The Renunciation

It was a full moon day, Night was romantic, the breeze was touching gently and Papiya, one of the sweetest singing bird, most famous in Bengal, is singing pleasantly on a tree. Hemantha is Brahmin who got recently married 3 months before. He a sweet husband. He always loved her wife and gave equal respect to her wife. He never scolded her or tortured her for any reason.That night he gently approached her wife Kusum, a pretty lady. That day her looks were down, she was thinking deeply in distress. Hemantha shaken her hands and asked him what are thinking about, she simply replied she knows a mantra that changes the pleasant and romantic night into horrible night. Hemantha was puzzled by her reply and told her let me know if you know any manthras which increase the span of night till 5 pm of the next day and smiled.

Suddenly, he heard a loud noise of foot steps and a hand stick coming towards the room. It was his father Harihar. He roared loudly and ordered his son “kick out your wife from the house, She don’t deserve the place of Bahu in our family”. Hemantha asked his wife what happened. She burried her face in her hands and bursted into tears. She told him everything what had happened with her. He didn’t even respond and walked silently out of the room. Kusum felt like his husband walked away forever and he is no more staying with her. Hemantha went to the person who was a mediator of the marriage. He is Peari Shankar.

Kusum felt very depressed the day which was most romantic had turned into a nightmare. A second before the love her husband shown everything has vanished like a falling star in the sky .she cried the whole night became sleepless for both. Hemantha asked why you didn’t tell me before, Kusum told she tried to tell him the truth before but she didn’t get the chance to open up. It was so terrifying for her. The truth was ruining their happiness completely. Hemantha asked Peari Shankar the reason for hiding the truth.

Hemantha angrily shouted at Peari Shankar what was my fault? Why did you do to me like this? You ruined my caste, My family and me did I ever do any harm to you? Peari Shankar replied in firm voice that what was my only daughter’s fault? He started explaining Hemantha about the injustice happened to her daughter. Peari Shankar had a nephew and a daughter. His nephew ran away with all the ornaments of her daughter and returned after 5years becoming a barrister. Meanwhile his daughter got engaged. His nephew’s return was disclosed to the in-laws of Shankar’s daughter y Harihar. They cancelled the match. Peari Shankar pleaded Harihar that he will not allow his nephew into his house. But Harihar asked him to leave the village and go away along with the family. His daughter committed suicide.

Peari Shankar even though he shifted from his village to Calcutta, he had to face the same problem. At that time Hemantha was studying in Calcutta. There used to live a Sudra man in the opposite house of Peari Shankar. He had a widow daughter, who got married at the age of 6 years and her husband died after 3 months. She looks very pretty. Hemantha didn’t know anything about the girl but he used to sit at the top of the roof to see the girl. Even the girl used to wait for him. She slowly started failing in doing her household responsibilities and used to wait her Hemantha. She is Kusum. Peari Shankar came to know about their affection and silent love. The girl’s daughter came to know about this affair and He shifted the girl to their relative’s house. Hemantha even tried to go there to see Kusum. Peari Shankar decided to turn this affection into a true relation and he approached Harihar. And they got married.

Hemantha asked Peari Shankar, Kusum didn’t stop you in doing all this, He said simply “She tried to tell you from the instance. But I didn’t allow her to tell you the truth.She told to tell you that she was dead, but I convinced her somehow to get married and I successful in my deeds”.Hemantha asked him what would be her situation, if I abandon her now, will you take care of her “, Peari Shankar replied “I can’t feed all the ladies who got abandoned by their husbands”. Hemantha left the place. Hemantha was sitting in a chair in his bedroom and there was no moon in the sky, It was dark terrible night, Kusum was sitting clasping her husbands feet with her both arms, suddenly the tapping of foot steps were heard. Harihar came near the bed room door and in firm voice told Kusum, that “you got ample of time, leave house immediately I don’t want your wife to be anymore in this house”.

Kusum burs ted into tears, she cried touching his feet and kissing Hemantha’s feet. She knows that she is going to leave the house forever. Hemantha stood silently and walked towards the door .he told his father “my wife is not going anywhere I won’t leave her “

"What!" roared out Harihar, "would you lose your caste, sir?"

"I don't care for caste," was Hemanta's calm reply.

"Then you too I renounce."