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Protipokkho
Published on Anandabazar Patrika Pujabarshika 2020
Paperback
First published August 1, 2020
About the author
Krishnendu Mukhopadhyay
40 books19 followersকৃষ্ণেন্দু মুখোপাধ্যায়ের জন্ম ১৯৬৪, ব্যারাকপুরে। প্রথম জীবন কেটেছে শ্যামনগরে। ইছাপুর নর্থল্যান্ড বয়েজ হাইস্কুলে প্রাথমিক শিক্ষা। স্কুলজীবন থেকেই লেখালেখির সূত্রপাত। প্রথমে অনিয়মিতভাবে কিছু লিটল ম্যাগাজিনে লিখতেন। ২০০৫ থেকে নিয়মিতভাবে আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকার বিভিন্ন প্রকাশনায় ছোটগল্প লিখছেন। ‘খেজুর কাঁটা’ গল্পটি নিয়ে হয়েছে শ্রুতিনাটক। ছোটগল্প ‘ছবির মুখ’ আকাশবাণীতে বেতারনাটক হয়ে সম্প্রচারিত হয়েছে। লেখকের ‘ব্রহ্মকমল’ গল্পটি ২০০৬-এ ‘দেশ রহস্যগল্প প্রতিযোগিতা’য় প্রথম পুরস্কার লাভ করেছে। ২০০৭-এ ‘পূর্বা’ শীর্ষক একটি কল্পবিজ্ঞান গল্পের জন্য ‘দেশ গল্প প্রতিযোগিতা’য় দ্বিতীয় স্থান পেয়েছেন। রাধিকা লেখকের প্রথম উপন্যাস।পেশাদারি জীবনে ইঞ্জিনিয়ার, বেসরকারি বিদ্যুৎ সংস্থায় তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি বিষয়ে কর্মরত। সাহিত্য ছাড়াও অন্যান্য বিষয়ে প্রবন্ধ লেখেন। ভারতীয় মার্গ সংগীতের প্রতি বিশেষভাবে অনুরক্ত।
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October 11, 2025
Chapter 1: The First Day
Dhupchhaya Dasgupta, a young ghostwriter, arrives at a luxurious 22nd-floor penthouse for her first day of work. She is greeted by the elegant and intimidating Indira Mitra, who is skeptical of Dhupchhaya's youth. Indira explains that Dhupchhaya's task is to write the autobiography of her husband, the renowned industrialist Bitoshok Mitra, who is recovering from a stroke. The project demands absolute confidentiality, with Indira having the final say on all content.
Chapter 2: Meeting Bitoshok Mitra
A maid named Papi leads Dhupchhaya through the opulent apartment, where photographs depict the glamorous life of the Mitras. In a grand study overlooking a rooftop swimming pool, Dhupchhaya meets Bitoshok Mitra for the first time. She is struck by the stark contrast between the vibrant man in the pictures and the frail individual now confined to a wheelchair, his speech slightly slurred but his mind still sharp.
Chapter 3: The First Session
Dhupchhaya's first session with Bitoshok begins. He is cynical about ghostwritten autobiographies, calling them hypocritical and filled with lies. When Dhupchhaya tries to follow a template by asking for happy childhood memories, Bitoshok claims his good memories have been erased by the stroke. Instead, he recounts a near-death experience in a coma where he saw his life flash before him and heard a Sanskrit shloka, "Ka taba kanta kaste putrah..." which became his motivation to write the book. His only clear memory is a negative one: stealing an exam question paper as a child. The session is briefly interrupted by a call from Dhupchhaya's friend, Galileo.
Chapter 4: Introducing Galileo
The narrative shifts to Galileo, a troubled young man who experiences hallucinations of an old man claiming to be the historical Galileo Galilei. After a tense morning, he goes to the Maidan and meets Budhiya, a young street vendor. He finds an old newspaper and is deeply affected by a tragic story about orphaned twin infant daughters. It's revealed that Galileo's own twin brother, Gagarin, died in a childhood accident, a trauma that continues to haunt him.
Chapter 5: Debrief at Home
Dhupchhaya returns home and excitedly tells a friend about the lavish apartment, much to the worry of her mother, Juthika. Her father, Srimanta, is more supportive. Later, Indira Mitra calls and dismisses Bitoshok's memory of stealing the paper as a post-stroke delusion. Dhupchhaya discusses the Sanskrit shloka with her father, who recognizes it from the Mohamudgara and explains its philosophical meaning, giving her a powerful idea for the book's introduction.
Chapter 6: Galileo's Mission
Haunted by the newspaper story and spurred on by his hallucination of the "old man," Galileo resolves to find the orphaned twin girls to ensure they are safe.
Chapter 7: The Second Session and a New Template
During her second session, Dhupchhaya presents an introduction for the book based on the shloka. Bitoshok is impressed but dismisses the prescribed "success story" template. He shares more memories of childhood games that reveal his deep-seated aggression and a poignant, fading memory of a beautiful young woman. He insists his autobiography must be about a "home," not a "house".
Chapter 8: The Adoption Agency
A new perspective is introduced at the "Dishari" child adoption agency. The director, Anjali Mehta, instructs her assistant, Shyamasree, to place the orphaned twin girls, Rumi and Jhumi, into two separate families to clear the waiting list. This decision goes against the dying wish of their grandmother to keep them together, leaving Shyamasree deeply distressed.
Chapter 9: A Rift with Koustubh
Dhupchhaya’s boyfriend, Koustubh, meets her to discuss buying a flat together. The conversation becomes tense as their different priorities in life surface. Koustubh is practical and career-driven, while Dhupchhaya is shown to be more emotionally guided, expressing her deep concern for her troubled friend, Galileo.
Chapter 10: A Dead End
Galileo travels to Brahmapur to search for the twins but learns they have been moved to an NGO-run home and he cannot get the address. He seeks help from a local politician, Santu Dutta, who exploits him for a political rally and then callously dismisses him, leaving Galileo at a dead end.
Chapter 11: The Third Session and a Confession
Before the third session, Indira gives Dhupchhaya a file of Bitoshok's stellar academic records to steer the narrative. In the session, Bitoshok reveals that Ardhendu, the person to whom he wants to dedicate the book, was a childhood friend and early business partner whom he ruthlessly betrayed. Deeply frustrated by the project's moral ambiguity, Dhupchhaya tells Bitoshok about Galileo, his schizophrenia, and the death of his twin. Bitoshok is surprisingly intrigued. After the session, Dhupchhaya decides she must quit the job.
Chapter 12: A Glimmer of Hope
At the adoption agency, a loving couple, Abhishek and Snigdha Pal, are chosen to adopt one of the twins, Rumi. Shyamasree feels immense guilt about separating the sisters and worries about the fate of the other twin, Jhumi, as the other potential family keeps delaying their visit.
Chapter 13: An Argument
Dhupchhaya and Koustubh argue over the phone. He wants her to take a day off to spend with him, but she insists on visiting Galileo, whom she feels has been neglected. The conversation highlights the growing distance between them.
Chapter 14: Galileo Meets Panchali
Galileo is publicly harassed by a group of young people near the Academy of Fine Arts. One of them, a girl named Panchali, vaguely recognizes him from their kindergarten days. The group mocks his name and behavior. To de-escalate, Panchali calls Galileo's father, who reveals over the phone that Galileo has schizophrenia, deeply humiliating him in front of the group.
Chapter 15: A New Connection
Galileo is urged by his hallucination to find Panchali. Using his father's call log from that evening, he finds her number and calls her late at night. Panchali, who is revealed to be a psychology student, handles the unexpected call with remarkable empathy and patience. She listens to his fragmented story about his twin brother and his quest, recognizing the depth of his trauma.
Chapter 16: The Final Straw
Intending it to be her last session, Dhupchhaya meets Bitoshok. He seems more lucid and makes a shocking confession: he had a talented young employee, Saikat Chowdhury, "eliminated" out of professional jealousy years ago. Horrified by this revelation, Dhupchhaya is now certain she cannot continue.
Chapter 17: Indira's Plan
Indira, furious that Dhupchhaya is quitting, meets with Tanmoy. She reveals her true motive: the autobiography is a corporate tool to restore faith in the company by presenting a curated version of Bitoshok's life. She needs Dhupchhaya because Bitoshok will only open up to her. Indira demands that Tanmoy get her back at any cost.
Chapter 18: The Twins' Fate
In a surprising turn at the adoption agency, Anjali Mehta, after consulting lawyers, agrees that the twins can be adopted together. When the prospective parents, Abhishek and Snigdha Pal, are told about Rumi's twin sister, they are overjoyed and immediately agree to adopt both girls, fulfilling their grandmother's last wish.
Chapter 19: Blackmail
Indira summons Dhupchhaya and reveals she knows all of her pressure points: she knows Koustubh has lost his job and has offered him a position in her company, and she reveals that the twins are at her friend Anjali's agency and their fate is in her hands. She uses this leverage to blackmail Dhupchhaya into returning. She provides a new "script" for Bitoshok's life—one of a self-made man betrayed by his partner—and instructs Dhupchhaya to get him to endorse this version on tape.
Chapter 20: Panchali Meets Dhupchhaya
A conflicted Dhupchhaya meets with Panchali at a coffee shop. They bond over old school photos and their shared connection to Galileo. Indira sends Dhupchhaya a newspaper advertisement for the twins' joint naming ceremony as proof of her power. Dhupchhaya forwards this to Panchali, calling it a "True Lie"—it is proof that the twins are safe and happy, but the path to this truth was paved with manipulation. They discuss Galileo's mental state and his obsession with finding the twins, deciding to work together to help him.
Chapter 21: A New Beginning for Galileo
Dhupchhaya and Panchali decide they must find Galileo and give him the news. They track him down at the Maidan, where he is with Budhiya, lost in his own world. They show him the newspaper ad, proving the twins he was searching for are safe and together. A wave of relief washes over Galileo; he feels he has finally won the "challenge" set by his hallucination. In the poignant final scene, he hands his paper-tube telescope to Dhupchhaya and asks her to help him find his lost brother Gagarin among the stars, signifying a new beginning of friendship and support in his difficult journey.
Chapter 22: The Book Launch
The scene shifts to the grand launch of Bitoshok Mitra's autobiography, "The Man Inside". The event is a high-profile affair orchestrated by Indira to showcase Bitoshok's recovery and restore corporate confidence. Indira presents a confident and recovered Bitoshok to the influential guests. Dhupchhaya and Tanmoy are not invited, dismissed as mere professionals who have served their purpose. The event is a resounding success, cementing the public image Indira wanted.
Chapter 23: A New Home for the Twins
Shyamasree from the adoption agency attends the naming ceremony for the twins, hosted by their new parents, Abhishek and Snigdha Pal. The event is joyous. The twins' new paternal grandmother, who was initially against the adoption, is now doting on them. Shyamasree feels a deep sense of contentment seeing the girls happy and together in a loving family, their grandmother's last wish fulfilled.
Chapter 24: Hope and Friendship
Dhupchhaya, having quit her job, feels adrift but unburdened. She meets Panchali, and they discuss Galileo. Dhupchhaya forwards the newspaper ad of the twins' ceremony to Panchali, who understands its significance as the "True Lie" they can now present to Galileo. They decide to find him together. When they locate him at the Maidan, they show him the ad. Seeing the proof that the girls he was desperately searching for are safe and happy, a profound peace settles on Galileo. He finally feels victorious over the "old man" (his hallucination). The story ends on a hopeful note, with Dhupchhaya and Panchali committing to help Galileo navigate his mental health challenges, their rekindled friendship forming a new support system for him.
Dhupchhaya Dasgupta, a young ghostwriter, arrives at a luxurious 22nd-floor penthouse for her first day of work. She is greeted by the elegant and intimidating Indira Mitra, who is skeptical of Dhupchhaya's youth. Indira explains that Dhupchhaya's task is to write the autobiography of her husband, the renowned industrialist Bitoshok Mitra, who is recovering from a stroke. The project demands absolute confidentiality, with Indira having the final say on all content.
Chapter 2: Meeting Bitoshok Mitra
A maid named Papi leads Dhupchhaya through the opulent apartment, where photographs depict the glamorous life of the Mitras. In a grand study overlooking a rooftop swimming pool, Dhupchhaya meets Bitoshok Mitra for the first time. She is struck by the stark contrast between the vibrant man in the pictures and the frail individual now confined to a wheelchair, his speech slightly slurred but his mind still sharp.
Chapter 3: The First Session
Dhupchhaya's first session with Bitoshok begins. He is cynical about ghostwritten autobiographies, calling them hypocritical and filled with lies. When Dhupchhaya tries to follow a template by asking for happy childhood memories, Bitoshok claims his good memories have been erased by the stroke. Instead, he recounts a near-death experience in a coma where he saw his life flash before him and heard a Sanskrit shloka, "Ka taba kanta kaste putrah..." which became his motivation to write the book. His only clear memory is a negative one: stealing an exam question paper as a child. The session is briefly interrupted by a call from Dhupchhaya's friend, Galileo.
Chapter 4: Introducing Galileo
The narrative shifts to Galileo, a troubled young man who experiences hallucinations of an old man claiming to be the historical Galileo Galilei. After a tense morning, he goes to the Maidan and meets Budhiya, a young street vendor. He finds an old newspaper and is deeply affected by a tragic story about orphaned twin infant daughters. It's revealed that Galileo's own twin brother, Gagarin, died in a childhood accident, a trauma that continues to haunt him.
Chapter 5: Debrief at Home
Dhupchhaya returns home and excitedly tells a friend about the lavish apartment, much to the worry of her mother, Juthika. Her father, Srimanta, is more supportive. Later, Indira Mitra calls and dismisses Bitoshok's memory of stealing the paper as a post-stroke delusion. Dhupchhaya discusses the Sanskrit shloka with her father, who recognizes it from the Mohamudgara and explains its philosophical meaning, giving her a powerful idea for the book's introduction.
Chapter 6: Galileo's Mission
Haunted by the newspaper story and spurred on by his hallucination of the "old man," Galileo resolves to find the orphaned twin girls to ensure they are safe.
Chapter 7: The Second Session and a New Template
During her second session, Dhupchhaya presents an introduction for the book based on the shloka. Bitoshok is impressed but dismisses the prescribed "success story" template. He shares more memories of childhood games that reveal his deep-seated aggression and a poignant, fading memory of a beautiful young woman. He insists his autobiography must be about a "home," not a "house".
Chapter 8: The Adoption Agency
A new perspective is introduced at the "Dishari" child adoption agency. The director, Anjali Mehta, instructs her assistant, Shyamasree, to place the orphaned twin girls, Rumi and Jhumi, into two separate families to clear the waiting list. This decision goes against the dying wish of their grandmother to keep them together, leaving Shyamasree deeply distressed.
Chapter 9: A Rift with Koustubh
Dhupchhaya’s boyfriend, Koustubh, meets her to discuss buying a flat together. The conversation becomes tense as their different priorities in life surface. Koustubh is practical and career-driven, while Dhupchhaya is shown to be more emotionally guided, expressing her deep concern for her troubled friend, Galileo.
Chapter 10: A Dead End
Galileo travels to Brahmapur to search for the twins but learns they have been moved to an NGO-run home and he cannot get the address. He seeks help from a local politician, Santu Dutta, who exploits him for a political rally and then callously dismisses him, leaving Galileo at a dead end.
Chapter 11: The Third Session and a Confession
Before the third session, Indira gives Dhupchhaya a file of Bitoshok's stellar academic records to steer the narrative. In the session, Bitoshok reveals that Ardhendu, the person to whom he wants to dedicate the book, was a childhood friend and early business partner whom he ruthlessly betrayed. Deeply frustrated by the project's moral ambiguity, Dhupchhaya tells Bitoshok about Galileo, his schizophrenia, and the death of his twin. Bitoshok is surprisingly intrigued. After the session, Dhupchhaya decides she must quit the job.
Chapter 12: A Glimmer of Hope
At the adoption agency, a loving couple, Abhishek and Snigdha Pal, are chosen to adopt one of the twins, Rumi. Shyamasree feels immense guilt about separating the sisters and worries about the fate of the other twin, Jhumi, as the other potential family keeps delaying their visit.
Chapter 13: An Argument
Dhupchhaya and Koustubh argue over the phone. He wants her to take a day off to spend with him, but she insists on visiting Galileo, whom she feels has been neglected. The conversation highlights the growing distance between them.
Chapter 14: Galileo Meets Panchali
Galileo is publicly harassed by a group of young people near the Academy of Fine Arts. One of them, a girl named Panchali, vaguely recognizes him from their kindergarten days. The group mocks his name and behavior. To de-escalate, Panchali calls Galileo's father, who reveals over the phone that Galileo has schizophrenia, deeply humiliating him in front of the group.
Chapter 15: A New Connection
Galileo is urged by his hallucination to find Panchali. Using his father's call log from that evening, he finds her number and calls her late at night. Panchali, who is revealed to be a psychology student, handles the unexpected call with remarkable empathy and patience. She listens to his fragmented story about his twin brother and his quest, recognizing the depth of his trauma.
Chapter 16: The Final Straw
Intending it to be her last session, Dhupchhaya meets Bitoshok. He seems more lucid and makes a shocking confession: he had a talented young employee, Saikat Chowdhury, "eliminated" out of professional jealousy years ago. Horrified by this revelation, Dhupchhaya is now certain she cannot continue.
Chapter 17: Indira's Plan
Indira, furious that Dhupchhaya is quitting, meets with Tanmoy. She reveals her true motive: the autobiography is a corporate tool to restore faith in the company by presenting a curated version of Bitoshok's life. She needs Dhupchhaya because Bitoshok will only open up to her. Indira demands that Tanmoy get her back at any cost.
Chapter 18: The Twins' Fate
In a surprising turn at the adoption agency, Anjali Mehta, after consulting lawyers, agrees that the twins can be adopted together. When the prospective parents, Abhishek and Snigdha Pal, are told about Rumi's twin sister, they are overjoyed and immediately agree to adopt both girls, fulfilling their grandmother's last wish.
Chapter 19: Blackmail
Indira summons Dhupchhaya and reveals she knows all of her pressure points: she knows Koustubh has lost his job and has offered him a position in her company, and she reveals that the twins are at her friend Anjali's agency and their fate is in her hands. She uses this leverage to blackmail Dhupchhaya into returning. She provides a new "script" for Bitoshok's life—one of a self-made man betrayed by his partner—and instructs Dhupchhaya to get him to endorse this version on tape.
Chapter 20: Panchali Meets Dhupchhaya
A conflicted Dhupchhaya meets with Panchali at a coffee shop. They bond over old school photos and their shared connection to Galileo. Indira sends Dhupchhaya a newspaper advertisement for the twins' joint naming ceremony as proof of her power. Dhupchhaya forwards this to Panchali, calling it a "True Lie"—it is proof that the twins are safe and happy, but the path to this truth was paved with manipulation. They discuss Galileo's mental state and his obsession with finding the twins, deciding to work together to help him.
Chapter 21: A New Beginning for Galileo
Dhupchhaya and Panchali decide they must find Galileo and give him the news. They track him down at the Maidan, where he is with Budhiya, lost in his own world. They show him the newspaper ad, proving the twins he was searching for are safe and together. A wave of relief washes over Galileo; he feels he has finally won the "challenge" set by his hallucination. In the poignant final scene, he hands his paper-tube telescope to Dhupchhaya and asks her to help him find his lost brother Gagarin among the stars, signifying a new beginning of friendship and support in his difficult journey.
Chapter 22: The Book Launch
The scene shifts to the grand launch of Bitoshok Mitra's autobiography, "The Man Inside". The event is a high-profile affair orchestrated by Indira to showcase Bitoshok's recovery and restore corporate confidence. Indira presents a confident and recovered Bitoshok to the influential guests. Dhupchhaya and Tanmoy are not invited, dismissed as mere professionals who have served their purpose. The event is a resounding success, cementing the public image Indira wanted.
Chapter 23: A New Home for the Twins
Shyamasree from the adoption agency attends the naming ceremony for the twins, hosted by their new parents, Abhishek and Snigdha Pal. The event is joyous. The twins' new paternal grandmother, who was initially against the adoption, is now doting on them. Shyamasree feels a deep sense of contentment seeing the girls happy and together in a loving family, their grandmother's last wish fulfilled.
Chapter 24: Hope and Friendship
Dhupchhaya, having quit her job, feels adrift but unburdened. She meets Panchali, and they discuss Galileo. Dhupchhaya forwards the newspaper ad of the twins' ceremony to Panchali, who understands its significance as the "True Lie" they can now present to Galileo. They decide to find him together. When they locate him at the Maidan, they show him the ad. Seeing the proof that the girls he was desperately searching for are safe and happy, a profound peace settles on Galileo. He finally feels victorious over the "old man" (his hallucination). The story ends on a hopeful note, with Dhupchhaya and Panchali committing to help Galileo navigate his mental health challenges, their rekindled friendship forming a new support system for him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2021
বেশ মিষ্টি একটি উপন্যাস| গ্যালিলেও চরিত্রটি বেশ আকর্ষণীয়, তার চেয়েও বেশি হল ধূপছায়া|
হয়তো বার্ডস আই ভিউ থেকে জীবনকে দেখলে এটাই সত্য: কা তব কান্তা ...
হয়তো বার্ডস আই ভিউ থেকে জীবনকে দেখলে এটাই সত্য: কা তব কান্তা ...
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