Fiction
A meal at a Chinese restaurant
After the marriage they continued with their own way of growing. In the process, Nirmal caused a series of earth shattering disappointments to Krishna as far as her worldly aspirations were concerned. His apparent pliability was an illusion, it turned out.
In 1971, while they were in shelter with Krishna's relatives in Kolkata, it was expected all round that he should focus on looking for a secured occupation in India, while his Indian passport was being 'organised' by her relatives. Nirmal took up a service with the government in exile, instead; and then came back to a government job at the secretariat under the new government in Bangladesh. Krishna had mind to stay behind, but their first born Kobita was only months old at the time, so she and the baby joined him, after months of soul searching. But when the government granted Nirmal's request to post him to the college at Boro-digha, Krishna refused to budge and took up a job herself. In the post-independence chapter of their lives, Krishna got an MA, obtained a diploma from the then Soviet Union on a government stipend and returned to a lucrative job. On the side show: Nirmal played an upper hand with his connection at the Education ministry to provincialize the college which went to include further faculties and post graduate studies. Sobita and Ovi came along that filled Krishna's life, which she took as compensation for a flopped marriage. When she entrusted Nirmal with a fund that she had inherited to buy a residential plot at the outskirt of Kolkata, Nirmal took it as a challenge. After the buy he bought a harmonium with the spare change. The harmonium proved to be useful, after the discovery that, the 'residential plot' was an agrarian terrestrial for which he paid almost twice the normal price. Not because he wanted to forget his proven ineptness, through music; but because a sense of isolation crept in him when he was accused of being on Krishna's way as she planned to settle in India. Krishna resigned to the fact that her migration was postponed, but remained on the lookout for opportunities.
About two months later of Hashikul's visit, this is end August. Nirmal-babu has submitted his tax return form. Niladri has received the letter from the North USA University Award Accreditation Board that they have granted him scholarship with full tuition fee and expenses for the duration of his Ph D with the provision for spouse allowances. Krishna's has now just 5 years of active service life left. Canadian embassy has granted two years student's visa to Lytton and his friends.
Hashikul arrange to feast three thousand people of Boro-digha who have been invited by announcement through the microphones of the two mosques. The three or four times announcement a day aired that MM Hashikul Islam's eldest son, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Lytton, after completing his HSC from Queen Mary Pilot College with distinctions has been awarded a scholarship by the Canadian Government to go to Canada for higher studies. Will everybody kindly attend the feast and bless the young man who wishes to come back after his studies to serve the country.
Many come, including the consultant's Advisor and his friends for whom a microbus has been hired and paid for by Hashikul. Wide canopy and chairs are hired while all day long the microphone plays aloud Hindi songs and Rabindra-sangeets at random order. Local dignitaries come and go. Lytton wears the suit that he would be wearing in the plane. His suitcases and other knick knacks that he would take with him are on display inside the house for close relatives to appreciate. Even the book, (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin) is placed neatly on top of the suitcase. This, he would be seen to be reading in the plane and holding in his hand during his entrance thorough immigration counter at Toronto airport.
The Advisor is handed the microphone who delivered a short speech to those who were present on the benefit of foreign education. Many shake his hand; take his picture and business cards. Others take their pictures with Lytton. A hired video camera man frames the entire event. Newspaper men are all smuggled an envelope each in their trouser pockets as they board on the micro-buses back to Dhaka. Word goes round that the Lytton would be on the print news the next day.
Hashikul has a big packet full of foods organised for Nirmal-babu's family that he send in one of the micro bus to be delivered to his house.
The next day, Niladri comes to see the family with a large size packet of Cadbury's Milk Tray. Avita, Krishna and Niladri sit in the veranda in cane chairs and discuss things that are all promising, going well and working out. Sharodia Puja is ensuing, Sourov Ganguly is sure to be included in the Indian Team and Dhoom 2 has been released.
Hashikul arrives unannounced, with a mixture of pride, joy and relief on his face. He has a gaudy bag in his hand. He is introduced with Niladri. After Lytton leaves for Canada can they all have a Chinese together (meaning the 'Hashikuls' and the 'Nirmals')? Krishna looks awed at the prospect, but agrees with the hopes that the enthusiasm will die away. Will they go to the same restaurant that they went the other day? The alarm rings in Avita and Krishna's mind. Is the sucker unwittingly letting the cat out of the bag? They exchanged glare and changed the subject. Niladri wants to know how he knows about it.
Nirmal-babu joins them at this point. Hashikul pass over the bag to Nirmal-babu. Inside it there are two takeaway containers.
"Please taste if this is the right stuff", he fleetingly looks at all present. "I have checked with detail that you gave with the owner. I think this should be the thing you were looking for".
He is in hurry and leaves. Nirmal-babu goes to the kitchen with the containers. Avita and Krishna stay with Niladri, and continues as before, as if they are sorry for the side show. A slightly perturbed Avita remains with her charm on the façade while trying to read through the tad of smile on Niladri's face.
"This is the rice, look." Nirmal-babu returns from the kitchen a minute later. There is a sense of euphoria in his voice, the half-opened container in his hands, and hint of a gobble on his lips and moustache.
Krishna and Avita react with silence borderline shock. Niladri looks mystified. Avita feels the heat around her ears. She thinks that probably these are times to pray to mother earth to open up. It took some time for Nirmal-babu to realise that his discovery doesn't bring joy in the same magnitude as his, rather it has caused no end of discomfiture to his wife and daughter for a very silly reason. After finishing the tea Niladri leaves.
When Avita had rung and called of the wedding, Niladri sounded calmly shocked. Then he mustered the metier to ask the reason, she told him that she thought their union would not work; she was talking from experience. She considered her father a misfit in the circles Niladri moved around and he would cause him embarrassments. That would be painful for her to bear. She was also not honest with Niladri about her father's idiosyncrasies. In fact, she tutored him to pretend that he is used to eat out. Niladri should have no problem finding someone more befitting with his social standing. Avita switched off the phone only to answer the prompt call back by Niladri.
Niladri went on to tell her that he knew about her father's way. Would Avita remember when she went talk to a friend who happened to be also dining in the restaurant, and were sat few tables away, leaving them two alone? Nirmal-babu had confided to him then that, he had never been to a Chinese restaurant before, or in any restaurant as posh as that one. That he would eventually find Avita to be a simple and honest girl after she discovered herself away from her mother's clutches. Niladri said that since then he felt real love for Avita. Ant it was all that mattered to him.
It was all news to Avita. (Concluded)
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