Kaka- bolo Bondita. Tumhari maang sunni hai aur baal bhi khule huye hain? Kyun?

Bondita- Kaka jab Mera koi pati hi nhi hai toh mein kyun apni maang bewajah bharun? Mera pati mujhe chod kar chala gya hai,phirse ek chodi hui aurat bana diya hai. Baar baar Mera apmaan karne wala kabhi Mera pati nhi ho sakta.

Kaka sighed and nodded.

Batuk - par bou..Bondita, yeh baal kyun khule rakhe hain phir?

Bondita- jab mein kisi Bandhan mein nhi ,toh mere baal kyun bandhe huye rhe? Vivaah ke pehele jaisi thi ab mein waise hi rehna chahti hoon.

The family nodded in response but Anirudh was lost and numb. The tears which he was till yet holding inside was threatening to fall. He excused himself and went inside the study. He cried his heart out thinking about Bondita word. The family and Bondita was least affected while Som had a smirk playing on his face.

After a while the family completed its breakfast and were about to leave for their respective work .Bondita was asked to take rest while Naina went to help Koyli in kitchen.
Suddenly Anirudh came and said- Rukiye sab . Mujhe kuch ailaan karna hai.

Binoy - tumahri baaton ka humare paas samay nhi hai.

Kaka - sahi kaha, hume gaon waalon se milna hai aur zamindaari ka kaam bhi karn hai.

Batuk - mujhe waise bhi aapki baaton mein pehele interest that na ab hai. Mein chala kamre mein apna , vidyalay ka karya karne.

Som - mujhe mere college jana hai. Der ho rhi hai.

Naina - mujhe koyli didi ki madat karni hai. Chalti hoon.

No one was ready to listen Anirudh. He felt bad. He was about to move away , when he heard her voice.

Rukiye- Bondita.

Anirudh smiled internally thinking that he knew , whether someone hears him or not , but Bondita will always do.

Bondita- unko jo kehna hai ,kehne dijiye. Kahiye Barrister Babu.

Anirudh who was smiling internally , was shocked to hear Bondita. She called him Barrister Babu.

Bondita- Jaldi kahiye. Sabko apne kaamon mein jaana hai.

Anirudh, cleared his thoughts and said - tum iss haveli mein rahogi par sirf kuch dinon ke liye.

His words shocked everyone.
But Bondita wasn't affected. She asked raising an eyebrow.

Bondita- Matlab?

Anirudh- Tum dalhousie jaogi. Apne aage ki padhai ke liye. Aur yeh faisla Mera, tumahra shikshak hone ke naate hai. Aur yeh koi nahi badal sakta.

Kaka,angrily- Arre mat maari gyi hai kya tumhari. Kya bole jaa rhe ho tum.

Binoy- Anirudh tumhe Pata hai, tumhe na barrister nhi bana na chahiye tha. Tum na ek kaam karo ,barristerry chod ke Congress mein chale jao. Jitne decisions lene hai na ,lete rehna.

Anirudh- baba,mein toh bas..

Manzoor hai - Bondita.

Som - kya?

Bondita- mein Dalhousie jaane ke liye taiyaar hoon. Kan jaana hai?

Batuk - Boudi ,yeh aap kya keh rhi hai? Aap hume chodke ke kaise jaa sakti hai?

Bondita- mere jaane se shayad bojh kam ho Jaye.

Som,angrily- Bondita meine pehele bhi kaha tha , ab bhi keh rha hoon. Tum humare liye bojh nhi ho. Samjhi?

Kaka- aur bhi toh kya ? Bhala humari bachi kabse bojh hone lagi?

Bondita looking at Anirudh- par shayad kisi ke liye hoon.

Anirudh was confused and shocked to hear the word Bojh. He was looking at Bondita, with visible tears to which Bondita ignored.

Bondita- Batayiye, kab jaana hai?

Anirudh- interview dena hoga pehele. Tabhi jaa paogi.

Bondita - kab hai?

Anirudh- kal shaam ko.

Bondita- theek hai.
She was about to move away when ,she turned and said- koyli didi aur bhari Kaka, aap log mere saath ayiye na .

Koyli- kya hua Choti... bondita bitiya.

Bondita- woh Mera saara samaan kisi dusre kamre mein rakh dijiye.

Anirudh- kya? Kyun?

Bondita- Mera ab uss kamre mein koi adhikaar nhi hai.

Anirudh- yeh kya bol rhi ho tum? Tum uss kamre se kahin nhi jaogi.

Bondita- aur yeh faisla lene waale aap kon hote hai?

Anirudh- Tumhara...

Bondita- boliye ?

Anirudh- mujhe nhi Pata. Tum uss kamre se nhi jaogi. Kyun tumhe uss kamre se kahin aur jaana hai?

Bondita coming towards Anirudh and straight looking at his eyes. Anirudh's cheeks turned little red ,seeing the closeness.
Bondita- kyunki Mera uss kamre mein dam ghoota hai.
Chaliye Koyli didi aur bhari Kaka.

Bondita went with koyli and bihari and the others left for their work.
Som came towards Anirudh and whispered- pehle aap boudi.. sorry Bondita ko apne se door karna chahte the, par ab toh Bondita khud apne aap ko aapse door kar rhi hai. Isn't it a surprise? Well aap rahiye apne khayalon mein, mein chala college.

Som went away smirking.

Anirudh stood there with a frown and numb state. He soon composed himself and was about to go when he saw Manorama entering.

He asked raising an eyebrow- kahan gyi thi tum?

Manorama- Apne saathi se milne.

Anirudh nodded and went to his study.
Manorama went towards her room.

After a while.

Bondita was going towards her new room when she slipped and was about to fall. Before she could someone held her. Bondita had closed her eyes out of fear but the person standing was lost on her innocent face.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw 1 pair of black eyes were looking at her intently.

Bondita hastily moved away from him and said- Aap kon hai?

Madhav- kal aur aaj , jisne aapko girne se bachana woh hoon mein.

Bondita, nodded- Thank you.

Madhav - your welcome.

Bondita- waise aapka naam?

Madhav - Madhav.

Bondita - Madhav.

As soon as Bondita took Madhavs name he was lost in her sweet voice. A smile lingered on his face and said - jii.

Bondita- thank you Madhav.

Madhav- arre kitni baar thank you bolengi aap.

Bondita smiled and said - mein chalti hoon.

Madhav - zaroor.

Bondita was about to turn when she remembered something.

Bondita- ek sec.

Madhav- kya hua? Said ,by taking the support of railing.

Bondita- meine aapko kahin dekha hai.

Madhav's eyes widened in response.

Bondita- Haan, yaad aaya aap toh wahi batameez ladke hai na.

Madhav sighed.
Both of them remembered when they met for the first time.

Flashback.

(The day before Manorama's marraige when they went to the mandir)

After hearing pandits bondita was walking down the stairs lost somewhere.
Suddenly she bumped into a man. And she fell down. Man bent down to help her.

Madhav - I am sorry ! Aap theek hai?

Bondita getting up - pehele girate ho ,phir puchte ho ki theek hoon ya nhi? Pagol maanush na ki?
Bondita was dusting of the dust from her saree and the hairs were blocking the view of her face, due to which he wasn't able to see her face.

Madhav - arre par aap dekh ke nhi jaa rhi thi. Aap mujhe pagal kyun bol rhi hai. Galti aap ki hai, aapko maafi maangni chahiye, lekin yahan mein aap se maafi maang rha hoon. Pagal aa... he stopped in his tracks when he saw bondita was looking at him or to be precise glaring him . Though he was lost in her face.

Deep and round,Black Kohled eyes,chubby cheeks, little nose and puffy lips and her beautiful long hairs.

He came back from his trance ,when he heard ,her calling him - Batameez.
But to his own surprise, he stood there silently and heard each and every accusations. He saw that she left ,while muttering - pagol maanush.

He smiled to himself, but soon came back to the real world when his friend called him and said- chalo, sab log intezaar kar rhe hai.

Madhav nodded but still couldn't get off her i.e. Bondita's thoughts.

Flashback ends .

Bondita- tum mere ghar mei kya kar rhe ho? Aur andar aane kisne diya?

Madhav- Arre meri baat..

Bondita didn't listen to him.
She held his wrist and dragged him. She was about to oust him of the house when Kaka interrupted.

Kaka - bahu, yeh tum kya kar rhi ho?

Madhav- dekhiye na Kaka, yeh aapki bahu mujhe ghar se nikal rahi hai.

Kaka,widening his eyes- kyaa? Kyun?

Madhav- Pata nhi kaka,mein toh itna nadaan hoon. Pata nhi kyun aisa kar rhi hai.

Bondita- tum chup raho. Kaka aap isse jaante nhi hai, yeh..

Kaka - aare hum bhala isse kaise nhi jaanenge .

Bondita- aap inhe jaante hai?

Kaka - Haan, mere dost ka beta hai. Arre issi ne toh kal tumhari tabyat ki dekhbhaal ki.

Bondita- kya Matlab?

Kaka - arre yeh ek doctor hai,psych..kuch toh hai.

Madhav- Kaka, psychiatrist.

Kaka - Haan wahi wahi, hume mat sikhao.
Khair , yeh batao ki tum isse ghar se kyun nikal rhi thi.

Just then Som entered the scene.

Bondita- Kaka, yeh bade batameez kisam ke insaan hai.Batameezi ki inhone.

Som, Kaka and Madhav- kyaaa?

Madhav- meine kab batameezi ki?

Som holding Madhav by his collars.

Som - bondita kya keh rhi hai? Batameezi ki tumne uske saath bolo.

Madhav- arre bondita ke aadarsh aur suraksha kawach waale dada, meine koi batameezi nhi ki.

Som - toh kya bondita jhoot bol rhi hai?

Madhav-haan.

Bondita pushing away som from madhav and looking at Madhav- ek ,sec kya kaha mein jhoot bol rhi hoon?

Anirudh too came ,hearing the commotion.

Madhav- aur nhi toh kya, mujh jaise bole bhaale bache ko phasa rhi ho.

Bondita- bacha? Arre 6 foot ke vanmanush ho, bache Kaise huye bhala?

Madhav - ek sec. Kya kaha? Mein vanmanush?

Bondita- Haan.

Madhav- ek sec agar mein vanmanush hoon toh tum konsi hoor ki pari ho?

Bondita- shut up.

Madhav- you shut up.

Som ,irritated- both of you shut up.

Bondita and Madhav stayed quiet, glaring each other.

Som - Bondita Kya tum isse jaanti ho?

Bondita- Haan, dada. Woh Manorama ke shaadi ke ek din pehele jab mandir...

Those words brought back all the flashes once again and then a silence fell across.

Madhav- bolo na ,chup kyun ho gyi. Mein batata hoon. Hum pehele..

Bondita- I am sorry,mujhe aise bartaav nhi karna chahiye tha.
Saying this she left.

Madhav - isse kya hua?

All the people who had come, left the place except Som and Anirudh.

Som came towards Madhav and said- agar meri behen ko takleef hui,toh mujhse bura koi nhi hoga.
He indirectly said this to Anirudh as well. Som too left.

Madhav was about to leave when Anirudh came and said- Bondita ko kaise jaante ho?

Madhav- arre woh...

Madhav, beta idhar aana - Kaka, from upstairs.

Madhav - chalta hoon.

Anirudh yet again stood all alone but was confused that how does Bondita know Madhav.

Upstairs, kaka's room.

Madhav- jii Kaka, kahiye.

Kaka - beta hum , mandir jaa rhe hain. Chaloge?

Madhav- zaroor Kaka. Kab chalna hai aur kahan?

Kaka - paas hi mein ek Radhakrishna mandir hai, Pura parivaar chal rha hai.

Madhav thought for a while and said - theek hai, mein taiyaar hoke aata hoon.

After sometime, the whole family came.
Two cars were there.

1st car - Kaka,Binoy,batuk, som,naina.

2nd car - Madhav,Bondita, Anirudh, and Manorama.

Soms car had gone first.

The second car.

Madhav- Anirudh if you don't mind kya mein drive kar sakta hoon?

Anirudh- sure.

Madhav- thank you.

Madhav and Anirudh sat on the passenger seats while the other two sat on the back.

The sunset was very beautiful to watch.
The sky was painted with a mixture of red pink yellow and orange. The view was serene. The cold winds was adding different feeling. A feeling of new start and something positive. Bondita was enjoying the view. Her open hairs were flowing and dancing with the wind. She had smile on her face and was enjoying the sunset as well as wind. Her face showed relaxation.

2 pair of eyes were watching her closely.Seeing her smiling,a smile came on both of their faces.Anirudh and Madhav.Anirudh smiled because he saw her smiling ,after whatever happened in the house.

Their car came into a halt ,as a bullock cart was passing infront of them.

They heard some voices.

Man 2 - Pata hai ,2 krantikaariyan Farrar hai. Bade khatarnaak hai suna hai.

Man 1 - arre usme se ek ladki bhi toh hai.

Man 2 - bahu himmat waali hai. Bhagwaan kare, kabhi haath na aaye woh log unn angrezon ke.

Man 1 - agar krantikaariyan shatir hai, toh angrezz aur bhi zyada hai. Kuch bhi karke pakad lenge.
And then their voices faded away.

Manorama and Madhav exchanged glances.
Madhav saw that Bondita was thinking something deeply.

Madhav- Bondita jii, kya soch rhi hain aap?

Bondita- kuch nhi bas aise hi.

Madhav - keh dijiyega, aisi baatein man mein nhi rakhne chahiye.

Anirudh, frowning - tumhe usse kya? Woh jo soche.

Madhav- Aapko isse Kya ,mein usse jo bhi puchun?

Madhav's reply shocked everyone.
Before Anirudh could say anything, bondita uttered - Unn krantikaariyon ke baare mein soch rhi thi.

Madhav - kyaa?

Bondita- bohot himmat waale hain. Kaash ek baar unse mil paati. Sabse zyada toh uss ladki se milne ki utsukta hai. Badi himmat waali hai. Samaaj ke niyamon ka ulanghan kar woh desh ke liye kuch kar rhi hai.

Manorama and Madhav had smile on their faces.

Manorama- Umm, bondita.

Bondita- hmm.

Manorama- agar kabhi woh krantikaari tumahre saamne aaye toh kya karogi?

Bondita, smiling- Salaam karungi aur kahungi..

Anirudh- Vande Mataram.

Bondita- Haan.

Anirudh and Bondita looked at eachother through the mirror but soon Bondita turned her eyes to look at the outside view. Anirudh face had a sad smile.

Madhav- chalo Mandir pahunch gye.

The other family members had already reached the Mandir and were waiting for them. Madhav and Manorama along with the family entered the Mandir after washing their feets.

Bondita too after washing the her feet was about to go but bumped into Anirudh. Anirudh held her by back and Bondita had kept her hand on Anirudh's shoulder, to prevent herself from falling.

Both forgetting the place and the past days events, were lost in eachothers eyes. A strand of hair came on Bondita's face to which Anirudh removed by his fingers without breaking the eye contact.

The sudden ringing of bells and chanting of mantras broke their revive.
Bondita pushed Anirudh and shouted ,enough audible to let him hear.

Bondita- himmat kaise hui mujhe chunne ki.

Anirudh- bondita suno..

Bondita- aap apne ko samjhe kya hain? Jab chaha haath pakad liya jab chaha chod diya?

Anirudh- bondita tum girne waali thi. Isliye tumhe bachane ke liye...

Bondita- aapke chunne se toh acha that ki mein gir jaati.
Saying this she moved towards the stairs and went inside the mandir.
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"Meri raahon mein pade
Tere pairon ke nishaani
Ne kaha,Ne kaha
Teri Saason se Judi
Mere saason meri season ki wajah
Ne kaha , Ne kaha

Girte inn aasunon mein
Kuch toh tujhe lage hai
In Ashqon mein mein na khotaa

Agar tu hota toh, Na rote hum".
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Hey here is the update.
Do tell in the comments how was it and
Do not forget to vote.
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Regards
Your writer ❤