"Joy Bangal!" (Hail Bengal!) Amidst the crowd and chaos, Ananya Rai Chaudhary caught hold of her younger brother against her chest and tried to sail through the maddening crowd.
"Moruk ei musim golo!" (Let these Muslims die!) Her younger brother growled to get slapped on his cheek. Ananya pushed back the veil from her face and glared at Partho, her younger brother. "Bishas ei kono parthokko nei! Arek baar jodi bolish tahole amar chaite baje kyo na!" (There's no difference in faith! If you dare repeat this then you shall face the worst of me!) Ananya shook her baby brother's shoulder who clung on to her desperately.
"Ami bhoi pacchi!" (I am scared!) Ananya tried to blink back her tears as her brother's tiny arms flung around her neck. Hell had broken loose ever since the partition of her beloved Bengal begun.
Just due to religion. Or apparently due to the power vested in those religious leaders. That wasn't true faith. Not at all.
Her feet were sore from miles of walking on uneven path. She didn't dare to keep her baby brother down for even a second. Amidst the bustling crowd there were several risks. Those waiting to take her brother, and her - away.
She had been running away from the refugee camp ever since a drunk soldier walked in, wanting to claim Ananya and that had been the limit. Her arms, breasts and bosoms bore bruises of his grip yet she had fought for her brother and herself. A bitter sob broke from her mouth at the recollection of the brutal memory but she silenced herself before Partho would realise that his sister was crying.
No place gave her solace.
Ananya had no clue that she had crossed the border of West Bengal and had walked into East Bengal.
"Ke okhane!" (Who's there?) Ananya flinched at the male tone and held on to her brother with her life. She started running away, running for her life amidst the pitch darkness.
"Oi! Dara!" (Oye! Wait!) Ananya gasped for breath as she ran harder, little rock pieces piercing her barefoot - her slipper lost long before. "Oh Maa!" Ananya screamed as she felt glass cut through her feet.
She cradled her brother against her heart and fell on the floor, several pieces of rocks piercing her skin as she fell on the sandy terrain. "Babu tui theek acchis?" (Baby are you okay?) Ananya glanced over her brother who seemed fine, but was howling in fear and had paled several shades.
"Na baccha..." (No my child...) Ananya hushed him and bit her lower lip as the sand grains and rocks burned her skin. Before she could comprehend her injuries she felt hauled away by a pair of strong arms.
"Theek accho?" (Are you fine?) Tears blurred her vision as she heard the words of care after a long time. Her parents being killed by a mad crowd of people who claimed to be Muslims. She gulped and gasped as he removed the chips of rock on her face and made her steady. She pulled the veil over her face and cuddled her brother, ignoring the shooting pain from her ankle.
"Kothakar apni?" (From where are you?) Ananya didn't know whether it was the chill in the air or his voice which shook her. "Ami rephugee camp teke eshechi..." Ananya pointed to a deserted distance and paused to take breath.
"East Bangal ba West Bangal?" He frowned as the woman in front of him shivered. "Ww...west.."
His answer was just as she expected "Hindu hoicho?" (Are you a Hindu?) Rage coursed through her veins as she pushed against his chest, a throbbing pain shot up her knuckles when her pale hands hit his sculpted chest but that didn't deter her. "TOH KI! Shobai amader ke maarche! Muslimra amar maa baba ke mereche kintu ami jaani je kono bishaash er log na ora!" (SO WHAT! Everyone's killing us! The Muslims have killed my mother and father but I know they are not from the faith they claim to be!).
Ananya screamed her voice out and found herself to be pointed by a few guns, she braced her brother against her chest and gasped a little as tears stung the bruises on her cheek. She backed up till a camp and stared in fright yet amazement as the most handsome man came into view. Dressed in a loose dhoti, khaki shirt and a gamcha around his head he looked every bit of a rebel she had only heard about, till now.
The black taveez around his neck confirmed his faith.
No wonder the biased opinion. His stubbled jaw spoke of days of negligence and his ripped physique exuded strength. Ananya was intimidated and scared. She had seen the wrong version of men and he seemed no exception...
Men in war were strong, masculine and hungry.
Not for food.
Ananya, however, knew better than to form a preconceived notion. Not all were terrible, most of them were honourable but this wasn't a war of patriotism - it was a war for power. She glared into his eyes as he chinned her up with his gun, a stark contrast to the warmth in his eyes when he gazed at her brother.
"Ami apna ke bhul bujheni, shudu jante chai chilam apni kon dhormo ke bishas koren." (I didn't misunderstand you, I just wanted to know which religion do you believe in?) His voice had relatively softened, maybe due to the fear in the child's eyes.
"Baccha?" (Your child?) He stroked the boy's head, with affection, which lay rested on Ananya's shoulder while she drew in a deep breath. "Hmm..." she replied, hoping that her image portrayed as a mother of a young one would save her from other's eyes.
Though his intense gaze sent a chill in her, it spoke several things - many which she couldn't decipher.
Ananya barely had time to reply as she heard gunshots being fired in the air. "Maa!" Ananya cried as she felt herself being thrown on the ground but looked up to find her acquaintance covering her tiny frame with his much larger body. His hesitance on being at such a close proximity brought relief in Ananya and her heart warmed on seeing a protective hand over her brother.
"Didi..." Her baby brother called up and climbed onto her, enjoying the safety and warmth between the stranger and her older sister. He completely missed the changing expressions on the stranger's face. Ananya sat upright and calmed her racing heartbeat as he yelled out "Gadha'r moton guli ki chalachish! Arek baar korbi toh toke thuke dibo!" (You Idiot! Why are you firing for reason? If you do such idiocracy once more then you will be the first person I will shoot down!)
Another comrade of the man before her had been shooting in the sky as he was drunk, but he came to his senses after the bark. Ananya held on to the edge of her stole nervously as he got up and pulled her up by her elbow with a startling gentleness.
"Toh apnar baccha na eta, or bon apni? Eta mone rakhun je amar mitthe kotha shojjo hoina. " (So you're not a mother eh? You are just a lone girl with her brother... just remember that I can't digest lies, I detest liars.) He tugged on her chin and smirked as she stepped back, glaring at him again.
"Aar ki boli! Tomader moton lok theke door thakte hobe amake." (What else do I say? I need to stay away from leeches like you.) Ananya gulped as he shook in wrath and grabbed her arm and dragged her away "Tor eta mone hoi je tor shorir er jonno ami toke ekhane rakchi! Toke bachalam ami ar otar bodol e eta pelam!" (You think I am letting you stay here so as to I can bed you? This is the respect I get after looking out for you!) His fingers bit into her soft flesh and she yelped in pain.
She tried to scream but found her mouth clamped by his hand as he effortlessly carried her and her brother like a sack of potatoes. He threw her into a tent and gently placed her baby brother on a chair. Ananya sobbed uncontrollably and held on to a pillow to throw it at him;
"Ami bujhi je tui occhish refugee, amra kaaj korchi jaano toder moton log shukhe thaake. Eta tor ghor, kyo ashbena ekhane. Aar tor je bhai acche, kalke oke master moshai'r kache pathie debo. Aar kichu?" (I know you are a refuge, we all work here to protect and keep those refugees happy. This, is your room, no one will come here. And your brother shall be educated at the hands of a local teacher tomorrow. Anything else?) He wiped the sweat beads on his head and roughly dabbed a cotton dipped in antiseptic on her wound.
"Kano?" (Why?) She whispered weakly and hissed as he treated her wounds. "Shune chile oder bapare jara ei bhaag ta chai ni? Kichu log ra ota... ki bole, ha - revolution aane?" (There were a few people who didn't want a partition - does this ring a bell for you? Some people... what do you say, yeah... those who bring in revolution?). He said as he brushed the dried blood on her arm.
"Hmm..." He looked briefly at her "Amra ora..." (We are them). Ananya gasped as his callous fingers tied a sterilized cloth around her arm.
"Amar apmar dorkar, kisher... ota kalke bolbo... ajke shui poro..." (I do need you but for what... I shall tell you tomorrow. Go to sleep.)
Barely listening to him, Ananya got onto her footsteps and peeked out of the tent to find him marching towards another set of men who stopped talking at his presence. From the distance she heard "Kabir da!"
A soft smile filled her plump lips as she repeated the name, Kabir.
The man she misunderstood and was yet to understand.
Kabir.
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