Bonsai : (A Book by Neena Devi )
- Part 2 -

A translation by Dr. Amarjit Moirangthem *

Dileep hesitantly continued, '' Baba, Eche Bhabani is going to Delhi for a dance competition, Savita wishes to take part too. Only if you permit….."

Dileep's little brother Sanjeev got excited and said, '' Eteima, that's a great news, let me also go with you . I want to visit Delhi too.''

Her mother-in-law starred at Sanjeev with and said, '' Ibotomba, keep silence !"

Then turning towards Dileep, '' Ibouchouba, what do we have to tell you? We haven't yet thought about it. Moreover a bride's going far-off for performing dance, the neighbours will make a mockery of it '' Turning toward Sabita, ''Ebemma, don't mind. Though you have been following all your passion as a girl before your marriage but once you got married it will get the jibes of the society. Dileep might already have taken all his due official leaves. And if you go without your husband, people will not talk good about you. Only if he got leave from his office, then you could go along with him.''

Everyone kept silence, then after a moment, '' Your Baba wish to have fried mossurie bora today, soak and then crushed the lentils and keep it covered. I will prepare it later. You can prepare the any dish of your wish, after having that you go to your respective offices.' 'The mother-in –law said and went out.

Sabita was disheartened, she went inside the kitchen and wept. To whom she would mind ? Every word from her mother-in-law was true also. All her interest and pursuits in arts seem to be a wrong choice now . ''Ennama, would you please come here, have a look over my hairs.''

Sabita kept aside what she had been doing and went inside her sister-in-law's room. If she didn't go there, the girl might start her grumpiness. She had to take care of everyone in the house.

Sabita was getting late for the college, but her husband asked her to fix the button of his shirt. She was deeply annoyed, yet she fixed it and went out for her college. If she denied him, her husband's ego would have been hurt. If her mother-in-law saw such a incident, she would have surely ridiculed and condemned her attitude around the neighbourhood.

Sometimes her mother-in-law used to say to her,'' My mother did not allow me to go and study at school , coz she feared that I might have learn the misconduct and delinquency of those educated girls.''

Listening to her words, Sabita felt thought herself, the present wayward and slander behavior of her old Manem reveals how she might have been during her pre-nuptial days. Indeed a woman like her would never know and realize how difficult and hard it is for a woman to succeed and achieve admiration at a chosen field, be it in education or be it in any other fields.

Many a budding and eminent woman had been discriminated by the envious people and encumbrance of the society. Those who came up defying against those social taboos, had been accused as undisciplined, immoral and shameful individuals in the society.

And what about Roma her sister-in-law's behaviour , is that the spirit and conduct of a student? If a student is bothering less about books and study, what kind of education will she attain? All that she concerned is about buying jewelries, cosmetics and new fashionable outfits, wasting her time in gossiping around and speaking ill of others, much contrast of being a student.

Sabita remembered those days during her student life. While studying for exams, she had to take out time for her dancing lessons and practices. Trying hard to succeed and maintaining the balance in both, sometimes she even skipped her meals too. The achievements and prizes, accolades she got for her efforts, made her to lost in a sea of happiness and forget all those hardships.

And hovering around the sea of her dreams and passion, she didn't get time neither for envying others nor gossiping about others. Indeed her life was full of hopes, dreams and accomplishments. And what she became today is like a living image of her own past, much contrary to what she had dream of. She couldn't help, but displeasing herself and her fate. Is she going to fade away her skills, aesthetics movements, tunes and rhythms day by day?

Savita returned home back from college, finished the household chores of the family. After the evening prayer rituals, she sat by the window in her room. Her husband hadn't returned yet from his office. No one was not around the home too. Looking over the beautiful flowers and floras in the garden, she began to think how her parents were pleased and delighted at her achievements and popularity, even her in-laws too were proud of her, adored her in front of their relatives and neighbors. She wondered why they are restricting her now.

When eyes felt upon the bonsai trees in the garden, she felt a sudden pain inside and her eyes began to fill with tears. Will she let her hopes to be shattered away now? Those trees -the Leihao (champak) and the krisnachura (gulmohar) bonsais, they have lost their freedom of their out-growth and flourish, who might have seen their pain and austerity? Those trees which ought to thrive and extend their vigor branches by nature , humans have pruned, reduced their roots, and trimmed their branches to make them exotic dwarfs as decorates.

What is the difference between her life and those bonsai trees?

Her songs, tunes , passion and ambitions have been slashed and trimmed too, isn't it?

Concluded...

( The story is a translation from a book titled ' Bonsai' written by Mrs. Neena Devi of Jaribon , Assam)