Bhuto Purbo (‘ভূত’পূর্ব)

When you had come

When you had come

The moon had not emerged in the dark, night-sky

The moon had not emerged over the ocean

When you had come

When you had come

O unknown

I had felt your presence

I had felt your presence

Your presence resonated through the song

when it played the strings of my soul

When you had come

When you had come

'Tantrik'

Please come.

Sit.

It's raining again.

Monsoon rains... can be relentless.

Hope you had no trouble finding the way?

No.

Please come.

Uh... Hello, I am Shashidhar Chakrabarty.

Hello.

Hello.

I am Bibhutibhushan Chakrabarty. Have a seat.

Could you please shut the door if you don't mind...

Yes, sure.

"Bhutopurbo"

I've always liked long conversations.

Old habits die hard.

But time has passed. My dearest friends are not with me anymore.

So, I try and make new friends whenever I can.

And I believe in one thing.

Those that love indulging in conversations, have a clean heart.

Shall we indulge in a long chat then... on this rainy night?

With pleasure. I can't object now, can I? It's why I came here.

But since the time I came here...

I am feeling quite free.

I was feeling stuck in one place.

Let's start with your story.

Before I start telling the story,

I must ask you a question.

Hmm.

Are you both married?

You see, I believe the depth of female psychology

that my story contains...

it may be difficult for you bachelors to fathom.

You don't have to be married to understand the female kind, mister.

I guess you haven't experienced a lot of female company in life?

-Is that important here-- -This chat has...

a certain objective.

So, we better get to the story instead of wasting time arguing.

You seem to come from... a noble family.

What is your name again?

-I haven't said my name yet. -Ah. So tell us?

My name is... Nilkantha Haldar.

About ten years ago, the railway office transferred me to Phuleshwar,

a village near Calcutta.

During my stay there, a school teacher told me this story.

Childless iron-trader Durgacharan Saha's only nephew,

was a pampered boy who was sent abroad for higher education.

When Phanibhushan Saha returned home after completing his graduation,

he married a beautiful, progressive, scholar of a woman.

Phanibhushan believed this act of his had created

a revolution among the youth.

Chhotoma (young aunt).

I wanted to spend my last days as a pilgrim.

I believe you realize, destiny did not agree with me.

Since you were a kid, I & your uncle have loved you like our own son.

To fulfill our elder sister's wish, we sent you abroad to study.

But as it turns out

after returning to the country

you married a girl of your own choice,

instead of joining the family business

you started your own business.

But leaving the residential home your ancestors left you...

Is this the correct thing to do, Son?

You see, Chhotoma, my business is just about growing.

I can't handle it properly if I don't stay there... Hence.

Besides, the house at Phuleshwar is our ancestral property as well.

With all the repair work, it's as good as new now.

Why don't you come & visit next month?

You see... since Moni recovered, I've been planning to go on a trip.

But the pressure at work, the new office...

I couldn't make time.

So, I thought I'll take Moni along this time.

With the fresh air, the river breeze there... she will feel better.

There's just one thing I want to remind you, Phanibhushan.

Remember, you are the only descendent of the Saha family.

So, along with the business,

you're also solely responsible for carrying this lineage forward.

Of course.

I think everything will be fine.

Don't worry.

I've an idea, I'll ask Bhagirath to arrange for your Varanasi trip.

Okay?

I'm leaving, Chhotoma.

Moni, hope you are happy?

Moni, you hear me?

Hmm.

I mean... You like this, right?

It's the first time we've set out together since our marriage, so I...

I'm loving it.

Great.

I'm happy if you're happy.

A happy wife makes for a happy husband.

Let me get that.

Mistress wanted to spend the last days of her life here.

But... man proposes, God disposes.

Back in the old Master's era... this house was so beautiful!

Come.

Bhagirath took care of you.

-Yes. -And Mistress...

She was busy with household work all day.

Come.

Believe me, the new bride will love this house very much.

How has Bhaktadas been?

I don't hear his voice today...

He's just trying to act all serious since he's the eldest in the house.

Even I get ignored by him sometimes.

I am relieved to see the two of you settling down over here.

Otherwise, duty doesn't let me sleep.

Taking care of such a huge household at my age...

-Not possible for me. -Your son has a job now, right?

Retire after his marriage. Spend the rest of your life relaxing.

Okay?

Like I just said, Son, duties don't let me sleep.

I oversaw the construction of this house when Master was building it.

That's one ancient story now...

I will be relieved if I can handover

the duties to the next person while I'm still hale & hearty.

In fact, I have found a guy.

Trustworthy, a nice boy.

He's from my wife's village.

He will come every Saturday.

And--

You should go & get some rest.

Please go, get settled.

I'll check with the kitchen.

-Sure. -Okay, bye.

Have you seen this?

When Ma first came to the Saha house after marriage,

Baba (father) got a famous artist from Lucknow to paint this.

He just saw Ma once & finished it in two months.

It has a lot of history.

So does this house.

Baba gifted this house to Ma as a dowry for the marriage.

Baba was 35 years old at that time.

I too will turn 35 in another two-three years.

Moni...

You're happy, right?

Hmm.

Which river is this?

The Ganga?

This one?

No, this is a tributary. Nettokali.

That's her local name.

You see that meander?

My office is located there. The river looks lovely from there.

I'll take you there one day. There's a temple nearby too.

You'd like to visit it.

It's so peaceful here...

So beautiful...

I knew it! I knew you would like this place!

Had you not liked it, I'd have immediately taken you

wherever you want.

Even this room is very beautiful.

I will stay here.

Of course.

Who else would stay here!

You are the queen of this house.

Everyone will follow your orders.

And you...

You'll sit at the bank, waiting for me to return from work.

Tell the steward to remove this painting from this room.

Which painting?

A woman is like a...

a doe.

They like to test a man's character & personality in the very beginning.

Better you perform at that time, better results you reap.

But in my opinion

in case of love

brutality is the key, not civility.

You mean a man with a soft heart isn't fated to have a loving wife?

Look.

Women love raw tastes like that of tamarinds, chilies & charred meat.

A wife's pet could be an efficient clerk, but he'll never be a king.

These irrelevant opinions--

Alright, alright.

Friends, time is of the essence here.

Let's not waste it discussing the complexities of the female kind.

Nilkanth, please continue.

Like any other newly married man, Phanibhushan too wished

to have a romantic conversation with his wife at the day's end,

indulge in some banter maybe... spend sleepless nights together...

But Phanibhushan wasn't blessed with all that.

The wife is the tree that offers shade to the family, but Monimalika?

She was a date palm tree.

Who are you? Who are you?

I am Moni.