Lalita's Days

She was born in a situation of physical and social bondage, which was natural to her (be those days or these). He liberated her from the bondage though he respected her sense of self restraint and maintaining respectable distance. He respected and admired her sense of individuality, the kind that scented of independent existence even in bondage of emotional, social and physical labour.

He loved Society. Being a man of contemporary taste he had no dearth of company. She continued to serve him from the sense gratitude towards rescuer by accepting the job of Cook's aid and adjusted herself at his residence at the corner of the room that belonged to the governess serving the last Master of the house, who had to eventually leave the abode being transferred to a new place situation, now serving area as the Area Supervisor for his new situation.

Mr.Neethan was crossing the shrubby hedges that lay at the village outskirts, when he saw the girl. She was wearing all that a married ‘teenage woman’ in an Indian village would only no veil on her head nor was there any vermillion 'Sindoor' to adorn her forehead. He paused his Volkswagon convertible to make sense of the picturesque view. Laughing and giggling she was filling a row of buckets and containers with water. Exulting every time they splashed in the water deep inside the well. Sometimes, now-and-then, a few responsible looking women, appeared to be older than her, mostly sitting idle and chatting endlessly, coming up near her and taking away their containers throwing serious angry glances at her and may even uttering one or two abuses at her. Neethan could not hear their comments from such a distance but their effect on her momentarily reddened embarrassed face could be seen. It all vanished the next moment and she went back to her playful self.

She appeared to be quite light weight for tall female. Tanned with all day's rigorous toils, her face had the happy light of sweetness about it. The only thing that bothered Neethan was why should a girl wear an attire that of an Indian married woman but not sport the regular matters symbolizing marriage.

Then to quench his thirst of curiosity someone appeared at a distance trying hard to fell the mangos with every brave stones he hurled at them. That was the milkman' son who was on his way of attaining teenage soon. He called him aloud, 'Banshi !'

The boy came running. Neethan enquired about the girl.

' She is the nearby city Newspaper Editor's daughter. They live at their ancestral home in the village. Lalita( the girl) was widowed as a child. She even completed school after she was brought back at her paternal home being dispiced for being a widow and accused of killing her husband only because she was married to him. She was admitted in the city college but the village seniours did not think it was becoming of a woman and a widow to get educated to be a graduate. Hence she is the part time assistant of the village primary school teacher.' Being a talkative child Banshi also added, 'Lalita di also fared very well at school matriculation exam. She helps the villagers in every way she can and even goes out of the way to help others. She makes the most delicious samosas at her stall in the village fare and cooks the most mouth watering fish though she cannot taste fish being a widow.'

Neethan's residence was in no dearth of domestic help but still he started to feel anxious to hire her. He asked one of his neighborhood favourite lady Mrs.Chaplain to ask Lalita's parents whether she take up the job of assistant cook at the Government Area Officer's residence. MRS. Chaplain assured Lalita's father Mr.Biswanath(alias Bishu) Bishnoi that she would herself look over Lalita and assured her wellbeing thought it was quite a matter of concern for her husband whether Mrs. Chaplain herself might ever be able to serve a good cup of tea. However being a woman of upper society her words were convincing enough for Lalita's parents to let their daughter have the experience of the world as her future prospects seemed to be very dim to them.

Everything worked well between Lalita and her master Mr. Neethan. She was a good and dutiful servant and Neethan was very respectable as a master. Days passed by with their regular speed and pauses.

All was going well till the days arrived when their judgments about social restraints practiced by them individually started to differ. She was abashed to see her master's reckless way of socialization. She started being disgusted by his irresponsible behaviour which cared about no one's emotions and approval except for his servants at home, juniours, peers and seniours at duty . But eventually her eyes and mind compromised with the situation.

With growing age and the eagerness to find a society for herself she ventured to local libraries. Thanks to her master who took interest in her education permitting and getting her admitted in the nearby city Graduation College. She made friends with a fellow library member Paresh. Paresh was a commerce graduate who wanted to set up his own cycle and tyre parts business. He had a motto in making friends with Lalita as he wanted her to plead her employer to help him in setting up his business. That did not mean that he had no soft corner in his heart for Lalita. He admired the serenity in Lalita as the honeybee devours itself to the nectar of the flowers.

Neethan came to know about the affair and one day took Paresh to the nearby mango orchard that belonged to his friend Mr.Samantha and had a long discussion with him. He came to know Paresh's real intentions. He found Paresh to be an opportunist and asked, rather ordered, Lalita to stay away from Paresh and sour all relations him.

She was aggrieved to hear all this and eventually became very unhappy with days to pass . One day without telling anyone and without her master's knowledge, she left her master's abode.

No she was staying at Kolkata and working at Manik uncle's(her father's College batchmate and friend) printing press on a meager monthly salary and at night staying at his abode under the care of his wife, Tulika aunt. She gradually became very sincere and practical.

Months later, staying like this, she heard Mr. Neethan was coming to Kolkata to attend a management administrative program where many contemporary well known personalities will be present. The workshop will go on for ten days. One morning she took a break from the press office taking leave for a few hours. She made up her mind to pay a visit to her previous employer Mr. Neethan in his Office. She was almost made to return from the gate by the gatekeeper. She managed to convince him and entered the premises. However seeing the urgency in her face the receptionist asked her to wait by the corner of the Regency Office Hall. She waited for hours. Passersby looked curiously at her first. After hours they mockingly smiled at her as if persuading her that she was wasting her time for nothing.

Neethan, by now, had lost his interest in excessive socializing for many months since Lalita left without a note. He though continued to be a very polite and agreeable host in his Office surroundings and informal parties. After returning from work most of his time now is devoted to gardening in day hours and reading in the evenings and sometimes spending time in occasional parties and get-togethers.

He has also started having a taste in cooking. He reads recipes and tries them in his kitchen of course not without the help of Noni da, his cook. Some of the dishes come out really recommendable for the taste of his friends in the afternoon luncheons and dinner parties hosted by him.

Even after all this he could not stop remembering Lalita and her serene smile.

As Neethan was about to leave Office after a whole day of 'Monday rush', in the evening he saw Lalita standing by the corner of the huge hall. Lalita saw him coming down the stairs. At first she was a little hesitant to face him thinking how unceremoniously she left his place. Then she mustered the courage of pushing herself a few steps forward and meeting him.

He came up to her and their eyes met. They could feel all the strings of attachment between them. That day they decided that Lalita would resign her current job. They decided to get married after their parents had arrived at his place for marriage was a bond that could keep them together. A simple Court Marriage with friends and family was arranged followed by a neat but elegant reception including all friends, colleagues and relatives. The day ended to everyone's satisfaction.