The evening was calm and bright when Bondita was returning with high spirits and with constant thinking of her mother's destiny, as the colleen had always seen her mother suffering with the so called norms of the society which she disliked the most. She pictured her mother and her Rajeev Sir in mind and thought what it would feel like?, answering herself may be a happy family. She smiled at her own words.

The lass thought how her mother will not be denied of wearing colourful sarees, eating favourite delicious food and most important relieved from the taunts of the society for being a widow.
Suddenly she felt as if her mother's life was filled with joy and colours and her heart yearned to give her such life without second thought.

With that she entered her house, seeing her mother smiling happily. She asked "Kya Hua maa? Aaj itni kush kyun ho?" Sumathi's smile widened looking at her daughter, gesturing her to come near with her hands and as she did so, her mother replied "kyun nahi hongi, aaj pehli baar teri maa ne apni kamaye hui paison se tumare liye yeh pen jo layee hai" giving her the pen, she continued  "wese muje patha hai, tumhare sakha babu padayee ki saree vasthu tuje diladiyaa per yeh tumari maa ki taraf se, kese hai? Acha hai na? Tuje pasand ayee?". To which she replied "Bahut acha hai maa, abb mein iska bhi istamaal karke, awal aoungi pure vidhyalay mein."

Feeling joyful Sumathi continued "Wese aur ek tofa bhi hai mere pass, yeh dekh tere liye kitni ache seb rang ki sadee lekar ayee, mein janthi hoon yeh rang tujepe bahut acha lagthi hai" soon she was about to wrap on her but she refused, instead got hold of the saree and wrapped it around her mother's head and said "Mujse jyadha yeh tujpe achi lag rahi hai", her act stunned Sumathi.

Before Sumathi replying, she noticed the time in her watch and continued "Arey 5 bajne wala hai aur mein abhi tak yahi hoon, maa aab mein chalthi hoon sakha babu ki kasha ki samay horahi hai aur aake uniform badhal loongi." saying so she grabbed an apple and sped out without her mother replying while Sumathi smiled cheerfully.

Perks of being in village is that any new news or happening, it would spread like forest fire reaching it to everyhouse of the village. When Sumathi came to know about her Anirudh Babu's class for young girls of village, she felt proud.

As soon as Bondita reached the said place which was a concrete hut just four wall made of bricks, outside which a set of 10 small table chairs made of wood were placed in two rows for students, where a board was placed before it, a long table at the extreme corner which held the stack of huge books and pot plants neatly aligned corner to corner, thus was the view of the village friendly classroom.

Almost all seats being occupied, she sat herself on the last seat of the left row, while she was lost in her thoughts on how to gift back her mother because this time she wanted to colour her mother's life with happiness. She heared them, two girls a little older than her age spoke to each other "Dekha kaise dikh rahe hai barster babu, kya dikh rahe hai na? Aur woh dekh kitni sundar til hai unki chathi pe." Her eyes widened at their comments, she felt annoying as if they had commented on her, she felt irritated and thought of giving a strong reply or may be warning to not to comment such. But, when her eyes travelled to her sakha babu that's when she spoted him in his wide colared red shirt with matching grey trousers looking attractive more also observed how the top two buttons were open unusually, revealing a good part of his fair chest thereby giving an oppurtunity for those girls to make such comments. She saw him arranging the books completely unaware of the surrounding and it's happening. Batuk was also seated on the stair near the threshold of the hut.

An idea erupted, soon she began to cough thereby seeking everyone's attention, being worried Anirudh immediately asked her to drink water from the pot placed on the long table as she proceeded all got back to their work. But increasing her pace, she started to cough badly, at once making him rush to her. Before her, he filled the glass with water and bent down to handover. On him bending, she immediately pulled him more down with the help of her hands firmly holding his colar, he was stunned by her while with stern look she buttoned his shirt not once but twice thereby sheathing him completely. This act of hers terrified him as it was unforseen, completing her job she gave a victorious look at the girls who were still busy in their gossip. As soon as he noticed her sight, he got clue of what might have happened though decided to ask her.

"Kya Hua Bondita? Yese achanak ... aur tumari kasi bina pani peeye kese ruk gayi?" asked Anirudh.

She felt awkward instantly, may be because of her act, she was unable to look into his eyes though managed to reply "kuch nahi, mein teek hoon, aur aur... yeh.. mera matlab aapko tand lag jathi na isliye.." she was unable to complete and to distract him she said "kasha ki der hogayi hai, Sab intezaar kar rahe hain toh chaliye" after which she sat back at her place relaxing knowing now no one will be able to comment on her sakha babu while he smiled bashfully shooking his head, he felt pleasured seeing her being overprotective of him. Thereby starting the first class with hindi alphabets one by one along with instructions.

Concentrating on the class, though she had learnt before. She frowned at his statement "aap sab mere liye samaan hai, koi bed baav nahi kiya jayega isliye grahakariya ko bina kisi Karan diye pora karna hai aaplogon ko" As other girls whined, avoiding all his words she felt sad at his statement of all being equal though she was matured enough to understand this, her heart failed making her more sad. She thought to herself "sab samaan hai, iska matlab me bhi, par kya mein khass nahi hoon. Bondita, tu bhi na yeh toh shikshak babu kehrahe hai sakha babu todi na" reasoning herself she felt better but all her traits were noticed by two eyes which sparkled in mischief.

Soon as the class ended, all drifted to their house at it was late evening. she went to bid goodbye to her sakha babu but then got interrupted by Batuk, who said "suna boudi, dada ne kya kaha sab samaan hai unkeliye matlab tum bhi" only to earn a glare in return though the banter between the duo was thoroughly enjoyed by Anirudh who was very much waiting for her reply.
She initially eyed him later responded "Arey Batuk, woh toh shikshak babu kaha na sakha babu todi nahi, wese bhi mein janthi hoon mere sakha babu keliye mein kitni khass hoon, puri duniya mein sabse khass hai na sakha babu?" He immediately nodded in acceptance later both glued their eyes to each other communicating their emotions completely unaware of the local. Noticing them, Batuk shook his head, being highly disappointed once again by his brother.

Next day at school, Bondita managed the heavy cloth bag also regularly monitored it, she was happy to see her Rajeev Sir, as soon as the class got over,as the class was void of students she called him from back as he turned her words died at her throat, immediately she handed over the bag consisting of mangoes and guavas from her mother's farm only to have a questioning look in return. She said "woh aap Tulsipur mein nayi nayi aye hai na, aapko patha nahi yahan ki fal ka alag hi swaadh hotha hai, issliye mein derahi hoon aapko, aapko acha lagega kaakar toh dekiye. Shotti." He smiled at her gesture though hesitated initially he accepted them not wanting to hurt his student and replied "Thankyou Bondita" making her happy.

Knowing about Sumathi's concurrent visits to shops at bazzar, Rajeev too made to bazzar only to get glimpse of her if possible to have a small talk. Initially he liked her kind nature later it was accompanied by huge respect when he came to know being widow working in farm for her daughter without depending on anyone. Also unknowingly liked her company and yearned for it, may be because of his celibacy. They kept on meeting, Sumathi thinking it to be pure coincidence. Here Anirudh Bondita met at their spot frequently though they would meet each other in his evening class. The meet after her school behind the temple was their time void of all worries of the world, just them. Though inbetween Anirudh had to travel kolkatta for his case. Secretly all four cherished their conclave, by that two weeks had passed at blink.

Though Bondita wanted to very much discuss it with her sakha babu, for some reason restricted herself as he was already busy handling too much single handedly. Moreover she wanted to do all by herself independently for her mother.

One day gaining enough confidence, she dropped a letter in her Rajeev Sir's book on which she had proposed him to marry her mother also promised marriage will happen only if both approve. Unknowingly Rajeev too carried his belongings and headed out. She made the plan as the teachers would retire early noon that day while students remain for a program. She silently sent prayers fo her Durga maa, to get his approval unknowing about the future.

The sky was orangish with partial clouds making the noon's atmosphere more hot while unknown to the world the same day was to change the fate of two lives.

The bazaar was quite calm only few minutes left to be fully buzzed and crowded. Leaving his belongings in car Rajeev stepped into the bazzar soon spoted Sumathi standing before a shop near the temple. Being delighted tried to reach her, nearing her he did not miss her frightened face, unsteady position may be wriggling, trembling same time and constantly trying to sheath herself with the free end of her saree. Only when he neared her, he sensed her situation her saree was getting transparent as she was completely drenched.

His eyes expressing fury and being worried at the same time as he saw few men gawking at her which added to her awkwardness. Without second thought, throwing rupees at the shopkeeper he pulled a saree hanging in shop headed towards her rapidly. On reaching when their eyes met she felt ease. Without breaking their gaze at once astonishing her, he wrapped her with bright apple red coloured cotton silk saree, thereby sheathing her completely. Mitigating her he felt satisfied.

They were centered for their act in public who were confounded. Soon voices erupted among the crowd, the same people who tried to misbehave by throwing water on her, thereby putting her honour at stake. "Arey, yeh kya? Widhwa hokar ek paraye Mard ke sath chi chi.." soon the crowd also started gossiping, unaware of them Rajeev rapidly replied "Arey kese bath kar rahe aap, Dikh nahi rahe kya aapko unki sthithi. Inki halaat dekthe huye bhi aap yese bol rahe hai." The other men from crowd started "Arey inka toh roj chaltha hai" passing a disgusted look at him, Rajeev looked at her who was still trembling because of the effect. This time a women spoke "Arey, issey toh mar Jana chahiye, kese widhwa hokar ek paraye Mard ki diye huye sadee pehenke bina Sharm ki kadi hai, woh bhi beech bazaar mein, kam se kam apni beti ke baare me toh sochthi." Another women said "Aise aurathon ko tho samaaj me koi sthan nahi hona chahiye, aise paap karnese toh issey marna hi hoga." It was added with their disgusting looks who began to threw more filthy taunts where some gave ideas of setting her ablaze. Therefore the raged crowd repeated the same words making her heart wretch, she felt insulted. Her eyes welled up at the thought of her daughter and her future and at this sight his heart pained, he felt heavy.

Few men headed towards her violently as they did not like a person acting against their preserved society norms to be a part of their society. Adding fuel to the fire, people around complied their action as according to them she committed a sin which cannot be redeemed. Sensing the situation, being a single person he felt helpless with no way he stopped them saying " Rukiye, agar yeh sab paap hai aapke liye teek hai. Aapka samasiye mujse haina toh muje sazaa dijiye unhe chod dijiye." Paying no heed the crowd continued but stopped when they heard him again. This time he came front and showed his palm, turning towards her their eyes met again, but she was startled when he got hold of pinch of vermillion from the tray placed at the nearby shop. His eyes seeked permission and just with a blink of hers, he smeared the red powder on her parting thereby marking her his while the crowd was left baffled.

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Though lengthy, hope you don't get bored. Let's witness how their union makes impact on our protagonists.

As usual, looking forward for your comments and criticisms. Colour the star, if you have liked it.