Chapter 1

Binodini's mother, Harimati, went to Rajlakshmi, Mahendra's mother, and complained, "Sister-in-law, please help rescue the poor girl. I heard she is very beautiful, and nowadays, girls like her often end up with rich families."

Mahendra intervened, saying, "Mother, besides me, there are many other eligible bachelors nowadays."

Rajlakshmi retorted, "Mahin, that's your fault. You're not considering marriage proposals seriously."

Mahendra grew up without a father, and his relationship with his mother was unconventional. Despite starting medical studies after passing his exams, he lacked respect and affection towards his mother, unlike a normal son. His behavior towards his mother was indifferent and disrespectful, reflecting his upbringing devoid of paternal guidance.

When Rajlakshmi insisted on helping Binodini, Mahendra reluctantly agreed, saying, "Okay, let's see the girl once."

But on the day of the meeting, he refused, saying, "I cannot do this."

Mahendra had always been pampered and pressured by both divine and human forces, making him restless. He couldn't handle pressure well, especially when it contradicted his own desires and principles. Despite his promises and others' requests, he became adamant and eventually backed out of the marriage proposal.

Mahendra's closest friend, Dilabahari, referred to Mahendra as "elder brother" and his mother as "mother." Dilabahari saw Mahendra as burdened with responsibilities, akin to a boat stuck behind a steamboat, while his mother, Rajlakshmi, showered him with maternal affection. Rajlakshmi told him, "Brother, this is your responsibility. Otherwise, the poor girl..."

Dilabahari interjected, saying, "Mother, I can't handle this. I've been trying to please Mahin for so long, but he doesn't want the girl."

Rajlakshmi thought, "Dilabahari will marry again! He only cares about Mahin, not the bride."

This thought increased Rajlakshmi's affection for Dilabahari.

Binodini's father was not particularly wealthy, but he invested all his efforts into educating his daughter. Despite her advancing age, Binodini's marriage was delayed. Eventually, after her father's death, her widowed mother arranged her marriage with a relative from Barasat. But soon after, Binodini became a widow. Mahendra joked, "If I had married, I would have suffered the same fate as a widow."

Years later, a conversation arose about marriage.

"Father, people criticize me."

"Why, son? What have you ruined for them to criticize?"

"When the bride arrives, the son disappears. That's why I don't want to get married. People criticize me for such baseless reasons."

His mother chuckled and said, "Listen to what your son says."

Mahendra replied, "When the bride comes, the son gets overshadowed. If she doesn't like you, I won't like her."

Rajlakshmi addressed Binodini's widowhood and said, "Listen, elder brother-in-law, what does Mahin say? The bride doesn't want to marry because she doesn't want to leave her mother alone. Have you ever heard such fabricated excuses?"

Dilabahari replied, "It's your nest, dear nephew. The son shines only when the time is right. Now that the mother's veil is removed and the bride is brought home, it's embarrassing to see the son's behavior like a little boy."

The words didn't sit well with Rajalakshmi, and what she said could be straightforward, but it lacked sweetness. She said, "If my son loves his mother more than other boys love theirs, why do you resent that, my co-wife? If there's a son, he understands the son's feelings."Rajalakshmi thought that her son's happiness was making the childless envious.The co-wife replied, "If you had mentioned bringing a wife, then that conversation would have been relevant, otherwise what right do I have."Rajalakshmi said, "If my son doesn't bring a wife, why do you put poison in your heart against him? After all, if for so long I could treat my son as a human, now I can't see or hear him, and no one else's presence will be necessary."The co-wife left in tears, silently. Mahendra felt a blow internally, and returned home from college early. His aunt was present at his aunt's house.6/172The aunt, despite her affection, didn't say anything other than what she knew, and she also knew that her aunt had a sister-in-law who was childless, and Mahendra wanted to bring her niece, a widow with no children, to her in some way, wanting to see her happy. If she objected to the marriage, her aunt's desire would naturally be conveyed to her in a normal and extremely compassionate way.When Mahendra entered her house, there was no one else left. His aunt Annapurna was sitting with tear marks on her dry, wrinkled face. Rice was covered in the neighboring room, untouched till now.For a trivial reason, tears came to Mahendra's eyes. Seeing his aunt's teary eyes, he called out in a soft voice,"Kakima."Annapurna tried to smile and said, "Yes, Mahin, come in."Mahendra said, 'I'm very hungry, I want to eat Prasad."Annapurna, understanding Mahendra's pain, managed to suppress her tears and comforted herself, then served Mahendra and fed him herself.Mahendra's heart was then wet with compassion. When he entered his aunt's house, he just saw a dry window with a dry windowpane. He went near her and, with affectionate voice, called her, "Kakima."Annapurna tried to smile and said, "Yes, boss."Mahendra said, "I'm so hungry, I want to eat."Annapurna understood Mahendra's request and sadly prepared to serve him. When Mahendra saw her crying, he asked, "Kakima, why were you so eager to insult me?"Only hearing the question, she quickly left.2Mahendra had almost forgotten about seeing the girl, but Annapurna didn't forget. She wrote a letter to the girl's guardian, her brother-in-law's house in Shyambazar, and sent it to postpone the day of visiting.The day was postponed, Mahendra heard, "Why did you do the job so quickly, Kakima? Bihari hasn't been told yet."Annapurna said, "What happened, Mahin? If they don't see you now, what will they think?"Mahendra told Bihari everything by calling him. He said, "Come on, if you don't like it, there will be no pressure on you."Bihari said, "I can't say that. I didn't like going to see my sister-in-law's niece, so I won't show my face."Mahendra said, "That's fine."Bihari said, "But it's unfair for you, Mahin. It's not right for you to bear such a burden on your shoulders. It's not right for you to impose such a burden on the next shoulder. Now if Kaki's mind is hurt, it will be very difficult for me."Mahendra felt a little embarrassed and annoyed, "So what do you want to do?""There's no need to do anything."Bihari said, "When you called me and gave me hope, I went to see the marriage. I worshipped Annapurna like a goddess of luck."Finally, Annapurna called Bihari to her and said, "Is it true, son? If you don't see it, it won't happen. If you don't like it, you won't be able to agree to the marriage, this is my vow."

On a designated day, Mahendra returned from college and said to his mother, "Take out my silk kurta and Dhakai scarf."

His mother asked, "Why? Where are you going?"

Mahendra replied, "It's necessary, Mom. Please give them to me, I'll explain later."

Unable to resist for the next time, he didn't even bother to dress properly. Even though it was only for the sake of seeing the girl, he didn't care to straighten his hair a bit, just sprayed some fragrance on his scarf.

The two friends went out to see the girl.

The girl's brother, Mr. Anukul Babu, had elevated his three-story house, along with his garden, to a level higher than that of his neighbors, with his hard-earned wealth. After the death of her poor brother, he had brought his sister-in-law's stepdaughter to his house. Aunt Annapurna said, "She'll stay with me." This provided financial relief to the relatives, but Mr. Anukul was not willing to agree out of pride. He never sent the girl to her aunt's house, not even to show off, as he was very strict about their dignity.

At the time of the girl's marriage, thoughts about her marriage were not prevailing in the present day. Thoughts were accompanied by expenses. But when the subject of money came up, he said agreeably, "I have my own daughter; I can't bear more expenses alone." Thus, he spent the day in this way. Spraying fragrances and coloring the atmosphere with gossip, the two friends entered Mahendra into the arena.

On the day of Chaitra, the sun was setting. On the south veranda of the ground floor, a small Chinese hand fan was hanging; on its edge, there were rows of silver plates filled with fruit desserts, and the cold, snowy glamor of silver nets adorned with snowflakes embellished the cool evening breeze of Chaitra. Mahendra was sitting, overwhelmed by emotion, with Bihari. Below, the gardener was watering the plants with a watering can; carrying the fragrance of wet soil, the southern breeze of Chaitra was spreading its cool breeze over Mahendra's serene face, which was covered with a shawl. A little laughter, whispering, and the sound of two or three distant voices could be heard from the surrounding doors and windows.

After the meal, Mr. Anukul asked affectionately, "Chuni, come sing for us."

A few moments later, a door on the western side opened with a hesitant movement, and a girl came from somewhere, completely in the kingdom's evening. Wet bottle in hand, she came to Mr. Anukul. He said, "Put the bottle in front of them, my dear."

The girl, trembling with shyness, placed the bottle on the ground near the guests' seats. In the veranda, the eastern side was filled with the setting sun's glow. Mahendra, with regret, looked at Abha's embarrassed face. Seizing the opportunity, Mahendra looked at the girl's compassionate face.

When the girl was about to leave, Mr. Anukul said, "Wait a minute, Chuni. Bihari, this girl is my nephew Apurbar's daughter. She's gone now, so I have no one but her left." Saying this, he took a deep breath.

Mahendra's heart was touched by mercy. Looking concernedly in another direction, he saw no one. No one indicated her age. Relatives said, "She'll be twelve or thirteen." That is, the probability of being fourteen or fifteen is greater. But with a feeling of sympathy, they portrayed her adolescent beginnings as dignified and well-protected.

Mahendra asked curiously, "What's your name?" Mr. Anukul, enthusiastically, said, "Tell me, Mom, tell your name." The girl, obeying his order with a new face, said, "My name is Ashalta."

Hope. Mahendra felt that the name was too compassionate and the voice too tender. An orphan hope.

The two friends went outside and left the car. Mahendra said, "Bihari, don't leave this girl."

Bihari, without giving a clear answer, said, "I see her as my maternal uncle's daughter; I feel like she'll be my Lakshmi." Mahendra said, "What I understood from your shoulder, it seems that you haven't understood the importance of her yet."

Bihari said, "No, I can tolerate it."

Mahendra said, "Why do you make so much effort? If you marry her, your aunt will be much happier - if that's the case, she'll keep the girl with her forever."

Bihari said, "Are you crazy? If that were the case, she would have left a long time ago."

Bihari left without much protest, and Mahendra also went straight, taking a long time on the path.