Bengali short story by Ivy Chatterjee

c c@mv (kH)

@Ac

w\/TFOS/Sv@

SF

c^/BfcSf/mpA/AF gK/~AgoS/qA..

Arr/A@r

Books_in_English

Parabaas Moviestore

BfcS

~qAg OFvAB

cAr  vSsn OO a^ @S S fccc |   gU @ WT  S,  AS ~crFcf c@BU, QoT^F, T g g gc .... j c  WTv Zc @ | T@  SS @B Bw A @A AaS | ~wTf@U A Uq gU  | A@ @U @U Sv @ j@v BxvrS ~a | jT A ASB Am @cS | ABqS  TkA ASB @q S @AaUS, TZAB, SS Bv qSOB Ac jq T BxvrS T | g b@ ~w j@c j | A@a Av A c |

fc BSS TkAc o oq Av c T  TSK SS | @ TSK@ AJA j@ j@ o Ac cFc @  ~ ABqS aS  OZ@S c^ @R cU R s | @v ~A U ZU AST  S  U AAS ASBq ~B jq @T AmvAB Bv j@han BFAy  S S | TkA oS g jZS jvq | ~STSq  UUS fc | BSq TrS c @ -j@ T ToF | jZS jT A- S@SB  TZAB gwF sA TkA gwF@ v@ jAw s ! q @ @ RJ BxvrS qUv Z Sc qha |  fcR RJ@ OvcS S | @ cU  gAcKF @ | rS sha, OTFS SA@ TkA@ cr a^ @S | q R Av nS ^ UZ v@ ~v @T mvfU  @  AaAS jS TkA ASB gcTkA cr BU @ UaS A | i T gcAO^ AAv Q AS  | SqUq AsAw @ ~v |

TS Av ScA jQH AAA TU cFm AaUS, fc ~STS Av Zq cAI ^m   cUS | fc RJ Zq aS, jTSv gcUS A@S @ BS | Ac  rATU@ AS ASTS sc T TS Av j@ cm A jq@Tq QH OZ A rS @AaUS | A@ w @AaUS rATU | jq U TIcf U@ K |  cM a c OZ FZ !  cIAaUS -~^ mTf@ AS OZ AOA@l BSF O^q sAhaUS gTAU | A@ UBq AaUS BS |

@AS rATU@ AS j@ c sR  S | ~A @B ATq j TU@  TU@ W c  sAR | AT@ j@ Z c s AB S S rATU | AT@ AS sc B Sq, Bq j-fQ -fQ - @c s Tv c  wU ! rATU j@q TUaS c | T mU,  @UB, mvU Aw @, ASB cA fc cA U@BS, ~LfmBS, AcA@ c ~SS, c B^AS-AcccAK@f TS @ @ swsw Z, jTSA@ AcT-q^-ccS ... fc c c^  @v s jZSR ~a, c rATUq BSF | ASBR j@v cr gU O@A @S, c rATU s @f@ c j@- TUS @ BS |

gFU qASfAe-j Avv jqO-~-A  ATmv Uc j@v gU @ cUAaUS | @AS @Ae @mv Ac ca ca  ~v @Av v@ r @AaUS fc c | dH Bv AaU, ASB pBSrfU QT cr @B UAw @T Zv fc Tn OBS AvT Tc sAw rK @AaUS Bv | j-@AS @B U@ F  co Sq | A TAU@ cFc cIS | A caq gFU qASfAe AvT BSF AcrK ~A@ ~STS c @ | -ca fc AaUS q F cO c Ac | m c AS AcrU Av Uc cUAaUS @v | AAv U dK aS j@BS Sf ~SH @B @S, j ~T cq BAS | ~B@ jq ~SS ~AT q TSSf jT A T@ ~So @c, mTf m F O@Av mf  R @ | @AS Nmv S wSwS ~S TZ JA AS ~i-ASr Wxv @B @ aS s TSK,  J jq BSFq aS @H cA J ~cTS rf o ZaS jq TAUq |

cU @AU ToF AFq AS mf AS @ AaU | j @AS jq c av av TSAc@ mrU BSFq fc j ca  wUS jZS |

jq c j cIS, AFq rATU ~cS ~S@ | sAR ~B@U q BS ToF T ~ATU , c c   rATU AZvAZv  waS Zc, TI TI fAT Ac S fc | c Ac  SS r gcA e BS qc AS @ ~B s^ rATU cO c  | @SAS avZv OA @R cUSAS TZ v, T AG ~wU ZaS fc c B, w, ~Am, ~AG | ASB O@A @ fc sswF @T  j@n TUaS c |

~\cf A A@ ~c OZ S  s, fc OZ US | ZcSq c A@ | j A @T jTASq c ASBS, jq aUT Av j@n c SS @a, q j@v s rN .... Tv @O BSU A cq ZR  Sq | jA@ RA@ A@ OZ c^ @ Uq gU TS @US | TAvrS d FmTf cUaS, AS j@c ~^ OZ c^ @ ASB  j@ c | ~LAO^S @c |

~B@U rATUR cUS @v | @SASq rS anf AaUS S rATU, c ~B@U TI TIq cr rAS@ eU cU US | jq jcq  | AT@ gcSr SS @B sw A s c, ~O rATU ~A ~Av-j @B OUa, aAv Sc  Sq | ~ j vSrS @ @S, AT  c  wa, j@  ~ sha S |  Tf TvR  j@q AS BS @c | j@ OU s@ |

-j@ j@ ! Tf cc-T BS shaS, BS ? ~T Tv A@ j@cq @ Sq s, R@ MJa A @ Bw, ZR R cFcmU Z ~ ?

rATU c gU, jq j@ T-T @ cQH vSrS ~ sc S | T sS ~ @  S | ~, jZS c  wa T, ASB@ O Z R | ~JOU ~Uw @ ! rATU c cAr cCAU T  waS | T@ a, c  R - AS  c^ TB @c R@ AS - Za cCAU @ TSK @ AS cU cr A@R @AaUS fc |

- ~AT TI TI AFq ~c@  sq fc | j@v gc Z AT | ~LAO^S @ | qxvmv @ | ~LAcrKH | A@ BSF j @B @B, ~ @B ! e BSFq  | cq ATU gU @ BSFq  | A@ Ug jTS @B @ s T ASB U@ q TSA@ esw S @ ? e BS T@ j@v  qha  S ~T ? @ BSF j @a fc ? @AS Av ? @AS @a T T  AvTxv s^ | ~ j@BS U Sc T @B BU | A@ e ? AT cc Bwv Sc U@ R sc ?

rK s^ AB S   qU S | T ^S - @AS ~ ~T  @c ? q  mU a  @q cq, jq @B d U, j   Ac   W OU sc | ZS AT T @B ASq @ | AT@ AS jq j@v @ fc cr, rATU O gU @ BS ? AvAg AST A@ AAU @SFS, Ac prF ZUq a AT@ @U U ASS fc | ~T Tv@ Ac c S @SAS |

@ s A wU c AS ! AT  TZTAZ c @AS w\  S | @B @B ~ @B ! ZAS@v Ug q AB  wUS | , jq -AS AS @vU cr | sc AS   WTAS AT | @ s w\  | SS O@A, q AS j@v j@v l@xi .... cc @a  @ r | q a AT T | AF, jq cF rATU J@ A AaS | AT c Rv rATU T @ gw @ AS |

gw @ AS ~R @ A@a | cK WS TW ~@r b@a, ~c r ~U-~U SfU ~@r  ia, fc c T @va qU-@Av-ATAve AS | @AS gU @ j@v cq  AS | rf  rATU-AT@ AS Uc qg cA  AS | c^c^c AS ZUTU ~ AS | rATU  oq @B @ a @  S |

jTS @ @SAS j @ TSR AS | vSBASv c ~U @ Ua TS@ | UFvv ZU @B ToF c wUq  | SA@ TcqU j@c rfo@ ocS ! @U@ BxvrS T Bv-j mq ZS @Bv R-q @c | aUv Ovv, R ic j@AS |

WAT AaUS, TS U vSv ~S@QH JA ~a | @ jU ! jTASq  ASv T Aw MJac,  R Uv @U TrA@U | BSU A cq Z O @US | WS @U e a A@aq SB jU S | g TZ US | ~, aUT v ST wa SA@ !  A TZ cUS @A | @ Sq | j@BS TSKR S | ~^ ~Fvxv aUv  @c | j c @vTxvv j@T j@U AAS !  ~c  SA@ ! Amv  wAU j@c Z ~ BSF i JUS | ZSq OZ U TSKv@ | TS Av BSU WJK c J@q ZaS | s@, j@BS U@ ~a ! Tk BSF UR g AaUS cU j@v UBR U | c c K | BU cU ZU j@ ~S@v BU Z ASUS | ~, rA^ | TSKv O ~a, ~O @ cUa S - ~mAm ha | , ~OS TSK@ mT mcr ~S @ T@Ave @ Aw @T rZSAS fc |

- @ jUT cUS  ? r @US ASBq |

Ay ceU gU@ Bcc AUS, ~AT BAS S | BS TS @MkU co @Aa S | BSv A@ AFq Zc Bdf ~S @aR ?

OTA@ US fc | Ai@ jq@T @ @ cU @ |

@ ? OS @ ? S:, TS  a S |

c ~A US | cCAU, w\ @ Tv @Av R sc |

- OS  cvq | q ~S B^ @q  ~AT  Aa | ~AT ~S BfcS | @AS  ~S@ jTS j@UAv UT, q @v @ AB @ jUT |

Tm ha ! cr, fcR @ @T sS S |

- R | cIUT | , ~S STv A@ ATmv BfcS ?

  @ US TSKAv | c, Av Zc ZU  | q @UB ASU fcR jTS @q S | rATU ~B@U TI TIq cUS, @AS ZU wU  S AT | AFq, @v AS AST TS T A, ASO wU TAB hOH @ cU cU cAI fc cUq waS |

s s OAaUT ! jq cA-wA-cF cFU^ jq cq OAaUT ! Ai@q  | \T TFS cU s cI, fc  q-q | ASB O To-cAXo-AcF-rT Uf @ ~B jq s Bw j MJaaS, j@q  Z cU ! ~ A@q c OA ~a BfcS @a !

cc cUS, BfcS U c Sf T | ASB T @ c s, T Aw Tr ~r | c .... c Sf A@ T Tr ? @ Sf TI A@ s, @ Sf A@cU @ ~SF Z c s | ~c @ Sf  rZrZ aA A @ ~cf BAT PA @ jAw s | @TS Sf  OR, @TSgc jw OR v T@q Ai@ @ c | fc BfcSSf rZrZ S aAR TpH  A c OUa jAS o | jAw OUa T Tr ~r |

avv @ RiS fc | U@v J c Zc Z |  r@ qc  wT @ AS | m Z AS | TSAc@, sAco R TAO^ qc AS fc AaUS Av j@BS ~Fv | ~O  AcU B  j@PAZ@ Tr c^ s^H avv @aS @U AS, s m c qvA@ Acr @ ASB rS @A s^ AcBS AAaUS q Tr pcf BfcSco ~n^ U j@@ a jaS | J @a  ~ j@vq | ASB @a l @ | Ai@ s-T Av UvqT Ac QT AeS gw T, ZS ASB TSccf ~rcoAv TkUoS @ a jaS c ~@KH | q ~K S @ aUv @ A wU !

@S w^cF cU wU c A@ cU s !
- BSS BS, ASB @a l @ BSF @ A@a a  ?  v aAa, A@ @B  @Aa | s @Aa, TSK BSFq  @Aa | nf T ZvAa, rK s^ TB @Bq S Uwa v !

- TB @B, SA@ oSf ASA^ JABc ? TS@ OZ-i  sha S  fccc ?
j@v wq  fc |
U@v J g@ cU TS @  @a SA@ !
- SS BS | ~S@ U j@v @ cAU | ~T @S ~SrOS Sq | s @Aa  cI S AXo^ ASAa | AO@Uq ~cw @ UAB@ ~T @a cAr dLkH ABAS | ~cw L S @ jqs ~B jZS j MJaAa,  @R @S QA AS | ce ~T Ac ~T  o mAm cJO  a |

- Ac ! c oH TSK T @v cUUS  U ? Ac Ugv@ Z Aw @ ~r TpFq s ZUT ! q s SS TB w m ~S@ Ac cJO  Bw @ @ AaU, v  ~K @q U ?

- BS, ~AS A@ @ ~T c @ j AvU BSS, ~AT BAS S | c @v sZS cUUS, U SS | KUca c m Z AaU | cq sZS BSS, j @R BSS s q m Z @Bv AS  @AaUT cUq rS-@A @S A@a  @AAS | AS ToFAc cA aU ~AT | AS  AS cA ^ @ v@R @ S | jTSR a .... T o gv@ Av AaS | FS FS q wT g SS A Za cA cq, ~ T ? T o q FSv@ Z v BU ATAvaS | q ~cm SS TB w m Z AcUA AaU S A@ ? ~T Tcf sZS vv gU @UB rSU rS cFm, ~AT ZS AU cAha jZS @ ZS, wT-w v-cB | oH TSK@ XXo @Aa BPSA@ OS | @Aa ..... @H, ZS q @Bv Acr @Aa g @ | AO@Uq ~AT s @A,  ASB  xv A @A | Av sZS R jU, TS ToF  A@ BS | A@aAS  @q m gC d |  s^H cIS ? BS ?

~S@AS  c@ ToF q s^H ~Sgc @US fc | gT @ AiAaUS, rS fc, Z@ qmU ~wTf T @ AAB AvO Ac BS @Aa q | jq S @wB, j@v ~FA@rS AUZ  jZAS |

- ~AT ? ~AT  wBrSvR r @AAS, ~T swF A@ ?
- ~ Rc q ~T R a  |  cA ~cm BAS ~AT | Av @q q jq AArS SR a | @A mU, TI TI sAc, TqS Ac,  Tv Av  Zv Ac | jq jU@  R Av @v ASg @ BASq  |

mg q d |

sAAS TSccf SfAcorf ~rco    eW | TS  wS Uq | sAS cIAaUS, SS TB w m gwUU  BA  j@Av @s Ac@pA   c OUa, AS j@ @ Av aAaUS | B AS @Bv | AAS OqUR Av J@ a OAS | jU@ TSK ~F^ A, ~F^ l, fQHof, @TQT sc@Av@ o Z BSF O nAv AaU S | A@ @ s cFwf ^Ff T c UgS B @AaUS,  A@ @@ cU cIS s ?

 @AiS BfcS ewT | ~S@ ~S@U ca OU wa | SS @ rS d @, O@ABfcS o o jwS - ~, qc ASU ! e AmA ja, gq  o J @AaS, cS Ac, ccT T wJB BSF emS - cq  @aS j@ j@ | ~K @SAS @R | S, @R S | ~B jq U@v J@ AXOA ~Agsw @iw U OqUq c SA@ ?

- S, Ai@ AXOA ~Agsw S | ~AT BS OqAaUT, jq s jTSgc cU U BfcSo,  BSF @  S ~S ?

U@v A@ v-A ? jTSgc fc TS @U  Ua A@ @ ?
c ... rv S T@US |
- @ ? S, @ Ai@ S | .... j@v ~gcco ... S, Ai@ ~gccoR S .... A@ sS j@v | A@ sS @ AaU, U S ! Ai@ jq@T a@-cJo BfcS OqAS ~AT | .... j@v r TI TIq TS W@ Z ... BfcSSf o ASB ASB AS^H @  S @S ? @S A@ cU  ?

~S@QH OO | ToFc MJa jqgc BfcS@ A Z STR A@ BfcS ?
SfR A@ qha @ jq@T, lTZ s^ \v c Aw Z ~ ?
BS, SA@ BfcSq @ cU RiS, ~S c @ Acr @ qha @a | cI Aa, ~AS ASB A l, Acrm | cr S  q U | ~T Zc BS qha @a, ~B@ AS ... BfcS jTS ApA QH j ~S @TS Uw ? BfcS @a ~S OA A@ ?

BfcS @a OA !
TS g c J | S:, TS @S OA  Sq ~ |
rATU Ai@q cUS | @B Sr | ASB  xv A @Bv U | jqv@q | Bv, TrS, ~A - @Sv BSFq vS Sq AFq | jq Tk BS r TZTAZ  SS @ UANo @S fc - jq jU ca @v AS ^ ^ AcOH @R j@L R AS |

AFq @ A@haAv j s S | BfcS ~ v TrS, @v Acr vF, A@a v@ - S:, AFq ~ jc AS gcaS S fc | @TS i SfUO  ~U gv a wU |

Zc gU @@ AT | AT c gU @ | c mkH @, c qha kH @ |
ApY ~UA @ rN @v cA jU |

- ~ A@a Oq S BS | Tv Zc gU @ | Z rA^ @ |
.... ~ .... Zc qha @ .... T@ ASB @a jS AZ | cc OU waS, T j j@U !

@AS T  H ZU @  S | kgK @ o cv@q @, H ~U @q ! T .....  v@v@ TZ S CS UU v U iJv T .... @AS T @U T Z WTS AS ! T, T w !

- ~T j@v T Oq | T | ASB BSF ASB T @ cJO T |
@ A@a @ ~a | ~S@ wS m !
@@ cU AS |
Av @ j@v jS AB R PA @ wS qha ~a | m .... a m | ZAS@ ~w BS cUAaUS S ? JABc L @ @ ? @ BS fc wgf wS TS  @v c cJo ~a A@S ! jq B^q j@c q L @ TA OS fc |  @ A@ ZU cU s @@ ? TS TS gc ZaS, rK BfcSv ~ L @cS S @R | TSK @B @cS | TSK BSF @B | L A@ o j@@T ? q @S ~co c @ av OUaS .... BfcS L .... TB e ABS A ALUS L .... WH o TB SS AST L .... j@c BSF mofSgc cJO OS fc | ASB BSF cJO | ASB qhaT cJO |

c ^ Uw | q @c @ TS  ... jq @Bv  wUq @AS T AS:r Sc QH ~c cAI ... S:, @B ~ rK  S | Z @U aS av avq T OU wU ~S@ | j@c ... o j@Avc BSF.... j@c T  cJO OS fc |

BfcS q Tv@ c  ? ASB T @ @AS BSF cJO cS  ?  OZ c^ @q cF@U   cA ~r ZJBS fc |

k @ @ @ cU rN, Tp SO - w^cF j wU cAI | OZ ZU ZS, TS Av  @ Sq ! OU^ vS @ @ wUS BfcS, SA@ BS ? Tv ~c U@ Uwa, @TS j@v ~U-~U gc | @ cU AFq gU UwU | @p BSS U S BS@ |

~ha, ~T BfcS ST BS @S ?
gcSv T ASq vS @ ST  cFm rATU US fc |

(c, Ac, 2006)

~UH: AK Oncf

jq UZ ~S @TS UwU ?