"Daibaath" -- Bengali Short Story by Sabarni Chakraborty

Pcl

cAH Oncf

VFvcAv SS ia | r ~R j@v ha | ATxv AU, a bUq - jc  wa | c   @B Zc cAr A@a ha S | ATmf, TB jc @q jZS Sq | @ cAv @U jZS ZJ ZJ ZAU - g b@U j@v gk w aTaTS gc | Ac\  co  v@ Sq | j cAv @B BSF s v@ AaU  A  SS BAT A@S Ua - SS cA Ag @B d @ A ZS cA@e @A U@BS @ v@ ASha | ~c sZS Aco c ZS j cAv @B A@av @c | l@Ai Z - s Ac\@ ~S@ v@ A Za - Ac\  @ cU O @c | @ cU ~r ~r c @c | @ @ BFAKf @a Aw ~CAv  UAw ~CU  Uc - sA VFv ZUv A R s |

j@v c q UU cf | R AAv AaU v s^ | jZS AAv cO - R KA@ ST wMT | jq VFvcAv  rK  Awa | Or JO JAOU | v wv - j@v U UwS, ~SFv OMA@ c @ | c U@ jZSR Zc cAr ~AS | ~o@ jZSR ZAU, sAR VFvU AcAn  Awa ~S@AS ~wq | j cAv rK c  jq OMA@A O@Av a cf | B AS | jZS@ S SU B o^ AAaU | SU JO B v@ ASa -  Ac\@ S @ Aa | v@v O  o @AaU cf |  T q v@ A@Am jZS R@ T TqS @ ro A ha |

c cf A A@a B@ ~a | jq cA AcAg^ cA^ q T Zv A@a A@a @ v@ c@Ar  | R cO cAr Bw U aSA@@ @S VFvv @ | j@Av ^f @S ZS | ~AgS vAgS @S - sZS cA @S U@BS ~  VFv | cf@ Zc c A@S jS A  | @\ Ae@ ~S  - TI TI  Ae | jq VFv cA TS mv j@v j@v, ASBS - @S v@S c ~a JO ATASv JvU BTBTv c m - ZS | B c@Ar  cf | s Rq TAU @a ~ R JO rv v@ Aq s | BSS, cFc, AUr U@ - cq ~ | j@BS AUr ~A WS WS ~ | Uc, Tv, @U okT O, OZ v UUO | U@v r A sc T BU T w^  cf | U@v co cr JO @B @ - R BSF wA ~Q @ @ | @A wA ~  @A qg - v cf  qg  w\ @ BS ASa |

j@v k m cO@ Z U cf, ii , q  g A @ Jv ~a | R S  j@v SqUS cB cFw - cf BS  g j@v AvAS @A ~ j@ AUv j@v FAmv@ cU cA @ ~S BU | cO ~S@ k @ | v c cU @ ~   Wxv Uw s R | R SA@ Ac @T r | ASgBU c@ - S@v gJ, JU JO | A@ R j@v T ~a | q T j@v cA ~a -  @@v W gv cS ~a | r-~vr v@ @ j@ j@ W gv T g  | cA Uw BAT S@U wa a - q S@U cOR ~  | q T R@ jZSR ~  - B R  Zc cAS AvAS @A AB  | dAv, WwSf, TO @A, jJO T jJO, cAS c ~U O | cf BS  @H  Bq cO Zc ZAS@v R v s | cO R@ j@v g  | R s q A @ ~ v cf SAUr @U R O@A AS vSvAS c |

 wv A cO b@ | A  sc BSF cf A@ A@ c@ T  | cf  S - R A@ j@c A@ TZ WA AS wfgc c @ | R BS cO jZS  A@ @c | T R OMA@ W Aw cFwv Zc | j@U sZS VFvU TAU@ wA Z Bw ZS j@v cdT ~a - j cA OMA@, wA qg - @U cFc BSF | ZS Aw TZ  o Uc |  OU ~c OMA@ W - jZS@ @U gK s ST wdT | a Wv j@v vAUS a | @Uq  cFc @  - SAa v@ @ A  | cO R T@ S @c - T ~AT MJa wAa - FJ, jc Zcv Z Sc | S @  wU j@v Z AZ A AUZ Zc - T rK jqc S v@ R TqS @ @v SR c |  R AvAS @A ZUc | cf@ @ cUc, R cf - j@vZAS Zc SA@ ? cO  U hOH @  S | cf@ cU cf, O@ cU O |

~BR jq AST cFAnT U S | cf TO Wxv A dAv Z - A A Zc mv gw @ | j T cO R R j@v ZAr  Ri |  cO AAv @U ZRv R W Aq  s |  R AAv @U  ZRvR | cO AAv @U U j@v ~Aco | @SAS  TA AOAc @Av  - @SAS c m s | ZS m o j@v OU dAv ~ Acm f AcAn  | q Z | cO Zc m ~U - R T sL @ aU BSF Jo   | cf Rc T c v b@a ~S@ ca ~w | j@c avcU T T wa | cv J TU AaU | cf c qTA mU aAa - ZS T wU |  ~S@ Wv BU Za cf | R @S W v g SAS - Rc ~S@ ZO |  jZSq  @ |

  TZS@ ~w@ @ | cf ^cU HTA  j@v @i c cAaU | cv Uc j@v c^ Z a | c^ j@o  A wv JO@ ZA ZA W | ~ j@c j@ @H @U-ZS | ZS @ TI TI T@ w^ ~a | WU cq U OkS@T jZS Se, @UO - TI TI S A@ a Uw a | cf r ~R j@v U@ c ~a | cf TS OJ W -  B jZS c^ | ~SF WU BR q | cf ~  r c f - BSq OJ Z | cf OJ W C Ov B A@ A@ gcAaU | ~B rASc - v ZU AS | rAS Acc, ~ aAv AS j Bw Zc Ag  | cf sZS jU ZS OJ c j@ TU@ W bA@a |  UqS ~a cf r U@v | R  cf U | WU g A, AOl@ ~RB ! OJ W AA^ AA\T wS @Fv OUa - OJ co jZS cc@ SO Zha | SO O A@a S Uq OJ Wxv @T @ JOr S - ~ SO ZU ATv c | TS  g U@v TU Av | cf TS TS OJ W gv gc S | Tv w BT @ A@a Sq - oq oq @ SOa ~ ~ocf cc R@ OZ A AwUa | cf rfv wT wT Uw | R  WA Z |  v |  ~vv-Sv ~w OJ W b@ sc S | Tv W B Ai@ R j@v TU gkAK- OA\Ur R cA AS^ ~ASha AvT AvT @ BUa |

c^ gA  rN | cf W WA @U | H ~a | cf@ Z TZ j@wU A TZ R A@q jAw ~a | HcU @ Tv, Uc @U C cBZJq O TTSK | R jq JOv W TAU@ | cAv jq c^ W ~ j@v Uc c^ - A@ R R @@v W ~a | F@v W R j@v @ T K | OJ, ATSA - ~R @ @ c | cf T AS j OJ W AwAaU |  @ R Wq s | j@BS @a sR A@a Aco ~a | OJ R BSF vv @T @  - JOr cU ASr | TBB Zr @U @ZS @ZS r |  SU jZS TI TIq ~c T  S cf | A@ v Ai@ j@ Wxv BSF | JO ATASv cAr  wUR ~R ASr v@ | ~ cc jc @B A@ ~ WA o  ? A@ OJ A@aq a S - Ai@ ~ @ S |

H j cf r cU | @ TZ, gJv T wU q OZ, Tv Tv q  UU @a OAc | ASB rA ~JOU A cf TZ TAa  H | cf@ R j@v gU OZ Z | T ToF -ASc  jZS ~ cf | j@v c - H cUU | ~B OJA B Uc UqS ~a |  cf @S @a TZ jAw AS jU - R TZ O Ta, B S ~ ceU T TrS w^ - ~m ~m cUU, QH j@v TU ZAc SA@ ?

Zv @ OJ W B AavA@AS ZUU | W @ cU j@v oT @U iJv Tv Tf, AT A Fv  | @SA@ S A@ c^ B ~RB U Jv OU wU | R aSq cU OJ - Sr @a Zc - OZv UUO ~ av  ~a | cf@ Z  jAw j R wU Av AU | cUU, @ZS jAU ? AZAS  ? s@, ~ j@v c, q @ AS AcaS ic |

cf r c U@v QH JA ia - W b@c cU | j@v JR w OJTAS@ - OJ TOA@  R@ cUU | Uv gA  wa, j@v BU a ~A | cU OU wU c^ @H @UW A@ | H  | cU, Tv Zc B aSU | QS OJ @UW b@ wa - cAR jU Zc A - R B ZU cc T RZS @ g jU j@ Iv kAw^ - A j OJ U@v  oU | cUU, j, W j | ~B A@ B v@ Uwc - FJ | cf TS ~c c^  wU OJ W B |

H O@ T cU ~ wU Z wU | a@ aU - c jZSR @A MJaAS | ~ @-ca q m cA OJ BSF Z o ~Sc | cf H@ cUU, TA, ~B T T ~AT c |

ZAr  U H | U R c @v J cA  - q iJv @S  @S s^ MJa s | cf wU iJv O o O@ @ ~RB @ cUU, UQf aU, S aU |  wU  wU TU Z ve  wU |

 j@v TUc ZU wa cf T | R VFvcA s ~\cf Tv @B @  c Zc ASa | R ST TS@ | T, gq cS @ Sq | c j@v c ~a - c   | R Bw cv Z, Wg  | R W Zc cAr k S - Jv ~oWxv | kL ~R @T @ BSF Tv r s cAv ia  g A s @ | m A W s S |  cAv aS A@ Jq   ~a qJv,  @AO, cAU jc | A@ jZS @S U@ s Sq | Tv  g Aq s - aS mv Aw  | jgc ATASv JO@ Jv m @T |

AvAS @A o A j cO ~c v sL @ R U g ZAaU | cf cUU -  s Tv cA wU, R T @ | BAS SA@ ?

cO TZ U cf A@ @U | cUU, @ ? @  ? cf TZ cJ@ | q j@v J |  s BATAmA Uv jZS AaU  ToF j@v ca @A c aU AaU | R  A @ - AZAS @ZSR ?

cO OZ O@O@ @ iU | FJ FJ ZAa  | A@ jZS   ATAmA jZS Sq |

 A@ a | @a@Aa @ VFv cA PA ha - @R S @R @B @a R | Rq v ToF ~rSq OUa Ai@q |

cf cO@ j @ cU @H ~a | Tv oR  wU j@v wU icq | ZS K O c  aUv W | cU c  aUvq TS@@ A @ Aa | Rq aUv ~ TS@ ToF gcc ~a jv s cAr U@ BSc q gU | ~a Tc @Bv @ c cU Ai@ a | sAS cO  AAv AS @Bv @ sc S | @H cO A @ ~ | sAS @B c AS v ToF cf aAv q c | Tc @  AAv Tr  | R @ZS A @ S | j@v ToF j s | Tr c a | Ac R A@a BATBT ~a,  U-vU  | @U@ @ AS @ Sw v@ BSF | r R c@ cM ~a - aU, aU cM, SA, SAS, c ~a | jZS R j@v TTSK Z ~a - q TTSK v j@v aUR ~a | -aU jZS U@ a - @U@ m vFA OU | @@v avZv WvS WAva -  @ TI TI B @a | Tr ~SF U@ @ha @ Zc gUc |  U VFv ^f ~S@ @ASf cf@ rS | TS@  Rq BATmf aUv Ai @R cUa - AcrK @ sZS Rq ATAmA U r cAv @B @AaU | TS@ w  wU Tr@ A Or v c s Tv  aUv  K @ AUa | cfR j@q @ cUc U VFv ^f@ | ^f cUc  c^ AUr c@ | ~ AUr aUv@ AAv R@ A AUAZ Sc s R TS@@ R @ Aa |

cf @ cUa OfS ~ Sxv  | OfS jZS@ iA  | cr @@v AUr @ IU ~a R ST | BATS ZU a | AT, U ~ - cq @ cha | Sxv j@v av v@ OU | BAS qAS - wAv Zc B av  | R v@ A @A cB s |  O OUS TU ceUr fTS A ~, RZS @ TU ASR ~ | ~c @ UR R wA g S - j@  @@v wT Ui AS B v@ OAU oR  s |

W b@U wUf - Sxv Z TaU | OfS wU A@ A@ cUU, A@ w - wU s  ZAU | cU OfS wU cU @ T bU A BU ATAr AU | ~ j@Ti Ov  AS OfS TZ TS  Z cUU, ZR |

T Z Z @ U | R OU ~c ~qv Sw | Sxv R v@ AS ~c | v@ @c A@a ATxv cFw, @AO cm, jqc | v@ v gk Sc v UAw ~Sc | wA wR ~U Scv UZ ~a | Rv R A j@v @ IAU A b@ AUq c | cU A@v j@c J@ @ | @ sA v@v ZR  gcc  cA PA @ BSF TU ja | cf ~ OfS RZS WAv T UA@ @c | TS@ sq RZS ~c RTAS aS @ R TZ O o R TZ, OZ ~  cJo Uc |  v@ U g A@ R@ rq O O A R c | TS A@ BS ATxv cm, @AO, cAU c- jc R@ ~U @ Zc | Tv@ O o c @c cf ~ OfS - s SO S @  | Sxv P P @ v@ aAv AS ic j@c HcU i@ |  TU ZU @ AL H |

Tv ~crF Ac@UR j@c ~ | jq  Ov Sw | l sZS s ZS  ~vv cB s | A@ ZS  cAv g A v@v v WW ~^@ @ cU ZS b@ S, wA m A W s | @Bq @Bv BSF ZJ ZJ cUvq gU |

OfS wU j@v Uc OT@ AU | cUU,  sq cAU v@ U ~w ~AT j@c Tv@ OZ Zc | TqA  c T  @ZS rqAS | j@v OS sZS R sha, v@ a R c@AT c |

Sxv T wA AaU | R cr Sr  wa | @ @ ABg BU vS cUU, Ai@ @, ~ATR ac S | @OAO T -  q ~U | gcAa wUf@ Ac @ c - R@T c j@v T W AS ~c | A@ wUfv U @ sc ? jq rU OfS - q wUf@ ZAc ?

OfS Sxv a j@v \@ UA TU | cUU, O rU |

Sxv J @ j@v AS:r UU | cUU, cf rU AB | Rv@ A A@a c S |

j@vq ZAU F@ a FS g | sA AS Tr @Tq @ | U cf  AAv a c S |   r ic cf AAv a @ AwAaU - @S AwAaU | @T A@a U A@ @ sc R Ai@ @ R | cU v s^ cv sA AAv S ~ U cf Sxv TcqU S @ c - ~rS @FSU | H@R S @ A c - TU ~B sha S |

~S@  cf WT g s | R a  Wv cq ATxv cJoS OU | jZS wT@U | j@v T ~ j@v UAOv U cAUr - q a R | wT@U UR AcS AcS @a Tr | c m c c qSc vAC @rS AUZ Za - TFUA Tr  @T | TFUA ~v@ TrA vAC WTS | cf S ZAU j@v Fxv, ZAU w | TrU R  v cAr @ ~nTH @a - j@v B U v cf  j@v Ov @ O TU | ~mv cUU, R rU |

R AO   T R a Z  | av ASO - R OUv R JU a  T i@ s | j@U  Bwv wA Z BSF - c VFvU a  R | r AU j@ v@ ~@r Z s | jZS OJ Z sha - j@ IU@ TUT BaS cf OZ TZ aA a | R wU @S Uw, A@ R BU Zc BSF Ri S | @v a AcA cAU ~ rUq - AOl  q j@v AcA oA U | oJ a @ ~ AcA TZ UU ~Sv@ WA AA Z | ~@r OJ T Sq | @S@AS  @ R i sha, BaS v@vR AaU AaU  sha R @U C w j@ Bw @ ~ j@ Bw | ATxv cJoS OUv cr wT - AS cU  Za - j@v  ia cf T g A | c T sc  @B AaU j@v m g Zc vU | ZS   ^W - ASAg R SS r | SS   ^W wT  @ | A@ cf AS: WT AS gC ZvAS  | Bw @ ~rU ~ qJ U - R w R iU rf  Bwv OU@ AS WAT  ~c | AS cU ^ Rm@ Bw A | Z BSF U AB AS ~ g, dAv, U, f - U IU UU AT @A | cS TB SS  aq A - j@ ~S@ aqTZ cS c j@ wTU Z BU Ac o U | cf jZS Bw @ - kHsc@, BS c cf |  AAv c T - R UAi i@i@AS TI TI B ~RB @ wU ZJ@A ~RB S @ cf | ASAS ~w OJ W AwAaU | Tv TBB Z AaU, gU BTAS AS | cO @ gc cf | rU jZS T  ^ Z Zv  WTha | R T ~c R Ac O @a | Ac  wU  Zv R r cMvR rc - j@v cr STT @AO TaU | cr ~a rU | OJv ~S@ R i Awa,  ~UR  Awa ~S@ k - cf ~^@ b@  Awa | R OZ cB ~ - R ~c WAT  | Ai@ g R WT gC sc - @U AAv R |

WvS S@ j@Av Ar | j@v aU - ca JO@ c | vv e, Tvv O | jq cAq j@v VFv cA^ j@ A -  aU | ST ccS | ~c avv ~  |  jZS j@v @ASr O c ~a | TAv @  S v JO @ASr -  r j@v Tq i@S | Tq-j j@ r AcA\e j w i@S a |  VFv @B Tv - s chOv@ ZrS @ - ASO JA JT @ OJOha | R @a@Aa ~R AS O BS Rq cf @B T JA ~a - R ABgc OJOTAO @a | cf cFv ~JO @ ASU | j-cAv v@v@ @B jZSR OUa | ATmf co @SR T A@a @B @AaU,  Tqv RZS Zq OU Awa | chOv T co jZS WT UAwa | @B Tv chOv@ AS ASO ST c^  w\ @AaU | ~ q sw chOv Tq c R i wa | Tqv Z a Zc bU gc | Rv c R Ri j@v chO Q r UR ~c S | cf ~ Tr@ Zq TU AOl@ @ R BS@ cU UwU chOv@ SAT ~S BSF | Ar S@Av R ~cm Z R JA AZUAZU @ a, -j@  jA@ RA@ Jva, ~ ASO JS TU g OJAO OJAO ia | AS v cq  v @ASr - j@v jA@ RA@ Uq chOv R @  sc |

cf Tr@ cUU, T, AT M Aw R T@ jZS @ AS j | ~ TU@ cUU,  @ASr Ai@ ASO J - U o UAc | ~AT R iAa |

Tr c T JAAaU | R@ j@  AU cf - BUA sR, A@ T@ cUR | jc Tr avU AJA A@ |

cf Tq j@  iU | chOv@ @ cUU, ccS, AT S S | ~AT T@ SAT ~SAa | cU cU ~R  o iU cf |

ic S, ic S - chOv hO Ac | ~AT mq-TFS | ~AT U c STc |

cSr @a | ~T j@v ZU ZUAa - cf cUU | AT O @ JA @ | SUq AT ~v |

ccS, JR, JR | jq Z, @ cW Ae A@ gc Tq c Ri | jq, jqgc - cU cU ~R  o |

rN @  iU chOv | ASgBU ZAr A | AU A cUU, cW Ae S, STS - AT STS |

c  W AT c jq aU | cf j@c TS TS kLv ~^B @ ASU | chOv jZS R cIAS s R  cf  SwU ToF | jq rK Tk UA S  - ~R j@o - ASB Tv ASO @ Zq cf Z @  cA Qv j@v  o UU |   cU AOl@ - ArAv Ac @^ - R  R ASB  Ti ~R r @U cf |

chOv@ SAT ~S  cf coS | @B T j@ @U@U @a - gAwF cf AaU - cf S @U s A@  - R @ U aUv co ~ cJO S | T c cUU, @TU A@ cfS | chO ~ TAv O @ ~a | R TZ @S - j WvS  O@A sc g ~a | chO T cf@ cc ca cU cU ASB VFv AS wUS |  cA Z AUS cU AT RTUv ~  Zc BSF PA @ Ae | cf c ZJBZc ASUS | avcU T-cc T wa, gqcSR @ Sq S :Z @r @US | chO cc ~wq vAUS Zc AaUS | jc AASR ~A @ j MJa wUS | cf Am cAXo ~ l O re @ R@ AUS j@ZS j@r v@ Sv | ZhO @@ - cf gcU | R aU BS cJAO AUT ~ AU Tv j@r v@ |  cf ZU chO T-cc BSq cgc cUaS s jc cf i Uq gU  | ~jc cf ASO STU |

ST j S U Tr @ | j cf,  AU S F | U Ag j@c ~  |

cf S W Aw AAg @S UwU | FU, cf cUAa |   SU - rU AT chO -- | OfS wU |

j@c   wU cf | jq ITUv c A@a gU AwAaU |  WA A@ j@c @U |   Ov cB | RA@ S TS wUwU OUa - cU  chO, ~T gw AAU @S ? T, cS, c, cf OdK Xo @ cUU, rU, jc  BS AS Sc ~AT |  UqS @v wU |

~ ZS cf OZ U TS@ AJA c R ia | ^cU @B @ ja |

(c, jAU, 2005)

~UH: BAK cS

jq UZ ~S @TS UwU ?