The blood flamed in her veins; wherever she glanced, her eyes showered sparks of burning embers: ‘Such a happy household, such a loving husband—I could have made it a home fit for royalty and turned him into my devoted slave. This home then wouldn’t be in this sorry state, and this man would have turned heads. But in my place rules this child of a girl, this infantile doll!’ She hugged Asha and said, ‘Dear Bali, please tell me what happened last night, won’t you? Did you say all that I taught you to say? When I hear of your love, I lose both sleep and hunger.’

12

ONE DAY MAHENDRA GREW ANNOYED AND SAID TO RAJLAKSHMI, ‘DO YOU think this is a good idea? Why do we have to take on the responsibility of a young widow from another family? I am not for this at all—you never know what troubles may lurk around the corner.’

Rajlakshmi said, ‘But she is my Bipin’s wife—I think of her as family.’

Mahendra said, ‘No, Mother, this is not right. I would advice you to send her back.’

Rajlakshmi was well aware that Mahendra’s wish couldn’t be ignored easily. She sent for Behari and said, ‘Behari, why don’t you speak to Mahin? I am able to get a bit of rest in this old age simply because Bipin’s wife is here. Call her whatever you like, but I have never got such loyal service from any of my own.’

Behari didn’t answer Rajlakshmi, but he did go to Mahendra and say, ‘Mahin da, have you thought about Binodini?’

Mahendra laughed and said, ‘I am losing sleep over her. Why don’t you ask your bouthan—Binodini is all I think about these days.’

Asha chided him silently from behind her anchal raised over her head.

Behari said, ‘Well, well, we have a situation rivalling Bankim’s The Poison Tree on our hands!’

Mahendra said, ‘Exactly. Now Chuni is hell-bent on sending her away.’

From behind the veil, Asha’s eyes seethed with silent rebuke.

Behari said, ‘But it won’t take long for her to come right back. I suggest you marry off this widow—that’ll take care of her for good.’

Mahendra laughed. ‘Kunda in The Poison Tree was married off too.’

Behari said, ‘Fine, let that analogy be for now. I think of Binodini sometimes. She cannot possibly stay here forever. But sending her back to that godforsaken place is also a severe punishment.’

Binodini had not come face to face with Mahendra yet. But Behari had seen her and realized that she was worthy of more than the wilderness that passed for a home in Barasat. However, he was also wary of the fact that the flame that burned beautifully in an oil-lamp could as well set a house on fire.

Mahendra teased Behari about Binodini in various ways and Behari stood up to the test valiantly. But he stood firm in his belief that this woman shouldn’t be toyed with and neither should she be ignored.

Rajlakshmi threw a word of caution at Binodini. ‘Be careful my child, don’t cling to Asha like that.You are used to the usual customs of a village household and know nothing of the modern ways.You are intelligent, you will know what I mean; just watch what you do.’

Following this, Binodini began to keep Asha at arm’s length with great ceremony. She said, ‘Oh, who am 1? People like me should know their place and stay there or you never know what may happen.’

Asha wept and pleaded, but Binodini stood firm. Asha was fairly bursting with confidences unuttered, but Binodini paid no heed.

Meanwhile, the fervour of Mahendra’s embraces slackened somewhat and his fascinated gaze on Asha grew rather weary.The foibles and oddities in Asha that had seemed amusing to him at first now irked him no end. He was piqued every moment by Asha’s incompetence around the house, but he never spoke his mind. Even so, Asha could sense that familiarity had taken the sparkle out of the romance. Mahendra’s lovemaking struck the wrong chords—some of it seemed excessive and some self-deceptive. At such times, escape was the only route, separation the only remedy. In the naturally intuitive fashion of women, Asha tried to leave Mahendra alone more often these days. But she had nowhere to go, except to Binodini.

Coming back to earth from the dizzy clouds of romance, Mahendra opened his eyes slowly and cast them at last on his studies, and other household chores. He began to retrieve his medical textbooks from all kinds of impossible places, wiped the dust off them and attempted to air out his college clothes.

13

WHEN BINODINI REFUSED TO ACQUIESCE, ASHA TRIED ANOTHER PLOY. SHE said to Binodini, ‘Dear Bali, why don’t you ever come before my husband? Why do you always run and hide?’

Binodini’s answer was brief and snappy, ‘Shame!’

Asha said, ‘Why? I have heard from Mother that you are related to us.’

Solemnly, Binodini replied, ‘In this world, there are no fixed rules for telling who is a relative and who a stranger. Whoever you feel close to is your relative; and whoever perceives you as an intruder, may well be a relative, but is still a stranger.’

Asha felt this remark could not be countered. It was a fact that her husband had wronged Binodini; he had thought of her as an intruder and often felt quite irked by her presence.

That same evening Asha pleaded with Mahendra, ‘You must have a meeting with my Chokher Bali.’

Mahendra laughed. ‘That’s a grave risk you’re taking.’

Asha said, ‘Why, what’s there to fear?’

Mahendra said, ‘The kind of beauty you have described your friend to be, it’s no safe haven for a man to venture into.’

Asha said, ‘Oh, I can handle that.