She found his eyes twinkling in merriment. The whole thing was a farce to him. Binodini realized this man couldn’t be fooled easily—nothing escaped him.

Behari laughed. ‘Binod-bouthan, with therapy like this the ailment is likely to intensify rather than subside.’

Binodini said, ‘How would I know that, we are only ignorant women. Is that what they say in your medical textbooks?’

Behari said, ‘Of course. This kind of treatment is making my own head throb. But my head had better get all right on its own. Mahin da’s head carries a far greater weight.’

Binodini dropped the wet cloth and said, ‘Forget it then; let the friend treat his comrade.’

Behari was growing quite impatient with what he saw. He had been busy with his books and wasn’t aware of just how complicated a relationship this trio had cooked up in the meantime. Today he observed Binodini carefully and she too took her measure of him.

Behari spoke a trifle harshly this time, ‘Fair enough. A friend must indeed care for his friend. I brought on the headache and now I shall leave with it. Don’t waste the eau-de-cologne.’ He glanced at Asha. ‘Bouthan, prevention is better than cure.’

16

BEHARI THOUGHT, ‘I CAN’T STAY AWAY ANY LONGER. SOMEHOW, I MUST make my place among these people. None of them will want it, but it must be done.’

So he began to infiltrate Mahendra’s circle without waiting to be invited. He said to Binodini, ‘Binod-bouthan, this man has been spoilt by his mother, by his friend and then by his wife; I beg of you, don’t spoil him further; show him a different path instead.’

Mahendra said, ‘Meaning—’

Behari said, ‘Meaning that a man like me, whom nobody spares a second glance—’

‘Should be spoilt instead?’ Mahendra quipped. ‘It’s not that easy; simply putting in an application is not enough.’

Binodini laughed. ‘One has to have the capacity to be spoilt, Beharibabu.’

Behari said, ‘That depends on who is doing the spoiling. Why don’t you give it a try?’

Binodini said, ‘It doesn’t work if you are forewarned and forearmed; unawares is how it has to catch you, isn’t it, dear Chokher Bali?Why don’t you take on this brother-in-law of yours?’

Asha lifted two fingers and pushed her away. Behari also refrained from joining in the joke. It had not escaped Binodini that Behari wouldn’t stand any nonsense where Asha was concerned. It hurt her that Behari idolized Asha but wanted to pull her down a peg or two. She looked at Asha again and said, ‘This poor brother of yours is actually begging your love, though he addresses me—so give him some, dear friend.’

Asha was very cross. Behari blushed for an instant and in the next he laughed and said, ‘So when it’s my turn you pass the plea on to others but when it’s Mahin da you take the matter in your own hands, do you, and deal in cash?’

It was obvious to Binodini that Behari was intent on upsetting her applecart; she’d have to be careful where he was concerned. Mahendra was annoyed—all this straight talk rang a false note in the melody. He addressed Behari a trifle harshly, ‘Behari, your Mahin da doesn’t need to go into any deals; he’s happy with what he has.’

Behari said, ‘He may not need to go into it, but if fate ordains it, a succession of such deals will come and crash on his doorstep like as many waves.’

Binodini said, ‘You have nothing in hand at the moment; but where are your waves crashing right now?’ She laughed at Asha and poked her in jest. Incensed, Asha got up and walked away. Behari held his tongue in thwarted rage; as he made to rise, Binodini said, ‘Don’ t go away unhappy, Beharibabu. I’ll go and send my Chokher Bali to you right away.’

When Binodini left, Mahendra was displeased that the gathering had broken up.