Lalbanu got pregnant at the age of fourteen. This good news came to him on a rainy afternoon. But this matter was not happy for Lalbanu. Sadness is evident in his eyes. Seeing Lalbanu’s sad face, his sister Farida Begum said, “What happened, you are not happy?”
Lalbanu does not reply. Farida wiped the tears from her eyes behind Begum’s cover.
year 1990,
At the age of twelve, Lalbanu, an orphan who lost his parents, came to Khan’s house as a friend of Majed Khan, the matbar of the village. She looks very sweet in her outfit. A colorful dream in the eyes of Lalbanu, who has just stepped into teenage life. With a dream of a sky, he enters the inner palace of Khan’s house after Bandhubaran. In this two-storied house, Lalbanu’s place is in a large room on the upper floor. The little girl did not know what the husband-wife relationship is? All he knew was that mummy said he would be fine here. This house is his. This family is his. Here she will get her husband’s love, affection, care. The most you will get is two handfuls of good food. Which he did not get at his aunt’s house.
Lalbanu smiles faintly at seeing herself once in a relationship. Then he put his hand on his stomach and said in a low voice, “Rice is very hot. Can I get rice here?”
The question lingers in Lalbanu’s mind. He didn’t know then that if he didn’t lack rice in this house, he would lack something else. Of which deficiency he is not aware.
Seeing Lalbanu engrossed in thought, his wife Farida Begum said, “What are you thinking about the new wife?”
“Nothing.”
Lalbanu replied with a faint smile. Farida Begum says, “Do you know who I am to you?”
“Who?”
Lalbanu does not know. So ask. In response, Farida Begum said, “I am your younger brother. Your brother-in-law’s wife.”
“Little Ja?”
Lalbanu became curious. He asked again, “How did you become smaller than I wanted you to be?”
Farida Begum burst out laughing after hearing the words of little Lalbanu. Then says, “Because you are the elder wife of this house.” No matter how young you are, you are my senior.”
“Will.”
Lalbanu nods her head. She understands. Farida Begum started many stories with Lalbanu. Lalbanu says a lot about Majed Khan in particular. At one point, Farida says, “Majed can caress very well.”
“How did you know?”
Lalbanu’s stupid mind raised a question. Farida Begum hesitated a little. Then he said, “Actually, my elder brother used to say. There were many stories about him. I knew then.”
“Big Ja?”
Farida smiles at Lalbanu’s words. Then said, “Yes. The one who was Majed Khan’s wife before you. ”
Lalbanu Majed Khan’s second wife. Lalbanu is a little surprised to hear this. His aunt did not tell him about this. Farida Begum, on the other hand, talks about her big collection.
Leaving Lalbanu in the living room, Farida went to her widowed mother-in-law Maleka Begum. Maleka Begum saw Farida and asked in a calm voice, “Say something?”
“I was saying Amma, I should have kept Lalbanu with you for a few days. In fact, he is very small….”
Without letting Farida Begum finish her sentence, Maleka Begum says, “How does Maya who sees red/thread become small again? Maya Mela has grown up. I will understand everything once Swami gives me adara koira.”
Farida Begum does not speak. Because there is no profit. Maleka Begum said again, “What is Lalbanu? you grow up Bhi Kaiba.”
“Well.”
Farida Begum shook her head and left. Maleka Begum rounded the cup in her hand and put it in her mouth. Sip the drink and say, “Small. If you were young, you gave it? We are not married, we are getting married at the age of nine. In ten years, I have been living on the log of seeing red/yarn.”
Maleka Begum gives a few words to Farida and Lalbanu in an annoyed voice.
Lalbanu is sitting in the living room. He’s a bit scared. At that time the door opened and Majed Khan entered. Lalbanu gets more scared realizing his presence. Majed Khan slowly came and sat next to Lalbanu. Gently hold Lalbanu’s hand. Lalbanu shivered a bit. Majed said in a calm and clear voice, “From today you are the elder wife of this house. Being a big wife is not enough. Big wife means fair responsibility. You will have to fulfill those responsibilities. I know I hear no complaints about you. If Amma or anyone else in the family complains against you…”
Majed’s voice sounds a bit hum/kier. Lalbanu trembled with fear. Majed Khan said again, “I have given two heavy gold chains to your uncle. Has he sent you to explain everything?”
Lalbanu shook his head. Yes, he explained it to him. Majed says, “So it’s done. Let’s start living.”
Lalbanu looks questioningly without understanding. Majed slowly comes closer to Lalbanu. But Lalbanu does not stop it. Mami and Farida Begum told him that Majed would come to him like this. He will like it very much. But where? Lalbanu is not feeling well. He is suffering. Lalbanu could not bear the pain and got up screaming. When Lalbanu screamed, Majed held his face and said, “Shout, will you drown my dignity?” Shut up.”
There was violence in Majed’s voice. Lalbanu goes silent. But it can not bear these. At one point Lalbanu loses consciousness.
In the morning, when Lalbanu regains consciousness, he finds himself in bed. Mother-in-law and Ja are sitting next to each other. When Lalbanu regained consciousness, Farida Begum said, “How do you feel now? Does it hurt?”
Lalbanu shook his head. It means yes it hurts. Maleka Begum roared. He said in a hoarse voice, “Yes, I am not married.” We did not have children. Swami has not blessed me.
We do not feel any pain. “Tago is absolutely in pain.”
Both Farida and Lalbanu trembled with fear. Still Lalbanu dares to say, “Mom, doesn’t your laughter hurt?”
Farida thought that Maleka Begum would be more angry this time. but no He didn’t say anything. Just glances at Lalbanu. Then probably he was thinking about his first bass. But he quickly got out of his thoughts and said in a firm voice, “Little wife, explain to your sister-in-law, this is normal. I will show affection to my wife and son-in-law, this is the custom of the world.
Maleka Begum left after saying some more to Farida Begum. Maleka Begum said to Farida Lalbanu, “Are you hungry?”
Lalbanu shook his head. Farida Begum held Lalbanu and sat down. Then said, “I am bringing food.”
When Farida Begum left, tears came to Lalbanu’s eyes thinking about the night.
Lalbanu got out of bed. Just then Farida Begum finished eating. Lalbanu was resting after eating it. Suddenly, I felt the need to get up and take a walk. So it got up. Lalbanu felt like he couldn’t stand up. How is the inside burning? Lalbanu immediately sat on the bed. At that time Maleka Begum’s voice came out. He says, “We are not married. If we stayed in the house without doing household chores, our in-laws would beat us with sticks. And my daughter-in-law ran around the room and joked. My forehead was burnt. It’s on my forehead.”
