The Nuisance: Page 4

The previous morning before the departure, the inkstand could not be found. Kiron said jokingly, "Thakurpo (husband's younger brother), your swan has flown away in search of Damayanti."

But Satish was in no mood for humour; he was very angry. He felt sure it was Neelkanto who had stolen it. There were eyewitnesses who confirmed they had seen Neelkanto loitering near Satish's room last evening.

The accused was summoned before Satish. Kiron was also present there. Without any preamble, Satish snapped, "Where did you hide my inkstand after stealing it? Go and bring it."

Neelkanto was used to suffering beatings from Sharat when he had done something wrong and even when he had done nothing wrong. He endured those beatings cheerfully. But when accused of stealing the inkstand in Kiron's presence, his large eyes spit fire, his chest swelled, and his throat tightened in anger. If Satish had spoken another word, Neelkanto would have pounced upon him and clawed him with the nails of his ten fingers like a cat.

But Kiron told him to follow her to the next room, where she told him gently, "Neelu, if you have taken the inkstand, give it to me quietly; no one will know, and no one will say anything to you."

Uncontrollable tears gushed from Neelkanto's eyes; he covered his face and wept bitterly.

Kiron went out of the room and told the others, "Neelkanto has not stolen the inkstand."

But Sharat and Satish were not convinced. "It must be Neelkanto; no one else could have stolen it," they said.

"Never!" Kiron said firmly.

Sharat wanted to interrogate Neelkanto, but Kiron prevented him. "You must not ask him anything about this matter," she said.

Satish said, "We must search his room and look into his box."

Kiron said, "If you do that, I will never speak with you ever again. You must not cast doubts against the innocent." Her eyes filled with tears as she said this, and, on account of the tears in those two pitiful eyes, nothing more was said about Neelkanto.

Kiron felt a surge of sympathy for the helpless orphan boy upon seeing him subjected to such ill-treatment. She entered Neelkanto's room in the evening, carrying two pairs of dhotis, two shirts, a pair of new shoes, and a ten-rupee note. She wanted to deposit these gifts quietly into Neelkanto's box without his knowledge; it is she who had gifted the tin box to Neelkanto.

She removed the bunch of keys tied to the end of her sari and opened the box silently. But she could not put her gifts into the box because it was full to the top; there was a kite spool, marbles, shells to peel raw mangoes, the bottom of a broken glass bottle, and such other innumerable things.

Kiron thought if she removed the things and put them back nicely, she could fit her gifts. She took out the kite spool, a top, and a knife. Then, she drew out a few dirty clothes and a few clean ones. From under the clothes emerged Satish's much-cherished swan figurine inkstand.

Kiron felt surprised, and she sat with a flushed face for a long time, wondering about her discovery.

In the meantime, Neelkanto had come into the room from behind, but Kiron did not get to know. Neelkanto saw everything and thought that Kiron had entered the room like a thief to uncover his theft.

His theft was discovered. But how could he explain that he had not stolen the inkstand like an ordinary thief for gain? He had done this to take his revenge. He had meant to throw away the inkstand into the Ganga waters, but in a weak moment, had put it in his box. He was not a thief; oh no, he was not a thief! Then, what was he? What could he say? He had stolen, and yet he was not a thief. Kiron had taken him for a thief. He could neither explain to her nor could he bear this cruel injustice.

Kiron heaved a deep sigh and put the inkstand back into the box. She covered it with the dirty clothes like a thief hiding the booty. She put the kite spool, top, shells, broken glass bottle, and the other things into the box. She placed her gifts and the ten-rupee on top of everything else.

The next day, the boy was nowhere to be found. The villagers said they had not seen him. The police searched for him without success. Sharat said, "Now, let's open the box and see whether the inkstand is inside."

But Kiron did not allow anyone to open the box. She had it carried to her room, where she secretly removed the inkstand and threw it into the river. The whole family went back to their native village. The garden became desolate in a day. Only Neelkanto's dog remained behind; it gave up food and wandered on the banks of the river, searching and whining in distress.

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Summary

"Aapod", which would translate into "nuisance" in English, is a story written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1895. It was first published in "Sadhana", a monthly publication, which used to be edited by Gurudev. The story dwells on the complex theme of human relations and an entire gamut of human emotions: mercy, kindness, loyalty, jealousy, and shame.

Kiron and Sharat are a wealthy couple. Kiron is unwell, and the doctor has advised a change of air. The couple, along with Sharat's mother, has taken up temporary residence at Chandannagar. Many days have passed, and Kiron has recovered, but she is still weak. Kiron is bored with the lonely life and wants to return home. But Sharat wants her to stay back for some more time till she regains strength. This subject is a constant source of argument between the two.

There is a storm, and a boat has capsized. There is no information about other passengers, but a boy has managed to swim ashore and has taken refuge in the garden belonging to the estate where Kiron and Sharat are staying.

The boy is an orphan and works in a theatre troupe. Kiron feels a surge of sympathy and affection for the boy and takes him under her care. Sharat feels relieved; now that Kiron has the boy to take care of, she will not insist on returning home.

Neelkanto, the boy, has worked in the theatre troupe since childhood. He knows no other world. The theatre troupe world was a harsh one where the boy suffered beatings and insults. He had become used to such life. But, here, Kiron's affection has given him a new lease of life. Sharat's initial eagerness to have the boy around has dwindled; he and his mother now regard Neelkanto as a nuisance and wish he would go away.

Sharat's brother Satish has arrived from Kolkata. He is Kiron's age, and both of them hit it well. Kiron now does not devote much time to Neelkanto. The boy begins to feel neglected and thinks that Satish was filling Kiron's ears with lies about him. Satish also talks insultingly with him. Neelkanto is jealous of Satish and hates him.

Neelkanto steals Satish's coveted inkstand. He does not steal it for personal gains but intends to throw it into the river as an act of revenge. But before he can do that, Kiron discovers the inkstand in his box. Neelkanto sees Kiron removing the inkstand from his box and is overwhelmed with shame. The orphan boy, who had not known a mother's affection, is distressed that he has betrayed the woman who has showered affections on him. But how can he explain that he was not a thief? How can he explain that he had stolen the inkstand as an act of revenge? No, he could not face her. Neelkanto flees from the home and is never sees again.

Kiron, perhaps, understands why Neelkanto had stolen Satish's inkstand. She does not tell anyone about her discovery but secretly throws the inkstand into the river herself.