PALITA
Arindam Banerjee has married Mallika Mandal while they were Postgraduate students in Vishva-Varati. Arindam’s parents turned their back on them. The two lived in Arindam’s university quarter where he was now a Professor. They had a merry good time for a couple of years of marriage. Mallika had chosen to be a mother only after enjoying the first flush of pleasure and joy. After all the marriage cost them so much! But when she chose to be mother she despaired. She could not bear a child as Arindam proved sterile.
It is a truth that life never stagnates (= becomes still). Arindam stuck to his studies and books, and Mallika became more and more involved into the ‘cultural’ fold (= cultural programmes) of the university as she had a charming voice.
It was holiday. Arindam was dusting his bookshelves and the study-room. He hold close to his view the framed photo of the girl. She was dark of complexion, medium high, but bore a shine and polish on her features, -a santhal girl whom Arindam and Mallika called ‘Palita’, Palita Oraon.
“What would be her age today, Mallika?” “A little over fifteen”, she replied.
Arindam was thirty, then. Passing along the canal one morning he had found her crying. She was an orphan, Arindam was told by her caretaker. Her mother had died with her birth and her step mother behaved with her in the usual manner. Anyway, Arindam had felt that adopting the child would meet two ends of his life: it would be an art of charity and it would fill the childless vacancy of his house.
Indeed it did fill. Its naming, clothing-dressing, teaching evoked (= called up) in Mallika the motherly virtues, feelings and sentiments. Arindam took her on his bike to the Bolepur market. Everyone loved her. At nine years she displayed (= showed) dancing talents, received accolades (= awards) as Chandalika.
In time she took over full charge of Arindam; Mallika had little household work. Palita called him Dudda (-derived) form of Daddy, and Mallika Mammu. – a corrupted
Arindam’s most favorite taught Shubhendu was a regular visitor at his house. He teased (= made fun of) her as ‘Kapalika‘ often for her dark colour. She often complained to Dudda. Their pure intercourse (= mixing) pervaded (= spread over) the house like an aroma (= sweet flavour).
She was eleven when, once, she fell ill. In her delirium (=mumbling in high fever) she uttered Dudda and Mammu. Arindam and Mallika nursed her by turn. Arindam often thought how this orphan foundling (accidentally got child) had filled the void of his life.
Mallika was the first to notice Shubhendu’s photo in Palita’s Zoology text. It had sent a shiver through her. Shubhendu Sanyal’s parents were orthodox like her own father-in-law. She recalled what kind of dislocation she had caused in the life of her husband. It was a permanent (= not to be cured) sore (= wound) in her soul. She told Shubhendu about her discovery and they thought of advising her in the evening. But before sunset Shubhendu’s father almost came on them charging. Their son and Palita had eloped (= fled together).
Arindam was wordless. But Mr. Sanyal only remarked, “You did wrong, Mr. Banerjee, to give the child shelter. These illiterate tribals and lower castes are seldom grateful”. The speaker told it foolishly, for Mallika was there.
When Arindam asked Mallika about the likely (= possible) age of Palita, his mind was racing through this brilliant chapter of his past life. He knew, being a daughter, Palita would leave them one day. He was quietly laying by (= storing) for marrying her with befitting glory.
Today, he brought out her infant dress that she wore when Arindam brought her first. They were preserved, washed, cleaned and pressed as his cherished (= much preferred) memento. But she could not wait so long for her Dudda….
So what! She lives in memory. Parting is such sweet sorrow.
