Winds Of Change - Paroma Bhattacharya(Dedicated to my paternal grandfather) (story read aloud TXT) 📗

asked her about the rally.
It was very peaceful mother, the police were not there and the crowd was very well behaved. We just saw the show and then went on with our trek.
Mrs Roy was now getting ready to lecture Lona on the uselessness of these political ideas. Lona knew that she would have to patiently listen to everything otherwise both the parents would sit with her in the evening to brainwash her mind.
“You remember your Grandfather? He was a freedom fighter at the times of British India. But after Independence he began to fell how useless the whole revolution had been. He kept writing on topics of revolution in papers and saw the deterioration of Calcutta before his eyes. Basically revolution is for the people who don’t have any other work. You have your work cut out for you. Study hard and get into a good college of engineering. Become independent and you will feel a confident, smart girl. Whatever talent you have will be nurtured at a good college.”
“Dona did not do engineering? Asked Lona
“Dona was a brilliant student and she wanted to do her PhD in Astrophysics and she is in one of the best institutions in India for Astrophysics.” Explained Mrs Roy
“I hate this, what will I do if I am not as good as Dona? I have my dreams too. I don’t want to do engineering, I will do Arts,” Cried out Lona
“And pray tell me what you will do after that, forget it sweety, we will discuss this once your father is here. Be ready for a brainstorming session. Now have your lunch, it’s your favorite fish.”
Lona almost fell with excitement at the mention of her favorite fish. She ran and washed herself first and then sat down to have her favorite food. She loved chinese food the most but nothing came close to her favourite fish Pabda.
Lona just got up from her nap when she heard her father make way into the house. Mrs Roy was shouting at him for being late and that they had to go to the bazaar for rations.
“I also want to go” said Lona to her parents.
“No you had enough of exercise in the morning and we will be discussing your future plans after we come back, so better be prepared to face the shots,” retorted Mrs Roy.
Mr. Roy was starting the car, an old fiat that he had bought second hand from a colleague who left in a hurry. Mrs Roy always the busy body rushed to get in and they roared away.
Lona was depressed, nothing was going her way. She decided to start her walkman and listen to her favorite songs. This time it was “ I want to break free” by Queen.
Meanwhile Mrs Roy was telling Mr Roy to stop the car because she wanted to talk to him about Lona’s career plans.
“Lona has become very impractical. I don’t want her to get messed up in this politically infested state where nothing works until you are a member of some party. I would have liked to send her to Dona but her grades are not that good and I don’t know whether she would clear the JEE either. I don’t know which career prospect is suited to her. Just today morning she said she wants to study arts but I want her to be a technical person and not doing impractical mumbo jumbo. This way she will be an independent career woman faster.”
“You turned out fine with geography” mused Mr. Roy.
“Our times were different and don’t you dare spoil her future by your negligence where the household is concerned. God knows what you find in that office of yours daily that you forget all of us.”
“OK OK, I understand what you are trying to say but you can’t force her to do something she doesn’t want to do”
But that’s exactly the point. She doesn’t know what she wants. We have to shape her mind in the next few years. I have an idea that we should subscribe to National Geographic and get her interested in the environment somehow. Remember Dona’s friend Naro, she was not a very bright student but she is doing Environmental Sc in Pune University. I think we can make her as a source for inspiration for Lona.”
“Ok can we buy the rations now, the shops will close,” retorted Mr. Roy.
“Yes thanks for listening, be a little bit more proactive when we break this to her tonight.”
The rations were brought and all indexed and stored accordingly. Mrs Roy was meticulous where it came to keeping the house in order. She was the envy of many of her husband’s colleagues. Their parties were renowned for Mrs Roy’s food spread. The guesta would go back with the taste of Bengal in their mouth.
After dinner they all sat down in the living room which was tastefully decorated by Mrs. Roy. She had previously got the antiques from Poddar’s and the paintings were all of Jamini Ray’s reproductions. She had purchased them from a shop in kolkata while visiting her brother there.
It was Lona’s turn today to face the heat. Mr. Roy was busy watching the English news on Doordarshan. Mrs Roy faced Lona and spoke to her.
“School begins in a week. You have to start concentrating on your studies because after X11th Std there’s nothing here that you can do. You have to be mentally prepared so that you do well in your boards and finally get in somewhere good so that your future career is secure.”
“I can go to kolkata and study English” said lona.
“So you want everything easy in life don’t you? I can see how your mind is working. Kolkata will mean having fun with my nephew Raja and his good for nothing friends. I will not allow it Lona. You don’t realize how this world works and for that you have to move out of this state. There are good courses in Science in Bombay or in Pune. Dona will get all the information for you. But I want you to realize that the party is over for you. You have to work very hard and get good grades then sit for the entrances for Science and qualify to some College known for its curriculum in Science and that’s final. Go and get some sleep now.”
Lona ran from the living room and into the safe haven of her room. She couldn’t believe it. She had already been thinking of graduating in English from somewhere in kolkata, have fun with Raja and his friends who ran a drama company. They had an artistic approach to life. They would talk of bringing revolution in kolkata with their dramas and music. Tender Lona was gripped with their philosophy of life. Now because of her mother she would have to go somewhere absolutely alien and study doubly hard and make a career in God knows what. “It was all Dona’s fault” she thought aloud.
At that moment her mother came in and sat down beside her.” Lona please nobody is comparing you with Dona. She was always sure of what she wanted to do and her clear train of thoughts never gave way for us to doubt her. But you have no grip on life and we are just guiding you in the right direction that’s all. I have a letter from Dona for you. I thought I would give it you in the morning but I forgot. I am sure you will know that what we want for is the best for you.”
After Mrs Roy had left she had an impulse to tear the letter and throw it. But she loved her sister more than she knew it. Dona was never bossy or overbearing as many would be in her position, being so intelligent and so much older. She always considered Lona a kid and one to pamper and play with. Lona used to cherish the talks that they would have at night when the light was switched off and they could hear the faint noise of insects from outside.
She quickly opened the letter,
Hey Loony,
Are you fighting with Mom again and throwing your temper around? Control yourself otherwise the night fairy will come to me and not let me sleep. Already she has been complaining about how you are failing in your grades. The only solution to that is for you to stop losing focus darling and start meditating to keep yourself alert at all times. You are intelligent and there shouldn’t be a problem to fetch decent grades in even difficult subjects like Physics & Maths. School is starting soon and you will be away from home so enjoy as much as you can right now. I know u have been playing pranks at school from what the principal told mom. I think u need to grow up and take responsibilities for your actions. Come out victorious girl!
Enough about you so let me tell u something very interesting that is happening in my life. Don’t go bragging about this to Mom and Dad. I will tell them when the right moment comes. I have met this wonderful guy from States. He is half French and half Indian, name is Robert Lahiri. He has come here to RRI for his summer program. He is very witty and keeps me in splits with his jokes. We both have similar tastes and ambitions in life so time just flies when I am with him. RRI is a great environment to study and pursue research and he agrees with me. I think I might be able to interest him in continuing his PhD here just like me. I am so excited Lona that I have finally met someone, with whom I am thinking of spending the rest of my life. I will keep updating you on the status of my relationship.
I wish you could come here and spend time with me but you are still a kid and need to concentrate on other things. I would have taken you to a place called Cornerhouse, which sells ice-creams. They have some 50 varieties but I like only Death by chocolate. It’s great. So long sweety, don’t be of any more trouble and do as we say.
Love u
Dona

Lona kept the letter safely in her closet where all the rest of her letters were . She missed her terribly especially on vacations. They both went to the same boarding school but due to the huge difference in their ages, they were not there at the same time. The thought of school was filling her with dread. No more pranks Lona , she told herself, be an obedient student and get good grades just like Dona wanted. She would show all of them what she could do once she had made up her mind.