It is true to say that Life is full of surprises, a single second is enough to change its course and direction. It amazes not only the person but makes others difficult to realize and accept the happening. Though Sumathi had witnessed one such turn in her daughter's life, never anticipated it in her destiny.

The moment Rajeev smeared the sacred red powder on her parting, she froze and the next minute he grabbed the auspicious chain made up of blackbeads the mangalsutra tieing it around her neck, her eyes glued to his. His eyes made promises which she could clearly sense. Admist the crowd which raged to give her death, he gifted her life. Her eyes expressed extreme reverence while his gave an assurance.

It was late noon, as he caught hold of her right hand with all rights ambled out of the crowd while they watched helplessly. As they did so, the flowers from the adjacent trees fell over thereby greeting and granting the blessings of nature. As they continued, both hearts sunk in funk thinking about  their response to each other, though their entwined hands told opposite story.

On the other side, Anirudh waited impatiently to meet his sakhi also frequently checked himself with the help of his car's mirror, though seemed unusual to himself it might be because of his insecurity. For fact, he disliked the thought of she appreciating someone, he wanted to be best to her in all possible ways and he made sure of it.

His face radiated with a look of her merry face as Bondita spot him, she returned the same with a glee. As she neared spoke excitedly "sakha babu aap? aapko patha hai ganeeth ki pariksha mein aapki Bondita pure kasha me aval ayi" with that he caught hold of her shoulders, his eyes sparkling with pride he replied "Sabash Bondita, Toh aaj paka tuje inam milni chahiye, kyun?" with that he eyed her the kulfi shop at the adjacent corner, hearing which she joyfully nodded in acceptance and proceeded.

In cherishing his little sakhi he completely ignored his little brother who was clearly displeased at the act of his brother, though adjusted to routine he grumpily followed them. As soon as Anirudh ordered, Batuk said "Dada, aajkal aap muje bhool gaye aapko sirf boudi dikthi hai. Kabhi kabhi toh muje lagtha hai aap sirf boudi se pyar karthe mujse nahi" to which he immediately regretted his mistake and started to speak just to get interrupted by her laugh, while doing so she spoke "lagtha hai, yeh kya Batuk? Yehi toh sach hai sakha babu mujse sabse jyaada pyaar karthe hai" hearing which instantly smile appeared on Anirudh's lips, also felt embarrassed so quickly looked left and right to make sure none had heard them, though he liked her saying or may be her confidence in saying such, he began to say while she continued "jaise mein sakha babu ko karthi hoon, hai na sakha babu?" he was on cloud nine, felt ecstatic though he wanted to accept and refuse at the same time. She raised her eyebrows in questioning, to which he nodded widely like a possessed soul. Her laugh continued in victory as his eyes glued to her serene laughter.

Extremely annoyed with little tears Batuk said "Muje kisi se bath nahi karni, koi muje pasandh nahi kartha. Mein chali." Bondita looked at her dejected friend's face, felt sorry for him so to lighten him. She stopped Batuk from leaving and gave him a pot kulfi and said " Arey ruko, yeh lo. Yeh kya tumari ankon mein, tuje patha nahi Zamindaar rote nahi" with that Batuk wiped off his tears as she pulled his cheeks and continued  "aur tuje kya lagtha hai koi tuje pasandh nahi kartha, itni golu molu sa hai tu, tuje bina pasandh kare koi reh saktha hai kya?" Batuk asked "shotti boudi?" She replied "shotti". With that Batuk's lost smile returned then she signalled him to have the kulfi and gave hers too which brightened his face. For once Anirudh checked his own cheeks, but was chuffed with her act and adored their bond.

Later to which, he asked the driver to take Batuk home while he accompanied her as he felt so. As both proceeded towards her house, she chatted non stop while he heared her all the way. Nearing to her house, his leg froze, eyes widened and was startled as she saw him, she too viewed at the sight of his eyes only to get dumbfounded.

It was the appearence of her mother reason for their state, as they neared they spot a stranger though was not able to see his face because of the shadow casted on him, they heared his words completely laced of tenderness "Maine joh kiya puri hosh mein kiya, koi zabardasthi me yah koi majboori mein nahi. Maantha hoon Jaise hua shayad woh galath ho saktha hai per jo hua, woh nahi kyunki mein dil se aapko chahtha hoon aur apni patni maantha hoon par fir bhi mera nirnay aap par thopunga nahi, aap jo feslay lainge muje mansoor hai, aab yeh shadhi manna ya nahi apke hatho mein hai. Agar aapko nahi sweekar hai, mein aapko zabardasthi nahi bandhunga iss rishtey mein par.... Akir mein sirf yeh kehna chahtha hoon ki muje ek moke dijeya aapko zindagi bar kush rakne keliye. Aab mein chaltha hoon, kal fir avunga aapki jawab keliye agar haan hai tho kushi kushi apni patni ko gar le chalene keliye. Intezaar karunga, aapka kyal rakeiye" with that he immediately disappeared.

The duo easily sensed his care, his voice proved his right fullness as he spoke with open heart genuinely. Still could not fathom what had happened, they stood before Sumathi whose eyes where glued to sight her man disappeared. Both did not feel any awkwardness in her eyes in return  they found respect for him in it.

Shaking her mother's hand Bondita spoke "Maa, kya hua tuje? Tu aise kyun kade ho? Aur aur woh koun hai?" As the duo looked for answers Sumathi initially hesitated sensing it Anirudh spoke "Maa, bathayiye hame. Humpar vishwas rakke bathayiye Kya hua?" With that she narrated the happening of the day and expressed how a single second had saved her life, hearing which he raged in fury tightening his fists, noticing him with one hand still on her mother she used the other hand to place it on him and tried to calm him, though instantly calmed with her mere touch he asked "kya unhone koi zabardasthi ki aapke sath?" Sumathi immediately replied "Nahi, nahi Anirudh babu woh bahut ache insaan hai, aap nahi janthe usey par woh dil ke saf hai aur bouth achey insaan hai Bilkul aap ki tarah, aur soch bhi aapse milthi hai." Though relieved, with that the he sensed hesitation clearly as Sumathi looked at her daughter, observing which he glanced at her once and spoke his mind "Maa aapko yaad hai aapne kaha, jab mein aapse kuch mangonga app zaroor woh denge" to which Sumathi looked curiously not knowing what he might ask, he continued "toh maa, aaj maang raha hoon. Muje aapki kushi chahiye maa, aapki zindagi me firse rang dekna chahtha hoon. Par sirf agar aapko manzoor ho tab hi, Sunne mein aur aapke kehne mein ache insaan hai toh" As Bondita nodded in approval, Sumathi eyed both of them.

With that, Anirudh left indicating Bondita to handle. After few minutes of walk, he felt the need to check them as she too was too small to understand moreover she might find difficult to handle her mother, with that he returned only to know how wrong was he as his eyes caught the view of her sitting with her mother's head lied on her lap with she continuously wiping her tears and encouraging her to sleep. At the time he felt indeed she was more matured than her age.

With that he returned to his haveli, as he entered he got a phone call leaving him in dilemma, but realizing her maturity he made his decision. Soon he informed his kaka about his three day trip, as he was wanted by a senior advocate in kolkatta urgently, also for his case hearing. As he prepared to leave, his kaka and Batuk too prepared as the Zamindaar was invited for festival at the near village though it was for two days. Later that night, he asked Saurab to enquire the details about the stranger his Sumathi maa had married as he did not want any risk also gave a letter to handover to his Bondita.

The night seemed long than usual as the four souls drifted to sleep with different thoughts not knowing what their future holds, all were less concerned about themselves as their thoughts surrounded about their loved ones.

With the rise of Sun, Anirudh started his journey leaving his heart behind while Bondita woke up to see her mother in deep slumber and not wanting to disturb she continued with her chores, she was thankful for the day being Sunday as she can stay with her.

As she saw ladies walking with empty pots she too decided to fetch water for today as it was always done by her mother and to return back early.

On fetching water and returning she spoted a dizzy figure who had fainted and collapsed on land, reaching him she made him drink water from her pot as he drank she observed him being six feet, fairer than accustomed with clear bone structured face and a brown bess musket hanging on his right shoulder clearly indicating a British soldier while he noticed her watch glowing in sunshine after which at once knowing his stability, she ran leaving him confused.

It was at late noon, she heared a knock unfortunately which broke her mother's peaceful sleep too. Getting agitated she opened only to receive a letter from her sakha babu while the latter had expected her stranger. Becoming untrue Sumathi's heart frowned later when she saw the time she was taken aback.

"Bondita, tunee Utah kyun nahi muje. Dekh aaj kitni der hogyee" Sumathi spoke while she rushed with her things to bathe but only to be stopped by her dear daughter, Bondita gave her light pink coloured saree and said "Nahane jaa rahi ho, teek hai par yeh saadi ley ja, kyunki mein chahthi hoon meri maa aaj se rang birangi saade pehne" thereby indirectly showing acceptance to her mother's marriage.

With a smile at her clever daughter as Sumathi went to bathe, Bondita sat down to read her sakha babu's letter, for some reason she liked its smell as it radiated the fragrance of him. Not knowing why, she frequently sniffed it to feel him and then began to read.

Priya Bondita,

Jaantha joon aab muje tumhare pass hona chahiye, par yeh bhi jantha hoon aab meri sakhi badi ho rahi hai yah Yun kahon badi hogayi hai, issliye muje pora vishwas hai tumpar ki, tum sab ache se sambalogi. Bahut zaroori kaam se 3 din keliye kolkatta ja raha hoon, hosake toh jald lautunga. Humesha kehthi ho na maa tumari himmat hai, toh aab wakt agaya hai ki tum maa ki himmat banne keliye. Unko vishwas dilado ki tum unke sath ho unki sare fesley mein. Aab aur nahi kahoonga muje patha hai tum mujse behthar sab sambalogi. Haan apna aour maa ka kyaal rak. Bahut jald laut aunga tumarepass.

Tumhare
Sakha babu

Though she did not like his sudden departure, with closed eyes and smile she sniffed again to feel him and felt she can survive with the letter for three days. On opening her eyes she was delighted to see her mother in coloured saree as she entered, she felt her dream came true for now she can view her mother's life filled with happiness and colours.

As Bondita felt elated at her mother's decision she rushed and hugged her as she reciprocated so, the blare of vehicle forced them to look out. As Sumathi spot her stranger, she instructed her daughter to stay inside making her frown.

The sky seemed to be painted with purple bluish mixture with stars erupting here and there. After praying to his goddess and with lots of hopes Rajeev stood in front of house waiting for his destiny to unfold. Not only his but also other pair of eyes were equally curious to see her mother's stranger.

As the door opened, the lamp hanged near the door radiated, Rajeev saw her draped in baby pink saree covered her head with veil, her eyes full of life, with reserved smile, adorned with trinket, though bit nervous she looked heavenly to him as she stood there as his future and with that look he beemed of satisfaction while the other pair grinned widely spoting familiar being from her restricted casement.

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