"Chaturtha Purush", Bengali Short Story by Damayanti Basu Singh

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

O dK

T^f c Ae

der,

~B ~AT aUTSKf ZAr \@ R gAa | wT  ArTkU U | R A@ ~T T ~S^ g ? j@ ~ccfS ASg ~S^ ~AT gAa, Aa, gAa - g g OU sAha ~S@ k @S T - ~SF @SZS -

~S^ @Hv jZS ~T H c^, ~T @SA^-@ S cU s^ rA^ Sq !

q sZS @U@ AaAU,  cUq @ R s | TS gU S UwUq @ S @T, S B  cA Aw Am T |  T ~T@ @f gUq cS ! ~AT cIT AS TS TS ~T@ aU cM Ac ZaS | ~mAm   @ gc, A@ jc gcS AaU g Qq F, q @cR A@a AaU S | ~ q ? qr@U ~T ~U -q q Fsw ~T@ AiAaAU j@ ~ScF T @Ac (@S @Ac UZ a AAU cU  ?) |  @Ac  ~T A@ gfKH c@-@JAS  cc ! j ^ @ j ^ @ j ~w  @ cUAS | ~AT A@ jq ~Ag ? ~T ~e p AaU, A@ S BwU @q ? q cAXoTS aU, Ov @ cI UAU cFv | ~ @ZS @SR cfR ToFq wAU S | \v ~T@ r AAU ~s |  iAU ~T BfcS cO AS mS, sZS ~T KnAv, US-S, AXoX^ c A@a AS ~@Ai J A | q ~T@ @ZS AcO @AAS, TUOS @AAS, @S cwc S @q cAI AAa ~T BSF q cT ~Aa, @Ac |

~B cU AXo Sq, r A@ ~T@  T AS:m gUc @ZSq A AS | @ BS, q ~T mTf U  q-R A S | gc ZAa, jq mTf-mf- @vq wUTU | R-SR j@v Ac  ToF @q s, UT AccR ~S@ cS - Qg - ~Agsw - A BT  | qBSF, dK-Sf ~r @ Acc ToF ZJB cU |

~O FZ, r, ~AT, q - ~T  av @ j@ Aa - mU rK ca,  @UB | @AS c^ ~T - if, Tcm, TTSm | rK s^, @Jo @Jo ATAU S@rU @ @T | c r AaU ~T dmSf, ~F^ Tocf, c US ~A AH, AO^rfU j@ A TSK | R @ occ@F | R@T ~^gc s@ jFT @Aa,  ~T@ il j@AS Ac @ OR ASB MgwF mA  AwAaUT | ~T T ha j@Av T@ r T ~oH dK s mf S A Oqa  gcq ~T crf UA@ AaU,  mc FZFS rq RiAS |

 cU A@ R@ ~AT  O cAr gUcT ?  T AaUT ?  A@ S | c Ac @ Q @ ~r dK cUq TS AaU ~T | ~T Ac TZ q sq ZAr AZ @ ZS, gv s   AaU  ~AT BST | rR BS | ~U ~T ASBS ToF jq BS-cI cFv AaU wgf R kH | s @H ~T AngB T S@ SA@ S , AaUT S@rU ~^US TZF nf - m A fcgc ~S AS c^ |

s @S @Hq @, K-H TUS jq ~T g@ TScf-L ASEOq rf Xo i AaU  @a, SqU ~T @ ~BR A@ @ ~vv qU ? T A AAS cU ~T@ AFw @AAS q, ~AT s-gUc A Aa  ~S @AAS @ZS | ~T @ AcU-SAB UR,  AS Ac^Tn ~mAm Sq r | @H  BS ~AT ~ q j@ AcaS rAr  w\ @ @ WAT A, A@ rfA@gc p qAS @SASq |

A@ BAdU ? ceUr @ ~T  s j@Av BU cCU aU j@v WAS @ PA AaU j @v r@ @ZS cU UT S @S cU  ? @H j@vq | cS-@TS ~^w jq mkU , Sf-dK sMS ~@KH, - r  ~T AccA BfcS  gkAT@ AaU SwHF | cR  ~T mTf | ~T rf A R ~w @ c S @, ~AT ~SF @S dK A rfA@gc ~@AK AaUT @ZS, jce @ wH @AaUT - jv BSU wgfgc ~AS co @c R | ~AT BAS, sAcAXo ~r @a cXo r mf- BfcS @S QHmf cU c ~@Am@ US AS:rN TS Sc | Acha  Sq, TSF ~gFR @c S | A@ @ c | mTf cU c ~TAH co @c | BfcS cQn R cT c O jAw, fSTSF gwc @SR @H @ZS WvAS R BfcS |  sA il BS  mf sAcAXofSgc @S j@ Sl oH aU T  wU AaU @SAS, j@ oH B AS R@ @ @ Zc | ~AT r mf, R@ gUcA, rXo @A, S @A; R ScAXo, AcFArQ, PosPms jZS ~T@ To @ Za, qBSFq ~SF @ @a av c AS @ R@ Q @ AL ~Tq | BAdU A T T sA c ~AT g AwAaUT j@, r a @@ mTf Ac @\S @AAS @ZS |

@ ~AT ceUr @ A jq BAdU @ cUAaUT | ~T BfcS j c WvSv @ j@cq cUc S   q  S | A@ @R AS ~AT kH F cU AAS  d | ~S@ Zb@, ASB@ cJAO cUAaUT; sS j@v rf Ks^ TS gcAXo U R Sl ~WvS AaU BAdU ~ ~T @, Acrf SF  I jF | A@ T @q ~AT BST BAdU  ~T @ @S J@R AaU S, JA@R AaU S | @ gUcq T  ~ jce m BSAaUT ~AT | q BfcS T | @ a ~ @ - ~F @ - ~BR ~T c@ ToF s  @ BUa,  @R @SAS cU AAS |

j c S  gU Uwa S BAS | ~T   @ vAS@ S Uq s q ~S@ cAr Zf A  ~T ~BS S | rf AOc sA BUAUq AUT,  cFA q R AO AaU | A@ A@ @c cU ? rf qha S U s @ BwSq s S | ~ @S s  ~@mS kH ~FArgc il Bw iAaU R @S cFZF BAS S | R TS ~a, ~  s j@cq ~T qha ~ofS S, BAdU T q v cIAaUT |

~AT sZS q. jS- j j@v jFqSTxv AS f\ R@ @ j@ ca BSF b@ sq ZS ~AT, q, r j@q j@ VFv AaUT cmvS | sMcS ~rc  cmc ~SAnTF cFcoS ~T TS ASAa ZS | rXo BSF @@Av lwf@p sc@-scf @cSf s s S j @ cI ~T T UwAaU |  ToF F, TpF, BU, ~FO ~S@ A@aq U, ~s @U B- c^ UT, ZTZ TU A@a ASf TSK, BSoH@  vS UT S ~T, ASBq ASB rn  i UwUT nTr | Acc @T gC wU | ZS ~T AccS ~Aggc@  gm, gmmF, ^, AB, UA@-AU @ cAXoTS BU Tocf aUT U@ cJO sS-S @ Acr Ai W @ S@rU gk STc cFcm @AaUS | AF cU, ~T HR cJAOAaUS | ~TA@ j ~c S Bw A s ~T gU UwAaU | cmvS A  c ~T ASBS e SS e ~S T  OqUT ~AT | g B^U |

g ZS ca @, T Acr TpAXo jce mha^F AS ~gFm  iAa ~T, q. jS - j jq ~v il-q  wUT | SS  ceUr A SgkArfU TA@S s q. jS. SS Bv PA @a  rv@ BS, cI | g@ a s ~AT AXo @AaUT, A@  v q A AAU |  q cc s j@ T O b gUgc R@ ZAc j @ ~ATR TS TS BST | ~jc  AB g@ Z ~AT j@ ca BSF b@ OU wUT |

BAdU AaU ~T Acgw AO jFAvxv, c jT. j. r @ b@a | ~T @f Ac ~T@ AS wT-TmU W @B R@q cU @US Acgwf oS | ceUr B U Ao aU BAdU, ~T T A^f, g, jT. ~q. Av.- B AS, A @ b@ ~q AaU  AcU rS ! qeAAB cU  S, @ cCU vS m | R ~T O c ~S@v av AaU cUq co @ Sl chO aU Acq ZAaUT,  s j@v dK e ~a  AcKR OS AaUT S | AS^q coF an T ~T @B Uw  l@ |

BAdU @a ~AT AaUT cf TS, ~T T B H A w TAU  SA@ ~w @ZS ZAS |  R S@rU ~^US @Aa, BU ZvAa, AUr  T ZAa - jc BS   ~q To |  gUc ~ R gUc ToF j@v Acv l AaU | R ~T@ A B @ | R OZ gKq v  T ~AT | m R j@ T IJ@ OU S A cUT, "gAwF T  Z AaU ! S BSTq S ~AT jTS j@BS cf-TAU !" OZ  UB@ BAdU, "gwF  ~T |"

ceUr ~SO-@SO ~T j@ WAa ZS | f\ R@   ASB r Zc Sr ~T@  ca | ~AT  kcc j ~w OZR AZAS, A@ T-cc -A @a  r w\ T^To T ST, cA J cCU gKq @ cUS | J @a s c wT, r, BU, jTSA@ -T\U ST SAa, cn AwAa | @AT\U, SZAU, TA, SfUTA, TUZSw, cArU, A - @ S ASB Ar@ ^S WAa ZS ! ~T ~B^ @U@ @R kccf - wAc cCU |  q, @f j@ ~TW SA vS ~Sgc @AaUT q @ZS-S-Z kcdK r A | ~T T @a  j@^cf Ac s ccA w\ S S c AaUT q BATf AaU AcnT  wT | WvSOn Z wU BAdU T c cA wTR  | OTl@ swsw | j@ @U RS UT ~T TAxv@ @\S rK Ac^ T Ae BRU O US BAT cA Z -  wT |

ZUAcU W kcc q wT MJa ~T YA UAhaU O BS | A@ ZJBZJAB @  T Agv MJa cS gC AwAaU ~T c@ | Sq, A@a Sq q S cA, c okAUml | o j@r j@Av U US jZS JA ~a | ZS jZS s @  kcdK BU c @ cc | TS Ae B c cq cA AOTn Sq, ~a o gCO ~cm AaS Bv@, s@ cU  a, sZS A T ZU sS, ^W cS oR , Aha g BT BU ASO AJA JvTS, avc Ta j q g i@ Z | ~T cc Ac r Acgw ~S@ ~wq @U@ OU j jq c mf c @AaUS, A@ ~T ~A-^ -A rK s^ b@ AaUS cU r Acgw   cA  | AF  Uq @q @va J rK BfcS | ~ ~T T i@T, AsAS A@S BUBU AJ Av, gA S OA, wU FJO   Hf v Acv s-e @pL @S, ~cm jq PcKTF F @ S  wU  sS | avcU ~AT J@ ZAa AAB @UAS T W TAv TI ASB Se TZTAZ  @ |

BAdU AAT ATAcAc cUAaUS, ~T Tn ASdK TUTS TTAS | TI TI gAc c A^ ZS TUTS q wFUq  UFi Oq@ sq | cm Zqc ORS B FRS gU ~AaU S ? cFv s ~ ~S@ BAvU J@ ~AT cIc OR @AAS |

BAS,  ~AT c@g @ AS ASEOq Zc mr@ TS ~cm AaUT, ~ BAdU @S K S @q ~oco @ | ~T rAcgw cAU UT cUq rKs^ R j@v SS  w U - q ~oco | A@mS  @ kcc gC jSR cCAU j@ U S, U cCAU TUTS ~U ceUr - q ~oco | ceUr ~T S, BAdU, jTS ~cR c  wU BSfA ZU - q ~oco | ~T T Ac T B B Ac c @ BSF f sS R-q | @S j@ ^ A^ Ac j@ O@ATUS cA oemk a ZU ST sR gC AJA c j@ ~ @ ~T j@L AaUT | @ K, @ K jTS U BAdU - chO T T @J gAAaUT ~AT | cS-c ~^@ IT STAaU, ZU BU AS, ~AcrF mNo OAA@, B BSA@ AS:rN BU-Sc a pAcf sS ~AT ~ BAdU a ~ @ AaU S | ~T@ r^ @ il BAdU R  ToF v ASAaU ~T@ | R c@ TZ Z ~AT  BSAaUT  dK | ~T Tm @ ~cw AS BA oAaUT R@, ~^@ ZJBAaUT R cAU rf, R iJv | sS ~T ATUS ToF Aq c Acg WO sc, c ~o US c |

FJ, ~AgoAS@ e ~T @@ jF cUq , s  AaU ~mf | ~ ~mf cUq fc ~ T |  R ~AT AaUT AccA, ^S T jce c c | A@U jF c U q TB AaU | A@ ~T -BSq BST, sZS ~T rfA@ kL OU sc j @ mf  @c ~T TS | BAdU @a ~AT s AaUT, TBem g ~AT s  @ ASB@ B @ A ASqAS j BSF ~BR @pco @A gwF @a | ~T SfL @ AOA^ Acc c A@A\ TpL qAS, AaUT BAdU ~cwTA T |

~U @f BAS ? ~T sMcS FrS cvq bU AAaUT S@rU ~^US  | vq AaU fcT T^ - ~T T - j@ Tl ~rc ! r X To AaUT Ai@q, gURcAaUT, A@ ~T @ ToF T ^S AaU S, rf Sr AaU S, sMS ~@KH AaU S, ~rH ~Am R AaU S | T c wUTf A^A AaU SS Acc m | ~ r  B^Tk @q Amof - r^, wf, m\c@, rfU rAH TSK |  AaU Acc ARAvArS | R a@ FS, ~AT ~ q R S - cJ   HS IJA T | ~T mkA, Hc^ OU,  r@ ~@KH @AaU, R AF, Pms, OAn wgf ~T@ | Acf mgc ~@KH AaU, ~O AO^gcS~r ~T AaUT j@L | ~r mTf-mf ~crFq | A@ rf-TS c w^f ~Uw @ A ORR T, ~@, ALfS, AAv qA^ Sr oS ~S^ ~T ~Ag cqq @ s sA S q ^F BAdU ~T@ mr @ |

A@ ~T Qn AchaR AaU ~crFcf | BSq  AcK  OS AaUT cUq  A Tk A^oF Tf AaU ~T @a |

j@ c@ wS @ AS sT A jAaUT @B rK @ | r  j@n BfcS r^, cS AS Ac^Tn AO oAS ~T BAdU A S-gU- T | ~S@AS s^ ~T m@ ~J@ AaUT AOAi ToF A |  j@AS r ~ ~AT g@ AS A jUT r | q jAU S |

Zc ~Xggc  @ AcAha^ c SS ovq ~T@ BAdU  Achav TS AS rZU | BAdU sZS Ucqv AS ~TA@ MJaU, ~T c^S @ @ T @ c AXo^ AS I @ AOAi R c^ @ AUT | ~T ZS @U@ Am | TS AaU jq AHAfS @ vS OUU ~@H R BfcS S  sc | R ~S@ ~S@ AOAi AUZ Bcc S  j@AS -R AUZAaU  rK AOAi |

"- Ai@ ~a | T@ ~ @SAS Ac @c S | A@ T qha T j @ AT rK @ A , jTS gcU gU @c | sZS AT ~T, ZS AT ~Tq @c AO@U - ~T TpFAS s^ |

@ AS c S
s ~T@ Aa @ZS |
rf ~^@
~T ~AmL B
g ~a T ASs
Acn - s  cFAw

wS A^@
sL Z ASgp ~ |

~AT sZSq sq
w^ TA
 @ T ~ |

~B q r@  OUU   swsw Sq cv, A@ BAdU@ gU @Aa j @ cUU g ATF cU c | Rq s cUUT, ~T c@ o@@AS ToFq R ~AmL BA ~a | sZS jq Am, U, ArfAU BfcS AS ~T H JA Ri, S wUAT@ A  O BAdU@q ZJAB ~T mpA ToF | OZ g q ~AcrF av T, ~^ ~cw g sR Z, qA^   b-j ~Am | gAc, ~AT @ ZJB c @ Oq S, A@ Pc ? ~c @S Pc A@ @ ~ j@c ~T @a AS ~  S ?

q A@ Acr @Ac Pc q  BAdU @im  g jU ~T @a SS N T AS ? gAHTn S @ A@ cUU BAS ? - jQAS j | ~Aa jq vU j Sc W | ~ rS, q  rAv  sv   AwAaU | BAS Rv AT sL U Za |  mA ~T Bcc ~Q S @q Z AU S | ~LAcrv j@c FZ !

@@U c q cB v c @UT ~AT | c@ g S w^ ASUT, U c@ U ~Sgc @UT q ~AcXo aUAv U gUc | SS rNf T AS BAdU c ~T @a A jU ! BSR Acr @ AaUT S ~AT | ~ AFq sZS R TZTAZ UT Tk @ g wU @A ca Acha ! ~AT sZS , ZS ~SF @ Bw Sq | BAdU q ~TW ~Ao@ ~T@ @a vSU, s ~Ao@ fW ~rH  ^S BA o T-@, mTf ~ @ mf-@, ~  T A c^ ~AUS @ c^cf@ | gJBfS T wA Awa Ai@q, A@  ~T BfcS @ @ZSq Ta sAS | ~B ToFcf ~AT AHcm BAdU ~A-OS A^oF AS @Av j ZAr R gAa | \@, Ap ASg | wT  ArTkU U | jq ~S^ rA@ @@ S @ U TS ha ~AT v sc | q a ~ @ cIc ~T jq pAa wS @ ?

BAdU@ Ae @A S d, ~T BfcS  @ @ Ac@\ S | mTf Ac r, c^ Ac q, ~ ~T ^S g, sZSq  @ S @S,  sTS ~T ~AmL ~er  @Ac, BAdUR q |  ~T BfcS O dK | ~T AOmf T |

ASB@ c gwFcf TS ha  ~B, @TS sS g-g, Z sS O  Oqa | @ o j@vq | ~BR, r SQ, BAdU @v R@ cU UT S |

( c 46, vc, 2010)

~UH : U TBT

jq UZ ~S @TS UwU ?