BAJEGOLPO IX
Indranil
Shefali-r Shomoshya
*******************
Ekti deergho o gurutwopurno telephone
Darjeeling-er boarding school-e poDe Shefali. Class ten-e uthechhe
shomproti. Gorom-er chhuti-te protibar-er moto kolkatay baba ma-er
kachhe eshechhe. Kichhudin jabot ekti gurutoro
shomoshyar shommukhin. Delhi-te, best friend Domoyonti-ke ei bipoder
din-e telephone na kore thaka jay na.
*******
- Hallo Domoyonti, ami Shefali bolchhi!
- Hallo Shefali, what a surprise, ki khobor bol?
- Emnite bhalo-i, kintu ekta bichhiri problem hoyechhe. Tor advice nebo
bhebe phone korlaam.
- Ki problem re? BaDite marksheet chaichhe?
- Are na, tar cheye-o kharap. Besh jotil problem. Long story.
Onekhkhon lagbe bolte. Carefully shune advice dish.
Kintu kauke bolbi na sheta age dibyi korte hobe. Akebare top secret.
Shudhu mejdi ar shejdi-ke bolte parish. Oder experience thakte pare bolei
bolchhi.
- Ok. Promise korchhi. Tor problem manei amar problem. Tor secret manei
amar secret. Domoyonti tar chirachorit shomobedonar shjathe janay.
- Thik achhe. Toke goDa theke-i bolchhi. Jodi kichhu miss kore jai, ba
kono vital point thik-thak na bojhate pari tahole bolish. Prothome ektu
background-ta boli. Eibar bodh-hoy ami ektu lomba ar mota hoye
phirechhi bujhli. Oshavabik kichhu noy. Kintu hothat paDar lokjon amake
dekhe bollo - Shefali tui to boDo hoye gechhish re!
- Ekhaneo tai. Domoyonti janay. Jano atokal bachcha chhilam!
- Right. Tai ami oshob kotha ga kori ni. Kintu shobcheye
odbhut holo paDar chheleder byabohar. Jader dada bolataam, srodhdha
kortaam, tara ebar hothat kamon jano onyorokom byabohar shuru kore
dilo. Jokhon tokhon gaye poDe kotha bolar cheshta, amake dekhe nijeder
modhye bichchiri bhabe hasha eishob. Amonki oneke rastay amake kharap kotha
bollo! Prothom prothom ami bishwash korte pari ni, tarpor ato rag holo
je paDay berono-i bondho kore dilam.
- Ei problem-ta ektu ektu amar-o hoyechhe re. Domoyonti janay. Ami-o ar
eka eka baire beshi beroi na. Shetai shomadhan.
- Ta jani. Kintu amar ashol problem-ta aro kharap. Sheta boli. Shefali
ektu dom niye bole - Akdin bikele amader
paDar ekta meye, naam Namita,
recently alaap hoyechhe or shathe, eshe bollo, "Natok dekhte jabi?" Ami
bollam, "Ei gorome ami baDi chheDe kothao jabo na." Ashole paDar kono
byeparei joDate chaichhilam na. Kintu Namita shdhashadhi korte laglo.
Bollo, "Chol na. A.C hall. Natok-tao bhalo. Khub promising ekta notun group
korchhe. Ei paDar oNchhha chheleder moto noy. Intellectual-der group
eta. Amake duto pass diyechhe."
- Intellectual shune bhablam hoyto ei chhelera bhalo-i hobe. Shefali
bole jete thake. - Jabo ki jabo na bhabte bhabte ekta shaDi pore beriye
porlam. Berobar shomoyei prothom bhul-ta korlam, bujhli! Namita
bollo, "ektu lipstick makhbi na?" Bishwash kor amar ektu-o ichchhe chhilo
na. Age ekbar ota pore paDay beriyechhilam, akjon dada bolechhilo, "amar-o
thNote oi rong lagate ichche kore". Ami bolechhilam, "Tumi lipstick makhbe?"
Tar jobabe shei dada-ta oshobhyer moto bolechhilo, "Tomar thNote kom
poDe jabe na?".
Shei theke lipstick-ei ghenna dhore giyechhilo.
Kintu Namitar onurodh thelte na pere dark mauve ronger lipstick-ta
thNote ektu thekalam. Akhon apshosh hoy, kano morte shajte gelam!
- Abar oi dada-ta dhorechhilo naki? Jigyesh kore Domoyonti. - Kharap
kichhu bolechhe? Ba korechhe?
- Are na. Ki holo shetai to bolchhi. Bollam na long story. Dhoirjyo
dhore shon please. Odhoirjyo hoye bole Shefali. Bar bar erokom interrupt
korish na, tahole khei hariye phelbo.
- Thik achhe. Ei mukhe kulup dilam.
- OK. Shefali bole jay - Amra dujone to natok dekhte
gelaam. Hall-ta shotyi-i thanda chhilo.
Lokjon-o nei beshi. Namita bollo, "khub-i intellectual shobai".
Shotyi-i kichhu daDi-wala chhele dekhlam. KNadhe jhola niye ghurchhe.
A.C hall-er modhye cigarette khaoa baron bole dorjar kachhe dNaDiye
dNaDiye golpo korchhe. Besh kichhu gombhir meyera ghoraphera
korchhe. Tar majhkhane amader bodh-hoy akebarei bemanan
lagchhilo. Namita bollo, "Adult-der moto behave korish. Noile bhabbe
bachcha". Tai amra adultder moto hNatchhi, boshchhi.
Ektu pore Namitar ek Anjan-da koththeke eshe amader pashe
boshlo. Shei Anjan-"da" amay bollo, "Shefali tumi kon college-e poDo?"
School-e poDi sheta bolte khub lojja
korlo, tai bollam, "agami bochhor bhorti hobo". Anjan-da bollo,
"Cigarette khabe"? Ami bollam, "na". Tokhon Namita-ta amake ekla phele
adult shajbe bole Anjan-dar shathe cigarette khete chole galo.
- Bhalo-i korechhish khash ni. Domoyonti priyo bondhu-r ei shothik
shidhdhanter kotha shune chup kore thakte pare na. - Cigarette khele
mukhe ja gondho hoy!
- Absolutely. Gayer rong-o naki tamak-er moto puDe kalo hoye jay. Jai
hok. Eka eka boshe achhi. Natok ar shuru hoy na. Amon shomoy hothat duto
Kabuliwala koththeke eshe amar dudharer seat-e jNakiye boshlo!
- Ki bolli?!! Kabuliwala! Domoyonti-r bismoyer sheema thake
na. - Excuse me Shefali, mukhe ar kulup thakchhe na. Kabuliwala-ra natok
dakhe naki?
- Ami-o thik erokom-i ashchorjo hoyechhilam. Shefali bole. - Dujoner-i
boDo shoDo chehara. Besh bhoyanok. Ami akebare totostho hoye
gechhi. Ashepasher seatgulo phNaka ta shotteo ora amar pashe kano boshlo
ekbar bhab! Amonbhabe boshechhe je palabar kono poth-o pachchhi na.
Shefali ektu dom niye bole jay. - Tarpor shon. Lokduto boshei Pharshi na
Pushtu ki bhashay "Ahst Foosht Dosht Bood"
eishob bole kotha bolte laglo. Ami nijer seat-e shNitiye boshe achhi ar
ora dujon dudik theke amon bhabe kotha bolchhe jano majhkhane keu
nei. Ami ekbar edike takachchhi ekbar odike takachchhi. Hothat akjon
amake jano dekhte peye bollo, "KhNoki tumi kishmish khabe? Monakka?"
Ami, "na" bolar agei she tar jobbar pocket-e haat dhukiye boDo boDo duto
Monakka amar hate gNuje dilo. Ami bolte gelam, "Amar chai na". Tar agei
pasher jon jhNuke pore bollo, "KhNoki tumi chhora libe"? Ei bole komor
theke ekta atoboDo khape dhaka chhora bar kore amake dite chailo!
- My goodness! Tui palali na kano?
- Palabo ki? Ami to murtir moto jome gechhi. Bhagyish thik shei shomoyei
pichhon theke Namita ar Anjan-da eshe poDlo. Haat neDe tader
dakte jabo omni lok duto uthe dujon dujon-ke kurnish kore dudiker
ondhokare amon ga dhaka dilo je tader ar dekhai galo na.
- Very strange.
- Shobe to shuru. Aro achhe. Purota shunle tor akkel guDum hoye
jabe. Bole Shefali. - Anjan-da-ra ashte bollam bisree duto Kabuliwalar kotha.
Anjan-da hashte hashte bollo, "Kabuliwala, abar kolkata shohore?
Last-ta-ke to Rabindranath bhagiye diyechhilen. Shotyi Shefali,
eshob nesha korar chaite cigarette-er nesha bhalo". Shune khub raag holo
amar. Odike Namita-ta hee hee kore hashchhe. Jai hok ami shore
boshlaam. Ora boshlo amar pashe. Tarpor
natok shuru hoa porjonto ar kono oghoton ghotlo na.
*********
Shefali ektu theme abar khei dhore.
- Natok shuru hotei kintu Kabuliwalar rohoshyo porishkar holo.
Subhashchondro-ke niye natok. Odhbhut tar plot. Shetao bolar moto.
Tahole atmosphere-ta bujhte parbi. Golpota ei-rokom:
Bharoter Viceroy boDo lat tNar bou-er
otyachar shohyo korte na pere Kabuliwala sheje desh chheDe
palachhen. Odike ak-i rokom bhabe palachehhn Subhashchondro. Dujoner
nokol daDir bhitor ki shob gopon kagojpotro lukono achhe. Shei daDi odol-bodol
hoye giye biDombona. Bujhtei parchhish kolkatay Kabuliwala elo
koththeke. Natoker majhamajhi Kabuliwalara dorshok-der modhye theke
kishmish chibote chibote stage-e uthlo giye. Ar ki ashpordha, shekhan
theke chNechiye amay bollo, "KhNoki monakka bhalo legechhilo"? Monakka
duto ami seat-er dhar diye kokhon phele diyechhilaam. Anjan-da amar
dike jhNuke bollo, " Ei naki shei Kabuliwala? Monakka khaiyechhe tomake?
Bhalo legechhilo"? Ami thNot ulte bollam, "Seat-er niche poDe achhe
khNuje nin jodi chai".
Jai hok shei bichchhiri mathamunduheen natok shesh holo akshomoy. Last
scene-e Shubhashchondro, Viceroy ar onek shotyikarer Kabuliwala mile
musical chair khelbe. Jara jara chair pachche na tader daDi kamiye deoa
hochchhe. Shesh porjonto Subhash Bose-i jite "bhagyish" bole
daDi shomet Germany chole gelen.
Golpo shune Domoyonti hashte thake. - Ei holo intellectual natok? Eshob
chhele-ra ki kheye intellectual hoy bolto? Pore dekhish oi
Subhashchondro-i hoyto naam kora actor hoye jabe.
- Shondeho achhe. Bole Shefali. Purota shunlei bujhte parbi. Ebar ashol
ghotona-ta shon. Natoker sheshe stage theke Subhash Bose
ar Viceroy hashte hashte neme eshe amader kachhe dNaDalo. Anjan-da
bollo, "Porichoy koriye di-i. Shoshanko Sen ar Jonmejoy Mitra. Kamon
obhinoy korlo bolo". Ami bollam, "Jodi chinten to age bollen na kano?
Ami khub bore hoyechhi".
Tokhon daDiwalader akjon bollo, "Amra dorshok-der-o ekta participation
chai. Ei je apnake stage theke prosno-ta korlaam, apni dNadiye uthe ekta
jobab dilei parten. Khub spontaneous hoto na"?
Kothata shune amar ato bokaboka mone holo je ki bolbo. Natok dekhte
eshechhi na natok korte eshechhi? Shei kothata jiggesh kortei onyo daDiwala
gola namiye hat naDiye aNtel-er moto bollo, "Dekhun amra gono-natok-e
bishwash kori. Performing arts-e dorshok-er active participation na
thakle sheta art-i noy".
- Bapre! Shotyi-i aNtel tar mane! Kopot bhoy dekhiye bole Domoyonti.
- ANtel hok ki narkel-tel hok amar ki? JhNajiye bole Shefali. - Ashol
kotha holo ora amar shonge amon byabohar korchhilo jano ami ekta bachcha
meye. Ar ora shobai shobjanta.
Tai ami chote giye bollam, "Tar mane Amjad Ali Khan-er concert shunte
gele shonge shorod niye jete hobe? Ravishankar-er ashore
boDo boDo shetar kNadhe dhuke poDe nijera nijerai piDing piDing shuru
kore debo? Suchitra Mitr-er function-e uni stage-e ashar agei hNeDe gola
shadhte thakbo? Birju Moharaj-er show dekhte giye buDo lokera komore
kNocha joDiye dhei dhei kore nachte shuru korbe"?
Shefali ak nihshashe tar boktobyo janiye chup kore. Domoyonti-r motamot
jante chay. Domoyonti prokrito-i probhabito hoyechhe bojha jay.
- Urebbas! Tui to ekebare school-er debate-er moto solid lang mered dili
re!
Tar juktir jothartho-ta shombondhe Shefali-r kokhonoi oboshyo
shondeho chhilo na, Domoyonti-r proshostibad tai she thik
ga kore na. Borong ulte bole - Ota bolei to kaal holo amar
Domoyonti. Kothata boltei dui
kabuliwala ekebare chupshe giye amta amta korte laglo. Anjan-da ha ha
kore heshe bollo, "Shabash Shefali, darun joba diyechho. Tumi hole
Darjeeling-er meye. Kolkatar erokom aNtel chheleder pocket-e niye ghurte
paro."
Telephone-e kotha bolte bolte-i shei muhurter kotha arekbar mone poDe
jay Shefali-r. Ektu kNepe othe she.
**********
Anjan-da-r kothatar porei koD koD kore ekta baj porar ayoyaj
hoyechhilo. Kalboishekhir jhoD-er shuchona. Tara hall theke baire eshe
poDechhe tokhon. Akash ondhokar. Jholmol kore bidyut chomkachche hall-er
upor. Shei oshubho bidyuchchomoker shonge shongei dui kabuliwala
dNat phNak kore odbhutbhabe heshechhilo
tar dike cheye. Shefali dekhechhilo shei ondhokare tader chokh chokchok kore
uthchhe. Kono ojana ashonkay tokhon-i Shefali-r buk bhishon kNepe
uthechhilo.
**********
Domoyonti-r golay Shefali-r sambit phere. Shefali-ke chup dekhe
Domoyonti prosno korechhe - Tarpor?
- Tarpor ami ar Namita hall chheDe goto got kore baire beriye elam.
Namita bollo, " tui erokom kotha bolte parish jantam na to". Anjan-da
bollo, "Shoshanko ar Jonmejoy darun impressed hoye gachhe.
HNa kore cheyechhilo tomar dike Shefali. Oder keu ebhabe kothay jobdo
korte pare ni".
Namita-ta abar kata ghaye nuner chhite deoar jonyo bollo,
"Lipistick tipistick lagiye toke ja top dekhachhilo na Shefali! Mundu
ghure gachhe oder". Kintu Kabuliwalader shei hashi hashi mukh mone poDay
ami shudhu shiure shiure uthlam.
Jai hok, jhoD eshe poDbe tohkhuni, tai rasta diye taDataDi pa chaliye
phirchhi ami ar Namita. Akshomoy mone holo pichhone
keu amader follow korchhe. Ghure takalei jano keukeu
thamer aDale kimba botgachher pichhone lukiye poDchhe. Ami Namita-r
hat-ta aNkde dhore bollam, "Kara amader pichhone ashchhe re"! Namita
ghure takiye kauke dekhte pelo na. Bollo, "Dur, o tor moner bhul".
BaDite pNouchhe Namita-ke tata kore dilaam. Ma chhilo na, babar
chamber-e alo jolchhe. Kajer akjon lok amake dorja khule dilo. Ami nijer
ghore giye jama kapoD chheDe ekta nightie porechhi. Golapi ronger
nightie. Foreign theke anano. Onek lace tace achhe. Duto baDO boDo pocket.
Porle ektu sheet sheet kore. Aram hoy.
Shefali abar chokher shamne shei rater drishyaboli dekhte
pay. Telephone-ta kNadhe chepe dhore she table-e pray matha rekhe
boshechhe. Du chokh bondho. Todgoto-bhabe bole chole she.
- Bapre she ki jhoD Domoyonti. Cinemar moto. Baire, rater
ondhokare ekta shNo shNo batash boichhe. HuDmuDiye gachhpala poDe jaoar
ayoyaj pachhi majhe majhe. Ekta durjoger raat. Mone mone Khaibar pass-er
jhoDer kotha ashchhe ektu ektu. Ki kori ki kori bhabchhi. Ekta kichhu
jano hobe. Ekta kichhu jano hobe. Dhip dhip korchhe buk. Chin chin
korchhe hat pa.
- Amon shomoy hothat amar janlay tok tok kore duto toka!
Tok tok!
Shefali-r kotha shesh hobar agei ghorer dorjay shotyi shotyi
thik ager motoi tok tok kore toka poDechhe. Ato chomke gachhe
Shefali je tar hat theke telephone-ta phoshke gachhe bebak.
- Hallo, hallo. Bolchhe Domoyonti. Telephone-er onyo prante boshe-o
gheme gachhe she. - Hallo, hallo. Shefali!
- Ak minute Domoyonti. Hold kor. Dorjay keu toka dichchhe. Jabo ar
ashbo.
********
Telephone-ta mejhe theke tule uthe dNaDay Shefali. Dorjay abar
toka. Tok, tok!
Paye paye egiye jay Shefali.
- Ke?
- Jol-ta rakh Bulu.
Ma joler jug hate dNaDiye achhe.
- Thank you ma. Shefali jol-ta nay.
- Rate brishti hole janla-ta bondho kore dish.
- OK.
- Roj roj oi nightie-ta pore shuchchish kano? Shaloyar Kamij
beshi comfortable na?
Shefali ektu itostoto kore.
- Porbo. Aj noy. Aj-ke etai thak.
Ma chole gele Shefali dorjata bhejiye taDataDi phire ashe.
Dressing table-er dike takay ekbar.
Halka neel aloy ak-khondo ordh-shwochcho
ratri-bash dekha jachchhe aynar kNache. Golapi, lace-kata
nightie. Khub-i priyo Shephalir. Ektu haat buloy tate.
Hothat manusher gola. Phishphish kore keu bolchhe. Ghume joDano gola.
- Ki byepaar? Ke eshechhilo?
Shefali chot kore dekhe nay ghorer dorja bondho achhe kina. JamakapoDer
almarita khole.
- Shhhh.... Ma.
- Ato rate?
- Jol diye galo. Nightie-ta paltate bolchhilo.
- Shabdhane theko. Shondeho-batik achhe bhodromohilar.
Shefali-r bhuru kNuchke jay. Shei phishphishe shwor bhul
bujhte pere khoma chaichhe.
- I didn't mean that. Thik ta bolte chai ni.
Kintu Shefali-r bhuru kNuchkei thake. Matha uNuchu kore
table-er kachhe phire eshe phone-ta dhore. Gola namiye bole - Domoyonti,
shunte pachchish?
***********
- Pachchi. Phishphish korchhish kano? Domoyonti obak hoy.
- Karon achhe. Kothay shesh korechhilam?
- Oi je, jhoD joler modhye tor janlay tok tok kore toka. Shune obdhi
amar-i bhoy korchhe.
- Bhoyer-i kotha. Tarpor ki holo shon. Nightie-ta bhalo kore gaye joDiye
niye Shefali nijer golpe phire jay.
- Amar janla-ta baganer dike. Shoja bagane neme jabar ekta
dorjao achhe odike. Shondhyer por akdom ondhokar hoye jay, ektu ga chhom
chhom kore. Tai oi dorjata shobshomoy bondho-i thake. Shekhane ke ba
kara eshe amar janlay toka dichchhe! Bhishon bhoye amar mathar chul
khaDa hoye galo bodh-hoy. Abar bidyut chomkalo. Amio chomke uthe dekhi
janlay ekta mukh. Phorsha moto. Nokol gNof daDi. Chokchoke chokh. Dhola
jama. Teekhno, shoru thNote ekta hashi.
- Bh-o-o-o-t?
- Ta hole bNachtam. Bhoot noy. Manush. Kabuliwala! Gol gol chokh kore
telephone-er dike takiye khobor-ta day Shefali.
- Phish phish kore shei mukh-ta
bollo, "Dorja kholo Shefali. Please dorja kholo"!
Bujhtei parchhish ami kirokom bhoy peyechhilaam ar obak
hoyechhilam. Gola diye pray ekta chitkar beriye jachchhilo. Nightie-ta
mukhe chapa diye sheta thamalam.
Janlar mundu-ta bollo, "Dorja kholo. Ami Shoshanko. Kabuliawala. Mone
nei? Monakka dilaam".
Ami bollam, "Ekhane eshechho kano? Keu dekhe phelle"?
Tokhon she bollo, "More jachchhi Shefali. Tomake chhaDa thakte parchhi
na. Dorja kholo please. Ami tomar gaye ekta kishmish khabo".
- Oh my God! Onyo pranto theke bole Domoyonti.
- Sheshob paglamo dekhe ar orokom bhulbhal kotha shune ami aro bhoy peye
bollam, "Chole jao tumi ekhan theke. Kichhutei ami dorja khulbo na".
Tokhon shei bojjat kabuliwalata ghoshghoshe golay bollo,
"Chole jabo? Jate tumi oi Jonmejoy-tar shathe phoshti noshti korte paro?
More jabo kintu chole jabo na. Ei dakho ami elaam".
Ei na bole - bishwash korbi na Domoyonti - otoboDo kabuliwala-ta
jabba-jobba shomet chhoto eituku hoye janlar shiker phNak diye gole
lafiye shoja amar table-e!
- What! Kothata bishshash kore na Domoyonti. You mean, lokta liliput-der
moto chhoto hoye galo? Orokom hoy naki? Jah!
- Dibyi kore bolchhi Domoyonti. Mithye bolle jano amar mukhe ak hajar
brono hoy. Ami kichhu bujhte parar
agei shekhan theke arek laf diye eshe poDlo amar buker upor. Ami jah,
jah, bhag, bhag bole joto-i jheDe phele dite chai toto-i she amar nylon-er
nightie khimche dhore hNachoD pachoD kore jhule thake. Shesh porjonto
hNapiye gheme jei chair-tay ektu boshechhi omni she shoDshoD kore
neme dhuke poDlo nightier dan diker pocket-e. Ami bollam, "eta ki holo?
Ota amar pocket". She pocket-er bhitor theke bollo, "Akhon ami ekhanei
thakbo. Rag koro na lokhkhi-ti".
Ei ghotona tui bishwash korbi kina jani na, but this is the truth. Tin
shotyi kore bolchhi.
Shei ratre ami je ki bhoye bhoye chhilam ki bolbo. Nightie-ta tokhkhuni
khule phele shaloyar kamij porlaam. Kabuliwala-ta oboshyo edik diye
bhalo, she sharakhkhon pocket-er modhyei roilo. Bollo, "Tomar privacy-te
hostokhkhep korbo na. Ja bolbe shunbo. Shudhu pocket-e ektu sthan dio.
Shaloyar kamij-e pocket nei"? Ami bollam, "na". Tokhon she bollo, "shiggir
amar jonyo ekta poket baniye dao, noile ami chNechiye baDi mathay
korbo". Ki ar kori ami take konomote shanto kore ghor theke beriye bhat
kheye elaam. Tarpor shobar age abar shei pocketwala nightie-ta porte
holo. Shararat oi kabuliwala amar pocket-e shuye ghumolo.
- You mean, tor shathe, ak bichhanay?
- Pocket-er modhye. Ami to ghumotei parlam na.
Shokale uthe bhablam shopno dekhchhi bodhhoy. Pocket-e hat ditei ke
shetake kolbalisher moto joDiye dhorlo. Dekhi kabuliwala tokhon-o
ghumochchhe. Shabdhane hat-ta chhaDiye uthe porlam. Pa tipe tipe ekta
shirt ar jeans pore baDi theke berolaam, bhaablam puro byeparta
Namita-ke janiye advice chaibo.
Kintu baDi theke baire pa phela matro-i arek bipod. Gate-er pashe ekta
boDo jobagachh achhe. Onek dalpala niye besh ghono jhop moto hoye
thake. Tar pash diye jachchhi, okosmat ekta kathbeDali jano tar dal
dhore jhule chole elo naker shamne. Takiye dekhi kathbeDali noy,
sherokom-i chhoto, kintu ashole manush. Nokol daDi gNof. Onyo
Kabuliwalata!
Ami, "oma", bole jei shetake jheDe phelte jabo
omni sheta manusher golay bollo, "Bhoy nei. Ami Jonmejoy". Ei bole she
shoDat kore neme koshte srishte gole amar
Jeans-er pocket-e giye dhuklo. Bollo, " Ah ki aram. Kal
shararat dhore tomar jonyo opekhkha korechhi. Koto pNipDer kamoD
khelum. Koto jhoD boye galo shorirer upor diye. Never mind.
Ja hobar ta hobei".
Tokhon ami hashbo ki kNadbo bhebe pachchhi na. Rag kore ar Namita-r
shathe dekhai korlaam na. Or jonyoi to holo joto jhamela. Birosh bodone
ghore phire eshe dekhi ager kabuliwala ghum theke uthe bichhanar upor
dNaDiye hai tulchhe. Amay dekhe bojjat-ta bollo, "Shuprobhat
Shefali. Bhalo ghum hoyechhilo"? Omni pocket theke onyo kabuliwala beriye
mukh kharap kore bollo, "Byeta Shoshanko, khochchor, tui ekhane"?
Bolei jhNap diye poDlo khater
upor. Tarpor dui kabuliwalay bedhe
galo. Bangla, urdu, pharshi, pushtu, charte bhashay e oke jachchhetai
kore bolchhe. Amar kan jhalapala hoye jachchhilo. Tai ami doDam kore
dorja bondho kore beriye gelam.
Domoyonti ato hotobak hoye gachhe je she ar kono kotha-i bolchhe
na. Shefali bole - Hallo, Domoyonti, shunte pachchish to?
- Pachchi. Nistejbhabe jobab ashe Domoyontir.
- Ei holo amar akhonkar obostha. Pore ghore phire eshe dekhi shob
chupchap. Dui kabuliwala bichhanar dudike gomDa mukhe
boshe achhe. Amay dhukte
dekhei khat theke neme tup tup kore akjon jeans-er dandiker ar akjon
bNadiker pocket-e uthe poDlo. Jar naam Jonmejoy she bhuru nachiye bollo,
"Shomosto jamay jano duto pocket thake. BNadiker pocket-gulo amar".
Ami bhoy dekhabar cheshta korlaam. Bollam, "Babake shomosto bole debo.
Jail-e jabe tomra".
Shekotha shune Shoshanko nak shNitke bollo, "Dao na bole! Dakho na tomar
ki hoy"! Ei bole dujonei hat pa chhoDiye pocket-er bhitor shuye ghumote
laglo.
Shei theke amay shudhu pocketwala jama porte hoy. Rate shobar shomoy
ekta golapi nightie na porle kabuliwalara bhishon
rege jay. Akdin orokom rege ora amar cord-er pant, nyloner genji ar tin
charte bhitorer jama chhNiDechhe. Shoshanko bolechhe shokoler shamne amar
shaloyar-er doDi golay diye naki atmohotya korbe! Ar Jonmejoy bolechhe
she shoshanker lash kNadhe niye amar baba jokhon breakfast khabe tokhon
khabar table-e uthe bichar chaibe. Chardike naki dhi dhi poDe
jabe. Shudhu amar noy amader poribarer karo naki mukh dekhabar jo thakbe
na. Ei bhoye sharakhkhon oder kothamoto
pocketwala jama pore thakte hochche. Jonmejoy-ta abar amon paji,
bolechhe shaDi blouse poDle blouse-er majhkhantakeo pocket hishebe dhora
jete pare. Shei theke amar shaDi porao bad hoye gachhe.
Onyodike Domoyonti bismoye etoi shithil hoye gachhe je tar mukhe ar
kotha jogachchhe na. Lojja peleo jibh kat-te bhule gachhe thik, onuman
kore Shefali. Ki jibon amar? Bhabe she. Je shunchhe tho hoye
jachche!
Deerghoshwash phele Shefali. - Amar kotha-ti phurolo. Notegachh-ti
muDolo. Are you there Domoyonti?
Domoyonti ekta osfut shobdo kore. Tar bhashaheen mormobedonar shongoto
shwikarokti.
- UN-u-u-u-hNY-a-a-a..
********
Khanikhkhon dujonei chup. Ektu shushtho hoye Domoyonti jigyesh kore
- Akhon ora kothay?
- Jeans-er pocket-e ghumochche. Almarir modhye. Rate shobar shomoy
shonge nebo.
Domoyonti kibhabe ei obhutpurbo shomoshyay shahajyo korbe bhebe pay
na. Nijer uporei rag hoy. Shefali-r erkomo durdine tar mathay kichhu
ashchhe na kano?
- Shob kotha bole monta ektu halka holo. Bole Shefali.
- Chinta korish na Shefali. Akhon tui shuye poD. Ami aj-i mejdi ar
shejdi-ke puro ghotona-ta bolchhi. Oder shonge poramorsho kore ekta na
ekta upay thik ber kore phelbo.
- Shei bhorsha-tei achhi.
- Buck up Shefali. Domoyonti shashosh day. Shudhu ektu shomoy de
amader. Kichhu ekta upay thik beriye jabe. Toke amra bNachiye nebo
dekhish ...
Ektana Shefali-ke shantona diye jete thake Domoyonti. Korun shure,
shishu-ke ghum paDanor moto ragini geye jay. Erokom durdine dur-pallar
telephone-er khorocher kothao chinta kore na she.
Shudhu ektai shomoshya. Nijer kothay nijer-i protyoy hoy na Domoyonti-r.
*****************
ChhoD-dir shonge shaDe chho minute
Pordin Shefali-der baDite Domoyontir telephone. Shokal shokal.
- Hallo Shefali? Ami Domoyonti bolchhi.
- Domoyonti! Bol ki khobor? Mejdi, shejdi ..
- Bolechhi. Amra shobai tor jonyo bhishon
chinta korchhilaam. Tui thik achhish?
- Oi problem-ta bad dile ar shob ok. Tora?
- Amra bhalo achhi. Amader kotha chhaD. Shon ChhoDdi tor shonge kotha
bolte chay. ChhoDdi-ke dichchhi.
- OK.
Ektu pore phone Domoyontir ChhoDdi-r gola.
- Shefali amai Domoyontir chhoDdi.
- Hallo ChhoDdi.
- Tomar kotha shune amra khub chintito. Bishesh kore tumi amader
shahajyo cheyechho bole. Tumi otodure na thakle amra tomar kachhei chole
jetam.
- Thank you chhoDdi.
- Bolai bahulyo ei experience amader karo age hoy ni.
- Amio shei bhoy korechhilam chhoDdi.
- Kintu jotodur mone poDe amader chena akjoner hoyechhilo.
- She ke chhoDdi?
- Senior akjon. Amader schoolei poDto. Puro ghotona-ta jani na. Kintu
she kichhudin poketwala skirt pore schoole ashto.
- Tai naki?
- HNya. Akdin shaDi pore ashte hoyechhilo, shedin..
- Ish. Bujhechhi chhoDdi.
- Khub-i jhamelar byepar.
- HaDe hade ter pachhi to!
- Tomar koshto bujhchhi. Shono ak kaj koro tumi.
- Ki kaj chhoDdi?
- Chhuti phurole schhole phire giye-i puro byeparta Mother Superior-ke
khule bolo.
- Ki bolchhen chhoDdi? Uni amake school theke bar kore deben!
- Don't be silly. Mother superior-er uportai rukhkho, bhitorta akebare
norom. Tachhada ekhane tomar dosh to kichhu nei!
- Sheta shotyi, kintu uni ki bishwash korben?
- Korben. Monjori-di, mane amader senior shei meye je pocketwala skirt
porto, sheo Mother Superior-ke shob khule bolechhilo.
- Tarpor ki holo?
- Nothing. Shob thik hoye galo.
- Problem solve hoye galo? Ki kore?
- Sheta jani na. Top secret ekta meeting hoyechhilo teachers
room-e. Tomar mone achhe pasher iskooler Brother Michael bole onker
teacher jebar gum hoye gelen shebar amader akdin chhuti deoa hoyechhilo?
- HNya mone achhe. Oh she ki bhoyer din. Teacher's roome secret meeting
holo. Amader school theke ber kore deoa holo. Bhoye bhoye katlo
sharadin. Loktake ar khNujeo paoa galo na. Khun-i hoye gachhen bole
shunlam pore.
- HNya thik sheirokom meeting. Khub gurutoro ghotonar jonye eirokom
meeting daka hoy. Shudhu Mother Superior ar onyo Sister-ra
thakben. Ar tumi thakbe.
Shiure othe Shefali.
- E chhaDa ar upay nei?
- Amader jana nei. Tumi shokto achho?
- Cheshta korchhi thakar.
- Very good. Fight korte thako. Amra tomar shonge achhi.
- Thank you chhoDdi.
- No mention. Ar shono ... kabuliwalara konorokom misbehave korchhe na
to?
- Na. Ta korchhe na. Pocket-e rakhle chupchap thake.
- Hmmm. Dekhte kamon. Khub bhoyaboho ki?
- DaDi khule rakhle besh mishti-i dekhte.
- Oh. ChhoDdir ekta deerghoshwash poDe jano. - Thik achhe Shefali, tumi
apatoto status quo bojay rakho. Beshi licence dio na. Bathroome ki ora
tomar shonge jay?
- Na. Lojja peye jay Shefali. Ora alada jay. Ami alada jai. Tokhon ora
amar poDar table-er deraje lukiye thake.
- Hmmm. I see. Jodi byaboharer konorokom parthokyo dekhte pao ba kono
rokom bipojjonok poristhiti toiri hochchhe mone hoy tahole amader ekta
telephone koro.
- Tai korbo.
- Good luck Shefali. Aj ekhanei rakhchhi.
- Dhonyobaad chhoDdi. Tomader shobaike shubhechha. Bye Bye.
Shefali phone namiye pocket-er dike takay. Dujon kabuliwala ghortoro
shondeher drishtite tar dike takiye achhe.
- Just a friend. Shefali shavabik bhabe bole.
- Mother Superior-ta abar keda? Jonmejoy daDi chulke jante chay.
- Amader schooler Principal. Bhari sweet mohila. Shono, ami bathroom-e
jabo.
Dui kabuliwala ektu oproshonno mukhe
tabler upor neme derajer dike hNatte thake. Shefali
bathroom-e giye chup kore dNaDiye bhabe chhoDdir poramorsher kotha.
**********
Darjeeling-e
Puro goromer chhuti-ta erokom bishom oshubidher modhye katlo
Shefali-r. Bayna kore tinte aro pocketwala nightie kinechhe
she. ShaDi-te pocket lagano jay kina she niye mar ar dida-r shonge kotha bolte
giye darun opomanito hoyechhe. Dida bollen - Meyetake shayeb school
theke chhaDiye ne Dolly. Mathata akebare kharap hoye jachchhe or. Ebar
gamchhay hata lagate chaibe. Shayate janla katate bolbe.
Baba bollen - Legally kono oshubidhe dekchhi na. ShaDi-te pocket
lagiyechhe bolei insanity proman kora shokto. Puro ekta psychiatric
evaluation korate hobe. Do you hear voices Shefali? Rate tomar kaner
kachhe keu kotha bole?
Shefali ekbar bhabe bole debe - HNya. Akjon noy, dujon. Sharakhkhon
bokor bokor kore.
Dida hat tule bollen - Tumi thamo Suresh. Dolly tui meyetake ar
Darjeeling-e jete dish ni. Amader kachhe-i thakuk.
Shefali konomote shamal diye bole - Ki je bolo Dida? Thatta-o bojho na?
Shotyi shotyi shaDite pocket chaichhi naki? ShaDi portei amar bhallage
na!
Bikele monihari dokan theke Shefali duto chocolate kine du pocket-e
gNuje day. Tatei diner khaoa hoye jay dui kabuliwalar. Prothom prothom
Shefali nije ja kheto tar theke-i bhag debar cheshta korto. Kintu
machher boDa ki mangsher chop pocket-e rakhlei jamata teltele hoye
jay. Bujhiye shujhiye Kabuliwalader chocolate-e raji korate hoyechhe.
Dekhte dekhte akdin oboshyo goromer chhuti phuriyeo elo. Shefali
Domoyonti-ke arekta chithi likhe mone koriye day. - Domoyonti, Mother
Superior-ke puro ghotona-ta bolte hobe bhebe-i bhoye amar gaye kNata
dichche. Tui, kindly amar shonge thakish. Domoyonti-o chotpot jobab dilo
- Bhoy nei Shefali. AMi tor shonge achhi.
*************
Tarpor akdin ShiliguDi theke train dhore aNka bNaka rastay Shefali abar
pNouchhe jay boarding school-e. Train-ei onek bondhuder shonge
dekha hoye jay. Shobai mile hoi hoi korte korte jaoa. Ma ar Baba akdin
theke phire gelen. Shondhyebela Domoyonti-ra elo. Shefali porechhe
pocketwala skirt. Domoynti chokh boDo boDo kore bollo - Achhe? Chardik-e
chokh buliye Shefali Domoyonti-ke niye dhoke nijer ghore. Pocket theke
dui Kabuliwala mukh ber kore bow kore Domoynti-ke. Domoyonti hat joD
kore bole - Ami Domoyonti. Kabuliwala-ra je shikhkhito tate shondeho
nei. Hashimukhe tara protinomoshkar janay.
**************
Pordin prarthonar por Mother Superiror-er ghorer baire duru duru bokhkhe
opekhkha korchhe duti meye. Ektu pore bhitor theke ghontar ayoyaj
pore. Mother Superior-er gola poa jay - esho!
Age Domoyonti, pichhone pichhone dhukechhe Shefali. Ghor-ta durdanto
shajano. Pashe, janlar kachhe table-e ak guchho phul. Deyal juDe
certificate ar chhobi. Deergho, gaDho lal ronger chair-e boshe achhen
Mother Superior.
Kabuliwalara ratribasher pocket-e ghumochchhe. Shefali aj shokal shokal
uthe tader hat theke nishkriti peyechhe kichhukhkhoner jonye.
- Ki chai? MOther Superior-er gombhir golay chomok bhange dujoner-i.
- Shefali-r ekta problem hoyechhe. Domoyonti amta amta kore janay. Khub
bhoy pachhilo, tai moral support debar jonye ..
Domoynti-r kotha shesh hobar agei Mother Superior gorje othen - Ki
problem?
Domoyonti dhNok gilchhe dekhe Shefali paye paye egiye jay table-er
kachhe. Chokh duto ektu chhol
chhol korchhe. Nicher dike drishti. Mukhe sposhto bhoyer chhap. Mother
Superior kichhu ekta andaj koren.
- Domoynti!
- Yes Mother Superior.
- Tumi jao. Ja jano shekotha ar kauke bolo na. The matter has ended for
you. Tomar shonge e bishoye ar karo kono kotha hobe na.
- Yes Mother Superior. Bole Domoyonti pray jhoDer bege ghor theke
palay.
Domoyonti chole gele ingeete Mother Superior Shefali-ke bolen
kachhe ashte. Shefali-r skirt-e duti boDo boDo pocket.
- Shefali, er shasti ki ta tumi jano?
- Na. Mother Superiro-er erokom gombhir gola konodin shone ni
Shefali. Buk kNepe othe tar.
- Shiggir-i jante parbe. Aj ekta meeting daka hobe. Selected staff
member ar tumi thakbe. Shekhanei baki kotha hobe.
Shefali-r buk dhoDash dhoDash kore. - Shei rokom meeting? Ja kale bhodre
khub-i gurutoro byepar niye daka hoy? Jibon moroner shomoshya niye
bhabna chinta hoy jekhane!
Hoyto Shefali-r niruopodrob jiboner dhara-i palte jabe shei meeting-er
por? Deerghoshwash phele Shefali ei ochena poristhitir mokabila korar
jonyo prostut hoy.
- Thik ektay meeting. Mother Superior chair theke uthte uthte
Shefali-r shonkhkhipto shakhkhatkar shesh kore dan.
***********
Nijer ghore eshe dui bNadorer kando dekhe Shefali-r mejaj akebare kharap
hoye jay. Ghum theke uthe tara Shefali-ke na dekhte peye rage ballish chhNiDe
phelechhe. Ghormoy uDchhe tulo. Shefali almari theke lal blazer ber kore
paka matador-er moto tai diye dujon-ke chapa diye day.
- Ei ki hochchhe? ChhaDo Shefali bhishon gorom lagchhe, dom atke ashchhe.
- Lokhkhi meye jhamela koro na. Amra tomar gurujon.
- Gurujoner nikuchi korechhe. Shefali shashiye bole. - Behave
yourselves, noile ami gola tipe dujonkei mere phelbo.
- Thatta koro na Shefali. Hashte hashte bole Jonmejoy. Shokal shokal
chokhe dhulo diye kothay gishle tai bolo?
- Giyechhilam Mother Superior-er kachhe.
Mother Superior-er naam shuntei kabuliwalader hat pa chhNoDa bondho hoye
jay. Akmuhurte shob chup. Sheshe Shoshanko norom hoye bolchhe -
Why Shefali? Ma-er kotha mone poDchhe?
- Na, sir. Mukh jhamta diye bole Shefali. Giyechhilam tomader birudhdhe
complain korte. Mother Superior ebar tomader byabostha korben.
- What? Shoshanko phete poDe. Lafiye othe Jonmejoy. - Tumi oi shukno
buDi-tar kachhe amader kotha bolle? O eshober mormo ki bojhe?
- What do you mean? Ke shukno buDi?
- Daini buDi. Aro jor golay bole Jonmejoy. Ami lukiye dekhechhi o
batashe amader gondho shNokar cheshta korchhilo. O buDi
manush noy.
- Tumi oi dinosaur-er hate amader tule dite paro na Shefali. Amra akhon
tomar asroye achhi. Sheta bhulo na. Bole Shoshanko.
Shefali komore hat diye dNaDay ghorer majhkhane. Take khub-i bhishon
dekhachhilo bodh-hoy. Shohosha Jonmejoy ar Shoshanko bichhana theke
lafiye poDe tulo kuDote thake. Khanikhkhon dekhar por Shefalir hashi
peye jay.
- Very good. Ektar age puro ghor porishkar kore phalo. Ektay meeting
achhe.
- Shefali amra meeting-e jabo na. Ar ja shasti dite chao dao.
- Upay nei. Shefali ghoDi dekhe. Hoyto amake school theke ber korei
debe. Tomra ki nijer khoti chhaDa ar kichhu dekhte pao na?
Shefali boi khata guchhiye ghor theke beriye jay.
***********
- Ami oi Dainy-r hate kamDe debo. Shefali chiole gele
Jonmejoy protigya korar moto haat mushtibodhdho kore.
- Matha gorom korish na Jonmejoy. Shoshanko take nibritto korar cheshta
kore. Bhishon bipoder din. Age Shefali-ke bNachate hobe. Tarpor
nijeder.
- Shefali-r kichhu hole ami oi daini-mother-er golay kamDe debo. Punoropi
ak bhishon protigya kore Jonmejoy.
*****************
Dhong dhong kore bela ektay tiffin-er ghonta poDchhe. Hostel-er ghor
theke druto paye beriyechhe Shefali. Pocket duto bhari.
Corridor-e bachcha meyera chhutochhuti korchhilo. Gombhir mukhe Shefali
tader chhaDiye chole jay Mother Superior-er ghorer dike. Sister Margaret
dorjar kachhe-i dNaDiye chhilen. Shefali-ke dekhe bollen - Get in,
please. Shefali dhuktei ghorer dorja-ta bondho kore chhitkini diye deoa
holo. Palabar poth ake ake bondho hoye ashchhe.
Ghorer akpashe gol table-er chardike couch ar chair pata achhe.
Tin jon otyonto koDa lok table-er chardike boshe achhen tar
protikhkhay. Mother Pauline, Sister Agnes, Sister Margaret
ar shoyong Mother Superior.
Mother Superior Shefali-ke udyeshyo kore bollen -
Kachhe eshe dNaDao Shefali. Tomar problem-ta amra kichhu kichhu andaj
korechhi. Ebar tumi purota amader khule bolbe.
Shefali gole table-er kachhe giye pocket theke dui Kabuliwala-ke
beDalchhanar moto ghaD
dhore ber kore. Tara kNui kNui shobdo kore ga ghNeshagheshi kore boshe.
Mother Superior-er dike gol gol bhabachaka khaoa chokh niye cheye thake.
Mother Superior-o tajjob hoye jan. - Ekta noy du-duto?
Two Kabuliwalas. Fascinating!
Shefali dui hat jamar botam khNut-te khNut-te adyopanto bibrito korte thake.
*******
Shob bola shesh kore Shefali dNaDiyechhe. Hothat jano shomosto
bhoy bodh chole gachhe mon theke. BUk theke ekta pathor neme gachhe.
Jodi school theke ber kore deoa hoy tahole Jonmejoy-da
ar Shoshanko-da-ke pocket-e niye chole jabe. Jodi baDi theke taDiye deoa
hoy tahole chole jabe jedike duchokh jay.
Baire ujjoil rod uthechhe. Fern gachher patar modhye diye dekha jachhe
ektu pahaD, ektu upotyoka. Bagane, ghasher upor chhotora chhutochhuti
korchhe.
Mother Superior gola khNakari diyechhen. Chotka bhanglo Shefali-r.
- There are three kinds of men in the world. Mon diye shono Shefali. Ei
secret meeting-e ja bola hobe kauke bolbe na tumi. Kintu nije shobshomoy
mone rakhbe. Do you follow?
Shefali ghaD neDe shommoti janay.
Mother Superior kothor golay bole jan. - Prithibite tin rokomer purush
achhe. Jodio tomar text boi-te eshob lekha nei, kintu amader obhigyota
theke amra jani kothata shotyi. Mother Superior ekbar onyoder dike
takalen, shobai shommotishuchok ghaD naDachche.
- Prothom dhoroner lok holo nongra, itor, lompot srenir. Era rastay
mohilader dekhle comment pass kore, kutshit kotha bole. Eder chinte
kokhono bhul hoy na. Shomosto meyeder kortobyo holo eder avoid kora.
Durbhagyer bishoy shonkhay erai din ke din majority hoye
jachche. Dukhkho prokash koren Mother Superior.
Shefali-r mone poDe jay paDar koyekti bokhate chheler kotha. She jore
jore ghaD naDe.
- Second category holo Jishu Khrishto ba Shwami Bibekanonder moto uNuchu
dorer purush. Jogodishchondrer moto boigyanik.
Era shadharonoto meyeder pattai dite chay na. Kintu eder
shanidhyo pabar cheshtai tomar jiboner ekti mukhyo udyeshyo hoa
uchit. Amader school-er meyeder kachhe amra etai asha kori.
Shefali abar shojore ghaD naDay. Ke na jane ekotha! Bibekanondo, Vivian
Richards, Uttam Kumar ... ei shomosto high achiever-der mon-pran
utshorgo korar modhyei to jiboner choritarthota.
- Third category-tai shobcheye jotil ar rohoshyomoy. Mother Superior
table-er upar du haat rekhe bolen. - Era holo shei-shob durbol
chitto purush jara shorbokhkhon-i ekta astana khNujchhe. Kono confident
meye-ke dekhlei era tar pocket-e jhNapiye poDe ebong ajibon theke jete
chay. Eder avoid kora khub kothin. Ebong ekbar pocket-e dhuke poDle
shdharonoto shara jibon jaliye mare.
Joler moto porishkar hoye jay je Kabuliwala-ra kon srenir
purush. Table-e dNaDano dui joner dike Shefali bhortshona-purno
drishti-te chay. Matha hNet koreo nirlojjer moto dNaDiye thake tara.
Palay na.
Mother Superior couch chheDe uthe poDen. Ektu klanto dekhay jano
tNake. Mukhe jano kichhuta komolotar chhap.
- Shara jibon dhore ei bhar bohon korai holo tomar shasti, Shefali.
Jamay duto kore pocket. Pocket chhaDa jama poDle jate shubidhe hoy
sherokom byabostha korbe, e niye Sister Agnes tomay details-e janaben.
- Tobe ei dui tritiyo srenir bhitu chheler-o shasti hoa uchit. Tumi aj
theke eder roj roj Cadbury khete debe na. Majhe majhe, christmas-er
din ba onyo kono bishesh din chhaDa khub shadamata khabar debe. Sister
Agnes tumi kichhu bolbe?
Sister Agnes haat kochle bollen - Best khabar holo pNauruti-r dhar-gulo
kete kete deoa. Ami canteen-er cook-er shathe kotha bole breakast-er
sandwich theke jogaD kore debo. Shamanyo
ektu brandi ar joler mixture-e bhijiye dile aro bhalo. Kheye-i sharadin
ghumobe, jalaton korbe na.
Sister Agnes ebishoye onek kichhu janen mone hoy.
Mother Superior Shefali-r dike cheye bollen - Bujhechho?
Shefali shanto bhabe bole - HNya.
Ektukhon chup kore theke Mother Superior bolen - Very good. God Bless
you. Er beshi amader ar kichhu bolar nei. Tomar ki kono prosno achhe?
Shefali-r modhye ekta poriborton hoye gachhe. Shotyi ki tahole she boDo
hoye galo? Mother Superior-ke to ar tamon bhitikor kichhu mone hochchhe
na! Sister Agnes-ke mone hochchhe jano bondhu!
- Ektai prosno achhe amar. Shefali nijer moner jor dekhe nijei bismito
hoye jachchhe. Aste aste kete kete sposto uchcharone prosno-ta kore jay
she. - Mother apnar gown-er ekta pocket shobshomoy ektu jhule
thake kano bolun to? Ki achhe okhane jante pari?
**********
Notun shomoshyar shomukhkhin hoar modhyei to boDo hoye
othar chabi. Darjeeling-er boarding school-er iskool-e rod poDe jholmol
korchhe. Principal-er nibhrito ghore dorja bondho kore ghote jachchhe
gurutwopurno meeting. Baire theke keu tar shondhan pay na.
Kimba hoyto pay. Janla diye neel akasher tukro uNKi mere dekhe jay. Onek
guli chhoto chhoto meyer modhye ekti duti kibhabe hothat boDo hoye
mohilader dole mishe jachchhe. Alor utkhipto renu eshe Shefali-r gale,
mathar chule boshechhe take obhishikto korbe bole.
Gol table-er upor eke eke onekguli choritro neme poDechhe. Majhkhane dui
Kabuliwala. Boyeshe tarai shobcheye chhoto. Sister Agnes-er pocket theke
hashte hashte neme nichu hoye bow korechhen shei hariye jaoa shupurush
Brother Michael, jNake
Shefali-ra khun hoye giyechhen bolei bhebechhilo. Sister Margaret-er
dhiledhala poshaker modhye theke nemechhe ekti modhyobosyoshko gobechara
bangali lok. Sister Margaret porichoy koriye dan Mister Basu
bole. Arekti nikotborti school-er chemistry-r odhyapok chhilen
naki. Mother Pauline-er ga beye jini nemechhen tini aro boyoshko. Hat
coat pora ak obangali bhodrolok. Mr. Varma. Cha bagan-er manager chilen
akshomoy. Ar Mother Superior-er ektu jhule thaka pocket theke nemechhe
ak khash ingrej. Shada chul shada bhuru. - Goto ponchash bochhor dhore John
amar pocket-e achhe. Bollen Mother Superior. Shei Scotland-e matro
shotero bochhor boyeshe amar apron-e dhuke poDechhilo. Tarpor oke niye
koto desh ghurlaam.
John shayeber chokhkhu duti ishot lal. Pa tolchhe. Ekti pencil-e bhor
diye dNaDiye bollen - Aye, Aye sir!
Table-er upor dNaDiye Kabuliwala-der shathe bhab korchhe onyora. Shefali
shei drishyo dekhe mone mone gobhir shanti-r onubhuti ter pay. She
asha kore Jonmejoy-da ar Shoshanko-da onyoder shonge mile mishe bhab
kore thakte parbe.
Dhong dhong kore tiffin shesh-er ghonta poDchhee. Mother Superior taDa diye
bolen - Ar deri noy, ebar je jar jinish kuDiye nao. Dakho jano
bodlabodli na hoye jay. Shefali tumi oboshyo John ke nile ami oi young
man-dutike nite raji achhi.
Shefali taDataDi Kabuliwalader kuDiye pocket-e purte purte
hothat lojja peye bole - Dhush!
- Shomapto-
Samir Bhattacharya
Indranil-er BAJEGOLPO-IX, "Shefali'r Shomoshya" poDe oke jokhon
likhlum golpota besh bhalo hoyechhe, o tar uttore amake janalo je amar
mot naki pokkhopatdushto!
O ektu bhul korechhe, ami o-pokkhopaate dushto, kintu sheta promaan
korte jaowa kNacha kaaj hobe; aro bhalo hobe jodi ami oke janai keno
Shefali'r Shomoshya amar bhalo legechhe. Kajei amake shomlochok hoye
golpota abar poDte holo.
Prathomoto bole raakhi je kono lekhar serious somalochona korata shoja
noy, eta ter pelum jokhon dekhi shomalochok hoye *akmone* golpo poDa
hoye oThena. PoDar anondo kichhuta mati hoye jay shob somoy moner ak
ongsho-ke jodi socheton raakhte hoy lekhar boishishto ba angik-gulor
proti. Er poriborte lekhar rosaswadone ekagro-chitte byasto thaka hoto
shudhu lobhoniyo noy, oporiharjyo-o. Ebong sheta'r dorkar lekhar
samogrik o shoThik mulyaon-er jonyei.
Je boishishto IDG'r pray shob lekhar-i bishoybostu-ke otikrom
kore oThe ta holo or lekhar sotej, jhor-jhore tor-tore bhaab. IKMH-er
moto gurubhaar bishoy-o ojotha kokhono lekha-ke bharakranto korena -
ar tate boktobyo tar bolishThotao bindumatro haray-na. Eta amar mone
hoyechhe pray shob rokomer lekhatei -- ki ingriji, ki banglay. Ekhaneo
tar byatikrom nei. Lekhar "speed" shob miliye bhaloi. Tobe jayga
bisheshe goti'r poriborton-o aachhe. Prothom dike samanyo monthor
holeo pore golpo-ta jhorna'rgotite egiye jay.
Mushkil hoy jodi amake bola hoy golpotar akta nirdishto "genre"
chinhito korte. Eta ki hNaashir golpo? Onekbar hNeshechhi -- golper
samogrik bibortone jamon, tamon-i kono kono khuchro ghotonay ba
choritro bornonay. Eta ki kono mishti premer golpo -- Shefali,
Domoyonti'der coming of age? Bhari mishti (na, kono condescending
attitude nei kothatate) hoyechhe Shefali, Domoyonti, Namita'r bornona,
tader chinta, ebong dushchinta. Ei golpota-ki odhuna-pray-onibarjyo
ebong onek kkhetrei onaboshyok, magical realism angik nirbhor? Shei
rokom sondeho ak poloker jonye dekha diyei shonge shongei miliye jay
-- Shoshanko, Jonmejoy-er balkhilyo ruup akebarei koshtokolpito mone
hoina; ruupkothar motoi swabhabik oti porichito. Lekhar "technique"
kokhono lekha-ke chhapiye oThena.
Golpe akta chhondo achhe. Prothomdike osphuto bhaabe kichhu ghotona ba
ingit deowa hoyechhe, jegulo golpota-ke pore somriddho korechhe
brihottoro byanjona niye phire eshe. Jamon Shefali'r ma'r Shefali-ke
nightie chheDe saloyar kamij porte bola, ba Brother Michael-er
rohosyomoy gum hoye jaowa.
Khub swolpo-porishore IDG'r golper mood-er shonge taal rekhe noisorgik
bornonao lokkhyo korar moto. Ghotonaguli besh drishyo-maan -- Shefalir
komore du-haat diye ghorer majhe dNaDiye theke 'kabuliwala'-der diye
tulo koDaano'r,ar akdom sheshe taDataDi tader Mother Superior-er haat
theke bNachiye posketostho korar drishyo-duti'r udahoron-i jotheshto
hobe.
Mone hoy khuub bhalo akta script hote paare. Ei dharonater
shotti-mithye bichaarer jonye jogyotoro nettorder ahvan korchhi.
Shob cheye bhalo laage golper porinoti -- shekhane golpo-ta bishesh
gondi theke achomka beriye sarbojonin, sorbokalin hoye jay. BoDo hoye
oThar ak chirontoni satya protidiner bhorer surjyer moto notun ruupe
dekha dei ak halka-hNashi'r rupkothar rong-e ar chhonde. Er upolobdhi
golper choritroder to botei, tar resh-tuku paThokder moneo lege thake
onek-kkhon. Ekhanei golper sarthokota.
Kono khNut na dhorle jodi shotti amake pokkhopatdushto bole mone
hoy, tai duto kotha bole raakhi. Natoke 'kabuliwala'der Shefalike
Dhokanor byartho proyaash o tar poriborte Shefali'r jibone oder
natokiyo probesh, ba nokol daDi'r modhye kono gobhirtoro ortho aachhe
kina sheta ponditder (ba bodmayesh shomalochokder) bichaarjyo hote
paare hoyto kintu sadharon paThak swochhonde, bina kkhotitei, egulo
niye matha ghamaben-na. Dui, golper oi ongsho-ta ektu beshi lomba mone
hoy.
Nijer lekha, amonki tar kono ongsho-matror opor lekhoker onubhuti
khub gobhir hote pare. Sneho oti bichitro bostu, ar lekha-to amon-ki
joD podartho-o noy!! Ta na hole, ba shomalochoker ektiyarer modhye
thakle IDG-ke boltum golper natoker drishyo-ti niye ar akbar bhebe
dekhte.
Paachhe keu amake pokkhopatdushto bolen, tai shob-sheshe bole rakhi
golpota daruuuuun bhalo hoyechhe.
Samir
PS: 1. Na poDe thakle oboshyoi golpo-ti poDun!
2. Amar kaachhe apnader montobyo oti-proyojon, o kamyo.