There was a knock at the door. It was ten past two in the afternoon. Swati was busy in the kitchen with the maid. She asked the maid to see who had come. She was wondering why the Puja cultural team members have started coming in so early for the practice.
The maid opened the door and found a girl standing at the door with her luggage. She looked at her with inquiring eyes. The girl also looked a little puzzled. She asked, "Where is Papa?"
"Papa?... a madam lives here."
"Where did he go? …. Can you call your madam, please?"
The maid told Swati that a stranger girl has come and wants to talk to her.
“Who is she?” Swati muttered in her mouth and came to the door.
The girl standing there was not known to her. She asked, “Yes, how can I help you?”
"Good morning, madam. Actually, my father used to live here, Mr. Badal."
“Oh, Tumpa? ... Are you Tumpa? Come-come-come. Your father has not gone anywhere. He lives here only.”
The girl entered the hall. She looked surprised to find her father living with a lady – So he is also in a live-in relationship? That's something great; she thought and smiled.
Swati was very excited. She rushed to the partition door and exclaimed with joy, "Hey, Mr. Badal, see who has come.”
Badal da was listening to the song and practicing his dance. He was sweating. He did not open the door immediately and called back, “What happened?”
“Why don’t you open the door? Someone has come to our house.”
"Our house?" Tumpa muttered in her lips with a smile; that's the best thing that you have done in your life, Papa.
“Who has come? Tell him to wait. I am coming.”
“Orre baba, Tumpa has come. Please come out fast.”
Suddenly the door opened, and Badal da emerged. His clothes all drenched with sweat. By this time, Tumpa had come near and was standing just behind Swati. The moment she saw her papa, she hugged him and said, "Oh, what a pleasant surprise. I feel so good to see you happy and healthy."
“Some credit goes to me also,” Swati said from behind.
“Yes, definitely, Maa," Tumpa turned and hugged her.
Both Badal da and Swati didn’t have the slightest idea what Tumpa was assuming. She wrapped her arms around the waist of both of them and led them to the drawing-room. She giggled, "Dada (elder brother) would be so happy to see you like this."
She sat on the sofa between them. She said to Badal da that she arrived without any information to give him a surprise. But she became amazed to see them together.
“Wait here, we have planned another surprise for you,” then she looked at the door and called, “Dada, now come on in. The biggest surprise of your life awaits here.”
Babla entered with his baggage. He stopped and smiled at everyone and looked at the lady in the house. Badal da sprang from the sofa and ran towards his son to embrace him in his arms. Father and son remained cuddled for many moments.
Then Badal da welcomed him in and exclaimed with joy, "See Swati, both of my children have come home. Children this is Swati madam, Nivedita's mother. She is staying in this portion of the house after Nivedita went to London."
Tumpa got up from the sofa on hearing the name of Nivedita and again hugged Swati, "Oh my god, I can't believe this. We are so thankful to you for taking care of Papa…...See Dada, how young and energetic he looks now. Papa, I can bet that it is not because of Dr. Taneja's medicines, but because of you, Maa,” she held Swati by her shoulders.
Babla was holding his Papa's hands in his own. He pressed them warmly and said, "Really, we never thought we would find you in such a marvelous state of health. Thank you, Maa," he said to Swati.
But now both Swati and Badal da realized that they had altogether forgotten about Dr. Taneja, and for the last six months or so, Badal da had not complained of stomach pain on a single day. They looked at each other and were amazed at this miracle. How did it happen?
Swati got up and went to the kitchen to prepare some snack and tea for them. Tumpa accompanied her into the kitchen.
Babla was still holding his father's hand. He said, "Tumpa and I planned to come for the Pujo vacation to Jamshedpur and surprise you. But you have surprised me, Baba. I am greatly relieved to see you like this. Congratulations, Baba. You have taken the right decision."
“What decision?” Badal da was not clear.
“I mean that both of you decided to stay together after retirement.”
“Oh, that was not easy. She wanted to move to another house. But somehow she agreed later when I fell sick. I had become unconscious. She admitted me to the hospital and saved my life. Since then, she is looking after my food and cleaning of my room. In return, I am charging five thousand bucks only for her accommodation.”
Babla laughed loudly and called out to Tumpa, "Are you listening, Tumpa? Our great miser father is charging five thousand rupees from Maa for her stay in the house."
Tumpa came out and both of them started laughing heartily. They thought Badal da had cracked a joke. When Swati brought the snack and tea, Tumpa asked her, “Is it true that he asks you to pay five thousand rupees for taking care of him?”
Tumpa and Babla were thoroughly enjoying this joke. Before Swati could answer, Badal da said, "It is not my fault. I had told her not to pay anything. But she insisted on paying. I surrendered. But now, when you have come, you can try to convince her."
Tumpa and Babla now realized that it was not a joke. She had been paying for her living. But it looked quite a modern way of life. Both the partners are sharing the living cost. They looked at each other with admiration in their eyes for the old couple.
Babla exclaimed with joy, "This is modern thinking, wow! No one takes the other partner for granted. Isn't it? I admire this arrangement. Baba, I never thought you would prove yourself our ‘Baap' (Father) in such matters. I salute you."
Tumpa giggled and clapped her hands. After the tea Tumpa said to Babla, “I am going to stay in my room. You occupy the your own room.”
She took her baggage in Swati's room, and Babla went into the third bedroom. Swati went behind Tumpa. When Tumpa saw that Swati's belongings were in the bedroom, she said to her, "You are keeping your things here? Very good. My mother used to take care of him. When she died, he developed some unhygienic habits."
“He has completely changed,” Swati objected.
“You mean to say now he doesn’t pick his nose?”
“No.”
He takes a bath every day?"
“He takes a bath and changes his clothes every day. He spends his time in the garden. He is not in bad company. Don't have any bad habits. Some days he likes to cook also. He is not the same person you left behind two years back."
"Oh, good gracious god, has he completely transformed? I am sure you must be the reason behind all this."
"I don't know. Initially, I thought he was an impossible man. But later, I found that he is nice at heart and respects my words. But on some days, he behaves like a pampered child. Out of love, Modhumita must have been a little liberal with him. But I am a bit strict. I have made clear to him that if he doesn't behave properly, I will leave the house and go."
Tumpa hugged her and said, "Now I don't feel the absence of my mother. Thank you, Maa."
Tumpa went into the toilet. Swati started to realize that Tumpa was mistaken.
Does she think that I am married to him? I must clarify things as soon as possible, she thought and came out of the room.
Babla had changed into his pajamas. He went to the other toilet. On the way, he looked at the partition door with puzzled eyes.
When both the children were not around, Swati said to Badal da, “I am afraid they are taking us as wife and husband. You must clarify things soon.”
Badal da said casually, “They are not dumb. Why should they think like that? Forget about it. But tell me one thing, how to accommodate them in my single room? Before letting you out this portion, I never imagined that any one of them would ever come back home.
Swati snarled, "That is not the issue. Tumpa can sleep with me in my bedroom and Babla can occupy the third bedroom. But you better think of how soon you can make things clear to them."
Babla was the first to get ready. Tumpa took little time, but she also came dressed in lighter clothes in the drawing-room. Swati was preparing dinner. In an hour, the whole colony would gather in her house for rehearsals, and she won't get time to cook till late at night. She called Tumpa to help her.
Tumpa called from the drawing-room, "Maa, please come and join us. Maid ‘maasi' (maternal aunty) will do the cooking.”
The maid happily took over the charge of the kitchen. Swati came and sat in the drawing-room. Tumpa told them that she first planned to visit home and spend some time with her father. When Babla came to know, he also joined her. Both met at Ranchi airport and came together in a cab.
Babla had brought a set of Electric Razor and Heated Shaving Cream Dispenser, and Tumpa had brought a beautiful jacket for Badal da. He said, "Thank you, but why did you bother? I hardly use these things.”
Tumpa said to Swati, "Sorry, Maa, we did not know that you were here. But we will do the shopping today."
“No-no, I have already done my Puja shopping,” Swati tried to avoid the topic.
Swati gestured through her eyes many times to Badal da, requesting him to tell them the truth. But he ignored.
Soon people started pouring in. First, Shravani aunty came with two girls. She exclaimed with surprise to find Tumpa and Babla in the house, "O Baba, when did you come?"
Both Babla and Tumpa wished her. Tumpa said, “Only an hour ago. We had planned a surprise for Papa.”
"You have done an excellent thing. It is good for the family to get together in Puja vacation. Do you know Swati; our Cultural Team has become strengthened? Tumpa does excellent Arati and Babla is a good vocalist. You two are also participating. Let me include both of you in the program."
“Definitely aunty. I will participate in Arati competition,” Tumpa said.
Babla also gave his consent to sing a solo song. Then two more children came. They sat with the harmonium and started practicing Rabindra Sangeet, which they were preparing for the program. Swati got busy with their rehearsal.
For another five and a half hours, the room was buzzing with children and ladies. They were very excited about the preparations for the upcoming program. Only two days were left, and they had a lot many things to prepare.
Babla suggested including a new item – couple dance. The ladies got excited at the idea of older people dancing to the tune of some popular Hindi songs. Five couples agreed to participate, and within no time, they selected the songs on which the pair would dance.
Mr. Mitra entered the room to finalize day wise list of performances to be made and to select persons for fixing responsibilities on them of each group of performers. He noted down everything. Suddenly he stopped his pen and asked, “Badol da, you are not participating?”
"Why not, but I am misfit everywhere," Badal da said with light humor, "I tried to act in the skit. But the children said I was too good. I tried to participate in group songs. But they said they could not match my vocal scale."
Everyone in the room started laughing. Then he further said, “But please give me a five-minute slot for my solo performance on the final day.”
“What will you perform?” Mr. Mitra picked up his pen to write down.
“It is a surprise performance. I will not disclose it today,” Badal da said with an air of secrecy.
Everyone, especially the ladies, collectively insisted and requested, but Badal da did not disclose. Finally, Mr. Mitra included Badal da's name on the list. Then he suggested, "Swati madam, you are only participating in Rabindra Sangeet. You should also participate in at least one more item.”
"Yes, Swati, you should participate in the couple dance with Badol da," Shravani suggested.
“No-no, I am not participating,” Swati rejected the proposal.
"What do you say, Badol da?" Shravani asked him.
Badal da said, “I am ready.”
After lots of pestering and ultimately without her agreement, Mr. Mitra included Swati's name in the list for a Couple dance. She kept on saying NO till the end.
Mr. Mitra now got up to finalize the program with other groups preparing other items. Before he left, Tumpa assured him that she would convince Swati for the dance item.
Badal da was jumping around with excitement. He said joyfully, "Don't be afraid at all. You don't know that I am an excellent dancer. I will rock the stage. You only be there with me on the stage."
“I also can dance,” Swati said, “But I am not doing the couple dance.”
Everyone in the room started shouting, "No-no, this is not fair. You must dance."
“She thinks that I will make a joke of her on the stage,” Badal da stood up, “let’s rehearse now and see how good I am at it.”
He asked Babla to play the old Hindi song ‘Main kya karoon raam, mujhe Buddha mil gaya…'. He kept his left hand on his hip and bent forward like an old man and started teasing Swati by walking behind her like an older man with jerky movements. Everyone in the room began shouting, giggling and whistling. Many started rolling and tossing with laughter. It was decided by all that they were going to dance on this song only.
This hustle and bustle continued till ten at night. When the neighbors went away, Tumpa helped Swati to bring the house in order.
At the dinner table, Swati raised the issue, "Tumpa and Babla, your father wanted to talk to you about something. Come on, Mr. Badal, you must tell them the truth."
Tumpa and Babla looked at each other and smiled. They thought they already knew the truth. But they did not have any idea what Swati was talking about.
Badal da pretended as if he did not hear anything and kept on eating from his plate. When Swati provoked him again, then he said, "Tumpa and Babla, you will make your beds in my room."
Tumpa said nonchalantly, “I am sleeping in my room.”
"I don't understand Baba, when I have my room vacant then why should I…." Babla objected.
“It is not about who will sleep where. Tumpa will sleep in my room and Babla in his room. Why don’t you tell them everything?”
But before Badal da could say anything, Tumpa objected, "Why should you sleep with me? I snore a lot. You will get disturbed. Maa, you don't have to be embarrassed in our presence. We are the children of modern times."
"Stop it, Tumpa. Let me tell you something. Swati madam is the tenant in my house. I have rented out this two-bedroom section to her. I am living in that single room with attached bath. You can see, there is a partition door. I live on the other side. She feeds me and takes care of my portion of the house also. You can say, rather, I am a paying guest to her."
Both Babla and Tumpa became shocked. For many moments no one spoke a single word. Tumpa was the first to heave a sigh. She said, "I am sorry aunty…… extremely sorry. But it is not our fault.lt The way we had food together, chatted, laughed, and enjoyed in the presence of our neighbors, anyone would have mistaken you as wife and husband. But tell me, aunty, do the neighbors also know that you are a tenant in this house and that Papa is your paying guest?"
“Obviously,” Swati said in a soft voice.
Babla also apologized and went inside his room to collect his belongings. When he came out, Swati grabbed his baggage from his hands and said, "Please don't do that. This is your house, and It is your room. You don't have to vacate it. Tumpa can also live in her room. It is me who doesn't belong to the family. I will find another house in a day or two. I don't want to disturb the family. You should live here together."
"Actually, I never thought that any of you will ever come to the house," Badal da confessed, "She was looking for an accommodation, and I offered her to occupy this portion."
"You have done the right thing Papa," Tumpa said, "I am also thankful to you, aunty that you moved in. We seldom ever come here. Papa lives here all alone. He cannot manage the cleaning and upkeep of the house. He is getting old and needs someone to look after him when he is not well. You are also alone, and when you fall ill, then Papa can take care of you. It is the perfect arrangement. Please don't go anywhere, aunty. I plead to you; please stay the way you two lived. What do you say Dada(brother)?”
"Yes, of course, we were so relieved to see that now Baba can manage his life here in Jamshedpur while we chase our dreams in far off places. We will be delighted if you decide to stay back aunty. All these years we had always been worried about him, but could not do anything for him. With your presence in the house, we will not suffer from any guilt that we are not taking care of our father," Babla spoke his mind out.
Tumpa added, “In fact, we have come and disturbed your life. Please don't go, aunty. I think Nivedita is also happy and relaxed that you two are looking after each other. Neither Nivedita nor we can feel happy to leave you without any support. I will earnestly request you to discuss with Nivedita and Naren before you decide to leave.”
"Yes, aunty," Babla said, "please talk to Naren and Nivedita. We will be here only for few days. We don't want to infringe upon your privacy. Allow us to move into Baba's room. It is not an issue at all. We don't mind it. Believe us, aunty."
Swati was listening silently so far. In the end, she said, "We never looked at each other like the way you assumed. But this can happen with others also. They can also presume that we are into some other relationship. I am sorry, but I have to move to a different house.”
Tumpa again tried to convince, “Aunty, there is no need to become apprehensive. The entire colony doesn't suspect anything. Had it been so, then by now you would have become the talk of the town. Moreover, you have crossed the age of making any mischief."
But no one got amused with her effort to lighten the mood. Instead, Badal da got angry, "Tumpa, you should at least have some respect for the age.”
“I am sorry, but ……...”
Swati said firmly, "I don't need to talk to my daughter or anyone for my personal decision. I am moving out, and that is final."
Babla tried again, “Nothing has changed aunty. The world outside is the same. Everyone in the colony respects you. We are not asking you to get married. You continue to live the way you were living before we came. We will go back after the Puja.”
Tumpa rang up Nivedita. She answered immediately, "Hi, Tum…I mean, Anu, how are you?"
“I am here in Jamshedpur. We came here for the Puja vacation.”
“Oh, that’s great. How is my mother? I wish I could be there.”
"Yeah, we are enjoying it. In the colony, we are planning a four-day-long cultural program during the Pujo. The preparation for the festival is in full swing. I am participating in ‘Arati Competition'. Swati aunty is ……"
Swati snatched the mobile phone from her hands and said, "Hello Nivedita, I am Mama. I wanted to inform you that I am shifting to another house in the next few days," and she disconnected.
She looked outraged. Instantly Tumpa's phone rang. Nivedita had called back. She immediately picked up the phone. Nivedita wanted to talk to her mother.
Swati calmed herself down and explained to Nivedita, "Please don't misunderstand me. I am not angry with anyone. It is just because I didn't realize it earlier that living like this with a man can create some social issues. After shifting, I can still take care of Mr. Badal. I will come to see him very often.
"Moreover, he has learned to cook his food. I will also bring some good dishes every other day for him. Things won't change much except for the fact that we will not live under the same roof."
Swati had taken a decision. She was not ready to change it. All the arguments given by Nivedita and Tumpa failed to change her mind. Lastly, she said, "It is getting very late. We should go to sleep now. Let's go to our bedroom Tumpa. OK, goodnight, Babla."
She went inside her room. Badal da was sitting with a horrified look. Babla said to him, "Baba, please forget that we ever came and talked all these nonsense. … Tumpa, we have stirred their lives by coming here. Let us leave them and go back tomorrow. Baba, please appease her after we have gone. You can do it. Please don't feel bad that we are going. We want you to be happy and living with aunty is the perfect option in your life."
Suddenly Badal da got up and went into his room. He bolted the partition door from his side.
That whole night no one in the house could go to sleep. Tumpa and Babla remained sitting in the drawing-room, talking to each other in a low voice. Sound of the toilet flush was repeatedly coming from Badal da's room. Swati was lying in her bed and staring at the roof.
At around one o'clock, Swati came into the drawing-room. She was looking a little settled emotionally. She told Babla and Tumpa, "Don't be worried unnecessarily. I will take care of your father even if I am not living here. Tumpa, please go and take some rest. I want to watch the late-night repeat telecast of a Bangla serial, which I missed today."
She sat down on a sofa and switched on the TV set. Tumpa did not move from her place. Babla told Swati, "Thank you, aunty, for the assurance. We are going back tomorrow. Please manage your lives in a manner that you don't need any one of us to look after you. At this age, that too, when your children are not around, you can give company to each other and spend the rest of your lives peacefully.”
"Dada is right. You can become good companions because you understand each other better than us. You can support each other. You can take care of each other. When you are together, you can find reasons to live. Fill your lives with happiness. I think this is the best solution to the old age loneliness. Please don't go, aunty," Tumpa shared her feelings.
Babla added, “It is not that we don’t care for you. But we are unable to support you adequately. We have been destined to wander in strange lands. ....... Please understand and make Baba also understand that we need you. Without you, we have nothing to fall back upon. We can be happy only when you are happy."
Swati did not answer. Babla went inside his room. Swati said to Tumpa without looking at her, “I beg of you, please don't go back because of me. Your father will feel very bad about it. He will put all the blame on me for all that is happening. This will create a permanent distance between us. He may not allow me to take care of him after this."
“This had to end like this. No one can do anything now,” Tumpa took a deep breath and went inside the room. Swati remained sitting. She was staring at the TV screen with blank eyes.
The sound of flush from behind the partition door came every fifteen minutes or so. Swati noticed this. She looked worried. Every time she heard the sound of flush, she would look at the partition door. Once she walked to the door, raised her hand to knock but changed her mind.
The flush sound stopped coming after four in the morning. Swati relaxed a bit. She switched off the TV set and fell asleep.
Suddenly she woke up on hearing some sound. Babla and Tumpa were in the room. Both were dressed up and ready to go with their baggage.
Tumpa came to her and said, "Aunty, we are going back. Please think once again before you leave the house. OK, bye."
"Goodbye aunty," Babla also said, and both of them moved towards the partition door. They knocked at the door.
“Papa.”
“Baba”
"Open the door, Papa. We are going."
“Baba, please open the door.”
They knocked at the door many times. But there was no response from Badal da. Swati's eyes widened with fear. She knew something wrong had happened. She rushed to the door and shouted, "Mr. Badal, please open the door. Are you all right?"
There was again silence on the other side. She became unnerved to think about a similar situation in the past. An eerie feeling overpowered her. She started screaming, "Mr. Badal, Mr. Badal, open the door, Mr. Badal. I say, open the door. Babla, something must have happened to him. Hurry up. Please break open the door. I say break the door. Do it fast. He is not well. Break the door, I say."
Tumpa and Babla looked at each other nervously. Babla came forward and pushed the door with his shoulder. It did not break. Swati started screaming hysterically. She also began hitting the door. Babla hit the door heavily with the shoulder again. The side latch came out. With another three or four attempt, the door came down.
All of them rushed into the room.
“Papa…Papa”
“Baba…Baba”
“Mr. Badal”
He was not in the room. The room was empty.
