The Nuisance: Page 3

Meanwhile, Sharat's brother, Satish, arrived at the Chandannagar bungalow from Kolkata to spend his college vacation. Kiron was delighted; she now had more work on her hands. Satish was her age; Kiron took pleasure in teasing him and spreading good cheer at all times, whether it be during the meals or while having a conversation. Sometimes, she smeared vermillion on her palms and pressed them over Satish's eyes; sometimes, she wrote "monkey" on the back of his shirt; sometimes, she bolted his door from outside and fled, laughing at the top of her voice. Satish was also not a person who accepted defeat easily. He took his revenge by stealing her keys, putting pepper in her betel leaves, and tying the corner of her sari to the legs of the bed. Thus, the days passed in such merry banter, which sometimes led to quarrels, sobbing, cajoling, and, then, making up.

Who knows what devil got into Neelkanto. His mind was filled with bitterness for others, although he could not think of reasons to quarrel with them. He behaved unjustly with his band of little followers and made them cry; he kicked his pet mongrel for no reason at all, and it yelped noisily to announce its unhappiness to the world; he slashed at the weeds and creepers along the way with a stick and destroyed them.

Nothing gave Kiron more joy than to serve food to those who loved to eat. Neelkanto had a good appetite; he loved to eat. Kiron's repeated requests to him to take some more of the appetizing food never went in vain. So, she often called him and made him eat in her presence; she felt happy to see this boy eating with relish. But after Satish's arrival, it was not always possible for Kiron to stay by Neelkanto's side while he ate his meals. Earlier, Neelkanto's love for food did not diminish even if for some reason Kiron could not be there to serve him; he would, as always, wash down the last gulp of food with a bowl of milk before rising.

But these days, if Kiron did not call him for meals, he felt a deep pang of sorrow, and the food tasted bitter. He would rise and go away without touching the plate, telling the maid in a choked voice that he was not hungry. He hoped that someone would inform Kiron and, she, feeling remorseful, would send for him and coax him to eat. He made up his mind not to heed her coaxings; he would tell her he was not hungry. But no one ever informed Kiron, and she never sent for him; the maid ate the food. At such times, he went to his room, extinguished the lamp, buried his face deep in the pillow, and sobbed his heart out. But what was his complaint? What claim had he on anyone's attention? Who would come to comfort him? When no one came, sleep — the loving mother — came and slowly soothed the motherless boy's wounded feelings with her tender caresses.

Neelkanto began to believe that Satish filled Kiron's ears with lies about him. If for some reason Kiron seemed glum some day, Neelkanto would think Kiron was angry with him because of something Satish had said to her about him.

From then on, Neelkanto prayed fervently to God, seeking divine blessings to switch roles with Satish in their next births. "O God," he prayed, "please cause me to be reborn as Satish and Satish to be reborn as me in our next births". He was sure his prayers would be answered. In this way, he took his revenge by burning Satish through divine intervention while he himself continued to burn in anguish; meanwhile, the sounds of laughter floated into his ears as Satish and his sister-in-law indulged in their friendly banters on the upper floor.

Neelkanto did not dare to be openly hostile towards Satish, but, whenever possible, he did things to cause him discomfort. He would steal the cake of soap that Satish had kept on the steps leading down to the Ganges when he went to bathe; Satish, returning for the soap, would not find it there. One day, while bathing, Satish saw his favourite embroidered shirt floating away in the river; he thought the wind must have blown it. But no one ever came to know from which direction the wind had blown.

To entertain Satish, Kiron sent for Neelkanto one day and asked him to sing a song. Neelkanto stood silent. Kiron was surprised. "What's the matter with you," she asked. But Neelkanto gave no reply. "Why don't you sing that song?" Kiron urged him once again. "I have forgotten it," Neelkanto said and went away.

At last, the day drew closer when Kiron would return home. Everyone was busy making preparations for the departure; Satish would also go along with them. But no one said anything to Neelkanto. Nobody even considered the question of whether he should go along with them or stay back.

It was Kiron who suggested they take Neelkanto, but her mother-in-law, husband, and brother-in-law unanimously rejected the suggestion; Kiron had to give up the idea. Two days before the departure, Kiron called Neelkanto to her side and, speaking affectionately, advised him to return to his native land.

After so many days of neglect, when he got to hear Kiron speaking with him tenderly, Neelkanto could not control himself and started sobbing uncontrollably. Kiron also felt tears welling in her eyes. She regretted that she had showered so much affection on someone whom she could not keep with her always.

Satish was nearby. He was disgusted at the sight of a grown-up youth crying. "Ugh! Look at him, drowning in tears," he sniggered. Kiron rebuked Satish for his harsh words. Satish said, "You don't understand Boudidi(sister-in-law); you trust everybody. We don't know from where he has come, but he is staying here like a king. Now, he is shedding crocodile tears because he is afraid of returning to his former miserable conditions. He knows very well that if he sheds two drops of tears, you will be overcome with sympathy for him."

Neelkanto hurried away from there. But in his mind, he imagined he was cutting Satish part by part with a knife, piercing him with a needle, and burning him. But the real Satish did not receive even a scratch on his body; it was only he, Neelkanto, whose heart bled.

Satish had brought along with him an exquisite inkstand from Kolkata. On either side of the inkstand was a boat made from a shell. The boats had inkpots placed on them to hold ink. A swan, made from German silver, sat between the two boats with its wings spread and holding a pen in its open beak. Satish prized the inkstand greatly, and he regularly cleaned it with a silk handkerchief. Kiron often tapped the swan's beak to tease Satish; she would tap the beak and sing, "O swan! Though twice-born, why are you so cruel?" That would start a hilarious war of words.

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