Chapter-2
The next morning, as Bondhita woke up, she found the room to be empty.
“ Kya woh swapn tha?” Bondhita muttered to herself but then Anirudh walked in the bedroom, all dressed up in his while kurta.
“ Good morning Mishti.” Anirudh said and Bondhita looked at him.
“ Mishti?” She asked confused.
“ Haan, Mishti. Ab tumhara naam itna bada hai ki ek chote ki zarurathai.” He said, smiling at her.
“ Par Mishti kyu? Aur kuch bhi toh ho sakta than a Anirudh babu?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.
“ Ho sakta tha par tumhe dekhte hi mere dil mein Mishti hi aaya toh rakdiya tumhara naam.” He told her the truth and she blushed.
Getting up from the bed, she walked int the washroom to get ready was done in about half an hour. She wore a red Banarasi saree in Bengali style.
“ Baudi….come downstairs quickly!” Batuk shouted for her.
“ Aayi.” She shouted back and hopped down.
“ Aree wah baudi….aaj toh aap bahut sundar lag rahi hain. Aaj kuch haikya?” Soham asked her.
“ Nahi toh….main toh roz hi aise tayyar hoti hoon.” She said innocently,unaware about her brother in laws’ plan to tease her.
“ Aree nahi Soham dada….baudi aaj is liye alag lag rahi hai kyuk iAnirudh dada aa gaye hain naa.” Batuk said in a teasing tone.
“ Bas bhi kariye aap dono. Kya aanand aa rha hai mera mazaak udane mein?”She asked, blushing again.
“ Ab aapka mazaak nahi udaayenge toh phir kiska udayenge? Dada toh kaanpakad ke kheechenge agar unko she sab bola toh.” Batuk replied innocently.
“ Chaliye ab mujhe jaane dijiye, maa se milna hai.” Bondhita said and started to get out.
Outside, she saw Anirudh getting out of Saudamini’s house. Must have gone to meet kaka.
“ Mishti? Kaha jaa rahi ho?” He asked looking at her, giving her goosebumps.
“ Maa ke paas.” She replied.
“ Chalo….gaadi mein baitho, main chod deta hoon. Waise bhi tumhari maami se mile hue kayi saal ho gaye.” He said sarcastically.
“ Nahi Anirudh babu. Aaj nahi jaa sakte.” Bondhita said, looking away.
“ Kyu nahi jaa sakta?” He asked as he made her look into his eyes by taking her chin slightly and making her look at him.
“ Kyuki maami phir aapko pata nahi kya kya bolti rahegi. Aap yahirahiye, main chali jaoongi.” She said and started to walk away.
Anirudh having other plans held her by her upper arm and slightly pulledher to himself, making her forehead collide into his chest.
“ Mishti….main tumhare saath hi chalunga. Mujhe bhi maa se milna hai.”He replied to her and opened the car door for her.
“ Baitho.” He said while she just glared at him.
Anirudh just looked at her instead of glaring and it was enough for her to sit in the car.
As he started driving, she was looking out at the village. It was changing.
“ Tumhara college kaisa hai?” Anirudh asked, breaking her trance.
“ Accha hai…par ghar ki bahut yaad aati hai.” She said, sighing.
“ Pata hai….” He hummed.
“ London kaisa tha? Aap wapis kyu aa gaye?” She asked.
“ Mujhe kabhi London mein nahi rehna tha Mishti. Bas kuch saal ke liyegaya tha kuch acche barristers se seekhne.” He partially hid the truth from her because he didn’t want her to feel guilty.
“ Kyu sach nahi bata rahe hain Anirudh babu? Aap isliye gayi the nakyuki baba chahte the ki aap jaye tabhi main Calcutta jaa ke padh sakti hoon?”She confronted him.
He was at loss of words.
“ Nahi Mishti…..” Before he could continue further, she stopped him.
“ Anirudh babu, mujhe pata hai…maine sab suna tha.” She replied, looking away to hide the tears in her eyes.
It was because of her that Anirudh had to stay away from his family. It was because of her education that he sacrificed.
“ Bondhita, meri taraf dekho.” Anirudh said, stopping the car.
She nodded her head negatively.
“ Mishti…..please, dekho idhar.” He said as he held her hand.
Sparks rushed throughout Bondhita’s body, forcing her to look at him.
“ Dekho Mishti, maine jo bhi kiya, who apne liye kiya. Mai yahi chahtatha ki tum acche se padh likh kar ek barrister bano meri tarah aur dekho, wahiho raha hai. Aur London jaana ek tarah se accha hi hua kyuki main wahan sebahut kuch seekh ke aaya hoon.” He said, wiping her tears.
“ Par….” Now it was Bondhita’s turn to be cut off in the between.
“ Kuch par nahi Mishti aur tum rona band karo please.” He said and she did stop crying.
“ Waise Calcatta mein Naukri mil jayegi na mujhe?” He asked jokingly,attempting to lighten her mood and started driving again.
“ Kya Anirudh babu, yeh kaisa sawaal hua? Wahan pe adaalat hai toh aapkoNaukri mile gi hi na.” She replied in sass.
“ Bas yeh wali Bondhita hi pasand hai mujhe…..woh rone wali nahi.” Heremarked and smiled, looking at the road in front.
Bondhita blushed.
Soon, they were at her maama’s place.
She got down from the car and ran to her maa shouting calling for her.
“ Maa.” She shouted while running.
“ Aaram se Mishti, gir jaogi.” She heard Anirudh say but was so excitedthat she did not obey and was about to slip because of water when Anirudh acted on his reflexes and saved her from falling by grabbing her waist.
“ Kya bola tha Mishti?” He asked raising an eyebrow as she timidly opened her eyes.
Due to such a close proximity, her heartbeat had rose rapidly.
“ Ab seedha chalogi?” Anirudh asked her and she just nodded, unable to form sentences.
He made her stand on her feet. At the very exact moment, her maami came out of the house.
“ Wah! Tulsipur ki museebat waapis aa gayi!” She remarked sarcastically.
Her maami’s and her relationship had always been like that, bitter- sweet while Anirudh had a certain dislike towards her and maamaji.
Bondhita still had no idea about getting married to the old man years back when Anirudh saved her from becoming a sati.
“ Haan maami, ab Tulsipur mujhe itna yaad kar raha tha ki aana hi pada.Kya karun?” She replied sassily.
“ Chal….ab aakar maami ke gale lag jaa.” She said and Bondhita obliged.
Her maami was a changed woman after she became naani. Technically seeing, she never hated Bondhita. She was just too selfish for her own daughter.
“ Maa kahan hai?” Bondhita asked.
“ Yahan hai maa.” Her mother said, coming out.
Anirudh went to greet her.
“ Kaise ho beta?” She asked him.
“ Ekdum theek maa. Aap kaise ho?” He asked back.
“ Yeh kya maa! Mai bhi toh aayi hoon….tum toh meri taraf dekh hi nahirahi ho. Sirf inse baat kar rahi ho.” Bondhita complained.
“ Who isliye Bondhita kyuki main tumhare saath itne din reh ke waapisaayi hoon yahan 15 din pehele. Anirudh ko main 3 saal baad mil rahi hoon.” Her maa replied.
“ Chalo ab andar, baaki baatein wahin karenge.” Maami said and the three of them walked in the house.
“ Maama kahan hain?” Bondhita asked.
“ Yeh kya rahe.” Maami replied, pointing to where maama was sitting and playing with Amal, Sampoorna’s son.
“ Amal!” Bondhita exclaimed.
“ Maasi!” He exclaimed and hugged me tightly.
Bondhita picked him up.
“ Kaisa ho beta? Aur maa kahan hai?” She asked him.
“ Main toh ekdum theek hoon! Aur maa bhi acchi hai. Aapki bahut yaadaayi. Aur yeh kaun hain?” He asked her.
“ Mujhe bhi aapki bahut yaad aayi beta. Aur yeh…..” Before she could introduce him to Anirudh, he took him in his arms.
“ Mai maasaji hoon tumhara. Kuch bhi chahiye na toh aa jana.” He replied, pecking his cheek.
“ Maami…..yeh ghar ke bahar nimbu kyu lagaaye hain?” Bondhita asked. She perfectly knew why but she just wanted to annoy maami now.
“ Bondhita….bas aate hi prashn karne shuru kar diye tune? Aisi kyu hai tu?”She sighed, frustrated.
“ Ab prashn kiya hai toh uttar bhi de do maami.” She remarked sarcastically and then her mother hit her slightly on her head.
“ Kyu re Bondhita….kyu tang karti rehti hai maami ko?” Her maa asked her.
“ Are karne do na maa, dekhne mein kitna aanand aata hai.” Anirudh spoke up this time.
“ Mishti, aur bolo. Tab tak bolti raho jab tak maami thak ke choor na hojaye.” Anirudh added.
“ Sotchi?” She asked.
Anirudh nodded his head in aa yes and she did what her husband told her to do!
It was fun.
Here is the chapter 2. Please tell me if you liked it or not! Motivates a lot to write and update frequently!!