Basanti by Bhisham Sahni

Author:Bhisham Sahni [Sahni, Bhisham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789385890680
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2016-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

Basanti’s mind was flush with all that had happened in the last few months and she found that narrating it, and choosing what was possible to narrate, was difficult.

‘Why did you leave your hut?’

There was so much Basanti could say about that.

Basanti returned to the hut after she discovered that she was pregnant. But she wasn’t able to stay there for more than two days. She laughed as she recalled this.

‘Why are you laughing?’

‘I was unlocking the door, Bibiji. And that’s when I had a brainwave. I went in, closed the door behind me and bolted it from inside. Then I went up to the window and waited. I saw a boy walk by. I called out to him, handed him the lock and told him to lock the door from outside. I had no doubt, Bibiji, that Bardu hadn’t stopped doing the rounds of the hut. If he came now and found the door locked, he’d assume I still hadn’t returned,’ Basanti laughed.

‘What’s there to laugh about in this?’

‘Oh Bibiji, when I woke up after my afternoon nap and peeped out through the crack in the door, who should I see but Bardu! He was sitting outside the hut! And he had another man with him. I was so scared. I thought, what if he never leaves? But he sat around till evening, then left. After that I took off from there and didn’t go back.’

‘Where did you go?’

‘Oh Bibiji, what all should I tell you? I was at a loss. I had no idea where to go. An entire day passed. I wouldn’t have worried if I didn’t feel so nauseous all the time. But I did.’

‘So then?’

‘So then, Bibiji, I went to my sister’s house. I thought, to hell with it. Whatever will happen, will happen.’

Shyama bibi listened with rapt attention.

‘She lives in Vinay Nagar. I decided to confide in her. I knew she wouldn’t tell. And Vinay Nagar is so far away anyway. I’d be out of there by the time news travelled and reached either Bapu or Bardu.’

‘Then?’

‘What then, Bibiji? I only managed to stay three days.’

‘But why?’

‘Don’t ask, Bibiji. My sister’s husband is a nincompoop.’

‘Why?’

‘Husbands are all nincompoops, Bibiji,’ Basanti laughed. ‘Don’t ask me why. He’s a nincompoop and a wretch, that’s all.’ But then she carried on with the story anyway. ‘I was sleeping. I was inside the house, and my sister, her husband and their children were sleeping outside. I was in deep sleep. I had felt someone come in and sit on my cot, so I woke up. At first I thought I was in the hostel and that Dinu had just come back from work. It used to be dark when he’d come back, you see. I won’t lie to you, Bibiji. I shifted to a side so Dinu could lie down next to me. But I was more awake now and remembered I was in my sister’s house. So who was this in my bed? I panicked and tried to sit up.

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