Nanad Bhaujai by Rajkamal Choudhary

Wrapped in the shame of guilt and repentance, Padma entered the courtyard - her face smeared with stress all over. Rushing to the room on the east, she maintained an eerie silence.

“Is that Lal Dai?” asked Bhauji from the kitchen. Padma did not utter a syllable. She sat on the mat in the courtyard, a mirror and comb clutched in her hands. She was very depressed. Wiping the sweat off her face, Ramganjwali came out of the kitchen. “Did you not get even a rupaiya or eight aanas?” Padma was sitting lousily under a pall of gloom – a sight that was enough to petrify her Bhabhi. Coming closer to Padma, gently caressing her hair, she asked, “Why are you sad? Could you not meet Bangat Babu?”

“No Bhauji, that is not the matter. In fact, I met Bangat Babu, and he gave two rupees as well. However, something strange occurred. It's catastrophic! What should I tell you, Bhauji?” Padma said, glossing her dry lips with her tongue. Flicking out the two one-rupee notes from the corner knot of her saree, Padma placed them in her Bhabhi’s hand. “Whatsoever happens now. I have two rupees in my hands, what is there to worry about?” Bhauji heaved a sigh of relief.

Padma and her Bhabhi (sister-in-law) are widows. Padma is in her early 20s, and Ramganjwali is in her early 30s. Both issueless, both unyoked. Padma’s village, Vangram, is huge. It has a high school, a police station, a post office, a hospital and a weekly market. Sustenance was hence not difficult for the two widowed Brahmins, for there must be at least 200 Bangats in this hutment of two thousand.

Padma was in deep agony that night. “Lal Dai, you act so childishly. Tell me, what has occurred to you? Did Thanawallahs catch you en route? Sipahis (constables) keep wandering in the garden-orchards throughout the night,” said Bhauji. “How will a Sipahi dare catch me? Doesn't the Daroga (inspector) know me? How should I tell you, Bhauji? I am not alive. I'm dead,” replied Padma. Bhauji burst into laughter and asked, “I understand that you died. But please tell me who killed you. How did you die?”

Padma started recounting her night’s tale.

“Bangat met me near the temple itself. Taking him to the rear side, I said, ‘Oye Bangat! Need five rupees.’ ‘You go towards Bhoothi Orchard, I am coming with the money,’ Bangat replied. He could not gather the courage to do anything else in the temple. Standing below the Pakad Tree in the Bhoothi Orchard, I kept looking for his way. Bangat came after a long time. Stuffing two rupees into my blouse, he held my hand and said, 'Could manage only two rupees now. Will give the remaining three rupees the next dawn,' and kept kissing me for a long time after that. I was in a rush, fully aware of the impending reprimand from Bhauji if there was a delay, but he did not let me leave. He would clench me in his arms, and he would fiddle with my body. I lost my composure, too. I felt as if the entire orchard became a swing and I went flying with Bangat in the sky.”

“Lal Dai, don’t beat around the bush. Tell me what happened thereafter,” said Ramganjwali, wrapping Padma in her arms and holding her tightly.

Padma continued, “Then Bangat undressed me. I had no sense of consciousness. Meanwhile, a Sipahi entered the orchard, blaring his songs. Noticing the Sipahi, Bangat fled from there, leaving me unattended. What a coward he was! I also started chasing Bangat. But he disappeared in the dark orchard. Could not find him despite my best efforts. I shouted for him, but to no avail. While Sipahi held his way, I kept wandering in the Orchard. In this frenzy, I hear Bangat – ‘Padma. Oye Padma!’ I ran in the direction of Bangat’s words. I see Bangat lying naked and beneath a tree - wriggling and wreathing. But Bhauji, I was intoxicated as if I had a dose of Bhaang. I could not control myself seeing Bangat under the full moon- his flesh, his parts. I did not have a figment of consciousness of where I was, what I was doing, or why I was doing this. What should I say beyond this, Bhauji? I can still not remember what happened afterwards. But when I gained my consciousness, I saw Bangat was not there. Only his flesh is there.”

“Oh my God!” exclaimed Ramganjwali. “Bhauji, Bangat was bitten by a snake. He has called for me hence. Bhauji, I slept with a dead man, how will I be redeemed?” asked Padma, sobbing uncontrollably. “Lal Dai, go take a dip in the pond and sprinkle Gangajal (holy water) over your body. What else can you do? When you had no shame in sleeping with a living man, what is to be shameful about sleeping with a dead person?” said Bhauji.

Padma took a leave for her bath.

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