Asha was restive, looking at the door every now and then, dropping stitches frequently and revealing her own incompetence to Binodini.

Finally, Binodini lost her temper, snatched the knitting from her hands and said, ‘Oh, you are no good at this; I have work to do—I’m going.’

Asha said, ‘Sit for a little longer; let me try again—I won’t go wrong this time.’ She went back to the knitting diligently.

Meanwhile, Mahendra came up soundlessly and stood at the door behind Binodini; Asha smiled without looking up from her knitting.

Binodini asked, ‘Now what is making you smile?’

Asha couldn’t check her laughter; she burst into giggles and flung the knitting over Binodini’s head, saying, ‘You’re right my dear, this is not for me.’ She threw her arms around her friend and went on giggling.

Binodini had understood everything right at the start. Asha’s restlessness and gestures had revealed all. She was well aware that Mahendra had come and stood at the door. But she let herself fall into Asha’s transparent trap, like a simple, naïve fool.

Mahendra stepped into the room saying, ‘Pray share the joke with this hapless soul?’

Startled, Binodini tried to raise her anchal over her head. Asha caught her wrist.

Mahendra laughed. ‘Either you sit and I leave, or we both have a seat.’

Binodini didn’t go in for a great show of embarrassment, tugging her hands away from Asha’s grip and clamouring to leave, like most women would have. She spoke naturally and easily, ‘I shall sit because you’ve asked me to. But please don’t curse me and speak ill of me when I am gone.’

Mahendra said, ‘I’ll curse you so that you lose the power to move for a long time.’

Binodini said, ‘Oh, I am not afraid of that curse because your “long time” won’t be too long—it’s already over probably.’

She tried to get up again and Asha pressed her, ‘Please, please do sit a little longer.’

14

ASHA ASKED, ‘TELL ME HONESTLY, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF MY CHOKHER bali?’

Mahendra said, ‘Not bad.’

Asha was a little hurt. ‘You never really like anyone.’

Mahendra said, ‘Except for one person.’

Asha said, ‘All right, I’ ll know if you’ve liked her or not once the two of you get to know each other a little better.’

Mahendra said, ‘Better than this! So this will happen frequently from now on?’

Asha said, ‘Even courtesy demands that you further your acquaintance with some people. If you stop meeting her after just one conversation, what would she think? You are so strange. Anyone else would have been dying to meet such a girl as often as possible—but for you it seems like a great burden.’

Mahendra was happy to have this difference with other people reiterated. He said, ‘All right, don’t get upset. I have nowhere to run away and your friend shows no signs of leaving—so we’ll certainly meet every now and then. And never fear, when we do, your husband has the social graces to be polite and cordial.’

Mahendra was under the impression that Binodini would find excuses and keep running into him from now on. He was wrong. Binodini never came anywhere near him and he never bumped into her accidentally, ever.

Mahendra couldn’t bring up the subject with Asha for fear of even a hint of eagerness showing through. His efforts at suppressing the occasional wish to meet and talk to Binodini only served to stoke his desire. And Binodini’s seeming indifference turned it into a blazing fire.

The day after he met Binodini, Mahendra asked Asha with carefully arranged airiness and laughter, ‘How did your Chokher Bali like this unworthy husband of yours?’

Mahendra had hoped he’d get a gurgling, detailed report from Asha on this subject without his having to ask. But when he waited for it and it didn’t come, he playfully brought up the question himself.

Asha felt very awkward. Binodini hadn’t said a word on the subject and Asha was quite miffed with her because of this. She said to her husband, ‘Be patient, let her get to know you better; how can she say anything on the basis of yesterday’s short conversation?’

Mahendra felt crestfallen at this response and it grew even more difficult for him to feign indifference towards Binodini. But before he could ask any more questions, Behari walked in and asked, ‘Mahin da, what are you two arguing about today?’

Mahendra said, ‘Just listen to this: your bouthan has gone and become a hair-band or fish-bone or something to a Kumudini or Promodini or someone; good for her, I suppose. But now if I too have to be cigar’s ash or match-stick to that lady, it’s really going too far!’

Behind her veil Asha showed signs of a storm gathering perilously. Behari glanced at Mahendra and laughed silently; then he said, ‘Bouthan, this is not a good sign. These are mere smokescreens. I have seen your Chokher Bali and I can swear that if I see her more often I wouldn’t call it my bad luck. But if Mahin da protests too much, I do see a cause for concern.’

This was fresh proof to Asha that Mahendra was very different from Behari.

All of a sudden Mahendra developed a desire for photography. Once long ago he had started learning photography and then given it up. Now he got his camera fixed, bought some film and began to take pictures of everything and everybody. He didn’t even spare the servants and bearers of the house.

Asha was very keen that he take a picture of her friend.

Mahendra said brusquely, ‘Fine.’

But Binodini’s answer was even more brusque.