Based on a true story of a close friend’s life
The loud, piercing sound of an untimely conch shell and ululation broke Kavyapriya’s deep focus. Her tenth board exams were nearing, and she was working hard, making the most of the last week. Assigned the attic room on the third floor, she had the quiet she needed—until now. Disturbed, she headed downstairs to find the source of the commotion.
As she descended, fleeting thoughts crossed her mind. Her mother, lovingly called “Shonar Gauri” by the family for her radiant, golden complexion, had shown signs of jaundice months ago. When it proved stubborn, her youngest maternal uncle recommended a trusted physician. The day Kavyapriya’s father returned from the consultation, dark shadows loomed. Gauri looked pale and exhausted, and her father, Somnath, appeared fragile and defeated.
At sixteen, Kavyapriya was the youngest of three sisters, anxiously awaiting their parents’ return. “What did the doctor say, Baba?” asked Anupriya, the eldest. Somnath’s voice faltered, and Devpriya, the middle sister, quickly guided Gauri to freshen up. Kavya, watching from the corner of the verandah, reacted swiftly, rushing to get water for her parents.
From that day forward, a heavy shadow fell over the Mukherjee household. Kavya, mature enough to understand, knew her mother was gravely ill. Soon, Gauri was bedridden, her once vibrant beauty now dimmed by illness. As the family mourned, the heartbreaking truth became clear: it was the last stage of liver cancer.
Kavya’s worst fears were realized when she approached her mother’s room. Shonar Gauri’s shining eyes grew dimmer, and, with a gentle grasp of her daughter’s hand, she slipped away. The family was consumed by grief as conch shells blared, ululations sounded, and anguished cries filled the air.
In the years that followed, the sisters took charge of the household. Anupriya and Devpriya married, leaving Kavya as the sole caretaker. When she graduated, her marriage was arranged with a family from Durgapur. The wedding day held an unexpected omen: just as the groom placed vermillion on Kavya’s forehead, her eldest maternal uncle fainted, crying out. Relatives assured her it was a blessing from her late mother, seeing her marriage as auspicious.
After the wedding, Kavya and her husband, Sourendra, were moved to her parents’ room. As friends and family prepared for a night of celebration, a sudden power cut cast the room into silence. When the generator light returned, Kavya noticed her mother’s garlanded photo lying face down beside her father. For years, it had hung securely on the wall by the now open window. Overwhelmed, Kavya whispered, “Maaaa…” Through her tears, her father blessed her, saying softly,
“Don’t cry, Kavya. Today, Gauri’s soul found peace; her youngest is now happily settled.”
The gentle rustling of banana leaves outside seemed to echo his words.
Editor’s Note : This story was submitted for the THESHE Contest .
By Bidisha Dutta
An avid traveller and a lover of literature, Bidisha Dutta works as an Editor with a renowned publishing firm. . Writing and reading is her second nature, and she just cannot sit in peace without these. She can be reached at bidishadutta2000@gmail.com.
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