A Sweltering Tale of a Summer Day in Manaitand
A poignant narrative delving into the challenges faced by an Indian Bengali mother who believed she dedicated her life to her daughters, only her daughters blame her for not putting herself first and not teaching them the same about self-love.
Amid May’s midweek, Sharmila prepares her younger daughter for school as her older one, now in college, slumbers deeply. While slipping into her skirt, Chutki, the younger sibling, requests, “Ma, could you help me with the hook?” Running her fingers through Chutki’s pixie cut, Sharmila smiles and remarks, “I see you’ve combed your hair. Now, finish your Horlicks before we head out.” At 6:20 AM, Sharmila escorts Chutki to the bus stop, where the driver, Gopal, greets them with a smile and wishes them a good morning. On her way back, she purchases fresh vegetables, milk, and bread, returning home soaked in sweat.
Back at home, Labonno, the elder daughter, concentrates on solving a critical mathematical problem at her study table while her grandmother enjoys tea poured into a saucer. Sharmila heads straight to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Labonno, feeling the heat, remarks, “It’s too hot, Ma. I’ll just have chatur sharbat. Could you add some lime juice and ice?” Sharmila prepares the sarbat for Labonno while her mother-in-law joins them in the kitchen, expressing her desire for puffed rice with milk and banana.
Around 10:30 AM, after finishing her bath and puja, Sharmila sits alone, munching on dry puffed rice and banana. It’s Tuesday, her day for reading the Hanuman Chalisa, a ritual she observes every Tuesday and Saturday, before starting to cook lunch. Despite the sweltering heat in the kitchen, she manages to prepare dal, curry, and fish, wiping her forehead and neck frequently, seeking relief under the fan in the adjacent room.
Labonno has gone to college and then to her MBA coaching classes, demonstrating her prowess in mathematics, while Chutki seeks refuge under the dining table whenever faced with more than five math problems. Pratima, the house help, arrives late today, engaging in gossip with Choto Thakuma, Sharmila’s husband’s aunt. Choto Thakuma, a cheerful and well-educated lady with dual master’s degrees, retired as a school inspector from the Dhanbad district. Chutki shares a strong bond with her Choto Thakuma, who affectionately calls her “khaduburi.” After Chutki returns from school, they spend time together, with Choto Thakuma reading her storybooks, often won at elocution and storytelling contests in school.
At 2 PM, Chutki enjoys her lunch upon returning from school, joined by Sharmila. They both then recline for a nap, dozing off for an hour or two. Sharmila awakens first and queries Chutki, “What homework do you have today? Quickly freshen up and complete it. We’ll study together later in the evening.” By 6 PM, Chutki finishes her homework and settles in to watch Pokémon on Cartoon Network. Although Chutki is fond of cartoons, Sharmila permits her to watch only after completing her studies on time.
Labonno returns from her coaching classes and resumes solving mathematical problems at her study table, while Grandmother indulges in watching Ramkrishna on her small television, sipping tea from her saucer.
At 7 PM, students from the neighbourhood gather at the house for tuition. Labonno tutors them for some extra cash, which she enjoys spending on bangles and cosmetics. Chutki sits alongside the students, completing tasks assigned by Sharmila. After the tuition session concludes, Sharmila sits down with Chutki to review all the work. Sharmila is stringent when it comes to academics, always striving for her daughters to excel and achieve top marks in class.
Married during her first year of college, Sharmila gave birth to Labonno within a year of the wedding. Since then, she has dedicated her life to her husband and daughters. Alongside managing household chores, she handles errands such as paying school fees, grocery shopping, and visiting the post office, as her husband works out of town and only visits occasionally.
Around 9 PM, Sharmila searches for Labonno, often found on the terrace watering it to alleviate the intense heat. Living in a single-story house, the summers can be particularly stifling. Despite their grandmother’s protests about water wastage, Labonno sneaks up to the terrace when she’s engrossed in watching television, aware of the limited water supply in Dhanbad. Load shedding occurs frequently, disrupting the power supply more than five times a day. While they have a generator, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to restore power. However, Sharmila ensures the emergency lights are always charged for studying purposes. Thus, regardless of any interruptions, evening study time remains a non-negotiable routine for both Labonno and Chutki.
They wrap up dinner by 11 PM and retire to bed. The bed feels like a hot tub, prompting Labonno to position herself under the fan in the corner, while Chutki settles in the middle and Sharmila finds herself sweating profusely at the wall’s edge. Sharing anecdotes from their day, Sharmila cracks jokes, eliciting laughter from all three of them. Amidst giggles and playful shoves, Sharmila remarks, “It feels like we’ve boarded a train; we’re so restless.” Labonno interjects, “We should sleep since you have to rise early.” Despite their efforts to rest, the stifling air from the fan persists. In the middle of the night, Labonno awakens and returns with damp towels to cool the bed, disregarding Sharmila’s concerns about catching a cold. The unbearable heat compels her to act despite the risks.
