EBAR PUJOY - by Dhiman Dey

[Day I - Saptami]

Shurur kotha:
~~~~~~~~~~
Aaj Saptami-r sokal. Tobe sector V-e heldol nei.Aaj Office-e ashte hoy karon aaj to chhutir kono karon Client ra khuje pay na. Ekhon IT company-r ekjon gorishtho american citizen durga pujor dhaak shune obolilay seta ke Sound Polution-er akhya dite paare kintu tai bole chhuti monjur? Noibo noibo cho! Thik jemon polta ba bosirhaat-e giye jadi keu bole je aaj to Thanksgiving Day. Tomader chhuti nei keno? Take pagol bhebe na abar loke marte ashe.

Anyway aaj khub khushi Soumita. Somuita-r aaj sopno puron hote cholechhe ektu badei. Or aaj US consolate-e VISA-r interview r tarpor o paari debe USA. Ekhon gari niye berolo o office theke. Bypass dhore chole jaabe sidhe park street. Tobe golpo suru hochche arekjoner mukhe. Ekjon sunglass pora, shirt-tie pora bike chaliye asha cheleke diye. Se bypass theke sectro V-er dike egochche. MG road-e ekta chhoto company te chakri kore se but aaj khub boro MNC te interview achhe tar.

Rishvi-r kotha:
---------------
Ja help korlo na Anirban! Uff sanghatik. O to bolei diyeche jotodin chakri ta na pai, totodin or bike ta ami rakhte pari.

Aaj dinta kharap na bhalo ke jane? Sokal sokal kina sei unlucky mukh ta dekhte hoyeche. Aamar baba jedin 2nd biye ta namalo sedin thekei sala luck ta kharap jachche. Tokhon 9-e pori sei somoy kothay ami prem kore berabo ta na ulte baba prem kore biye kore ghore notun bou anlo. Maa Class 7-e chole gelo, tar 2 bochhorei baabr abar biye. School r coaching-e mukh dekahnor jo-i roilo na. Erpor thekei ami apna thekei kemon jeno pichhiye gelam, kirokom jeno normal crowd theke alada hoye porlam.

Jai hok kono rokome school katiye college-e elam, tokhon bhaloi enjoy korchilam. Hothat 3rd yr-e ekdin tate kore chole jaay baba-o. R rekhe gelo ekta obhisopto jibon . Achcha tomrai bolo, jei maa tomar maa seje eshe toamr jibone ondhokar niye ashlo r tomar babakeo sorgobashi korlo, sei maake dekha ki bhalo? Step mother-r jodi kono serial hoy ekta kapoor-er channel-e to amar mayer role ta nominate kore debo.

Aamr kachhe amar bondhurai shob. Orai amake etoduure tenechhe. specially ei je Anirban.College-er band-e eksathe gaitam. Last week amader parar Balwinder-er sathe or dekha koriye dilam. O mone hoy ekta bhalo delivery-r chance peye jaabe. O amar jonyo khub kore r ami-o or jonyo. Anirban, Sourav, Debasis. Era na thakle amar je ki hoto? Jai hok, matha gorom kore laabh nei. Cool hote hobe. Aaj pujor saptami r amar jibone-r notun time start. Aaaj job ta hoyei jabe. Erpor ami ekta flat kine onyo jaygay uthe jaabo r tarpor bondhuder sathe party korbo.

Daaaaaaaammmmmm.

Chokhe kichhui dekhte parchhi na. Dhire dhire samner ghorr kalo bhaab ta katlo.
Oh my god. Aamr accident hoyechhe. Ami to thik signal-er somoy-i right niyechi. Sure samner garita-r dosh. Samne ekta Santro dariye achhe. R tate ekta meye. Dekhei bujhlam, ei meye age kokhono chalay ni, Babar gari niye beriyechhe.

Uthe kichhu bolte jabo, hothat shuni. "Dekhe chalate paro na?"
Ki odbhut bemalum mithye bole meyeta. Ami to dekhei chalalam. Tui to na dekhe chalali?
"Tumi red-e turn nichcho abar yarki hochche?"
"Mane ami to horn diyei elam".
O shit. Amar mathar theke rokto chuiye porchhe. Aamr jama ta chhire gechhe. Aamr pant tao. Amar aaj interview. Shob dekhe shune raag r chepe rakhte parlam na."Dekhachchi horn dewa, berow age garir theke."
Egiye gelam dorjar dike."Mane mane? Hochche ki??"
Giyei chabi ta khule nilam.
"Ki hochche dada?" besh kichhu loker jomayet hoyechhe. Tader modhyei ekjon bole uthlo. Amar udyeshshei.
Ei kolkatar dosh. Shob somoy meyeder pokkho patitto. R ei meye ke dekhte khub sundar. Paati banglay bolle fatafati. Tar upor smart, gari chalachche. R keu amake support kore?
"Ki hochche mane? Dekhchhen na?? Aamr bike-er haal ta dekhechen. Ami green-ei turn korechhi. Uni-i red-e gari chaliyechen"
"Tao uni to mohila apnar to dekha uchit ..." abar bolte jachchilo lokta. Meyeta take thamiye bollo,"Ektu daran. Ami bolchhi. Shono tomar khoti hoyeche bujhechi. Aamr number ta rakho. R evening-e ei address-e eshe taka niye jeyo. "
Ekta card egiye dilo. Paati takar gorom. Matha theke emni-i chuiye rokto porchhe.
"Takar gorom? Amar mathar theke je rokto porchhe tar-o daam lagabi tui?"
"Ei mukh kharap korchho keno?"
"Chop!"
Hothat bhirer theke ekjon bole uthlo. "Samnei police station achhe. Okhane chole jaan."
"Na amar time nei ekdom" Meyeta promptly bollo.
"Nei mane, jetei hobe" amio jor diye bollam. Bike-er dike takiye amar kanna peye gelo.
"Oi to police jeep aschhe." Ekjon haat tule dekhalo. Satti aschhe. Tara ashlo, amar bike ta ke rastar pashe park koralo. Meyetar gari tar chaabi ekjon constable niye se drive korlo. R amra soja ekhon thanay.

Ami bujhiye bollam,"Dekhun sir, ami kintu green-ei ..."
Mota moton inspector taar bhurite haat bulote bulote bollen,"Are kotobar tomar green red story shunbo? Tumi turn thik niyecho. Kintu kaaj ta ki bhalo korechho?"
"Mane?"
"Mane ekjon meyeke rastay galigalaj kora ... tar upor aggression .. tar chabi khule niyecho? Egulo ki? Egulor charge eksathe porle ki hobe jano?"
"Sir ami galigalaj ekdom ..."
"Shono baba! Jekhane jachchile sekahen jaao. Nahole r kothao jawar moto condition-e thakbe na."
Ami obak hoye chupchap beriye elam. Police-e chule 18 ghaa. Kotha bariye laabh ki?
Kintu bike-er ja obostha kichhui kora jabe na. Ami ota ke tante tante niye gelam office-er samne.Oh ghyama office. Kintu amar ei dress dekhe ki bolbe ora? Kintu hey bhogoban ei shob jhamelay ami 20 min late. R na bhebe dhukei porlam.

Interview bhaloi dilam mone hoy. Oder ke amar ajker incedent tao bollam. Kintu ora ki bujhlo jani na. Amake baire wait korte bollo. Kichhukkhon pore ekjon eshe bollo,"Sir we are very sorry. Actually .."
Amar kane r kichhu dhukchhe na. Ami sudhu ektai jinish bujhte parchhi. Puro jogot ta amar kachhe ekdom teto hoye gechhe. R eta sudhu oi meyetar jonyo.Eki or card ta amar kachhe roye gechhe. Dekhi ki address??


Soumita-r kotha:
----------------
Ki obhodro police re baba. Chhele ta ke chhere dilo r amake etota henostha korlo. Gune gune hajar ta taka diye tobe kina chhara pelam. Tao 1 hr noshto holo. Shit.Uff pray 1 ta baje, dutor somoy VISA-r interview. Ekhon gari chalanor mood nei."Taxi"

Uthe porlam taxi te.
Eshob janle Nikhil amake mere felbe. O onekkhon agei amake berote bolechilo office theke. O Nikhil-er ekta intro dewa dorkar.

Nikhil r ami college-e dhukei bondhu hoi, erpor ami r nikhil hoye gelam bozzoom friend.Tarpor ekdin o amay propose korlo. Aah ki mishti kore. Sobar samne amar komore haat diye, CCD te.Wow, tarpor theke amar jibone sudhu o r ami.
Choto bela thekei sudhu dekhchi baba office r maa tar organization niyei pore achhe. Dujoner-i society te bhalo naam daak. Tai sei naam josh-er modhye meyer naam ta hariye geche. Nikhil chara keu amake bojhar, amake nijer kore newar ba amake bhalobashar chestai kore ni. Tobe shobai bole je Nikhil-er jonyo ami ja kori seta keu tar bf-er jonyo kore na. Oke exam-e help kora theke, oke spoken english-e bhorti kora, driving korano, gym korano, even or dress sense tao ami-i tairi korechi. Emni te o khub high ambitious. Ami to Hyderabad-e jokhon Oracle-er job chere sudhu or kachhe thakbo bole kolkata tei roye gelam tokhon shobai obak hoyechilo. Amar kache oi shob. Tai to dujone mile decide korechhi USA te PHD korar. Nikhil-er VISA to hoye gelo 10 din agei. Amader ticket katao hoye geche. Apt net-ei thik kore niyechi. Shob thik thak. Ekhon sudhu amar VISA ta lagbe r byass. Etai last kolkatay pujo. I will miss pujo.

Tring tring. Nikhiler phone.
"Haan sweety, bolo."
"Pouchhe gechis to?"
"Are na re. Ja holo na? Ki bolbo?..." Shob bollam oke.
"Amake call korli na keno?"
"Are ami to jani tor aaj meeting achhe. Dont worry. VISA haat-e peye ami call korbo."
"Ekta kotha bol, chheletar ki mathar theke rokto porchilo? R chheleta ki off white shirt porechilo? Tar bike-er color ki blue?"
"Haan. Off white shirt-e black stripes.keno?"
"Hmm, amader office-ei maal ta interview dite esechhilo. Ei to parking lot-ei dariye achhe. Anyway dont worry. Best of luck." Ami jani aamar sathe keu baje korle Nikhil take ekdom chharbe na.
"Muah. Interview sesh kore eksathe iPhone ta kinte jabo. ok?" rekhe dilam phone ta. Onekdin dhorei iPhone ta niye baba ke bolechi. Kintu as expected seta babr kheyal nei sure.


Consulate-er samne eshe Taxi theke neme bhitore dhuke dekhlam je bhaloi que. Checking sere bhitore dhuke kichhukhon-er modhyei ekta digital screen-e amar no ta display holo.Ami egiye gelam. Amar passport agei dewa chilo, amar university-r application ta abar dekhate bollo.
Eki! ota pachchi na, sure ei shob jhamela-r somoy kothao hariye geche. Oh my god!!Ami bhabtei parchi na. Ami onek request korlam. But lokta kichhui sunlo na. Aamr ta bodhoy reject hoye gelo. Digital screen tay arekta no display hoye gelo.
Baire beriye elam. Amake passport ferot diye diyeche. Tar mane amar ta rejected. Amar chokhe jol. Nijer jonyo na. Nikhil-er jonyo kharap lagche. Ami sure je o-o amar jonyo jabe na. Amake chara thakte parbe na. Isshhh amar jonyo or sopno ta puron holo na. Nah oi cheletar-i shob dosh. Ek chod lagate ichche korchhe.

Tring tring. Nikhiler ph.
"Shon Soumi, Cheleta ke ja diyechi na dholai. Oke follow kore giye rajarhat-er rastay dariye bhaloi thengiyechi. Edike tor news bol? Peye gechis?"
Ami kedei fellam. O shonar por kichhu boltei parlo na. Hoyto o-o kadche. Ami or mukhta mone kore r nijeke atke rakhet aprlam na. Ph ta kete dilam. Ekhon bari giye rest nebo.


[Day II - Ashtami]

Rishvi-r kotha:
---------------

Ei just raat 12ta bajlo mane ashtami suru holo. Amra shobai ekhono puja mondope adda dichchi. Amar aaj dinta khub baje gechhe: 1st-e accident, erpor thaana, tarpor interview fail, tarpor oi meyetar boyfriend-er haat-e dholai. Uff ekhono naak-e byatha. Meyeta ke samne pele ek chod koshatam.
Hothat mathay ekta dushtu buddhi khele gelo. Meyetar card ta pocket theke ber korlam. Soumita Banerjee
Cell: 9836041632
Home: 033-25665733
Asutosh da-r dokan-er gaye ekta public teephone jholano thake. Coin fele korte hoy. Ami sobai ke amar plan ta bollam. R oi phone-e 1 ta 1 takar coin fellam.
"Hello" ekta guru gombhir bhodro loker swor bheshe elo. sure meyetar baba.
Ami jotota sombhob gola ta mota kore bollam."Apni ki Mr. Bannerjee??"
"Yes, who is it?"
"Ami police department theke bolchhi. Apni ki janen je apnar meye aaj ek gorhito kaaj korte giye dhora porechhe. R thanay nite hoyeche." Onek haashi chepe bollam.
"What rubbish!!"
"Ok. Then ask your daughter. O to bribe diye beche geche. Kintu ami apnake chini r respect kori tai eta bola dorkari moene korlam. Noile bazare jeshob kotha uthechhe ..."
Bhodrolok bhishon chitkar kore deke uthlen meyer naam. Kichhu ta amar kaneo elo oder kothopokothon.
"Tumi ki aaj thanay gechile?"
"O haan."
"Keno?"
"O ektu jhamela hoyechilo. Baba amar bhalo nei sorir ta aaj. Please pore kotha bolbo?"
"Mane tumi nongra kaaj korte giye mukh kalo korbe amader r amra kichu bollei tomar time nei? Dekh thanar theke tor phone esechhe.Dekhe niyo aro kot jayga theke toamr meyer phone ashbe." Sure meyetar maa ke udhyesho kore sesher kotha ta bolchen.

"Hello" Meye ta phone ta dhorechhe.
Ami gola ta normal kore bollam,"Happy Puja."

Erpor phone ta dhop kore pore gelo. Aaj meyer kopale dukkho achhe. Amra sobai hashte laglam. Oi je Anirban aschhe. Anirban mone hoy aaj bohut maal kheyechhe. Oke ami shob bollam. O shob shune bollo,"Aamr bike-er ekhon ki halaat?"
"Bhalo na bhai. Ami ota Riju dar garage-e diye esechhi. Thik korte 3 haar lagbe. Pore chakri peye toke diye debo"
"Ota amar kaal chai. And please taka tao pay kore dish. Toder moton loker sathe bondhutto korai paap!"
"Are chotchis keno? Tui shon ..."
"Ekdom kaandhe haat dibi na. Kiser bondhutto? Tui amake Balwinder-er project ta diyechili ami toke eta diyechilam. Janish, balwinder oi kaaj ta arekjon ke diye korabe. Tui kono kajer na re. Kissu hobe na toke diye."
"Ki bolchis tui? Hoosh nei tor."
"Ha ha. Tor baba jemon loose character chhilo tui-o serokom looser character. Ha ha"
Sobai heshe uthlo or joke tay. Amar paa kaapchhe. Ami dariye thakte parlam na. Dhire dhire chole elam okhan theke.

Barite eshe dekhi je uni boshe achen amar jonyo khabar niye. Joto nyakami r ki!
"Ki re tor eki haal?"
"Kichchu na"
"Are dekhi ekhane ektu dettol lagiye ..."
"Haat diyo na amake" Rege bollam ami
"Interview kemon hoyeche?"
"Tumi ja cheyechho tai hoyeche. Aaj baba thakle ami ekhan theke chole jetam. Bangalore-e gele koto sohoj-e chakri petam.tumi ashar por joto koshto amar. Ektuo shanti nei. Baba keo niye gele amar theke."
Maa r kichhu bollo na. Hoyto bolte parlo na. Bichanay suye ektu chokh ta bujechhi.

Chokh khule dekhlam je sokal hoye geche.Mathay ekta haat pelam. Maa mathay haat bulochche. Ami sore gelam.
Maa bollo,"Shono Rishvi, ei barita ami bikri korchi. Amader ukil Mr sen ashben aaj"
"Mane?"
"Aamr kache to taka nei. Tomar baba-o kichhu rekhe jayni. Ei barita bikri kore sei taka diye tumi banglaore-e jabe chakri khujte. Ba tomar to MBA korar khub shokh setao korte paro."
"R tumi?"
"Tomar shob sopnoi amar shopno. Tumi chhile bolei to ami r bachcha chaini. Tomakei shob theke beshi importance diyechi. Tumi jekahnei jabe sekhane ami hoyto jabo na karon ami r tomar bad luck hote chai na. Kintu jokhon-i chaibe amake toamr pashe paabe. Ami dadar barite giye na hoy uthbo."
Amar chokher jol thamate parchi na keno? Ki holo amar? Ami egiye giye mayer kole matha diye suye porlam. Raat-e je bhalo ghum hoyni.
"Kothao jabo na. Ekahnei abar chesta korbo."
"Shotti. Aamar kachhe thakbi? Aabr notun kore amra shob suru korbo."
Ami ki korte jachilam? Bhagyish chakri ta hoyni. Hole ami to flat niye alda hoye jetam. Kothay petam ei muhurto ta.Mon theke ekta thanks elo ekjoner jonyo. Jar jonyo kaal job hoyni. Kalker meyeta. Ki jeno naam?

Soumita-r kotha:
-----------------
Aaj boddo deri hoye geche. Maa deke dilo. Kaal raat-e cheletar jonyo babar kachhe ja boka khete holo. Haat-o uthiyechen ekbar. Thoter ei jaygatay ektu fete gechhe.
Eshob chhere chole jete ichche kore. Jawa hoyeo jeto jadi na kaal...
Mobile ta tule niye dekhi 18 ta misssed call r onek SMS. Rikia, Taniya sobai call korechilo. Aaj maar birthday je. Aaj to sobai mile Venom jawar kotha. Evening-e. Aamr party oi disc-ei dewar kotha. Sure sei plan tai fixed korar jonyo. Aaj berobo na. Ekdom mood nei. Laptop ta tene niye abar shutei pechon theke duto haat joriye dhorlo. Hmm. Nikhil.
"Ki re ekhono mon kharap? Kakima bollo je tui naki ghor theke berochchis-i na?"
"Hmm. Kaal ja holo. I am sorry."Nikhil-er buuke matha rakhlam. Shob koshto duur hoye gelo jeno.
"Eto dukkho korish na." O bollo. Ki sweetly? Amar r kono dukkho nei."Shon. Next yr-e tor hoye jaabe sure. Ami satday fly kore jai. Okhane giye tor next yr-e jate sure hoy sei arrangement korbo"
Amar nijer kaan ke biswas hochche na. Ami or buuk theke matha ta tule nilam. O amar chokher kotha porte parlo mone hoy.
"Dont be childish Soumi, Eshob chance dubar pawa jay na. Let me go this time. Next yr u just join me. R tor jonyo to ami amar career atke rakhte pari na. R tui na gele ami arektu enjoy- o korte parbo. I need some space yaar." Chokh tiplo o.
Ki kothin shonalo Nikhil ke. Oke aaj khub khub duure mone hochche. Ekbar hyderabad-e sudhu ei nikhil-er jonyoi jayni, eta jeno bhabtei parchi na.
"Ami beroi packing ache onek. Muah" Aamr gaale kiss kore o beriye gelo. Ami bosei roilam. Mone holo shob sesh hoye gelo.
Dorjar opare ekta chhaya dekhte parchi. Nikhil sure yarki marchilo, dorjar pechhon theke dekhte chay amar ki condition. Ami uthe dorjar kachhe gelam. Baba dariye achhe. Etokhon shob sunechhe bujhte parlam. Kintu babar glass ta ektu jhapsa keno? Chokher daan kone ektu jol ki?
Baabr haat-e ekta iPhone-er set. Arek haat-e card. Happy birthday card. Amar birthday gift. Baba ke joriye dhore kede uthlam ami.
Nikhil-er sathe ami ki kore amar puro jibon ta katatam? Kaal oi cheletar jonyo amar Nikhil-er sateh jawa holo na. Er theke bhalo r kichhu hoy na. Nikhil-er mukhosh khule gechhe.

Bikele Swastika, Taniya sobai elo. Amar to mood-i nei baire jawar. But baba force korlo tai oder ke bollam ektu wait korte ami rady hoye aschi."Are joldi kor. 1st-e Madox Square. Okhane Mridul-er college-er ekta bondhuder group ke amra join korbo. Byapok jombe. raat-er plan to achhei. Tor party."
White skirt r sathe pink top ta pore elam. Nikhil ektu age phone korechilo. Or shob documents amar kachh theke o niye jabe. Ami naki ekdom kheyal rakhet pari na, boddo careless. Ami r or kotha konodin bhabbo na.
"Aaj bristi hobe na boleche Alipore dept theke." Bollo Abhinab."Tai amra sobai chhata niyechi. tui-o niye nish kinti"
Sobai heshe uthlo.Ei dress tar sathe chhata nite ichche korlo na amar. Tai or kotha ta katiye gelam.

Sesher kotha:
~~~~~~~~~

Madox square ebar best jhaari sopt rated 1 hoyeche.Rikia, abhinab, Mridul, Sunita, Rimi, Soumita sobai esechhe. Ora okhane arekta group-e join korbe.Madox ele shob somoy Soumita khub khushi thake, but aaj ki jeno ekta hochche or mone. Ora madox square-er group-e giye oder arekta grup ke join korlo. Seta Mridul-er school-er bondhur group. Sobar sathei alap holo. Guiter haat-e chhelta-r dikei sudhu takate parlo na Soumita. Taar naam Rishvi. Haan kalker Rishvi. Je or jibone eshe or shob equation kei palte diyeche.

Rishvi guiter ta Sourav-er haat-e chalaan kore Soumita-r dikei egiye elo. Soumita ektu group theke alda hoye oke bollo. "Sorry Rishvi."
"Keno bolto?"
"Otar jonyo!" Rishvi-r mathay lagano bandage ta deekhiye dilo Soumita."Oh. Amakeo actually sorry bolte hoy."
"Kalker phone tar jonyo?"
"Nah amar maa bolechhe aaj theke notun jibon suru korte. Tai kalker shob kichhur jonyo sorry.Kalke amar jonyo tor onek deri hoye gelo? Kichhu miss hoye gelo ki?"
"Nah" ektu bhebe bollo Soumita. "Ulte ekta boro kichhu miss hoye jawar theke beche gelo.R tor?"
"Amar mis to hoyni ulte prapti hoyeche. Ekta khub bhalo maa."
Soumita bujhlo na or kotha. Tao ora group tar theke alada hoye porechhe, besh khanikta duure ese gechhe.
"Tor barite ekdin giye kaku-r theke khoma cheye ashbo"
"Haan tor kache to amar card achhei. Jekono somoy aste parish. Phone kore chole asish."
"Sure. Kaal berobi?"
"Ekbar babake jigesh kore confirm janabo. Kothay jaabi bol?"
...

Ora dujone kotha bolei chollo. Odike akashe megh ektuo jomeni. Furfure shoroter baatash boiche. Rikia, Soumya, Sayantani sabai chhata enechhe sathe kore. Alipore-er department-er upor je bhorsha nei. Sotti amra koto sohoj bhabe tader kei obiswas kori jata koto kothin kaaj kore amader bhalor jonyoi.


by
Dhiman Dey

ASHTAMIR PREM- by Dhiman Dey

Ashtamir prem
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Durga pujo manei kemon ekta anondo. Thik ki anondo, ba keno ta jani na but tao khub anondo. But ebar ami khub dukhi. Durga pujo manei to mon kharap. Na na amake bhul bhebe niyo na, amar mane chhilo kolkatay thakte na parar mon kharap. Er age kokhono kolkata-r baire Durga pujo kataini to tai.Ta ebar pujo ta katabo Minneapolis-er bengali community-r shongei. Ta se je jaygai hok, Ashtami bole kotha. Ektu hoi hullor na korle chole?Ami r Sourav or garitei chollam Durga pujo dekhte. Ebarer pujo ta hochche Ekta school-e.Sunechhi ekhane pujo gulo hoy weekend-e. Sobar to weekdays-e chhuti mela bhaar. Tai weekend gulo jomiye anondo korar ekta sundar sujog ke durga pujor naam dewa hoyechhe. Ta bhaloi, weekdays hole amrai hoyto jete partam na.

Pujo-r location-e pouchhe ticket kete bhitore dhuke dekhlam je prochur loker somagom hoyechhe.Sabai besh khishi khushi bhaab niye ghure berachche. E jeno sobar pujo.Besh bojha jachche je jeans trouser chhere ei ekta din saari porbe bole meyera jeno mukhiye chhilo.Baar baar sarir anchol, paad eshob thik korte korte ekbar jeno chokh buliye dekhe nichche nijeder kemon lagche, R meyeder kemon lagche seta mapar ektai jontro kotojon chhele tomay dekhche.Chhelrao kom jay na, ekhaneo uttoriyo pelo era? Besh rong berong-er kurta, punjabi, sherwani porechhe.Ulte amra shirt pant pore esechi bole amader-i jeno ektu kirokom kirom allien lagche.Kintu oi dike pujor ghot-er pashe kake dekhchi?? Ota Sonali aunty na?? Dekhei ami chomke uthlam.Nah eta hote pare na. Sopno na to!Onyo dike chokh ghuriye abar odike cheye dekhi Sonali aunty thik thakur moshai-er pashei bose achhe. Onyanyo bouder moto sonali aunty-o help korchhe, thakur moshai ke.

Hutt kore mathay chepe uthlo agoon. Mon ta chole gelo 40 yrs age.

He he, tomra bhabcho ami tokhon kothay? Nah ami satti-i chilam na. Amar to shobe 26. Tokhon chhilo jar thakar kotha. Amar baba.Baba tokhon precedency te porto. Baba jokhon 2nd yr tokhon 1st yr-e fresherder group-e ekta meye esechilo.Naam chhilo Sonali. Uff she naki fatafati. Sobar nojor chilo tar upor.Aamr baba chilo tar shob theke boro premik. Tobe ekpokkher prem ke jadi prem bola jay to. Karon sonali se bishoye kichui janto na.Edike baba chhilo besh lajuk. Aar chokhe take dekhto r emon ek ek kkhana kirti kore boshto je sobai heshei kuti kuti.Ekbar to sunechi je college-er natok korte stage-e uthe audience-e soyong sonali boshe achhe dekhe mukhe r kotha nei babar.Droupadi-r bastraharan hoye jawar jogar kintu judhisthir mane baba naki ektao kotha bole na.Seshe naki Shuklal kaku mane natok-er bhim uthe naki samal dewate se jatray beche jay baba.Library te naki sonali-r rekhe jawa boi guloi abar tulto she. R ekekbar naki ekekta book mark-o peye jeto tate jeta sonali-ri rakha.Jemon mathar clip ba oi jatiyo kichhu. Eshob dekhe babar bondhura meye somporke khoj niye elo.Se meye nmaki khub dambhik, maati te paa pore na. Onek senior tar dike nojor kintu keu-i khaap khulte pareni serokom.Ebar baba ke sobai besh tatate laglo je book mark rakhar naki ektai karon je meyetao signal dichche.Sivtaru da abar khobor niye elo meyeta naki ghonishtho mohole ei boleche je meyeti baba ke ektu ektu chay na ta noy.R dekhe ke. Ghritahuti ekei koi! Ta bolbi to bol ektu style niye bol.Ta na. Ediek je final yr-o pray sesh hoye gelo.Tai deri na kore, Hutt kore naki ekdin baba college-er pujotei Ashtami-r din ekgada student-er samne sonali ke deke boshlo.Charidike college-er chhele pule ra.Tar majhei baba ek kobita pore shonalo take. Se kobita naki jemon temon noy. Ote Shelly ba Rabindranath-er standard-er theke kichhu kom material nei. Addition abar ekjon premik-er dil-e-dastan.

Kintu hay re pora bangla! Talent-er jemon daam nei. Bhalo prem-er-o morjada nei.Meyeti kobita ta mon diye shunlo. R tarpor emon ek haashi suru korlo je ashe pasher shob meyerai tate jog dilo.Se haashi-r khobor naki cheleder group-eo choriye porlo r baba hoye uthlo oi college-er ekta common joke character.Sardar ji wala shob joke guloi naki babar name-e versionized kore cholto.Sei opoman baba shojhyo korte pare ni. Oboshyo sei pujotei dadu mara jay r baba ke sonsarer haal dhorte chakri niye ahmedabad chole jete hoy.Meye ti naki pore jigesh korechilo je baba kothay ba ki hoyeche. Kintu Sorry bolar kono soujanya bodh dekhayni.

Re-cap sesh. Ami abar minneapolis-er Durga pujo tei achhi.Ami ei shob kotha sunechi babar-i bondhu Kamal kaku-r theke.Kamal kaku amar sathe ekdom bondhur moto meshe. Nije nishontan bole amakei nijer cheler moto dekhe.Babar arek bondhu Shuklal uncle-er chheler biye te Kamal kaku dekhiyechilo Sonali aunty ke. Tarpor-e bolechilo ei shob ghotona.Ami pore shunei eto raag chepe giyechilo je shob khobor niye felechilam.Je jar sathe biye hoyeche se ekta IT company tei ache. Besh uchu post-e. R ekhon USA te settled.Hmm, ta r jayga pele na ashar!Mone hochche giye ek chod lagai. Hochche ta ki?? Ekjon bhalo cheler prem-er kodor korte shekhoni??Ei bhebei ektu ektu egiye jachchi ami.
"Shreya, ektu edike aay." hothat prochondo nyaka golay deke uthlo Sonali Aunty. Ekta amar-i boyoshi meyer dike takiye ei daak.Prochondo nyaka ekta suur jeta sunlei raag ta aro bare.
"Yes mom, coming" Aro nyaka golay meye uttor dilo. Ei mayer r ki meye hobe? Jani na baba koto cheler mon bhenge eseche e meye!Ekta long ghagra style-er skirt r ekta short kurti porechhe. Dekhte? Ta sotti bochhi mondo na. Mane besh bhalo. Mane khub-i bhalo.Kintu eto nyakaami r eto attitude. Uff. Oshojhyooo.
Tar maa take kachhe deke bollo,"Babar theke handycam ta niye aay to"
"yup" uttor diye amar pash ketei berolo meyeta. Kintu pattao dilo na. Uff amar matha theke paa obdhi jole gelo.Keno re! Tui kon president-er meye je emon ohonkar tor!
"Kire Anuron, Tui ekhane ki korchis?" Sourav-er daak-e sombit firlo. Nah, pujote mood kharap kore laabh nei.
"Are kaachh theke thakur ta dekhlam. Bolchhe kumartuli theke anano. Genuine kina verify korte hobe na?"
"Oh ok. Soil test korli? Ki bujhli? Kumartuli na? Shyamnagar theke ana?"Ami bolte jachchilam kono ekta kotha sourav badha diye bollo,"Are odike Indranil, Shayan shobai esechhe. Chol sala!"
Wow! Ei holo probasi bangalider durga pujo. Sabai ke eksathe fire pawa.Amra sabai eksathe ekta group hoye ekta jaygay gol kore boshe chutiye adda dite laglam. Ta ektu adhtu je jhaari taari marini ta noy. But amar bondhura oi meye ta ke dekhe emon kore uthlo jeno opsara dekhche.Amar raag ektukuo kome ni.Tar phone no nite hobe jekono chutoy. Jante hobe kothay thake. Kichu kore ekta protishodh nitei hobe.Kintu ki-i ba korbo ami? Tao info gulo jogar kore rakhte hobe. Jadi possible hoy to kichu ekta kore bujhiye dite hobe.

Lunch-er por ekta cinema dekhabe bola holo.Shobai mile dekhte boshlam bote kintu eto boring bole half time-er agei uthe shobai mile beriye gelam. Ektu edik odik ghure ashi.Sharat kaal-e USA te ghurte kemon lagbe setao jana dorkar.Ekhane naki USA-r shob theke boro shopping mall achhe. Mall of America. Setai dekhalo Sourav amader. Sourav ekhane pray 2 yrs hoye gelo, tai o shob-i chene.Bhagyish oke eshei ami peyechilam. Nahole prothombar eshe eka thaka ta satti boddo chaap-er.

Amra kichhukhon porei fire elam kintu eshe dekhlam je besh deri hoye geche.Movie sesh. R as per shedule antakshari suru hoye gechhe. Sekhane ekta round abar sesh-o hoye gechhe. Ebar second round suru hobe. Ami r sourav-o naam diye fellam.1st round-e naki ekta team jiteche. Ei round thekeo ekta team jitle final round suru hobe 2 to team niye. Amader ke niye ei round-e total 12 ta team achhe.Judge-e ra achhe. R ekhane sudhu gaan janlei hobe na. Seta besh onek ta gaite hobe. R gaan-er sur, gola er nirikhe mepei judge ra point debe.Ei bhabei jitbe ekta team.Prothom dike ektu sohoj bhabei chollo bote tobe amar gaan shuntei judge der mukhe ekta tripti dekhlam.Ha ha, era to jane na. Ami college band-er best singer chilam. Sudhu tai na ekhon office-eo naam kora gaiye.Ta she Indian idol-e sokal sokal giye dupurer modhyei bari pathiye diyechilo to ki hoyeche. Sabai bole amar gaan-er gola daruun.

Dhire dhire khela ta jome uthlo. Audience-eo dekhlam ekta chanchollyo chhoriye porechhe.Seshe amra matro koyekta team-i chilam. Bola holo Raj Babbar r Jagjit singh-er combination-e ki gaan ache?Ami hothon se chulo to gailam R bujhlam je amrai ei round theke jachchi. Sudhu judge na audience-o ektu kupokat.Satti tai holo amrai thaklam.Ebar ager round theke je group ta jitechilo tara uthe elo stage-e.
Abar. Oi meyeta. Shreya. Ekta bachchar sathe uthe eseche. Bachchatar boyosh 8 yr hobe maximum.Sure nijer ba karur bhai ke niye utheche. Ekai jiteche.Hothat audience theke bole uthlo ekjon,"Shreya, ebar-o jeta chai kintu!"
Uff! Bodla newar emon sujog aashbe bhabio ni. Aaj toke ekhane shobar samen bodh kore tobei jabo. Moen mone sopoth nilam.
"Sraboner dharar moto poruk jhore" diye suru korlo meyeti.Kintu kichukhon-er modhyei bujhte parlam je nah hobe na. Ei meyer gola r suur amar theke onek duure.E ekhane ki korche? Uff bhogoban ki amader family te haar-er mala ta parmantly poriye namiyechilo?Ami tao apran chesta korlam, but meyetar stock-o serokom.Amrao oder ke chharchhi na r orao na. Hothat last round-e eshe bola holo oder ke je "Ati rahengi bahare" ei gaan ta je cinema-r setar title song gaite hobe.Nah meyeta mone hoy joke korchhe. O parchhe na type-er ekta acting korche.Edike count suru hoyeche, 1, 2, 3, ... Majhe abar judge-der modhye ekjon bole uthlo?
"Ektu jol debo naki Shreya?"
"Nah mone korte parchi na!"
"Tui parchis na?" Anchor-o obak!
"Hun, parbo na. Pass"
Bujhlam shobai er bhalo gaan korar sathe obogoto. Audience theke ekjon bole uthlo,"last 3 bar3r chamion kina ebar letke jabe? Shreya haal chharish na."
Kintu counting sesh holo. R amader kache elo gaan ta. Kabhi Kabhi cinema-r title song ta geye amra porer tao pere gelam r amrai champion holam.1st prize chhilo ekta $100-er gift card r 2nd prize chilo ekta $50-er gift card.

Bhogoban achhe. Durga pujo aaj theke amar jiboner best pujo.40 yrs age amar baba ke ashtami-r din je opoman ta sojhyo korte hoyechilo seta aaj firiye dilam. Ashtami tei. Keu janlo na bote kintu ami jani.Prize ta oboshyo tokhon-i dewa holo na. Pore dewa hobe bola holo.Er poreo naach shuru holo.Amra niche neme sobai tai dekhte laglam.
Hothat dekhi je judge hoyechilen jini amake deke bollen je,"Anuron, Besh bhalo gao to tumi. Amader ekahne program-e gaite parte to?"
"Ami ei just 5 weeks holo esechi."
"Oh ok ok. Thik ache, tomra eknoj koro. But Saraswti pujote kintu ... we need you. Ok?"
"Sure. Thakle sure ashbo. Ekhane toilet ta kothay?" Onekkhon chepe rekehchilam mairi.
"Oh! Ei Shreya oke ektu bathroom ta dekhiye de na."
Aabr sei meyeta. He bhogoban.

Meyeta amake dekhiye niye gelo besh lomba corridor diye. Amake bollo,"You just finish and come... ami ekhane wait korchi!"
Ei re! Ami kaaj ta sere eshe dekhi satti she sekhane dariye achhe. Odiker stage-er alo ta dorjar faak diye or mukhe poreche, ki mishti lagche. Mone holo je meye ta ke joto ta kharap bhabchilam totota na.
Ami oke jigesh korlam,"Tumi bhulle ki kore oi gaan ta?? Ota to sohoj chilo"
"U know what? Ami tomake chini. Ami jani na tumi cheno kina? Tumi Anirban kakur chhele na?"
"Haan kintu mane ...."
"Ami tomake Shuklal uncle-er chheler biye te dekhechilam. Tomar baba r amar maa ek-i college-e porto. Maa ekbar toamr baba ke sobar samne emon bahbe insult korechilo .. she sould not forget that. Maa tomar baba ke khojar try koreche onek.Sorry bolbe bole. But could not find him. Amar maa amar best frnd and amio maar. So aamke maa shob boleche. Tomar baba ek torfa prem bole college-ei r ashlo na ... but ota ek torfa chhilo na. But ma thik bojheni je ..."
"Mane tumi stage-e ichche kore .... ???"
"Meye ta heshe uthlo. Ekhon or nyakami gulo-o or smartness lagchhe jeno. "Ami ekhono shob kota gaan gaite parbo. Amar shob gulo mone ache. Tomar babar sathe to amar maa-r dekah howar chance nei. So tomar through take sorry ta pouchhe dilam."
"Tomra ekhane kotodin achho?" R kono kotha khuje pelam na. Tai bokar moton jigesh korlam.
"5 yrs. Tumi to recently esecho na? Kono problem holei amake janiyo. Contact rekho."
"Kintu amar kache to tomar contact no nei."
"224-321-6059. Weekends hole problem hobe na. ok?"

Ekhon boshe achi driver-er pasher seat-e. Sourav drive korche. USA-r road-e koto accident ghote sei niye alochona hochche.Kintu amar jibone je accident ghotechhe setai bhabchi sudhu.Ekbar mobile-er dike takiye Shreya-r save kora number r name ta dekhe nilam. Mone porlo ektai kotha. "Weekends hole problem hobe na"
"Ei saturday amader wisconsin Dells jawar ache na?"
"Haan." Sourav bole uthlo.
"Ami jabo na." Bole takalam shoroter akasher dike.
Bangla-r buke keu uriye diyechilo ekta prem-er fanush, 40 bochhor age, aaj USA-r buke neme esechhe. Sei sharat kalei. Ashtami te.



by
Dhiman Dey