Through the mists of time-II

Three years ago when her sister died, Bina had stood alone in that dark stenchful corridor of the tiny government hospital, with newly born Minu in her arms, and a soiled and crumpled photograph of a dark, mustached man. On the back there was an address written in a scrawling hand. Bina knew the hand. It was Nina's. She knew the man too. He was the one with whom Nina(her sister) had eloped--much to her father’s chagrin. For some days the neighbourhood was rife with rumours about their whereabouts.  Finally, Bina’s employers, the kind Baruahs, managed to trace Nina to a brothel in Kolkata. Apparently Naresh was a pimp who had lured away and sold her to a trafficker for a few thousands. But unfortunately the young man had already fallen for pretty Nina. And so, when the Baruahs had Nina brought home, to Assam, Naresh too followed and after a dramatic change of heart managed to win everyone's heart. Since Nina had already fallen for him once, and had by then discovered that she was  pregnant, marrying the pimp-turned-lover seemed the best way out of infamy. Her family too agreed. And thus, exactly five months and twenty-eight days after Nina had eloped with Naresh the two were married with much fanfare.  It became the most talked about wedding in that impoverished neighbourhood. Even the rich Baruahs came to bless the bride and groom. There was a feast (adequately paid,  once again, by the Baruahs) and everyone went home happy—for many, it was the first good meal they had had in a long time. The bride’s family was happy with such a 'good-looking' son-in-law [let it be added that when he had returned to ‘woo’ his lady love , Naresh was armed with several red and yellow  saris and gold ornaments, that was enough to win over the broken family] --and thus Nina got married. The first few days passed off happily. Naresh ran a pushcart chat stall and Nina, crooned love songs all day. However, a few months later, Naresh was back to his old ways. And one dark  afternoon, when Nina could already feel the baby kicking inside her , Naresh quietly packed his bags and disappeared. Next morning there was a news in the papers which announced that the police were searching for one Narendra Kumar, a small time crook and trafficker and the main accused in the murder of a money-lender in Patna. It soon transpired that Naresh i.e. Narendra’s  ‘change of heart’ was caused by the need to hide himself under a changed identity. But his greed pulled him back to his former accomplices. He got into trouble and fled. Heart rending cries shook the creaky doors of  the Prasad's. By then, Nina found herself in the hospital bed—and  since it was a weekend and the doctor had to attend an important meeting (which however was  his former girl friend's  birthday party), the compounder and a nurse performed the delivery. Bina could still vividly remember that sordid night. It was well past-midnight when an unconscious Nina was pushed inside the operating room, rather the corner of an empty ward hidden by faded green screens. Despite her repeated pleas, she had been asked to stand outside the room. Moments dragged slowly. After what seemed like ages, a feeble cry crept out of the faded screens. Bina sighed in relief.  But when after standing anxiously for a long time at the edge of the room, Nina didn't appear, her worries were renewed . Why were they taking so long? Illiterate though she was, Bina knew that Nina or the baby at least ought to have been brought out by then. Dawn was breaking. I wonder whether baba-ma could sleep last night, Bina wondered as she sat down on the broken bench in the unswept verandah. She could see the first birds setting out for the day, chirruping the little  nestlings bidding adieus with their tiny squeaks. Bina was jolted when the nurse called out  her name. She quickly wiped away her thoughts and got up, and cautiously entered the big room (this room was as big as their hut). The faded screens had been removed. At one corner, she saw her sister. Bina smiled and waved to her. Nina didn't respond. A sudden fear gripped Bina. Hey bhagwan! She hastened towards the corner. Bina could feel her heart wrench. Nina was lying still. Her eyes were shut. And her face wore the pallor of  death. Bina's pleading eyes burned into the compounder's . What has happened to her, sahib? she said, voice quivering. Rubbing his hands on a soiled kerchief, the compounder hesitated. We are indeed very sad, but your sister lost so much blood at the time of delivery, we tried but couldn't save her...
But the child is all right, don't worry,he hastily added. The betel-stained nurse came in from somewhere inside and grumpily thrust the baby into Bina’s hands. “Daughter” she mumbled, and went away.  


For a few seconds, the world closed in on Bina. A strange silence  poured into her ears. She could hear nothing. Scenes from their childhood floated before her eyes. Unknowingly, a tear fell and was blotted on a wrinkled skin. The silence crept up her knees too, and Bina was about to fall when she remembered the bawling bundle of flesh on her arms and balanced herself. She didn't know for how long she stood that way. Finally, rousing herself Bina stepped out of the room, holding the baby close to her heart. The sun was shining brightly now. But for Bina, the sun had already set. As she stood all alone in the dark stenchful corridor, waiting to take Nina home for one final journey, tears blurred her eyes. 
 Finally, Bina's anguished cry merged into the tiny one's.