LOVE AFFAIRS

Sushma is a girl in her teenage who comes from a gentle family at Agartala in the late 1990s. Her mother died at her childhood and her father brought up her anyhow. Girl without beauty is like a flower of the desert but she is an example of exceptional beauty. She has a notable head of naturally fair hair; she has calm and affectionate character and an expression of face which changed with lightning rapidity from amiability of laughter and from laughter to respectful interest.

Teenage is a period of one's life where new vistas are opening up. Activities which were taboo, are now sanctioned as she has grown up. Her father allows her to educate herself and encourages her independence. As a result, she is widely imaginative, confident in her own mind and often seems intimidating to men in her manner. To her, "God created men and women to be partners and not subordinates."

 At her school life she has drawn to Vivek, one of her classmates. But her commitment to independence makes her fear him as well, for she feels that to marry him would be to sacrifice her freedom.

Shortly after, she receives a visit from her maternal aunt, Mrs. Shila, who lives in Kolkata. She offers to take Sushma for her higher education and she eagerly agrees, telling Vivek that she cannot tell him whether She wishes to marry him until she has had her H.S(+2stage) pass certificate and leaves for Kolkata.

 There, she makes a strong impression on everyone. Rahul, her cousin becomes deeply devoted to Sushma and Sourav, an aristocratic neighbour is completely ravished by the beauty of hers. Sourav proposes her but she declines, though she fears that she is passing up a great social opportunity by not engaging to him.

The freedom that she achieves, in her movement away home, like going out with friends, makes her feel like adults. She is slowly eroding her values and replacing them with romantic idealism.

 Paru, one of the best friends of Sushma, comes to Kolkata and arranges for Vivek to meet Sushma. He again urges her to marry him; this time, she tells him that she needs two years to answer him and she promises him nothing. She is thrilled to have exercised her independence so forcefully.

She has suddenly blossomed into a pretty young girl. Her previous deformities like pimples have disappeared like a miracle. She is now poised and intelligent but not protected. To serve the purpose, her aunt makes a will to give half of her property to Sushma. 

She has now good intimacy with Radhika, one of her playmates at her aunt's house. She is a polished and an elegant friend of Sushma. Sushma travels to Chennai with her aunt and Radhika. Radhika introduces Sushma to a boy named Nayan, a man of no social standing, but whom Radhika describes as one of the finest boys. In secret, Nayan and Radhika have a mysterious relationship. She is imploring Sushma to marry Nayan so that both will have access to her fortune.

Everyone in Sushma's house disapproves Nayan, especially Rahul, but she decides to marry him anyway. Two years into their marriage, they despise one another. To her husband, she is a social hostess and a source of wealth, and he is annoyed at her independence. Still, she does not consider leaving him with an intention of transforming herself into a good wife.

Matters grow complicated when Sourav arrives on the scene. He is still in love with Sushma. But somehow she manages to send him back. 

At this time, she receives a news that Rahul is dying. She longs to travel to Kolkata to be with him, but Nayan forbids it. Encouraging her to go, Nayan's sister Mani tells her that there is still more to Radhika and Nayan's relationship. Sushma is shocked and disgusted at her husband's unpleasant behaviour----she even feels sorry for Radhika for falling under his spell---so she decides to follow her heart and to travel to Kolkata.

After Rahul's death, Sushma struggles to decide whether to return to her husband or not. Her commitment to social morality impels her to go back and honour her marriage. But her independent sprit urges her to flee from Nayan and find happiness elsewhere. 

   

Vivek, her first love appears at the funeral and afterwards, he asks Sushma to run away with him and forget about her husband. The next day, unable to find her, Vivek asks Paru where she has gone. She quietly tells him that with tears in her eyes and putting a stone over her chest, Sushma has gone to Chennai, unable to break away from her marriage to Nayan, consigned to oblivion. Drowning in the intensity of emotion and with a broken heart Vivek utters____HEART LOVES BUT LOVE HURTS.