Nirbashito Page #4

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It's going to be along winter.

Coffee?

Make it double.

Strong.

It's so cold you can almost smell it.

Yes.. like Christmas.

And you can smell the snow.

Yes... I get it.

She's unhappy.

She's had no dinner.

She'll survive

After all she's a doctor.

Why do they want her head?

She looks quite normal... ordinary.

But she's not 'woman-woman'...

...doesn't dress up.

She looks son of angry.

I feel sad for her.

Why did you stop the song?

Gustav is in the shower.

Coffee, Madam?

Are you crazy?

The Commissioner of Police

must issue an NOC for a cam?

But if I have to send the cat

to Sweden...

It's your cat, send it to the

moon if you like!

Why involve the police here?-

- Since she's a VIC, an NOC -

VIC?-

-Why?

Very Important Cat!

Here.

I see.

How are you related to her?-

- She is staying in my house now.

In your house??

In this city?!

Right now she's outside, in

her basket, with Jayanta.

In a basket?-

- Yes.

I'm not talking about the cat.

How are you related to the lady?

A friend.

Look, before I issue the NOC,

I need to speak to the CM.

You know how sensitive this issue is

Come back next week-

- Let's go.

Oh no! Did you have to pee

in the Police HQ?

Baaghini is just like her mother.

There's no stopping her.

There were mild protests

in the city after you left.

Now there's a stony silence.

You are in cold storage now.

Even a celebrity is forgotten

within a few days of death.

(LETTERS OF THE BENGALI ALPHABET)

Not only am I ordinary...

...but I'm also alive.

Only, I've nearly stopped writing

I seem to be forgetting my language.

Once Baaghini comes

I'll get some practice

I'll return.

And I'll write once more

For you Madam!

Had called to ask you how you were.

You didn't answer.

I'm fine.

Good. You take care.

Forgive me if you can.

It's probably her birthday today.

Have you wished her?

I did. Just before I sent you my message.

Thanks for being honest.

My inbox is overowing with

birthday emails for you..

...from bureaucrats journalists

publishers

But I have a special birthday

surprise for you.

Yes

Here we go!

Let me read this

Dear Madam...

We are honoured to present to you...

...this year's Kurt Tucholsky Award...

...for your invaluable

contribution to literature.

An award worth 150,000 Swedish Crowns!

Celebrations are not for me.

I chose this life of loneliness

I can't complain.

I took the other road,

the road less travelled by.

And that's what made all the difference.

Robert Frost.

Yes.-

- Very inspiring.

And Virginia Woolf!

She's been a great inspiration

Yes

And Simone de Beauvoir:

Yes she will live!

Yes she will live!

Yes she will live a hundred years!-

Let the music play!

Happy Birthday my dear!

This is the best surprise today!

Have some cake-

- I'd love to have some cake!

Come

Lucas got this green...

cake for me here

Princess Tone!!

I love it!

And champagne.

'YES Champagne.

Dhonyobaad.-

- Yes 'Thank you'.

Oh my darling!

I told Lucas not

to tell you I was coming.

Where's the music?

Let's dance!

You know I can'! dance.-

- Of course you can!

This room is fantastic!

Oh, I can play the piano for you!

Well, I don't know what to play!

This is a song all Swedes know.

It's not a home, Wilma

My home, my love, how are you?

Do you feel lonely?

So do I.

I'm as lonely.

I walk about in empty rooms

Can you see me in the dark?

Can you hear me move?

It's me, my soul, that moves about

In empty rooms,

leaving behind drops of tears.

The plants in the verandah

need water, but no one's there

Can'! they survive on tears?

I hold a river in my eyes

Tell me if you want a sea,

I'll pour it to you

My home, You must live.

Are you merely my home?

You are my lost homeland

You are my mother-tongue

My home... live, my love

And keep me alive!

They never stop to think

before they write!

And then it becomes our responsibility!

She writes a book and releases it!

That's it! Now deal with it!

It's a VIC... so the courier service

is insisting on an NOC!

They've turned the cat into a tigress!

So have we!

Umm... We've been talking

about this cat all day long!

That's right!

Do you know how many meetings

I've had to cancel for the day?

'A hanky today, a can tomorrow!'

He's quoting Sukumar Ray...-

- Shut up!

I can't take this any more!

Don't I have any other work?

If they want to send it, let them!

Sir, I think we must have a word

with those who are against her.

I mean... we need a religious NOC.

Right!

Manibul,-

- Sir!

Take charge. Don't delay.

After all, this is a religious matter.

A cat's religion,

this is my department, Sir.

Department of Fisheries!

My life of banishment

led me to introspect.

That's when I started telling

the story of this girl.

A meek, shy girl...

Who grew up amidst rigorous

family discipline and exploitation

A girl, whose dreams and hopes

were trashed away everyday.

I told the story of that ordinary girl.

The girl who was wounded

again and again

She lived alone, fought alone.

She became her own shelter.

Her environment, surroundings

have helped her evolve

They've made her what she is

That's my story.

Have I committed a crime?

Is it a crime to write

an autobiography?

It's a relief that they

have no objection!

Should I issue the NOC, Sir?-

-Yes, go ahead.

One minute! There's still

one major problem Sir.

'What?-

-'What now?

What is it now?

What?

What if you issue an NOC...

...and then the cat...

STOP MEWING AND SPEAK ALOUD!!

Say, you issue the NOC...

...and the cat...

...escapes in transit!

'?

??!!

Or say it dies-

- Oh God!

The entire blame will come

tumbling down on us!

They'll project it as an

assassination or a religious murder!

And blame on the police

means blame on you!

No! You represent the government!

No way! No NOC!

If the government is blamed then...

Enough!!

There starts another discussion!

Sorry, Sir.

Chanchal!

The bottom-line is,

I will NOT issue the NOC!

Sir, what if we..

...have a word with the embassy?

Why the embassy?-

- Embassy!!

Good riddance!

Send the cat through

the Swedish Embassy!

The CM is sending his man to Delhi.

...to recommend Baaghini at

the embassy.

Since I am her local guardian,

I have to go as well.

But yes.. they're taking

good care of her, you know.

The Department of Fisheries

sends fresh fish for Baaghini daily.

Pabda! Parshey!

Amazing taste!

Why are you laughing?

It's a fact!

Come on, eat your fill, baby.

Isn't my Baaghini a wild cat?

Oh baby! Look at you!

'Wild cat!

Let me clean your eyes!

Good girl!

Always the best!

Sleep sweetheart.

Sleep in peace.

Sleep in peace, my baby...

So once again you're cut off

from the rest of the world.

Lucas is very upset with me.

I have... would you please

check my mails for me?

Send me print-outs of mails

from Pritam Mukherjee

I'll just write that down for you.

Pritam Mukherjee, through... Theo.

Theo?-

- Yes, when he goes to you for provisions.

This is his email ID.

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