Love and Destiny

Rupa looked at the clock hung on the wall.

" Sangita, I will be going home early today, I must buy Ayanava's school books, and some groceries. If I wait until 5 o'clock, I won't be able to go home early. Buses are really crowded after five"

" I also want to do some shopping, shall I join you?" asked Sangita.

Rupa wanted to evade Sangita. If Sangita comes with her, she won't be able to finish her shopping early. Besides Mr. Mazumdar would not approve leave for both of them.

" Why, is it a problem Rupa?"

"Yes, Sangita. It's better if you could go tomorrow, I am sure Mr. Mazumdar would not approve leave for both of us."

"Okay, then I'll make it on wednesday."

Rupa slowly made her way to the washroom. She looked at the mirror after combing her hair very neatly. She applied some face powder and pulled out the lipstick from the handbag. "It's almost finished. From this month's salary I must buy a new lipstick, " she told herself. She looked at her image in the mirror. Even at late thirties she looked very pretty.

Rupa started thinking about Subhajit, her husband. Subhajit is an engineer by profession. Rupa married Subhajit as soon as she passed out from the University. It was a love marriage. But unfortunately, their lives fell apart. Subhajit used to spend most of his time with his friends at the club and came home very late. Though he is not an alcoholic, yet his life style was not to Rupa's liking. He hardly talks to her or Ayanava. Life has been a struggle for Rupa, as Subhajit's contribution was not sufficient for their standard of living. He also never encouraged any conversation between them. At times Rupa wondered whether Subhajit had another woman in his life, but she was too scared to question Subhajit as she always thought that Subhajit knew about the love affair she had at the University.

Rupa came out of the washroom and rushed to her table. Nirmala looked at her.

"You look lovely. I am sure you have a date."

Rupa looked at Sangita and smiled. She took her handbag and checked her purse.

"Sangita, I am going. See you tomorrow. Bye"

"Bye, Rupa."

She came out of the office and slowly walked towards the bus stop. It's April and streets were crowded with Bengali New Year shoppers.

She stood at the bus stop waiting for the bus.

"Dahan," she looked at the poster pasted on a wall near the bus stop. Today, at 3.30 p.m., at Paradise theatre.

She slowly looked at her wristwatch. It's three fifteen. Next moment she entered a bus that was bound for Paradise theatre.

She sat among the crowd and looked around to see if there were any known faces.

" I must reach home before six. If I leave at five, I can reach home by six," she thought.

The hall was dark and the curtains raised. The film started with a gruesome rape sequence. Rupa closed her eyes. She was thinking about Suman, the boy she met at the University. She loved Suman very much and both of them were great fans of Uttam Kumar. Suman liked to sing Rabindrasangeet songs very often when they shared their moments together.

Tears started rolling down her cheeks. Suman lost his life at a political rally shoot-out before they passed out from the University. She could almost feel the warm comfort when she was between his arms. She slowly rested her head on his shoulder and listened to some of his favorite songs.

She heard noises and looked around to see the audiences exiting from the theatre. The show was over!

Rupa looked at her small wristwatch. Seven-Thirty! "Oh my God," she rushed out of the hall.

When she reached home Ayanava and Maya was standing at the gate.

"Madam!, what happened to you?. The baby was crying the whole evening."

Rupa didn't bother to answer Maya. She hugged Ayanava and started crying.