Dad said, “Greetings, Babu.”
I looked and saw a girl wearing a new sari standing behind Dad. The girl’s face was not visible.
I said, “Who is this, Dad?”
Dad looked at me and smiled a little. How does Dad’s smile look!
I said, “Who did you bring?”
Dad said a little harshly, “Your new mother! Take her home.”
The girl entered the room alone. I followed her into the room. Dad got married at this age! Mom died many years ago.
I entered the room to see my new mother. Nusrat lifted her veil and looked at me! The girl I have been in love with for five years. That Nusrat should now be called Mom!
I stared at her for a while, shocked.
“You got married?”
Nusrat said in a slightly angry voice, “Who are you calling your new mother! You are a big rude boy!”
“You should call her Mom?”
“Don’t you know what to call your father’s wife?”
“Why did you marry my father?”
“I’ve told you many times to do something. My father wants to marry me. You have no choice.”
“Is there a shortage of sons in the country? My father has to get married!”
“I promised you. I will go to your house as a wife. Once you promise, I will keep it.”
Father said in a loud voice from outside, “Baba, who did you like your new mother?”
The old man’s tone is getting better! How beautifully you say who did you like your new mother? It’s getting hot! It’s nothing new for a person’s lover to get married somewhere else! But his own lover to become a mother! What’s wrong with me?
I left the house. When my father saw me, he said, “Where are you going at this time?”
I didn’t say anything. I have to make an understanding with Nusrat’s father.
I met Osman uncle on the street. Seeing me, he gave me a crooked smile and said, “Did your father get married?”
“Yes, go and see the new wife. Take some sweets with you!”
Osman uncle said with a smile, “You have to go. Where are you going?”
I started walking.
Nusrat’s mother smiled at me and said, “How are you, Nana?”
A few days ago, my father would say, “Nana, now!” I said loudly, “Where is Uncle?”
“Your Nana is inside. Go and sit in the house.”
Nusrat’s father said from inside the house, “Who has come?”
“Our Nusrat’s son Babu!”
“Come home, Nana Bhai!”
I see everyone has gone crazy! How can people change so much in a day?
I went to Nusrat’s father and said in an angry voice, “What do you think of marrying Nusrat to an old man who has one foot in the grave?”
“Shit! Nana Bhai, you shouldn’t talk to your own father like that!”
“That’s not a lie!”
“Who will I marry?”
“There is a shortage of sons in the country!”
“There are so many sons, they are all scoundrels! If you give a daughter to a son without all that, he will starve to death!”
“What will happen if the old son-in-law dies after a few days?”
“The daughter will be able to live well for the rest of my life with the son-in-law’s money.”
“Didn’t you understand that if the old man dies, his son will also be the owner of the money?”
“When will she die and then you will get it! By then my daughter will be an old woman. She may not leave her money for her son!”
Nusrat’s father said in a loud voice, “Where are all the people? My grandson is coming home, give him some sarabat and torbat.”
“You won’t need anything!”
“Listen, Nana Bhai! I didn’t force Nusrat to get married. She agreed to the marriage of her own accord!”
I stood up. I don’t know what to do!
Nusrat’s father said, “Where are you going, Nana Bhai? Sit down.”
Father’s wife.
