Sorry for such a late update, so much happened in between. My PC was down and then I got it all repaired just yesterday (very happy about that cause my PC is almost my soulmate).
This chapter I really might get jhoota, chappal, tamatar everything and I won't complain. Keep them coming. I struggled to write it!
Hope someone enjoys.đł
_______________________________________________
CHAPTER 7
As much Bondita was shocked, Aniruddh was focused on the injustice happening. Even he got a dejavu of what happened a decade ago. Bonditaâs eyes were fixed on her husband who had held her engulfed in his arms giving her support in the same way he had been with her in all these years.
Aniruddh looked back at her, staring deep into her eyes caused even his orbs to tear up. But this wasnât the moment to be vulnerable, this was the moment of action. Aniruddh attacked the stage with the bamboo stick as Bondita in his arms took the lead.
âYeh nahi hoga! Nahi hone denge hum!â declared Aniruddh as he moved away from Bondita while she was still standing with the bamboo stick. Bondita moved closer to Aniruddh. Aniruddh turned to approach the altar to take care of the old hag while he saw someone coming to attack Bondita from behind. Aniruddh held her wrists and swung her behind him, while he snatched her bamboo stick from her and attacked the man back.
âAapki himmat kaisi hui Meri Bon-Biwi par waar karne ka!â asked Aniruddh in rage. Bondita nudged him and he turned to hear her whisper; âThis is not the time to care about that Aniruddh Babu.
Aniruddh moved to the altar to do the same what he did with the old man who wanted to marry his wife while Bondita moved towards the kid and took the child in her arms, safe from the evil hands of people who loathed girls in name of marriage.
âTum hamari amanat ko humse chheen nahi sakte! Aur karna kya chahte ho tum log?â asked a man from the crowd.
Bondita replied hastily; âYeh koi cheez ya amanat nahi hai kisi ki! Yeh ek Bacchi hai, ek ladki hai, ek insaan hai. Aur iss umar me shaadi? Use padne do, udne do! Woh kisi ki amanat nahi hai, woh khud apni hai, aur apne liye hi jeeyegi yeh!â
âKyu padna hai ladkiyo ko?â asked an old woman.
âYeh Uska Adhikar Hai..!!â Bondita yelled at the top of her noise. Aniruddh turned to take a look at her. He saw the fire in her eyes and face. He closed her eyes in satisfaction as he remembered the words he said that night which changed his life.
âArre kya pata kal yeh bacchi khud roshni bane, aur na sirf apni, balki aneko aurato ke jeevan me andhkaar ko dur kare! Aaj jo choti si chamak hai iske chehre par, kal woh suraj banke kitno ko raah dikha sakti hai, yeh aaj se jan sakte hai kya aap log?â
He was right. The little glow in her face had turned into a Woman who was in her full glory showing the path of progression and renaissance to so many ladies. He was so damn proud of her today. He had always been proud of her, but today beyond being a mentor or teacher, Aniruddh Roy Chowdhary was so damn proud of his wife, Bondita Roy Chowdhary.
She was asking for her right to all the people there, and his promises were being fulfilled, his oath was being fulfilled. Bondita was fulfilling it, and taking a look at her face filled his heart with more and more love for her each moment.
***
The Renaissance Society had took the girl to their residence where so many girls were enrolled by Aniruddh and Bondita and society changers like them and they were educated to become the promises of tomorrow. Aniruddh and Bondita had returned home and as they reached Bondita rushed to her room. Aniruddh couldnât help but follow. He needed to confront with his wife and clear the fog between them.
Bondita was standing near the wardrobe taking out her clothes. It was nearing evening, the fight with those orthodox morons had really cost them a day and both of them were tired, but beyond the physical tiredness they had, both were mentally tired. One in the guilt of ruining a personâs life whom she couldnât ever thank enough, and one being restless at the thought of his wife flinching away from him.
âBondita!â Aniruddh called out and Bondita instantly turned to see Aniruddh standing at the doorstep of their room. Aniruddh instantly traced the silver lining of tears in her eyes and it pricked his heart.
âKuch, chahiye aapko Aniruddh Babu?â asked Bondita, fluttering her eyelashes, trying to keep the tears inside, but it spilled all over, bathing her cheeks. Aniruddh instinctively walked upto her and cupped her cheeks. Bondita gasped at the sudden contact.
Aniruddh almost in an inaudible tone, asked her; âTum theek ho? You fine?â Bondita turned her head to her side feeling his breath fanning over her face. She nodded reluctantly.
His wife has always been a bad liar.
âBondita...â He called out, turning her face to him holding her chin. âYou have to tell me today, whatâs bothering you. What-you said you heard something. What did you hear Bondita? Tell me, what did you hear? I canât bear all this anymore. Donât hurt yourself like this, tell me... please?â Aniruddh almost begged to her, his eyes announcing how desperate he was to hold her close, to lock her in his arms forever, keeping her away from every possible danger or even the shadow of it.
âAniruddh Babu... I,â- âShh.. Wait.â Aniruddh interrupted as he lead her to the bed and settled her in the bed and sat beside. âNow tell me.â He said.
Bondita shifted from her position a bit before starting; âI, I had heard your conversation with Saudamini Didi that day. How you... you both loved each other but couldnât marry because I-â Bondita took a sharp breath. Aniruddh opened his mouth to say something but Bondita gestured him to be quiet and he couldnât be nothing but shocked to the core. âPlease donât interrupt me, Aniruddh Babu. Let me speak. I heard that day, when I arrived. How you both wanted to marry but you had to break her heart because, because of... me coming in between you both.â She sobbed before continuing. âTrust me Aniruddh Babu, I never had that intention and you know that. I didnât even knew about this until 3 days ago. And it hurts, it really hurts to know you snatched away the happiness of that very person because of whom you are alive now.â Bondita slapped her hands against her forehead; âWhat a blunder did I do! But Aniruddh Babu, now as I am aware of it, let me tell you, I canât keep you caged like this. I know both of you love each other and, and I donât want to be an obstacle in between you. I have did enough. Remember how I took the place of Saudamini Didi on that swing on the night of our marriage, I couldnât decipher why you were angry but now I can. If I knew, I would have never done that.â
Aniruddh flinched at the mention of that incident. He was so guilty about shouting at a child like that. Poor girl didnât knew anything. But how come Bondita perceived everything in a completely different angle? He wanted to say so many things but he couldnât because of Bonditaâs request to stay quiet until she finished. His heart broke again and again, seeing her so vulnerable, so hurt, so broken.
âSo many things I couldnât decipher then, I can now and now I understand what an idiot I was. I wonât blame myself much because I was a kid back then. But now, I am an adult, I am well aware. I canât let the man I lo-uh-admire so much, to be hurt and live a life which he doesnât want. I am letting you free, Aniruddh Babu. You do not have to feel entitled to me or your responsibilities. You can choose the life you want.â Bondita finished, wiping her tears which started flowing furiously now. Aniruddhâs eyes softened at the sight but then he put on a cold face and crossed his arms across his chest.
âOh Really? You let me choose the life I want?â He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bondita nodded lightly looking down. Aniruddh could understand how much she despise his idea but then this selfless woman who calls herself his wife, just couldnât force herself on him. Suddenly her head shot up and Aniruddh looked at her questioningly.
âUske pehle me aapse kuch kehna chahti hu Anirru- Pati Babu.â Aniruddh scrunched his eyebrows, confused of how she called her Pati Babu when she refrained from calling it the whole day. âEk aakhri baar aapko...â her voice faltered as she continued. âaapko pati babu bula lun me.â She said looking down causing more tears to fall down. But she had to do this. She had to confess to him, she couldnât just leave letting all her emotions to be bottled up inside. Being his wife for ten long years, she had this right, being Bondita Roy Chowdhary for a decade and more, gave her that right. She knew that and she would use it.
âI want to say this to you Pati Babu. Otherwise I wonât be able to live in peace.â She said as her voice shivered. She knew either way she wonât be able to live in peace without him. But she continued; âI know, I know I would have been just a picture with a garland on it if not for you! If you hadnât... I thank you, for that. You... had always been my side, from the past ten years, you always took care of my needs. You kept me happy, you have me everything I wanted, I.. I thank you for that. You taught me so many values, lessons and instilled a powerful mindset in me, you really gave me life lessons, Pati Babu, Thank you for that.â Bondita said with a faint smile. Aniruddh just looked at her with the same confused face. Bondita wiped her tears away before taking his hands in hers and keeping it close to her chest, to herself as she continued;
âBut you taught me something precious than all that Pati Babu. All the other things you taught me, anyone could have! It wouldnât be the way you did, but they could. But this, only you could have taught me, only you.â Bondita said, whispering the last word.
âWhat?â asked Aniruddh.
Bondita replied, âPyaar. Love, Pati Babu. You taught me how to love, whom to love. If not for you, I would have never experienced that aesthetic feeling, which makes your heartbeats erratic, which causes butterflies in your stomach, when your smile is depended on their smile and happiness. If not for you...â she nodded her head negatively.
âYou...â Aniruddh trailed off. Bondita continued; âAs much as I hate to admit this, I have to. I cannot leave without admitting this. I have came to love you, Pati Babu. I fell for you, hard and hopeless. I love you, Pati Babu.â
âYou..?â Aniruddh asked in disbelief.
Bondita placed a chaste kiss on his knuckles, as his hands were still in hers and she whispered keeping her face against his hands; âBondita Roy Chowdhary loves you, Aniruddh Roy Chowdhary.â Aniruddh couldnât believe his ears. This woman, whom he madly love just confessed she loves him too was ready to leave him for his happiness. His heart jumped around at the thought of her reciprocating his feelings.
âBut I canât tie you in this bond where you-â He didnât let Bondita finish, instead he took her little form into his arms, and he hid her face in her nape, taking her fragrance in, taking whole of her in, feeling her, feeling his wife, the woman who loved him like anything.
A crazy girl who lived between his heartbeats.
__________________________________________________________
How was it people who lives in between my heartbeats? <3
I personally love the last line, I had heard it somewhere I guess.
This story will end in 3-4 updates maximum. So brace up to say bye guys! đ
Tell me in the COMMENTS how was the update. Please Vote and Do do do do COMMENT cause it really really means a lot..!! It inspires me to write more.
Thanks for all those amazingly sweet comments you guys left in last update, it really means the world to me.â¤ď¸
Now I am gonna sleep, you guys - READ, VOTE, COMMENT, then sleepđł
Love,
Sujz!â¤ď¸
Edited by Sujz - 5 years ago