The day began and so is the worship of goddess Durga at the haveli temple. Though Zamindaar Trilochan missed his bahu who used to manage everything with her little hands, ignored the temporary fact as some where his heart knew in future the roy choudhry bahu will return back.

The delicious breakfast kept Batuk intact to his seat, unknowingly making a soul more disturbed who was walking to and fro, as his elder brother Anirudh always cherished his brother's love for food but the same was annoying him too much today at last he approached him when he found his brother packing his bag.

Without delay, he told him "Arey Batuk, tayar ho gaye ho, chalo aaj mein tuje vidhyalay chodunga" and walked out.
Sensing unusual Batuk complied as he was getting late. On the way, not knowing how to initiate the conversation he asked "Toh vidhyalay mein sab teek hai, saari paat samaj aa rahi hai na?" Batuk said "Haan dada, sab pehle jaise hi hein, par aap achanak kyun poochrahe hain?" being more confused.

"Agar koi nayi teacher aaye tho, woh alag tareke se padayenge na, toh tuje aur Bondita ko koi mushkil nahi hai na samajnemein ?" He asked hoping atleast now his dumb brother will give him details of the new teacher his sakhi had praised.

"Haan, ek nayi teacher toh hai, per woh bhi sab ki tarah hi hai." Batuk answered casually.

Batuk seemed confused at the odd interrogation of his brother, he again asked "woh nayi teacher kaise dikthe hain matlab kaise padathe hain?" and that's when realisation striked him reminding the last evening conversation with his boudi, instantly his mind thought of a mischief and decided to do so.

With that the school had come, they got down and while he handed over the bag, Batuk replied "woh nayi teacher toh sab ki tarah hi hain, sab ki tarah hi padathe hain, par" stopped abruptly. "Par kya Batuk?" he asked instantly and that's when Batuk played his trick by replying "par patha nehi kyun, boudi ko unka sikana bouth pasandh aathi hai, us teacher ki period me toh sar bhi nehi hilathi na hi kisi se bath karthi hai, bouth dhyan dethi hai shayad unhe nayi teacher pasandh aagayi hogi matlab nayi teacher ki shikshan." With that Batuk left, leaving his brother to scrowl.

Not knowing what to make from his brother's words, Anirudh turned towards the car, at once his lips curved upwards when he spoted her beaming at him. For once he forgot the surrounding and tried to capture her smile in his heart but much to his displeasure, the school bell broke their serene moment.

Before her, he spoke "Aab nahi Bondita,
Vidhyalay ke baadh teek 4 baje bazaar ki Kone wali Durga maa ki mandir ke peche milo." Though she wanted to question simply obliged with a nod while he drove back to continue the duties of the day.

The school ended making Bondita happy, for some reason she felt excited to express her views about the new teacher with him. On her way, while crossing the bazaar she spoted her maa. Being elated, proceded towards her only to find her conversing with her new teacher, as she neared them, she heared them speak.

"Aap mafi math mangiye, Mein teek hun, Muje koi chot nahi lagi." Sumathi said

"Arey nahi, agar kuch hua toh aap bejijak Muje batha sakthe hain, mein teek se chala raha tha batha nayi kese takara diya aapko." Feeling guilty, Rajeev said with immense care but gained the same answer from her as before.

Later when he noticed her leg, immediately rushed into a shop leaving her behind only to return with a pair of strong elegant sandals and forwarded it to her. As she sternly refused Rajeev said "Aap ko kudh ka dhyan rakna chahiye, yese nange paav chalenge toh kuch bhi chubega aur aapko chot bhi lag sakthi hai, yeh lijiye issey pehneye" to which she replied "Yeh sab aadat hogayi hai muje, aab mein chalthi hoon sahab, meri beti intezaar karthi hogi meri" but he being stubborn again said "Aap ke liye na sahi, kam se kam apni beti keliye toh pehneye, kya usey acha lagegi jab usey patha chalege uski maa ki pairon me dard horahe, aapki beti ka dhyan raknekeliye, aapko pehle aapki dhyan rakni chahiye na." She melted at his words about her daughter, leaving no other way, Sumathi accepted the scandals.

"Bahut dhanyavad aapke liye sirf aaj keliye nahi kal ke liye bhi." Sumathi said feeling extremely grateful.

"Arey, uski koi zaroorat nahi hai, mereliye saree manushya samaan hai. Chahe woh koi bhi ho, sabko izzath karni chahiye, yehi srishti ka dharam bhi hai. Yeh bedhbav toh sirf manushya ki mann ki bram hai. Insaan hokar agar hum doosre ko dhuk nahi baat sakthe, ek doosre ko samaj nahi sake toh humare jeene ka koi matlab hi nahi hai mereliye." Rajeev replied while Sumathi was awed at his words, so she simply nodded, as somewhere he reminded her of Aniridh. While he again continued "Aap bura na maane toh, kya mein aapki madad kar saktha hoon yeh saari sabji aur fal ko aapke gar pahunchane mein. Agar aapko bharosa hai toh, nahi toh koi bath nahi." Sumathi said "Aap par toh muje bharosa hai, par rehne dijiye samaj wale kuch kahenge." Promptly he lifted up the grocery bags and said "Samaj wale toh kuch na kuch kahenge, unka kaam hai kehna aap ussey andekha kijiye, aap sirf yeh bathayiye ki aapka gar kis taraf aur badle mein sirf ek glass pani dijiye bahuth pyaas lag rahi hain." Sumathi obliged, grinned at his dramatic gesture.

Though Sumathi thought they were unnoticed as the bazaar was uncrowded but failed to notice the two eyes which had unknowingly been a witness to their converse.

Bondita's eyes brimmed, her heart filled with felicity, she felt contented at the sight of a stranger caring, understanding and respecting her mother as before it only done by her baba or her sakha babu. At that point, she thought how happy was her mother and if the reason was him, then how happy she might be if he stands with her lifelong and not knowing whether right or wrong but immediately liked the thought and with that she reached the said place.

It had been evening, she sat on the flat slap attached to the backwall of the temple waiting for him, constantly thinking "Yeh Durga maa, maa kitni kush nazar aarahi thi Sir ke sath, agar woh humesha maa ke sath rahe toh woh humesha yesa kush rahegi naa. Par kya mein sahi soch rahi hoon yah galath, yeh muje kese batha chalege. Aap hi kuch kijiye jiske wajah se muje, yeh batha chale kya mein sahi soch rahi hoon yah nahi." On the other side Anirudh had already arrived, his day flew with him comparing to her new teacher as for now he decided to conceal his thoughts while he saw her, for some reason he stopped and thought how cute she looked in her uniform, he cherished her await for him and unknowingly her await for him was becoming an addiction to him.

He neared her, fearing on the thoughts of listening to her praise for her new teacher thus decided to share about his important decision. As soon as she spot him, she climbed down, with hands on her hip and lowered at him with her eyes.

He asked "kya Hua?" continuing her anger she began "Samay dekha aapne, aapko patha hai mein kitni der se aapka intezaar kar rahi hoon, wese toh aap bade samaynisht banthethe na aab kya hua, aap ko patha hai muje aapse kitni zaroori bath karni thi?" her words made him chuckle reminding a typical housewife scolding her husband for being late while she glared at his smile "isme hasnewali baat kya hai?" He held his ears and apologised at once making her smile. He said "Acha, aab maf kiya toh ek kush kabri sunaoun" as she nodded curiously he continued "Bondita, aab toh gaav ki ladki bhi padegi kyunki panchayat bhi chahthi humari gaav ki ladkiyon todi pade, aur tuje patha hai koun unlogon ko padayenge?" She raised her eyebrows asking who? He said "Mein, haan Bondita. Tumari sakha babu hi padayenge unhe woh bhi har roj ek gante, vese mein janthi hoon tum vidhyalay jaa rahi ho, par kya tum bhi aougi mujse fir padne keliye" anticipating a yes, she said "zaroor aoungi" making him grin.

She again asked "Par aap itne der se kyun aye ?" to which he informed her about his widow remarriage case. She asked "matlab aap widhwa punar vivah ka sahyog karte, woh sahi hai kya? " Inside he was happy as she was conversing about him and not about the new teacher. Pausing his thoughts he answered "Haan Bondita, Sab ka haq hai na kushi se jeene ka agar kisi aurat ki zindagi mein uski badi kushi uska pathi hi chin gaya toh, uska bhi toh haq bantha haina fir se kushi se apne zindagi jeene ki. Agar aadmi dobara vivah kar sakthe toh aurat kyun nahi, woh bhi punar vivah karke uski baaki ki zindagi kush rah sakthi haina." Slowly registering his words she tried to understand and relate while his question interrupted her "Waise Bondita, tum kya bathana chahthi thi, kya baath hai?"

Out of blue suddenly she asked "Vivah karne ke liye do log ko kya zaroorat hogi?" He was stupefied to core, as it was totally unexpected to him. Though it was not correct age for her to know these details, he knew if not him she will definitely find her answers so to guide her in correct path, shooking his head he replied "Toh Bondita, pehle woh do log, jo vivah karne wale hain woh ek doosre ko izzat karni chahiye, samajna chahiye, bharosa karna chahiye aur aur pya" she continued "ek doosre ka kyaal rakna chahiye, ek doosre keliye ladna chahiye aur ek doosre ke dukh sukh baatna chahiye. Hai na?" Suprised at her words, he replied "Haan Bondita, Sahi kaha tunee." As sudden thought crept her mind, she was on cloud nine.

"Teek hai sakha babu, toh fir milege." Saying this she ran as quick as flash, leaving him startled at her unanticipated question and unexpected act. After which he reasoned himself it must be because of her curious nature. At heart, he was satisfied with the fact that she did not mention about her new teacher in their conversation and as he saw her retreating figure, he whispered "Badmass Bondita".

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