Chapter 34 Wait For Me In Your Dreams

• She heard Dad calling her mother. It was too cold outside. Dad had been calling her name since long. Why wasn't Mom getting up? Like previous times Dad had returned late from work. Even in her sleep she could feel his presence. He had knelt down before her bed and parted the strands of hair on her forehead. Then he had bent down and kissed her cheeks. The next morning when she had woken up Dad was gone again. How tired he must've been and to keep him waiting at such an hour of the night in the nail-biting cold was a crime. And then she realised that Mom had fallen asleep after a hard day's work. She hurried down from the bed and ran towards the main door. She knew immediately after getting in Dad would curse at Mom with 'Were you dead?'. Then he'd rush upstairs into his study and lock himself up. Despite knowing eavesdropping was wrong she had tiptoed up to her Dad's closed door many times. Anirban would be having a row with someone over phone. She could recall a few words like 'Tender', 'Upendra Ghosh' and 'Police'. Mom and Dad fought every night inside that room. 'I've made the greatest mistake of my life marrying you'. Her mother would complain. 'You have no ambition to grow Anirban. Do you have any idea how I run the house every day? At least think about your daughter. She's growing up'. Tora would hear her Dad protest. 'Then why don't you rectify your mistake? I'm fed up with your complaints. You never cared for me. You never see how hard I work every day to fend for you'.
• 'Everybody does that. Man is supposed to be the bread-earner in a family. If you can't do it why didn't you declare so at the time of marriage? Because you needed someone to cook meals for you, wash your dirty clothes, give birth to children .. be an inanimate doll who'll always cater to your wishes and whom you can show-off as a trophy to your friends? You are an utterly selfish, a chauvinist, you know that?' There would be a thud followed by Mom's cries. 'How dare you hit me you .. ' Mom would hurl an invective at Dad, the meaning of which Tora didn't know. 'Ok. you stay alone. I'm leaving this moment. I'm going to stay at my brother's house till you rub your nose at my feet and pay for your act. And I'll be taking Tora with me. Can't afford to keep her with you anymore'. 'You may go to hell but don't touch my daughter. I repeat don't dare to touch her. Otherwise you 'll see the worst in me, mind it' Anirban would lose control over himself. It was a regular affair. Tora had got used to the brawls and brickbats. After sometime as if by some magic the couple would be reconciled. It was during this time that Tora heard her mother moan, giggle and talk in hushed tones - nothing of which was audible to her. But she knew they were friends again. Tora had thought that night would be the same. But that ugly looking man, animal.. was it all her dream then?
• Tora opened the door and let her Dad in. 'What the fuck is your Mom doing? Why do you have to get up from sleep every time?' The distinct smell of alcohol dashed at her. It was rare that Anirban drank other than sometimes in parties. His voice was gruffly and sounded different than other days. Upon returning back Tora found her Mom missing. Soon the sound of scuffle followed. But this time Mom seemed to be screaming the lungs out of her. It was obvious. Mom hated alcohol. The clatter of utensils and sound of breaking of crockeries came next. Suddenly it appeared to Tora that Mom was crying for help. She ran upstairs. Both her parents were shouting so loudly that it was difficult to make anything out of it. Then thuds continued unabatedly and Tora heard her Mom crying. Was Dad beating her? Tora couldn't control herself anymore. She turned the knob and went inside. Her Mom ran towards her. Her hairs were ruffled, dress torn and there were bruises all over her body. 'Didn't I tell you not to enter a room without knocking?' Her Mom asked between her sobs. 'But Mom .. Dad. He .. he isn't like other days '.Tora tried to reason. 'Go, away, get back to your bed honey. It's between me and your Dad. Didn't I tell you that we're friends and friends sometimes fought between themselves? We love each other. You're too young now . When you grow up you'll understand everything. Go away. Just leave. For God's sake'.