THE WAIT!!!

The loud huffing sound of the steam engine marked the arrival of the morning train. Amidst the damp and dirty platform stood passengers with sacks of cloths and luggage, overtly discriminated from the lavish and sophisticated standards of the European elites. There stood the common Indian, ashamed and low in front of his white master, questioning the time of the new arrival of the dawn. And then there was the middle class, still proud of the recent Dandi March initiated by their very own Bapu which fiercely rang the bell of the arriving freedom that the British government could possibly not ignore. The fine line between civilised and wild was keenly depicted through the segregated train coaches. The train arrived and an old man stood there, in his white dhoti and black coat, adjusting the big glasses and half bald head waiting for the arrival of special guest. The train stopped and a wave of passenger descended down making the whites scowl in disgust with the sweaty smell that accompanied them.But among them was one man who stood out of the group, in his dark grey suit and the handsome black hat on his head, a suitcase in his one hand and a wide smile on his face. The wrinkled face of the old man enlightened on the sight of him and from his dry lips escaped his name," Godai Baba!" The man shouted and waved his hand to catch hold the attention of the young lad. Godai smiled brighter and quickly stepping down the train came and slightly bowed his head in respect for the old man," Chandrakant kaka!" He said in happiness and hugged him to the old man's surprise," Kitne bade ho gaye beta, ek dum affsar lagre ho. Bahut yaad aati thi tumhari, bahut." The old man touched his sunken cheeks, his sharp jawline covered with beard and his black eyes shone with pleasure," Apki bhi bahut yaad aati thi kaka. Ap kaise hain? Sadiyan beet gai ap sab se mile. Aaj inte saalon baad wapas apne desh, apne shehar aake achha lagra hai." He said looking around. The old man slightly patted his back," Achhe hain beta, ham sab achhe hain. Ham sab ko bhi tumhari bahut yaad aai, wahan videsh mein tum they yahan ham sab. Ab itne saalon baad milke accha lagra hai bahut, jaise pure kolkata mein hi raunak chha gai ho. Ab jaldi se chalo, memsahb intezaar kar rahi hongi tumhara." Godai smiled on the mention of his mother. 5 years in London had been a hard time for him. But now that finally his law study was over, he could finally return to his country, back to his mother. " Maa!!!hmm...maa" He slowly whispered and then followed the old man and carried his heavy suite.

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The old woman roamed around the chaukhat of her house, with her white saree kissing the floor. She chanted mantras while she restlessly peeped out again and again to identify her carry wherein her son sat. Her throat choked when she saw the black car coming through the crowd honking hard at the people. She quickly turned around and shouted," Aye Sushma, ja jaldi se pooja ki thali la. Godai aa gaya." And without wasting even a second, she slowly came down the steps and stood there waiting for her to son come out. The car door opened and Godai stepped out, looking all around to drink in the scenic beauty of his old house."Godai!!!" her mother squealed and with increasing pace walked towards her son with tears brimming her eyes. Godai saw her old mother and the 5 years of loneliness haunted his mind. He quickly walked towards her and then bent down to touch her feet. Her mother swiftly made him face her. She quitely just looked at him, and then slowly touched his cheeks. Tears flowed down her wrinkled eyes and she hugged him hard, trying to ignore those heart wrenching moments when she quenched for his one look. Then breaking apart she wiped her tears and turned around to look for sushma who was standing out there, with the pooja thal in her hand. She took the thal and did his aarti, applied the tilak on his forehead and then sprinkled some rice over him. She then slowly touched the pooja thal with her forehead and then handed it over to sushma again. " Kaisa hai re tu?" she asked with her quivering voice," Ab aapse mil chuka hoon na toh ab theek hoon." He replied. The old woman said nothing but just stared at his son's face," Kya hua maa? Aise kya dekhri ho?" She softly kept her finger on his lips and replied," Chup!!! Itne saal ho gaye, ek pal chaen se dekhne toh de. " Godai giggled at his mother's reply," Maa, maa, maa...ab aa gaya hoon na, toh din bhar dekhte hi rehna. Par abhi ke liye andar chalein?" he said. Her mother made a grumpy face," Chal" godai took a step ahead when he heard his mothers voice," Ruk ruk,pehle teri nazar toh utar lene de." She said and then taking out a purse which was attached to her saree near her wasit, she took some notes and then swirled them around and handed them to Chandrakant." Suno Chandrakant, isse bahar gareebo mein baat do. Aur yeh lo kuchh aur paise, yeh paas hi ki jo mishrhan ki dukaan hai, wahan swadndesh khareedke ghar mein aur paros mein bitwa dena. Mera beta 5 saal baad videsh se wapas aaya hai, mohalle walo ko bhi toh pata chalna chahiye." She said while Chandrakant being the obedient caretaker went away to ply by the orders," Uffo maa!! Yeh kya hai, nazar aur yeh sab!! Yeh sab andhvishwas ki baatein hoti hai, inse kuchhnai hota." Godai replied, flaunting his new learnt western ideas and education," Yeh apna firangi gyan kisi aur ko dena. Tere liye hota hoga andhvishwas mere liye toh yehi sach hai. Aur videsh se aaya nai ki shuru apna gyan dena, aur yeh kya pehna hua hai, dhoti kurta kahan hai?" She said still leading Godai into the house while her son affectionately wrapped his hand around her and replied," haan haan pehan loonga. Waise bhi saal beet gaye jab se dhoti-kurta pehana hai. " They entered into the darkness of the house gossiping about the long pending talks.

This story is based around the colonial period. It basically revolves around the devdasi tradition.