Chapter-4
1133 Words
Tulika's pov
I was walking down the old familiar path that I left 8 years ago. Many things have changed.
I don't think my parents' home is the same as well.
Do they even stay here?
"you should have think it before you came here," my subconscious said and she is correct
I'm walking for half an hour now.
And the sun is shining on my head proudly…
I think I should ask someone about the address.
I saw a boy probably 13 years old or something.
" ai sono,(hey listen) "I called him.
" ha bolun (yes), " the boy replied
He looked familiar to me but I can't pinpoint who he is.
" Do you know where Bhuban Saha's house is? "I asked him and the boy looked at me
" why do you want to know? "he asked me
I'm his daughter I wanted to say but I controlled myself.
" I have some work with him, do you know him? "I asked
" Yes follow me, "he said and started walking
I notice that he had two big cans in his hand
Maybe it contains milk..
We both were walking in silence.
" what is your name? "I asked him
" I don't share my name with strangers," He replied and I didn't tried to talk to him
We reached the place whom I called home once.
Bittersweet memories flashed before my eyes.
The house is the same , just the colour has changed in the walls.
"Ma Dekho keu baba ke khujte aseche,(Mother see who is hear to search for father)" the boy screamed and I looked at him shocked
He is my brother and my pritam.
He has grown up very much and maybe has forgotten me as well.
My mother looked at our side and a gasp left her mouth.
"Pritam you go inside and call your father." She said to him but her eyes are on me.
Once Pritam left the place she came towards me.
"Tuli?" she asked me
8 years ago I last heard it.
"Yes," I managed to say with all the overwhelming emotions
"ke dakche amake? (Who is calling me?)" my father asked and he mirrored my mothers expression
He turns around and locks the gate so my siblings won't come out.
"what are you doing here? How did you come? Did you elope from there? Trina will hunt you down and kill us all." he said in one breath and I can't believe that he is my father
"What are you saying to her." my mother said and I laughed
"don't stop him. Let him say what he has to. I should also know what my family thinks about me," I told her
"you didn't answer my questions." my father asked
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.
"I'm here because Trina masi freed me, don't worry she won't come here to ask you money or me. Neither she will disturb you in any way." I said and he sighed in relief
"tuli come inside," my mother said but I shook my head in no
I can't enter inside not anymore.
"I won't come, neither I'm here to stay or anything. I just want some answers after I get them. I will leave from here." I told looking at my father who looked unfazed by this
"maybe you don't want to but you have to because I'm a reputable person here and I don't need any whispers about my family," my father spat harshly
I hold my tears back. It's something I learned very long ago in Sonagachi.
I nodded my head and went inside.
He opened the door and I looked at my siblings who were giving me curious glances.
They don't remember me. I smiled at them and my sister smiled back.
"Pritam priya you both go out with your books and finish your works." my mother said to them
They got up from the chairs and did what they were told to do.
Once they left my father locked the door.
I roamed my gaze around the room and found my pictures with a garland over it.
Oh so I'm dead for them. Good, I'm already dead inside so it doesn't matter.
"what answer you needed," my father asked
"Please first let me give her something. She has came from far away" my mother said and I laughed out loud
"Please don't bother, I won't even drink water from this household. And the dead person doesn't eat or drink anything." I remarked
She looked hurt by this but I had faced worse.
She doesn't have any right to feel hurt by this statement.
"I don't have all day to waste." my father said
"Why did you sell me? I was also your child right? To save your son you sold me how could you?" I finally asked for what I came here at the first place
"it's the last option we had if we didn't then we might have lost him." He replied without looking at my eyes
Why is that? Guilt? But this guilt won't do any good to me.
"to save your other child you killed your first child?" I asked
"I didn't killed you," He said
"the life I led there was worse than death. If you still say you didn't kill me then it's a lie that you're telling yourself." I said in a high voice
"I.. I had to do it. I can't lose my son. He will take my legacy to the next generation." He said as tears flew from his eyes
"I'm sorry tuli I couldn't save you. I told your father to not do it but he didn't listen to me. I was ready to sell myself but he did that to you. I'm a horrible mother please forgive me," my mother said crying hysterically
"I am your sinner tuli. Forgive me, I was so engrossed in saving my son that I forgot everything and I loved your mother. I could not sell her and neither did your sister. So I had to do it." my father said and fell on his knees while crying
They both were kneeling in front of me joining their hands.
I want to forgive them but their sorry will give me my 8 years Back? Will it give my virginity back? Will it give me my innocence that I lost there back?
No it won't either. I can forgive them for what they did. I am still not angry at them but forgiveness isn't something I can give them.
"I won't forgive you both, it's your punishment. I got my answers that made you sell me to that hell. I just want to give my siblings something and it's only for them," I said keeping my tears at bay
- Writer
