On a fine spring morning, Priyoma entered her college and saw her friend Payal clicking selfies, carefully covering the majestic college building at the backdrop. The beautiful heritage college building looked radiant under the bright morning sunshine. Payal took selfies with Priyoma amidst the blossoming spring flowers. While walking towards their lecture hall, Payal excitedly said, “Priyoma, do you know our history Professor, Sangeeta Tripathi, had arranged a trip to visit the historical sites of Sonapur? It is where you spent your childhood. Right? You once told me. See, I remember.” Priyoma, with a little pause, replied, “Yes, it is.” “How do you know about the trip?” asked Priyoma. “Our senior Meera told me. She had a word with Prof. Sangeeta the other day,” replied Payal.
They entered the lecture hall, and Prof. Sangeeta came in. After attendance, Prof. Sangeeta announced the department's tour to Sonapur. “We are organising an educational trip. Three teachers, including me, will accompany you to Sonapur. We will stay in the town guesthouse and visit the historical relics of a lost tribal kingdom, the temples, ponds, and architectural monuments there. So, Girls, please deposit Rs.3000 as the tour fees,” said Prof. Sangeeta. “Has anybody ever visited Sonapur before?” asked Prof. Sangeeta. Payal raised her hand and said, “Ma’am, Sonapur is Priyoma’s birthplace. She knows about the place much better.”
Prof. Sangeeta smiled and said, “Oh, that’s good. So, Priyoma, you must come with us. You can guide us to the famous touring sites.” Priyoma reluctantly said, “I will try to come along.”
After college hours, Priyoma reached her maternal uncle’s home. Several thoughts bothered her, and she locked herself in her room. Her Sonapur days were not filled with happy memories but with remorse, anxiety, fear, and hatred. She had good times only with her mother and best friend Jharna, whom she kept closer to her heart.
Priyoma was lost in her thoughts. She remembered her small home in a hustle-bustle neighbourhood with shops around a little far away. Her father worked in the municipal office, and her mother was a high school teacher. Her aggressive, abusive, and alcoholic father developed fear and anxiety in her. She witnessed the verbal abuses hurled at her mother by her father at every small and big thing. She had not forgotten her father’s dominating nature, angry mood swings, screams, and outbursts that often led to damaging furniture, vases, and flower pots in the house. At a very young age, she sensed her parents' troubled marriage. Priyoma felt their marriage would end someday.
Priyoma missed a happy atmosphere at home. It was like a great loss to her. She spent most of her time by the river side of Dikhou and loved to look at the blue sky and whispering river waters. She often sat by the riverside, felt the cool breeze, and was glad to see the little children playing and running along the riverside. The vegetables growing near the riverside were appealing to her eyes. One day, Priyoma met Jharna, who came out to fish in the river. She lived near the river. Her father used to grow vegetables in a little fertile patch nearby. Jharna allowed Priyoma to catch fish with her fishing rod. They enjoyed catching up with a few small fish. Since then, Priyoma and Jharna had become good friends. They often met and had fun times running, playing, and flying kites together by the riverside. Several times, Priyoma visited Jharna’s house, and she felt good to see the loving bond between Jharna’s parents, which she missed between her parents.
Days passed, and the friendly bond between Priyoma and Jharna grew stronger. They were young girls but mature enough to understand a loving friendship bond. But fate had other plans in store. It was a horrible time during one monsoon season when the incessant rainfall for a few days had swelled the water level of river Dikhou. It resulted in severe flooding that badly hit most parts of the town. Priyoma went with her mother to spend a week with her maternal grand-mother in a distant village from her town that was not much affected by the flood. The crop fields, ponds, trees, and many houses beside the river Dikhou were damaged, and one such house was of Jharna’s. It was half-submerged under the river waters. Jharna fell into the overflowing water from the boat her parents used for their rescue. Her father struggled to get hold of her body, but she had a head injury. After two days of treatment in the hospital, Jharna died. A few days and stormy nights passed, and the overflowing river calmed down. Priyoma and her mother returned to their house.
The news of Jharna’s death was unfortunate and dismayed to Priyoma. With teary eyes, Priyoma asked herself, “I lost my dearest friend. With whom I will share my happiness and grief now. God, why did you take away Jharna?” The most painful thing was that Priyoma could not attend the cremation of Jharna and see her for one last time. As days passed, Priyoma was slowly recovering from the loss of Jharna.
With the flow of time, her father was drawn more to alcohol. He used to come home late at night. He lost his job due to his alcoholic behaviour, and a feud occurred with a colleague in his drunkard state. Losing his job, Priyoma’s father became more frustrated and angrier. He would scream at her mother for no good reason, throw away the food plate, and sometimes thrash her badly. Her mother would lose her temper but mostly remained silent to maintain peace at home. To mentally comfort Priyoma from her father’s anger, her mother often used to say, “You sleep inside your room, Priyoma. Your father will be alright. Don’t worry much.” Priyoma remembered her mother consoling and asking her to be brave and keep Jharna in good memories.
Another unfortunate incident happened that turned Priyoma’s world upside down. On a rainy day, Priyoma’s mother died in an accident while crossing the road. All this while, Priyoma was making peace with Jharna’s death, but the sudden demise of her mother gave her a rude shock. It was a huge loss and utterly unbearable for her. Her maternal uncle took her with him after her mother’s death. Her father had no objection as he was jobless and impulsive in raising Priyoma alone. From then on, Priyoma never revisited her hometown. Her father came to meet her a few times, but she avoided meeting him. She hated her father for mentally harassing and abusing her mother when she was alive. Her maternal uncle knew Priyoma’s disappointment towards her father and did not force her to meet him. He used to help her father financially when needed.
Priyoma’s eyes were filled with tears, remembering her painful childhood days. In the evening, she got up from bed and went to the garden to freshen up her mood. Her maternal uncle and aunt had arrived from their workplaces. Priyoma told them about the college educational visit to Sonapur during the evening tea. Her uncle said, “Priyoma if you want, visit your hometown. I am sure you will enjoy the trip with your teachers and friends.” Her aunt said, “Priyoma, don’t let the past hangovers disturb you, dear.” Priyoma listened to them and remained silent. She was a little unsure about visiting Sonapur. She received messages on WhatsApp from Payal, who insisted she should join the trip. The whole night, Priyoma thought about visiting Sonapur. She had no desire to see her father. But her longing to return to the river once again aroused in her. How could Priyoma ever forget Jharna and her beautiful childhood memories spent by the riverside? She finally decided to visit Sonapur, cherish her good old memories, and feel the river she was attached to so emotionally.
The next day, Priyoma deposited the fees for the trip. A few days later, the day of departure to Sonapur arrived. Priyoma, her teachers, and friends hired a bus from college to the Sonapur guest house. After a long journey of eight hours, they reached the guest house in the evening. Priyoma was nostalgic and felt the river Dikhou was calling her. The next day, she went to the river with her teachers and college friends. Payal and a few other friends of Priyoma were busy clicking selfies and group photographs by the riverside. At heart, Priyoma missed Jharna and longed to meet her once again had it been possible. After breakfast by the riverside, they all left to visit some of the historical sites. They enjoyed the day visiting some of the lost historical relics and sites at Sonapur. By the evening, they all reached the guest house. Priyoma thought of visiting the riverside alone before leaving Sonapur. The next few days were passed touring the historical sites and monuments.
The last day before leaving Sonapur, Priyoma decided to go alone to the riverside. She sought permission from her teachers and went to the riverside early in the morning. She reached the riverside and enquired from the few families residing there about Jharna’s parents. One of the families told Priyoma the family had shifted to another place two years back. Priyoma walked by the riverside for some time alone and reminisced about Jharna and her beloved mother. She asked, “Where is Jharna? Why did you snatch her away from me, river Dikhou?”
Priyoma’s eyes were moist, and she wished for a peaceful afterlife for Jharna. She sat with her half-drenched feet in river waters and slowly controlled her emotions. She captured beautiful riverside views with the little children playing from her Android phone. Regaining calm, she lived every moment looking at the silently flowing river waters. She wished her mother was alive and sat beside her. Priyoma promised to visit the river once a year, and with a heavy heart, she left the spot.
Priyoma reached the guest house and saw her father standing at the gate. Her father walked towards her, but she ignored him and walked fast to her room. Her father could feel the anger and hatred in Priyoma against him. He came to meet her for once after learning from her maternal uncle about her visit to Sonapur. He said nothing but waited to see off her from a distance. Priyoma’s father realised he gave her deep, unhealed wounds not to be forgotten so easily. The bus driver parked the bus in front of the guest house. Priyoma’s teachers and friends sat in their seats one by one. Priyoma sat next to Payal. The bus started, and Priyoma saw her father waving at her. Priyoma sat unmoved and felt no emotions for him. Soon, the bus left for its destination.
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