Bamboo tree,

You are free

Free to touch the sky;

But you can’t

Can’t do so

Coz you are short & shy.

Bamboo tree,

You are free

Free to touch the cloud;

But you can’t

Can’t do so

Coz you can’t float & fly.

Bamboo tree,

You can plea,

Plea to God & say -

“Elongate me

More & more

To touch the cloud & sky.”

Bamboo tree,

You are free

Free to tell me all

I would wait

In inbox

To get your sweet reply.

                                    (A poem by Anita)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you have feeling
 

Life is nothing;
 

It’s an illusion
 

It is nothing”;
 

I would tell you
 

My own feeling-
 

“Life is everything”.
 

Let me tell you
 

Secrets of this
 

My life is full of
 

Hopes & dreams
 

They are so
 

Dynamic,
 

Beautiful things,
 

Make me always
 

Smiling.
 

Therefore, please
 

Don’t be depressed
 

Don’t be frustrated
 

Fill the life with
 

Hopes & dreams,
 

Live the life with
 

Smiles & cheers
 

Giving life
 

Full of meanings.
 

                                          (A poem by Anita de)
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

India is my mother;

She gave me the birth;

From the childhood,

She taught me

To love the earth;

She taught me

To love the people

Of all countries & races;

Told me, all are same

With different cultures & dresses.

She told

Love can do

Unbelievable;

Not gun, but make love

Weapon reliable.

With love

You can make

Unknown people known;

Why earth, with love

Make the universe own.

                                                   (A poem by Anita de, written on 15.08.08) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A flock of birds came from Ahmedabad,

Their beaks were dry, eyes were constant,

Wings carried clot of blood,

I stunned,

Asked, “What is the news?”

They told, “Time is bad.

World is heading to a big blast.”  

                                                                                                           (A poem by Anita)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The words of mind

 

If begins to drop 

 

Like petals of a flower,

 

Silent poems are

 

Like pretty dreams

 

Begins to wake up there,

 

Taking colour of

 

Rose & 

 

As a rain

 

Would u make me

 

Over flown?

 

(The beginning of an Assamese song, translated by Anita)

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Snakes bite

 

When they get fear

 

Fear of being attacked.

 

You kill snakes,

 

Snakes of nature,

 

Snakes of poisonous variety.

 

Otherwise they would kill you.

 

Is not it?

 

If you see closely

 

There is lot of poisonous people

 

In this society.

 

Would you kill them

 

Just like the snakes

 

To clean up the socity?

 

(A  poem by Anita)

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Man is meant for man’s sake

If nobody feels like that

With a little sympathy in heart

Who will think of that

Tell me friend.

 

If men intend to market a man,

If men intend to purchase a man

By that if one repeat history

Will not be it a wrong?

Tell me friend.

 

If the weak man someday

Crosses the tides of life

With ur encouragement

What loss will have to pay?

 

If man is not human being

Monster never become human being

If monster becomes a human being

Will not be it a wrong?

Tell me friend.

 

(A DR. BHUPEN HAZARIKA’S SONG TRANSLATED FROM ASSAMESE BY ANITA DE)

 

My village is very beautiful

 

People are good & wonderful

 

Aside a hill there is a small river

 

We go there & bath without fear

 

Boys shy to look girls, guys to women

 

All respect each other

 

Who does what nobody bothers.

 

After bath we change our dresses there

 

Nobody looks, therefore no fear.

 

(A poem composed by Anita)

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

In silence I can say many things

 

In silence I can do anyhing

 

In silence I can unveil all my secrets

 

In silence I can keep u mesmerized.

 

I love silence.

 

Silence is my life.

 

(A poem composed by Anita)

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Don’t do wrongs

Though that may give u

Joy for sometime

But will pain u whole life.

Think of goods

Though it may have to control yourself

For sometime

But what joys u wd gain by that

Would be for lifetime.

(A poem composed by Anita)

Don’t tease me

Don’t harass me

I m a silent lover.

 

I love silence,

I love birds

Flying in a row

I love flowers

Blooming in colours

Just like a rainbow.

 

I love my friends, not to chat,

But to feel their feelings

In silence.

 

(A poem by Anita)

++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

Animesh’ boss introduced Sabita to Animesh,

“He is Animesh, ur new boss & Animesh she would be ur PA, personnel assistant, in this company all officers get a PA, to help u at any moment, also she wd keep ur office well maintained.”

Animesh looked at Sabita. Sabita gave a “Namaste” folding her hands with a hearty, inadulterated laughter.

“This is ur room & nearby the small one wd be her; she is also comparatively new to this office, hardly 2 year, earlier she was deputed with Mr. Mehta, the old man retired just last week…Now I m leaving u, she wd explain u all the etiquette of the office, I think within a few days u can be accustomed here & can manage the whole office.”

His boss left the office.

Animesh sat in his expensive executive chair & told Sabita to sit one of the chairs in front of him acroos the table.

Sabita hesitated, “I m ok here by standing sir, this is not for me.”

Animesh yet to know the etiquette of this office, he has just joined here after completing engineering & then MBA. This is his first job; therefore he is yet to gather experience of an office work. He didn’t insist Sabita. But he himself stood up as he felt bad to sit in front of a lady.

“How I should call u”, he asked with shyness.

“Earlier officer called me as PA, I didn’t like, he was aged & rough, I could not tell him anything, I don’t know u sir, if want to follow him I wd accept that too.” Sabita told with little smile.

Animesh understood immediately that she is hesitating to tell herself, perhaps due to fear or shyness. “If I call u Sabita or Sabi would u feel bad?”

She stunned. Her earlier boss treated her as a servant & this young man is so different! She could not hide her happiness, smile came out, called, “Ok Sir, I wd be overjoyed if u tell me so, sir.”

“Before going to official matters, I want to know u a little more as I understand u wd be with me like my shadow & if u want u could also ask me about me, but I cannot keep a lady standing for a long time, if the office etiquette does not allow to sit in these chairs, bring a chair from ur room, please, I wd not allow anybody to come here for some time.”

Animesh called the door keeper & told not to send anybody inside his room for around half an hour. Sabita brought a canned chair from her room & sat before Animesh.

“Tell me Sabi, what should be my relation with u.”

Sabita stunned with question, what she can tell?

“Boss & a PA”

“But u may be a little elder than me, moreover ur Mangal Sutra & line of Sindoor tell u r married, I don’t want to treat u as my lower grade employee, I want to respect u Sabi.”

“Sir, I m a PA (Personnel Assistant), here each officer gets a PA, we PAs r very small, very less educated, get less salary, we r kept here not for official work only sir, many bosses treat us as their servant, as their property, they do their personal works through us.., do misbehaviour & do many more things with us, which I can’t say u, sir.”

“Why? Why u can’t say?”

“Sir we should hide some truths, for betterment of all.”

Animesh couldn’t get her point but didn’t insist on it in the first day itself. Slowly he wd know everything.

“What ur husband does? How many years passed of ur marriage? how many children do u have? All these matters r personal Sabi, but I should know as u wd stay with me like my shadow during the office hours.”

“My husband doesn’t stay with me now, I don’t want to tell anything more on him, and he is a scoundrel, I hv a son of around 1 yrs old.”

“You r my PA but I don’t want to feel u as my PA, I want u as my friend, as my adviser.”

Sabita don’t understand so many things, she is only 10^th pass, still she told, “Sir u r my boss, here bosses r like gods, we worship them, but u r asking friendship with me, moreover I wd be older than u.”

“Yes, I hv checked ur CV, u r now 26, I m 22, only 4 yrs younger than u, if u don’t mind u may treat me as ur friend, at least when there wd be nobody.”

Sabita smiled a little, her mind flied to her village home; her brother was like him only, but Animesh is her boss, she wd have to be very careful with him, even though he is telling like that. Any bad remark from boss on her means dismissal of her job.

“Ok Sir”, she hesitatingly agreed with him.

“Then give ur hand to me”, he threw his hand to Sabita, Sabita gripped his hand with her hand, agreeing that she is agreeing with him.

“Now u can go to ur room Sabi, I wd understand all the official jobs from u later..”

Sabita stood up from her chair, Animesh too.

“Before going can’t u show ur warmth of love to ur friend?”

Sabita understood the meaning of his words.

As he is much younger than her it is her duty to respond to their friendship; even though he is her boss at this time he is not thinking that at all.

She slowly came nearer to him, take him towards her breast then kissed him in his cheeks & lips for around 5 minutes.

While she finished kissing him, he felt little bit shy to Sabita, but Sabita really jerked her nerves. He became thankful to her,

“Thanks, I m so thankful to u for this.”

Sabita went to her room attached to her boss & started looking the e-mails.

Slowly Sabita became much easier to her boss; her boss is not like others who forced their PA to do many things, which they cannot tell to others too. Those were too personal. But Animesh is different. He is youngest boss of this company & energetic too. Sabita feels lucky herself to get him as her boss; in addition, he is polite & simple. Instead thinking her as his PA & behaving as his servant like others, he respects her as her elder sister & also take care of her whenever possible. If he can complete his work early, then he drops her to her flat also many days.

Animesh never gone to inside of her house though she requested many times. Around one month was over & both became much easier to each other.

Then Sabita gave a leave application to him, “Sir I want some days leave.”

“Why Sabi, r u going somewhere?” Animesh asked curiously.

“Sir while I come to the office, I keep my baby with a maid, her father has come, He wd take the maid tomorrow, I don’t know how I can get a maid, till then I have to take leave.”

Animesh immediately sanctioned her 3 days leave application, but everyday he took her news through mobile, she asked more leave extension after 3^rd day, but the jobs were getting piling up, Animesh thought he wd be under pressure from his top bosses soon. He must go to her house & look her problem.

After the office end, he went to her flat; a one bedroom small flat.

She was too glad to see him.

Giving a chair to sit in the drawing room she told, “My maid has gone, I don’t know how I wd join again in the office by keeping my son here. He is now sleeping….O’ please wait I wd make tea for u & coming back.”

She entered into the kitchen for making his tea.

While she was coming back, her son started crying inside. She promptly serve the tea to her boss & gone inside.

She brought her son to the drawing room; she opened button of her blouse & put her nipple into the son’s mouth. Animesh observed that she is not shying him at all while opening her nipple & milking her son. He felt she already started thinking him as her some own relatives. It was a great perception. Animesh’ love to her made her the feeling of oneness. He cannot betray this relationship. He also should think her as his own somebody, he thought.

After taking the tea, Animesh wished to love her baby for a while. He took him from her lap lightly removing her nipple, but as soon as the boy found the unknown person, started crying loud.

He immediately returned the boy to her, Animesh opened the nipple from her blouse, & put her smooth nipple into the boy's mouth.

Animesh told, “ Ur nipple is very beautiful Sabi.”

“Umm, u r day by day becoming naughty Ani” smiling she told.

But Animesh was thinking how he can solve her problem.

After a little time, the boy got asleep again. Coming back after keeping the boy in the bed, she told, “he is too weak, frequently becomes ill, therefore a good maid is necessary.”

“I wd try for that, & soon we should do something, otherwise they may dismiss u.”

“Sir, please do something for me.”

“I wd do my best, but now I hv to go”, leaving the chair he came close to Sabita sitting in the sofa. He embraced her, kissed her cheeks & lips & then kissed her two nipples opening from the blouse. Sabita only smiled with utter happiness.

Being an officer, Animesh could arrange a maid within a day or two. Sabita again joined her duty. She had no words how to acknowledge the help given by his boss. But Animesh was cool & calm, as usual; “I hv done my duty, duty to my friend or my elder sister” he told her.

Days of Sabita were passing with smiles & tears, but her love & respect to her boss was increasing day be day.

One day she suddenly got a call from her maid at noon, she came to Animesh, “Sir high fever catches my son, maid is calling me immediately, her voice was trembling while talking with me in mobile.”

Animesh told, “if u go by bus, it wd take a long time to reach, better I wd drop u, also I could see the condition of ur child.”

Animesh took her to her flat. The boy’s condition was serious. Animesh talked with a hospital & immediately taken the boy to the hospital.

The doctor took him to emergency, after sometime doctor told, only after some hours we can say the condition of the boy.

Animesh returned to the office to finish the rest of his works & close the office. Only Sabita & the maid stayed in the hospital.

Animesh finished his job soon, then he again returned to hospital. The doctor still fighting for the life of the boy.

After sometime the doctor called Animesh inside, he gave the news to him, “he is no more, it is ur duty to console the mother, sir.”

Animesh came with wet eyes, he came to Sabita who was sitting in a wooden bench. He picked her head & put inside his breast, She could understand the fact what happened, she cried out inside his breast. “Sabi, please, don’t cry, all God’s wish.” He condoled her in vain.

Animesh took her to her son’s dead body by gripping her by one hand. After looking her son she was about to lose her conscious, then she put her hands to the forehead of the boy. She bursted out again in crying. Animesh put her head into his breast.

He informed the phenomenon to everybody of his office including his own boss. The juniors of Animesh came immediately to hospital & then planned for cremanation of the boy at night itself. The body of the boy was brought to a van & all the workers & junior officers started to the cremation ground.

Animesh was all the time keeping Sabita in her breast, where she was crying incessantly.

Animesh’s boss told, “I wd took u along with Sabita & the maid to Sabita’s house.”

He brought them to Sabita’s house, Animesh’ own car remained at the hospital itself.

Before leaving them from the Sabita’s house, Animesh’ boss told, “I m leaving now, any help required, please ring me, & Animesh u have to stay here today, she has got a lot shocked.”

Animesh hesitated a little, but is boss screamed out, “It is my order, u must be with Sabita, & not only today, till she come to normalise, after ur duty u must take care of her.” His best left away. Sabita was still weeping inside Animesh’ breast.

Anyway, with the help of the maid, named “Geeta”, Animesh took her to the bed &  laid her in the bed, keeping her face inside his breast.”

Slowly she fell asleep in the breast of Animesh.

It too around 7 days for Sabita to recover the shock fully. All the seven days’ night, Animesh stayed with her in her bed keeping her face in his breast.

On 8^th day, Animesh, he wd not stay with her from now, as she is coming almost normal. But she insisted to stay on that night with her. Without much opposition he agreed with her.

Night after putting off the lights & putting on the dim light, she came to the bed & put her face in Animesh’ breast. She told, “Have u seen ocean of sorrows in my eyes, Animesh, please see inside my eyes, u will get my feelings, my pulses.”

Under dim light

 Animesh looked her eyes; it was full of sorrows.

“I found it.” He told.

“Then can u do something to remove this ocean, or part of this ocean?”

“How Sabi?”

“Giving some meaning to my life for which I can live.”

Aminesh deeply  thought of it, he got her point.

“Sabita, see I m less experienced, rather without any experience in this regard. I m not married yet, how can I give u meaning of life?”

“Sir, please, otherwise how can I live? I m not telling u to marry me, but without marry u can give me the meaning of life to me. Please think of it sir.”

Animesh thought of a little.

Then suddenly embraced her tightly, “Sabita, u r telling me to surrender u; I m ready now to do that, I m surrendering to u. You can do anything through me.”

Sabita got the point, she started her activities soon & Animesh surrendered to her, allowing anything to do by her.

Within few minutes they became one. Sabita with her earlier experienced hands did all whatever possible. At a time being tired both fell into sleep.

At dawn Sabita woke up.

She saw the face of Animesh; so sweet, so beautiful; yes he wd only give her new hopes & new dreams to get a new meaning of life.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“How it is happened?” the doctor asked.

“Just I went to the ATM, as soon as I came out, the dog follow me, first bark & then bite at my hips & legs.” Rupam told.

“OK, come inside” Doctor & a nurse went to an inside room, Rupam followed them.

“Show me Rup”, Rupam hesitated to open his dress in front of them, mainly in front of the nurse..

“Please, don’t hesitate,”, I must see the bite portion how deep the teeth entered. Again we have to flush the bite portion with a washing shop as first step of aid.”

Rupam laid down in the patient bed loosening his pant. The doctor pulled the pant & looked the bite portions. He instructed his nurse to wash the portion with warm water & washing soap.

“Rup, it would take few minutes to do this, she wd do it, I wd come back after attending 1-2 more patients. The doctor had gone to his chamber.

Rupam was feeling shy being alone with the nurse wearing only underwear & shirt, but the nurse was doing her duty silently as the way doctor instructed.

After around 10 minutes time, the doctor entered again, “Oh Rima, have u completed the washing?”

“Yes Sir”

The doctor looked at the bites, told, “Ok, nothing to worry, first immediately u take a titanus, then u hv to take some injections for the dog bite, I wd write in ur prescription. Rupam, wear ur pant, Rima, give him a titanus & after that come to my chamber.”

Titanus was available there; Rima injected it at Rupam’s left arm.”

Then both came to the chamber of the doctor.

Doctor had given the prescription, Rupam wd have to take 6 injections against Rabbities. Doctor told, “U hv to bring them from Pharmacy & come back here, Rima wd give u 1 of it today. Then 3 days later, then .. as I hv mentioned in the prescription”

After an hour later Rupam came back with the injection, named Rabipur. Doctor advised Rima to give the injection in the back hip.

Rima again took him to the inside chamber. Even he didn’t want, he had no option but to take the injection at back hip, by loosening his pant & dropping a little along with his underwear. He was closing his eyes all the time while she was giving the injection.

“You fear a lot.” throwing the empty injection to dustbin, the nurse told.

Making his dress in order, Rupam rep lied, “I was thinking it wd be very hard to bear, but u injected very slowly, I have not felt anything much, thanks a lot, But what’s ur name Madam.” Looking at the dot of Sindur at her forehead & a Mangalsutra at her neck, Rupam was sure that she is a Hindu married woman, therefore he called Madam in respect.

“Yeah, Mrs. Rima Duorah” the nurse shortly rep lied with some shyness & smile.

“We wd again meet another 5 times, as per period indicated by doctor, therefore I would think u as a friend & like to call u as Rima, rather than Madam, wd u mind it Rima.”

“No, not at all, then I wd call u Rupam, ok?” the beautiful nurse smiled a bit accepting his proposal.

For the first time Rupam looked at her closely, with the white dress of nurse she looked like a fairy, he thought. In his mind he rep eated the words, “beautiful, very beautiful”.

But Rima was busy to go, as doctor was attending patient in his chamber, Both of them went out to doctor’s chamber. Rupam smiled a bit to doctor & had gone out.

As per prescription, Rupam came after 3 days to take his next injection. As he came after doing his office duty, it was quite late, around 8 pm. He was the last patient. Doctor was almost closing his chamber. Looking Rupam, he asked with a happy smile, “How is Rupam?”

“It is ok doc”

“Then Rima, give him the injection, I m just finishing my cigarette here”

Rima took Rupam to the inside room, as before Rupam loosened his pant & dropped down a little along with underwear, opening his hips & Rima gave the second injection at hip back.

Throwing the empty injection bottle to dustbin, while she came back, Rupam already put on his dress in order.

“How u felt these days?”

“Very weak, very sleepy.”

“Oh this injection is very strong, I know, what food u r taking?”

“Only day time I m taking sweet fruits, at night I m sleeping only, I was so weake, unable to p rep are my food.”

“You have nobody to p rep are ur food?”

Getting the point Rupam rep lied, “Yeah, I m not married still”

“Oh sorry, for asking u this”

“Oh it is ok, no problem.” Rupam asserted.

“Now I know why u r so shy, Rupam.” With a very lovely voice Rima remarked.

After finishing the cigar, doctor entered the room, “Oh Rupam, is it over, r u feeling shy with Rima? She is very good woman, please feel free with her, she is really a good nurse.”

Getting the praise face to face, Rima feel slightly awkward, told smilingly, “Sir always says like that.”

Then changing the subject, doctor told Rupam, “Rupam please do a help to Rima today, her flat is in the route to ur house, now it is 8.30 pm & raining heavily outside, if she get a lift now, she wd be very happy, I think.”

Rupam immediately agreed to drop her in her flat.

It was heavy rain outside, some of the roads were plunged in water, Rupam drove carefully, Rima was beside him in the front seat with all her beauty & boldness.

Rupam was feeling to ask abt her family but he intentionally avoided himself to do so coz any diversion from driving may be serious at this moment.

After around 15 minutes, in front of a tall flat type building Rima told to stop, Rupam did accordingly, “R u stay in this flat”

“No just back of this building, in a small flat, the road is not good, & wd be full of water now, ur car may get plunged, I wd go any how, please don’t mind, let me go.”

“Do u have umbrella?” Rupam asked

“No.”

“Then how u wd go in this darkness & rain? If at all u hv to go I wd give companion to u, I can’t allow a woman to fall in distress knowingly.”

Rupam had a small umbrella; needless to say it cannot cover even a single person in this heavy rain. They wait a little, but there was no sign of ending the rain & Rima too willing to go her house soon by somehow. Lastly, Rupam decided to keep her to her house with that small umbrella itself.

The small umbrella could hardly save them from wetting; Rupam put the umbrella over Rima as much as possible, giving himself to wet in rain. The by lane to her flat was totally immersed by water. Rupam removed her shoes & lifted his pant till the knee as Rima removed her sandal &  lifted her dress to knee. Whole road was plunged with darkness. Slowly they progressed through water, Rupam was very near to Rima so that he can save her from rain. But her whole body was already wetted fully by the heavy rain.

Suddenly Rima’s leg drowned towards nearby drain & she was almost going to drown into the drain, immediately Rupam by his left hand embraced her fully to save her from falling in the drain. By doing that she came to the breast of Rupam. Rupam felt shy, “Sorry, I wanted to save u, therefore, I embraced u, don’t mind please.”

“You have saved me today, I wd never forget ur this act in life.” She gladly acknowledged his work.

When they reached Rima’s flat, both were fully wetted, Rupam wanted to go from the doorstep, “U go to ur house, I wd see u tomorrow.” He told.

“Oh no Rupam, u r totally wetted like me, please come & be dry for a moment & u wd go then.”

“What ur husband wd think, if I go to ur house in this condition at this night.”

“My husband is not staying here any more.”

Rupam didn’t know anything about her family; only on presumption he told. Now after her words he became very inquisitive to know about her family. “Where then he stays? How many members in ur family? How old ur children?”

“Wd u like to know everything in this door steps Rupam, we both wd fall ill if u stay like this for long. Please come to my house.”

 He became serious immediately, how careless he was, through the wetted clothes parts of her body was baring badly, if anybody looked it, what they wd feel. He followed Rima, to her flat in second floor, she ringed the calling bell. A 12 year old girl opened the door.

“She is my elder daughter” Rima introduced her; the beautiful girl gave a “Namaste” to him.

Without any delay, she told him, “Rupam go to that room, these r clothes for u, u change ur clothes & let them dry under fan.”

Rupam went the room & changed his dresses; he wore a pyjama & kurta & put his wet dresses under fan to dry.

When he came out, Rima was inside her room.

Rupam came to the drawing room, sitting in the sofa he called her elder daughter & embraced with love, “What’s ur name”

“Pallabi”

“Who else remain in this house”

“My younger sister Suravi, she is 8 years old.”

“Where ur papa stays”

“I donno, uncle.”

In the meantime, Rima came out changing her white uniform of nurse. She wore a simple yellow Sari with a brown blouse.

Looking at mother, Pallabi felt shy & dropped down from the lap of Rupam & came to her mother.

Rima asked her, “Can u make 2 cups of tea for us, Pallabi.”

Pallabi gladly accepted her mother’s instruction & went to kitchen.

“My younger daughter is sleeping; otherwise she could disturb u a lot.”

  “I wanna be friend of both of ur children”

“Why u don’t like me, don’t want to include me also as ur friend?” she laughed out. Rupam added with her.

Looking at a photo, Rupam asked, “Who is that beautiful guy with u in the photo?”

“My husband.” She replied.

“Where he is now?” Rupam asked straight.

“I donno”, Rima rep lied.

“Why? Is he missing? What he was.”

“He was a plant manager of a company, one day he went to the plant, after that he has not come back, I m still waiting him, I hope still he is somewhere. I m still putting my dot of Sindur & Mangalsutra in his name.”

“Can u make any guess what may happen?”

“There was an agitation in the plant on some salary anomaly of labor; he was target for the agitationists; people say he may hv been killed, but where is his body. It was now 6 years from then. None of my daughters remember him, only they see the picture & feel his existence, like me.” Tears rolled down from her eyes.

Pallabi came in with 2 cups of tea & a tray full of sweets.

“First u have to take a sweet, then I wd” looking at Pallabi he told.

Rupam brought Pallabi again in his lap & gave a Pera (one kind of Indian sweet) in her mouth.

After taking tea, he told Rima, “Please let me go now, I wd again come some day.”

He went to the room where he kept his dresses to dry, it was still little bit wet but he felt, even with this also he could go to his flat.

While he was about to start changing his dresses, Rima came inside, “It is 10-00 pm, if I request u to take the dinner too with us wd u accept please.”

Rupam hesitated a little first, but couldn’t refuse also. This woman has something, her words has something which made him every time to defeat.

He agreed her proposal.

Within half an hr. she made the dinner ready. She also woke up her younger daughter for dinner. In dinner table the younger daughter, Surabhi found the new guest.

“Who r u?” the little girl asked.

“I m ur uncle.” Rupam rep lied short.

“But we have nobody, I hv not seen anybody till now coming our house.”

The straightforward words of the little girl hurt Rupam, is this family kept isolated by the society, by relatives? Why? To normalise the environment, he rep lied,

“But I wd come time to time, if u don’t mind.”

“I wd be happiest of all if u come here everyday.” The little girl rep lied.

“Surabhi, please take ur dinner, u r not taking food, but talking only.” Her mother interrupted.

“Oh ok” Surabhi started giving her attention to dinner.

After dinner over, Rupam didn’t like to delay any more, he went to the room & changed his dresses. While he came out to go, Rima with her daughters also came out to the front door. Heavy rain was still continuing.

Suddenly Suraabhi told, “Uncle can u stay with us tonight?”

He looked back to the family.

All 3 pair eyes were telling the same. His eyes also filled with tears.

He came to the front corridor.

Suddenly Rima placed her hand in his shoulder, came in front of him, told, “Outside so much rain, if u have no obligation to go, wd u please keep my little daughter’s request?”

Tears came out from Rupam’s eyes; so much love they have with him. How can he leave now? He looked at all of them & come back inside.

All of them devastated with happiness. It is new for Surabhi & Pallabi, as nobody came to their house to stay earlier.

Rima p rep ared a bed for him in a separate room, she told, “You can stay peacefully here, nobody would come to disturb u. My daughters have already gone to bed in my room, please sleep here now, c u tomorrow.”

“Rima, I have something inquisitions to ask, wd u stay a little to answer to me?”

“Ok, tell me, whatever I can I wd tell u.”

“Can u tell me why Surabhi tells nobody comes here to stay? Do u hv no relatives?”

“No, not like that, I hv everybody Rupam, but they isolated us.”

“Why?”

“Coz they want me to see as widow.”

Rupam stunned.

“Yes Rupam, my in-laws want to have me a forehead without a dot, to have a neck without a Mangalsutra, to have no bangles in my hands, no rings in my fingers, to wear white dresses & to be with them in village. They said my husband is no more, then why all these? I didn’t accept them, I knew if once I m declared as widow, I hv to accept their norms, which I denied. No, not all norms bad for a widow, but the tortures made in the name of widow in some society, in our villages, I can’t bear. I want to make my daughters good, I refused to accept them, I told without proof I can’t accept that my husband is no more. They failed to take me to their village. They isolated us totally.”

Rupam got the point. He didn’t answer, but thought if something he can do for this family, he wd do it.

After Rima has gone out, Rupam put off the light & fell asleep.

But early in the morning Rupam got up by the call of Pallabi, “Uncle, high fever catches my mom.”

He jumped from the bed.

He placed her hand at her forehead & really it was too hot.

“Do u have thermometer, Pallabi.”

“Oh yes, take this.”

After putting it into her mouth, he screamed out, “104!”

He ringed the doctor in his mobile, “Doc, Rima is having high fever, I donno what to do, please come here doc.”

Doctor told, “Please put water soaked cloth in her forehead & try to remove the temperature till I reach there. U give little fan too.”

Rupam followed the doctor’s instruction & waited for him.

Within a few minutes, doctor came to their flat.

Doctor checked Rima, she was completely unstable in the bed.

“Rima need a good sleep first.” The doctor told, “she couldn’t sleep at night due to fever.”

“Then she should call me.”

“She didn’t like to disturb u, she is a different genre woman, Rupam.” bringing out an injection from his bag the doctor told.

Rima was still unstable moving from one end to the other of the bed with screaming in pain.

Doctor told Rupam to keep her left arm steady; Rupam did forcibly as Doctor pushed the injection. After few minutes Rima slept out.

“It’s viral fever”, doctor told Rupam, “we must now bring her temperature down.”

He told Rupam bring some warm water. Rupam brought a bucket half filled with warm water.

“Oh nice, now can u tell the kids to go out of this room?”

Rupam convinced the children that he wd be with her mother & nothing bad wd be happen to her. The children remained at drawing room. Doctor closed the door of her room from inside.

“Rupam, please soak a towel with warm water & slowly rub it throughout her body.”

Rupam hesitated a little, but the doctor scolded, “It is a life & death question, leave ur shyness away for a while, please Rupam.”

Doctor loosened all the clothes of Rima & removed the tight underwears.

Rupam took a small towel, soaked with warm water & rubbed it throughout her body. He has to do it several times. Above her, the fan was running slowly. Doctor put breezes also by a bamboo fan near her head.

The whole operation continued for around an hour. Frequently, doctor was looking the temperature of her body by his thermometer, after around 1 hr, doctor smiled a little, “Yes, the temperature is taking u turn.”

The temperature got a downward trend.

“Oh nice, ok, now u can stop that rubbing Rupam.”

“The kids may be scary outside, please open the door & let them come too.” The doctor apprised.

Rima was still sleeping quite.

Rupam opened the door, Pallabi & Surabhi immediately came to him, kissing both of them Rupam, “Everything is going right way now.”

Doctor called Rupam, he gave him some tablets for her, “While she wd wake up, please give one of this, that wd help to come down her temperature, then this one after a little meal, but frequently check her temperature, if again u get upward tendency, please do the rubbing operation again for some minutes. Any abnormality, please inform me, ok?”

Rupam nodded positively.

The doctor went away.

Temperature really came down slowly; Rupam, Pallabi & Surabhi were waiting there for her wake up. The injection was very effective, she got a good sleep.

She woke up only after around 4 hrs. Her stability came back, she looked both of her kids & kissed them, then she looked at Rupam with love & acknowledgement.

Temperature even did not come normal, it was comparatively less. Rupam gave her the tablet given by the doctor.

Then she requested to go her children out for a while to ask some questions to Rupam. The kids immediately obeyed her mother’s request.

Alone, Rima asked Rupam what happened to her & how she is cured a little now.

Rupam told everything what happened to her from morning to now.

“Then u rubbed my whole body with soaked water?” with little shyness she asked.

“Yes Rima.”

“How it was?” With some naughtiness she asked.

Rupam pressed her nose, “Naughty girl”

In such serious moment also he could laugh in her fun, really she is a different woman.

“Now u sleep Rima, Surabhi wd bring ur sleep.” Rupam called the kids; he told Surabhi to stay with her mother & Pallabi to come with him to the kitchen to make their food.

Towards noon, Rima’s temperature almost came to normal, she even could come up & walk too. Still Rima’s food was served near her bed itself. She was still too weak.

After lunch, she again slept down silently.

When she waked up Rupam was still beside her bed. Her kids were in the drawing room looking at tv. Rupam was moving her hand in her cheeks, forehead & lips with love.

She told, “Rupam sometimes I feel so lonely, so helpless, if u didn’t stay who else would had come to help us, Rupam sometimes I feel I need some shelter, shelter for myself, shelter for my kids. Who wd come to me, who wd give me such a shelter.”

Unknowingly Rupam pressed her bottom lips tight, he bowed his head to her face & kissed her deeply, unknowingly a voice came out from him,

“Yes I wd give u Rima”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I was in meditation.

 

Then God appeared

& asked,

“What u want?”

 I told,

“Peace & happiness

In the world.”

He told,

“Then go to

The people,

The masses.

Ask them

To be honest,

To honor

Freedom &

Equality.

To love

Each other

Creating

Friendship

Removing

Hostility.

++++++++++++++++

 

In a hotel of wine

I took

Pieces of papaya

& u took the cherries.

I fill a glass

With deep wine like ur kisses.

Outside I want time to become barren;

Only I want to be fertile with ur love.

I didn’t lose ways in the depth of ur hairs

Nor the brightness of ur eyes burnt me.

That night I have seen vagabonds in my dream,

Who stayed in the long past & settled in my future.

The pieces of papayas were finished then & the cherries too,

Silence filled the table,

In the empty bottle, there remained only a drama of a vagabond.

(Translated from an Assamese poem of poet Nilim Kumar)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Morning dews think

If sun never comes

They could stay forever.

Darkness thinks

If light never comes

They were free to stay.

People thinks

If death never comes

It was so good.

We think something

Happens something else.

Ultimately we oblige

Only the nature's rules

 

 

 

The best time to plant a tree

Was 20 years ago,

The second best time is now.

 

(On the eve of world environment day on 5^th June, 2008)

Carbon is bad

Carbon dioxide our enemy

Kick the habit!

Towards a low carbon economy.

 

 

(On the eve of world environment day on 5^th June, 2008)

A breeze came

& made me black.

From where

So much carbon came

I lost the track.

 

(On the eve of world environment day on 5^th June, 2008)

We plant tree,

Tree in nature,

To give the earth

A reduced temperature.

 

(On the eve of world environment day on 5^th June, 2008)

Today is the world environment day. Every year this day is observed as world environment day throughout the world. This year the theme is: Kick the habit! Towards a low carbon economy. On the eve of this day, I m posting 4 short poems in my blog. Hope my blog readers will accept them with love.

 

With all my love,

 

- Anita

My uncle insisted me to render my voice to some familiar Assamese song. I did & my uncle recorded in a computer. I hv forgotten that. But now my uncle has sent me & asked to give in Dada.net so that my Dada friends can listen my voice. With my courtesy to my uncle, I have added it here for all my Dada friends. The songs were sung without any musical instrument. It is not very good, as I m not a singer at all, still for my uncle insistance I have given it here.

 

 

With love,

 

 

-Anita

 

Arunima never thought it before.

But it happened.

After final year when Pallab came back from college his girl friend Purnima also came. Pallab introduced her with Arunima,

“Maa, she is Purnima, my class mate, she is from Shillong, as it is night now, I told to rest her in our house itself rather to go to any hotel, tomorrow morning she wd catch up the bus for Shillong.”

“No.” Arunima told, “Not in the morning, afternoon she wd go, it would hardly take 2 to 3 hrs to reach Shillong from here, Purnima wd u feel bad to stay a little more, I m thinking to go to Kamakhya temple in the morning tomorrow, wd u feel bad to accompany me?”

Purnima agreed.

Next morning Arunima along with his son & Purnima went to Kamakhya temple. After necessary rituals, they finished worship quite early. Arunima told, “We can go to Bhubaneshwar temple too at the mountaintop.”
”Nice idea” Pallab got excited. Arunima drove her car to the mountaintop. The hilly road tired her, she sat down on a stone near the temple under the shadow of a banyan tree.

Pallab & Purnima were being excited to see Brahmaputra river from that peak of the hill.

Purnima was very scary to move around, “If we slip what wd happen.”

“Nothing”, Pallab said, “We wd drown into Brahmaputra & wd die”

“Don’t say that, we hv to go a long way”

Arunima was hearing them very attentively. The last sentence of Purnima sticked her mind, it started echoing in her mind.” That means they have fixed something, they r thinking to go a long way of their life together!

Arunima didn’t ask anything there.

After lunch, while Purnima became ready to go from their house, Arunima took her alone to Arunima’s room.

“What u r thinking of my son?” Arunima asked.

Purnima surprised a little. What can be told for such a question? Moreover, she is in front of a university professor, everything to be told very cautiously. Still she admitted naturally, “I love him, madam.”

“Oh that’s nice, u r beautiful, u r educated, u r gentle & polite, I like u. Are u thinking to marry him?”

“Now I m not thinking anything on that line, Pallab & me hv just finished our study, we r trying to get jobs now. After getting jobs only…”

Arunima didn’t allow to finish the sentence of Purnima, asked her, “Say Pallab gets a job within a month or two, wd u marry him?”

Purnima got puzzled, what she wd say, she just looking at Arunima’s eyes. Arunima again told, “Purnima, his uncle has already wanting him to join his company, if Pallab’s father remains, I could ask him, but I hv to take decision my own. His uncle is industrialist, He wants Pallab to run his industry with him. Pallab would not go anywhere else. He wd be here Purnima, now tell me wd u marry him?”

Purnima got in problem. What she wd do? She is graduated in architecture & Pranab is a chemical engineer. Pranab could run his uncle’s chemical industry very well but what wd be her career.

Purnima hesitated to tell anything. How she can say that decision so quickly?

Then Pallab entered the room. He looked overjoyed. He told, “Maa, uncle rang me in my mobile, he asked me to join his industry as chief operation manager, I happily agreed it, maa, do u have any other view, tell me”

“No, I want that only, why u wd work in industry of somebody else, while u have ur own industry.”

“O’, something u were discussing; maa, have I disturbed u, anything serious maa”

“Yes a little serious, tell me do u love Purnima?”

Pallab responded quickly, “Yes Maa”

“Wd u marry her?”

Pallab stunned, “I m not thinking that yet.”

“I m thinking that, Pallab, she is a girl & she should think it now itself, age wd not wait for her.”

Pallab got the point, it is not Purnima it is need of her mother. She wants to have grandchildren to play. Next year mom will be retired. She would be quite alone in this house. Somebody required to play, somebody required to talk with. If he marries Purnima her problem wd be solved easily. She wd get good accompaniment & a beautiful educated daughter in law too. But what wd be the career of Purnima? How she wd use her study here? She should join some architectural farm now. There is no much scope of her in chemical industry. From her point of view, it wd be better if she marries an architecture rather than Pallab.

Pallab gently told, “Maa, marriage is not a one end business, u hv to think of the other end too while proceeding for a tie. Purnima is quite good, very beautiful girl, I agree, but what wd be her career if I marry her?”

For a moment, silence caught the room. Arunima got her son’s point. Breaking the silence, Arunima told smiling, “Both of u becomes serious, nothing to be worried, I just put up the proposal, I don’t feel bad if it does not materialise. Yes Pallab u r right, marriage is a two side agreement, we should see the case of Purnima too.”  Then she suddenly saw the clock & jumped up, “It is 1 pm, Purnima, be quick, we have to go now to catch the bus.”

“Purnima was already ready in all way, Pallab also come out to leave her at the bus stand with his mother. After a few mins., the bus came. Arunima’s eyes filled with tears while waving her hand to Purnima. Purnima also could not stop her tears.

A week later, Arunima got a letter from Purnima:

“Madam, I had seen my mom in u, whom I lost in my childhood many years ago. I discussed the matter with my Papa, He has given his consent for the tie. Then why I should stop it? Life is much bigger than a career. Career we can build anytime anywhere. But life we can’t. I hv found my mom after so many years in u. I can’t leave u now. Please tell Pallab too, that I want to be ur daughter in law soon. Can u give me permission to call u Maa from now onward? Maa visit us soon to fix the day of tie. With love – Purnima”        

Tears rolled down from the eyes of Arunima – the tears of her happiness. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++