Parineeta yet another classic of Saratchandra Chattopadhyay (of Devdas fame) was published in 1914. As a love story Parineeta might seem formulaic, but it was among the initiators of the genre of the romantic novel in India, set against the back drop of extraordinary prohibition and restraints on contact between the Sexes. Parineeta has a classic rich boy - Poor girl plot line where Lalita has been Shekhar's helpmeet for quite sometime, but marriage between them is out of the question. Parineeta was a film by Bimal Roy, master of neo-realism in 1953. Half a century later it has been adapted for the screen once again by film maker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, evidence that the work is still fresh and continues to find new interpretation.
Charubala's mother, Monarama, liked nothing better than to play cards. But, she was not as good at the game as she was obsessed with it. This handicap was rectified when Lalita was present as her partner, since the latter was an extremely adroit player. Ever since the arrival of Manorama's cousin Girin, there had been marathon card sessions in Manorama's room throughout the afternoon. Girin played well so Lalita was an absolute necessity if Manorama wanted to match her cousin evenly.
The day after the trip to the theatre, finding her absent at the schedule time for the card session, Manorama sent the maid-servant over to Lalita's house. Lalita was translating from an English text into Bengali and refused to leave her books.
When Lalita's friend also failed in persuading her, Manorama herself came over. Casting aside Lalita's books, she said. “You need not break your back over these books Lalita. For you will be no magistrate once you grow up; rather, play a good game of cards. Come along!”
Lalita felt herself hemmed in; tearfully she reiterated that it was impossible for her to go that day, she would surely do so the next day. Manorama refused to listen to reason and informing Lalita's aunt, forcibly left with Lalita. Hence, that day too she had to sit opposite Girin and play cards. But the game was not much fun that day. Lalita just could not concentrate in any way; she remained tense all the while and as soon as dusk fell, she left. Girin took the opportunity to remark, “You sent over the money yesterday, but did not accompany us; why don't we go again tomorrow?”
Shaking her head, Lalita mildly replied, “No I was very sick.”
Smiling Girin said, “You have recovered now, tomorrow is an absolute must.”
“No, no tomorrow I will have no time,” Lalita made a rapid exit. It was not just Shekhar's anger that had distracted her that day she herself had been overcome by an acute sense of embarrassment by what Shekhar had implied.
Like Shekhar's house, she was use to moving in and out of Charu's house too; she mixed with everyone comfortably as if she was a member of the household. Hence she had no compunction about meeting or talking to Charu's uncle Girin Babu. However, that day, throughout the entire card session, she could not help remembering Shekhar's remarks and think that in spite of knowing her for a very short period, Girin looked on her with more interest than was warranted. That a man's admiring glance could be so shameful, she had never imagined.
For just a while she stopped by the home, and then went directly to Shehkar's house and started work right away. Since childhood she was the one to see to all the small chores of his room-clearing away the clutter of books, keeping the table neat and tidy and seeing to it that pens were clean and ink kept ready for use; no one else did all this-this was Lalita's prerogative and responsibility. She started the process of tidying up immediately, so as to be done before Shekhar returned.
Whenever she got the opportunity, she would hover about the house and because she looked on everyone as her own family, she too was treated as such by everybody.
On losing her parents at the age of eight, Lalita had become a part of her uncle's household; since then, like a younger sibling, she had moved in an orbit around Shekhar and progressed in her studies under his tutelage.
All were aware that she held a very special place in Shekhar's affection's, but none knew the depths to which that affection had reached, least of all Lalita herself. Since childhood everyone had seen Shekhar showering her with so much fondness that nothing seemed out of place or unseemly. Perhaps because it did not, neither did the possibility that she might one day take her place as a young bride of the household ever dawn on anyone. No one in Lalita's family had thought about it, nor had the thought ever occurred to Bhuvaneshwari.
Lalita had planned on completing her chores and leaving before Shekhar appeared; however she was so involved in tidying up his room that she lost track of time. Suddenly the sound of footsteps alerted her and she immediately stood aside.
As soon as he saw her Shekhar remarked, “There you are! So, how late did you return yesterday?”
Lalita did not answer.
