Anidita: A sweet journey towards a new dawn

Chapter 17: Anirudh leaves for Calcutta

The next morning Anirudh was leaving for Calcutta. He called Somnath
"Dekho somu Bondita ke pdhai ka kheyal rakhna... bohut sare classes miss koya hain usne..."
"Ji dada aap chinta na kijiye"

Batuk was looking up towards his two elder brothers

"Aur mainnn... aap sirf boudi ki padhai ki baat karte ho.. main to apka apna bhai hu na..."

"Ha ha jarur" smiled Anirudh  "Somu chote zamindar babu ke padhai ka bhi kheyal rakhna... dekhna kahi bewajai school miss na kare.. aur complaints aye to mujhe phone kar dena..."

"Som dada keya mera padhai la kheyal rakhenge.." teased Batuk "inhe to apne padhai ka dheyan hi nehi rakha jata... app chinta mat kijiye main aur boudi ek sath samhal lenge..."

"Aisi baat..." Somnath ran behind Batuk snd Batuk too ran away...

Anirudh was smiling to see the khatta meetha jhagra of his little brothers.
Suddenly he sensed Bondita standing behind

"Bondita... acche se padhai karna ha... main phone karunga.. chitti bhi likhunga.."
"Aap kab lautenge??"
"Jaldi lautunga... "
"Sotti..."
"Akdom sotti..."

Kaka was in the mandir...
"Durga ma humare bete ka kheyal rakhna.. ekdam jiddi gaddha hain woh... per apne bal pe agar khara hona chahe to hum kaun hote hain rokne wale.. use sahi raha dikhana ma... jaise khus rahe Anirudh aur Bondita bahu.. baas hum itna hi to chahate hain..."

Anirudh came to kaka and touched his feet.
"Thak thak... kush raho beta... apne uddeshya main safal ho.."

Anirudh smiled at jis blessings. Kaka placed the sacred flower on his head and belssed him.

Next to went to his father. As soon as he was going to touch his feet Binoy stood up.
"Binoy" scolded kaka... "beta nahar ja raha hain apne aap ko apne baal pe khara karne ke liye... ashirvad to do use..."
"Da..." Binoy adjusted his specs "apne aap ko khara karne ja raha hain ya parivar ka izzat dubone??... ek zamindar ek businessman ka beta....."
"BINOY" interrupted kaka "baccho ko duniya se ladhkar hi duniya ko janna padhta hain... Anirudh ke sidhant ke birudh main bilkul nehi hu... sone ka chamach mu pe leke janma hain... hatikat use hatikat se ladhkar hi sikhni hogi... ha zamindar ka beta hain woh... per use agar duniya dekhna hain.. bahu ko le jake behtar jindegi gujarni hain to main rokunga nehi... mere pass izzat se bhi zada baccho ki khusi maine rakhta hain... aur main nehi sochta ki Anirudh ke sidhant se parivar ka maan gira hain.. mujhe buswas hain ekdin woh bara barrister banke parivar ka naam roshan karega... woh bhi tumhari us engrezo ki madad ke bina..."

Anirudh was a bit depressed by his father's behaviour ... he was leaving the place..

"Anirudh" stopped kaka "baba ka ashirvad leke jao.."

Anirudh slowly touched Binoy's feet. Binoy closed his eyes and lovingly placed his hand on Anirudh's head. Anirudh stood up and looked towards him. Binoy adjusted his specs and left.

Anirudh took his suitcases. The car will drop him at the station. Bondita Som and Batuk are going with him to see him off at the station. The car left. Binoy looked at to car disappearing at a distance from the terrace. He blessed Anirudh with all his heart.. but he dared not show it... why Binoy?? You can show off your reputation but not the love for your son?

Anirudh bid adieu to his brothers and his "jine ki wajah". He caressed Bondita's head and told him not to worry for him and pay attention in her studies. He'll return soon and take her with him to a whole new world..

The train reached Howrah station. Amar was waiting for him at the station. Coolie loaded his suitcases in the horse cart.
"Amar aab humain jana kaha hain??"
"Park street jana hain Anirudh... Barrister Siddhartasankar Banerjee waha hi rehte hain... mene Park street pe hi ek rented ghar dekh ke rakha hain..."
"Park street pe?!... waha to bohat mehenga hoga..."
"R a tumhe itni kharche ki chinta keu? .. kiski zimedari uthani hain tumhe.." joked Amar.. " chinta na karo sasta hi hain... "
"Zimedari to uthani hi hain... isliye to aya hu.." whispered Anirudh
"Keya kuch bola tumne Anirudh..."
"Nehi kuch nehi..."

The horse cart crossed the Pontoon Bridge (early form of Howrah Bridge) and entered Calcutta... a whole new world a whole new lot of experiences await there at the City of Joy.....