⚠️ This story deals with a sensitive subject! There are many such stories on Pratilipi; while I have read them, I never imagined I would write one myself. However, I was encouraged to write this story by a reader—who is also like a sister to me. Please note that once the actual events unfold beyond the initial episodes, some readers might feel uncomfortable; therefore, if anyone finds the content distressing, I kindly ask you to simply skip the story. Please do not report it—doing so would only lower the story's standing and reflect poorly on your own narrow-mindedness.
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"Please, Satvik... try to understand, dear... I didn't do it on purpose! Hello... hello... Yes... W-who hung up? Satvik hung up on me!" Standing in the darkness near the roof's cornice, arna keeps repeatedly dialing a number on her smartphone. It is nearly ten o'clock at night. Her mother will likely call her for dinner soon. Her father had a busy schedule today; he returned home late, freshened up, and is now sitting in the living room watching TV. Her elder brother is on the night shift today; he will probably head to the hospital after a quick meal.Seeing everyone busy with their own tasks, arna seized the opportunity to call her boyfriend, Satwik; the seventeen-year-old girl was secretly dating the older brother of a Facebook friend! However, no one at home knew about it. Two days earlier, her older brother had asked to use her phone for something. Terrified, the poor girl had deleted all her conversations, chats, and call logs with Satwik—she even blocked and deleted his contact details—so that her brother wouldn't see anything suspicious... Arna's brother was known for his fierce temper and volatile nature.
Yet, he loves arna deeply and is fiercely protective of her; it is as if he has created a protective circle around her so that no one can easily reach her, all out of fear that someone might hurt her tender heart. If he were to discover that—despite all his barriers—arna is secretly in love, Siddharth might well kill both her and Saatvik and bury them.
"Who are you talking to so late at night, Aru...?" Hearing that deep, commanding voice from behind, a chill ran down arna’s spine; she could sense someone standing right there. A hand gripped her arm and abruptly spun her around—there stood Siddharth, a tall, well-built man with a dusky complexion, sporting an 'undercut' hairstyle with the top brushed to the side. He had come out wearing nothing but a cream-colored pair of formal trousers and a sleeveless undershirt. Siddhartha’s sharp, stubbled jaw is set tight, and his large, expressive eyes have turned bloodshot! He is gripping arna’s arm so hard that the blood flow is on the verge of stopping! "F... friend, Dada! (* In Indian Bengali, 'Dada' refers to an older male sibling or is used as a form of address for older men.)
Just... just a friend!" arna’s voice trembles with a mix of pain and fear.
"Which friend were you talking to so late at night, huh? The kind that made tears stream down your face?"
Siddhartha speaks up in a deep, angry voice! The veins on his forehead are visibly bulging; at just thirty-two, he suffers from high blood pressure, and his breathing grows rapid whenever he is enraged. His hot breath washes over arna’s face, making it feel as though a massive beast is looming before her, unleashing its ferocity... Arna: "I... I was talking to Swati. The math test didn't go well, so I was asking for her help... I don't think I'll be able to sit for the H.S. exams! They don't let you take the finals if you don't clear the test, right, Dabhai?"* ( its also means Dada)
At arna's words, Siddhartha's expression shifts instantly, replaced by a look of tender affection... He releases her hand, pulls her into a tight embrace, kisses her forehead, and says...
"So, that’s why you were crying, Babui?( * kind of bird in bangalo)Don't worry, sweety —you’re going to pass! I spoke to Subhendu-da myself the other day; he said your Math paper went reasonably well—just wait and see on results day! Hey, you silly girl, why are you still crying? Uff, look at this crybaby... Come on, sweetheart, look at me—no, no, don't cry! Let's go; maa will be calling us for a meal soon..."
(** In Bengali, 'maa' refers to mother.)
Arna continues to cling to Siddhartha; she feels terrible about lying to her brother—but this is no ordinary lie. If he were to find out about her relationship, he might cut ties with her completely! She wouldn't be able to hug him like this anymore, whenever she pleased, or catch the familiar scent of him. After weeping for a while—soaking a good portion of Siddhartha’s undershirt with her tears and tears—she steps downstairs, and Siddhartha follows close behind.Mrs. Sen is sitting at the dining table with four plates of roti and curry already served, grumbling away; meanwhile, Mr. Chayan is lounging on the sofa some distance away, staring blankly at the TV. Mrs. Aparna has been asking him to call the children for quite some time, but he remains completely unconcerned. Just then, Arna comes down the stairs, followed by Siddhartha.
Aparna: "I’ve been waiting for you two for ages—come and sit down to eat! You act like a bunch of feudal lords; I have to serve the food and just sit here waiting every single day. I’m talking to you—you’ve both arrived, but do I have to come and carry you over here in my arms?"
Chayan comes to the table for his meal; after pulling up a chair and sitting down, he notices his daughter’s eyes are red and swollen. With a serious expression, he looks at his son and asks...
Chayan : "Sidhu, why are Baby's eyes so red?"
Siddhartha: "Hey, why are you talking to me like that? I didn't do anything!"
Chayan: "Then why is she crying? What happened, dear? Did he hit you again...?"
Siddhartha: "Oh, will you just be quiet! I told you, I didn't do anything. Your darling daughter was crying out of anxiety over failing her test exam! I found her sitting on the roof crying when I went to call her down."
Aparna: "This is what happens when you don't study all year round—look at Nitu from next door! She took the Madhyamik exam alongside Aru and secured 'Letter' marks in six subjects! She missed the merit list by just seven marks, whereas this one here has barely scraped together 70%! Forty in Bengali, thirty-four in History—back in our day, thirty-four meant failing the subject! And look at the state of them; as the times progress, they only seem to regress! Just let the results come out; if she gets a 'D' in even a single subject, then it’s going to be a showdown—either her day or mine!"
Siddhartha:"What kind of showdown, Ma? Even if she does get a 'D', it makes absolutely no difference to me; no one is allowed to say a word against my darling!"
(*In Bengali, older people affectionately call younger ones "Babu.")
In an instant, the atmosphere turned somber! A dark cloud settled over Aparna Devi’s face. "Babu! Don't get too attached to your sister... she’s a girl, after all; before you know it, she’ll be off to another home! Oh, if I find a good match, I won't let the opportunity slip by—I’m getting on in years, you know..." Thud! A hand slammed down hard on the table—it was Arna; her eyes were brimming with tears...
Arna: "What is this all about? Just because I haven't said anything until now, everyone keeps saying whatever they please about me! Maa! What would you do if I failed? What would you do—kick me out of the house?""So, you'll hit me? That’s all you ever do. And don't keep bringing up Nitu at the drop of a hat—that precious Nitu of yours only picked Science for Class 11 to show off after getting a 'Letter' mark in the Madhyamik exams. Look at her now—she’s failing miserably in Class 11; it’s not without reason that Auntie Jamuna avoids showing her face in public. And Bapi! You’re in such a rush to get me married off, aren't you? Then why don't you just do it? The real truth is that you and this family don't want me here anymore. I’ll leave—just you wait, I’ll go far, far away! No one loves me!"
(*In Bengali, 'bapi' and 'baba' both refer to 'father'.)
"What’s going on, sweetheart? Why are you speaking to your parents like that? Am I some pushover? As long as I’m here, no one can send you anywhere. Come on, eat... open your mouth, let me feed you." Siddharth feeds Arna with his own hands; still sulking with her parents, she eats in silence and then goes back to her room. To
be continued...
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