Arakshi Jatishwar (Ch 2)

CHAPTER 2

A clattering of utensils, barking of men and a stiff back rose Shaakhi from her sleep. She frowned and fluttered her eyes, still waiting to see the pale white ceiling of her room. Confusion etched in her mind as the pale brown cloth of the tent was the first thing which greeted her.

She licked her dry lips and pushed aside her messy hair when realisation dawned on her and yesterday’s events flashed before her eyes. She got up immediately, cursing herself for the careless action which sent her in a spell of dizziness.

She sat on the rigid cot and lifted her blackened feet. Apart from being dirty, the blisters were uglier than before. Stretching her hands she looked for her brother whose voice floated from outside the tent.

He was laughing.

Shaakhi bit back a chuckle and groaned as she placed her swollen feet on the ground. Grateful to the small pot containing water next to her cot, she drank copious amounts of the liquid which was no less than ambrosia for her.

She wrapped her stole around her and decided to meet him. She tucked her strands behind her ear and washed her face, attempting to look decent. Of course, this had nothing to do with meeting him.

“Didi!” Her baby brother ran and  jumped on Shaakhi while the other men laughed at the cherubic baby. Shaakhi smacked a kiss on her brother’s cheek and searched for him amidst the crowd.

“Aye, bunu… Arjun da ikane neyi.” (Sister! Arjun isn’t here.) Shaakhi’s ears perked at the weird accent though she felt pleased at the reference of sister.

She coloured on getting to know that he realised that she was looking for him. Disappointed on not seeing him yet chiding herself, she turned behind to find the man who’s bengali accent was pretty strange. “Dada, apni ki bangali?” (Brother, are you a Bengali?) She asked while the fair man burst into laughter.

“Jani, onek adhboot hi bangla  boli ami.” (I am completely aware of my fantastic Bengali!) He primed his moustache and folded his hand “Rajasthan theke pitaji chelo aar maa icche bangali.” (My father hails from Rajasthan while my mother is from Bengal.) Shaakhi twitched her nose  at his accent and tried to keep her laughter in check.

“Kintu apni bangla shei hishebe bhaloi acche. Ami Shaakhi Muntasir ar ei bador ta amar choto bhai, Hussain Muntasir. Chol dada’r shate haath mela!” (But you do speak fairly well then! I am Shaakhi Muntasir and this monkey out here is my younger brother Hussain Muntasir. [to her brother] Now shake your hands with this brother!) Hussain reluctantly shook his head with the moustache brother, not before glaring at his sister for having called him a monkey!

“Ami Sameer Damsingh Rathore aar o chilo Arjun Chattopadhyay.” (I am Sameer Damsingh Rathore and he was Arjun Chatt[erjee]opadhyay.) Sameer grinned at her face as she clearly got bothered at his name.

With the help of Sameer, Shaakhi got to know a few places wherein she could get her resources. Buying them was difficult for apart from the delicate gold chain clasped around her wait, she really had nothing to call as her own. The chain was the only remaining gift from her maa, she could never part with it.

She didn’t know what it was in Sameer but she fell into an easy conversation with him.

They spent hours talking and laughing, yet Sameer couldn’t help but notice Shaakhi’s hesitation and fear. With a few more coaxing words Shaakhi told as much as she could about the incident at the refugees. “Shaala rakhosh!”  (Bast***s) Sameer muttered and shook his head in disgust.

What followed was a moment of silence as Sameer excused himself to look into work.

The fact that Sameer had lost his parents in the similar fashion in which Shaakhi’s had lost hers made him get attached to Shaakhi and love her the way any brother would do.

“Oi, tui jenene je Arjun da tor jonno kichu jinish ante , jama kapor…” (Oye, know that Arjun has left to get a few stuffs for you, such as clothing…) Sameer grinned as Shaakhi feigned innocence and shook her head, muttering something like  ki dorkar (why is it necessary!).

Arjun had been an open book for Sameer, he had seen the slight flushing of cheeks and hesitance when he spoke about Shaakhi. The war would come to an end very soon… but that wouldn’t stop him from playing cupid amidst his recent two most favourite people.

He barely had been aware of her heart which thudded loud on the thought that Arjun would be buying clothes for her.

Eesh!

~*~

“Oi mei ta koi?” (Where’s she?) Arjun appeared hassled as he kept heavy bags on a wooden table. “Kon mei ta?” (Which one?) Sameer asked nonchalantly, chewing on chickpeas, thoroughly enjoying the indirect reference to Shaakhi.

“Ekhane koto golo mei ache?” (How many women are out here?) Arjun bit back his anger at Sameer’s indifference. “Oh, tui Shaakhi Muntasir er bapare bolchish? Pukur and pahar er kache gache.” (Oh! You mean Shaakhi Muntasir? She’s gone to that nearby pond and hill.)

Arjun slapped his head, “Amra shobai morchi aar madam ghurte beriye che! Shob khorcha ke othabe bol! Ei jonno ami kaoke upokaar korina! Dara dara ki dakhacchish?   Tui kano pathali amake ei shob jinish ante? Ei shomai taka jogar kora koto kothin janish!  Kintu na, Sameer babu’r moddhe Horishchondro’r bhoot dhuke che!  Akta din ei shob kina kati na kore bhab toh koto onne jinish korte  partam! Ki Shaakhi shaakhi ki korchish! Aar tor atto ki maya or upore, arrey baba ki shaak…”

(We’re all dying here and madam fancies herself to a vacation! What do you mean by wait! Pray tell me for what reason did you send me to buy all this stuff! This time could have been utilised for a much more useful purpose. Money isn’t an easy resource at this hour of our lives! But no, Raja Harishchandra’s* ghost seems to have penetrated into your soul! In spite of wasting a day in this frivolous shopping I could’ve done something better! Why are you blabbering her name? Why are you so attached with her? Tell me! Oh Lord what do you mean by Shaak…)

Arjun’s voice came to a standstill and his mouth parted. He clenched his eyes shut and ran a hand through his hair, unable to forget the hollow eyes brimming with tears as Shaakhi stared right back at him.

“Apni bolechilen ei shob kapor ante?” (Did you ask him to bring all these stuffs?) Shaakhi glared at Sameer who shook his head guiltily. Shaakhi placed her hand on her hips and bit back a cry “Amar upokar bhalo lagena.” (I hate favours.)

“Sh…” Arjun started to which Shaakhi glared at him, hot tears pouring down her cheeks. “Amake  aar amar bhai ke ekhane  rakhar jonno aar ghumono’r jonno jaiga dewar jonno dhonnobaad.”  (Thank you for having provided my brother and I food and a night’s sleep).

Arjun flinched at her icy words and regret coursed through his veins. He wanted to apologise but of course, that wouldn’t come out of his mouth yet.

Shaakhi went away as fast as she came and Sameer slapped his head and banged it on the table. “Kichu kor!” (Do something!) He snapped while Arjun shook his shoulders. Arjun thought giving her space and time would do some good for her, ladies… we so know how wrong that convention is.

Sameer ran out of the tent for some damage control and to his dismay saw Shaakhi running into the tent.

“Tor jonno Shaakhi cholegalo or ghor e!” (Because of you she left back to her tent!) Arjun grew angry at the accusations, his main anger on the fact that Sameer was closer to her than anybody else “Ami oke jete boleni! Daak o hote pare bhalo mei, kintu taka toh amar gacche! Ei bapare hirdhoy teke na, mogoj theke bhapte hoi! Emnito, o thodi na taka dite parto…” (I barely asked her to leave! She could be a nice girl but so what? I’ve lost my money! One must think more from the mind and not the heart. Anyways, as if she could have paid back!) Sameer’s sagging face and hence one could hear a f*** from Arjun’s mouth.

There Sakshi was, standing right before Ajun, utterly hurt by his words. She didn’t bother to wipe her tears.. damn them! Arjun cleared his throat and felt a piercing in his heart as she silently cried. “Shotti, akta refugee mey jar upore akta choto bhai o acche, shei apna ke taka kikore debe?” (True, a refugee girl on whom a little boy is dependent… what can she give to you?)

Shaakhi couldn’t explain her hurt. It almost felt like as if she was burnt in ashes. True, money spoke everything! Why the guard had let the soldier in for a crisp note! Everything runs for money! She had come here before to ask if she could help them… but now she had clear intentions.

“Daak re…” (See) “Tumi toh chup thako!” (Don’t you dare speak!) Shaakhi snapped at Sameer and her hands fiddled under her kurti for half a second. Enough for Arjun to sigh at how beautiful she looked… enough for Arjun to know that he should be miles away from her.

His reverie broke as Shaakhi thrust a gold waist chain into his palm. Arjun gasped at it’s worth and cupped his mouth “Eta…” (This is…) “Shona” (Gold) Sakshi completed for him and stared at his face.

“Ei taka te jaa kinecho otar khorcha uthe jabe, aar tomader log ra ja kaaj korche, oder jonno. Guli kena, ghor banano… eta ke bhenge alada alada dokandar er kache bikri koro.  Aar tar pore judi taka kom pore ba tomar amar dorkar pore… deke  dyo…” (All that you have spent for me, the resources and ammunitions for your men shall be covered. Break this chain and have it sold to various goldsmiths. Even after that if you feel there’s less money or that you need me, call me.) Her disgust on the last line affected Arjun the most.

Need her? When did he not after seeing her?

But... did she mean as services! What the f***!

Sameer was too shocked to respond as Shaakhi walked off in a thunder and Arjun followed suit.

He grabbed her arms and yanked her against the clothed wall of the tent. “Ei murod!” (How dare you!) Shaakhi glared at him and pushed his arms aside “Amar murod! Tomar ke ei bhul bishash ke diyeche je tumi amar shate ja iccher moton behbaar koro! Amake laalchi, taka odano, ei shob toh bole diyecho! Aar ami bhebechilam… akhon shoro amar rasta theke!” (My daring! Firstly who gave you the false belief that you can behave with me in any manner you want! Greedy, spendthrift… you have tagged me well enough! It was my mistake that I thought… now don’t stand in my path!)

Arjun uttered an expletive and thrust back the chain into her hand “Kono doyar dorkar nei! Aato taka chaina ami!” (Don’t show sympathy [with reference to extra cash]! I don’t need this much of money.”

Shaakhi shook her palm and clapped in the air “Theek bujhle! Kono doyar dorkar nei! Eta ak matro jinish jeta ami tomake dite pari!” (Exactly! I neither need sympathy! [As far as returning money is concerned] this is the only thing I have!).

Arjun had restrained himself [to his thinking] on not blasting on the petite woman in front of him! Damn, couldn’t she place her stole properly? The reason why he was furious was because she affected him in terrible ways! He couldn’t sleep the former night and then he ended up buying the best clothes for her because he couldn’t imagine her in shabby clothes! He had to vent out his anger that she barged in at the wrong time.

And then, instead of blasting at her to clear the confusion, Arjun found himself staring the chain wistfully… thinking how the delicate gold might have been clasped around her soft pale stomach, or maybe it rode low along her hips.

What. The. Hell.

Clear your mind… Arjun repeated to himself and shook his head, trying to focus at the number of barks she was throwing on him. “Tumi onno kaaj o korte paro!” (You can do other stuffs!) Arjun said while he found Shaakhi horrified.

Why not? For she found his gaze sweep over her waist and the next thing he knew was being slapped by Shaakhi. “Ami jaantam! Tomra shobai ak!” (I knew it! You all are the same!) She cried foul and Arjun banged his head and barked “CHUP!” (SHUT UP!)

He hated the way Shaakhi had curled her palm around a pot, ready to throw at him any moment. Feisty eh?

“Amader dorkar ak  je ranna kore.” (We need someone to get the meals prepared.) Shaakhi raised a sleek eyebrow “Shudu  ghor er kaaj kano?” (Why just the domestic services?)

“Arek jon jei gha, shorir er jaa obushta hoi ei juddho pore… akta Doctor dorkar. Ota toh tumi…” (We also need someone who can treat the wounded… the usual case of our bodies after coming back from war. A doctor is what we need but…) Arjun frowned as Shaakhi cut him off.

“Ami jaani…” (I know this…) She spoke with an air of confidence.

They both were quiet and Arjun spoke “Orokom dorkar nei tomar, shundor na tumi.” (I don’t need you in that way… you aren’t beautiful.) 

He smirked a little as Shaakhi glared at him “Ami shundor na? Shundori howa aar oi shob kaaj korar kono mel nei!” (I am not beautiful! Please! Being beautiful and being taken to do such jobs have no similarity!)  “Mel acche… ei jonno… log ra jai boluk, tumi shundor na.” (Oh they do, that’s why… you aren’t beautiful.)

He said softly, a strange tenderness in those words. He stepped in front and she stepped behind. In a flash of light he clasped the chain around her dainty waist while Shaakhi sucked a breath. “Maafi mangte paro…” (You can apologize…) Shaakhi said softly while Arjun turned to leave.

“Maafi pawa’r jonno ke nije ke toyri korte hoi?” (To receive an apology does one have to prepare himself?) He mocked her while Shaakhi calmed her hammering heart and replied “Haan, ei karon je tumi jaano manush ta koto batha dite pare, ar kothai.” (Yes, for one knows how much can he hurt you and where.)

Shaakhi paused to take a breath and continued, trying to be ignorant of his gaze on her. “Maafi newa ta ocche erokom, akta jola haath milano oi manush er shate je haath joliye che. Akhon o haath e jol dhalbe ba oi haath ke maarbe, ke jane.” (To accept an apology is like shaking a burnt hand with the one who burnt it. Either this time he’ll put the soothing water on your hand, or scar it. Who knows?) Shaakhi looked at the chain over the cloth wistfully.

She broke from her trail of thoughts when she found him upturning a glas of water on her hand. His eyes bore conflicting emotions.  

Eyes met and hearts connected.

He spoke more than an apology, he spoke of;

trust.

Next part

A/N : I am super happy at the way this chapter turned out and I am dying for your people comments! It means a bucket lot to me! As usual this entire story is for Ritu who kind of indirectly pushed me for this revamped version! Also to Princy who's gift this was <3 How many of you like this version of Arjun and Sakshi/Shaakhi?

With love,

You know who!