One night of 1971. Curfew was in effect.
A local train stopped at Kharda station. Mrittika, aged sixteen or seventeen got down with other passengers with a big bag on her shoulders . The bag was full of political papers of her party. The political party had not yet been banned. However, if any person was found to be attached with that political party or was caught with its literature or documents, he or she would be arrested, tortured and even be imprisoned. In fact a complete restriction had been imposed on political views of her party.
A military convoy was on patrol. The passengers avoided the main road and chose the bye-lanes to reach their respective destinations. Only two passengers remained - one was Mrittika and the other was a tall, saintly old man. He wore a Bengali traditional 'dhuti' and Khaddar (woven on a hand loom) 'punjabi' with a 'Gandhi' cap on his head.
In a soft voice he asked girl, "where will you go 'maa'? Where is your home?"
" My house....", gulped Mrittika, in answering him.
In fact it was her second day in Kharda locality. Previous night she had come to Kharda for the first time in her life, with one of her comrades to his elder sister's house to take shelter for a few days. Early in the morning she had to leave the house on an urgent work of her party. She was not acquainted with the place or roads at all. As she was in a hurry and she had taken the main road which went straight to the station. Mrittika had marked that her shelter was the forth house in a bye-lane. On one side of that lane there a was a big grocery shop and on other side there was a gorgeous stationary shop. She had noted the shops and had marked them as a sign posts to her temporary shelter. The night before, they had arrived very late and there had been no scope for introductions or for meeting the family members and knowing their name. Mrittika only knew that her comrade's sister and brother in law both worked in the Telephone House in Kolkata. She had decided that when she came back, she would meet the whole family and get properly acquainted. But everything went wrong. All of a sudden curfew had been imposed and the military had started patrolling. The police had become active to hunt out and capture their party activists and sympathizers by raiding houses of the locality.
So, at first Mrittika fumbled. She could not decide what to say. But she had to find a way out.
So she made up her mind and answered, ''I am going to my sister's house."
"Where is your sister's house, what's the address , my child".
"I forget the address, uncle. My sister's family has recently moved here, They are not very familiar here. Yesterday I came with my brother in law by the main road at night. I don't know anything more about this locality. In the morning I went to attend my college. I only remember there are two big shops on both sides of the bye-lane of my sister's house."
"My dear, there are many such shops on the main road and many such bye-lanes. But you can't go on to the main road. You see, the military convey is patrolling. Moreover police forces are combing all the lanes, raiding the houses of the locality. It will not be safe at all for you for roaming around. By the way, what's your sister's and brother in law's name? "
Mrittika told him two false name. She felt ashamed at having to cheat such a kind old person, but she had no other option. She couldn't tell that she didn't know the names of her 'close relatives'.
"Oh no, you say that they are new here, it will be difficult to search their house by their name. What do they do, my child? I mean, Where do they work?"
Now Mrittika felt a little bit relief. She answered, "Both of them work in Telephone House in Kolkata"
"OH! It's a good news, I knew some people who work there. Maybe they can help us. Let's go"
The old man accompanied her to the houses of the people with whom he was acquainted. It was an extreme cold night of the month of December. Due to curfew there was no one outside. Only the sound of the shoes of military marching and horn of patrolling trucks broke the deathly silence. Ignoring all these dangers, the noble old man accompanied her to seven or eight houses. How could a house of a fake name be found! They went about roaming from one lane to another. Mrittika was feeling extremely guilty at having put such a kind old person in such a dangerous situation. She felt helpless and could not decide anything. If the police or military found them and searched her bag, her benefactor also would have to face a brutal torture along with her, in spite of his innocence. She felt sick, as if paralysed in body and mind, and her head began to reel.
They went roaming around fruitlessly for at least three hours. It was almost 11 pm. Mrittika did not know where to take shelter for the night. It was almost impossible to return to Kolkata, even if she could find her the way to the station.
An acute bite of conscience forced her to tell, "Uncle, it is very late, you are very tired. Please go to your house, I will try to find out my sister's house."
"What! Are you mad ! How I can leave you in this dangerous situation. There is no question of leaving you alone. Rather, I suggest that you come with me to my place for the night. Maa , if you don't mind."
Mrittika was relived, but still she said, "Are you sure uncle, you won't have any problem."
"Not at all, maa, Don't hesitate, if one human can't help another human in need, he does not deserve to count himself as human being.Tomorrow morning my daughter will take you on the main road. Then curfew will be relaxed. You can easily find your sister's house."
The generous old man did not pay any heed to her hesitation, and took her to his house. It was already midnight when they reached their destination. The whole family was in great tension and anxiety. In fact they were in a acute terror. The old man, the head of the family, had left the house in the morning for his office and was supposed to have been back by 9.30pm. When he did not arrive till late night the family was terrified. The whole locality was in a reign of terror. The curfew was imposed, military convoy was patrolling and could fire at any person. There were massive and random police raids everywhere and they were arresting and torturing any person on the pretext of doubt that he or she was connected with so-called illegal party. The family was fearing the worst.
"Oh, you have come at last, why are you so late today," cried his wife. All others surrounded him. It was a lower middle class family. Apart from the old man, there were six other members -- his wife, eldest sister, his son,
daughter in law, a baby grand daughter, and his own daughter. Only the
father and the son were bread earners of the family. There was no sign of luxury. Only one big picture of martyred, freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was hanging on the wall.
"Wait, let us take a little breath. This girl has lost her way. Most probably she has been puzzled in this situation, we were trying to find out her house."
"Oh, my poor child, it is quite natural to lose one's mind in this barbaric atmosphere. You should not have taken so much risk in finding her house. Both of you should have come home earlier. Don't hesitate my dear, I am like your mother, here all are your own people", saying this, his wife embraced Mruttika," What's your name 'maa"
" My name is Mrittika".
In fact Mrittika was so impressed that she thought had come to paradise. There was no sign of bitterness, no complain for having invited a stranger. All of them accepted her as their own kith and kin. No one looked at her as an unwanted guest or an unpleasant surprise.
The lady of the house took control of the situation and instructed her daughter and daughter in law," Mini take her to the washroom and give one of your dresses for the night, And Shikha, you arrange her bed with Mini. Everybody come and have your dinner, no more delay'.
Everyone obeyed her. Mrittika sat for dinner on ground with the whole family. The best place was allotted for her, each and every one requested her not to hesitate and take whatever she needed. There were simple items in the meal- - rice, pulses, boiled potato and a vegetable curry. But there were plenty of hospitality and affection. Every member of the family was very caring, as if all were moulded with same simplicity, honesty and humanity. "Only such nice and generous people can create the heaven on earth," thought Mrittika.
She and Mini kept chatting for a long time before sleeping. In her sleep she dreamt that she and Mini had gone to 'Chader Pahar' (the land of moon) of writer Bibhutivushan Bandyopadhyay. When they were exploring the land, the monster 'Bunip" came and suddenly attacked them. At the same moment someone pushed her," Get up Miti', it's already late, come with me, it's time for breakfast." Mrittika got up and at first was at a loss. Then she came down to reality from her dream . She remembered everything. Sun rays came through the window .
The horror of the night had passed away.
Mrittika requested Mini ,"If you will show me the main road, I can find out my sister's house."
"Of course I will go with you up to your sister's house.But at first wash your face and have your tea and breakfast, Boudi (sister in law) is waiting for us."
After breakfast when they were about to go out, the whole family stood around Mrittika. Mini's elder brother told,"Mini you must go up to her sister's house, they are totally unacquainted here".
Uncle put his palm on Mrittika's head and said in choked voice, "Oh God, my new mother had to face a lots of trouble whole night. Come again to see your old son, Take care of yourself. Our country is going through a very bad phase."
Mrittika touched his and auntie’s feet,and answered " Let me go auntie". She embraced her and kissed on her forehead with great affection.
Boudi said in soft voice ," Don't forget us, come to see us again."
Mrittika held back her tears by force. She was nothing but an imposter. She had came only the night before with a fake identity, and bringing a great danger along with her. If the police had raided their house, the whole family's would have been in jeopardize because of her. But they did not doubt her for a single moment, and embraced her with all their affection and trust. Within moments they had accepted her as their own dear and near one. Mrittika thought to herself, " Our party's mission is to find out such noble people and to create such a heaven on the earth. where everybody will look at fellow human beings as their own family".
With all these thoughts, overwhelmed with a feeling of deep indebtedness for people of her country, Mrittika started with Mini towards her destination.
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Over 40 years have passed. Teenage Mrittika is now above sixty, with her husband and son, is completely a family person. Even now she has not forgotten that old and generous man and his whole family, who had saved her from great danger that night, and had given her not only food and shelter but also a great affection.
Now she thinks, If she herself has to face such a situation today, will she be able to provide such cordial hospitality and shelter to a stranger without any hesitation! Can she be so brave and generous like them!
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A Bengali version of this story was published in a magazine, named 'Kalprotima', January , 2001 edition. The story is based on facts. The names are fictitious.
