Chapter-16
Bondita didn't know where her Mashi was taking her, she kept asking her but her Mashi was in such a hurry to even listen to her. Her Mashi hided the blood stain and passed through the village towards some abandoned area, they finally reached near a small distorted hut. Bondita saw no one there and the place was giving her silent vibes, she was still confused of what was happening until she was taken inside the hut. She looked around and asked, "Mashi, why am I here?" "You will stay here until your period gets over!" "But why?!" "Every woman has to stay here for atleast four-five days Bondita!" "But earlier when I used to have periods Maa used to make me stay at home only though she stopped me from touching worshipping goods and others!" "Because then you were little that's why! Now you are a young woman!" replied her Mashi who secretly knew the real reason, "But what's the problem if I stay at my home?" "It's a rule that you have to follow Bondita!" "Who made this rule?" "Rules are made by humans only! Who else will make the rules?" "Then can't we tell them to change the rules?! Aah!", she yelped in pain, "Now no more talking! It's just a matter of four-five days! Cook food and drink water on your own! Okay? I am going!" "Aren't you staying here with me?" "Sorry but I can't...I have to take care of your siblings too, right? Don't get scared too much, okay?" "Hmm.." agreed Bondita sadly.
After her Mashi went away Bondita thought to analyse the hut, the place was quite dusty and there were spider webs which scared her more, "This means there are spiders here?!" she exclaimed with fear and suddenly got a weird imagination where she was sleeping and her mouth was open, suddenly spiders were entering her mouth and when her eyes opened she was not able to even speak. She quickly closed her mouth with her hands and tears flowed from her eyes, she went outside and saw no one there, she sat on the stairs looking towards the moon, "Even if no one is here I am still liking this quietness.....also this moonlight is making me sleepy and energized at the same time! But how will I adjust with these mosquitoes and spiders?! It's quite cold outside though.....but I want to sleep under this moonlight only! Atleast this moon is not making me feel alone! This darkness can never scare me!". She continued, "All fault goes to Dada! If he hadn't narrated a story of spiders then I would have never get scared of them!" she complained as she angrily crossed her arms. Suddenly she got the pain again and said, "And this pain....is quite unbearable...but I have to bear it anyhow! Is there any cloth kept nearby?!", she went inside and saw a sack filled with sarees which brought a smile on her face, she separated the sarees which she wanted to wear and tore those sarees into bits which she didn't want to wear. She again came outside and beholded the beauty of the night, "It's better if today I don't sleep only! It's good that I had eaten a mango before my period started! I am not hungry now!" she said as she grinned at the moon and tried hard to forget the pain.
Anirudh was typewriting a document and suddenly felt uneasy, "Don't know why but...why am I feeling so uncomfortable? I am feeling like something is wrong! Am I feeling something real or something which is delusional?!". A telephone near him rang loudly, he quickly went towards it and picked up the call, "Hello?" "Hello Anirudh! How are you?" "Oh Mini! I am ok ok..." "Why? Is your forehead paining again?!" "No....but I am feeling quite uncomfortable..." "Maybe you are suffocating! Open the windows or go outside then!" "That's also not working Mini...I am having a feeling that something wrong is happening...." "Hmm...what else are your feelings telling you?" "They are telling me that someone is suffering unknowingly!" "Hmm...your feelings can be true and also untrue Anirudh! It's your choice now what you want to do!" "I...I am confused Mini! You tell me the way!" "How will I tell what to do Anirudh? I think you should take rest now! Maybe you are too much stressed that's why... good night!" "Hmm good night" said Anirudh with a smile as he kept the phone. He kept the documents in its place and proceeded towards his bedroom, he could see the moonlight filling his dark room which made him smile. He laid on his bed and pulled the bedsheet up, "Is this my delusion or really something has happened?" he thought as he closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.
Saurabh laid on his bed looking towards the ceiling, suddenly he heard the door opening and saw Sampoorna entering, he smiled at her as she lowered the fire of the lantern and sat infront of him on her bed which was kept beside his. He saw her laying on the bed and said, "The moonlight is growing your beauty more Sampoorna! I can watch you like this for my lifetime!" "This moonlight is such a thing which turns everything beautiful and peaceful!" "Just like you!" said Saurabh which turned Sampoorna red with shame. He noticed this with a smile and continued, "It would have been such a bliss for me if I could cuddle with my cute wife?" which made her blush more. Suddenly he said, "Sorry Sampoorna for this morning incident..." "You don't have to apologise to me! You have done nothing wrong!" "You got remembered of your past, right?" "Hmm" "But you have to somehow let go off the past, right?" "I try to but this fear doesn't leave me! Am I unable to make you happy?" she said as tears started to form in her eyes. Saurabh quickly got up and tried to wipe her tears but she hesitatingly went quite away from him, "Obviously not! I am so much happy with you Sampoorna for you are caring and have a good heart! Also there's one way to make your fears go away!" "Really?! What is it?" "We have to hug each other always!" "I...." "The only way to let go off your fears is to face them! Most of the time you have faced only harsh treatment but not love!" said Saurabh as tears formed in his eyes too which shocked Sampoorna, "You know it?" "Yes! Bondita told me everything as she wanted good for you! Don't worry Sampoorna! I will try my best to give you the love you deserve! Come into my arms!". Sampoorna did hesitated a bit but when she saw her husband nodding and smiling at her as he opened his arms, with some courage she proceeded towards him and hugged him as both cried together. She felt a special warmth in his arms but the past again flashed infront of her eyes after which she parted from him. Saurabh smiled at her and said, "We will always practice this privately, okay?" to which Sampoorna nodded.
The next morning Anirudh quickly got ready and headed to go outside but was stopped by his Kaka, "You don't have to always go there! I think she can now handle herself! It's better if you focus on your siblings too!" "Who said that I don't focus on them? I help them in their studies and buy sweets for them too!" "But you have stopped leaving them to the school! See! They both want to go to school with you!" said Kaka as he pointed towards his siblings who were watching him with pleading eyes. Anirudh sighed and with a smile said, "Ok Batuk and Shashwati! Let's go!". Batuk and Shashwati got extremely happy and they both grinned at each other. Both of them went with him holding his hands while Kaka looked towards them with a grin.
"Dada, why do you always go to the village?" asked Batuk in between, "Because my friend needs me Batuk" "And who is that friend?" asked Shashwati curiously, "Bondita" replied Anirudh leaving both of them in shock, "A young teenage girl is your friend?! You are joking right?" "Of course not Batuk! She is really my friend!" "But aren't you an elder brother to her?! I mean look at your age and her age!" asked Shashwati, "My body is only older than hers! The truth is that our souls have no age!" replied Anirudh by repeating what Bondita said earlier leaving both of them stunned again. "Why is Dada speaking like this?! I have never heard him saying such things earlier too!" Batuk whispered to Shashwati, "Yes! I feel he is influenced by someone!" "From whom can he be influenced?!" "Batuk and Shashwati! We have reached the school! Now you both quickly go before the class starts and study well, okay?" "Ok Dada!" replied both of them with a smile while Anirudh patted their heads and went away. As Batuk and Shashwati climbed the stairs they looked behind to see if their Dada was there, "Did something disastrous happen with that girl?" "Maybe.. that's why Dada is always in hurry and worry nowadays!".
Anirudh first took the mango chutney for himself and for Bondita from their grandmother and headed towards her house, he saw her aunt coming outside and asked her, "Mashi, what's Bondita doing now?" "Do you want to meet her?" "Yes!" "Sorry but you cannot meet her now!" "But why?" "She is having her periods that's why it won't be good for you to meet her!" "Why? Will I become ill?! And where is she?!" "Probably yes! Also I can't tell you where she is!" she said as she went away leaving Anirudh in worry. He saw Bondita's sister coming out and asked her, "Mauri! Do you know where's Bondita?" "Oh! Mashi took Bondita Didi towards that way!" she replied pointing towards an empty road, "Thank you Mauri!" he said with a smile and went to search for his friend.
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