Rana’s fear of losing Devika was gaining momentum as proposal after proposal started pouring in from the prospective bridegroom’s families. Rajani spurned most of the proposals. Then came one from Aunt Sheila. The prospect was a graduate with bright future at a Federal Government job. He was intelligent, tall and handsome. Preliminary visits were exchanged. Both sides agreed that they would like to proceed further. The date of engagement was set.
Time and tide are prisoners to none. As the date of engagement was drawing closer, Rana’s restlessness was also growing stronger; and so did the frequency of his escape to the river. If anyone could understand his pain, it was the river. If anyone could give solace to his deserted soul, it was the river. Amit arrived before the engagement of his baby sister. In absence of their father he assumed the responsibility of the father. Sumit and Sudip were at his disposal. Kamala and Sheila came with their families. Also came Rajani’s two sisters Sarojini and Padmini. Rana loved them all. So he enjoyed the air of festivity associated with the occasion. However, an undercurrent of extra-ordinary loss and a feeling of insecurity were consuming him. No one knew his pain, not even Devika. He understood that it was not her doing. It was beyond her control. Girls had to be given in marriage at a certain age. That was a time-honored custom blessed by God. Otherwise, the society would frown upon her. Accordingly, the engagement was solemnized and the date of wedding was decided upon. That date was sacrosanct now.
Preparation began in right earnest. There were lots to be done even in exile. Devika was Rajani’s youngest child. She wanted to do everything possible to make her happy. To Amit she was not only the youngest sibling, but also a virtual daughter in absence of her father. He wanted to make doubly sure that she did not feel neglected simply because her father was not in the scene. So Amit pulled all his resources together to fulfill her wishes, expressed or not. The next day after the engagement he went back to his business with the plan to come back about a week before the wedding. In the mean time, Rajani and Sumit began organizing all that was necessary to make a memorable wedding for Devika. They placed order for everything right from jewelry, clothing, furniture, linen and draperies to gifts for bridegroom’s family. Even the catering services were arranged for and the menu chosen for the wedding reception. Sheila, Anjali and Kamala were available all the time to help and give suggestions. Amit came a week before the wedding. His only concern was the happiness of his little sister, who grew up under his loving shadow. He was examining all the gifts with an auditor’s eye. If any gift failed to pass his taste or quality, that had to be replaced immediately. He also added on a few gifts, which he thought would make his sister happier. He even checked the list of the invited guests and added a few more names.
Rana kept on counting days. On the one hand, he was enormously happy for all the gifts that Devika would be receiving; but on the other, the frightful prospect of being deprived of his younger mother-figure and companion for all seasons, was opening a wound in his heart. The bond that developed between Devika and him was a very special one. It was not the product of the ordinary circumstances. That bond grew because without the realization of Rana, his mother was non-existent in his life and only the incomparable maturity of Devika, who was just nine year’s older to him was partially filling in that void. So he was counting days not with the purpose of ushering the wedding date sooner, but with the hope that it would be deferred indefinitely. Nevertheless, he behaved perfectly normally, helping Rajani where his help was needed to make the wedding of Devika the happiest event of her life.
The wedding day came with gentle trepidation. The rituals began before sunrise. The nearest and dearest ones began arriving at the Roy family residence since daybreak. Rana was happy to see his cousins including little Juthika. She was about a year old now and looked prettier than before. Devika was fasting by the dictates of the age-old rituals. Marriage vow was not an ordinary vow. It was supposed to be most solemn. One had to be pure in body and mind to take that vow. Fasting made body and soul pure. Rana was also fasting, but not in sympathy with Devika. He could not sleep the night before and he had stomach flu. He did not report the sickness to Rajani or anyone else. Everybody was busy. He did not want to be seen as a stumbling block at Devika’s wedding.
The evening approached in an unusual hurry. One by one the guests began arriving. Sumit and Gautam were given the responsibility to escort the bridegroom and his party. They arrived safely. The reception team became busy, even frantic. The bride groom’s party was the centerpiece of that reception. Keeping them happy was paramount in everyone’s mind. The wedding rites began soon after. It was a two-hour long ritual. By the time the ceremonies ended Rana fell asleep. Poor Rana! He was going to loose not only his loving aunt, but also a friend and guide since his infant eyes began to recognize her. He wished Devika all the happiness on earth.
Next morning, immediately after the breakfast preparation began to give the warmest send off to Devika, befitting the youngest daughter and baby sister. Rana could hardly hold himself together. As the rest of the ceremonies were proceeding he would look at Devika from a distance and run away, unable to check the tears overflowing his eyes. He could not stand the solemnity of the occasion anymore. Devika also began sobbing while taking leave of all the kith and kin that she knew as the loving family for all the sixteen years of her young life. The women in the family too were wiping their tears. Devika came to give a parting kiss to her fondest nephew, whom she cared for through the first seven years of his life. No word was spoken; nothing was left to speak except to express the gratitude of his stricken soul. The bridal car was waiting. In a short while, the car drove off slowly, leaving behind an awesome memory for Rana to ruminate through the rest of his life.
No matter how big or famous one might become, someone always plays a pivotal role in one’s formative stage of life. That role shapes the future of that individual. In the first seven years of Rana’s life Devika played that role eminently, though she herself was not very much older to him. After all, it was she who made that swing in the mango grove for him; it was she who used to sing those lullabies to put him away to sleep; it was she who planted all those dreams in his eyes! He would cherish that memory forever. He would rejoice at her happiness and agonize over her distress. And she would always remain in the inner sanctum of his loving and grateful heart.
In the next few days after Devika’s wedding, the friends and family left one by one. Amit went back to his business. In absence of Devika the Roy family home felt like a dilapidated house. Rana’s school opened at the end of the summer vacation. Rana though remained unusually subdued. He was going through his daily routine perfunctorily. He ran out of his usual vivacity. The River of Life hardly ever follows a straight course. Meandering is its way, mysterious is its demeanor. By early autumn Rana became seriously sick. Doctor said it was the worst type of Hepatitis virus. He became yellow. His body temperature shot up to 106 degree Fahrenheit and the remission was not in sight. The family doctor, known to be the best in the town, showed signs of throwing in the towel. He offered to call his professor at the Medical College in Calcutta and a leading practitioner in the country. The family got frightened with the apprehension that Rana was in death bed. Some said it was a psychological effect of his agony on account of Devika’s departure from his immediate surroundings. Whatever might be the reason, Rana was in a serious condition.
Sheila, Kamala, Devika, Sarojini and Padmini came to see him, perhaps for the last time. All the women cried and prayed for his life and speedy recovery. It seemed like their prayers were answered. The specialist came from Calcutta and after thorough examination changed the medication. He also changed the diet to Rana’s liking. In forty-eight hours Rana responded to the treatment. In another two weeks, Hepatitis was brought under control. He started regaining his natural complexion. On his last visit, the specialist strongly recommended that Rana be taken to a health resort for a month. Accordingly, the family took him to a resort with a hot spring known
to have cured many with serious diseases and disabilities. Rana came back to life. Smile returned to his face. He became his normal self again. On his return from the sojourn after a month-long hiatus Rana went to see the river, the friendly river, the only place where he could seek solace and comfort at the hour of distress. He felt exceedingly happy to be back to its peace and tranquility. Gradually, Rana learnt to live his life without the joyful and reassuring presence of his Aunt Devika, the angel of his life.
On the wings of time and tide the River of Life flows on relentlessly toward its distant destiny, carrying on its strides both the wounds of a stricken heart and healings; a child’s fantasy and a grown-up’s understanding.
RISING FROM THE ASHES
Time was passing by with the fluidity of a brook, sowing seeds of change unseen in the naked eye. Another year was coming to an end. When the family needed to spread their legs comfortably after the cramped living in the first year in exile, they moved to Rampur. Due to the uncertainties of business and income associated with the turbulence of partition that was the right decision at that time. Now that the partition was a “Fait Accompli” and going back to the good times left behind was ruled out forever, Rajani and Amit had been thinking seriously for sometime about moving to the heart of Calcutta Metropolis. After the life and death situation for Rana when the specialist had to be called all the way from Calcutta to save his life, they made up their minds to relocate to one of the newer and comfortable parts of the city at the earliest opportunity. This time they did not have to sweat to find a good place. The solution was easy. The owner of the Rampur property also had a house for sale at the southern part of Calcutta overlooking the lakes. The owner was getting older. He was already well into his seventies. He wanted to sell the property because it was difficult for him to manage it from distance. The lawyers completed the buy-sell agreement. The documents were signed and money exchanged hands. The new house would be ready for occupation from the first week of the New Year just about four weeks away.
For months Rana had been hearing all the side talks about the move without any visible emotion. Now the move seemed to be real. In a few weeks they were supposed to leave Rampur forever. Rana felt nostalgic about Rampur; about the river; about the palaces; about the wooded streets and above all the friendly neighborhood. He knew he was going to miss the tree-lined arched streets with the chirping birds playfully capering among the green landscape. His mind was really pining for Rampur. He thought Rampur would remain in his love forever. He went to the river to calm down his mind. Poor Rana! One day he would realize that the object which is the source of joy in one circumstance also becomes the source of pain under different circumstances.
He gave the river a long hard look and said to himself that during his three-year stay in Rampur he did not seem to notice any change in the river and the activities around it. The river was still murmuring its way to the ocean. Ferry boats were still carrying the passengers across. Barges and steamers were still cruising along in a business like manner carrying loads of supplies and passengers to their destinations. Devotees were still standing in the waist deep water performing ablutions and offering prayers to the Almighty. Yet in these three years there had been so many changes in his life. Saroj and Kanika passed away. Devika was given in marriage and never again would his relationship with her be the same as before. He himself came back from the jaws of death. In a few weeks Rampur would remain only in his memory as did Nawabpur and Dacca. Many such thoughts kept coming to his mind. He was intrigued why there were so many changes in his life when everything else appeared to remain the same. It was a pity that at that point in time the child’s mind in Rana was incapable of capturing the essence of life. Change is the only constant in life. Stagnation is death. For change connotes vitality. Without change life loses its dynamics. It loses its creativity. Without change life is bound up in lethargy and torpor and eventually stumbles and dies an unceremonious death. Yet change is frowned with apprehension. To some, change is even frightening. But the plain truth is if the world does not want to flow with change, it will be left behind by change in a hurry.
In the afternoon of the second Sunday in January the Roy family matriarch Rajani moved their abode to Lakeview Boulevard in Garden Lakes. Rana left behind another stop in the journey of his tortuous life. The new house overlooked a two mile-long man made lake with a stadium and water sport facilities. For Rana it was a different experience altogether. Garden Lakes did not have the old aura of Rampur, with its palaces and a breathtaking view of the river. However, it was a relatively new development, better planned with broader roads and modern amenities. The river was far away from Garden Lakes. But the lake was big enough with green surroundings to offer a frazzled mind the serenity of its placid waters.
However, in one area Garden Lakes had clear cut superiority over Rampur and that was education. The worries that Rajani and Amit had in the matter of Rana’s education, subsided with the move to Garden Lakes. There were many schools to choose from. However, the one that was chosen for Rana was a missionary school, one of the finest in academic accomplishments. Rana soon accepted the loss of friendly and regal Rampur and embraced the elegance and comfort of Garden Lakes. He exchanged the ever flowing river with the ever serene lake. He began learning from his short experience that life was a constant trade-off. One has to forgo something to gain something else. One bank of the river is washed away to create another one down the way. Thus the River of Life flows on, always deceptively rapidly. Years come and years pass by often imperceptibly. Time and tide wait for no body. In a few weeks, the Roy family would complete a year in the new residence almost unnoticed. In the scheme of creation, many more years would come and leave them behind without their discerning the passage of time. For time is an integral part of the River of Life and there was nothing to prevent them from flowing together to their endless destiny, the ever receding Eternity.
Christmas season was upon the earth once again. This would be their first Christmas in the new house. Rana’s ninth birthday was also round the corner. Amit came to the town on a short vacation. However, to take advantage of his presence in the town, his partners requested him to extend his stay for a month to audit their Calcutta office. No one was happier than Rana. It was the first time in many years that his father would be present on his birthday. Kamala and Devika came with their children and stayed back for a few days. Came around Sheila also and at Amit’s request she too stayed back for a week.
On one cool and sunny afternoon during that week Rana returned home from the school. While he was still sitting in the school bus very close to their house, it appeared to him that Rajani and Sheila were waiting for him rather anxiously on the front balcony of the second floor. He sensed something unusual. By the time he entered the house Sheila had already come down from the second floor. She almost swooped down upon him and said, “Hurry up, your mother has come!”
She was breathing heavily. She appeared to be excited but not nervous. Before Rana could realize or say anything she literally dragged him up the stairs to the second floor and dropped him on the lap of a lady. Rana did not look at her face but felt a drop of tear on his right cheek.
Sheila said, “Talk to your mother.”Rana did not know what to talk. He was dumbfounded to hear that his mother was still alive! But before any words were exchanged Rajani rushed in and said, “Taxi is waiting, we got to go.”
As Sheila pulled him aside from the lady’s lap to help her stand up on her feet, Rajani held her hand and walked down the steps rapidly. Sheila took Rana to the front balcony. But the taxi drove off faster than a nor’wester. All these happened in such a flurry that Rana was literally dazed. His eyes became wider at the horrendous prevarication of the entire family. He thought his mother Monika was dead! That’s what he was told since he was not even two. He reflected upon in utter disbelief how could a dead person come back live in flesh and blood? Was Monika’s death a lie? Suspicion clouded his trust in everyone. Deception and untruthful
ness of those on whom he reposed unwavering faith stupefied him. He remained speechless and dejected. Sheila realized his puzzled state of mind. She sat next to him and tried to explain why and where Rajani took Monika. She did not say how an individual pronounced dead many years ago, could come back hale and hearty. She did not say where Monika came from and why everyone had to lie to him about her.
The reason Rajani had to rush Monika from that house was to protect her from the rage of Amit. The mother in Rajani was pleased that Monika came back of her own accord. She was also happy for Rana, although she took his astonished and wounded feelings for granted. Obviously, she was oblivious of the lie and deception of the entire family to Rana when he was not even in a position to understand. But knowing how angry Amit could be, she had to take an on-the-spot decision. Sheila supported her judgment.
Few years earlier Rajani had purchased a property at the outskirts of Calcutta with the purpose of constructing a family hub which would replicate the ancestral mansion that they had left behind in Birpur. Rajani’s mother Nandini and her two sisters also settled down next to that property. However, the Divine Wisdom had a different idea for that property. As Monika’s brother dropped her off at the Roy family residence at the Garden Lakes, Rajani and Sheila conferred and decided that the best way to avoid a dangerous confrontation was to move her to Rajani’s country house in order to allow sufficient time for Amit to blow off his steam. In their judgment, that was the only prudent solution immediately. So after eight years of her own ego-driven, self-imposed exile, Monika’s second exile began.
A Bend in the River of Life Page 4