Ornamental Memories

It was an old house, a holy abode. The rules of that house were very strict. Housewife Ballari Chattopadhyay was a very strong woman. Kartama and her husband were not rich at a time, he used to do a job at first and saved all the money for building their own new house. They didn’t spend much and only their first son was born and that time, they thanked God for being so kind to them. Their son had no demands and he was happy with whatever he had. When Kartama’s husband used to return from work, he used to get wet in sweat, came and sat on the chair in the room. They lived in a rented house which had two rooms. Their son was playing in the next room, his wife was working in the kitchen. She came to her husband while making food, “here, drink some water.” He finished the whole glass of water as he was very thirsty. She asked, “Is there too much pressure of work in the office? Take leave and rest for some days. You are already doing two jobs at a time.” He said, “we both know that we need a lot of money.” She said, “but you need to take care of your health as well.” Her husband, “and I always think of you both. If something happens to me...what will happen to both of you?” she said, “don’t overthink. Nothing will happen to you. I will also work so that you don’t have to overburden yourself.” He said, “but people like us, the middle class have no option except this. We always remain stressed to run our family and are not satisfied with whatever we are earning. Our demands increase, we compare our conditions with others..” His wife consoled him, “I understand.” If your love doesn’t accept you, try to move on. Its by destiny two persons meet. In love, promise doesn’t always exist. Learn to let the person go, be happy in which the person becomes happy. You cannot keep your love forcefully to yourself. Love is not about controlling or being overpossessive for a person. It’s the freedom which is being given. Mr. Chattopadhyay in his young age, was into playing football, even if his family members didn’t agree. In his school and college days, he was always included in the football teams. His friends were very supportive. After completing his studies, he was still into it, but then he had to take up the responsibility of earning. His parents were repeatedly telling him, his father had to retire in some days. Palak had overloved Deepak, she is a girl who could everything for everyone selflessly without thinking about herself, but once she gets hurt deeply, she doesn’t take much time to move faraway from that person, even how close she is, and wants that she doesn’t meet that person ever again in her life. There were objections coming from some of the family members that she never gets fit in any family wherever she goes, and becomes a burden for everyone. Deepak becomes selfish sometimes. He thinks his decision is right, gets stubborn and doesn’t want to move from the decision he has once made and likes to abide by the decisions of his family as he is very close to his mother. When his father doesn’t like his decisions, argument breaks out between them and they don’t talk to each other for days. He has a very good bond with his siblings, but because of his own situations, he got separated from his friends and kept no contact with them. He got involved in a complication of marriage and then suffered. Sneha is a soft girl and she and Deepak grew up together doing mischiefs, got scolded, helped each other in studies, they studied in the same school, but she was younger than Deepak. She used to tell her brother, “you know, Mumma loves you more than me.” She went around helping people, visited NGOs, old age homes, orphanage and loved spending time with the children and the old people, they told her stories about their lives, how they had spend their days. She patiently listened to them. She went to various villages and treated the poor for free. Some nurses had asked her, “why do you think so much for the people? Don’t you need more money?” Sneha, “when you think for the people, God sees your sacrifices and blesses you with everything.” Sneha’s cousin brother stayed with them for his own studies. He had doubted why she would often go out of the house. He had asked, “I guess you go to meet somebody.” Sneha, “don’t poke your nose in my matters.” Pradeep and Sneha both studied in the same college. It had been six years of their relationship. But they couldn’t decide anything regarding being together. Sneha always ignored this topic as she had fear in marriage. But Pradeep would tell her that she should atleast inform her family so that they don’t misunderstand later. Both came from conservative families. Sauvik was brought from the adoption centre when the couple was tensed when they were having no children. They used to pray to God regularly and asked for a boy, who would be capable of running their generation further. Deepak had loved him and would always take care of him. Seeing a baby brother, Deepak had become responsible by himself from a younger age. Debi, even if she lived faraway from Bengal and India from where her parents actually belonged, she had learnt from her parents the good values, to touch the feet of the elders, to respect and love everyone’s culture and tradition and to make anyone your own people. Aishwarya, had always tried to snatch away from others what she thought was hers, she never understood that whom a person loves, its not important that the love should stay. She always felt jealous and wanted to separate Deepak from Palak. After the college, Deepak had clearly told her that he couldn’t be in a relationship with her because of his further studies as he would go abroad and for her suspecting habit. Whenever he would talk with any other girl, she would create a chaos. She wouldn’t allow him to mix with any other girl other than her closest friends as she liked to be with her group always. But their relationship couldn’t go further, and they had to separate but Aishwarya wasn’t ready to leave him at any cost. He went abroad for studies. But she couldn’t take the shock. One day when Aishwarya had argument with Deepak, both blamed each other. She came back home and closed her door. Her parents slammed her door and asked her what had happened. She was screaming loudly and throwing things away, “please go away.” She was talking to herself, “how could he do this to me? What’s lacking in me?” Her parents went to Deepak’s house and told about Aishwarya’s mental condition. Ballari devi had promised without anyone’s consent. The love of the old days is in that alley in Kolkata. How many memories of holding hands is restored in the heart of Kolkata have been remembered forever. This Durga puja binds the man of the mind in the form of worship. There are many memories left in the old houses with ancient information to the outsiders and the memories of the whole family to the people of the house for ages. Before Puja, the wife and daughters of the house buy sari and call the vendors at home to do some shopping for this festive season. The woman, “Brother, show me that saree, how much is this saree?" The boy, “Mom, I’m going out to play". Mother said, "Not at all, go and complete your homework, in this heat you will not go anywhere at noon". The elder boy sat on the wall, "Didn't you hear what our mother said? Now, go". The younger one put down his face and left. It is nostalgia to gossip to our mothers sitting in the verandas. It was the sixth day when the worship of the Durga maa begins. The drums are beating, the brass is being played, people are coming and going, the children are laughing and running here and there all over the house. The last word is being said by the owner of the house of Chattopadhyay. Everyone respects the mistress of the house. Aunt shouted, "What's the matter, when will the man who will make the idol come?" Gungun, “take a look if all the equipments of Durga maa are all right or not!" Palak, “Gungun, Take this, Mamuni asked me to put this new saree on the plate and give it to you". Souvik said, "Come here, I have brought things from the market." Gungun, “Yes I'm going". Palak is very quiet, she talks very less. She helps everyone in their work. She is a lucky girl for everyone. And Deepak has returned from abroad just before Puja this year after completing his PhD in Physics. The Chowdhury family has a long-standing relationship with this house, in one word, a very good friendship. Palak "Ohh, I'm taking these, you go". Kartama calls, "Palak, come here." Deepak comes with his family. Deepak "Can I come inside?" Kartama "Hey come inside, you all come in". A little bit if it was late Palak was going to collide with Deepak. Deepak "Can't you see?" Palak, "you need to walk carefully and its your fault that you pushed me and now you are only telling me". Sneha, “Palak, you? How are you doing, we met after years.” Deepak, “how do you both got to know each other?” Sneha, “she is my school friend.” Palak, “what are you studying these days?” Sneha, “I am in the third year, doing Business course.” Deepak stands there. Sneha, “brother let's go or do you want to talk for some more time?" She smiles innocently and goes away. Aunt has some complaints on this house for some reason. Being disgusted with his mother, Anik left for Mumbai because Anik's marriage broke down due to aunt's useless anger issues. Long time ago, aunt was told by Kartama that she could not hold her husband and that’s why he had died so early. Durga Puja is celebrated every year with enthusiasm at the ancient and prestigious Chattopadhyay’s house in north Kolkata. The house is decorated for puja with the lights everywhere, everyone is very happy. This Durga puja in Kolkata means joy with family, going out with friends and getting the true love. And the sweet naughtiness in love is more prominently seen during this puja. The habit of these old houses in Kolkata is to get up in the morning, sit in a chair and have tea and read the newspaper. Deepak and Palak stood together on the verandah for a while. Deepak "I'm sorry for what happened in the morning". Palak "No, its alright I have to go now". Suddenly Deepak grabs Palak's hand and Palak turns his face towards him. He lets go of her hand. The love of Calcutta usually begins in this puja. Palak was very embarrassed and asked, "Would you like to say something?" Deepak, "Wait, listen!!" Sneha and Pradeep were standing in a corner, hiding from everyone and smiling to each other. Sneha asks Deepak, "Yes my brother what's going on". In the afternoon, Palak and Gungun were sitting in the open space and were giving alpana. A little later, Gungun went to the kitchen for other Puja activities in the afternoon.