ব্যান্ডেজ – Bandage

8. HOUSE - EVENING

Ragini switches on the light, makes up her finger with red lipstick and banded to show as if deep finger cut.

Sounak comes back from office and immediately Ragini shows her finger.

 

RAGINI (cries out - fake)

Sounak, ami saradin kichhui korte parini.

SOUNAK

Oh, etokhani ki kore katle?

Carefully kaj korbe to!

Doctor dekhiye ani chalo…

RAGINI

Na na, thik achhe.

Ami dettol diye clean kore banded lagiyechhi.

Thik hoye jabe.

Khub jala korchhe, tai kaj korte parini.

SOUNAK

It’s ok Sona, ami korchhi sob kaj.

Balo ki ki kaj baki?

Ranna aj apatoto baire order kore dichhi,

Kal ami office chhuti niye sob korbo.

Sounak got up in the morning and started his day by cleaning the house. Then he prepared breakfast. Slowly and eventually he got late to prepare their lunch. He couldn't get time to brush his teeth and take bath. He had to postpone washing cloths for afternoon and clean dishes. Immediately after that he had to prepare dinner as it was 8 pm by then. He couldn't get time to take his parents' call as well.

Sounak noticed that Ragini was sitting idle watching TV, talking over phone; and he was almost not able to manage anything in the whole day.

Suddenly he noticed that Ragini was playing mobile game with her wounded finger. He noticed for some time and throws an apple to her. Surprisingly she catches with no pain! He comes near to her and holds her hand. He carefully opens up the banded, she falsely cries out, and saw that there were no cut in her finger and it was all red lipstick!

SOUNAK

What is this Ragini?

Tumi saradin dhore natok korchho,

aar ami pagoler mato kaj kore morchhi.

Tumi manush? Chhi…

Er theke to amar boss better,

At least appreciate na korleo,

Masher seshe maina ta to thik diye dey!!

Shame on you, Ragini…

 

RAGINI (after a long pause)

Eta thik bolechho tumi,

Er theke to tomar boss better,

Appreciate na korleo, Thank you to bole,

Masher seshe maina ta to thik diyei dey.

Amar boss to tao dey na!

Unpaid chakor hisebe use kore!

thankless payment-less ekta job kori ami,

Bhebechho kakhono?

Ekdin angul katar natok e tomar amake omanush mone holo Sonu,

Diner por din kon manobikota ta amake dekhiyechho tumi?

Hiseb korechho kakhono?

Roj office theke phire ek obhijog tomar,

Boss appreciate korlo na.

Kakhono bhebe dekhechho,

Amar kotha.

Adh ghonta’r porichoye trust kore,

ma baba bhai family prestige,

Sob jolanjoli diye chole esechhi tomar haat dhore.

Aar shono,

tomar r amar bari chhere asa same noy!

Tumi ekai thako bou er songe, baa baba-ma'r songe thakte,

Tumi office er kaj tai korte.

Ami kintu completely ekta notun family chalachhi.

Baper bari’te ami porashona kortam, dance practice kortam,

Swapno dekhtam!

Family run kortam na.

Ekhane kori…

Tumi kintu tomar bariteo ja korte, ekhaneo same karo.

Only office job.

Sob chhere ami esechhi,

Relation, dream, sob sob…

Sob…

Tumi bujhbe na,

amra meye ra expect o kori na je tomra bojho.

Just ektu appreciation chai amra,

Bolteo hobe na mukhe,

Sudhu bojho je

Amrao sudhu ranna kori aar khai na,

Ekta ghor samlai,

Ekta office er mato.

Parthokyo ektai,

Ekhane manage o kori ami, employee o ami, servant o ami,

Sudhu boss hoye ekjon bose thake,

Je jane porjonto na,

je ai office tay kaj ki ki korte hoy!

Je janteo chay na,

karon pocket theke poisa ber kore maina dite hoy na!

He realized that he had never truly understood the depth of Ragini's efforts. Her days were filled with tasks that often went unnoticed, and she had given up so much for their family. He recalled her life before marriage—how she had been a passionate dancer, spending hours lost in her practice. But after marrying to Sounak, her dreams had taken a backseat to her responsibilities. Sounak realized that she loved her family dearly, but the constant lack of appreciation wore her down.

Sounak doesn’t say a word. They slept without having dinner that night.

Next day Ragini sees a new fresh Sounak, gets up early in the morning, boiling milk and preparing breakfast by his own!

SOUNAK (voice choked with emotion)

Sona, I had no idea…

I'm so sorry!

Ami, ar amar mato, onek husband rai

Ek ekta asto nirbodh!

Mukhe kichhu bolte chai na,

ebar theke kaje kore dekhate chai…

Ebar theke bojhate chai, je

Ami bujhte perechhi

House wife howa tao ekta fulltime job!

I promise, tomar dream ekhon theke amar kartobyo.

Sedin jemon scooty na chalate pereo scooty thelechhilam,

Aaj theke tomar dream-eo temni tomar saath debo…

Tears finally fell from Ragini's eyes, but this time they were tears of relief. She saw sincerity in Sounak's eyes and knew he meant his words. From that day on, Sounak made a conscious effort to share the household responsibilities, giving Ragini time to pursue her passion for dancing once again.