Chapter 23: Changing Times, Changing Ties
A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for all the love you showered in the last chapter. We are truly overwhelmed. Now time is flying in the story as well. Midway through this chapter, we have taken a 6-month leap, during which time a lot has changed. I hope you enjoy all the new relationship dynamics.
Do let us know in the comments. They truly mean a lot to us.
Also, a reminder that we posted in the previous chapter's A/N as well: Due to Ramadan and work responsibilities, we may not be able to post chapters every Friday. We are not going on a hiatus… but the gap between chapters may increase. We will try our level best to not break the rhythm though…But if it happens, please excuse us and stay tuned for the story ahead!
Love
Ashley and Ayesha
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22nd January 1943, Roy Chaudhary Kothi
Batuk brought a distraught Tapur back to the Kothi, and making her sit on a sofa, he quickly went to fetch water for her.
When he returned after a few seconds, he noticed that Tupur had joined her sister on the sofa as well and was trying to soothe her. One look at Tupur’s face told Batuk that she knew what had just happened at the Haveli as well.
After making Tapur drink the water, he kneeled in front of her, and holding her hands gently, he said in an agonized whisper,
"I am so sorry Tapur… mere bhai aur kaka… I am sorr… Mm… mujhe maaf ker dou please."
Tapur had gone completely numb when Som had called her a Daaghdaar Ladki. Suddenly, all the bitterness of her past had crept in, making her want to die again and again.
She was so disturbed that she couldn't even control how her body had started trembling.
Her mind was telling her not to give satisfaction to Som and make him pompously believe that his words mattered to her. But she just couldn't control herself.
She was so traumatized that she felt as if she would just fall down and crumble in front of those tyrants when two strong arms pulled her against a solid, firm body that oozed nothing but warmth and compassion.
It was Batuk Roy Chaudhary… an enemy who had turned into her ally.
In any normal circumstance, Tapur would never have welcomed such a gesture from any man, let alone him!
But here, she was just so thankful to him for lending his support, not only physically, but verbally also.
She heard everything he had said to his brother. She couldn't understand some of those words, but just from the way he was holding her so protectively, she could have said he was defending her!
And then he called her his sister!
She didn't know why, but she felt as if Som had taken Chandrachur's form and had undressed her in front of so many people.
And then, suddenly, someone put a chaadar on her head to sheathe her completely from the vicious people in the outside world.
She didn't know why she wanted to weep at that point.
She recalled how initially he used to treat her and Tupur with haughty disdain. Not to mention all the planning and plotting that he had done, the complete havoc he had wrought, to separate her from Bondita Didi, to cause Bondita Didi pain. Tapur and Tupur had become collateral damage once again, and that feeling of being dehumanised had left both of them completely hurt and angry.
But after he got ill, things started changing between them.
The day he first tried to apologize to her, calling her Tupur all the while, reinforcing their opinion that he did indeed consider them as less than human, Tapur’s anger and frustration had caused her to lose her temper and yell at him.
But after that day, Batuk had humbly and sincerely tried to apologize to her and had shown nothing but courteous behaviour whenever they were in the same room.
She didn't show him any warmth or friendliness in reciprocation, but she always noticed how nice he had gotten with them.
She had seen two extremely different kinds of men in her life.
First, there was the misfortune to meet vultures like Chandrachur, and then, his complete opposite, she had found a sweet brother in the form of Anirudh.
But Batuk was different.
He once had been like a predator to her before, in fact, worse than a predator, someone who had simply treated them as pawns to be used in his grand plan of revenge. But the later events made him turn into a mixture of kindness and humanity!
From an indifferent relative to a cruel monster, he had now become a compassionate stranger to her…
A well-known stranger!
A stranger who had tried to respectfully gain the place of an acquaintance time and again.
Initially, she hadn’t wanted to accept it, but he really had turned quite sweet…
He almost always had a vulnerable look in his eyes… as if he truly held himself guilty for all his misdeeds against the two sisters. And his overall mannerism… it all just, without her ever wanting this to happen, thawed her heart bit by bit over time.
Even though he had returned to the haveli, she was still treating both him and his father, and hence frequently visited. And although Tapur was still not very friendly with him, she noticed him thoroughly.
He would always rise up from his chair to welcome her, and would always ask her for refreshments. He used to behave like a true gentleman, and a gracious human being too.
His good behaviour not only extended to her but to Tupur also. However, both Tapur and Tupur continued to be wary of him.
For Tapur, the change in opinion about Batuk came slowly and gradually.
But it all had changed one day for Tupur when Batuk was driving in his jeep and saw her walking on the road.
He had stopped the vehicle immediately. And instead of asking her from his driving seat, he showed some basic manners and courtesy, got down and asked if he could drop her somewhere.
Tupur got confused. She had been fasting and was going to a mandir a few kilometres away.
One look at her pale face and Batuk insisted on driving her there.
She was very reluctant. She had seen a pile of ledgers in his jeep and had understood that he was going out for some important official work.
But when he insisted in such an… "Anirudh-like" manner, she didn't know how she agreed and got in the jeep with him.
Once they reached the mandir, she profusely thanked him. He asked her how she would return, and she told him that it would take a while because she had some special puja in the mandir.
After that, he hadn't said anything and she also went inside.
After almost an hour and a half, when she came out of the mandir again, she saw him standing next to his jeep, talking to a tall, handsome man who appeared to be a friend of his.
Tupur was completely taken aback. She hadn't expected to see him there at all.
Feeling overwhelmed, she reached him and called him out softly,
"Batuk babu"
As both the men turned towards her, Batuk smiled and said,
"Oh Tupur, tum aagayee! Good. Mien tumhara hi…'' stopping himself short, he then quickly changed the topic and said,
"Uhh Tupur, yeh mera dost hai SD, uhmm… I mean, Siddharth Devesh Chakravorty. Yeh mere aur Bondita ke school ka sathi hai. Aur Siddharth, yeh Bondita ki behen hai, Tupur Das."
Siddharth's gaze had been fixed on her face all through the introductions. Feeling self-conscious, she drew her ghunghat tighter to hide her scar, nodded towards him in acknowledgement, and was about to leave when Batuk asked quickly,
"Tupur, tum free hogai kia? Uhhmm mien ghar hi janay wala tha… tou mien hi tumhe chhod deta hun kothi tak."
This remark made Siddharth snap out of his reverie too. Shaking Batuk's hand and passing another appreciative glance towards Tupur, he promised to see them later. And then, he left.
As Batuk went towards the passenger's seat to open the door for Tupur, instead of entering, she looked into his eyes deeply and asked softly,
"Batuk babu, aap gaye kyun nahi thay?"
To her amazement, she saw his ears turning red as he gulped nervously and without meeting her eyes, said,
"Woh…uhh…asal mein yahan.. uhh… aik client… haan cc…client aanay walay thay tou…" and then, as if trying to prove his claims, he gestured towards a nearby market and said mindlessly,
"Woh wahan… milne walay thay…mager… uhhh…woh aye hi nahi. Mien.. umm… mien yahan unka hi wait… I mean… intizar ker raha tha. Phir mujhe ittefaq se Siddharth mil gaya, tou mien uss se baat kerne laga."
A knowing look appeared in her eyes as a small smile crept to her lips.
Apart from Anirudh Jamai babu, no other man had shown any kind of gallantry to her… and now this nervous silly boy was trying to walk in his brother's shoes too!
He didn't even realize it, but his gallantry and chivalrous gestures only made him resemble his brother Anirudh more and more! And this warmed her heart very much.
They had stayed quiet on the way back home, but when he had stopped the jeep outside the Kothi, he had gotten out to open her side of the door and helped her out too.
As she was entering the Kothi's gate, she turned around and found him getting back in the driver's seat.
With a teasing smile, she called him out,
"Batuk Babu…"
When he looked up in response, she just bit her smile, and heading towards him, she extended her hand.
Perplexed, he extended his hand too in response, and his eyes widened when he saw her opening his palm and putting some Prashad in it as she said teasingly,
"Agli baar mujhe mandir chodne aao aur mera intizar kerna ho, aur ittefaq se koi dost bhi na milay samay bitaane ke liye, tou mandir ke ander hi ajana. Bhagwaan khaa nahi jayenge aapko."
She had caught his lie!!
Batuk turned red in embarrassment, but a sheepish smile bloomed on his face as he saw Tupur laughing. And then, ruffling his hair lightly, she said with the smile shining in her eyes,
"Dhanyawad, Batuk babu."
The smile never left his lips as he saw her returning inside.
He had always found her very soft-spoken, but he could feel the frigidity in her stance for him even without her ever raising her voice on him.
But now, he could sense warmth and genuine affection for himself in her stance and his heart was overjoyed.
He had wronged both these sisters so much. And believed that he had hurt them beyond repair. But it seemed that the damage was not irreparable.
A genuine and sincere effort from his side thawed Tupur's heart for him.
And now, after everything that happened in the haveli a while ago, he had managed to melt Tapur's heart completely too.
Watching him so humbly kneeling in front of her and apologizing with all the remorse in the world, something just clicked within Tapur's being as she stirred.
She had stopped trembling now. Looking down at his hands that were holding hers, she didn't try to extract them from his gentle grasp.
She didn't feel any repulsion from this man!
Heaving a deep sigh, she looked for the right words, and then said,
"Batuk Babu… doosron ke gunaah ki maafi aap kyun maang rhe hai?"
Batuk looked into her eyes. They were getting calm now. The storms that he had seen in them a while ago had started to settle down. He realized that the iron lady had eventually braved it all out!
He felt so proud of her at that moment!
Squeezing her hands gently, he managed a wounded smile as he mumbled,
"Mager Tapur, woh hain tou mere apne hi na! Pehle hi miene tumhien kam dukh diya hai jo abh woh loag bhi… aur woh bhi aik baar nahi… baar baar. I swear Tapur… mere liye tum mien aur meri behen Shashu mien koi difference… I mean… farq nahi hai. Unhone meri Shashu ko bhi hurt kia hai… meri Boudi ko bhi… aur abh woh tumhien bhi baar baar zakham dete hain… I don't like it! I … mujhe nahi accha lagta."
Hearing his sincerely spoken words, the storm that had been brewing in her heart and was ready to tear her entire existence apart, settled down. Her heart which had broken into so many pieces finally felt like getting restructured.
And this time, a genuine smile came to her lips. She again looked down at his hands grasping hers, and her fingers tightened around him.
He noticed the movement. His eyes looked at their hands too, and then, his gaze met her bright eyes that were now shining with unshed tears. With a wobbly smile, she said,
"Aap ko pata hai Batuk babu, aap mien aur un dono mien kia farq hai?"
When he shook his head, she said,
"Aap ka zameer zinda hai abhi. "
Noticing how his eyes narrowed on her claim, she realized that he didn't understand her. And so, she thought for a few moments, and then said,
"Aap ko apni ghalti pehchan’na aur phir usko sudhaarna aata hai. Jabki aapke Kaka aur Daaktar babu ko ghaltion per datay rehna, jamay rehna hi aata hai. Woh aap ke apne tou hain, lekin aap un jaise nahi hain. Balki aap apne Anirudh dada jaise hain."
When Batuk grinned on hearing this, Tapur's smile deepened too as she said,
"Aap ki apne Anirudh dada se sirf shakal hi nahi milty, balki aap ka dil bhi unke jaisa hai. Aur isi wajeh se aap dono ka chahay kitna hi khoon ka rishta kyun na ho aap ke kaka aur Somnath babu se, aap loag un jaise nahi ho sakte. Iss liye, unke buray bartaav ki maafi bhi aap ko maangne ki zarurat nahi hai."
Batuk was happy and surprised to hear all this. Any other woman in her place would have shouted, cried, swooned, or had thrown objects at him.
But here, Tapur was showing strength and immense grace, and Batuk couldn't help but smile proudly as he thought,
Bondita boudi ki behen bhi unki hi terha ki hai… Strong… Brave… Decent!
Before he could respond, he felt Tupur gently holding his arms, making him stand up from his kneeling position.
And then, he heard her say in her ever sweet voice,
"Tapur sahi keh rhy hai. Aur jitna samman hum Anirudh Jamai babu ka kerte hain, aap ka bhi kerne lagay hain."
When Batuk looked at her in disbelief, she smiled and nodded to confirm that he had heard it all right!
She had to go to the nearby marketplace to get some things, and she had gone to the haveli to ask Bondita and Sampoorna if they needed anything too. But there, she heard most of what transpired between the Two Roy Chaudharys and her sister. She would have meddled there and then but then she saw how Binoy, Batuk, and Anirudh had ended up supporting her sister. She saw how Anirudh finished off both those two errant people, and how Batuk had taken Tapur away.
She was… just like Bondita, completely overwhelmed with emotions at such a display of "Right vs. Wrong" within the Roy Chaudhary clan.
She adored and respected this family. And like anyone, she also didn't like it when people within the families fought.
But this was necessary!
And she couldn't feel anything but thankful at the way Anirudh and especially Batuk stood for the right. It wasn't any surprise from Anirudh - he always stood by the right.
But having all the verbal and physical support from Batuk came as a very pleasant surprise.
She hoped that the family's internal matters would sort out soon. But right now, she had to show the Younger Roy Chaudhary brother their gratitude and trust in him from this time forward.
And so, wiping his tears that he himself didn't know that he had shed, she beamed at him and Tapur, and just said,
"Sab sahi hojayega. Mager mujhe pata chala hai ki Batuk Babu ke pait mien choohay daud rhe hain. Unka kuch ilaaj bhi tou kerna chahiye na!"
As if to confirm, his tummy made a loud, rumbling sound exactly at that moment, much to Batuk's embarrassment, making Tapur cackle, Tupur gasp, and then, causing all three of them to burst into laughter!
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22nd January 1943, Roy Chaudhary Haveli, 11:00 pm
"Oh my!!!" Mallika gasped on the phone and then started laughing crazily.
She had to stop to catch a breath, and then she finally managed to speak,
"Ohh Batuk! Tum aur tumhara pait! Hamesha ghalat waqt per hi awaz kerte hain! Remember, that time jab…"
Before Mallika could finish her sentence, she let go of a fresh peal of laughter. Batuk, who was basking in the glory of hearing that rich, wholesome laughter from the other side of the phone immediately understood what she meant to say.
It was a strange habit of his stomach to make loud, rumbling noises right after they engaged in extremely pleasurable sex.
They had laughed about it many times before also, and tonight too, Batuk couldn't stop himself from joining Mallika in her laughter riot…
Exactly as before!
It took her several minutes to regain her composure and get sober. Suddenly feeling a strange emotion, she realized how intimately they knew each other… before everything fell apart.
Her laughter completely vanished as she quietened down.
Everything fell apart because I had started expecting more from him.
She felt a pang in her heart at this thought. However, she quickly tried to restore her mood by reminding herself,
"Even if we are not lovers anymore, at least I am his friend. He likes to talk to me and share his stuff with me. I should be thankful for this only…right?"
Trying to boost herself, she endeavoured to restore her mood and focused on being his "good friend" only now.
Trying to get back to what he had told her, with a lingering smile on her lips, she said softly,
"But I am glad Batuk… Jo kuch tumhare Kaka aur Som dada ne kia, woh theek tou nahi tha. Mager jo kuch tum ne kia, aur kaha… I am so proud of you. You really did a great job!"
The unsaid reference to their sexual life had suddenly made Batuk remember many other things…
His heart yearned for her proximity some more.
And his body also started aching to feel her softness against himself all over again.
He had been trying to keep all those emotions at bay since they had decided to renew their friendship.
He had not expressed it to her, and he didn't dare to tell this to himself too, but he missed her very much… They regularly talked to each other on the phone, and they had found an emotional intimacy like never before…
But he needed her beyond emotions too…
He craved her…
Physically!
There was something very profound that he had found with Mallika only.
In the past, when he used to feel that his need for Mallika was increasing, he used to break the cycle by cheating on her.
But he knew deep in his heart that what he found with other girls was just sexual gratification.
But with Mallika, it used to be so much more.
He never wanted to address those feelings and emotions back then.
But now… He didn't know why even the thought of being physical with anyone else used to make him feel… absolutely nothing!
He had tried to keep all these feelings from Mallika. He knew she was just looking for a friend in him now. And he had promised her that he would become that friend in her life on whom she could lean whenever in need of support.
He didn't want to break her trust now by telling her that he craved to become more than her friend again.
He didn't want to taint their friendship by mixing it with something else.
And so, trying hard to shut his heart up, he shifted all his focus on what she was saying.
Her soft voice full of appreciation for him made his heart want to lose its control once again. But then, acknowledging that Batuk wasn't ready to give in to those demands, his heart just decided to suppress those feelings again.
However, her words did warm his heart and make it feel giddy.
Smiling goofily as if he was a child whose parent was extremely happy with their results, he finally replied,
"Thank you, Mallika. Tapur bechari buht disturb hogai thy. I had to do it for her."
The smile never leaving her voice, she added,
"And you made her your sister."
Shaking his head, he too smiled as he replied,
"Well… yes… Woh Boudi ki aur Dada ki behen hai, tou technically meri bhi hai."
After a moment's silence, Mallika asked in an incredulous tone,
"I am curious, Batuk… And surprised too. I mean, I have known you for a while lekin miene tumko kabhi girls ko behen, boudi type ki nazar se dekhte hue nahi dekha. I mean… chalo, Shashu aur Bondita ki baat alag hai. Mager ager Tapur problem mien na hoty, tou kia tum phir bhi uske liye aise hi sochte? I mean… kia phir bhi tum usko behen hi maante?"
Contemplating his answer, after a few moments, he replied,
"Well… shayad pehle nahi. Mager abh jab se miene behen aur boudi ke roop ko qareeb se dekha aur feel kia hai, thanks to Shashu and Boudi, aur Sampoorna maa ke roop mien maa ko feel kia hai… tabb se I think, mera auraton ko dekhne ka nazariya badal sa gaya hai. Abh mujhe aurton mien yehi teen roop nazar atay hain… aur kuch nahi."
Mallika thought for a while as her heart started beating a little faster than before.
Ager yeh aurton ki izzat kerne laga hai…tou kia yeh abh unko zarurat ki nazar se nahi dekhta?
She wondered. A small part of her heart felt happy that he probably wasn't just going out and indulging in mindless sex with random girls at clubs and bars.
But a major part of her heart sank too, as she wondered out aloud,
"Kia sab hi aurton ke liye abh tum aisa feel kerte ho? I mean… Kia tum abh… I mean…"
Her reluctance was not lost on Batuk. And he understood perfectly well what she meant to ask.
The feelings that he had suppressed in his heart with so much difficulty just a little while ago resurfaced with a force that shook his entire core.
Feeling giddy all over again, his heartbeats accelerated, and he replied to her in a voice thick with an unknown emotion,
"Mien sirf aik hi ladki ke liye abh kuch aur, kuch different feel kerta hun, Mallika."
His tone…his words…
And the way he had said them!
It was all magical!
All of it created a hazy mist of heat that was acutely felt by both the individuals on the phone.
Both their hearts skipped millions of beats as a heavy, meaningful silence filled the atmosphere on both ends.
Both of them would have remained stuck in this heat if someone had not banged on Batuk's door.
Snapping out of the reverie, he straightened, and said apologetically,
"I think Mallika, Big D meri dawai le ker aye hain. Aaj jo sab kuch hua, uski wajeh se I was at the Kothi with Tapur and Tupur most of the time. Iss liye mien deir se aaya aur dawai reh gai."
Mallika also shuddered from the magic that Batuk had created between them a few moments ago.
Straightening up, trying to compose herself and pretending to ignore everything, she said quickly,
"Haan… Haan… Batuk. Jao… Umm… I will talk to you tomorrow… theek hai?"
"Yeah, theek hai… Good night Mallika… "
When the call ended, she didn't move for a while. The phone receiver still clutched in her hand, she splayed it across her chest. Sighing, she whispered one name,
"Batuk…"
On the other end, Batuk also stayed immobile for a while. Slowly placing the receiver back in the cradle, he picked up her locket that was lying open on his nightstand. Running the tip of his finger over Mallika's picture, he whispered,
"Mallika…"
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22nd July 1943, 12:30 a.m., Roy Chaudhary Haveli
"Oh, God! Aaj buht zyada thak gaya hun mien!", Batuk said with a groan, as he stretched his arms out and flopped onto one of the cots lying in the courtyard.
After nearly 7 months, Tapur had finally completed Binoy's treatment, with only periodic maintenance required. The treatment had worked better than expected, giving him a second chance at life that led to a change in his perspective. He was now determined to live his life to the fullest, devoting all his time to his family. “His family” now also included Tapur and Tupur. His gratitude towards Tapur, who gave him this new life, led him to grow extremely fond of her. Over time, this fondness also extended to Tupur, and he had practically adopted them, a sentiment reciprocated by the fatherless girls.
The family had decided to celebrate his recovery by throwing a party. And since the party was in Binoy's honour, his family had decided to make it a British styled party, just as he liked. The party had been a grand success, but the youngsters were in no mood to end the celebration just yet and had given in to Batuk's idea of gathering in the courtyard for the "after-party"
"Achha?" Tapur asked, all false innocence as she and Tupur took their seats on the other cot opposite the one Batuk was spread out on. "Mager jab se hum aaye hai humne tou aapko koi tayyari kerte nahi dekha Batuk Babu? Jashn shuru hone ke baad hi neeche aaye? Phir itna kaise thak gaye?"
His eyes widened, and throwing his hands in air, he exclaimed,
"Kaise thak gaya!!! Matlab!!! Yaaaar!!!!
"Sabse important kaam mien hi tou ker raha tha ghar mein!" Batuk said with sham indignance.
And then he added, completely exasperated, "Aap sab neeche party ki tayyari ker rahe thay tab mien upar Rudhi aur Aaru ko sambhaal raha tha. Baap re!!!! Yeh koi kamm mushkil kaam tha kia?"
As Tapur and Tupur started laughing at his remarks, he stretched some more on the cot, and holding his head in his hand, he added more details to his mock complaints,
"Arey mien tou heiran hun inn dono se. Itne chhote say hain, mager bhai… Poora nacha ker rakh dete hain!"
As Tapur and Tupur rolled out in a fit of laughter over how he was so dramatically saying all this about the children who were actually his lifelines, he shook his head and said,
"Aap loag nahi samajh sakty meri kia haalat ki hai inn dono ne aaj. Arey jab se crawl kerna sikhe hai dono, rukte hi nahi hai! Bas floor pe rakha nahi ke shuru ho jaate hai… Kabhi bed ke neeche, kabhi table ke neeche, kabhi yahan, kabhi wahan. Aur aik ko pakda tou doosra bhaagne lagta hai… Aur cot mein rakho tou chillana shuru… Pata nahi itni energy aati kahan se hai dono mein. Apne mamma-papa ke jaise Gunde bann gaye hai dono!"
He was so engrossed in the detailed accounting that he missed how Tapur and Tupur had straightened up suddenly, and how they tried to contain their giggles. He also missed how Tapur had tried to subtly gesture at him to hit the brake pedal and look behind too!
However, his tongue got tied the minute he heard a stern voice interjecting,
"Gunde?"
He knew he was doomed!
Instantly sitting up, he gulped hard. Without even turning he knew that his Big D and Boudi were standing at the back door of the Haveli.
From Big D's tone even, he could fathom the kind of identical glares they must be wearing on their faces.
Sampoorna was also standing at the door and was passing sympathetic glances to Batuk, while Tapur and Tupur were trying really hard to not let out their giggles.
He looked at them helplessly, and his expressions made it harder for them to control their mirth.
Narrowing his eyes, he glared at them, and gestured to them conveying effectively an empty threat that "Okay bacchhoo!! Tum dono ko tou mien baad mien dekhta hun!" When it didn't scare them at all, resignedly sighing, he finally turned around to drown in the ghadda that he had dug for himself!!
Without meeting Anirudh and Bondita's eyes, he started,
"Woh… Big D, Boudi, mien tou bas… mien sirf itna… I was saying that…" he stuttered, looking down at his feet, trying to figure out how to escape their ire.
Anirudh and Bondita took one look at the stammering Batuk, then at Tapur and Tupur who had now wide smirks on their faces, and then at each other before bursting into laughter, unable to carry on the charade.
Tapur, Tupur and Sampoorna also joined in the laughter, followed shortly by Batuk himself. The new arrivals also sat down on adjacent cots.
"Waise, gundo ki baat ker hi rahe thay, tou hai kahan dono?" Tupur asked Bondita.
"Maa aur Thakuma ke paas hai abhi. Aaj wahi pe soyenge." Bondita answered with a smile.
Ever since the twins had started sleeping through the night, most of the family often volunteered to keep them for the night. This was something that Anirudh and Bondita were happy about since the babies got accustomed to being with the other family members, which would help them once Bondita returned to work. Not to mention, they got more uninterrupted time for themselves.
Raising his arms in the air as if thanking the Lord, thudding back on the cot tiredly, Batuk said,
"Thank God Thaku maa aur Sumati aunty are back from their tirth. Koi tou hai iss ghar mien jo unn dono badmaashon ko control ker sakta hai! Baap re!!!"
Anirudh and Bondita laughed at Batuk's nautanki as Bondita asked curiously,
"Waise Batuk, tumko kyun lagta hai ki Maa aur Thaku maa se sambhal jayeinge woh dono? I mean, jo kaam unke SUUUUUUPER CHACHU ko mushkil laga, woh un dono becharion ko kaise asaan lagay ga?"
Batuk looked at his boudi and teasingly quipped,
"Well… Jo loag TUMHIEN sambhaal sakte thay boudi, woh dunia ke KISI bhi terha ke bacchay ko sambhaal sakte hain. I mean… Boudi, " stifling his laughter at Bondita's thunderous expressions, he added something that he had picked from Mallika, and said, "Don't mind, jee, mager Boudi, you really were a handful as a kid!"
His mouth shut as a cushion landed directly on his face. But even that cushion could not control his sharp crackle of laughter. And watching him, even Tapur and Tupur joined him.
Even Anirudh couldn't hold back his mirth, and when Bondita glared at him and mouthed, "Aap bhi, Pati babu?" He shrugged and whispered, "Well… ghalat tou nahi hai. You were quite a handful, Bondita!"
Batuk and Tapur Tupur heard this and their laughter intensified. Although Tapur Tupur couldn't understand the language, they still got the gist just by looking at Bondita's irritated and Anirudh's teasing expressions.
Adding fuel, Sampoorna also chimed in to tease Bondita a little more, "Waise Bondita…baat tou sahi hai. Tum thyn tou buht shararti… aur tumhare tark! Baapa re! Poore gaanv mien bhonchal aur Anirudh bechare ke ghar mien tou bhukambh hi laa ker rakhty thyn. Aur abh tumhare bacchay bhi tumhare jaise hi nikal rhe hain. Aik damm khatarnak!"
Watching her dramatic expressions and hearing her deliberately exaggerated accounting, everyone burst into another round of silly laughter. Bondita first pouted to show her irritation, but then she couldn't stop herself from joining them too.
They were all pulling her leg, and she knew that none of them were serious. It was all good-natured jesting that was happening after a thoroughly eventful day and a blockbuster party.
It was all happening because they were all extremely happy in their hearts, and wanted to extend the moments of happiness some more by adding laughter to them…
Her heart filled with warmth as she thought,
Iss ghar ne buht saray aansu dekhe hain. Abh is ghar mien hassi goonjne ki baari hai.
Finally, when everyone sobered down, Batuk glanced at Tapur Tupur and asked,
"Accha, tum dono batao… yeh shehri-style ki party kaisi lagy? You guys enjoyed na? I mean… accha laga na tum dono ko??"
When they both replied to him excitedly how much they loved the party, Batuk glanced at Tupur and teasingly said,
"Haan haan Tupur jee, aap ko tou buht maza aaya hi hoga. SD aur Vardaan jo aye hue thay!"
His remark caught everyone's attention and they started smiling meaningfully while Tupur turned red and whispered,
"Kia Batuk babu… aap bhi."
Looking at Anirudh, Batuk winked. He had introduced Tupur and Siddharth a few months ago when he had met him in the Tulsipur marketplace out of the blue.
Siddharth Devesh Chakravorty was his and Bondita's school friend who had moved to Calcutta and had settled there.
Finding an old friend after so long was definitely amazing, and he had invited him to the haveli also to meet Bondita.
But Siddharth had met Tupur again instead, about which Batuk came to know later.
Siddharth had met Tupur coincidentally at the mandir where he had taken his 3 years old son, Vardaan too. His son was asking him curiously why Durga maa sat on a lion. Tupur was behind them, and she had recognized Siddharth as Batuk's friend too. Finding his son's curiosity very cute, she waited for Siddharth's reply to him. However, when he stuttered, clearly indicating that he didn't know much about it all, she couldn't control herself from interjecting.
Siddharth was first surprised, but he found her very soft-spoken and sweet.
And apparently, so did Vardaan!
That day, Vardaan had found a great friend in Tupur, and Siddharth absolutely loved how they both bonded over mythological details from the scriptures.
He had lost his wife 2 years ago and had been raising his son alone in Calcutta while handling his business.
Feeling extremely lonely and finding it difficult to manage a 3-years old child who needed all his attention, he had decided to come back to his native place, Tulsipur. He had hoped to reconnect with old friends and he was lucky to get back in touch with Batuk.
However, his son had not dealt so well with the changed surroundings and had become quite reserved and cranky.
When he told his problem to Batuk on phone, he invited Siddharth and Vardaan to his place again, citing that the Roy Chaudharys had a lot of kids of different sizes and ages and Vardaan could have a great time with them all.
Before going to the haveli, he had come to the mandir though, and finding Tupur there had turned into a happy coincidence.
When he told Tupur that he was on his way to the Roy Chaudhary haveli, she had also exclaimed happily that Vardaan would have an excellent time there with all the kids.
That meeting was not their last!
Vardaan definitely loved the Roy Chaudhary haveli, and he started urging his father to bring him there often… but surprisingly, his major interest did not lie in playing with the kids.
In fact, to Siddharth's surprise, Vardaan insisted on meeting Tupur as he loved how sweetly she used to tell him amazing stories… and how nicely she treated him always.
The two developed a special bond that both Batuk and Siddharth had noticed.
And Batuk also noticed how fixated even Vardaan's father was with Tupur too.
He was very interested to know about Tupur's previous husband and everything about her.
Batuk had caught him watching her with admiration and an inexplicable expression on multiple occasions. And, after giving it a thought, he decided to take matters into his own hand as he directly and bluntly told him,
"Siddharth, Tupur meri behen hai. Ager tum uske liye kuch special feel kerte ho tou tum mujhe bata sakte ho. Mager dhyaan rahay… meri behen ne apni life mien buht dukh dekhe hain. Only if you are serious, tou hi agay badhne ka sochna. Warna nahi."
And Siddharth had just smiled and replied,
"Batuk… tum jantay ho mujhe. Tumhari behen na sirf buht sundar hai, balki uska mann bhi buht sundar hai. Mien usko apne jeeven mien shamil kerna chahta hun… sirf Vardaan ke liye nahi, balki apne liye bhi. Ager tum bura na maano tou kia mien tumhari behen se baat ker sakta hun?"
Batuk had not replied at once. He asked for some time, and in the meanwhile, he discussed the entire matter with Anirudh and Bondita. Anirudh used his sources to check on the credibility of the guy and his business, and then, he gave the green signal to Batuk, which he passed on to Siddharth.
While discussing with Anirudh, Batuk had mentioned that he had an inkling that Tupur also would probably develop a soft corner for Siddharth once he approached her.
He had seen them interacting at the Kothi when Vardaan would visit Tupur and the kids.
He had liked them together… and he really wished that his sister would find her happiness in the form of his friend Siddharth.
Now, both he and Anirudh were waiting for Siddharth's official proposal to Tupur. They had told Binoy also, and he had suggested inviting Siddharth and Vardaan to this party.
They had watched him approaching Tupur there, and Bondita and Sampoorna even managed to eavesdrop a little too on their discussion.
They knew it was wrong…but they just didn't want anything wrong to happen with their Tupur again.
And so, they had all heard how sweetly Siddharth had proposed marriage to Tupur. They even heard how Tupur had told him that her life's decision was going to be taken by her elders, including her Binoy Zamindar Babu, and her two brothers.
Later, after he had left, Binoy and Anirudh had called Tupur alone and had revealed that they were aware of Siddharth's intention.
Binoy had laid his hand on her head gently and said,
"Dekho Tupur beti… Tumhare sath aik baar zabardasti ka faisla ho chuka hai. Buht saal tak tum uss aik ghalat faislay ki saza bhugatti rahy ho. Hum nahi chahte ke abh tumhare sath aisa kuch ho. Jis terha mien Shashwati ko poori ijazat dun ga apni zindagi apne marzi se jeene ki, usi terha mien tumhien bhi ijazat deta hun."
Even Anirudh told her,
"Tupur, hum jantay hai ki tum yeh faisla Thaku maa, baba, mujh per aur Batuk per chhod rahy ho. Lekin hum chahte hain ki abh ki baar faisla tum apne dil ki marzi ka kerou.
Miene aur Bondita ne Siddharth ke baray mien pata kerwaya tha jab Batuk ne humien bataya tha. Woh accha admi hai. Uski pehli patni ke sath uski shadi 5 saal rahy, jis mien uski patni uss ke sath khush rahy thy. Phir, jaise tumhie Siddharth ne bataya hi hai, uska dihaant hogya aur abh Siddharth Calcutta se wapis Tulsipur aagya hai apne bete ke sath. Uska karobar accha hai… aur uss mien koi buri adat bhi nahi hai. Abh baqi tum ko dekhna hai ki tumhara dil kia kehta hai. Ager Naa kerni ho, tou bejhijhak ker dena. Ager Haan kerni ho, tou apne dil ki poori razamandi se kerna. Hum sab har faislay mien tumhare sath hain."
Tupur had some apprehensions, but then they all got busy with the after-party, and she sort of forgot about all her concerns until now that Batuk brought it up again.
Noticing how Tupur had turned red at the mention of Siddharth, he knew that he had been right. Tupur also had feelings for Siddharth, and Batuk was happy with this subtle confirmation of his guess. And so, sharing an eye conversation with his Big D, returning his attention back to Tupur, smiling widely now, he piped in,
"Ahem ahem! Look at you! Abhi se Siddharth Babu ka soch ker sharma rhy ho!"
Hiding her face in both hands, Tupur whispered,
"Dhatt!!!"
Finding her very cute, Bondita got up and wrapped her in a warm embrace while chiding Batuk,
"Batuk ke bacchay! Pehle mere peeche paday thay. Abh Tupur ko tanng kerna shuru ker dia!"
Smiling, Batuk got up from his cot and knelt in front of Tupur, he held her hands and gently pulled them down from her face.
"Tupur… mien sirf mazak ker raha tha. Mager mien sach mein janna chahta hun ki tumhare kia thoughts… I mean… vichaar hain SD ke prop…I mean… shadi ke prastav ko le ker?" He asked her softly, his beautiful hazel eyes full of assurance and love for her.
Looking into his eyes, Tupur then looked at both Tapur and Bondita sitting beside her on both sides. She then looked up and found Anirudh and Sampoorna's compassionate eyes on her too.
Lowering her gaze, her eyes met Batuk's once again as she mumbled meekly,
"Mujhe darr lag raha hai, Batuk babu… mien… pata nahi… Dobara shadi kerna… pata nahi Siddharth babu ne mujh mien kia dekha? Kahin woh bhi Chanrdrachur jaise niklay tou?"
And then wincing, she quickly said, "Nahi nahi… Siddharth babu waise nahi hain. Woh acchay hain. Mager… Ager pehle jaisi koi gadbad hui tou?"
Each one of them understood her fears. And none of them undermined her. The atmosphere had turned super serious.
They all came closer to her and were thinking about how to alleviate her concerns.
That was when, in all his seriousness, holding her hands tightly, Batuk said with extreme emotion and feeling,
"Well Tupur. Ager woh tumhare uss puranay namoonay jaisa nikla naa tou I will kill him. Boudi aur Big D mera case ladien ge. Tum meri khaas gawaah bann jana. Aur mujhe jail se chuddwa lena. Simple!"
Everyone was shocked at such a preposterous suggestion, at such a time…and that too, given with all the seriousness in the world!
And then, as if the ice broke somewhere.
First, Tupur let out a gasp and then broke into an extremely unladylike guffaw.
And then Tapur, Bondita, and Sampoorna thawed and let out a peal of laughter at the incredulity of the situation that Batuk had so creatively and inadvertently created.
As Batuk looked at the ladies howling crazily, he looked up and found his brother staring at him with his mouth open wide.
Confused, he asked,
"What happened? Aisa kia keh dia miene?"
And this time, Anirudh broke into a fit of laughter as he gasped,
"Batuk… Are you for real!!!?"
As Batuk scratched his head in confusion, all of them burst into fresh peals of uncontrollable laughter.
It was finally time to pull his leg now for the most ludicrous suggestion in the world, after all!
It took them all a while to sober down this time.
Poor Batuk would ask "Kia hua, kia hua?", he would pout in irritation, and one of them would start laughing again. Others would join too, and a fresh cycle of silly laughter would ensue.
Finally, giving up, Batuk sat back on one of the cots, crossing his arms across his chest with a full-blown mouth. He looked so cute sulking like a kid that Anirudh finally managed to control his laughter. Sitting next to him, he lovingly poked at his cheeks and said playfully,
"Yeh itne shaandaar ideas hi soojhte rehte hain kia tumko?"
Sampoorna also decided to go and manaao-fy that rootha hua baccha. And so, she ruffled his hair and asked,
"Aur aaj tumhari khaas dost ka bhi phone nahi aaya. Usko bhi koi itna hi behtereen sujhaav de dia tha kya?"
By now, Batuk had clearly understood that it was his absurd suggestion that had made him all laugh at him.
And this fact made him absurdly happy too!
He was just doing his nautanki now, enjoying the cajoling he was receiving from his loved ones.
He would have continued, but the mere mention of Mallika alerted his ears.
Swiftly dropping his pretence, he looked at the watch. It was 1 AM. Looking up towards the window of his room, he wistfully said,
"Haan Sampoorna maa… woh aaj party thy na. Tou miene usko bata dia tha ki ager mien 10:30 PM tak call na kerun tou woh wait na kere aur sou jaye."
And then, looking down at his watch again, he said sadly,
"Abh tou 1 bajj chuka hain. Woh sou gai hogy. Usko subha kaam per jaana hota haina… tou iss liye…"
They all noticed his expressions and the yearning in his voice for that one person.
As if he wanted confirmation of some sort from Mallika's end, Anirudh thought for a while and then said,
"Batuk, call her now. Dekho, shayad woh abhi na soyi ho?"
Looking at his brother's face, he saw that he was completely serious. Tapur also said the same thing.
Reluctantly rising from the cot, he looked at Anirudh's face once again.
Nodding, Anirudh said, "Ager woh call per mil jaye tou tum apne kamre ke khidki se humien thumbs up ka ishara de dena. Aur ager woh na milay tou baahir wapis aajana."
They all waited with bated breaths as Batuk nodded and went inside. Deep down, they all hoped and wished that Batuk could get to talk to Mallika… They all had somehow been touched by his wistfulness just now.
All of them released a sigh of relief as they saw a widely smiling Batuk giving a thumbs up from his room's window.
As they cheered him from down there, they all looked at one another and said unanimously,
"Woh bhi wahan intizaar ker rahy thy!"
Bondita already knew that Mallika had strong feelings for Batuk too. But for so many months, she had been observing them running in circles around each other.
Buht ho gaya… Yeh dono pagal aise hi dosti dosti khelte rahien ge. Mujhe hi kuch kerna hoga abh!
With her decision made, when everyone else was busy talking, she looked towards Batuk's window, and giving a virtual thumbs up to Batuk and Mallika, she whispered,
"Batuk, tumhari Mallika ko wahan se yahan, tumhare paas laane ka kaam abh tumhari boudi kere gy. You just don't worry!"
As she dropped her hand down, she felt someone standing close to her.
She recognized his presence in an instant.
Before she could turn to meet his eyes, he whispered in her ear from behind,
"Aur tumhari boudi ka saath dein ge tumhare Big D… Hamesha!"
Whirling around, she sheepishly looked at him. But his face had a very soft expression as he nodded and said,
"Bondita… Yeh Batuk aik number ka gadha hai. We have to do something iss se pehle ki iski yeh khaas dost titli bann ker phurr hojaye!"
Giggling at his remarks, she held his hand tightly and promised,
"Haan Pati babu… Mien kal se hi Project Bhanwra & Titli Milan per kaam shuru kerty hun!"
She sounded as if she was a military spy, and this extremely silly notion was not lost on both of them.
And as the mood of that night dictated, they both threw back their heads and gave into another bout of light-hearted laughter!
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