Ronjon walked out of Gael's house and sat upon a steel chair at the veranda. He placed a paper on the glass table. He had to write a letter to Asha. Two months not hearing anything from him would worry Asha. He tried. He knew he tried to get their passports, but more government employees fled the country. Now, he couldn't do anything else but write this sad letter. Ronjon hoped this letter would give his loney wife an assurance that her husband was doing well.[July 9, 1946Dearest Asha,My wife, I'm certainly disheartened that I couldn't come to you as I promised. I didn't write for two months, for I was hoping I can get out with Ma and sis to surprise you, but time is against us. Ma wishes me to follow you and leave them here, but I know you would agree with me to stay with them. Don't worry, we're all doing fine. We are now living in Gael's house. It is safer here and far from the chaos.The city is getting restless, but I'll try to seek all the resources I can hold on to so we can
Ronjon sat on a rickshaw on the way back to Gael's place. In his hand was a letter from Harry for a speedy release of his mother and sister's passport. Somehow, his mind was not on the paper but with their conversation earlier."Ronjon, are you not thinking of living in France for good?""That would be tempting, Uncle, but Asha and I wish to come back.""Why? With your caliber, there would be a lot of opportunities for you in France. Why come home to this God-forsaken country." Harry lifted his hand and slammed them on the table. "Can't you see, we who are sitting in the Parliament are even having doubts about the outcome of our country." He looked at the young man again. "Is there something you and Asha are hiding from us?"Ronjon avoided Harry's eyes. He went to the windows and fixed his gaze outside."Ronjon, things are already very crazy here and both of you are still adamant on keeping a secret from us. What is wrong? Why can't you tell us?""I'm sorry, Uncle. But I think this is
Ronjon wrote a letter to Asha.[Dearest Asha,I already got our passports but the plane is always full. I tried to bribe a ticket officer but he said he too wanted to leave the country but all outside travels are fully booked. He even mentioned that the government might temporarily stop the flights due to this country's situation. I'm afraid we can't come soon.By the way, Uncle Harry already understands that we are hiding something from them. I wish to tell them and I know he would probably have a solution for you but I think it is not yet the right time. I'm asking the people here about the possibility of moving the orphans somewhere but as of the moment, I couldn't find a good place for them. Also, no one would believe me if I tell them these orphans will be killed by their own sponsor if you won't show your face after two years.If you see fit to tell them about this, I will follow your wishes. I miss you. I really miss you.Loving you always,Your husband, Ronjon]. . . . .Labani
August 16, 1946. Ronjon sat on a bench at the post office while reading a letter from Asha.[August 1, 1946
In France, on that very day of the catastrophe, Asha was on her way to Tarla's restaurant with her prepared dish. Along the way, her heart thumped faster than normal. She felt stifled, her mind was on Ronjon. She wanted to go back home but she couldn't back out now. As she walked, she prayed. "God, protect my husband and my in-laws. And help me to get the apprenticeship."
Tarla saw her difficulty. She was now convinced with Gael's words that Asha was capable and expected highly of her. Thus, she added a 'bit' of fun and called her friends to become the taste testers. She believed the food Asha brought was good enough for her restaurant but this event would show her on how Asha would face pressing circumstances in the future.Tarla welco
Ninu and Binoba stood erect with their backs on the caller. Instincts told them not to respond to the man. They continued to walk all the way to the rickshaw and talked of things unrelated to their purpose of coming."You better get your wife those sweets, Bhai." Ninu started.
What Asha heard from Labani was only about their country's partition and on what awaited for them in the future.About Harry, he was busy debating in the Parliament for the passport holders abroad. He was fighting for their immunity for a certain period of time, enough for these people to decide and choose which one would be their own country and to where they would pl
Asha blew air in exasperation. "Okay, Chef Ronjon Munshi.""Why is the chef title being inserted in this conversation?" Ronjon asked as one of his brows raised.
Both Asha and Ronjon went back in later. An hour more and the doctor came out from the operating room. All of them stood right away, aside from Asha, who slept, exhausted from crying."Who are the relatives of Shaheb Arup Mukherjee?"
Noontime came. The scenery was mesmerizing, but Rimas mind was not on it because the scorching heat of the sun was like burning coals roasting them alive. He tried lessening the soreness of the sunburns by covering his head with his shawl but held the cloth in his firm grasp, keeping the strong wind from blowing it away. Suddenly, someone yelled at his back. Everyone looked to where the shout came from and saw a woman pointing at a man who fell from the train. All the passengers on top of the roof were frightened to death. They might be next if they would not be careful.
Unknown to them, Rimas silently sat at a corner at the airport in the capital city. He tried to buy a ticket to flee the country but as Ronjon and Harry had predicted, all flights were sold out a long time ago and no more tickets were provided for the following months. Every family decided to find the best place suited for them to live. Somehow, the British Raj had not yet submitted any clear boundaries of the two countries, and there were only four months left before the set independence day.
Tarapati went back in and wakened Ninu and Arup."Ninu Bhai, your daughter is here. You better get up or something ugly will happen," Tarapati said while shaking Ninu.
Tarapati came out smiling to greet Asha, who stood in between Ronjon and Harry, but halted his steps when he saw the police cars escorting behind. He looked back at the two men sleeping in the living room, Arup and Ninu, and thought of waking them to clear up the situation to the unfriendly visitors.That night, when Ninu, Tarapati, and the rest arrived in the mansion,
Instead of being happy, Tarapati's mind boiled in rage against Ninu."Who are you playing with? Me? How dare you impersonate my late good friend?" Tarapati hollered right up to his lungs as he clenched his fist to strike Ninu on the face, but the latter calmly moved his head and shifted his hair to show Tarapati his hairy mole behind his left ear. Tarapati's hand tempo
While Tarapati was at it, he asked Ninu to allow him to talk with Sovhona alone. However, Sovhona was not at ease with the idea. She insisted on Ninu to stay with them. Hence, Tarapati had no choice but to ask Ninu for an oath of secrecy because he perceived him to be an outsider. He absolutely did not recognize this Ayoush's real identity even though they were close before.
Tarapati went to visit and talked with each of Rimas wives, aside from Sovhona, who he had no inkling of her where to find. The wives were in outrage after learning Rimas sold the house and their properties in secret. They couldn't even accept that he had the nerve to keep all the money to himself. With the fact that most of his acquired lands and business establishments were from their dowries, most of them wailed in agony and a few wished to sue him but with no power and money to do so.