Hi guys,
This is an OS on what happens after the current track. Hope u enjoy. Please leave ur feedback.
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Anirudh stood by his window looking into the night. It hadto be the longest, most tempestuous and scary day of his life. He was sad,angry and in pain. He was mentally and physically drained out. He walked to his couch and sat down silently. He looked at her sleeping on the bed. He couldn’t bring himself to even look at her. Every time he saw her face he felt agony. Would she ever forgive him ? He didn’t know. But he would never forgive himself for abandoning her. The eleven year old child he had sworn to protect.
“Dada.Andar aaon?”Batuk asked from the door.
He nodded and Batuk came in and sat next to him.
“Boudi theek ho jaayegi na? Ab toh woh kahin nahin jaayegina? “ Batuk asked.
He looked at his brother and smiled a little.
“Haan. Woh bas thaki hui hai. Kal woh pehli jaisi hojaayegi.” he said trying to convinvce himself more than Batuk.
“Phir sab se prashn karegi. Mujhse ladegi. Par theek hai.Waise hi acchi hai woh. “ Batuk said smiling.
Anirudh patted his head. He too wanted to see her like that.But was she still the same?
“Jaao. So jaao. Its late. “ he told Batuk.
As his brother left his eyes drifted back to the little girlsleeping. The innocence of a child was the most beautiful thing in the world. But it was as fragile. Childhood experiences could scar people for a lifetime. He himself had lost his mother when he was around her age. She had died a few weeks after Batuk’s birth due to lack of proper treatment. He had been traumatized by the experience. It was then he had decided that he would never be narrow-minded like his father andsociety. Bondita had been through hell in the past few weeks. He wondered what effect it had left on her being rejected by people and ending up in a brothel.
The thought of it made him angry. He had not kept his promise to protect her, be there with her in darkness and light. He had thrown her out of his house which was hers as well. Yes, he had not known that she was just trying to help her sister but that did not make him any better. How had he let her go back to her village. To the uncle that had wanted to throw her into a burning pyre, an aunt who was jealous of her and a mother who couldn’t protect her. He could have scolded her,grounded her ,punished her but not sent her away. What would have happened if he hadn’t known the truth the day of his engagement to Mini.
The thought sent ashiver down his spine. Her sister who had kept silent despite knowing the truth had finally come forward and told him the truth minutes before his engagement and he had left home immediately. In that moment all he could think of was to get her back and apologize to her. Once again he chose her over Mini. He had gone to the village to apologize to her but he had received a shock. She was gone. The villagers had taunted her, her aunt and uncle had treated her badly while her mother wasinjured. The poor child had been thrown out of her village, blaming her for her mother’s condition and had kept her away from her mother.None had come to her aid except a courtesan she had once helped and she has taken her with her. The woman had tried to protect her as best as she could but the owner was a beast and Bondita had to bear ill-treatment again. The lady had planned to trade her but fate was on Bondita’s side. He had managed to find the lady she had helped and with her help he had saved her in the nick of time, that morning. The thought of it made him clench his fists. She had fallen unconscious on the way. The village physician said it was exhaustion and gave her some meds that put her to sleep. He had got the woman arrested and promised to help the other ladies if they changed their ways. They had been more than happy to.
And that wasn’t all.The worst shock of his life was still waiting for him. He had returned home with Bondita, only to be berated by his father and Mini’s father. His kaka was glad to see her but embarrassed by whatever had happened to her. He felt she wasn’t right to be his bahu anymore. That was it. He had snapped. He had told them all to stay away from her, not another word against her would be tolerated. And then he had spoken in their language. One of relations approved by society. She was his wife and so it was her house as much as his or theirs. If she left he would leave too. Mini’s father had grabbed his collar questioning his intentions for his daughter and accusing him of breaking her heart again. He was guilty of course but he wasn’t going to lie.
“Main Mini se shaadi nahin karoonga. Koi kuch nhi keh le. Jo uss din hua uske liye mein jo saza denge seh loonga par mein pehle hi Bodita ka gunekar hoon, ab Mini ke saath galat nahin karoonga. I am sorry. Mujhe Mini pasand thi par Bondita meri pehli zimmedari hai. Agar maine Mini se shaadi ki toh log phir se Bodita pe ungli utayenge. Aur Mini pe bhi. Woh kisi ka second priority hona deserve nahin karti aur meri pehli priority hai Bodita ko uske ke pairon pe khada karna Uska bavishya theek karna hai mujhe. “ he said with foldedhands.
And then it had happened. Mini slapped him. She shouted at him and the next thing he know she was lunging towards Bondita who was unconscious from exhaustion. She was threatening to kill her and in that moment as he pulled her away he realized she wasn’t blind. He questioned her and knowing she was caught she had snapped and confessed her lies. She was like a mad woman.She even shouted at her accomplice, his father. HE felt his heart break. The angel he loved was devil in disguise. He had told her to leave and kaka had asked her to never set foot in the haveli again. She had left telling him that he was cursed to live with someone much inferior to her. He was heartbroken but right now all he cared about was her.
He sat down on the floor next to the bed. He had missed her so much in the past days.He loved her, not in romantic way like Mini,he couldnt even think of that. She was a child. But she was his family. His partner. He would never leave her again. He didn’t care about his future. All he wanted was a future for her. He wanted her to fly and seeing her do that would be enough for him. He just wanted to fix everything.He sat by her bedside waiting for her to wake up.
He didn’t realize he had dozed off. He felt someone waking him up. He opened his eyes and saw her surprised face. He stood up and looked at her anxiously.
“Pati babu? Aap sachmein yahaan hai? “ she asked confused.
“Haan Bondita. Kyun? Tum theek ho na? “ he asked worried.
To his surprise she hugged him.
“Mujhe pata tha aap aa jaaoge.Kal mujhe yaad hai aap wahaan aaye the par phir mujhe laga sapna hai.” she said smiling.
“Main yahaan ho aur ab kahin nahin jaaoonga aur na tumhe jaane doonga. “ he told her.
“Shauti ?” she asked.
He nodded. She giggled. but then became serious.
“Ma kaisi hain? woh theek hai na?” she asked.
“Haan. Woh theek hai. Unka chot theek hone me samay lagega.Kal hum unke paas jaayenge.” he told her.
“Nahin.” she said.
He looked at her confused.
“Mujhe wahaan kabhi nahin jaana hai. Mujhe maama maami se kabhi nahin milna hai.” she said tears in her eyes.
He understood she was scared and angry. He was too.
“Jaise tum chaaho. Ma theek ho jaayego toh tumse milaaneleke aaonga tumse milaane.Wada hai mera.” he said.
She smiled.
“Bondita tumhari didi ne mujhe sab bata diya. Tum ne mujhe kyun nahin kaha? Kyun chali gayi ?” he asked unable to stop himself anymore.
“Kyunki Didi nahin chahti thi. Aur main unke liye kuch bhikar sakti hoon.” she said.
“Mujhe tum pe garv hai Bondita. Par kya tum mujhe maaf karogi.” he asked with folded hands.
“yeh aap kya kar rahe ho? Aapne toh mujhe bachaaya. Aap ko thodi na pata tha ki meri galti nahin hai.Waise bhi badon ko maafi nahin maangni chahiye. MA kehti hai.” she said smiling.
“Tum mujhse badi ho samaj mein.” he said smiling and added “Mein tumhe kuch nahin hone doonga. Kabhi tumhe akela nahin chodoonga. Tum jo kahogi woh karoonga.”
She laughed.
“Aap mera ek kaam karoge?” she asked.
“Bolo kya karna hai?” he asked curiously.
“Aap mujhe phir se padaaoge ? Iss baar mein achhhe sepadoongi. “ she said.
“Woh hum baad mein dekhenge. Abhi aaraam karo tum.” he said.
“Nahin pati babu.Mujhe padhna hai. Pehle main aap ke kehne par padhaai kar rahi thi ab khud ke padhaai karna chahti hoon. Itne dinon mein main yeh samaj gayi ki padhaai kyun zaroori hai. Agar ladki ka pati mar jaayeya use chod de toh kya iss mein uski galti hai ? Lekin sab uske saath galat karte hain. Aurat se galat kaam karate hain kunki uska koi rakshak nahin hai.Mere paas aap hain par sabke paas toh nahin honge rakshak babu. Main unki raksha karna chahti hoon. Aapne kaha aap barrister bane iss desh ko badalne keliye. Aur mujhe pad likh kar barrister ban na hai iss desh ki auraton ko badalne ke liye. “ she said.
He was amazed. There was a fire in her eyes and no one knew the feeling better than him.
He smiled and said “Toh tayaar ho jaao. Kaam shuru karna hai, Barrister Babu.”
So the journey began.
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