মালবিকা

by Moti Nandi

Bengali

84 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

Moti Nandi was a sports journalist and worked as a sports editor in Anandabazar Patrika. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award (2008) at a glittering ceremony to mark the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Excellence in Journalism Awards.

In his novels, he is noted for his depiction of sporting events and many of his protagonists are sports-persons. His first short story was published in Desh weekly on 1957. His story for Pujabarshiki was in Parichoy Magazine on 1985.

Reviews

[Sneha Dey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ actually.
খুব ছোট কিন্তু প্রভাবশালী একটা লেখা। আমি জানতাম না মতি নন্দী ক্রীড়া উপন্যাসের ছাড়াও এরকম সামাজিক উপন্যাস ও লিখেছেন।
বইটা শেষ করার পর থেকেই, উপসংহারের অংশটা কিছুতেই আমার মাথা থেকে যাচ্ছে না। শেষটা অসাধারণ লিখেছেন উনি।

[Kishore · Rating 3 out of 5]

An orphaned girl named Bokul, raised by her maternal uncle, marries Dilip Dutta, a womanizer and alcoholic. Together, they have a daughter named Malobika. Bokul's acquaintance, Uma, knows Samiran, a popular singer, and Bokul is EAGER to have Malobika study under him despite her husband's objections. Malobika, CAPTIVATED upon first meeting Samiran, begins her lessons without Dilipranjan’s approval. Her STRIKING beauty also CATCHES the attention of Mihir.

AS TIME GOES on, Samiran’s attraction to Malobika INTENSIFIES, leading him to pursue her. Their relationship becomes INTIMATE, and her INFATUATION with him grows into affection. Meanwhile, Nisith, whose eloquence has also impressed Malobika, HARBORS a BUDDING FONDNESS for her.

Soon, Mihir proposes marriage to Malobika, and her parents, Dilipranjan and Bokul, are OVERJOYED by the GENEROSITY of Mihir’s family, who INSIST they need no dowry. They begin arranging the wedding. However, Malobika is reluctant to marry Mihir. When she refuses, a furious Dilipranjan threatens to lock her up until the wedding day. Desperate, Malobika TURNS TO Samiran, who promises to help stop the marriage.

Following Samiran's instructions, Malobika flees to a designated address. However, upon reaching Samiran’s house, she is MET WITH HIS ANNOYANCE. He tells her to return home, claiming that a strike (bandh) the next day would prevent them from traveling to Kalyani. Later, a drunken Samiran BERATES Malobika, REDUCING her to tears. Humiliated and heartbroken, she decides to leave his house at dawn killing Samiran.

In time, Malobika finds comfort with Nisith, and eventually, the two are married.