LOVE INEXPLICABLE:

"'Tell me how your marriage fell apart, Bona Pissi.’ Milu asked long after I’d left my husband of 36 years, joined North Point as the Matron at 52, and never returned to my husband, though I still loved him with my heart.

I was introduced to Swarnavo in Class X. A Law student, he’s a friend of your father. Initially, I didn't take him any differently. But then one afternoon, Ranjana Baudi told me of Swarnavo’s habit of stealthily looking at me on his way to the room upstairs where your father, and a few of his friends including Swarnavo, would spend their time preparing for the final exam.

‘Baba, why don't you talk to him once? Bona’s in love.’ Ranjana Baudi reminded Baba, her father-in-law, one day.

Thus informed, Baba decided to meet Swarnavo.”

‘Do you mean to say there’s a marriage proposal and you’re willing to marry the man of your Baba’s choice?’ Swarnavo asked me later as I kept nodding my head.

“Yes, what else could I’ve done? The groom’s after all an ENGINEER.” I told him teasingly.

You should’ve seen the look on his face. That was the first time when I realized that he had feelings for me.

The same evening, he told me that he wanted to take me to Dakshineswar, alone.

The next day turned out to be a memorable one, the day when Swarnavo proposed to me.

But time for me wasn't standing still. Soon there came another proposal from an IPS Officer. Baba wanted to meet Swarnavo. He’s at his best before Baba, keeping his head down; twirling a string around his finger, creating the right kinda impression, you know.”

‘I lost my father when I was a child. My uncle played the role of my father. I’m indebted to him.’ “I heard Swarno telling Baba in response to his query about his (Swarno’s) family.

‘You said that you’ve also enrolled in Law, didn’t you? Why did you opt for the Evening Course?’ Baba asked.

‘For the sole purpose of helping Uncle. We have a Gift Shop in New Market, I help Uncle there from morning till late afternoon…’

‘I see,’ Baba was visibly impressed with Swarno. My other siblings though were not, especially with our daily meetings. He had no job and no one from our family ever gotten married to a businessman before. So, when Baba started pressurizing Swarno, he spoke to Baba about his elder, spinster sister.

‘You know, had she been my younger sister, I would’ve married your daughter forthwith. But as long as she’s there, it’s difficult for me to think of marriage…’

‘OK, I understand your concern for your sister. But what about my daughter? Tomorrow you may find someone more attractive and fall for her. What will happen to my daughter then?’

Both Baba and Swarnavo got along quite well after that meeting.

That's how we got married in the Registrar’s Office first at Baba’s suggestion before the nahabat and stayed blissfully married for the next thirty years!”

‘We all looked upon you as an ideal couple and never guessed that things weren't rosy between the two of you, Pissi.’ Milu interrupted me again.

“I knew things weren't working anymore after my return from my daughter's in Bengaluru. I sensed the tense atmosphere in our New Town apartment.

Swarno stopped taking meals at home. I started ordering eatables from outside as well. I was in for a shock, therefore, when I found all the almirahs locked one day.

I sat for a one-to-one talk with Swarno.

“What's wrong, Swarno?” I asked him.

‘Nothing,’ was all I could elicit.

“You’ve stopped taking anything I cook, have locked all the almirahs, even the piggyback! What's the problem? I hope you haven't fallen for a slut.”

He whacked me hard and called my parents names before withdrawing into a shell. I too sat like a statue, neither cooking nor doing anything at all the whole day.

That's when I started looking for a job. Suraksha, an NGO provided me with the first opportunity. At the end of a tedious interview, the Director called me to her office.

‘Mrs. Ghosh, you’re being kept as a second choice as you’re too young.’

“Too young!” I couldn't help uttering. How could I be ‘too young’ at 52?

‘Would your husband let you work?’ She demanded.

“I hope so,” I replied.

‘If he objects, tell him we might employ you sooner.’ She smiled.

When I told Swarnavo about the offer from Suraksha, the father at home and the daughter from Bangaluru, laughed over the whole thing like you wouldn't believe!”

‘The only job you can procure at this age is standing under the street light…’ Swarnavo said, chuckling.

“I knew I’d to get a job. The prolonged interview at North Point next, ended when the Headmistress called to break the news of my appointment.

Speechless, I’d tears running down my cheeks.

Swarnavo didn't make a scene but he wasn't willing to accompany me to my workplace either.

I was adamant. “I never asked you for anything. This time I ain't going without you. I don't wanna hear that I ran away with someone…”

He did go with me finally, curious to see the place, I guess that appointed his wife at 52.

Beneath his unruffled exterior, the grandiloquent campus of North Point must have unnerved him.

As I turned away from the gate, I could sense him standing behind me, looking in my direction, hopelessly, helplessly.

That’s the last I saw of him. He never called me but once afterwards when he informed me about his promotion to the Manager’s post. Never seemed to care whether I lived or not.”

‘But why didn't you go back to him?  You could’ve remarried even, Bona Pissi?’ Milu quipped.

“I married against the family will. Having fallen in love in my late teens, I always believed that Love for some people happens only once in a lifetime.” I replied. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Dear, I’ve to start packing as my school reopens tomorrow.”

The end