven't seen, accepting just his words" "What are you saying?" "It's a joy to get back something that was lost." "Where's your husband?" " He's in the office." "He has a holiday for the next 2 days." "And the Pujo is from the 21st." " Ok." "Shall I give you something to drink?" "You can bathe after resting for some time." "Ok." "But don't add ice to it, dear." " Ok." "While coming, I thought I would buy some sweets for you." "Then I remembered that I don't know where to get what." "In the end, if I buy something inedible" "Bhimnath, Ganguram, are these shops still there?" "Yes, there are new shops, too." "Is this Coca cola?" " Yes." " Are these available here?" "Oh God!" "Since when did they change the spelling of the thumb?" "Very good." "Do you study in a school?" "We've a month long vacation, now." "For the Pujo." "While coming here, I saw tents in many places." "I understood that I had come during the Pujo." "Did you see any Pujo after leaving the state?" "No, I didn't see any Pujo, dear." "But, I saw the Rath Yatra." "Do you know where?" "In New York, Madison Avenue." "It's the same, over here." "The whites are crazy about it." "Rath Yatra has become their festival." "It isn't ours anymore." "Do you know the 108 names of Krsna, sir?" "108 names!" "Do you know?" " No." "My grandmother used to sing it." "I'll teach it to you, ok?" "Will you take a bath?" " Only if you don't have a problem." "Not at all." "Your room is on the 2nd floor." "He'll show it to you." "It belongs to my father-in-law." "Did your husband inherit it?" " Yes." " C'mon, Satyendra." "I didn't ask you about your food, that's why." "Listen, I'm all-hungry, and all eating you don't need to worry about that." "Has he come?" " Yes, just now." " How is he?" "What can I say?" "He speaks nicely." "And he addresses me as dear." "It sounds good." "He may be calling you dear but have you started calling him uncle?" "You can't forget your own so easily." "Does he have any resemblance to your mother?" "No." "But one thing matches, he has a good voice." "Has he already sung to you?" "Just 2 lines." "I'll tell you when you return." "How is his Bengali?" " Better than us, not worse." "What are you saying?" "It's increasing my suspicion." "Listen!" " Now what?" " Ask him to show his passport." "There's no other better way to trap him, than this." "Have you gone mad?" "How can I do all this?" "If you want to do all this, then do it after you come back home." "I'm hanging up." "I've a lot of work to do." "We've come, dear." "I'm wearing a kurta-pyjama." "Will it do?" "Of course." "I didn't have any clothes that could be worn here." "That's why I had to buy all this in Delhi." "That's fish." "Please sit." "When you're all-hungry, then you've to eat everything." "You remembered that, but forgot all eating?" "You keep the other things for the night." "I'll eat only fish now." "Do you know what this is?" "You won't believe for how many years" "I haven't even seen Bengali food." "This is a spinach curry." " O spinach!" "Do you know him, boy?" " Yes, Popeye derives his strength from spinach." "I'll show something new to you." " Oh God!" "What's this?" "Karnapuri, the people of Mednipur, prepare it in their homes." "Such a variety of food, this is possible only in Bengal!" "Give me one, Mother." "Won't you eat, dear?" " You all eat, first." "That means you haven't become a modern woman yet." "You said that you haven't eaten Bengali food for years." "But there are so many Bengalis in foreign countries." "Even we have relatives in New York." "Didn't you interact with them?" "Once, when I've broken the bonds and gone out of Bengal then why should I get into Bengali company?" "But you haven't forgotten the language." "Pulses first, and then some fish." "We, too, have the same habit." "The thing is that, dear, if one doesn't want to one will never forget his mother tongue." "And those who want to forget, then do so in just 3 months." "For that, you don't need to go to foreign countries." "In Delhi, I heard young children calling their parents mummy and daddy." "Do you do the same thing, boy?" "You've to eat it with pulses." "Shall I give you one?" "Ok." "A variety of food!" "Why did you leave home?" "I mean, I heard from mother that you were dear to everyone." "You were a brilliant student, you had a bright future." "Even then, why did I leave the house, isn't it?" " Yes." "There's a very beautiful phrase in German, Vahn Deluest." "It means a desire to travel." "Was that the only reason you left home?" "I had that desire." "There was another reason as well." "Let the fish be." "I'll take some meat." "Enough." "You didn't tell the other reason." " Are you listening to us?" "I'll tell you." "You'll enjoy it." "When I was small, I used to sketch very nicely." "Yes, I had heard that from mother." "So, I had decided that after my college" "I would join an art school." "One day it so happened, I was in my 1st year then." "I got hold of a foreign newspaper." "I opened it and saw a bison's picture." "It wasn't a photo, it was a sketch." "Do you know what a bison is?" " Yes, it has horns." "It was charging fiercely." "Do you know, dear it was an amazing picture." "So deadly, so fierce, it was captivating." "Who could've drawn such a picture?" "It was written in the paper that in Spain, 30,000 years ago in the Alta Mira region, a caveman had drawn the picture." "It was so extraordinary that I said to myself" "I swear on your blood, Bison, whatever I become in life" "I won't ever become an artist." "There isn't any art school in the world, that will teach me to draw such a bison." "Since then, there was a debate within myself regarding what's civilized, and what's uncivilized." "And the other reason Vahn Deleust, these two made me leave the country." "You had written that you will be going abroad again." "Yes, this time I'll be going to Australia." "I haven't seen that island yet." "This is a Greek coin, Drachma." "This is a Polish Zloty." "This is from Mexico, Peseta." "This is from Peru, Scholl." "Anish's uncle, too, collects coins." "I know what it's called." " What is it called?" " Numismatics." "Very good." "I don't collect coins." "I don't have a desire for money." "These were left behind with me, I give them to you." "To me?" " You can show them to your friends." "I've told my friends, not everyone, but a few of them." "What've you told?" " That someone has come to my house he may be my grandfather, and may be not." "They'll be coming to meet you, today." "Bablu!" "Come." "Doesn't he need to rest?" "I shall leave now." "What did you say?" "It's German." "It means see you later." "Think about it, the highest peak in South America, Andes." "On it, 4000 ft. above ground level, is this stone city." "400 years ago, people didn't even know about that city." "After that, in 1911, when Mohun Bagan defeated the whites and won the IFA shield, that year" "Heram Bengam, a traveler, suddenly discovered this city." "What's the name of the city?" " Machupichu." "Look at this!" " Wow!" "Have you been to this city?" " Of course." "This photo has been taken by me." "I had been there 20 years ago." "On the back of a donkey." "I was shocked on seeing the city." "Everything over there was made of stone." "But, there isn't any stone nearby." "From where did the stone come?" "How did they take it up that mountain?" "No one knows about it." "The Inca civilization was highly advanced." "Another story!" " No more stories." "Now, I'll show you magic." "What's all this?" "I'll ask you a few things, let's see whether you can answer them correctly." "Ready." " Ready!" "Tell me, which one's larger, the sun or the moon?" "The sun!" " How did you know?" "Wait." "This is the sun, and this is the moon." "They both appear to be the same in the sky." "The sun is much farther away." "How farther?" "I'll tell you." "The sun is 9.5 crore miles away." "And the moon is just 5 lakh miles away." "That's why they appear to be the same in size." "Suppose, instead of 5 lakhs, had the moon been just" "2 lakh miles away, then how would it have appeared?" "The sun would've appeared larger." "Like this, isn't it?" " Yes." "And suppose it would've been 8 lakh miles away, then?" "Then it would've appeared much smaller." "Like this, isn't it?" " Yes." "But that didn't happen." "The moon is just far enough so that it's like this." "That's why when the moon overshadows the sun covers it completely" " Solar eclipse." "Total solar eclipse." "And when the earth's shadow covers the moon, from all sides" " Lunar eclipse." "Total lunar eclipse." "How does it happen?" "You don't know?" "Ask the wisest man on earth even he won't be able to say." "No one knows." "This is a mystery." "According to me, it's the biggest mystery of the universe." "The sun and the moon, one's the king of the day and the other, the queen of the night." "The earth's shadow on the moon." "Everything's dark on one side." "Magic!" "Listen!" " What's the matter?" " Listen!" "I'm convinced." " That's he's your uncle?" "And also a very good man." "I'm able to see that you're easily convinced." "In a few hours, you've recognized a man's true nature?" "Women can." "Women aren't as suspicious as men." "Moreover, can't you understand from one's behavior and thoughts?" "There's no doubt that he has traveled around countries." "He knows German." "Moreover, he has also given a few coins to Bablu." "Foreign coins?" "Do you know that one can purchase foreign stamps?" "Similarly, there are dealers for foreign coins, too." "Which countries' coins do you want?" "I'll get them for you, tomorrow itself." "Did he tell you why he left home?" "That's when he mentioned this German phrase." "This means a desire to travel." "Yes, but he didn't pronounce it like you." "Isn't it?" " Yes." "This phrase is also used in English." "And when used, it's done so with an English accent." "I had learnt German for months in Max-Muller Bhavan." "Due to lack of patience, I couldn't go ahead." "Even now, I remember half of what I learnt." "And what other reason did he give?" " For what?" "For leaving home, what else?" "It's a long story, it will take a long time." "Even then, let me listen to it." "Bison!" "Are you able to understand anything?" " Bison!" "There's a guest in the house, you're the head of the family." "The host." "At least, meet him once." "Where's the gentleman?" " He must be in his room." "He had gone to the playground with Bablu and his friends." "He returned sometime ago." "Get up!" "If there isn't a sieve in the house, then get one." "Please keep my word, at least take his blessings." "Come in!" "Good evening." " Good evening." "No!" "Never!" "When your heart is clear of all doubts." "If it does, only then will the question of taking my blessings, arise." "Not otherwise." "I had written in the letter, and I'm telling it now." "I know that it's an awkward position." "I know who you are." "But you don't know who I am." "Unfortunately, whether I'm genuine or a con." "The real uncle or a fake uncle, there isn't any easy way to find out." "To find all this, you've to give some time." "Are you ready to give that much time?" "Think about it." "But I'm not able to understand why you're saying that there isn't any easy way." "This is it!" "Thanks!" "It's your name, Manomohan Mitra." "This is your picture." "Distinguishing mark mole on the right cheek." "Then it's alright." "What did this prove, Sudhendra Bose?" "You'll say identity." "I'll say, not even that." "In this age of globalization there're plenty of ways to fake passports." "This passport proves nothing." "Yes, you've the right not to believe me." "But, this can't be told to your wife." "She's quietly doing her duties, without any flaw." "There's the pull of the blood relation, but that's with your wife, not with you." "So you have the right to kick me out." "Look, I haven't unpacked my suitcase yet." "If you so desire, then I can get out of this house in just 5 minutes." "Why are you saying so?" "My wife likes you very much." "There is no question of my, my..." " I am at your mercy." "You forget this." "I just have one question." " What?" "Why did you suddenly feel the urge to come back to your motherland?" "Think of it, whether you'll believe it or not." "I didn't feel like returning to my country." "After roaming the West, I had decided to travel around the East." "For that, I had to come to Delhi." "All these days" "I didn't feel the pull of the blood, towards anyone." "This time, maybe due to my age..." "You rest." "I'll come back after my bath." "You win." "He's genuine." "Passport." " It's alright." "Did he show it?" " Yes, almost." "Then why are you saying almost?" "He's the actual uncle." "He can fool 50 people of my kind." "Do you know what he says?" " What?" "Says this passport proves nothing." "That passports can be easily faked, these days." "You wanted to see the passport." "Are you happy?" "Your so-called uncle is a man of many arts." "How would I have known that?" "Whatever you say" "I'm sure that he's playing some sort of a game." "I'm not able to get it." "It seems that the final decision will be taken tomorrow evening." "Meaning?" "Tomorrow, I've asked Pritish to come over." "You need a cunning man for this." "And you know it very well that he isn't your husband." "If I have some chronic problem, then it's nothing but shyness." "Pritish isn't so." "I've told him about it." "And he's most intrigued." "He claims that he has handled many such cases earlier." "Will he try to trap him?" "That barrister friend of your talks very provocatively." " What do you mean by a trap?" "That man claims that he's your uncle." "He's eating our food." "By feeding him, we'll spend at least Rs. 50-60." "In fact, we know almost nothing about that man." "We've to do some investigation." "Pritish will do that." "And he'll do it as decently as possible." "That man saw me as a 2 year old baby." "35 years later, when he has come to meet me" "I don't find anything unnatural in that." "Ok." "If that man has come for sentimental reasons then I can understand." "But, if I find that in spite of being your uncle he has come here with some other motive then I'll have to show him the door." "I will forget all my shyness at that moment." "And what if he isn't my uncle?" " Then what?" "you're there." "To send him off ceremoniously." "Hello." "I'm Chanda speaking." "Aren't you able to recognize me?" "Your voice sounds different." " That's due to excitement." "Has he come?" " Yes, he has." "Really?" " Of course." " Tell me, what've you understood?" "What'll I understand in a day?" "We've, I mean, me and my husband, are dying of excitement." "The whole day, we've been dying to hear from you." "But, you haven't told anybody, have you?" "Believe me, we're dying to tell everyone." "But you didn't even call us. - You've come to know of it now." "Shall I hang up?" " No!" "He wants to talk to you." "I'm giving the phone to him." "Hello." " Yes, tell me." "I've a request that you've to accept." " What request?" "In half an hour, we'll make a visit." "But, what if he comes to know?" "Listen!" "I guarantee that he won't understand." "We'll come over there casually." "Talk to you all casually." "And then casually leave after half an hour." "You tell Sudhen not to introduce me as an actor." "Let my profession be a secret." "But, do you want to come today itself?" "I've to work in the next 2 days, as it's Saturday and Sunday." "Then you come over" " Thanks." "Then that is decided." "Are you listening?" " What happened?" "Chanda and Ranjan are coming." "They want to meet him." "Very good, then inform them as well, Mallika, Shefali, etc. etc." "Then, we won't be burdened by the job of entertaining that oldie." "Listen!" "Please introduce him as my uncle." "Ok." "Can I come in?" "Did I spoil your evening?" "Not at all." "Let me introduce them to you." "They're Mr. and Mrs. Rakkhit, and this is Mr. Manomohan Mitra." "I couldn't." " He's Neeli's uncle." "Uncle?" "Uncle." "I had made a mistake." "I had another friend whose wife... what's her name?" "Isn't her name Manju?" "From when did Manju find an uncle?" "Manju doesn't have an uncle." "Do you have 3 uncles, or 2?" " 2." "The elder uncle has died." "And the younger one left home 35 years ago." "I got confused." "You were never clear." "The whole thing is very simple." "Neeli's uncle left home 35 years ago." "He came back this morning." " From where?" "From the West." "This is something sensational." "This is almost like the Baul hermits." "Do you know the Baul hermits?" "Yes, I do." " It's a world famous case." "Do you know for how long the case went on?" "10 years." "There isn't anything fishy over here." "I mean, that he's her uncle." "There's no doubt about that." "Good." "You don't know how lucky you are." "These days, if you get trapped by a lawyer, then they'll leave you only after bankrupting you." "You would've had to go back with a begging bowl." "Isn't this that marvelous biscuit prepared by you?" "Marvelous!" "?" " Excellent!" "Won't you inform the press about his return?" "No, I won't, and if I find that the press has even got a small hint about his return, then I'll assume that you're behind it." "I don't go around revealing secrets." "I was imagining a headline, the return of the prodigal uncle." "The word prodigal has 2 meanings." "Do you know?" " 2 meanings!" "?" "One is wasteful, and the other is repentant." "And I'm neither of them." "I'm glad to hear that." "Can I ask something?" " Of course." "We came to know about this, after coming here." "You've returned after so many years." "Did you return alone?" "I don't have anyone else." "You haven't married?" "One of the offspring of marriage is a house." "When I left my house, then how does the question of a family arise?" "Yes, I understand." "You're right." "Thank you." "You've returned to Kolkata after ages." "Did you leave from Kolkata?" " Yes." "How do you find the city after so many years?" "I'm a contradictory person." "I'm used to listening to criticisms about the city." "Why criticize?" "No doubt it's a civilized city." "What are you saying?" "Isn't this civilized?" "So many people, vehicles?" "High rises all over the place, like pillars." "And you come back here after 35 years and find that people are still pulling rickshaws." "If this isn't contradictory, then is it civilized?" "It seems you have bitter thoughts about civilization." "What do you say about New York?" " That's something I have not seen." "I've only photographs of it." "In the main part of the city, family after family is sitting with a placard, we are homeless." "Get it." "Are you coming from New York?" " South America, Brazil." "Brazil!" "What are you saying?" "What's the matter?" "He must be thinking of Pele." " Pele!" "?" "Footballer?" "Isn't it?" "He's a great player, don't you know?" "Mr. Rakhit, My knowledge about football is very poor." "Mohun Bagan, and East Bengal." "Remember one thing, football is the life of a Bengali." "Football and one more thing, which you must surely be missing in foreign countries." "What's that?" " You can call it a Bengali's monopoly." "You can call it a Bengali's invention." "Rosogolla [sweet]?" " Adda [chat]." "Non stop Adda." "Adda in a club." "Adda in a park." "Adda on the banks of a lake." "Adda in a coffee shop." "Without which a Bengali won't even be able to digest his food." "Adda is made in Bengal." "Allow me to contradict you, Mr. Rakkit." "2500 years ago, in Greece, there was a gymnasium." "Do you know that?" " Where they used to build bodies." "Not only that, do you know about the essence of life?" "We had learnt it while in school." "Mel sana el corporesano." "Sound mind in a sound body." " Right." "There, they used to exercise their mind as well as their bodies." "There was a time when they used to do both within the gymnasium." "In that gym, the geniuses of that age, Socrates, Plato used to gather to discuss." "And the topics of discussion were politics, science, math, art, and literature." "The dialogues are still there, you can read them even now." "What will you call this?" " This is a kind of Adda." "But at the highest level." "No criticism, no backbiting, no spitefulness." "Of course, I'm not criticizing Bengali Adda." "Even here, there are productive Addas." "But, what happens on a large scale, I mean, what used to happen during our times, of course." "Now it's all about criticizing." "It's nothing but throttling one's conscience." "Had Bengali Adda been so good, Rabindranath would've joined." "You're right." "Rabindranath has never participated in Addas." "Or maybe he has." "Sudhen, has Rabindranth participated in Addas?" "I haven't given you his real introduction." "He's Ranjan Rakkhit, a popular actor." "He works in theatres, movies, television everything." "Is that so?" " Yes." "He's a comedian." " A comedian?" "What do you say?" "Am I good or bad?" "Do you find anything laughable over here?" "I couldn't find anything other than sad news." "It isn't a joke, but a kind of a satire." "It's there as long as there's politics in our country." "But it isn't exactly a satire of that Aris..." "Aristotle?" " No, not him." "...tophanes." " What?" " Aristophanes." "It's a kind of a skit over here." " Skit." "Yes." "Let me give you an example." "Assume that there's a gentleman." "A Bengali gentleman." " You can exclude 'I'." "It's the same with me." " Yes." "Like me, I'm from Kharagpur." "And she's from Netrakona." "You?" " Jessore." " And Sudhen, you?" " Bardhoman." "Useless place." "So..." " Stand up and narrate." " Ok." "A gentleman has gone to the writers building to meet the chief minister." "According to this gentleman in some matters, only 75% English was enough." "He went there, the police was standing outside." "They asked him, whom do you want to meet?" "This man said that he wanted to see the CM." "The police man reacted, CCM!" "?" "You mean CPM?" "No, how can I see the PM." "He's in Delhi." "I have come to see CM." "Do you have an appointment?" "Yes, of course, right now." "4CM, I mean 4PM." "Sorry, the CM's left." " Why sorry?" "I'm also left." "What's there to feel sorry for that?" "Brother, the CM has left for home." "By then, he reacts, right." "Very good, very good." "Mr. Rakkhit, can I ask you something?" "Of course." " How do you find me?" "You had come to meet me, isn't it?" "What's the need for a newspaper?" "The telephone's there." "It's too difficult to keep it a secret, isn't it, dear?" "The suspense, thrill, of a drama." "To be or not to be, uncle." "I hope you didn't mind, Mr. Rakkhit." " No." "In fact, I was feeling a little like that to act." "Feeling a little like this." "What happened?" "I'm not able to forget it." " What?" " Ranjan's face." "I've never seen him so embarrassed." "I must say that I'm beginning to like your uncle." "He's knowledgeable." "It shows that he was a bright student." "What I like most is that man's attitude." "He knows to laugh, as well as make others laugh." "Moreover, when we come to think of it" "We don't know anything about this gentleman yet." "Where he was in the past 35 years?" "What did he do?" "Why did he do it?" "Nothing." "A big question mark." "Surprising!" "Listen, your uncle may be an early riser." "But don't wake me up before 9, tomorrow." "What are you thinking?" "Mrs. Bose!" "Will you tell me what's the matter?" "You shouldn't hide anything from your husband at midnight." "Do you know?" "This is not only science but Sudhendra Bose's philosophy." "Tell me what's the matter?" "Tell me." "Why didn't it strike me?" "Why?" " What?" "What's the matter?" " A man, who left home, when you don't come to know anything about him then, after how many years is it assumed that he has died?" "7 years." " Uncle left home in 1955." "Till 1968, he sent cards to Shetalbabu." "Carry on." "Grandpa died in 1970." "He left a will before his death." "Mother gets money, elder uncle gets money." "Grandpa used to love younger uncle very much." "O God!" "He's a diamond." "Your grandpa must've surely left something for his dear son." "Is that what you want to say?" "Even if it's there, how will he come to know of it?" "We can think of that later." "First, we've to find out whether your uncle had a share or not." "How will you find that out?" "Is there no way?" " I don't know." "I'm not able to think of anything." "Listen, your grandpa's lawyer friend, the one who had come to our marriage." "He doesn't hear properly, moreover, he has an organization." "Don't you remember about the good time we had?" "Tridib Mukherjee." "He was 70 year old at that time." "What's the guarantee that he's alive, now?" "He may be alive." "And if he's alive, he will surely know." "Why did I think of this?" "Why?" "Are you repenting?" "Yes." "I'm repenting." "I've no doubt that he's my uncle." "And that he has come to meet me." "There can't be any other reason than this." "You're calling him your uncle, have you ever addressed him so?" "I didn't even hear you once." "Do you know why I haven't done so?" "It's because of you, you've sowed so much suspicion within me that I desire, so much, to address him as uncle." "I even try." "It comes up to my lips, yet..." "Doesn't it come out?" "Listen, dear." "Harden yourself." "He could be a genuine one or a fake one, too." "Prepare yourself for both results." "You're saying that it's the pull of the blood." "I say that it's his magnetic personality." "These days, is it easy to get such big houses?" "I feel that he has an eye on my house, and that he has come to claim his share." "I wanted to know, about whom all the heirs to Mohinimohan's legacy, were?" "Washington?" "Who had been there?" " Heirs!" "Who were Mohinimohan's heirs?" "Mohini's heirs were his three children." "Had he provided for the three of them?" "Yes, Sitemohan, Leela both of them got it." "They got a good share." "Mohinimohan was the only ENT specialist at that time." "Even I met him in his own chamber." "That time, I had been to Delhi in a flight." "I hadn't won at that time." "During the landing, my ears were so blocked." "Oh God!" "They won't open at any cost." "I came back to Kolkata and went to meet Mohini, he was at his peak at that time." "He inserted a tube into my nose, blew in to my ears." "His youngest son, Mohinimohan's." "Monu?" "Yes, Manomohan." "Did he have any share?" " Yes, he did." "But he wasn't in the country at that time." "I don't know which country," "But, yes, he used to inform us that he was alive." "Do you know that he has returned?" "No, I don't." " Will he get a share, now?" "What?" "Will he get money, now?" " Of course." "Why not?" "Money isn't a piece of camphor to evaporate." "He'll get it if he claims it." "But, yes, he has to prove his identity." "Will a passport do?" " Yes." "Who holds the money now?" "The one who was the executioner of Mohini's will must be possessing it." "It's in his account in the bank." "Is the executioner a friend of Mohinimohan?" "Yes, he could or couldn't be from Bengal." "When Mohini died, I was in Singapore, at my daughter's place." "What's this?" " Tribal music." "Where did you get it?" "I've understood." " What?" " Who you actually are." "Who?" " Grandpa." " The genuine one or the fake one?" "The genuine one." " How did you know?" "No one else does." "Shall I call you Grandpa, from now on?" "It would be better if you address me as Fleeing Grandpa." "Chotdadu?" " Yes, as I'm always ready to flee." "This life itself is all about fleeing from one place to another." "After resting here for a few days, I'll flee, again." "I'll be here as long as I like it here." "Will you go away after that?" "Listen, I'll tell you something interesting." "Kupomanduk." "Kupo means a well, and Manduk refers to a frog." "A frog in a well?" " Yes, think about it, what a nasty thing." "No light, nor air, foul smell, dirt and slush!" "He stays there all his life." "There's a Kupomanduk in every man, it's known as Kuno." "I'm not like that, that's why I keep traveling." "What if I travel, too?" " Of course you have to." "Or else, how will you eat the meat of an armadillo?" "Whose meat!" "?" " Armadillo!" "It's an ant eating animal." "Who eats its meat?" " If I tell everything, then my bag would be emptied of stories." "Be patient, only then will you bear the fruits." "I'm dead tired." "A useless hearing aid that has no use." "According to that man, your uncle has a share." "But he said that he was in Singapore during your uncle's death." "Which means, if your uncle had changed the will in case he felt that his son won't return then, Mr. Trideep won't know about it." "Maybe that's what has happened." "It didn't strike me, earlier." "Had Uncle had a share, if not anyone else, then" "Shetalbabu must've surely known." "And he would've told Uncle." "And Uncle wouldn't have hidden such a good news from us." "Never!" "Why?" "Because the one who doesn't have open hands" "I won't be surprised to know that he doesn't have an open heart, as well." "What do you mean by that?" " The one who can come to meet his niece after 35 years, empty-handed." "That person can be anything but large-hearted." "Ok, you're going to test him, today." "Then itself, we'll come to know what kind of a person he is." "What's the matter?" "Whatever he maybe, he isn't a thief." "Was this here yesterday?" "No, it was kept in another room." "Made of bronze." "These miniatures and ivory." "Are these your collections, Sudhen?" " No, my father's." "I had seen that instrument, yesterday, too." "Is it a Sitar or a Tanpura?" " Tanpura." "Do you sing?" " Not much, just a hobby." "Not only does she sing, but also dances." "Asking her to dance would be too much." "But, a song won't do any harm." "Will you sing, dear?" "I haven't heard a Bengali song since I left the country." "You all drink your tea first." "I'll sing after that." "Where's Bablu?" " He is in his friend's place." "They're celebrating the Pujo." "So he spends the evening there." "And yes, you can smoke if you want to." "I don't believe in this seniority thing." "If you don't think of me as a senior person then it won't be offending to me." "Have you come here to celebrate the Pujo?" "I didn't even know that the Pujo has arrived." "Do you know how many times Durga killed Mahishasura?" "How many times?" "As far as I know, just once." "3 times." "Do you know why Ganesha was beheaded?" "I knew it when I was young." "Now, I've forgotten." "When I was young, I heard so many mythological stories from my grandma that I haven't forgotten them yet." "What do you think of the situation in the country?" "Are you reading the newspaper?" "Caste and religion, both are really dangerous." "The paper is bearing testimony to that." "Don't you believe in religion?" "The Hindu scriptures have various meanings for religion." "I'm meaning religion." " I'll reply to your question later." "Have you all finished drinking tea?" "Are you ready, dear?" " Yes." "Who is playing the Veena?" "In a sweet tune." "Who is playing the Veena?" "It brings about a new life in me." "Who is playing the Veena?" "In a sweet tune." "Who is playing the Veena?" "All the dreams have come true in the dawn." "Breaking all the barriers of time and age." "Who is playing the Veena?" "In a sweet tune." "Who is playing the Veena?" "It has awoken everyone from the sleep and brought nature to its full bloom." "It has awoken everyone from the sleep and brought" "nature to its full bloom." "I remember all that I forgot." "It's made sweet memories come back." "Who is playing the Veena?" "All those pains that the heart gets out of miseries." "How do I face them all?" "I know not." "All those pains that the heart gets out of miseries." "How do I face them all?" "I know not." "My emotions in this world come alive." "My life also shivers thinking of those miseries." "Who is playing the Veena?" "In a sweet tune." "Who is playing the Veena?" "Beautiful!" "It made me think of my sister!" "What was your question?" " Do you believe in religion?" "Mr. Sengupta, I'm an unorthodox kind of a person." "That's good." " Something that creates a divide between human beings, I don't believe in that." "Religion does just that." "And an organized religion surely does that." "That's the reason why I don't believe in castes, too." "And God?" "For the blind man light is God." "For the dead God is life." "Who'll give light, who'll give life?" "The problem is, Mr. Sengupta, in these days it has become difficult to believe in the Holy Lord." "Daily newspapers, daily, they attack that belief." "What do I do, tell me?" "I'm with you in this opinion." "But what about science?" "Voyager has sent pictures from Neptune." "What will you like to say about that?" "What difference will my opinion make?" "Tell me what you feel." " Nothing much." "The same that 4-5 educated people feel." "And what is that?" "Unimaginable progress of technology." "It's something that couldn't even be dreamt about, a few days back." "A big feather in the cap of NASA." "NASA, there's also Nesha [addiction] along with it." "Injecting themselves with hypodermic syringes and infusing addictive juices into their body they're releasing summon after summon to millions of people around the world." "The youth of this world, which technology can stop it, Sengupta?" "You've spent so many days in the West." "Yes, I have." " Why?" "The West is the hub of technology." "If that hurts you so much, then you could've gone and stayed with the tribals in the jungles." "Look!" "This isn't a part of science!" "You mean to say that you've lived with these tribals?" "After leaving home, I spend the first 5 years with these tribals." "Nothing but the truth so help me god." "After living with the Santhals, I went on to stay with the Kohl, Bhil, Naga, Munda, Orau, Tora..." "How many more names should I give you?" "Have you spent time with these tribals?" "Have you ever eaten a field rat?" "A snake, a monkey?" "Dear, I had told you that I'm all-hungry, it's not a figure of speech, it's the truth." "In these 5 years, it doesn't seem that you had earned your living." "On the contrary all my savings were eaten up." "You must be thinking that where did I get my money." "Your father surely, mustn't have sponsored your running away from home." "My grandma, Giribaladashi." "She used to love me a lot." "It won't be wrong if I say that she used to spoil me." "I came 1st in the matriculation, then in the 12th grade, and when I came first in my B.A. exams that old lady, gave me a lump sum amount and said dear, you've glorified your generation." "May God bless you!" "It wasn't a small sum during those times." "So, I leave home with my own earnings, and I didn't have to resort to any evil means." "I got it." "You said that your money was spent." "So, an obvious question that arises is that" "Who paid for your trip abroad?" "I was a cabin boy in the S.S. Olympia ship." "Then?" "After reaching London?" " For 5 years." "Not only in London, but in various cities of Europe." "What?" "What did you do there?" "Struggle for existence!" "Struggle, the most favorite word for a Bengali." "I don't call it a struggle." "I call it a nutrition for the brain." "Nutrition for the muscles and bones." "And the first step towards recognizing a man." "When did you return to the jungle?" "All these incidents seem have occurred in a city." "A civilized city." "The fortune favours the brave." "The daring gets what he wants." "So fight along." "My life story will not get you closer to the truth." "you're trying to see the inside of an onion by peeling of the skin on the outside." "It won't be so easy." "Even then for the sake of record, let me tell you" "I had started writing in various journals." "Earned a lot of bank balance." "And also did some studying:" "a degree in Anthropology." "Then the journey to United Nations." "United Nations?" " Yes, UNO." "The reason?" "Indians." " Indians?" "Oh I see." "The American Indians" "Were you a cabin boy there, too?" "No, sir." "Please don't mind, even though, if I'm narrating it's like a biography, that this time, too" "I came first in my exams." "I didn't have to struggle." "An anthropological society sponsored my trip." "The condition was that" "I should send them a regular report of my trip." "I've been fulfilling those conditions." "Throughout North and South America, I've been to 43 Indian settlements and spent time with them." "This is the prime reason for my wisdom." " Ok." "Let me take over from here." "You please sit, your throat must've gone dry." "As you wish, sir." " I'll talk, you listen." "If there's a mistake, then you can correct it." "The main topic, that's still standing is that these experiences have taught you that civilized life as in a city, is illusionary." "Tribal civilization is the real one." "It should be told at this point that, I, in spite of being an urban man, am not ignorant about tribal life." "I, too, have some knowledge about it." "I know that they have their language, culture, religion, arts, music, etc but..." "Just a moment, Mr. Sengupta!" "What's etc?" "This etc won't help them understand." "How will it help them know me?" "Then you tell me, what that etc is?" "Oh God!" "The real thing has been left behind, science, technology." "You're only thinking of Neptune, only about Voyageur." "Think about this, man, uncivilized, in an ape form hunting, fishing, weaving, pottery, everything necessary for leading a civilized life, how did he learn it?" "There's a reason behind that, architecture." "Even building a hut requires knowledge." "Have you seen an igloo?" "The house of an Eskimo?" "Do you know, it requires 2 kinds of ice to build an igloo?" "An opaque one, which is used to build the walls and the ceiling." "And another, a transparent one, for the windows." "What will you call this?" "Isn't this science?" "Isn't this technology?" "Enough, sir!" "All the mystic practices of the tribals' like voodoo and mumbo jumbo." "You, when you feel sick, do you send for a witchdoctor?" "I've done so, Sengupta." "On many occasions, I've done so." "Where will I find a doctor in that jungle?" "Do you know what kind of a witchdoctor he was?" "He knew everything about 500 medicinal plants." "He had cured me." "It's true that I don't send for them, very often." "The reason being the one for which I'm sitting on this sofa and drinking tea with you all." "Why are you unnecessary complicating a simple matter?" "Why aren't you able to understand that I, myself, am not a tribal." "It's something I lament about." "That I'm not a tribal, that I can't draw bison like the cavemen of Alta Mira." "But what can be done, tell me?" "Long before I left home, they had become a part of me" "Shakespeare, Rabindranath, Bankim, Karl Marx." "That's why I need to make field notes." "Else, had I been a tribal, would I have needed that?" "You said that you've studied the Muriya tribal." "Yes, I have." " Then, the open sexual encounters among their youth, what do you have to say about that?" "Isn't it the height of promiscuity?" "Will you call that civilized?" "No." "The soul that you behold in you." "Will be mine from now onwards." "The holy wedlock." "That is civilization." "Sometime back, you said that you were all-hungry." "So, have you eaten human flesh?" "I haven't been fortunate enough for that." "Fortunate?" " I've heard that human flesh is delicious." "But I haven't eaten it." "I've lied by calling myself all-hungry." "Don't feel offended." "Then what kind of a civilization would you call this cannibalism?" "Civilized!" "?" "It isn't civilized!" "It's barbaric!" "Do you know what a civilization is?" "It's when a man pressed a single button to release a single atom bomb, and destroy a whole city of tribal in a single moment." "And do you know who uncivilized men are?" "Those who take oaths regarding the use of weapons." "What, Mr. Sengupta, you tripped after taking over, isn't it?" "That's bound to happen." "How'll you call me your friend?" "Whether a friend or an enemy, we haven't decided on that, yet." "Do one thing, I have a pseudonym, it was dear to me in my childhood, Nemo." "You can use that name." "You mean Jules Verne?" "Captain Nemo?" "Latin word." "Nemo means no one." "Whether you're a no one, or someone, that's the question." "Do you know, how your visit has ruined the peace of mind of my friend and his wife?" "You've spoilt their sleep, do you know that?" "They're very decent that's why they haven't shown their displeasure." "But you, aren't letting us know whether you're welcome or unwelcome as a guest." "You're saying that your passport proves nothing." "You're the one who knows what you want." "Then why aren't you telling that to us?" "Look, either come clean or just clear out." "Ok." "I'm leaving." "Listen!" "Why did you have to say that last thing you said?" "This person isn't fit to live in a civilized society." "He can't have a place in your house." "Whatever he is, that doesn't bother us." "He would've left in a day or two." "And you had promised that you would handle the matter carefully." "I know your wife, and I know what she's feeding him." "Surely not field rat." "Hadn't he been threatened, he would've stuck to this place." "Eating you out of this house and more." "You don't know such creatures, I do." "I don't know how to..." "I felt like disappearing into the earth." "He didn't even speak at the dinner table." "I'm really sorry Nili." "Had I known that Pritish will do such a thing." "I wouldn't have invited him." "He had written about traditional hospitality." "Is that what we've given him?" "Now, what we should do is to remove the pain that he's suffered due to this insult?" "Will you tell me something?" " What?" "Were you able to imagine that he spent half of his life in this manner?" "Absolutely not." "Extraordinary life." "Extraordinary experience." "He has learnt many new things, but for that, the man kind of went far away." "For an uncle, you feel love, closeness." "But for him, you feel respect." "Do you know what the difficulty is?" "As a scholar, that man must've opened his mind." "But he still hasn't opened up his heart." "You can't try and become a tribal, else Uncle would, himself, have come close to you." "That's not possible, anymore." "But, for the remaining days we've to break his silence." "His first introduction is that he's our guest, it's a sin to hurt him." "You can call him as Uncle, I don't have any objections." "If that comes from within my heart, I'll surely do so." "But I can't force myself to become a hypocrite." "What's this!" "?" "Are you listening?" " What?" "He's not there." "The room's empty." "Meaning?" " That's he's left." "There's none of his luggage." "Only this key." "I was afraid of this." "What'll you do now?" " Wait." "Let me get fresh, first." " Will you inform the police?" "Give me the directory." " Whom will you call up?" "The one whom I feel like." "Give me the book." "Who is it?" " The back door is open, sir." "When did you notice it?" " An hour ago." "The bedroom door was closed so I couldn't inform you." "Ok." "You may go." "Grandpa's room is empty, Mother." "I know it, dear." " Where's Grandpa?" " I don't know." "What's that?" " Bholpur." "STD." "Do you know Shetalbabu's number?" "Yes." " You call him up." " What shall I say?" "First, ask him whether he's the executor of your grandpa's will." "If he is, then ask him whether your uncle has a share." "And whether the money is with him." "If yes, then the last question." "Has he informed your uncle about it?" "If that too is yes, then tell him that we'll be at his place by 2 pm in the afternoon." "We'll have our food on the way, he doesn't need to arrange for our food." "Now call him." "We'll have our food on the way, he doesn't need to arrange for our food." "Now call him." "Come, dear." "Are you fine?" "Hasn't he come?" " Yes, he has." "The train arrived an hour ago." "Then where is he?" " Come, I'll tell you." "You said over the phone that he's a little angry." "I feel that he's more than a little angry." "I saw him last in 1955." "Sit." "I took him to visit a zoo when he was young." "Where is he now?" "That person hasn't eaten anything since morning." "At least have lunch." "No, I won't." "At least drink a cup of tea." "No, I don't want it." "Then what was the need to come?" "You've met me after so many days, just for transacting money?" "Or don't you need even that?" "Then he said, there's a need for that." "I'm here for a few days, and then I'll return to Kolkata and board a flight." "Then there's no need to hurry." "Moreover, today is Sunday the bank will be closed, nothing can be done." "Then, he's..." "Have you come to Shantiniketan, earlier?" "I've come, thrice before marriage." "There's a Santhal village nearby, Bonerpukur." "He has gone there." "He says that he stayed there for sometime before leaving the country." "I don't know what the special attraction is, over there, dear." "He should sit and talk to me, not even that." "And do you know what's most ridiculous, dear?" "Before taking my blessings, he took out his passport, think about it, he took out his passport and showed it to me saying that he is Manomohan Mitra." "Since we've come, let's go and see whether we can find him." "Yes, go." "And if you find him, then bring him here, somehow." "Yes, we'll do that." " Does he have any mental problem?" "No!" " I mean, I've kept so much money for the past 20 years. 5 lakhs, think of how much it has become, now." "No, don't worry." "His mind is crystal clear." "Let's go." "There's Grandpa!" "Come." "Sit." "Why did you do this?" "You didn't even inform us." "My mind was in turmoil." "I'm ashamed about last night's incident." "The thing is that, I've stayed with different kinds of people around the world, and when I see that someone's fooling around, I can't control myself." "You haven't even eaten anything since morning." "We've come to take you." "Come." "Not now, there's no harm in fasting for a day." "There's a dance here, today." "I've arranged for it." "I'll see that dance and then go." "You'll also see it." "The oldest tribal civilization in India is the Kohl civilization." "Santhals are their offspring." "150 years ago they revolted against the British." "Will you return to Kolkata from here?" "To our house?" "When you've come, I'll surely return." "But not today, tomorrow evening by train." "I've a job here tomorrow." "You've an inheritance, don't you?" " Yes." "I do." "You didn't share such good news with us?" "There was a reason for that." "I felt that since I didn't do my duty towards my father" "I don't have any rights on his property." "Then I realized, that since my father has left so much money, lovingly, for me..." "Then why are you standing?" "Sit." "Enough." "Now take a deep breath." "No more talking." "How do you like it?" " Good." "What are you waiting for?" "Go and join them." " Really." " Yes, go." "Are you seeing your niece in action?" "I had a doubt whether she was my niece." "Now, it has been removed." "Then, you can keep it as a memento." "That suitcase was very dear to me." "Why do you want to?" "You've to be civilized in some matters." "OK." "I can say nothing against you." "Do you need all these books?" "Those are my field notes, dear." "The ones I didn't need, I got rid of a long time ago." "OK, then let it be." "You can pay excess baggage." "You've a lot of money." "We were all prepared to go to the airport with you." "You were prepared, but when you go there you'll hear that the flight has been delayed by 8 hours." "Then I won't be prepared for it." "I can't allow that." "The sun and the moon may work on time, but the airlines don't." "Madhu!" "Carry the suitcase." "Here's the suitcase key." "Dear, I had told you that patience bears fruit." "Here's the fruit." "Here, take it." "This has been made by those who eat the armadillo." "1500 years ago." " Thank him." "No!" "There isn't a better thank you than his smile." "Come, dear." "I forgot to tell you, I've written a book." "You can call it a travelogue." "An Indian amongst Indians." "The book will be published in America." "I've been given a handsome advance." "That means you're a rich man, now." "Yes, you can say so." "Will you write a letter?" "I don't know what I do when I get lost in my element." "At least a reached safely message?" "Yes, I'll do that." "Now, a final duty." " What's the matter?" "Do you know the longest word in English?" "O, yes!" "I had read about it in school." "The longest word in the English dictionary." "Do you know the meaning?" " No, I don't." "Setting little or no value." "To teach this, 29 letters." "Is this civilization?" "Let me go, first." "Open it after that." "If someone reads my writings in my presence, I feel embarrassed." "This is a small message regarding your hospitality." "Of little or no value." "Bablu!" "Now, Chotdadu will flee." "Won't you ever come back?" "Now, you'll come to me." "And what have you promised you won't become?" "Kupomanduk." "Remember it, dear!" "I've done a lot of injustice, Uncle." "Forgive me!" " Were you the one who did injustice?" "Don't I know in what situation I had put you in?" "But there was a reason for it." "What would a passport prove?" "Match the name, match the photo." "But that won't teach you about that person." "You need time for that." "There was the need for that time." "Is there a system of prostrating, among the tribal?" "I haven't heard of it." " Then, instead of prostrating?" "Wait!" "See what your uncle has written?" "Neeli, this has been addressed to you." "A poem." "Understand the bond of a blood relation, the uncle left behind his share for his dear niece." "What's this!" "?" "My name, Shetalbabu's signature." "Can't you understand?" "He has given his whole share to you."