Row of hopes

We keep on waiting.
As the tiny seed gives birth to the dense forest

And the birds cross miles over the dark sea -

To reach home before the moon lights up the earth,

We keep on waiting, tireless,occupied -

Digging deep into our hearts, sowing hopes

One after another.

Rows of hopes keep us alive.

Alive, we keep on waiting....

Matrimonial Penal Code

Translation of An article written by Bankimchnadra Chattoapdhyay in the Bengali monthly 'Bangadarshan'. This was written jokingly in 19th century social environment....

Matrimonial Penal Code

We are women. Being innocent half of the family, we are subject to too much of torture these days. Men have become adamant; do not obey their wives these days. Women’s age-old-right to ownership of men is declining day by day – none is ready to be ruled by the orders of his wife. Now we are determined to found a Council for Jewels of the Women to be able to regulate all these wrongdoings. If you are not fully aware of the activities of the council, we will publish an advertisement with the details later. At present we announce, that we have drafted a proposal from the part of this council in order to protect our ownership. We have sent an application to Government of India regarding this issue; and along with the application, we also sent a copy of the domestic penal code that is drafted to rule the earning heads of the families.

At a time when there are laws being enacted to protect everyone’s right to possession, why there is none to protect our ownership right? Hopefully our law will come into force very soon; and that is reason I announce this in Bangadarshan. Many of the educated men cannot understand laws very well in Bengali. The main reason behind this is the poor quality of  Bengali legal translations. The laws were first drafted in English. As the translation is not good, the Bengali version also varies in some places from the original. Hence, we are sending both the Bengali and English versions to the editor. We hope that considering our request, the editor of Bangadarshan will publish this legal document along with English version forgetting his annoyance with English. Everyone will find that this law has nothing new; only the Lex nor Scripta is published in written form.

Signature:

Srimati Anritasundari Dasi (the Lady furnishing the Beauty of trickery – Chairperson of the Council for the Jewels of Women)

THE MATRIMONIAL PENAL CODE:

Chapter I

Introduction

Whereas it is expedient to provide a special Penal Code for the coercion of refractory husbands and others who dispute the supreme authority of women, it is hereby enacted as follows:

1.      This Act shall be entitled the “Matrimonial Penal Code” and shall take effect on all natives of India in the married state. 

Significance of the first chapter: The following rules are enacted to help women rule their disobedient husbands and others.

Rule 1 – this law will be named “Matrimonial Penal code” and this will be applicable to any married man in any State of India.

Chapter II

Definitions

2.      A husband is a piece of moving and movable property at the absolute disposal of a woman.

a)    A trunk or a work-box is not a husband as it is not moving, though a movable piece of property.

b)    Cattle are not husbands, for though capable of locomotion, they cannot be at the absolute disposal of any woman, as they often display a will of their own.

c)  Men in the married state, having no will of their own, are husbands.

3.   A wife is a woman having the right of property in a husband.

Explanation:

The right of property includes the right of flagellation.

4.   “The married state” is a state of penance into which men voluntarily enter for sins committed in a previous life.

Explanation of the second chapter:

Rule 2 says that the living movable property under complete jurisdiction of a woman can be called a Husband. a) Trunks and boxes cannot be called Husband while they do not walk on their own, though they are called “movable property”. b) Even cattle cannot be called Husband due to their little authority to work independently. Hence, they cannot be absolute subordinate of women though they are living beings. c) Only married men are not allowed to take any independent decision; that is why they are defined as Husbands instead of the cattle.

As per Rule 3, the lady, who enjoys full ownership of a man, is called the wife of the man. To explain, the ownership of property gives the right to hit that property too.

And as per Rule 4 the men’s expiation of a sin committed in previous birth is called marriage.

Chapter III

Of punishments

5.      The punishments to which the offenders are liable under the provisions of this code are:

FIRST, IMPRISONMENTS

-          Which may be either within the four walls of a bed-room, or within the four walls of a house?

Imprisonment is of two descriptions, namely –

1)     Rigorous, that is accompanied by hard words

2)     Simple

Secondly, Transportation, that is, to another bedroom.

Thirdly, Matrimonial servitude.

Fourthly, Forfeiture of pocket-money

6.                  “Capital punishment” under this code means that the wife shall run away to her paternal roof, or to some other friendly house, with the intension of not returning in a hurry.

7.                  The following punishments are also provided for minor offences:

FIRST, Contemptuous silence on the part of the wife.

SECONDLY, Frown

THIRDLY, Tears and lamentation

Fourthly, scolding and abuse

Third chapter discusses punishments:

Rule 5 lists the punishments applicable to the offenders. First option is imprisonment inside the bedroom or intern. The Husband can be sentenced to imprisonment along with rude words or without a word. Second option is to send the Husband to some other bedroom and third option is to condemn the Husband to a life of servitude under his wife. Fourth option of monetary punishment indicates that the Husband may be barred from receiving his pocket-money.

Rule 6 explains “Life sentence” in the sense that the wife will have right to go to paternal home of brothers place and may not return soon.

7th rule says that the wife may punish minor offences of a Husband with silence, frown, shedding tears or loud scolding.

Chapter IV

GENERAL EXECETION

Nothing is an offence which is done by a wife.

8.      Nothing is an offence which is done by a Husband in obedience to the commands of a wife.

9.      No person in the married state shall be entitled to plead any other circumstances as grounds of exemption from the provisions of the Matrimonial Penal Code.

Fourth chapter discusses general exemptions:

8th rule says that wives cannot be held responsible for any offence and 9^th rule says that even Husbands cannot be held responsible for an offence if his wife provokes him to commit that. Moreover, the 10^th rule says Husbands are not permitted to seek exemption from punishment in any case outside the area of 8^th and 9^th rule.

Chapter V

OF AbATEMENT

10. A person abates the doing of a matrimonial offence who: 

First, instigates, persuades, induces or encourages a Husband to commit that offence. Secondly, joins him in the commission of that offence, or keeps him company during its commission.

EXPLANATION:

A man not in the married state or even a woman may be abettor.

ILLUSTRATIONS

a) A the Husband of B, and C, an unmarried man, drink together. Drinking is a matrimonial offence; C had abetted A.

b) A the mother of B, the Husband of C, persuades B  to spend money in other ways than those which C approves. As spending money in such ways is a matrimonial offence, A has abetted B.

12. When a man in the married state abets another man in the marred state in a matrimonial offence, the abettor is liable to the same punishment as the principal. Provided that he can be so punished only by a competent court.

EXPLANATION:

A competent court means the wife having the right of property in the offending Husband.

13. Abettors who are female of male offenders not in the married state are liable to be punished only with scolding, abuse, frowns, tears and lamentations.

Fifth chapter is on the law regarding abatement

11th rule says that a person can be called abettor if a) encourages or forces the Husband commit a matrimonial offence b) gets involved in the same offence or accompanies him at the time of offence. Unmarried man or even a woman can be called an abettor. Examples are:

Ram, the Husband of Kamini, and Jadu, an unmarried man go for a drink together. Drinking alcohol is matrimonial offence. So Jadu is an abettor.

Haramani is the mother of Ram and Ram is the Husband of Kamini. Ram spent his money as advised by Haramani ignoring the way advised by Kamini. Spending own money not being recommended by the wife is matrimonial offence. And Haramani is an abettor here.

Rule 12 says that when a married man supports another married man in matrimonial offences, then the supportive one would receive same punishment along with the doer. But the sentence cannot be delivered by anyone else but a suitable court. Suitable court is the wife who owns that abettor.

As per Rule 13, the unmarried male or female supporting a matrimonial offence can be punished by scolding, crying, shredding tears etc.

Chapter VI

OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE STATE

14. The “State” shall in this Code means the married state only.

15. Whoever wages war against his wife or attempts to wage such war or abets the waging of such war shall be punished capitally, that is, by separation or by transportation to another bedroom and shall forfeit all his pocket money.

16. Whoever induces friends or gains over children to side with him or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of waging war against the wife shall be punished by transportation to another bedroom and shall also be liable to be punished with scolding and with tears and lamentations.

17. Whoever shall render allegiance to any woman other than his wife, shall be guilty of incontinence.

EXPLANATION:

1. To show the slightest kindness to a young woman, who is not the wife, is to render such young woman allegiance.

ILLUSTRATION:

A is the Husband of B, and C is a young woman. A likes C’s baby, because he is a nice child and gives him buns to eat. A has rendered allegiance to C.

EXPLANATION:

2. Wives shall be entitled to imagine offences under this section, and no Husband shall be entitles to be acquitted on the ground that he has not committed the offence.

The simple accusation shall always be held to be conclusive proof of the offence.

EXPLANATION:

3. The right of imagining offences under this section shall be held to belong in general to old wives, and to women with old and ugly husbands, and a young wife shall not be entitled to assume the right unless she can prove that she has a particular cross temper or was brought up a spoilt child or is herself supreme ugly.

18. Whoever is guilty of incontinence shall be liable to all the punishments mentioned in the code and to other punishments not mentioned in the code.

Sixth chapter is discusses the offence with revolt against wife.

The translator was not able to translate the 14^th rule. But the Rule 15 tells that  person  who fights against wife or tries to fight against wife or instigates someone else to fight against wife, is liable to death sentence (the wife would desert him or he would be sent to a different bedroom or his pocket money would be confiscated).

Similarly according to 16^th, if a man quarrels with wife or even tries so, through a mediating friend or own children or some other way, would be sent to separate bedroom and shall be punished with scolding and tears.

Rule 17 says that having affection for a woman other than wife is debauchery. To explain, firstly, showing kindness or support to any other woman but own wife is debauchery. For example – Ram is the Husband of Kamini. Bama is another young lady having a baby. Ram shows affection to the lovely baby and gives him sweets. That means Ram is obsessed with Bama. Secondly, wives will have the right to consider their Husbands offender even without any evidence. Husbands cannot be saved by their proclamation like – “I did not do that.” The offence is proved by the wife’s accusation, “He has done it!” Thirdly, the right to consider own Husbands to be offenders without evidence is specially given to the old wives or wives of old and ugly Husbands. If a young woman wants to exercise this right, then she has to prove herself to be a spoilt child, ill-tempered or ugly looking.

And 18^th dictates that the libertines will be punished not only by all sections mentioned here, but also by other improvised means.

Chapter VII

OF OFFENCES RELATING TO THE ARMY AND NAVY

19. The army and navy shall in this Code mean the sons and the daughters and daughters in law.

20. Whoever abets the committing of mutiny by a son or a daughter or a daughter in law shall be liable to be punished by scolding and tears and lamentations.

Seventh chapter defines ‘army’ and ‘navy’ within the scope of matrimonial law.

Rule 20 explains that the Husband, who plans a revolt taking help from his sons, daughters or daughters in law, should be punished by tears.

Chapter VIII

OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY

21. An assembly of two or more Husbands is designated an unlawful assembly if the common object of such Husbands is:

FIRST, to drink as defined below or to gamble or to commit any other matrimonial offence.

SECONDLY, to overawe by show of authority their wives from the exercise of the lawful authority of such wives.

THIRDLY, to resist the execution of a wife’s order.

22. Whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly shall be punished by imprisonment with hard words and shall also be liable to contemptuous silence or to scolding

OF DRINKING WINE AND SPIRITS

23. Any liquid kept in a bottle and taken in a glass vessel is wine and spirits.

24. Whoever has in his possession wine or spirits as above defined is said to drink.

EXPLANATION

He is said to drink even though he never touches the liquid himself.

25. Whoever is guilty of drinking shall be punished with imprisonment of either description within the four walls of a bedroom during the evening hours and shall also be liable to scolding.

OF RIOTING

26. Whoever shall speak in an ungentle voice to his wife shall be guilty of domestic rioting.

27. Whoever is guilty of domestic rioting shall be punished by contemptuous silence or by scolding or by tears and lamentations.

Eighth chapter is about disturbing the peace at home

As per Rule 21, two or more married men, if assemble with any of the following intentions, can be considered as participants of unlawful assembly: firstly, drinking alcohol or any other matrimonial offence. Secondly, threatening wives by shouting at them with an intention to dissuade them from taking legal action. Thirdly, having an intention of being an obstacle on the way of executing the wife’s order.

Rule 22 determines that all participants of the unlawful assembly will be imprisoned drawing strong rebukes and criticism.

According to Rule 23, any liquid in a bottle that looks yellow in a glass vessel should be called alcohol.

Rule 24 defines that any man keeping such a kind of bottle at home, is drunkard, even if he is not the owner of that bottle.

Rule 25 makes it mandatory for a drunkard to stay within four walls of the bedroom after dusk and be scolded.

Rule 26 identifies a person who speaks harsh to his wife as rioter. And according to Rule 27, rioters will be punished by scolding and tears.

Happy Valentine

My Valiant gift to my readers on Valentine 2017: Do read :)

 Rupesh was day-dreaming that day. Or he was trying to see Shiva in his dreams. He loves to remember Shivakami’s face which fills his life with youthful ecstasy at times. But is it possible to dream of a fairy queen lying in this dilapidated bed in the one-bedroom slum-home? He was on the bed while his three sisters and mother were lying on the floor. It was a Sunday afternoon of the hot summer. All of them were sleeping. Only Rupesh was trying to dream. And more he was trying, more he was getting annoyed. He could not tolerate the environment. Which other software engineer in his office is forced to stay in this kind of unbefitting surroundings? Will it be ever possible for him to propose his dream girl?

How could he? Rupesh’ father was wage-labourer. Only dream the entire six-member family lived with was of his becoming an engineer; at least since Rupesh was grown up enough to understand the dream of his family. Rupesh was good student and oldest of the four siblings. He never had trouble following his family’s dream being an engineer and take responsibility of them as a grown up successor of his father. He finished his school in the suburb with good marks while his parents kept on struggling to provide all kinds of facilities he needed to succeed in life. The support they could provide obviously did not match with those received by his class-mates from well-to-do families. But he did never complain. He was studious and target-oriented. His trouble started as his father suddenly passed away at an early age. Rupesh was still in his engineering college then; was not prepared for such a disaster. Somehow he managed to complete his studies and secure a software engineer’s job in one of the promising software companies in the city, but the meagre savings of the poor wage-labourer ran out within those two years. Rupesh had to sell their small suburb home and take a room in the city slum on rent for the five of them – he could not arrange better accommodation with his salary of twenty thousand per month. And there started his hitches in life. Had he not been a poor man’s son with three sisters and the widow mother to look after, he could enjoy life like all his other colleagues – new joiners of the software company who stay together in a rented apartment, go for lunch in restaurants and movies in classy theatres, and set out for trekking on weekends. No – he could not even dream of little luxury in life. His could not expect anything but home-made cold idlys and rice with watery sambar on his plate. He could not think of spending money on cloths and movies and travels, he could not even imagine having a separate bedroom for himself; but worst thing is his life is he could not even fantasise his future with Shivakami.  Shivakami was another software engineer whose seat in office was allocated beside Rupesh’. She was the daughter of a government clerk who had no idea of a life in a slum. Rupesh knew he would never be able to express his love for Shivakami. He only tried to remember her beautiful face once in a while in his dreams – but even a sweet dream seems absurd in a dilapidated slum-room in the hot summer afternoon.

He felt irritated. He got up and sat on his bed –and noise of his movement on the old bed woke up two of his sisters. The youngest sister is a seven year old girl, still not aware of the harshness of life. But Jeya, the sister born after him is well-aware of life’s unkind secrets as well as her brother’s mood swings. She could not tolerate his callousness. She started screaming – “Don’t you know how old the bed is? What makes you jump on the bed like that – are you going to purchase a new one soon?” She finished the last sentence in a mocking tone. She knew that the economic status of his brother didn’t permit him to purchase any.  The tone angered Rupesh. He tried to jump out of the bed; he could not because all his sisters and mother occupied the entire space left on the floor. His effort made a worse noise which the youngest sister didn’t like. She started crying. Jeya yelled louder, “You are behaving as if you are a prince here!” Their puzzled mother tried to pacify her, “Why are you irritating him? He is only earning member of the home; still doesn’t get minimum comfort the boys of his age enjoy. You should feel bad for him that he is not being able to sleep!” Jeya is not a person to be pacified so easily. She continued –“Oh yes, it’s me who needs to feel for him. And the earning guardian of the home, who actually has the responsibility to take care of all of us, does not need to bother!” Rupesh lost his patience; shouted at the highest pitch of voice: “Stop it!” All of the mother and sisters were awake by then. His voice scared his mother and middle sister; not Jeya or Lakshmi, the youngest sister. The youngest one started crying aloud – whether to protest of in fear, was beyond Rupesh’ understanding. And Jeya started howling: “You incapable elder brother– never has the ability to take good care of the family. What do you consider yourself?....” Rupesh could not tolerate any longer. He jumped out of bed – this time without bothering whether he was stepping on his young sister’s hand or mother’s stomach. He picked up his shirt and trousers – one of the four pairs that hang from the hooks on the wall, and the wallet, and walked away. This is not the home he wanted to stay in.

......

It was middle of the night. None of the women stepped into the tiny kitchen since Rupesh left in the afternoon.  His mom went on cursing Jeya for a couple of hours and lamented for another. Middle sister does take part in conversations – she kept silence as usual. Jeya tried to comfort her crying mother: “Don’t worry ma, why are you so worried? He is young – hot tempered and should have gone somewhere to cool down - will come back on time.” Inside she was repenting for own rude behaviour. But Rupesh didn’t come back that evening. Even Jeya went silent. None of them but Lakshmi felt hunger. Jeya gave her a few Rusks, only delicacy at home they enjoyed with tea. The dinner with rusks made Lakshmi so happy that she didn’t mind sleeping early. The night turned unusually silent. Both mother and elder daughter continued praying to gods, sleepless, and waiting for Rupesh to return.

.........

Rupesh did not return that night, not even next morning. He spent previous night with some colleagues –all good friends, in their three-bedroom apartment. He enjoyed his time with friends having dinner with some Andhra style Chinese food at roadside food-corner and then watching movies. He got up at nine in the morning and left for office straight from there. During lunch-hour he called his mother and told her not to worry - as his anger didn’t last longer. The family had already requested neighbours to help in filing a missing person’s diary at local police station. All of them and the worried neighbours took a sigh of relief - the sole earning member of a neighbourhood family is not lost after all!

But there was some surprise waiting for Rupesh that day in office. After lunch-hour, his delivery manger called him along with four of his colleagues. Even Sivakami was in the group. “Guys – good news for you!”  - the middle aged talkative bald man whom Rupesh and team jokingly called uncle behind him, started in his usual cracking voice – “Our US client wants all of you onsite. It will be long-term, say for three years. And they want you ASAP. We are starting visa processing tomorrow. You guys wrap up your engagements here –guess you have to start within a month.....”

The five-member onsite-going team of new-joiners was overwhelmed with the kind proposition of the company and the client. They did not even butter the delivery manage for an offer and still they were given such a scope! They did not find enough words to thank “uncle” after he finished his long speech on onsite facilities; still somehow managed to thank him and came back to cubicles.

Rupesh was lost in thought. He was looking at the sky outside the window before him. He never realised that the sky looked so wide from his place on the fifteenth floor of the building.   He started calculating – how much money he would be able to send home from there – the amount should be enough for the livelihood for his family here. May be he would be able to save some money for poor Jeya’s marriage too within next three years. He suddenly felt deep regret – how unkind he had been to the family who lived their life waiting for his success!

He was not aware Shivakami was looking at him while he was busy calculating his and his family's future looking at the sky outside their office window. Suddenly he heard her telling, “Why are you looking so lost today? Who are you thinking of on this valentine day? Your fiancé?” Rupesh remembered the association of Valentines’ with the date, he gazed intensely into her eyes, told, “Yes - Happy Valentine!”

    

What is Mahabharat?

महत्वाद् भारवत्ताच्च महाभारतमुचयते - It is Mahabharat because of its greatness and largeness (adiparva 1\300).

The dictionary meaning of Epic fits to the content of Mahabharat, and therefore we call this an epic. It is a long poetic composition, too long, but is it an epic in the same sense Iliad and Odyssey are considered epics?

The great Indian epic is probably the most remarkable work in Sanskrit after the Vedas - considering its size and diversity of content. This is largest of the epic literature found in the world till date – equal to eight times of Iliad and Odyssey together since 6^th century AD. Evident that it was not originally composed with 100000 verses, as it is claimed to consist of (Ś́a̅ttasa̅hasri̅samhita̅); but growth of its size through the ages proves its popularity since its inception.  Bards as well as poets through the ages certainly loved to add own composition to the original story of Mahabharat, resulting its being the largest compiled epic of the world. Obviously, Mahabharat is not grown as single homogenous work. What is Mahabharat, then?

Mahabharat, the core of which was known as Jaya – the song of the victory (Jayanametitihsoyam जयानामेतीतिहासोयम्) commemorating the deeds of heroism. The main story revolves around the Great War between Kaurava and Pandava, the objective of which was to establish the just right of a dynasty carrying the legacy of Bharat; the Great War which was initiated with the purpose of retaliating against insult to womanhood; the Great War which in turn united the far north, south, east and western part of India, that was called Bharat at the time of its unification. The concept of Bharat could not be so overwhelming if there was no Mahabharat. It needs a great heroic event to unify such a large mass of land within eighteen days and Mahabharat is the narrative of that event.

This is where the personality of Lord Krishna, the god of love and war in Hindu mythology, is in full bloom. Bhagavad-Gita, the most popular among all Gita texts, has been part of Mahabharat in the form of dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, the teacher and student. This is the book of philosophy for both the householder and the ascetic which became the source of varying discourses transmitting differing worldviews through centuries.

This is of course, a collection of verses – काव्यम् परमपूजितम् which displays poetic excellence of many bards and poets through the ages – names of whom are lost under the mystic shadow of Vyasdev and Ganesh. Be the names of composer’s names known to us or not, all of them are successful in illustrating the stillness of forests and hermitages, grace of the earth and ocean, fury in the battlefields and pain of mothers and wives of deseased heroes.

This is built as a treasure house of Indian lore. It can be called a collection of old tales or Puranasamhita – पुराणसम्हिता). This contains stories of gallant warriors and vigorous kings, saintly monarchs and majestic sages, wise seers and lustrous nymphs, dutiful wives and loving husbands, revengeful women and greedy men. Stories of Harischandra-Saivya, Viswamitra-Menaka, Nala-Damayanti, Savitri-Satyavan, Sarmistha-Yayati-Devyani are only few examples of interpolations those not only enhance the extent of the main epic, but also explain diversity of ancient Hindu view of life.

This is also a manual of Dharma – duties, Artha – material wealth, Kama – pleasure and Moksha – salvation.

Arthasastramidam proktam

Dharmasastramidam mahat

Kamasastramidam proktam

Vyasenamitabuddhina (1.2.383)

Mahabharat expounds the concept of dutifulness of ancient Indians who did not hesitate acting heroic in order to establish the just. It talks about wealth, acquiring which establishes supremacy of a king on this earth. This also propagates the concept of fulfillment of earthly desires, without which life of a householder is incomplete. Hense this is Sastra – sacred teachings that lead the reader and listener towards the route of Moksha at the end. Hense, Santi Parva of Mahabharat annouces at the end of the devastative war between kins and friends:

“Guhyam brahma tadidam vo bravimi....”(22.299.20) – There is nothing nobler than humanity.

Mahabharat is the whole literature that became source of inspiration to every division of knowledge-seekers including historians, political thinkers, philosophers, theologists, grammarians, poets, playwrites and story-writers. This is the book of great Indian myth which controls the moral of India since hundreds of years and will continue doing so.

Picture from http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2013/07/vishnu-vishwaroopa-pictures.html

I guess you love poems?

A Girly Love Story

She was my heartthrob. We were in same class. I was fifteen. Mitul was few months older than me. We were students in a girl’s school and there were forty more girls or fifty in the class. But Mitul was special. None else had such a pair of eyes like hers.

Mitul looked like Radha in Rajasthan miniatures - with her large pair of eyes and body that can be found only in the miniatures or on the temple-walls – the intriguing curves and pliability of whom make the viewer awe-struck.  Mitul fascinated me. I used to sit beside her for hours – used to spend hours looking at her, busy with the canvas standing before the easel.  Once in a while she turned to me and asked if she liked her strokes on the canvas. To me, the sky she painted used to look more mesmerizing than the real one.

Mitul taught me the difference between miniature and mural – basics of watching an object d’art. She was a student of Academy of Fine Arts at that time - preparing for entrance test of government Art College.  I was from an orthodox family – was not allowed to go anywhere but school, and Mitul’s place. We liked each other’s company for sure – there couldn’t be any other reason of her frequently inviting me home. Mitul’s room – a ten by twelve space having one single bed, cartons of papers of different colours and sizes and quality, boxes full of pencils and brushes, and a stack of canvas made heaven for them. I used to stretch myself on the bed sometimes with a book – but mostly watching her work as she went on caressing her paper or canvas with gentle strokes of her pencil, sometimes with brush. And in the end of the long summer afternoon, tired she used to lie beside me. We used to start chatting.

“You know Moly, I am planning to move to Paris someday,”

I answered, “Hmmm – and you will paint French sky instead of Indian then.”

“You are silly – an artist should always move to France.” And she continued talking about Picasso and Braque – she did not like men at all, but one painter cannot really avoid talking about male painters.

One day I was standing at her window. No, there was no beautiful garden outside. The window was open towards a five feet wide lane, on the other side of which stood the high wall of another tall building. There apartment was a cheap ground floor one in a posh south Calcutta locality. I loved to stand by the window, watch the high wall of the adjacent building and the narrow strip of sky visible above that. I turned back as she entered the room.  She screamed, “Nooo, don’t move, I want to see you beside the window. I had to freeze for almost half an hour till she completed a rough sketch of mine. I found the face of the portrait different. “You can’t draw my face, Mitul!” – I taunted. She sounded indifferent, “No you don’t have a face. You only have a body and a posture that I need. I need your curves beside the window.” “What a caring painter!” – I replied and jumped into the bed, not extending the discussion further – freezing at same posture for so long was no easy task for me!

I remember another day with her. I was scrutinizing her notebook. She was busy cleaning her paintbrushes. She told, “Before I move to France, I will do a nude of yours.” I was puzzled – my body never resembled to any beautiful lady painted by any of our acclaimed painters! Scared, I somehow expressed my concern, “You mean! Well! But one needs a perfect body to be painted right?” She burst into laughter, “Do you know what kind of models we poor students have to work with? Who would come to expose themselves before one hundred students from different social classes for two hundred rupees per hour?  And we are not providing them any safety. You know– we have only old and poor. Now you imagine – I helped you with information.” She winked. I understood her trouble. I was waiting for her next sentence. She finished, “You have a proportionate body – I like that.” 

- “hahaha – you are mad! Dad told I am ugliest woman he had ever found.” - My voice chocked as I remembered dad’s derogatory words about me that morning as he had explained his reason of not buying me a white frock I wanted.

“Dad’s are dumb. All men are – even my dad is no different. He shouts even louder than your’s. A spoiled brat!”

True her dad used to yell a lot. I didn’t want a yelling dad either! I gave a nod supporting her. Her mom was nice – like mine. They cook yummy lunch for us. Both of us agreed to the point that men are simply unnecessary creation of God, probably created only to irritate us.

“But you are not ugly – only a little short - another two inches would make you perfect, but doesn’t matter. You have a nice body and I want an image of that with me.” – She winked again.

I remained silent. She touched my lips – I was enjoying the budding painter’s soft fingers moving on my lips.

Examination approached – we couldn’t manage time to meet after that. Both our moms maintained that they would prepare a grand lunch again for us after exam. Anyway no aspiring artist could move to France before passing tenth standard exam, as per our knowledge. We still had time.

…………………………………………………………….

Few years passed. Within days after my exam, my dad was transferred to another district. Our shifting far from Calcutta blocked the chance of meeting her. We used to write letters to each other but the communication faded soon. I went on studying as I found a literary treasure trove in language studies while she was unsuccessfully trying to enter Art College. The daughter of the government clerk couldn’t move to France. She had to opt for a university famous not for its excellence in producing artists but for its student politics. We were not connected any longer. 

…………………………………………………………….

Completing my post-graduation few months back, I’ve started teaching in one of the reputed language institutes run by one of my father’s friends. Who doesn’t enjoy explaining nuances of a foreign language before groups of techies who have to pick up a little foreign language skill after office in order to meet their professional demand? I come home late these days making my orthodox mom little annoyed; anyway none is going to stop me as long as I am enjoying my job.

Yesterday – it was late evening; I bumped Mitul on my way home. We cried loud seeing each other, ran towards each other and hugged making all other pedestrians aware of a happy reunion.  Within moments, I started showering her with queries, “How are you? What are you doing these days? Hope you are still painting skies? Hope you didn’t forget about painting French sky someday?” But did my overflowing curiosity made her uneasy? She looked at me - her glance made me shiver this time. It was not appreciating, but devouring me now. She sounded chewing her words, looking straight at my face, “I am fine – giving lessons on painting these days. How are you? Your boss wants you to work till late night? Let’s go for a coffee.” I didn’t get her properly, but was feeling uneasy. Her eyes were burning. Under the street light, she was looking like a witch straight from a fairy tale. I was scared, even though trying to scold myself for being too much in the world of fairy tales and fiction. I should stop reading fictions from now onwards, I thought. Still, I knew I can’t seat with this lady even for five minutes for a coffee! So I denied, “Some other day, Mitul. You know mom – she will get angry.” Mitul smiled with corner of her lips. She looked completely unknown. We exchanged phone numbers before I boarded the bus.

Today, as soon as I entered office in the morning – Manida called. Manida was my dad’s friend, my boss at office. As I entered his cabin, he roared –“You are grown up lady! Stop talking to everyone you meet on the road.” I was trying to understand what exactly he was talking about. But he didn’t give me any chance, “Tomorrow onwards, you will leave office with me if you have to leave late; or tale Pappu to arrange cab for you. Don’t go by bus.”  I nodded as he finished. I knew I didn’t have chance to ask anything else as he already turned to his files.

Minutes back, I returned my desk – I have to prepare the days lessons those I need to present in the afternoon.  Concentrating was bit difficult as I was pondering Manida’s words – what could be reason he wants to snatch my right to walk on Calcutta road. He knows I love walking!

I didn’t need to wait long – Pappu, the office boy arrived with tea, as usual with a big grin hanging on his face. “Madam – I was watching you yesterday when you were going home.” Pappu took up duty of keeping an eye on me from our second floor office till I board bus, I know that. Offices need to take care of women employee’s safety after all. There’s nothing new. But what he tells next terrifies me. “I saw you talking to a lady yesterday – she is a local leader of Jansevak party. Be careful madam!”

I am feeling a chill in my spine again. Jansevak party’s connection to some notorious extortion racket and their mode of operation is widely known. Moreover I know they are trying to extort money from our institute too. Some of the party goons came to office to threat Manida few days back. Now I guess the meaning of the words she told last evening. Today I am more than happy that I avoided going for coffee with my once good friend.