Chapter 3

In a tense turn of events, a middle-aged woman followed the angered man inside. She seized Banishree by the hair, pulling her up as Banishree cried out, "Chachi, humka dard ho rha hai." (Aunt, it hurts.)

Arjun, attempting to intervene, shouted, "What nonsense is this?"

"Humko lagta tha bachpana hai, umar ke saath chal jayi. Par tu toh besharam nikli. Hum kahe the, ee ladki humara ghar ka izzat bech khaye gi." (I thought this was just childishness, something you would outgrow with age. But you turned shameless. I had said that this girl would sell the honour of our house.) Her aunt, Rupa, declared, slapping Banishree across the face.

Banishree, teary-eyed, pleaded, "Par hum ka kiye chachi?" (But what have I done, aunt?)

"Oho ho, masum ban rhi ho, hum sab dekhe hai tum ka gul lhila rhi thi iss doctor ke saath." (Oh, pretending to be innocent now? We all saw you cozying up with this doctor.) Her aunt accused, adding to the tumultuous atmosphere in the medical camp.

As the tension heightened, a hushed murmuring spread through the gathered crowd outside the tent. Vibhushan, Banishree's uncle, forcefully dragged her out of the tent, his anger evident. The onlookers exchanged whispers and curious glances.

"Dadi se baat karke tumhara aaj hi shaadi karwa denge. Humara bas chale toh tumko idhar hi khatam kar dete," Vibhushan threatened. (We'll talk to your grandmother and get you married today. If it were up to me, I'd finish you off right here.)

Banishree, tears in her eyes, pleaded desperately, "Vibhushan Chacha aisa nahi hai. Humne kuch nahi kiye hai." (Uncle Vibhushan, it's not like that. I haven't done anything.)

Arjun, witnessing the distressing scene, was about to follow them towards their gypsy, but his friend, Chola Singh, stopped him, cautioning, "Don't go after them; they are dangerous."

Until they reached home, Rupa, Banishree's aunt, continued hitting her on the head, venting her anger. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was tense and charged with resentment.

Once they reached home, Rupa, adding spice to the story, narrated the incident with a distorted lens to the matriarch of the family, Ujwala devi, portraying Banishree as being overly familiar with the doctor.

Rupa let out,  "Yeh ladki toh seedhe doctor ke saath ghul-mil gayi thi. Hum dekhe the apne aankhon se." (This girl was getting too close with the doctor. I saw it with my own eyes.)

Banishree, vehemently denying the accusations, tried to explain her innocence, but Rupa's narrative had already painted a damning picture in the minds of those who listened.

Rupa, addressing Ujwala, said, "Hum toh bol rahe hai amma, iss behaya ladki ka shaadi karwa dijiye. Waise bhi bohot badnami ho gayi hai aaj. Sab gaon wale baat kar rahe hai." (I'm saying, grandma, let's get this shameless girl married. After all, she has brought a lot of disgrace today. The entire village is talking.) The words hung heavily in the air, carrying with them the weight of the distorted narrative and the consequences Banishree now faced.

Ujwala, with evident disgust in her eyes, uttered, "Shaadi ka bandobast karo. Iska shaadi aaj hi karwa denge. Rupa bahu, tumhara woh bhai hai na, Manoj, ussi se karwa denge." (Make arrangements for the wedding. We'll get her married today. Rupa, your brother Manoj, will be the one.)

Manoj, Rupa's 41-year-old widowed brother, stood as a potential groom in this abrupt turn of events. Banishree, desperate to clear her name, pleaded, "Nahi dadi maa, humari baat sune, hum nirdosh hai. Uu doctor babu. Humara illaj kar rahe the. Peeleej dadi." (No, grandma, please listen to me. I'm innocent. That doctor was treating me. Please, grandma.)

Banishree's pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears as Ujwala remained resolute. "Aye Vibhushan, shaadi ki tayari karo, isse pehle log aur baat banaye." (Hey Vibhushan, prepare for the wedding; let's finalise this before people make more gossip.)

Arjun entered the room to find Banishree held down by three ladies, desperately trying to resist their grasp. She screamed for help, her voice carrying a plea of distress.

"Koi toh humara madad karo!" (Someone, please help me!) Banishree's cries echoed through the room, creating a haunting atmosphere of vulnerability and desperation.

Arjun couldn't bear the injustice unfolding before him. "Stop this nonsense!" he screamed, causing everyone to snap their heads towards him. Banishree, still held down, pleaded, "Doctor Babu boliye na, humne kuch nahi kiye." (Doctor, please tell them, I haven't done anything.)

Arjun's eyes softened as he looked at the innocent girl. He approached Ujwala Devi and crouched in front of her. "Mata ji, aap toh badi buzurg hai aur ek mahila bhi. Aap samjhaiye. Jaane dijiye Bani ko. Uski zindagi aise barbaad mat kijiye." (Mata ji, you are respected, and a woman yourself. Please understand. Let Bani go. Don't ruin her life like this.) Ujwala Devi scrutinised him with keen eyes.

"Thik hai, humari ekau sarth hai." (Alright, for your sake, we'll spare her. But I have a condition.) Ujwala Devi finally relented, granting a glimmer of hope to Banishree amidst the turmoil.

Ujwala Devi, after a moment of contemplation, looked at Arjun and said, "Tum biyah karlo Banishree se." (Marry Banishree.) The unexpected turn of events left the room in stunned silence. Arjun, caught off guard, tried to grasp the gravity of the situation.

Ujwala Devi continued with a stern expression, "Agar tum is ladki ko bachana chahte ho toh usse bachao." (If you want to save this girl, then marry her.) The weight of the decision hung in the air, and Arjun found himself facing a choice that would not only alter his life but also determine Banishree's fate. The room held its breath, awaiting Arjun's response to this unexpected twist.

Arjun, still shocked, looked at Banishree's tear-stained face. Her eyes held a mix of desperation and gratitude, awaiting his decision. Taking a deep breath, he finally nodded, his voice carrying the weight of the unexpected commitment.

Arjun: "Thik hai. Main... main shadi karne ke liye taiyyar hoon." (Alright, I agree.) The room, once tense and uncertain, now held a different kind of tension as the realisation of the impromptu alliance settled in.

In the midst of the hurried and unexpected wedding rituals, Arjun and Banishree found themselves facing each other. As Arjun filled her hair partition with sindoor, their eyes collided in an unexpected moment of connection. The intensity of the situation seemed to fade for a brief instant, replaced by a shared gaze that held a mixture of surprise, uncertainty, and perhaps a subtle acknowledgment of the peculiar circumstances that had brought them together.

As the time to leave approached, Banishree expressed a desire to meet her maama and maami (uncle and aunt) before departing. Arjun, understanding the importance of the moment, nodded in agreement. They decided to take a rickshaw and make a brief visit to Raju and Rani's house.

Arjun, still in a daze , said, " Chalo, rickshaw pakadte hai." (Yes, absolutely. Let's go, let's catch a rickshaw.)

Upon reaching Raju and Rani's house, Banishree rushed to her aunt, engulfing her in a tight embrace. Tearfully, she recounted the tumultuous events of the past couple of hours.

Bani: "Maami, hum nahi jaayenge kahin. Hum aapke saath rahenge." (Aunt, I won't go anywhere. I'll stay with you.)

Her uncle, understanding the complexities of the situation, intervened.

Uncle: "Bani, Tera gaon me rehna sahi nhi hoga, yeh gaon Wale nhi samjhenge.  Tu jamai babu ke saath chali ja abhi ke liye. Jab idhar sab thik ho jayega hum tujhe lene aa jayenge." (Bani, you won't be safe in this village. Go with your husband. We'll bring you back after things here are better.)

As Banishree prepared to leave her maama and maami's house, she carefully packed the pictures of her parents, her uncle, and aunt. She also tenderly wrapped a small idol of Shree Krishna, holding onto the precious memories that connected her to her roots. The room echoed with her silent tears, each item she packed carrying the weight of her emotions.

Throughout the bus journey to Patna railway station, Banishree sat with her packed belongings, the tears flowing freely. The memories of the past days, the unexpected turn of events, and the emotional farewells lingered in her heart.

Meanwhile, Arjun had informed Chola and his seniors that he wouldn't be able to continue with the medical camp and that he was returning to college in Delhi.

As the early morning sun painted the Patna railway station with a soft glow, Banishree found herself sitting on a cold cement bench, contemplating the unexpected turns her life had taken. The air held a quiet serenity before the bustling day.

Arjun, approached Banishree with a cup of tea. He handed it to her, a silent gesture of comfort amidst the uncertainties.

Arjun: "Yeh lo, chai. Thoda aaram karlo." (Here, tea. Take a moment to relax.)

Banishree, appreciating the small act of kindness, looked up at Arjun, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. “Dhanyavad.” ( Thank you)

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