Bina's Grandma
Raghabpur is one of the oldest Christian centers south of Calcutta. It prides itself on a beautiful church, which is more than a hundred years old. The parish has a higher secondary school run by Jesuit Fathers and a primary school managed by nuns of the religious society known as The Daughters of St. Anne. A sizeable Christian population lives around the church dedicated to St. Joseph.
About forty years ago, a family of six lived just west of the St. Anne’s Convent. Raphael and Prabhasini were the parents and Rina, Mina, Bina and Robin were the children. It was a devout Christian family. Prabha was a cook in the nuns’ kitchen. Raphael, unfortunately, was ill and too weak to work. He was a teacher when his health was better. He liked to read and help others with his knowledge.
Prabha slept inside their humble house with three children. Bina, who was seven, preferred to be with her father on their verandah. She loved to hear stories from her father. After the birth of Robin her privileged position near her mother was taken away. She had no competition near her father. Raphael too had a special tender corner for this daughter of his for she gave him company during his lonely nights in the verandah. When he brought snacks and munchies for all from the nearby Nepalgunj market he brought something special wrapped in a piece of paper for Bina. Whenever he returned from the market Bina would ask him,” Baba, where is my pouch?” Praphael would say, “In my shirt’s side pocket.” Prabha tried to make Bina sleep inside but she was not ready to forgo her bedtime stories. Raphael used to tell her stories of kings and queens, gods and demons, and stories from the Holy Bible. Every night, invariably, Bina would fly away to the wonderland of dreams before the story ended.
Whenever she awoke during the night and opened her eyes she saw an old woman in white sari sitting near her father’s head. Night after night Bina saw the old woman leaning on the verandah post. Many times Bina tried to see her face more clearly but never was she able to get a clear view of the elderly visitor’s face. It was a hazy shape outlined by the white sari covering her head.
Once, Bina spoke to her mother about the old woman. Prabha’s eyes widened with fear and surprise. She forbade Bina from sleeping outside with her father. But, Bina was not someone to be deprived of the stories and the warmth of her father. She went on sleeping on the verandah and seeing the old nocturnal visitor as usual.
Despite her unwillingness, one night Bina had to sleep in the room. The condition of Raphael had deteriorated. The Parish priest had given him the sacrament of the sick and the Holy Communion. Prabha decided to sit outside that fateful night. As she was tired after the day’s work she could not keep her eyes open for too long. She fell into a slumber which could not be broken. An exceptionally deep slumber it was. She did not know when her husband breathed his last. She only saw in a dream like vision that her long departed mother-in-law came with a few other relatives. They put Raphael on a cot decorated with flowers and carried him away.
Next day, the church bell tolled early to signal the departure of Raphael. Relatives, friends, neighbors and many others came to bid farewell to Raphael. Everyone said he was a good man, a very good man. In the afternoon many came to attend the funeral Holy Mass. Many were seen shedding tears for him. When the funeral procession moved to the graveyard, many others joined. Among them there was an old lady, clad in white sari. Nobody noticed her. You may see many such old women in Bengal. Bina saw her in the graveyard and recognized her. She had the same loving gaze of her father. She raised her hand in farewell or blessing, Bina could not say. The child took a few steps towards her instinctively, but she soon melted in the crowd and was not seen again.
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