"If I'm the Moon, you're my Sun, Pati Babu.
Whom I'll always need to shine bright!"

Anirudh was so proud of his Bondita that day. But Bondita was even happier, making him proud!

"No Pati Babu! Thank YOU! Bondita will always be incomplete without her Anirudh! You're the one who had always guided me for the best and helped me follow the righ path!" She said, clutching his hands lovingly.

"And about Outshining you!" She spoke, wiping her cheeks.

"I can NEVER outshine you, Pati Babu! The Moon may shine the brightest, but it always needs the light and support of the Sun to shine!" She said and Anirudh just gasped softly at her reference.

"You're my Sun Pati Babu! I might be the Moon and I might even shine the brightest among all stars, in the sky. But I always need you to give me that strength! To give me that glitter of yours to light up the whole world!" She said, fresh tears flowing down her cheeks.

"You're the Sun that has burnt and keeps on burning for the goodness! For ny goodness and for the fulfillment of our dream! I'm just a mere reflection of yours, Pati Babu!" She told and kissed his hands.

"Bondita Roy Chowdhary is just a mere reflection of The Anirudh Roy Chowdhary!" She spoke, making his heart flatter at each word of hers.

"You're my God Pati Babu! You're the God whom Bondita wishes to worship with all her heart!"

"Thankyou so much, Pati Babu!" She said and hugged him tightly, burying her head in his chest happily.

Tears continued to flow down both her cheeks and the most precious smiles didn't leave their faces for even a moment!

....

"I don't like this, Shubra Behen!" Kaka stomped his cane on the floor of his room as Shubra Maa stood behind him, listening to him quietly.
"We need to talk to him about it! We can't let him feel sad and left out!"

"B... But Lochan Da, what of he isn't feeling anything like that and we're just overthinking?" Shubra Maa spoke, knowing her son's unconditional love for his wife.

"No chance! I know better than you!" Kaka hissed.
"No man can see his wife surpass him! It's always about his ego, afterall!"

Shubra Maa couldn't argue more and had started to agree to him.

"But what can we do? Anirudh will never listen a word against Bahu!" She said with a sigh.

"He will! You wait and watch!" Kaka replied thoughtfully and walked away, making Shubra Maa sigh in defeat too.

.....

"Thankyou so much for Bringing her here, Batuk!" Mallika exclaimed happily as she continued to play with Rudhi.

"It's fine!" Batuk smiled at the two, standing beside Mallika.

"But you didn't tell anyone at your home, did you?" Mallika asked, kissing Rudhi's cheek as the baby girl continued to play with her new friend.

"Oh! Dada and Boudi know it! Dada won't let Rudhi go away from his eyes without his knowledge, even for a second!" Batuk laughed happily.

"I think all fathers have a great place for a daughter in their hearts!" Batuk remarked, touching Rudhi's head lovingly.

"Not all fathers are the same I suppose!" Mallika murmured, looking out of the  huge front glass of the car they were sitting in.

"And why would you say so?" Batuk asked looking at her as Rudhi happily cooed in her arms.

"Nothing!" She forced a smile and started to play with Rudhi again.

"Mallika." Batuk said, his voice really soft and laced with love.
"Won't you tell me?" He asked, touching her hand with love.

Mallika just looked up at him with eyes moistened and smiled with a sigh.

"It's nothing much serious Batuk. I think I used to think how my father loves me was the only way and was completely normal. But.... But I've realised it isn't." Mallika said with a smile, sounding sad.

"You know, you can tell me, right?!" Batuk said, smiling sweetly at her while Rudhi turned towards the closed glass window and tried to stand up on Mallika's lap.

"Batuk, it isn't like my doesn't love me. i know he loves me a lot! He really does, but I never get to feel it. He never has time for me." Mallika finally told.

"You must be wondering how am I out till so late, even after being a girl? It's because, he's never at home!" Batuk looked at her, feeling sad.

"I don't even remember when was the last time I met him for dinner! I only get to see him on Sundays and then too he's tired." She said, feeling angry now.

"I do understand that he works hard!  And I do want him to take proper rest too! But isn't it my right too to get some of his time?!" She looked at Batuk for an answer.

"Ofcourse you do!" He said, not even having another option.
"But why don't you talk to him about this, then?"

"Oh forget it! He always has the same reply. 'Daughter I do send you your pocket money on time! And that's more than any girl would ever get in this country!'....That's all he says!" Mallika mimicked her father and sat back on her seat, folding her arms in anger.

"Okay!" Batuk murmured, not knowing what to say.
"I won't say I can understand how you feel. But I will try my best to make up for the love, as much as I could! But certainly I can't make up for his love, sweetheart!"

Mallika's eyes instantly lit up listening to 'sweetheart' and she looked at him with surprise. Batuk didn't shy away or feel awkward, he had genuinely called her that to make her feel better.

"Yes. You're special, Mallika! A special friend!" He smiled and started ti drive to her home.

Mallika sat there blushing as Rudhi enjoyed her car ride, laughing loudly.

She truly was a simple girl, with a few problems that had made her so hard and different from others.

"No I know why you wanted me to love you back, without worrying for your own self respect." Batuk thought.
"You were trying to find the love you never got, outside. From me, you wanted the love that you never could feel with your family. I was so wrong in understanding you...."

......

That evening, Anirudh and Bondita returned home late. Bondita still had some of her work piled up and she had to instantly go to the study and finish it off.

"Pati Babu, will you please...." She started as they entered the main entrance of the Haveli.

"I will feed Mishti. You don't worry!" Anirudh replied, taking her robe from her hands.
"You quickly finish off your work jn peace!" He smiled at her and she smiled back brightly.

Anirudh climbed up the stairs with a smile after Bondita went to the study.

"My baby's playing?!" Anirudh exclaimed, widening his eyes as he saw Rudhi playing with koyeli.

"Baa...baa!!" Rudhi shouted with a  laughter and quickly crawled to him, raising her hands to be picked up.

"Awwwllleee!! My Mishtuuu!" Anirudh called out, throwing the robes on the couch and bending down to pick his baby up in his arms.

"You mished Baba, didn't you?!" He baby talked to her, kissing her cheek deeply.
Koyeli smiled at Anirudh and went away to finish off her work.

"Come here! We'll play together!" Anirudh said, sitting on the bed with his baby as she played with his tie and collar.

"Mm.. Mmaa?!!" Rudhi asked him, gesturing her hands at the door and Anirudh just shook his head chuckling.

"She's busy! Hmm?! We won't disturb her, right?!" He told, keeping Rudhi down on the bed and loosening his tie around his neck.

Rudhi had crawled behind his back and tried to stand up on the bed, clutching his arm tightly.

"Arey! You wanna stand up?!" Anirudh laughed and pulled her to the front.
"Come Baba will help you!"

"Baa... Baa!!" Rudhi almost cried angrily. She had been trying to get hold of her Baba's tie and he just pulled her in front. But soon she became happy as Anirudh helped her stand up in front of him.

Rudhi found it so adventurous and started to rock happily.

"Woww! Mishti will start walking soon now!" Anirudh talked to her and bent down to kiss her head.

"Baa... Baah!" She laughed loudly and Anirudh just hugged her tightly.

"You'll get your own time for this, Shona!" He told, kissing her pouty lips.
"First let's eat something."

He stood up and before going down, walked to the washroom with. He placed Rudhi on the rim of the bathtub.

"Don't move Mishti!" He warned her and Rudhi just nodded her head happily.

Anirudh quickly washed his hands and feet, before cleaning his face. Picking up his towel from the side, he wiped his face and bent down to pick up Rudhi.
She had been looking at  her Baba with love, all this time. Rudhi just loved to play with water and be around it.

Anirudh bent down and taking some soap in his pals, rubbed Rudhi's palms between his own and washed them with the cold water as she squeaked excitedly in his arms.

"Mum!" She squeaked happily, trying to clutch the cold water in her hands.

"Yes! Mum!" Anirudh laughed at the cute name his daughter had given to water.

He stood up straight and wiped her hands gently with love.

Walking out of the washroom, he threw the towel on the bed and walked down with his baby.

He was really happy that day, but he didn't know what storm was waiting for him downstairs.

......

That's all for this part!❤️ Hope you like this!❤️

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