Majed came home and took Lalbanu directly to the room. Then in a very calm voice, he said, “The doctor said that I won’t be able to have children, and you shouldn’t tell anyone about this problem.”
Lalbanu looked at Majed with surprised eyes. Majed surprised her further by saying, “Look, if it didn’t work out with this doctor, what’s the problem? We’ll go to another doctor. We’ll get you treated, and then we’ll definitely have a child.”
Lalbanu was much younger in age but much older in terms of understanding. So she said, “Why should I be treated for your problem?”
“Oh, to purify. Whoever has the problem of not having children, to purify the wife, the doctor treats her and gives her a bath, and all the sins are washed away. That’s why I was taking you to the doctor’s.”
Lalbanu looked at Majed with twice as much surprise as before. Lalbanu knows that many things are done to purify. So she says, one person cannot have children, but another person will be purified. Is that possible too? Lalbanu was about to ask this question but Majed did not listen to her. He now said in a very harsh voice, “You know no one should know that I have a problem of not having children. Keep that in mind.”
Hearing the outright threat in Majed’s harsh voice, Lalbanu was somewhat frightened. Majed left the room. Lalbanu sat on the bed. Her mind was thinking about many things. She was thinking about the whole incident today. Lalbanu said to herself, “Can sins be purified in this way? If that were so, then Uncle Doctor would not have tried to do bad things with me. He would have purified his sins with his doctoring. Isn’t that right?”
Lalbanu was lost in these thoughts. At that time, Farida Begum came. Lalbanu came out of her thoughts at Farida Begum’s call. Lalbanu hugged Farida Begum and happily said, “Thank you so much, sister-in-law.”
“Suddenly thank you?”
Farida Begum asked, not understanding. Lalbanu avoided the question. Since Majed had forbidden everyone to know, she wouldn’t tell anyone. So she said, “I felt like it.”
“For what? There must be some reason, otherwise why would your heart want to thank?”
In response to Farida Begum’s question, Lalbanu told her, “You help me in so many household chores, I never thanked you. So I did it today.”
Farida Begum was happy. Lalbanu changed the subject. But today, she was truly grateful to Farida, because today Lalbanu had survived. What would have happened to her if she had taken the medicine at that time? At the thought of it, Lalbanu shuddered in fear.
Lalbanu was sitting with Nizam and chatting. In the course of the conversation, Nizam said, “Sister-in-law, don’t you feel bad talking so much to a servant?”
Lalbanu smiled. Then she said, “It’s not right for me to talk so much to a stranger. I know that. But in such a big house, amidst all the domestic events, I don’t know why, I don’t have anyone to talk to. That’s why I talk to you. I know it’s not right. But still, a person’s heart wants a companion.
Nizam stared fixedly at Lalbanu. Lalbanu replied, “Between a husband and wife, a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and among sisters-in-law, I haven’t formed a friendship with anyone. And then, suddenly, you came to this house. I have a relationship with everyone in this house, which has a name. But with you, it doesn’t. Maybe that’s why the word ‘friend’ came to be associated with you.”
Lalbanu paused for a moment. Then, as if thinking of something, she said to Nizam again, “Moreover, I don’t consider you as a servant. Actually, I come from a very poor family. There were no servants there. So I don’t know how to behave with servants. Maybe that’s why I made a mistake.”
“Are you saying that the friendship you talked about was a mistake, sister-in-law?”
Lalbanu smiled faintly. She didn’t reply. Nizam also remained silent.
Maleka Begum and Farida Begum were talking. In the course of their conversation, Maleka Begum said, “Isn’t the eldest daughter-in-law spending a little too much time with Nizam?”
Without waiting for Farida Begum’s reply, Maleka continued, “Why is the daughter-in-law of this house talking so much with a servant?”
“Mother, you’re thinking too much. Actually, Nizam is a very sociable boy. That’s probably why the sister-in-law enjoys talking to him. Besides…”
Farida Begum paused. Maleka Begum asked in surprise, “Besides?”
“Your elder son wants Nizam to stay close to the sister-in-law. Actually, he has kept Nizam in this house to keep an eye on the sister-in-law.”
“What?”
Maleka Begum was very surprised. Excitedly, she said again, “Is this possible? If she mixes so much with this boy, something wrong might happen. The daughter-in-law shouldn’t be so casual. Even after I told you to discipline the eldest daughter-in-law, you didn’t. Didn’t you do it for Majed’s sake?”
“Yes, mother.”
“But why would Majed do this? Why would he need to keep an eye on the eldest daughter-in-law?”
Farida Begum smiled faintly. Then, very calmly, she said, “Actually, it’s not that Nizam is keeping an eye on the sister-in-law. Rather, behind this, the sister-in-law is keeping an eye on Nizam. Which your son has cleverly twisted. By telling Nizam to keep an eye on the sister-in-law, he has made Nizam believe that it is his job. On the other hand, behind all this, Nizam doesn’t realize that the sister-in-law is keeping an eye on him. That’s what your son wants.
Maleka looked at Farida Begum with curious eyes. Farida Begum shook her head. It means ‘yes’ what Maleka Begum is thinking is true. I believed Maleka Begum’s Farida. However, the facts are true. Maleka Begum said, “Wouldn’t Polata and his family have been asked to go to the village for that?”
Farida does not respond. He just smiled. Farida Begum left the room after talking to Maleka Begum. Coming out of the room he looked at Nizam and Lalbanu sitting on the balcony to the north. He smiles at them together. He says in his mind, “Make friends. May your relationship deepen. Therefore, I will see to it that no one stands in the way of your association.”
Lalbanu was cleaning Maleka Begum’s room. Maleka Begum, who was sitting on the bed at that time, said, “The year of beer is over, there is still no news of drinking. Can I see you drinking? Can’t you show me the lamp of this clan?”
Lalbanu does not reply. Maleka Begum said again, “I sent to Kabiraj but there is no news of Polapan’s arrival. Who knows whether a barren mother has given birth?”
Lalbanu is very troubled by Maleka Begum’s words. Especially hearing the word ‘infertility’, he gets very angry. He says to himself, “My beer year has come. Bhabhi’s beer fair year, so why didn’t Amma say anything to her?”
The question is bothering Lalbanu. But he can’t ask the question openly. On the other hand, Maleka Begum is saying various things to Lalbanu, including ‘infertility’. At one point he said, “Will Allah give me drink to him who eats his own mother after being born?” He is born with a fault.”
Lalbanu can’t take this. She leaves the room. They run to their house. Majed was sitting there. Lalbanu came and said, “I have to tell you the truth.”
Majed is quite surprised to see tears in Lalbanu’s eyes. He said with a surprised look, “What is the truth?”
“That you can’t be a father.”
“What?”
Majed was very surprised by Lalbanu’s words. He immediately closed the door of the room. Lalbanu says, “Amma is saying a lot of bad things to me. You follow me, tell him that it is not my fault but yours. You cannot be a father.”
Lalbanu falls on the floor as soon as he finishes the sentence. Majed slapped him on the cheek. Lalbanu looks at Majed with a surprised look. Majed said in a very hard voice, “Chop. Very nice. I am Majed Khan. I am the head of this village. I have no problem. Keep this in mind.”
The wonder of Lalbanu is still not over. He looks at Majed in surprise. Majed says, “My family’s inheritance will not come, you are to blame for this.” because you are barren I don’t. Just remember, I don’t have any problem. So keep quiet.”
“Truth is your problem. That’s why everyone blames me, and I’m going to talk about everything I don’t know? Will I digest people’s nonsense?”
Majed slapped again. Then he said in a hard voice, “What will happen if you hear two bad things? Will you go to the grave? M/Rabi not? But if my disability is revealed in this society, then my value will not go. People of this village who respect me. They will make fun of me. I don’t have to be left.”
Tears are rolling down Lalbanu’s eyes. His head doesn’t work. Majed said again, “I will take you to an Ojah.” After chanting that mantra, I will bathe, then I will become a child. So don’t digest what he is saying for now.”
“I have a birth defect. Will I digest it after hearing this?”
“Shut up. Infertile people have to endure a lot in this society. So bear it quietly. Otherwise I will send you to your father’s house.”
Saying this, Majed laughs mockingly. Then he said, “You don’t even have your father’s house.” There is uncle’s house. That uncle’s house, which uncle sold to you for ten thousand rupees.”
Lalbanu felt that he was not in this world. He has gone to another world. How is his head spinning? Majed says, “Your uncle and aunt have counted ten thousand rupees. So if I have to stay here, I have to be quiet. Most importantly, I am your Swami. It is the duty of the wife to protect the Swami’s standards. And if you don’t want to do your duty, then you can go to Chaila.”
Lalbanu does not reply He was quite broken. Majed leaves the room. At the time of going out, he said, “This should not be discussed in this house.” The wall has ears. Anyone can sleep. So be careful. Keep one thing in mind, Maya people have no standards. So he has no worries But the value of men is real. For which he has to take many calculated steps.”
