Since a couple of days I have been thinking of a short story by Rabindranath Tagore. I don't remember the details too well but in broad strokes, here's the story. I think it was called Aniket or Aniruddha. For the purpose of this post, I will use the name 'Aniket'.
Aniket's father worked as the house help or cook for a very rich zameendar. In his description of the house, Tagore mentions that the house was so grand and painted in such pure white that even sunlight had to bathe before it touched it. The zameendar and his wife were good people, sweet and kind. They treated Aniket's father very well. During Pujo, they would buy Aniket's father fineries and sweets for him and his wife. (This part of the story takes place before Aniket's birth.) Both the zameendar and Aniket's father had been married for a while. Both were trying for children. The zameendar could not have one. And Aniket was born to the cook.
As a baby, Aniket would visit the zameendar's house. He was a happy, bonny baby and everybody loved him. The zameendar's wife particularly grew very attached. Meanwhile the zameendar and his wife kept trying for a child. They didn't succeed.
The zameendar's wife then started falling ill. At first, there was a little weakness. Then she started fainting off and on. Finally she had to be bedridden. The zameendar was very sad and could not bear watching his wife wilt away in front of his eyes. He noticed that the only time she got some life into her was when Aniket came to visit. She would dress him up, sing to him, feed him, and generally adore him no end.
The answer to how he could cure his wife was clear.
So the zameendar called the cook and asked him to give him the son. He assured the cook that he would love and care for Aniket deeply. Aniket would never need anything in life. And neither would the cook and his family. They would be taken care of.
The cook was aghast. Although he realised that he could never give his son the life the zameendar could provide, he still wanted his small family to remain intact. The zameendar reasoned that the cook could always have another child. But he (the zameendar) and his wife might not be able to do that. After all, they had tried for so many years.
The cook went home with Aniket and told his wife about the proposition. She howled and held her son close to him. She refused outright. But the cook reasoned. The zameendar and his wife weren't 'buying' Aniket by just throwing money. They were choosing the child from their heart. Aniket could be the reason for the mistress's survival. They could always have another child.
And so Aniket was given. Aniket was never to be told that his Baba was the cook. He would grow up as a zameendar's son. And he did grow up like that. Except that he grew up spoilt and entitled.
Meanwhile, the cook's wife pined away for her son and died. They didn't have another child. Also, Aniket's presence didn't stop the zameendar's wife from falling ill either. So her health also deteriorated and she died.
The zameendar now drowning in sorrow was not able to be a present father to Aniket. Aniket grew up in the midst of a lot of wealth, no parent attending to him, no friends and a very doting cook who he couldn't stand. He would abuse the cook, throw food at him, etc. This behaviour continued well into his adult life.
Then one day, the zameendar died.
The cook, distraught that his son now really had no one, went into Aniket's room to check if he wanted food, whether he was feeling okay.
Aniket was lying drunk on the bed. He didn't appreciate being woken up. So he kicked the cook and told him to leave him alone and get out of the house.
The cook left the house and also left Calcutta. In the final paragraph, Tagore talks about how a frail old man merged with throngs of people at Howrah who were all going somewhere.
†*****"
I am sure I have bungled up some details but I remember how sad it made me feel. Whenever I read stories that really moved me, I would get Ma to read them. Then we would both cry together.
Anyway, I have been thinking of this story a fair bit. If anyone reading this knows more about this story, please let me know.
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