Kusumlata draped her saree over her shoulders, in the typical bengal style. Her dark complexion complemented the light pink taant she was wearing. As she finaly went on to complete her look with a touch of vermillion over her forehead, her husband called out to her,
"Kushum.. chaa ta daao" (gimme tea, Kusum)
Hurriedly, she fastened a keychain to her aanchol as she went to the kitchen to boil water.
She reflected how boring she had become- her hands, which once never touched the utencil is now accustomed to the bruises. Marriage was long, and monotonous, without consummation, without happiness. She was a small-town girl, married off while pursuing her M.A. in English, to a wealthy family who promised to let her study and had sent 10 suitcases full of gifts enough to impress her father for his daughter's hand in the marriage with their only son.
Her husband was a drunkard. Settled in Delhi, he would go to different places and explore the world all alone, leaving behind a waiting Kushumlata, lamenting over her father's decisions. Manob never really cared about relationships. All that a wife meant for him, was a full time servant who has to listen to what he has to say. He remained unperturbed by what his wife wished for.
Kushumlata, on the other hand loved him. She never knew why, but she missed him whenever he wasn't there. She missed how he used to order her things and force his decisions on her. Perhaps that was the beauty of a relationship, of a marriage. Perhaps that is how two people can bind themselves together forever in the marriage...
Kushum was happy that for the past four months, he was here.
She would take extra care of him, and every morning, take extra time to look more presentable. While she would normally remain in the house wearing a maxi, she would ditch those to wear tants to impress. But perhaps, he was too busy to notice.
One night, as Manob was lying with his back facing the bed, playing with his fingers, he called out to her. She smiled coyly as she went near him, he placed his hands over her shakha pala, and gently said, "I am worried."
"About what?"
"Nothing. I don't want to lose you."
She was surprised. This was perhaps the first time he said that in the 12 years of their married life. She noticed his moist eyes looking at her with pain, for the first time.
But alas, her happiness was short lived. He breathed his last.
His actual cause of ailment wasn't known, never did he even rest for a day. But was it the same reason he stopped his journeys to stay in that so-called boring house for four months? Who knew.
A year and half has now passed. Her Jaat neighbour Pinky got pregnant with her second child six months after Manob's death.
Her birth was a big responsibility for Kushum, as she was almost like an aunt to her. The little baby girl soon became attached to Kushum, living at her place more often, sleeping with her, and eating whatever Kushum made for her. She was glad she had something to pass her time without Manob.
On her return from Kolkata after a month at her mother's place, The elder daughter of Pinky was angry at her absence.
"Aunty, for a whole day baby hasn't slept. She didn't even let us all sleep in peace. Why were you away?"
Kushum could hear the baby girl screaming her heart out, wailing to be taken by her in her lap. She opened the door of her house, singing a lullaby to make her fall asleep, and noticed how the fingers of the little girls were playing with each other, the hands gently resting over her tiny chest, just like Manob. The lovely eyes would remind her of his last gaze at her before he peacefully drifted to sleep forever.
"Kushum Didi.. we were thinking about a proper name for our little girl" Pinky reflected loud, sitting besides her.
"And did you think of any?" Kushumlata asked, still smiling at the baby.
"Manavi. What do you think about it?" asked Pinky.
She looked at her in disbelief. She didn't know what her reaction should have been, but she definitely did not tell Pinky about the meaning of the name she had uttered.
With a smile that was truely from her inside, she looked at her teary eyed, and said,
"Manobi. This name is perhaps the best for her."
