Bondita: Basivi? Matlab?

Woman : Octuber( October) se leke Farbary ( February) tak choti bachiyon ko bhagwaan ko saunp diya jaata hai.

Anirudh, losing his patience: Aap saaf saaf kahengi kaki.

Woman : Krishna bhagwaan se unka vivaah kar diya Jata hai. Devdasi bankar bhagwaan ki araadhna, dekh bhaal aadi , insab ka khayal rakhna padta hai.

Bondita: Kya?

Anirudh and Bondita were shocked to hear what the woman said. Small girls were treated like this.

Anirudh: Mein Bani ko leke aaunga.

Bondita: mein bhi aati hoon.

Kaki: Ruko. Pagal ho gye ho kya? Arre agar Bani ka vivaah Krishna bhagwaan se vivaah hoga toh yeh toh achi baat hai. Punya milega Bani ko. Aisa mauka har kisi ko nhi milta.

Kaveri: Aap pagal ho gyi hai kya kaaki? 8 saal ki bachi hai Bani. Khel kud karne ki umar mein woh sevak ki tarah kaam kare?

Another woman: Bhagwaan ki seva karna koi galat baat hai kya?

Bondita: Nhi galat nhi hai. Par sab cheez ki ek sahi umar hoti hai. Aur Bani ki umar abhi khelne ki padhne ki hai. Naaki kisi ki seva karne ki. Aur bhagwaan se Vivaah karwana yeh kya sahi lagta hai aapko? Choti bachiyan hai woh.

Man : Woh kisi ki bhi Bhagwaan ki seva kar rhi hai. Krishna bhagwaan ki. Jagat pitah hai woh. Unki seva karne se tumhe hi laabh hoga.

Anirudh: Konsi kitab mein likha hai ki Krishna bhagwan ki seva karne liye sirf ek choti bachi ki zaroorat hai? Aur mein aise laabh ka kya karoon jo hume humari beti se door karde.

Man : Bhagwaan ki seva karna Matlab Punya kamana. Apne paer se hi tum iss shubh afsar ko dhakel rhe ho.

Anirudh: Agar iss kisam ke punya ko dhakelna paap hai toh yeh paap hi sahi.
Mein paapi hoon aur humesha Rahunga. Anirudh Roy Chowdhary apne parivaar ko ek aanch tak nhi aane dega.

Woman: Tum galat kar rhe ho Anirudh.

Bondita: Agar yeh galat hai toh galti hi sahi par mujhe meri beti mujhe sahi salamat mere saamne chahiye. Warna mein woh kar dungi jo kisine socha nhi nhi hoga.
To Anirudh: Chaliye Pati Babu.

Anirudh: Haan.

He suddenly looked at Bondita's feet and was aghast. Her feet was bleeding but Bondita cared less.

Anirudh bending down and said touching her feet : Bondita tumhare paer mein chot lagi hai. Tum kaise jaa sakti ho?

Bondita: Yeh chot dard nahi de rha pati babu jitna ki mishti se door hoke mil rha hai.

Anirudh cupped her cheek and said : Bondita mein tumse vaada karta hoon. Mein Mishti ko kuch nhi hone doonga.

Bondita: Par Pati Babu Mishti akele..

Anirudh: Apne pati babu pe bharosa hai na? Hmm?

Bondita nodded and hugged him while Anirudh caressed her back. He indicated Kaveri and said : Bhabi iska khayal rakhna. Aur iske chot pe marham laga dena.

Kaveri nodded and held Bondita by her shoulders.

As Anirudh left , the villagers too left. Arjun had already reached the Mandir with police officer and was waiting for Anirudh.

Kaveri Bandaged Bondita's feet and gave her medicines.

Manav entered with crying face and hugged Bondita.
Bondita confused caressed his back and asked: Manav. Kya hua?

Manav: Bani didi ki yaad aa rhi hai.

Bondita eyes welled up and she stopped caressing his back. Kaveri understanding her situation ,said : Mein Manav ko Sula ke aati hoon. Tumhara kamra use kar sakti hoon na mein?

Bondita: Haan Kaveri zaroor. Puch kyun rhi ho.

Kaveri gave a gentle smile and took Manav with her. Bondita stumbling on her way went to Bani's room.

Bondita looked around the room and sighed heavily. She sat on the bed and remembered how Bani used to throw tantrums when she had to go to school. Smiling with tears she clutched Bani's favorite bedsheet when Ravi entered and said : Aunty...

Bondita looked at him and said : Ravi. Aaao na beta.

Ravi ran towards her and sat beside her. Without saying anything, he hugged and cried.

Bondita: Tum dono bhaiyon ko hua kya hai? Kyun roh rhe ho aise?

Ravi : I am sorry Aunty. Agar meine himmat karke Bani ko bachaya hota toh woh abhi humare paas hoti.

Breaking the hug ,he said : Aunty meine bohot koshish ki par...

Bondita: Ravi saaf saaf batao.
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Anirudh outside the Mandir : Bani. Dekho tumhare Baba aaye hai. Bahar aao.

Bani who was sitting in the room , jumped happily and said : Matlab baba ko woh kaan ki baaliyan mil gyi. Ab mein ghar jaa sakti hoon.

Her happiness was short lived as one of the Rajeev entered and clutching her hairs in a fist said : Ae ladki. Bhale hi tere Maa Baba barrister hai par Un angrezz afsaron ke samne apna mooh mat kholna. Samjhi.

Bani : Mere baal chodo. Aur kyun na bolun mein. Jo galat hai woh galat hai. Mein bolungi.

Rajeev leaving her hairs ,said with a devil smile: Theek hai jaa bol. Par yaad rakhna agar tune mooh khola toh tere maa baba aur afsaron ki maut ki zimmedaar tum hogi.

Bani stood numb and started to cry.
Bani: Mere Maa Baba ko kuch mat karo please. Mein kuch nhi bolungi.

Rajeev laughed and held Bani's hands and went outside. But he was stopped by a lady.

Lady: Ruk jaa wahin.

Rajeev : Kya hua ? Kyun roka mujhe?

Lady : Kahan leke jaa rha hai isse?

Rajeev: Bahar angrez afarsar aaye hai, uske baba aaye hai isko lene par Yeh ladki na kahegi iss liye isko leke jaa rha hoon.

Lady : Dimag kharab ho gya hai kya tera? Uske baba barrister hai barrister. Agar Pata chal gya ki uski beti yahan hai toh dhanda thap ho jayega aur Hum umar bhar jail mein rahenge.

Rajeev : toh kya karun?

Lady: Jahan Baaki Ladkiyon ko rakha hai wahan isse le jaa aur baandh ke rakh de. Mein Bahar jaa ke sambhalti hoon.

Rajeev nodded and went as his mother told.

Outside.

Anirudh: Bani. Bahar aao. Dekho baba aaye hain.

Officer: Mr. Roy Chowdhary, I don't think so your daughter is here in the temple. Let's look for her at other places.

Anirudh: No Officer. I have a feeling that my daughter is here. Also, you have seen the earrings right? They are of my daughter.

Officer: Those earrings could be off anyone's Mr. Anirudh. How can you be so sure about it?

Anirudh, smiling with tears: I know it very well. These earrings are very dear to my wife. She has only given Bani to wear it. I am sure about it.

Officer: Fine. I agree with you. But it's dark now. I think we should leave and look for Miss Bani tomorrow morning.

Anirudh: If you want to leave you can but I won't. I won't until and unless I find my daughter.

The officer sighed and decided to water for some more time. Though they were Britishers and they had to follow the British rules , they couldn't help but admire the faith and love a father was having for his daughter. Since one of the officers was in higher post , the subordinates didn't need to worry.

All Britishers weren't bad. Some had a clean heart but they didn't have any choice rather than following the orders.

Officer: Mr. Anirudh it's already an hour. I think we should leave.

Anirudh: I told you officer. If you want to leave then go ahead but don't force me to do the same. I will stand by my decision and I have promised my wife that I will return home after bringing my daughter back.

The officer sighed disappointmentedly and decided to leave but he ordered two of his faithful officers to handle the situation and report him the information.

In Ashiyana.

Bondita: Ravi saaf saaf batao.

Ravi : Aunty jab hum teeno school se laut rhe the toh ek uncle aaye aur hume mithayi khilane ke lalach di. Meine toh saaf mana kar diya aur phir Bani aur manav ka haath kheech ke ghar ki oor badhne laga. Raaste mein achanak se Manav ko gusalkhane jaane ki zaroorat hui. Mein Manav ke saath gya par Bani ko savdhaan kiya tha ki woh uss jagah se tab tak na hile jab tak mein na aa jaun. Par jab tak mein aur Manav aaye Bani wahan nhi thi. Aas paas dhoonda toh dekha ki wahi uncle Bani ko behoshi ke halat mein kahin leke jaa rhe hai. Mein unhe khoob rokne ki koshish ki, unhe maara, bhi par woh nhi ruke aur mujhe Dhaka diya. Meine aur Manav ne uske baad bhi unhe rokne ki koshish ki par Un uncle ne mujhe pe dhool pheka aur chale gye.

And started crying while Bondita hugged him and caressed his hairs.

Ravi: Aunty Bani wapas toh aa jayegi na?

Bondita: Haan beta woh zaroor wapas aayegi.

To lighten up his mood, she said : Ravi ek baat puchun?

Ravi : Haan Aunty puchiye na.

Bondita: Tum toh Bani se baat bhi nahi karte naahi uske taraf dekhte ho. Toh uski chinta kyun?

Ravi's face flushed red and he said with stammering voice: Aunty woh ... woh Bani meri neighbor hai aur ...

Bondita: Aur..?

Ravi : Good night.
He ran away to the room where Manav was sleeping.

Bondita smiled a little. She started to think something.

Back to Krishna Mandir.

The pujaris came out to meet Anirudh, the lady being one of them. The British Officers had went to nearby Dhaba to have something.

Anirudh: Namaste. Mein yahan apni beti ko dhoondne aaya hoon.

1st Pandit: Hare Krishna beta. Beta yahan bhagwaan ke ghar mein laakhon log aate hai jaate hai , hume kaise Pata hoga ki aapki beti yahan aayi hai yaa nhi.

Arjun: Jii aapne usse dekha toh hoga na. Nanhi si toh hai.

Anirudh: Han uske lambe baal honge do choti mein bamdhe huye. Daant ek ke upar ek honge.

2nd pandit: Aise toh kayi bache aate hai jaate hai. Hume nhi Pata ki tum kiski bat kar rhe ho.

Anirudh lost his patience and shouted: meri beti sab mein se nhi hai. Puri alag hai. Puri alag.
He held the Pandits collars.

Arjun, kept a hand on his shoulder in order to calm him down but Anirudh was not in the mood to listen. Arjun whispered Bondita's name to which he reacted a little and stopped.

Pandit : Teri itni Himmat ki tumne mujh pe haath uthaya. Mein tujhe shraap...

Lady : Ruk jaa Niketan. Bichara apne beti ke vyog mein pagal ho gya hai. Peeche hato.

The lady walked towards Anirudh and stood infront of him.

Lady: Kaho kya baat hai?

Anirudh, sternly: Meri beti dopahar se ghumshuda hai. Meine usse har jagah dhoonda hai par woh nhi mili. Aapke kanha ji ke Mandir ke paas mujhe yeh kaan ki baaliyan mili. Jo ki meri beti ki hai. Aur mujhe Shaq hai ki meri beti yahan hai.

Lady : Nahi beta. Yahan koi bhi bachi nahi hai.

Anirudh: Agar nahi hai toh apne Mandir ki Talashi lene dijiye.

Maha-Pandit shouting : Yeh kya batameezi hai? Bhagwaan ke ghar mein Talashi? Hum sabko paap ka bhagidaar banana hai kya?

Anirudh: Konse kitab mein likha hai ki bhagwaan ke ghar mein Talashi nhi hogi?

Arjun: dekhiye, hume bas 10 min lagenge. Ek baar Talashi lene dijiye.

The pandits protested and didn't let them in. The officers returned and were shocked to see the scenario. They tried to stop the fight but one of the helper of the temple sneaked and hit them behind their head.
The officers fell unconscious, and Arjun looked at them with horror.

To be safe and after thinking practically, he tried to stop Anirudh.

Arjun : Anirudh...Anirudh meri baat suno. Hume abhi yahan se jaana hoga. It's not safe to stay here.

Anirudh: Arjun, my daughter is not safe. Mein kahin nhi jaunga usse chodke.

Arjun tried to make him understand but Anirudh was not in the mood to understand anything.

One of the Pandit came to hit Anirudh but Arjun held the stick and thrashed the Pandit with the same. The others had left already leaving the woman and two men.

Lady : Jao yahan se.

The woman pulled the gates and locked it. She told the security to look after and asked for some more men to keep an eye.

Arjun dragged Anirudh stumbling as he himself got some injuries.
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Anirudh and Arjun entered the house devasted. Anirudh was brutally beaten. Blood oozing out of his forehead and bleeding lips.

Bondita ran towards him and held him by his shoulders.

Bondita: Kahan hai meri beti..Pati babu..
Anirudh collapsed in Bondita's arms.
Arjun helped Bondita in picking up Anirudh and made him lie on the bed.

Arjun: Bhabi...

Bondita: Arjun dada... Aap toh boliye. Pati babu ki aisi halat kaise? Aur meri beti?

Arjun closed his eyes and said: Unhone kaha ki Bani unke paas nahi hai. Jab Anirudh jhagadne laga toh unhone uski yeh halat kar di.

Bondita sat beside an unconscious Anirudh. She kept her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

She remembered what Madhav had told her once when Anirudh had married Manorama.

Himmat! Bharosa!

Flashback.

Madhav: Sakhi. Humesha ek baad yaad rakhna. Kabhi bhi Bharosa aur himmat ko mat khona.

Bondita: Matlab?

Madhav: Agar aage kabhi bhi tumhe aisa laga ki tumhare haath se sab kuch choot ta jaa rha hai toh apne upar bharosa karna aur himmat ko kahin khone mat dena. Mushkil waqt par yahi do cheez tumhara saath degi.

Bondita nodded acknowledging it while Madhav smiled seeing her innocent face.

Flashback ends.

She got up and looked at unconscious Anirudh.

Bondita : Un logon ne ek pitah ki vivashta dekhi hai. Ab woh ek maa ka gussa dekhenge.

Kaveri: Matlab.

Bondita turned towards the Mandir where she had placed Krishna and Durgaa Murti together.

Bondita: Ek pitah ko jab gussa aata hai toh puri duniya dar jati hai. Par jab ek maa ko gussa aata hai toh puri duniya jaala deti hai. Yeh mera Krishna bhagwaan aur Durgaa Maa se vaada hai.
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Hello lovelies,

I wanted to say that I won't be able to update for some weeks that is 2 to 3 weeks as I have my exams.

So please cooperate.

Regards,
Your writer ❤.