"In June, 1940, the Nobel Laureate.." "..Shri Rabindranath Tagore had mentioned about his story.." "..Choker Bali that he had always regretted the end of this story." "Dear friend, Lakshmi." "Knowing that the wedding ceremony of your daughter.." "..Binodini has been fixed.." "..gives me immense pleasure." "I take an oath of the Goddess Lakshmi.." "..my dear friend, even if you take my life away.." "..please do not misunderstand me." "Your daughter Binodini is very cultured and accomplished." "And she has been worthy in all respects to become my daughter-in-law." "But educated youths of today do not care for anyone." "Where do they listen to their elders?" "I continue to burn in the fire of repentance.." "..which has arisen due to my son Mahendra's mistake.." "..of rejecting this alliance." "Although not my own progeny, Behari is no less than my own son." "I had hoped that he would listen to this unfortunate soul.." "..but he refused, too." "I apologize for this behaviour of his." "Now, on Binodini's marriage to Bipin." "I send her ornaments, sweets and fifty rupees." "My heartfelt prayers.." "..that she enjoys life-long wedded bliss." "Your friend Raj Lakshmi." "Binodini becomes a widow within one year of her marriage." "Are you expected to remain uncovered like this?" "This place is very different from your father's house." "Do you intend to stay on here?" "Now that your husband's no more, do you still wish to live here?" "You have no choice." "Was he ailing?" "What happened?" "Something in his stomach." "We call it.. 'pleha'." "I mean, 'piley'." "You mean, spleen?" "Yes, spleen." "His spleen became very large." "My dear, you must not lose touch with your books" "Before I forget." "Your favorite chocolates." "You are allowed to have them still, I hope." "Thank you." "Don't worry, my dear." "There's no animal fat or lard." "(Extract from a famous Bankim novel about a renegade widow)" "Rohini was in the full blush of youth, her beauty over-flowing.." "..as the full moon in it's glowing autumnal phase." "Widowed very young, she flouted the strictures placed on widows." "She wore black-bordered saris, bangles, chewed betel-leaf perhaps.." "..her culinary skills could match the legendary Draupadi's." "And her unrivalled artistry.." "She was excellent in preparing delicacies." "Who else could paint such lovely floor decorations.." "..or make intricate ornaments, flowers, toys and embroidery?" "She alone knew how to style coiffures and adorn brides." "These very accomplishments drove her to her death." "God will surely punish a widow who strays." "God doesn't issue the death penalty so easily, Ma." "Judges do." "You're aware that Sir Bankim was a judge?" "When you write a novel, some colur has to be added." "Would stories on dull widows like us, appeal to the young?" "No chance." "Women in Bankim's novels are dull, not one knows English." "If that's what you wanted, why did you reject Bipin's wife?" "The novel is 'Rajmohan's Wife', not 'Bipin's Wife.'" "Rajmohan?" "His name's Bipin." "You disregarded Bipin's wfe's photograph." "Ma, you'll be arrested." "Do you want me to marry someone else's wife?" "I told you she's accomplished.." "Learnt English from a white tutor." "She also went to an English studio to get herself photographed." "Such friendship that both of you turned her down." "Widow in a year, poor girl." "Contact her again." "Such arguments in college today." "Mahendra ranting that if at all he marries, it should be to a widow." "I had to turn back, madam, couldn't reach the market place." "Such crowds on the streets." "Naren Dutta passed away." "Who?" "The monk of Belur Math the ashram full of tonsured monks." "Not a single vehicle can pass." "Swamiji!" "I had seen him recently." "Not even 40, gone so young!" "With your mentor gone, will you shave your head too, Behari?" "I'm going home." "Shall I send the vessels back?" "Will the demise of your ascetic guru end your celibacy?" "Respected gurudev, I touch your feet in reverence." "You are aware of the ups and downs of my troubled life." "It's my good fortune that you remember this lowly disciple." "You are omniscient." "You know everything by the virtue of your yogic powers." "Whatever happens is by God's and your will." "My orphaned niece, Ashalata lives with.." "..her paternal uncle, the local guardian." "He comes to me with her marriage proposal for Behari." "He feared that she would remain a life-long spinster." "I was stupid to have sent my son like Behari to choose the girl." "Mahendra, being a close friend, escorted Behari to Ashalata's home." "On seeing Ashalata, Mahendra decided to marry her instead." "On Mahendra's pleas, I requested Behari to give her up." "Behari stepped aside graciously." "Mahendra's wedding to Ashalata was duly concluded." "I know that a life partner is predestined." "The Almighty and yourself would be the only ones.." "..to know the ties these newly weds had in the previous birth." "I berate myself for the hurt l have caused Behari." "You're all seeing of the future and the past." "I beg you to shower blessings on Behari that he may find peace." "I seek pardon for my sins and shelter beneath your feet." "I remain your humble disciple, Annapurna." "You didn't go to college today as well" "Can't you drop that mincing manner either?" "People will say I'm bad." "That I keep you away from your books." "What people?" "Tell me!" "Will you take me to the Kali temple next Saturday?" "To offset people calling you bad?" "While drawing water from the well, my gold chain fell in." "I tied a knot in my sari in the Lord's name.." "..promising to offer prayers at the temple if the chain was found." "Yesterday it was retrieved." "Why should you draw the water?" "Where's the maid?" "Let her be." "Must I sit idle all day?" "Won't people say I'm bad?" "Tell me, who are they?" "You haven't told me yet." "My uncle, for instance." "He trained me well to manage my husband's home." "If he hears that I am not doing so, won't he feel insulted?" "That's an insult?" "Tricking somebody to marry a girl isn't an insult?" "What trick?" "I was told that you could sing." "That day when I asked.." "Behari asked me not to." "Ok." "Then go to Behari." "If people label you bad, do not blame me." "What shall I sing?" "Just singing won't do." "I'll inspect your heels.." "..your teeth.." "..hair, in steps." "I first saw you on someone else's behalf." "Or would I have let you off so easily?" "If you take your feet away.." "..people will say you're bad." "All these are excuses to skip college." "In college.." "..do you know what I do?" "What?" "I examine women's heels.." "..their hips.." "..their chests." "Then don't go!" "From where did you bring this witch into my family?" "She's made a meek lamb of my son." "Asha, open the door." "Where's Asha?" "She's resting, slight stomachache." "Make her some barley, aunt." "Tell him that barley is all they'll get day and night." "In a house where deities are worshipped daily.." "..I won't tolerate fish bones strewn around bedrooms." "Witch!" "Madam Lakshmi, please don't get angry and leave." "Where did she go, aunty?" "To her country home." "Rajlakshmi goes back to her native village." "Binodini who stays there supports her." "What a sinful habit you have taught me!" "I now crave for tea every afternoon." "Take it as a remedy for headache." "You'll not feel guilty." "That's no excuse." "Can a Brahmin widow have tea?" "That which the English consume!" "?" "Tea is not made by the white." "Close the windows." "The light burns my eyes." "Don't misunderstand me." "Having servants has lead to my giving orders." "I don't like stirring an inch." "Why should you when I'm here?" "Order and I'll obey." "That's not correct." "You have your own household." "Neglecting all that to tend to an old woman." "My household is in two rooms, which I attend to in the morning." "What do you do the rest of the day?" "Have your tea or else it'll get cold." "Who's there to chat with at home?" "You have a new daughter-in-law." "is she a quiet sort?" "Only in my presence." "She's locked in the bedroom all day, casting spells on my son." "Turned him into a sheep." "Then she must be beautiful." "Thin as a stick." "Brides tend to get plump after getting married." "This one sold her flesh to the butcher in her previous birth." "Next to her, my son looks like Lord Kartikeya!" "Won't he visit here?" "I would see him then." "I also thought that they'd come." "Earlier he wouldn't eat until I served food." "From that day till date.." "..he's not asked once, if I'm dead or alive." "I have a letter from Calcutta from Mahendra." "I met the postman on my way." "You should have told me earlier." "I blamed him for no reason." "Where is it?" "It's not addressed to you." "Who then?" "The envelope says, Beharilal Chowdhury." "The one who escorted me here?" "He probably thinks Behari is here." "Will you hand him the letter on your return?" "Why?" "Read it out." "Read someone else's letter?" "Listen!" "Reserve this decorum for your own home." "It's from my son. I must know whether he is well." "God forbid, if something's wrong!" "Should it stay unread, while I worry?" "If it offends you, someone else can read it to me." "My dearest friend Behari.." "I thought that the muse of poetry had abandoned me.." "..when your sister-in-law came into my life." "From her point of view, this is life." "But in these sweets moments, today, I see that this is not so." "We were asleep in bed when the clock of the Armenian church.." "..loudly declared that it was 3 a.m." "I got up, lit a lamp and sat at my desk." "Should I put it back in the envelope?" "Don't mind my harsh words, dear." "Your tea's cold." "Like a thief with great stealth.." "..from under the cover of the mosquito net.." "..observing the beauty of your sister-in-law in her sleep.." "..whether from habit or inspiration.." "..I penned a few formal exchanges to my love." "The lady to whom these lines are addressed.." "..will not be able to read the poetic flow.." "..of my English verse." "I know your sister-in-law will not be able to understand the feeling." "So I am sending it to you in trepidation." "Yours ever, Mahendra." "I live in hope, sweet hope.." "..in thy embrace such joy I found." "Me thought I lay in a vale of asphodel." "Whose honey odors yet doth me surround." "A dizzy drought of bliss that never shall quell.." "Bless me, but this is a love poem." "In a man's hand too, Binodini." "It is not to me. I tell you truly, sister." "It is my friend Asha's." "She cannot read English so.." "Really, you girls!" "Well now, let's see." "Which is the part you find difficult?" "Some of the words.." "like this word, 'bower'." "I know what 'bow' means, but.." "Its pronounced bower, dear." "Come, let's read it together." "Thy ruby lips, like a rain drenched passion flowers." "Thy blushing cheeks, like blooming roses." "Dear me!" "This is a very passionate poem indeed." "Who gave it to your friend?" "It is from her husband, sister." "He likes writing poetry." "She cannot read English at all." "So she gave it to me." "Perhaps we should not read poetry from a husband to his wife." "Please, sister, I promised her." "Thy honey skin, like love's golden power." "Thy lucid eyes with velvet sheen o'er spread." "You find lines like these in many English poems.." "..where the loved one is compared to flowers.." "..and her beauty, to the various aspects of Nature." "But this young man seems to write with genuine feeling, I think." "Raj Lakshmi returns to Kokatta and bring Binodini along." "is this bungalow no.7?" "Which is no.7 then?" "Of which lane?" "7, Darjipara Street." "No, this is no.10." "You speak English?" "How long does it take to learn English?" "Depends on how much you want to learn." "A white lady taught you English?" "Weren't you scared?" "More so when I found I couldn't study after marriage." "My mother-in-law would disapprove even if I studied in the afternoon." "She was right, so why blame her?" "I guess you are right." "No one ever told you?" "No one warned you?" "About what?" "And my aunt says I'm a fool." "If only she had met you before you got married!" "Aunt?" "My mother-in-law's sister-in-law." "And if she had met me?" "She'd have stopped you from learning English and you'd not be like this." "No one seems to be there." "is aunt Lakshmi sleeping?" "No, she is in her room." "Go!" " He's gone to see my mother-in-law." "I was told that he comes straight to you the minute he gets home." "You thought that was him?" "He's Behari." "My brother-in-law." "I can't see his face." "It's the dim light." "Those creepers.." "That's no excuse. lt is a south-facing room." "South facing rooms are supposed to be airy and well lit." "Let me know when the gardener comes tomorrow." "Don't do anything before checking with him first." "He has such a temper!" "Doesn't look like it from the photograph." "That's because he is posing" " All smiles." "One day Suddam bought tobacco leaves for me to keep in the bookcase." "I somehow tucked them under the pillow and went to sleep." "It happened to be his pillow and reeked of tobacco." "He was furious, sulking all night." "Books too will reek with the tobacco leaves in there." "Don't you have any naphthalene?" " What?" "Tell you husband to get you some naphthalene balls." "It's too difficult." "You tell him." "Do you have pen and paper?" "Will you be here for sometime?" "As long as you don't throw me out." "It will be such fun if you stay." "I can't read books in the cabinet." "You can read them out to me." "So, you were supposed to be Behari's bride?" "Yes." "Do you regret not having married him?" "Why should I?" "God does everything for our good." "is that so?" "I was widowed within a year of marriage." "For my good." "Really!" "I can't understand why you had to learn English." "Otherwise, you'd be happily living with your husband somewhere." "We wouldn't have met." "Or maybe I'd be here and you'd be somewhere else." "How could that be?" "You mother-in-law wanted me as a bride for her son." "Do you know that?" "is that so?" "Why didn't it happen?" "You just said that God does everything for our good." "I thought we'd be bosom friends." "It's almost like we're co-wives." "If I want a gift, will you get it for me?" "What?" "You must buy it for me." "A necklace of ivory beads?" "I've written it down." "A shopping list?" "I'll get it." "Naphthalene?" "Will you get it for me?" "Why suddenly?" "So that the book cabinet will not smell of tobacco leaves." "Who told you?" "Someone." "Who wrote this?" "The same person." "This isn't Behari's writing." "You think that only both of you know English?" "I'd like to know who wrote this." "My best friend." "When did she become your friend?" "This evening." "The name?" "I can't give that away." "Ok." "The pet name then?" "Choker Bali. (Sand in the Eye)" "'There's the hand my trusted friend'" "'And gives the hands on eye'" "'Will take a cup of pines yet'" "'For all lands eye'" "'For all lands eye, My dear.'" "'For all lands eye'" "'For.. all.." "lands.. eye.'" "Sister!" "Open the door!" "The creepers have been cut." "Come in aunt Annapurna." "Aunt Lakshmi has a headache." "Mahendra isn't home." "They are cutting the creepers." "I told them to do so." "There's no sunlight in their room." "That's ok then. I thought she didn't know about it." "is the headache bad?" "Shall I massage your forehead?" "No, sister, sit here." "Shut the door, dear." "Tell them to stop fussing over the trees being cut." "Some tea, sister." "Tea?" " Yes." "Binodini has taught me to drink afternoon tea." "With every sip, I think of you." "Not for me. I won't." "You carry on." "No, I won't be the lone-outcaste." "If I'm one, you go with me." "Whoever said that by drinking tea you lose your caste?" "Taste it aunt." "Leave it, if you don't like it." "Ugh!" "It tastes of basil-juice." "Do people actually hanker for this?" "I quite like it. I felt a little sinful at first but.." "..she said and she's read a lot." "That the scriptures don't forbid it." "I hear that the learned Vidyasagar and our scriptures too.." "..say that that even widow remarriage is not a sin." "Yet, our young widows are still made to observe rigid penance.." "..such as giving up fish and meat." "Widow's fast.." "Has this changed one bit?" "My English tutor said that a sin is not a sin if you repent." "That's what the Christians say." "Will it hold for a Hindu's sin?" "Each religion has it's own rules." "Since tea is a Christian thing.." "..one must observe their tenets." "Had your English lady told you what penance is?" "Not penance, but remorse." "You confess your sin to God." "Holy mother!" "I'm a Brahmin widow addicted to tea!" "This is a grave sin!" "God, forgive me!" "Badi Maa!" "That's Behari." "Wait a second." "Hide all this!" "Quick!" "No need." "Hand me the cup." "Aunt, open the door, please." "Do you know that they're tearing down the creeper?" "Why?" "You let them?" "It was becoming a jungle." "She said that trimming it would make it neater." "I'm told that she is educated and she reads newspapers." "I assume she is not unaware of Jagdish Bose's discovery.." "..that plants are living things too." "That viewpoint leads to other issues." "Why make widows stop eating fish, our staple diet?" "Stop bickering, you two!" "The tree is being trimmed." "It will grow back again." "It seems that Behari has come prepared to say a lot." "I suggest that he be seated and get it all off his chest." "We can organize tea as well." "If you want some, say so." "Very well, too." "Tea is a leaf too. lt has life." "Do you mind if we boil it?" "Your naphthalene." "No, these are ivory beads." "Should I get them strung?" "I knew you'd prefer the other." "Such pretty things." "Why hide them in bookcase?" "Looks tasty, like meringue balls." "Stop." "They are poisonous." "Don't leave them around." "Do I keep them in this velvet?" "If they stay in costly velvet, where do I keep you?" "What if insects bite your honeydew skin?" "Come." "Try this on." "It's what a white woman wears!" "How can I?" "Women jump in to the fire for their husbands" "Won't you wear a blouse to please me?" "If I dress like a white lady, won't people snigger?" "Don't wear it in public." "Wear it just for me." "Bali is also brave like you." "Both of you will make a lovely pair." "You can't always make me wear this." "I must learn to do it myself." "I can't sleep in this clumsy thing all night!" "Your husband will undo it anyway, Bali." "Don't worry about that." "You are wicked, Bali." "Will you sew blouses like this for my dolls, Bali dear?" "I'll practice on them and learn to wear it." "Observe well and you'll learn." "Take it off. I'll show you." "What's this?" "Bruised all over." "Tell me, how do I cope with such a devil?" "Isn't he stronger than me?" "You need mental and physical strength to say no, Bali." "I told him to stop." "He said that even Gods are known to do it." "In Kalidasa's book, Lord Shiva gave Parvati.." "Enough, I mentioned it for your own good." "The day they turn septic, your doctor husband.." "..will also be not able to heal them." "Bali, please don't go. I promise not to do it again." "Just show me once again how to wear this blouse." "You won't do it again?" "Promise?" "I swear." "Today's your first anniversary." "What if he forces you tonight?" "I'll tell him, Bali forbids it." "What?" "Oh no, what do I say then?" "Please tell me, Bali." "Close the door." "Tell him it's inauspicious to remove wedding clothes on an anniversary.." "..and I shan't take of this blouse." "Did you see how it's worn?" "'ln anticipation of their imminent meeting.'" "'Radha sits wide eyed, afraid to sleep.'" "'She sits in the bower of bliss.'" "'But that dark one hasn't come yet.'" "What happened?" "Why don't you close the door." "Sorry, I cannot." "Why suddenly?" "Bali will feel bad." "'But that dark one hasn't come yet.' 'hasn't come yet.'" "'But that dark one hasn't come yet.'" "'That rogue, the wanderer of the woods'" "'That Dark One hasn't come yet.'" "Consult the Almanac for the time of the ritual." "'lf that rogue shows up at night's end.' 'l'll tell him you're late, go away.'" "'The Dark One hasn't come yet.'" "Bali, Bali!" "Where has that pot gone?" "Ma'am.!" "You are being called for the widow's ritual." "Happy Dashera!" "Greetings!" "I've two proposals." "One." "We're submitting a joint protest." "Will you sign?" "A protest in English against the English?" "The British will not understand if we protest in Bengali." "Read before you sign!" "There is nothing that you can cheat out of a widow." "You don't seem to have covered many people!" "Why?" "There isn't one signature of a woman." "I did try." "But most of them can't sign their names" "Those who can are afraid." "Of the British?" "No, of their poor handwriting." "Proposal two is from Mahendra." "He has arranged for a picnic this Saturday, in the garden-house." "I won't go." "Better tell Mahendra yourself." "Don't I have my own wishes?" "Must I go by his?" "You can't have it all your way." "You had the tree cut down." "That's your punishment." "What should be the penalty for cutting down the tree?" "For now, making tea for us." "I've heard praises of your tea from Behari." "No, Bali will not." "She gets no rest at home." "She's here to enjoy herself." "Then why don't you make it?" "Think I can't?" "Bali, sit here." "I'll call you if need be." "'Salutations to the Motherland.'" "Have the swings been put up yet?" "Better tie Behari to the tree!" "Hearing the procession, he will rush to join it." "I'm not such a spoilt sport yet." "Or I'd have opted out by now." "Bipin Pal's meeting was fixed for this morning inform me when Bipin Pal addresses a meeting. I'll come along with you." "Bali, I told you not use your husband's name in vain." "'At dawn we picked flowers happily." "Played the flute swinging carefree.'" "'We sang beneath the flowering tree.'" "'Then all at once, one fine day." "Who knows, why we parted ways?" "'Should we meet again?" "Please stay.'" "Read anything new lately?" "Reading?" "I barely scan the newspaper." "Dear friend, I don't know what it is to be a family man?" "The Taj Mahal has been sold." "Have you heard?" "It was not sold." "The East India Company has taken it over for a paltry sum." "A man who loved his wife and raised a monument in her honor.." "..is a private affair." "Must the Company acquire that too?" "What do you mean by private affair?" "If love is displayed with such flamboyance.." "..it better be preserved for posterity." "The monument was falling apart." "The Company has taken charge of it to repair and maintain it properly." "Behari, will you please come?" "Your sister-in-law is calling you." "Do you wrestle?" "No." "Then do you exercise with dumbbells?" "Because his name is Behari, must the poor man be a wrestler?" "Why?" "Ram Mohan Roy also used to wrestle and exercise." "He also stopped the evil practice of the burning of widows." "Behari, do something for this damsel in distress." "I am trying to do the same, Sister-in -law wants me to pick lotus-blossoms." "In the Mahabharata, Draupadi had once asked Bhima.." "..to get a lotus with a fragrance that carried a thousand miles." "Now, that's the only social reform yet to be legalized!" "Polyandry!" " Woman allowed five husbands!" "The burning of widows has been prevented." "Widow remarriage is now permitted." "What remains is polyandry." "Behari, take this cause right up your sleeve!" "Without that you won't be called 'Wrestler Behari'." "I know what he will be called." "Binodini's Behari." "May I sit here, please?" "My pleasure." "Something in my foot." "A thorn, I think." "Let me see." "I'll manage." "Please don't touch my feet." "One can touch feet out of respect and also as a doctor." "Allow me." "A doctor has his fee, which as a poor widow, I can't pay." "Heard of charitable dispensaries?" "Quite common in villages." "I have." "But I don't accept charity." "Pay me later. I'll be here and so will you." "Why didn't you go the pond?" "Behari's juvenile antics don't amuse me anymore." "He's always showing off." "It's not his fault." "Bali wanted them, so I asked him." "Here's your thorn" " A proof that my treatment has ended." "Thank you." "Look Bali." "Behari has got so many flowers for me." "It's six months since you have come." "This must be the first time that you've stepped out of the house." "Six months?" "It was the fourth Monday of the lunar month of Shravan." "Really!" "Its good to know that someone cared to note my arrival details." "On that very day, a guest moved in to stay with me." "So I am able to remember." "Man or woman?" "He's a seven-year-old." "Won't you ever marry, Behari?" "Are you mad?" "Why, why do you call it madness?" "What if the wedding meals fall short?" "Everyone will blame me." "Don't invite anyone!" "How can the wedding be held without witnesses?" "I'll be there as a witness." "I don't want a feast." "Can I remove the swings?" "It's time to get back." "'Who can ever forget the memories of yesterday?" "'" "'We, like sand caught in the eye, stayed glued, day after day.'" "Who'd say that the okra was tried to perfection by this slip of a girl?" "The outer part green and fresh, the inner crisp and crunchy." "is that your daughter-in-law's younger sister?" "Yes, that's Manorama." "Quite unlike her no-good sister.." "..who can't even fry potatoes!" "They emerge soggy and damp, not crisp as I do them." "What doesn't she know?" "For instance.." "..how to prepare the sweet dish and food for offering in the rituals." "How many priests must be fed on the last day of the llu puja?" "Had she been to school, she'd have graduated with honors." "Will you propose her name to Behari.." "..and see if he is interested in marrying her?" "I would have be overjoyed had he mentioned about his own marriage." "That's my worry." "Who will look after that bohemian when I die?" "Put some sugar on it." "Quick!" "Of course, he'll marry." "She will have him under her spell in no time." "No mothers-in-law, no sisters-in -law." "The way iss all clear." "Tying a man to his wife's sari is no big deal." "Shall I book an auspicious day next month?" "How will you change what's in your fate, dear girl?" "Cut your finger or your heart." "Nothing will change." "How did you cut yourself so badly?" "The fish slicer?" "Are you a detective or a doctor?" "Bali, ask Behari to come." "I'm dressing it with tincture." "If you don't mind traveling in the same carriage with me.." "..I'll take you to the hospital." "Why must you escort her?" "Why not consult Behari?" "You two decide." "Who'll be her doctor?" "Behari or me?" "Your backache worries me." "You still can't manage the stairs." "Your food is sent up." "You're missing college." "How can you take her to the hospital?" "Send for Behari." "He'll get here tomorrow morning." "Don't blame if gangrene sets in and her arms have to be amputated." "Don't worry, Mahendra." "Women are tough." "They don't give in that easily." "Tell me where the hospital is. I'll go on my own." "Bali's right." "You shouldn't strain your bad back." "Dear Bali!" "I didn't mean that." "How would I let you go alone?" "I didn't think that it was that serious." "Of course, he'll go with you." "As a man, he should." "You better get ready!" "There is no flower.. no fruits over there." "Only.." "Who's going out so late at night?" "Sadhucharan!" "Bali has cut her finger." "He took her to the hospital." "Hospital, for a cut in the finger?" "If infected, her arm may be cut off!" "You should have stopped them." "Why should I?" "Your husband likes to fuss." "That's why?" "Women often cut their fingers and home remedies work." "Did you call?" "Did he say when he'd be back?" "Sorry to keep you waiting." "We were at supper." "is anything wrong?" "Good evening, Dr.Graham." "Sorry to disturb you at this late hour.." "..but this is an emergency." "I see!" "is she in trouble?" "I'm afraid so, doctor." "There's been a terrible accident." "is she a relative?" "No." "She is my wife's friend." "She's staying in our house." "A serious matter." "Then we must deal with it at once." "Yes, sir." "We must act at once." "All right." "Let's proceed without further delay." "Please tell the lady to go inside." "Tell her that there is no need to be afraid." "My wife will be there all the time." "Thank you, doctor." "Anna, get the hot water ready." "But first, I must ask you a few questions." "How many months ago did this accident happen?" "Months?" "It was just today." "I've just cut my hand." "That's all." "You must forgive my husband for jumping to conclusions." "But young widows in trouble coming to us, is not so uncommon at all." "But did the servant not explain?" "Yes, he did." "But one can never be sure." "'Cutting the hand' may just be a code word.." "..for something far more serious." "Meaning?" "When a man-servant comes to us and says a lady has a bad toothache.." "..we know now that it may be a delivery case." " Oh no!" "Yes, indeed!" "So we have to go prepared." "It took some time to get used to all your roundabout rules" "But you should know about that." "What did you say when you had labor pains?" "Labor pains?" "Me?" "Never!" "No children?" "I'm sorry." "Then suddenly blossoms of all kinds, so numerous, they.." "..could not easily be counted." "White, blood red, yellow, indigo." "In the forest, blossom hues catch the eye from all sides." "Thank you, madam." " You're welcome." "Be careful with that hand." "Don't worry, doctor. I'll make sure she takes good care of it." "Come on." "Let's go now." "Thank you." "Good night!" "Good night Doctor." " Good-bye, young man." "I would advise you to take very good care indeed." "We don't want any more accidents, do we?" "They just put ointment and a bandage." "This took so long?" "Mahendra, they should have amputated my hand." "Then Bali would believe the time was well spent." "Bali, did I say that?" "What comes over you at times?" "Can you eat with the injured finger or shall I feed you?" "I don't fell like eating, Bali." "You go and sleep." "Tell me truthfully." "What?" "Swear that you love me the most." "Meaning?" "That you love me more than your medical profession, your studies,.." ".. your friends, more than anything or anybody." "I'd given you a magnet once." "Haven't seen it for a while." "Lost it, haven't you?" "Gentle lady.." "I'm so delighted to receive your letter.." "..which you sent through Maqbool." "This letter reflects your maturity." "Won't you close the door?" "You do it." "My back's aching." "Possible that you have become too delicate in.." "..the constant company of books." "And thus you do not accept my gentle and decent behaviour.." "..which is otherwise praised.." "..and you mock at it, however I still cannot resist.." "..the temptation to prove my gentlemanliness." "You had said that you would visit my place. lf this doesn't happen.." "..then not only will my housse miss your arrival.." "..but the test of my decent and noble behaviour.." "..will also get postponed indefinitely." "is your back hurting a lot?" " Yes." "Just let me know when you want to visit me." "My untidy, unruly house is nonetheless mine." "It may not pass muster with someone as accomplished.." "..in household chores as you." "Please give me prior intimidation." "I look forward to the pleasure of your visit." "Cordially, Behari." "Mahendra." "Your wife has suddenly sent an urgent note calling us over." "Any idea why this urgency?" "Why all this madness?" "Don't you like to dress up?" "No, I don't." "I'm used to it now." "But I like to dress you up." "You're not going out." "Why not dress up a little in private?" "Why should I do it in secret?" "Are jewels male that touching them, is a sin?" "I'd like to give away this necklace." "My husband doesn't like me wearing it." "He gets angry, does he?" "This is Behari's wedding gift to me." "He doesn't object openly, but it's clear that it upsets him." "If you must give it away, why not to me, Bali?" "What will you do with it?" " l'll keep it safely." "You have jewels gifted to you by Mahendra." "Let Behari's gift be with me." "'Wearing garlands of flowers.'" "'Wearing blue veils.'" "'Red bridal powder adorning the parting of the hair.'" "'Friend, take Radha along.'" "'Look who's coming.." "..on gentle feet, Krishna approaches.'" "'A voice gently singing..' l said to wait till I called for you." "Why did you come before calling?" "Amazing!" "You look beautiful in jewels." "No, absolutely not." "She looks lovely the way she is." "I presume this is your Bali's whim?" "My own silly fancy thinking you might appreciate it." "Bali invited you both for that reason alone." "Isn't that so Bali?" "Your effort has won praise." "Behari's just said, you look beautiful." "I genuinely mean it." "She looked beautiful so I said it." "Admit though that Mahendra's taste is more discerning." "I should have known that jewels do not go with bandaged fingers." "Are you angry with me?" "Then I can't be frank with you." "A widow removing her jewels, is it a sign of anger?" "Bali, count these carefully before putting them away." "I'll leave and send the rest later." "Have pity." "You two are heartless!" "What has she got left in life?" "All she did was to try on some ornaments." "You couldn't tolerate even that?" "You had her remove them right away." "You could have said that she looked lovely!" "is this why you asked for me?" "May I leave now?" "You!" "Here?" "You can't ask that of a doctor." "That bag doesn't look like that of a doctor." "Your friend has sent it." "I'm the messenger." "You can't reproach me." "You're irreproachable anyway." "Who has the courage?" "I know of one." "Who?" "Why should I tell you?" "Does anyone give away his own Elixir of Life?" "Why give it away?" "You can always keep it safe." "On one condition." "The Elixir remains in this box.." "..and the box stays with you." "Then I will have to empty the box of its contents." "That's between you and your Bali." "Our pact was that.." "..except this piece, I won't touch any other." "I don't accept that." "It's between the both of us." "Your views don't matter." "Do they really don't matter?" "The truth, Binodini." "Please go to your room, Mahendra." "What if I don't?" "Then call for a carriage, hold my hand and.." "..take me for a walk by the Ganges." "Isn't there a middle path?" "No." "I beg you dear, don't be cruel." "You're not, Asha." "You don't need constant explanations." "It's because I'm not Asha that I detest compromise." "You looked ravishing in those jewels." "And without them?" "Everyone has a pet name for you." "May I give you a name too?" "Let's hear it first." "My Elixir of Life." "You know, my husband died of tuberculosis." "And you, a doctor!" "How many times have all of us, Aunt, Bali, myself said.." "..spleen, spleen, spleen." "'l gave in to love..'" "..without end.'" "'But why, my friend.." "..does my soul still weep?" "'" "'Why does it still weep?" "'" "'l gave in to love..'" "..without end.'" "'But why, my friend.." "..does my soul still weep?" "'" "Who's leaving at this hour?" "Sudama!" "Do people dare to leave the house without informing you?" "It could only be Mahendra." "He went to college hours ago." "Who left just now?" "Madame Binodini has gone to the Kalighat Temple." "Alone?" "With Madame Asha perhaps." "Not in the room." "Leaving without informing me?" "Go look for her once again." "Had it been someone else, I would have given the ornaments to her." "How to spend so much money twice?" "Now that my son is marrying his wife's sister too.." "..what ornaments should I buy?" "Since they are sisters, would it look right?" "Twice or ten times, it's still a wedding." "It doesn't happen that nothing new is given for the ceremony." "People will gossip." "Give her 'Firpo' bangles., They come cheap." "Our goldsmith made them for my daughter-in-law recently." "You didn't go out then?" "I wondered if you'd dare." "Where would I go?" "I hear your friend has gone to Kalighat Temple, alone." "She went to pray on her husband's death anniversary." "She could have told me." "We could accompany her." "Your daughter-in-law is still looking very thin." "No lack of milk and cream in her diet." "People will say I starve her." "Bring your 'Firpo' bangles." "She wants to inspect them." "What's wrong?" "Lost them?" "They're in the box." "I'll go and bring them." "Dearest love." "I've written seven letters to you in the past three weeks." "The proof is that all of them are in my custody." "When a bride garlands her husband on her wedding night.." "..she not only brings all her inner emotions and aspirations.." "..and symbolically surrenders them to her wedded husband." "The flowers also imbibe the fragrance of her emotions.." "..to be imbibed by the receiver of such affections." "If a scrupulously logical groom decides to remove his garland.." "..the formal processes of marriage do not suffer any aberration." "Only the poor bride, radiant with.." "..the blossoms of her first love, feels unrequited." "And the flowers in her soul will be like those on the discarded garland." "You have been cautious in returning my letters to me.." "..because you lack the courage to face society and your wife." "All these letters belong to you." "They adorn you and you alone." "The rightful adornments on Mahendra find a.." "..place of hiding in the dark of my wooden jewel-case." "I don't understand why I guard these.." "..corpses of my emotions, like an angel of doom?" "Even though I'm the creator of these emotions and the letters.." "..I am not ready to face this insult." "The day that, on your own.." "..you accept my letters with pride, courage and love.." "..maybe that day, I shall start writing to you again." "Till then.." "..I release you from this endless state of.." "..helplessness, anxiety and indecisiveness." "Your Elixir of Life, Binodini." "Wipe your forehead. lt's smeared with vermilion." "What's this?" "I rubbed it off." "Really, Binodini." "How do I go home like this?" "You make love and show no signs of it.." "..how's that possible?" "Take my case. I lived with a man for barely a year." "He's a ghost by now and I still carry his mark on me." "If you don't want it to show, cover it up." "You still doubt my love for you?" "Not a bit." "Can you come with me just as you are, this moment?" "Where?" "That's not important." "Can you?" "I didn't come prepared for that." "Not prepared?" "Meaning?" "If only you had told me earlier.." "What would you have done?" "Haven't I sent you a carriage so we could meet in secret?" "Haven't I met you during college hours?" "Rub that off." "I went to Kalighat and bought a basket of offerings for you.." "..so that you wouldn't be caught out." "You told them you were going to the temple, didn't you?" "Yes, saying it was my husband's death anniversary.." "..the first time I've gained anything from being a widow." "Why so long?" "You'll be gray by the time you bring those bangles." "I've kept the neighbor waiting.." "What's the matter?" "Tell me, dear." "Nothing, mother." "You can't hide anything from a mother." "What is it?" "I beg you, Mother!" "Beat me, kill me, but don't ask me to explain." "I will not be able to tell you anything." "You wretched girl.." "..this little area of the bed is what is your space is." "You couldn't even hold on to that?" "Aunt , offerings from Kalighat." "Have some." "What's the matter, Bali, why are you crying?" "Forgive me, Bali." "Mother wanted to see the bangles.." "..so I opened your jewel-case." "It's not my fault." "My revered husband.." "I've fought hard with myself to come to this final decision." "Believe me, no one besides God has helped me in this." "I'm uneducated, don't know English, I am unskilled at house keeping." "At first, all this was a cause of shame to me in our house." "It was your love and encouragement that helped me set that shame aside." "I grew used to you being my talisman." "I cannot share you with another." "If someone worthier has won your heart.." "..she has done so on her own merit." "I have no ill feeling towards her." "All my ornaments were worn to please your eyes." "They hold no value for me when you are not there." "I've put my jewel-case in Bali's room.." "..with confidence in her sympathy and care." "Aunt says that we get alarmed over minor setbacks." "To the Supreme Being, the future is transparent." "Since we do not know the future, we should leave it in His hands." "May the Lord bless you." "May he keep you well in body and mind." "With deep respect, Ashalata." "Close the door." "Tea with ginger or without?" "Why did Asha leave for Kashi?" "Didn't she tell you?" "I'm asking you." "Answer me!" "It's not your concern what she told me." "Where's your rosary?" "I removed it." " Why?" "To make it easier to fool around?" "If you want to discuss this, come outside." "I don't like backbiting behind closed doors." "Where I gossip, back bite or shit in my house, is for me to decide!" "Low-lying snake!" "Look how she raises her head to strike!" "I'm not ready to strike yet, aunt." "Don't force me." "What more can you poison?" "Think you can hurt me further?" "Let's see how!" "I haven't consciously harmed anyone. I've never sinned." "Did not commit any injustice." "Your tea is still in your cup." "Let's not talk of sin and virtue." "You slut!" "By giving me tea once a day, you think you control me?" "Greedy witch!" "You came to a mansion from a mud hut.." "..and you think yourself to be a princess!" "If I was that avaricious, your daughter-in-law.." "..I would have left this house long back." "Think I don't know what you're after?" "You have desires that can ruin families." "My son is the same." "He chose his wife, but that did not stop his promiscuity." "is only physical desire a sin?" "is gluttony not?" "As a pious widow, why this need for tea every evening?" "Two cups of tea can spur you to say such things?" "Take your tea back." "I'll vomit all of it." "Madam, what happened?" "Are you feeling sick?" "Move." "Mother, what happened?" "What's wrong with you?" "Mahendra, today before sunset.." "..either that slut leaves the house or I do." "You decide within an hour." "Tell her that there is no need to wait that long." "I won't use your carriage." "Please send someone to hire one." "Does a person called Behari live here?" "Come in." "You have made elaborate security arrangements." "is it due to the fear of the white police?" "Could be." "Even the white police can't beat his English." "A relative?" "He's the same guest I told you of at the picnic." "Basanta, come here." "Show her how to greet a lady." "She wants to know how good you are in English." "Call me aunt, okay." "White." "Black." "You really know your English." "Tell me what is 'Hide and Seek'." ""Luka-Chhupi'" "Very good." "Shall we play 'Hide and Seek'?" "Where will you hide?" "I'll hide and then call out to you." "What's this?" "Didn't you say that I looked good in jewels the other day?" "You look beautiful today as well." "There's just one problem." "Tell me when you wish to leave." "I'll call a trusted coachman." "If I say, no need for the coach." "That I will spend the night here." "Tell me that well in advance." "I'll find another place to stay." "Why, Behari?" "You are a cultured, modern doctor." "You handle men and women's bodies regularly." "They are sick men and women. I'd rather not think of you as sick." "Basanta is ready." "He's calling you." "And you?" "I'm not playing hide and seek with you." "That's not why I am here either." "I came here to speak frankly." "Will you marry me?" "How do I make you believe me?" "What should I do?" "Careful, this is a bachelor's room." "Most things are untouchable here." "Joke, tease, and make fun of me all you want, but some other time." "Please do me this favor." "I have come here to seek shelter." "Why?" "I thought, you were doing fine being sheltered there." "There's no recognition in that shelter." "No respect." "I heard a different story." "It's the respect you got there.." "..that made Asha leave her shelter and leave for Kashi." "You give me shelter now and.." "..I'll see that Asha's respect and recognition is restored to her." "You admit that you had a hand in removing it?" "You don't have to love me." "You can go on loving Bali." "You want her happiness, surely?" "If I move away from Mahendra, Asha can get her husband back." "There are many types of love." "I'm not sure which one you are referring to." "But I believe, love has no exchange value." "I've been hiding for so long." "Coming!" "I am talking." "Let me finish." "Go." "Open the door." "Tell me, do you refuse me just because I'm a widow?" "You tell me first." "Do you want me just because I'm unmarried?" "Please listen!" "I could be your maid." "I hate seeing you demean yourself, sister-in-law." "Don't you dare call me sister-in-law!" "Okay." "I'll call you Madam Binodini." "But I still stand by my point." "There's no courage in acting like Vivekananda." "If you must, go stay at the monastery." "Don't turn towards family life I've no virtues to be Vivekananda." "I'm an ordinary person." "Rejecting a destitute young woman.." "..is neither ordinary nor otherwise." "It's called impotence." "This viciousness doesn't befit you." "Cool down." "Go home." "Can we talk tomorrow morning?" "I'll not leave until you establish your right as a man and a ruler." "I dare you!" "Ruler is a bad word, Binodini." "The whole country is struggling for freedom from the British Rule." "A country's struggle and a widow's struggle are not the same" "I've gone through a lot of mental turmoil before coming here." "Take me!" "If you don't wish to see my face, close your eyes." "I won't mind." "You and I had lovely moments to share." "Why did you ruin it all at once?" "What's the matter?" "He didn't greet you like a lady.." "..so you're crying?" "Respected Behari." "Your ready praise.." "..when you saw jewels adorning this widow's body.." "..gave me courage." "I don't know when my courage turned to daring.." "Bringing this hopeless creature before you." "In searching for the source of that courage.." "..I kept making mistakes." "In coming to you, I hoped that for once I had judged correctly." "I am sad that this experience displeased you." "I have three identities in our society.." "..that of a widow, an English-educated and a young woman." "These three have eclipsed my real identity." "Society does not see that a young woman, educated and a widow.." "..is also flesh and blood." "Today, I have no shame in acknowledging this fourth identity.." "..spurred by the courage I see in you." "..can lay claim to your sympathy." "I have forsaken the first two traits of widow and lady." "Or I would wait an eternity for you.." "..at the Kashi riverbanks." "I hope you keep well." "For me, there remains a widow's destiny.." "..one that neither you nor your Jagadish Bose have noted." "And probably for the best." "Now all will return to normal." "I know you are an atheist." "Even so, if you ever believe in a great truth.." "..please pray that in some other life.." "..I may be reborn as a companion suitable for you!" "In hope of forgiveness, Binodini." "'Life, dear Life, don't go away and leave me.' 'lf you go away from me, Life..'" "'..who will love me?" "You tell me, Life!" "'" "You?" "Let's go." "Where?" "Wherever you were going." "That day when you walked out, with barely nothing on you.." "..I thought you had won." "But I will also not give up." "I'm just a couple of days late." "I want to go to Behari." "You want him as a witness?" "No, I want you as a witness." "Will you request him on my behalf?" "I know he will not refuse you." "Meaning?" "Fasting won't help your anger." "Come eat." "No need." "Let my clothes dry. I'll leave by the next train." "Turning away from the doorstep of a home brings bad luck to it." "Come in, at least." "Allow me to welcome and serve my guest." "Will you really serve me?" "You'll not turn away the guest?" "That's my marriage bed." "He died here." "There's no proper bathroom here." "Can you wash near the well?" "Behari has gone away." "He left a boy named Basanta in mother's care." "Then I know where he has gone." "He has gone to Kashi" "Why?" "Because Asha is there?" "No." "Because I'm meant to be there." "That's what I wrote to him." "Will you take me to him?" "Promise me you will." "I promise." "You must protect me the entire journey." "Don't fear any advances from me." "I could be weaker than you." "You must stop me then." "I'll try." "What is the guarantee that you'll keep your promise?" "What guarantee do you want?" "Tell me, where did you get the strength to make this promise?" "Do you want the truth?" "This is a prize for good conduct." "You love this body." "Don't you, Mahendra?" "Don't you know that?" "If I poison myself, my body will be dissected." "You won't like that." "Eat." "God has blessed you." "Inform your mother-in-law." "Tell her you are pregnant." "I'll become a mother!" "What am I to do with this innocent one?" "Please give up your vow and start eating fish again." "That will be a sin, aunt." "It's a bigger sin if you don't feed it to the one in your womb." "Come here." "Can we sneak in a little fish?" "'Life, dear Life, don't go away and leave me.' 'lf you go away from me, Life..'" "'..who will love me?" "You tell me, Life!" "'" "'Life, dear Life, don't go away and leave me.' 'lf you go away from me, Life..'" "'..who will love me?" "You tell me, Life!" "'" "'Oh!" "My beloved beckons me and the river is in between.'" "If you were a man, you could well be a prince driven by lust." "That requires courage." "Perhaps I would, because of the courage within me." "Why accuse me of cowardice?" "I left my wife, mother, even my home to be here with you." "You insist that I lack courage!" "You didn't leave her Mahendra, it is she who left you." "If she had retained her status in your house.." "..you wouldn't be here living with me on the banks of the river Ganga." "You know that very well." "You also know, deep within your heart, that if she returns to you now.." "..you'll discard me this second, here, in the middle of this river." "You will have to live with her." "Let's go in. lt's chilly and you'll catch a cold." "You asked if I wanted anything." "A vendor came selling shawls in that household." "He had a red one that I liked." "Will you buy it for me?" "You'll wear red (the color of fertility) I have the courage to wear red." "If you don't, I won't wear it." "I'll buy it, but remember.." "..if Behari sees you in it, he also won't approve." "You wasted money, paying for this houseboat." "I can still go back." "Shall I?" "Don't regret it later." "You made me promise." "Otherwise, this moment you seem an object of desire to me." "Nothing more." "Now.." "..you seem quite the lust driven prince." "What's wrong, Binodini?" "What happened?" "Don't you want a child?" "I know that you do." "You made me promise." "Or would I deny you anything?" "What's happened?" "She yearned to be here and give herself to God." "Lord Vishwanath kept her wish." "is she dead?" "How did they know?" "She lay in that state all week." "The herbal doctor said so." "Yet they've sent for a physician." "Where's Mahendra?" "Haven't you come for me?" "Aunt passed away." "Where is Mahendra?" "When the end was near, she kept saying." "Observe a widow's feast as part of my funeral rites." "People feed priests, give offerings to cows.." "..to crows, to jackals, even trees." "But no offerings are made for widows." "Conduct the rituals for the widows." "Has Bhabhi been informed?" "Yes." "I came here to give her the news." "I met her by the riverbank." "Are you planning to go home?" "Yes, he will." "Go." "I've packed your things." "At the funeral, place some tea among the offerings." "She was very fond of it." "Talk to the priest about Bali." "She shouldn't follow the discipline for these 1 1 days." "Talk to the Brahmin regarding this." "Give her some money as well." " l don't understand." "Thank you for keeping your promise, Mahendra." "I don't think I'll ever be able to pay your fees in this life." "Why?" "Won't we meet again?" "Even if we do, we shouldn't try to settle old accounts." "Aunt said that there was a marriage proposal for me.." "..which you broke off." "I may have." "There ought to be a punishment for that." "I will plead in the court." "Why will the judge melt upon seeing you." "Any special reason to think this?" "Let him fine me then." "And if the fine is to be paid.." "I'll work as a maid in his home." "What if I lay down another punishment?" "No penalty is new for a widow." "The punishment I want to propose would be new, I assure you." "What is the punishment?" "You will have to marry me." "is that a release bond for your sister-in-law?" "No, just like that." "You fix a date." "I'm ready." "Open up." "Open up or the punishment will be more severe." "Badi Maa would say that.." "..in a place of pilgrimage, everyday is auspicious." "I'll come tomorrow morning." "Be ready." "I'm running away fearing that the wedding feast may fall short." "This letter is for Bali." "Please give it to her." "Begging your forgiveness, Binodini." "My dear friend, Bali." "There are differences on the surface between the two of us." "Still, we became bosom friends." "We were happy at Darjipara street." "That was our small universe." "This was our universe." "Call it our village." "Sharing our lives despite our superficial differences.." "..is not new to the history of our country." "Hence we didn't do anything new, Bali." "Does that mean that we had no inner connection?" "We did." "We both wanted to have families of our own." "As I said, we hadn't seen nothing of the world.." "..outside the inner quarters of Darjipara street." "Within those walls, we tried to meet our desire for a family life.." "..with the one man who ruled our world." "And without success." "It shattered our tiny world." "If Lord Curzon's law comes into force.." "..you and I would live in not one country but two." "Residing in those two countries, if we brood on the insults we bore.." "..the disappointments we faced, then we have lost the battle.." "..before it has started!" "Bali, our country is within our hearts." "If there is a link between us, if you believe in the vow we took.." "'Earth below, heaven above, forever we'll promise to love.'" "..then what can Lord Curzon do to us?" "The day I left Darjipara Street and came to Kashi" "..that's when I first realized what a country really means." "Till then, I had only read in books.." "..of a world beyond the kitchen, courtyard, shutters.." "..and petty rules of home life." "I thought it was all fantasy." "The Mahabharat tells us, how Abhimanyu.." "..became a great warrior inside his mother's womb." "The child in your womb bathed daily in the Ganges with you." "I urge you, Bali, whether boy or girl.." "..don't cage it within that two-storeyed Darjipara Street house!" "Your child one day will show you what a country really means." "Ever yours, Choker Bali." "She left no address?" "No, I asked in her village and searched in Kashi" "Could she have left Kashi after writing so much about it?" "She didn't write about Kashi." "She wrote about the country." "Maybe she has found some other India and has gone there." "Will have to go a bit early today." "If I do not start now, the meeting will start." "Are you off?" "I'll leave early today, Mahendra." "The meeting will start." "Be careful!" "It's not that safe outside." "I'll see you." "Despite all the disputes Bengal was partitioned."