MARAD

(MANHOOD)
By Kousik G7uhathakurta

Finally it was possible. All

arrangements had been made by
Mahaveer’s cousin at Kolkata.
Mahaveer will now rule the streets
of Kolkata as a cab driver. There was
only one hitch-Manchi, Mahaveer’s
Manchania. Mahaveer looked for a
good pair of saris- she needs a good
bribe!

That he was a driver at Chhapra

town gave Mahaveer a unique status
in his village. Naturally, the village
girls used to steal a glance at him
when he used to be back at the
weekends. All except one. She used
to be standing alone with her head
down. Mahaveer once jokingly asked
her whether her heart was
underground! She just raised her
head- those eyes changed
Mahaveer’s life forever. For weeks,
their love grew in silence. One day
Mahaveer picked up the courage to
bring a pair of bangles for Manchi.
But once he got there, he lost his
nerve in front of Manchania’s father
and left in a hurry leaving behind the
bangles. The string of laughter that
rang his ears made his heart beat
faster. That night Manchania’s
mother came with the proposal to
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Mahaveer’s mother. The marriage
took place without a hitch.

Life after marriage was a dream

come true for Manchania.
Mahaveer’s status put her on top of
others. She loved her man dearly as
also the city cosmetics and the new
movies at Chhapra that she now
could watch .She never dreamt of
her hero destroying her dream
world. No amount of convincing on
the part of Mahaveer was enough for
her. She was dead sure that in
Kolkata there are vamps in
abundance who will rob her of her
hero. Finally, with promises of
presents galore Mahaveer left a
sobbing Manchania landing one
morning in search of his new address
at the city of lost addresses.

“Beta, did you decide anything about

Bahu, I mean she’s alone here, no
children, her antics these days are
also...”Asmani Chahi was full of
complains. Not that Mahaveer took
them seriously. But one thought
disturbed him. Manchi was alone.
That night as he proposed to
Manchania to come over to Kolkata,
Manchi broke down in tears. All the
pent up emotions burst out and the
night was spent in sweet dreams of
great times ahead. Next room,
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Asmani Chachi after a long time
could sleep in peace.

Skeletons of buildings, bright lights

of Park street, high rises, squadron
of cars, beggars crowding the
pavements, the vast expanse of
Maidan, People thronging at Kali
temple, slums beside open drain- the
initial daze of diversity and
contradiction over, Manchania slowly
settled down. But soon the gloom of
city life started eating her. As she
began missing her open sky
gradually she became withdrawn.
Mahaveer saw everything – got her
checked for fertility- there was no
problem. Mahaveer did not know
what to do. He was too busy driving,
trying to save enough to buy a taxi
for him.
Just the Rasik arrived in their life.
Rasiklal Karui- a sickly thin fellow.
Worked in goldsmith shop. And their
life changed. Rasik was full of life,
became friends very soon. Mirth is
infectious – soon Manchania started
chattering. The snacks that Rasik
brought, the jokes that he cracked-
Manchania enjoyed all. One night as
Mahaveer came back from work he
heard Manchi singing. He was
surprised- he never knew that
Manchi could sing so well. The
happiness that gripped Mahaveer
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intiallly was soon beginning to
evaporate. One evening he came
back to find Manchania dressed in
flowers, humming a cheap film song.
Blood shot up to his head. He barked
at Manchania. That night they slept
separate.
In his sleep Mahaveer cooled down.
The day after he was going to buy
his own taxi. He knew that this
surprise was enough to melt his
Manchi’s heart.
Mahveer was driving his new taxi
back home. Manchi you are a malkin
now! As he rushed to his slum he
was shell shocked by strings of joint
laughter coming from his room. The
moment he broke open the door
Rasik jumped. The coward was
trembling with fear, his pants in his
hands. As Mahaveer started hitting
the bastard Manchania went into a
frenzy- “ So you’ve’ come to show
your manhood, you impotent
bastard!” Mahaveer felt like jumping
in to a well. That night he spent
outside. As he rushed back home in
the morning he found his room
empty. They had all arrangements
made. They were supposed to flee
that night itself. Mahaveer was
always in the dark.

Seven days he spent like a dead

man. At last his driver friends
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managed to send him on the street.
Today Mahaveer is again on the
wheels. Heartbroken, he was not
being able to shake off Manchi- how
could she? Progenitor – is that the
only definition of Man?
The delay was disturbing his
passenger. Naturally, Mahaveer
thought. He was in Hurry to reach
Sonagachhi- the biggest red light
area in the city. He assured his
passenger and drove on.
Just as he was taking a little rest
after dropping that passenger,
Mahaveer heard some noise. That
looks like a girl running in this
direction. The girl almost stumbled
on Mahaveer.
- Hey you, where are off to?
Stolen something?
- Nno- I’m not a thief believe me!
Please help me!
- What?? Leave me alone- you
bitch! You f*** whore go to your
pimps!!
The girl looked back, her eyes glared
up- ‘So what if I’m a whore; if only
you were man enough like the pimp
Fatik!’
Fatik- Rasik! Mahaver’s head reeled-
everything got mixed up. He
grabbed the girl’s hand and threw
her in to the cab. As he drove into
the city streets the girl’s words did
not enter his ears.

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“Minooo, Minooo”- her mothers voice
used to fill the air – she would be
lying in the grass looking at the sky.
She always wanted to fly, like a
white stork. After Minoo, i.e., Minati’s
father died her mother had no other
option but to come to her father’s
place with her only belongings-
‘Chinoo- Minoo’. Chinoo meaning
Chinmoy, Minati’s big brother.
Though Minoo’s maternal uncles did
not really approve of their stay they
did not dare take any step because
of Chinmoy. Chinmoy was a political
worker full of vigour and promise.
Chinmoy always dreamt of marrying
Minoo off. But one election changed
their lives. Chinmoy was sacrificed in
‘holy war’ of politics. Minoo’s mother
lost her words and sanity. Just then
Nanda came to Minoo’s life. Minoo’s
wings started fluttering again. As her
mother lay motionless in one corner
Minoo spread her wings. The village
stork flew straight into the big city’s
own birdcage. Every night the
predators pounded on her. In this
concrete jungle only Fatik looked
different. He seemed to be her only
hope!

The cab was running like a wild

horse. Mahaveer broke the long
silence –“ Hey you, your Rasik, I
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mean Fatik, such a big man- is he
your lover/”
Minoo’s eyes flared for a moment.
Then she turned her head and said, “
Big man? I don’t know- but if he was
not there I would have died!”
- This Fatik seems to be a messiah –
but how did you escape?
Minoo looked up and faintly smiled.

That day Asit had come to Minoo’s

room. He was so drunk that he
passed out soon. Minoo’s heart
leapt. Her wings fluttered – she
headed for the door. As she pushed
open the door she found Fatik
waiting for her.
- Please Fatik, let me go!
- You bitch, where do you think
you ‘re off to? The predators are
everywhere.
- I don’t know just let me go
Suddenly Fatik lifted a heavy metal
candle stand and handed it to a
baffled Minati.
- Hit me with this you f*** whore,
what do ya think, they’ll let me
live if I let you go just like that/
hit me – you bitch!
Minati slowly grabbed the
candlestick and hypnotically lifted it.

Mahaveer looked up in the sky and

laughed. What a world - there’s a
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place for everybody- Rasik, Nanda
and even Fatik. He took the cab near
his slum. He asked Minoo to go
inside his room and go to sleep. He
will sleep in his car. Then early
morning they will be off to
somewhere before being spotted.

The streets lamps were still on when

Mahaveer and Minoo were having
tea at a local tea stall at Behala. As
Mahaveer was pondering at the
strange turn of events Minoo’s eyes
were fixed on Mahaveer- full of
disbelief and amazement. How can
reality turn into a dream?
Mahaveer’s mind was elsewhere. He
was thinking of his plan to go to
Asim’s place. Asim lived alone and
respects Mahaveer a lot.
Asim flared up once he heard
everything. He advised Mahaveer to
wash his hands off this ‘whore
business’. Mahaveer suddenly raised
his voice and said that he doesn’t
want anything to do with someone
who has no feelings for a battered
woman. He was leaving. Asim
quickly cooled down and told
Mahaveer to cool down as well.
While going in. Minati still looked in
trance.
Mahaveer woke up from his
afternoon nap only to find Minati
staring at her in the same way. She
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quickly rushed inside and brought
him some food. Mahaveer was
amazed.
In the evening, Mahaveer came back
with a packet and told Minoo- “ Look,
if you like it- I mean I don’t know
much about saris..”
Minati broke down in tears and fell to
Mahaveer’s feet.
Next evening Mahaveer again had
an altercation with Asim regarding
Minati and suddenly went out. When
he came back rushing in, Asim had
embraced Minoo from behind.
Mahaveer gave a fierce look and
barked – “ Minoo, come with me, I
have a packet of Sindoor with me,
you’ll live with me at my place. If
some body asks tell you are my mew
wife. If you don’t tell anything also, it
doesn’t matter!”
Asim was still gaping when
Mahaveer got hold of bedazzled
Minoo and went off.

That night inside his cab, Mahaveer

could not sleep. At about midnight,
he went inside to have some water.
Suddenly his eyes fell on sleeping
Minoo. Her full breasts and sensuous
body were almost laughing at his
‘impotence’. He went near the bed.
Minoo’s eyes opened. Mahaveer
came to senses and was about to
rise. Just then Minoo put her hands
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on Mahaveer’s hands and pressed
them.

Mahaveer woke up at the sudden

knock at the door. Minoo was still
lying in the bed, full of bliss. As he
opened the door a woman fell on his
feet and started crying-“ I did not
understand you, you were a god,
that bastard has ruined me- you kill
me, I’m…” Mahaveer stepped aside
and came outside. Nothing entered
his head. Then suddenly he looked
up to the sky and started laughing
hysterically. Manchania stopped
crying in surprise and stepped
inside. Minoo turned over in sleep.
Manchania could not speak. With her
back at the wall she slowly sat down
with a blank stare. Mahaveer was
still laughing- two women are lying
at his feet- is there anybody in this
city more of a marad (man) than
him?”

Malkin Owner
(female)
Beta Son
Bahu Daughter in
Law
Chachi Aunt

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