The Waiting

Opekkha, Ontoheen.
Bengali Short Story
By Manidipa Bhattacharya
04/26/2010
=============================


Park Street er more Subho r jonno opekhkha korte korte Monimala ghorir dike takalo…
Pray minute ponero periye gelo, artist babur dekha nei.
Ei gorome, chorchore rod, taropore Nylon saree, sob miliye dom bondho hoye aste laglo.
Ektu boste parle bhalo hoto…
Edik odik takatei Subho ke dekhte pelo Monimala.

Kache astei agneyogirir phete berolo,’Etokhkhon lage?’
Mitimiti hasi niye Subho takiye ache dekhe aro birokto laglo Monimalar.
Rege giye bollo,’Matha gorom hoye ache. Abar hascho keno?’
Subho sunglass ta ordhek namiye bollo,’Ebare ar ektu sundor hoye phirle. Chul ta chhoto kore kete , bhari manachche…’bole I Jibonanondo aurate suru korlo Subho,’Chhul tar kobekar ondhokar….’
‘Ufff Subho, please!!! Khide peyeche.Gorome sorir kharap lagche. Age kothao A/c Room e cholo boshi..’
‘America y theke theke na, tomra boddo beshi ayeshi hoye gecho..’
‘Ayeshi?sokal theke rat obdi ek hathe sob kaj kori, office jaoya, ranna kora, bajar kora, chhele meyer take care kora, bason maja…….aro sunbe?’
‘Cholo chholo A/C te boshei shona jak…….’bole Subho pasher restaurant er dike pa baralo.

‘Aah, ki aram….’bole Monimala norom chair e ga eliye dilo…

Subho jiggesh korlo, thanda ki khabe?
‘Jol..’ bole Monimala chokh bondho korlo….

Waiter ke deke Subho thanda jol ar cocktail er order kore dilo.Sathe kichhu appetizer.

Thanda jol kheye mathata ektu thanda holo Monimalar.

Subho r dike takiye bollo, ‘ Ei ta notun holo?Age to kokhon o ashini..?besh bhalo restaurant ta’

Subho bollo,’Kolkata ta ekhon America hoye jachche Moni, ebare ekhane I chole esho.’

‘Na na baba, ei gorom, loadshedding, trafic jam, bandh…..oshombhob..’ ek nishshashe kotha gulo bole dom nilo Monimala.

‘Koyek bochor age o kothay jeno chile tumi?’ Subho proshno korlo.

Heshe phele Monimala bollo,’Ekhane I chilam bote…tobe, boyesh tao to dosh bochhor bere geche, tai na? Sojhjho sokti kome geche…Ekhon ektu tei kahil hoye pori..’

‘She jonnoi to bollam, chole esho ekhane…Chele meyera to boro hoyei geche…Eka eka theke aar ki hobe?’

‘Eka eka thaki ke bollo?’

‘Biye korle naki abar?’

Subhor proshno ta sune, jore heshe othlo Monimala. Bollo,’Antke uthle keno?’

‘Nemontonno ta miss hoye gelo bhebe….’ Subho bollo.

Cocktail e sip dite dite Monimala bollo,’ Na, abar biye kora ar holo na ...’

Fish and Chips khete khete Subho bollo,’Keno, ei na tomader naki ekta ‘singles club’ ache for ‘Single Again’ people, sekhane kauke pele na?’…

‘‘Singles Club’ e Single ar keu nei, bujhle? Shob I double….Baki ja pore ache , sob jhotti porti…’ bolei abar hi hi kore heshe uthlo Monimala.

‘Moni, tomar ‘hi hi’ hashir batik ta aj o gelo na….’ Michki heshe Subho bollo.

‘Hya, ar bolo na, jokhon tokhon hasi peye jay, majhe majhe khub embarrassing situation create kori ami…’ Monimala bollo.

‘Hashi to bhalo jinish, kojon ar tomar moton mon khule haste pare bolo?’

‘Achcha amar kotha thak…tumi biye korle na keno?’

‘Tomake pelam na bole…’

‘‘Propose’ i korle na konodin, korbo ki kore?’

‘Korar agei to biye kore bidesh pari dile… ‘

‘ Tokhon o ki tumi bolecchile, na korte?’

‘Ki kore boltam? Engineering sesh hoyni ar biyer prostab?’

‘Opekhkha to korte partam..’

‘Shei sukh ar sachchondo to dite partam na…’

‘Keno, tomar ek ekta ‘Chobi ‘ I naki ek lakh, du lakh takay bikri hoy, Bideshe o chahida bhalo….Sukh sachchoo r kichu komti to dekhchina..’

‘She to ekhon dekhcho, tokhon to jantam na. Janle jete ditam na..’

‘Ta hothath IIT r brilliant student, Art niye porle keno sob kichhu jolanjoli diye?’

‘Tomar chobi ankbo bole…’

‘Tai naki? Kota amar chhobi enkecho?’

‘Eksho tetallish ta…’

‘Oh shei, ‘Seduced’ na ki jeno , shei series er chobigulo?’

‘The Seductress’

‘Ogulo ektao amar chobi na…tyara chokh, nak nei, mota mota thonth, bichchciri dekhte koyekta chobi…Ogulo ami na motei….’

Monimalar kotha sune ha ha kore heshe uthlo Subho. Bollo, ‘Ke tahole?’

‘Hobe tomar keu notun premika…’

‘Amar abar premika kotha y pele Moni?

‘Tomar abar premikar obhab? Roj I to shuni nitto notun…Aj Manashi, Kal Chaitali, tarpor Nupur, Monali….gune to sesh kora jay na…..’

‘Tara to bandhobi, premika sudhu tumi…’

‘Prem I korlam na konodin tomar sathe ami, tobe Premika holam ki kore?’

‘Ei to prem korcho…’

‘Boshe boshe chingri maher bhaja khachchi bole, eta prem keno hobe?’

‘Ei je bar bar chhute chhute amake dekhte asho, roj email e phone ekhonj khobor nao, eta prem na?’

‘Chhute chhute moteo dekhte ashi na? Ma babar boyesh hoyeche, bochore tai ekbar Kolkatay dhu mari…Tomar jonno ashi?’

‘Ta besh, na asho, tahole amar bandhobi r kotha sunle mukh hari hoye jay keno?’

‘Tumii to amake bolo amar naki sob somoy ei hari mukh, gal phola gobindor ma…koto ki to bolo….’

‘She to tumi eto mutki hoyecho je gal phule geche…seta onno byapar….’

‘Baje kotha bolte parle tumi ar kichhu chao na…Khabar er order debe na?’

‘Ki khabe bolo toh?Ekhane bhalo biryani banay. Bole dei?’

‘Bolle ekta I bolo, ar ekta soup ba halka kichu iye nao..’

‘Tar mane purotai theshe thushe amake I khaoyabe, nijje kichu khabe na tumi…eta ami bhaloi jani Moni….’

‘Janoi jodi tahole jiggesh koro keno?’

Waiter ke khabarer order diye Subho aschi bole kothay chole gelo.

Monimalao bathroom e giye ektu fresh hoye elo.

Phire eshe dekhlo Subho abar phone e.

Phone rekhe Subho ‘Sorry’ bollo.

‘Sarakhkhon eto mohilader pone ashe keno?’

‘Hingshe hochche?’

‘Ta ektu hochche boiki…Eta koto nombor bandhobi? Gotobar to Monisha chhilo, eta ke?’

Ha ha abar heshe uthlo Subho, bollo,’Er nam Rini…’

‘Latest?’

‘Bolte paro!!’

‘Sotti, tumi paro o bote…’

‘Ki korbo?’

‘Monisha kothay gelo?’

‘Rege mege chole gelo ekdin…’

‘Keno?’

‘Keno abar? Tomader sob meyeder i to ek rog, biye kobe korcho, biye kobe korcho?’

‘Korle i parte…’

‘Korte parle to koto ki I korte partam…..parchhi ar koi?’

‘Chesta kore dekhechho?’

‘Na…’

‘Emni emnii sob hoye jabe?’

‘Emni korei jay jodi din jak na…….Moni, koror na gan ta?’

‘Pagol naki? Restaurant e gan?’

‘Tahole ami ki kore sunbo?Khaoya sesh holei to tuk kore chhole jabe…Abar ek bochchor bade hoyto dekha pabo, ki pabona…’

‘Phone e dial korlei to jante paro….’

‘She o to durabhash…she to tumi na, onno lok hoye jao…’

‘Ki je abol tabol bokcho!!Phone e ami onno lok…?Ar tomar chhobir tera byaka mukh hochchi ami? Ki je bolo!!’

‘Tumi ki keboli chhobi? Sudhu pote likha….’ Subho kobita bolte boltei abar jhon jhon kore or phone ta bee uthlo.
Phone ta dhore abar Subho baire gelo…

Khabar eshe gelo totokhkhone.
Monimala ekai khaoya suru kore dilo.
Gombhir mukhe Subho eshe boshlo.
Thomthome mukh dekhe Monimala ar oke kichu jiggesh korlo na.

Khabar ta niye Subho narachara korche dekhe Monimala bollo, ‘tomar tara thakle jete paro. Amar kono osubidhe nei…’

‘Na thik ache…eshob to choltei thakbe.’bole Subho khaoyay mon dilo….

Abar Subhor phone bajlo.
Ebare phone ta kete dilo Subho.

Monimalar khub oswasti hote laglo. Na ashlei bhalo chhilo.

Subho emnite khub chapa. Kintu bhetore bhetore ragche, mukh dekhe onuman korche.

Monimalar ichche korchhilo chhute paliye jay.

Abar phone ta bajtei Subho phone ta tule Restarant er nam ta bollo kauke…..

Aj kicchu ekta gondogoler abhash pachche.

Ektu porei ek sundori olpo boyeshi mohila dhuklo.

Mone mone promad gunlo Monimala.

Eshe oder table ei boshlo. Bollo,’Hi, I am Rini. Mrs. Subho Dasgupta…’

Kemon charidik ondhokar…aste aste chokh khullo Monimala.

Jhapsha jhapsha kichu oporichito mukh dekhte pelo.

O kothay keno ki kichui mone korte parlo na……..

Aste aste bollo,’Ami kothay?’

Ekjon bollo,’Didi apni rastay matha ghure pore gechhilen….ekhon ekta dokane suye achen..’

Konokrome bollo,’Subho kothay? Subho Asheni?’

She lokta jobab dilo,’Apnar songe to keu chhilo na didimoni.Apni ekai to ghontakhanek dariye theke oggyan hoye gelen….’

‘Ami kotokhkhon ekhane achi?’

‘Ta pray ghonta duyek hobe….Gyan ashar por apni ghumute chailen bole ar dakini…

‘Toto khkhon keu amar khonj koreni..?’

‘Na toh, ami to ei dokanei chilam sarakhkhon boshe….keu to…..’

‘Subho, tumi ebar o ele na?’ mone mone bir bir kore chokh bondho korlo Monimala…….


….Copyright @Manidipa

April 15th, Bengali New Year

Poyla Boishakh
Bengali Short Story by Manidipa Bhattacharya
4/15/2010
----------------------------------
'Ki re poila Boishakher din mukh bhekte barite boshe keno?
Chole aay chotpot...ekhane amader gang ache...',Phone e Kakolir Julum..

Bollam,'Prothom kotha holo, 'bhekte' hoy na, ota holo 'bhetke'..'

'Ta besh, tarpor?'

'Tar ar por nei, 'ami bolte laglam...
'ar ami mukh bhetke boshe o nei....Du botol wine niye boshe movie dekhchi.....'

'Sathe pakora cholche na?'

Heshe bollam,'Tao ache bote...ektu jhal jhal lonkar bora..'

Kakoli tokhkhuni bole uthlo,'Amra ashchi, aro pakora ready kor..'

Ei moreche, kojon ke, kichui janina....
bisri holde ronger nighty pore bhutni r moton boshe achi..

Bairer ghor churanto ogochhalo.
Bajar kore ene kal theke ranna ghorer dor goray sob shobha pachche.
juto gulo elomelo.
Ki kando.
Dumdam ashlei holo?
Kakolir gang jokhon, Ronit to thakbei..
Tar latest girl friend Jena o chipke thakbe nishchoy.
Dujone to eke oporke chokhe haray.
Eke onno ke BlueBerry ar Raspberry bole dake.
Beshi khkhon she prem kahini sojhjho kora ektu byatha ache.

Kakoli bole ami hingsha y jole mori.
Ronit er sathe kono ek somoy ektu moner adan prodan hoyechhilo.
Sheta beshidin tekano jayni.
Ronit ektu olpo boyoshi slim meye pochondo kore.
O boyesh eo, onek chhotoi chhilo amar theke..

Tao amake Gym e bhorti koriye onek chesta koreche roga koranor.
Kintu jar priyo khadder talikay salad soup na theke,
chicken kosha ar lamb biryani thake, tar 20 Ib med jhorano ki oto soja?

Ekhon berry berry ki sundor ek sathe gym jay, cycling kore, salad khay...
Ar ami ekhon o chicken biryani, na hole ghee diye bhath mekhe mocha ghonto khai.

Jak ge, eshob bhebe labh nei.
Taratari ghor clean korte hobe.
Kagoj potro dnai kore niye oporer closet e chepe chupe dhukiye dorja bondho kore dilam.
Eteo nistar nei, Monar har jalano duto bachcha eshei,
opor tolay closet khule lookochuri khelte boshbe.
Closet kholar songe songei sob kagoj jama balish takiya washing er jamar dola,
hurmuriye porbe......
Tar modhdhe i dui 'bandor' er bhuter netto cholbe.
Mona niche Vodka ar snacks niye pore thakbe...

Sob miliye amar bondhura ashlei amar heart beats bere jay.

Er modhdhe Sreeram ektu bhalo...
EShei rannay help lagay.
khabar deoya drinks serve kora clean kora sob kore tarpore jay.
Sreeram khub khasha chhele.Kintu o mone hoy 'gay'.
Na hole dibbi prem kora jeto.

Ghor dor ektu guchiye aro pakora bhajte boshlam...
adh ghontar modhdhei gang eshe gelo.
Tar modhdhe chipku berry berry eksathe na dhuke, ektu age pore dhuklo.
dek,he khub anondo holo.
Jak tahole prem chhuteche!!
Mone mone otai chai ami.
Kobe ora alada hobe, ami calender e dag dei.
Dag dite dite sob pata jodio sesh hoye geche, tao ota rakha ache.

Sreeram asheni dekhe mon ta kharap hoye gelo.
Kakoli ke jiggesh korlam, o kothay?
Bollo,'o to deshe biye korte geche..'
Ami bole boshlam,'She ki, o to gay....?'
Edik odik takiye dekhlam, sobai amar dike kotmot kore takiye ache.

Lojja peye bollam, 'na mane, ami bhebechilam....'

Ronit gombhir golay bollo,'na jene loker name ulto palta bolo na..'

Sunei ga jole gelo,Golay ek dhonk wine dhele bollam,'Tai naki?
Amar sathe prem korar somoy etai to tumi amake bolechhile..'

Bhuru kunchke Ronit bollo,'Prem?Aayna nei nischoy tomar barite?'

Ami bollam,'Tao to amar ekta bari ache, tumi to onno loker ghare giye uthechho..'

Oboshtha kharap dike turn nichche dekhe chipku raspberry Ronit ke joriye dhore bollo,
'Honey let's leave..'
Amar gayer jala tokhon o meteni bollam,
'sheki? berry theke honey hochche bujhi ajkal?'

Kakoli begotik dekhe amake tante tante oporer bedroom e niye giye dorja bondho kore dilo.

Rege giye bollo,'Ki suru korechhish?'

Ami bollam,'Keno?'Sobsomoy ami i sune jabo?Sotti kotha bolle dosh?'

Kakoli bollo,'Ora tor othithi, opoman kora uchit hoyni tor.'

Ami rege bollam,'Ami to bolini aste.Kata ghaye nun chhorate ora eseche keno?'

Kakoli bollo,'Tui to janish, Ronit toke bhalobasto.Tui i to oke aste dite chash na.'

'Bhalo basto?Tai jonno dudin por por, er or tar sathe edik odik ghure berato?

'Bondhur sathe beralo o dosh?Tui to dekhchi Pishima hoye gechish re?'

'Mashima Pishima bujhina..e tuku bujhi,dosh joner sathe eksathe committed thaka jay na.Hoyto chipku raspberry is okay with it, I am not.....'

Moner sukhe Ronit er opore jhal mitiye ami klanto hoye ghumiye porlam.

Majh ratre ghum bhenge gelo.
Bomi bomi pete laglo.
Bathroom e giye bomi korlam.....
Mathay jol dhele, patla ekta jama pore niche elam jol khete.

Sofay ke shuye ache dekhlam.
Bhablam Kakoli.
Daka ta uchit hobe na bhebe jol kheye, ranna ghorer light nebate gelam.
Fridge er konay ek gunto kheye, 'Oof Mago , bole uthalam jore..'
Omni dekhlam dhorphoriye Ronit uthlo.

Jiggesh korlo,'Ki holo?'
Bollam'Tumi ekhane keno?'
Bollo,'Byatha pele naki?'
Bollam,'Tomar jene labh?'
Bollo,'Labh ache boiki.'
Bollam,'Jemon?'
Bollo,'Ekta pa bhangle onno pa ta o bhenge ditam bole..'
Bollam,'Pa bhangte ekhane nischoy ashoni..'
Bollo,'Tomake dekhte esechi..'
Heshe bollam,'Keno tomar chipku Berry ki holo?'
Bollo,'Bari chole geche rege mege..'
Bollam,'rag bhangate gele na?'
Aamar dike takiye bollo,'Rag bhangatei to theke gelam..'

Aami bollam,'Ama rag bhangiye kono labh nei...amar na ache taka, na ache kichu..'

Hothath amar samne eshe bollo,'Thik hai, bhupali raag i gao...'

Bhru kunchke bollam,'Bhupali keno?'

'Ei je bolle tomar money nei, Bhupali te o 'Ma' ar 'Ni' lage na..'

Phik kore hese bollam, 'Cha khabar ichche hoyeche?'

Antke uthe bollo,'Darao darao, aami banai, tomar oi kalo teto kosti cha khaoya jayna...'

Mukh bhetke bollam,'aha nije jeno ki banay...chinir sorbot..'

Ranna ghore dhuke cha banate banate bollo,'Ektu chini khele tomar mukhta misti hobe..
na hole sarakhkhon ja 'kya' 'kya' koro..'

Rege giye bolte jachchilam kichu,' hothath or jamar niche amar nam ta 'tatoo' kora dekhe,
kichu na bolei aste aste ranna ghor theke beriye sofay boshlam...
Dekhlam, Ronit mon diye cha banachche tokhon o.

Copyright..@Manidipa
Disclaimer:All characters are fictitious.