About the title: It's the climax of the track, not of the story. So don't be afraid. Hit star, show your interest, and this story shall go on! ❤️

This is a long chapter, so I would love your inline comments on this part. A lot happens in it, so would love to see your reactions to all the events!

--

They were holding hands the whole way to the school. 

On the way, they had seen everyone's disapproving and critical looks, but Anirudh and Bondita ignored them. Thankfully, those who were outside were mostly people who were willing to talk behind their backs, but were not going to approach them directly. 

They had overheard one conversation on the way to the school. 

"Barrister Babu was fitoori as it was, and now he brainwashed his wife into being the same way..." a man said. 

"Yes, it was always expected from him, but not from Bondita Roy Choudhary, who Trilochan takes so much pride in for being the ideal Bahu..." another man replied. 

Bondita could feel the fire within her rise when they said that her Pati Babu brainwashed her, but Anirudh leaned closer to her and whispered, "Do you remember what you told Thakumaa when she said you were brainwashed?" 

Bondita couldn't help but smile and she looked at him, as the two of them chimed together and giggled, only so each other could hear, "Then you should get brainwashed too, because your brain certainly needs washing!"

Anirudh and Bondita both laughed together, on the way to school, turning the society member's judgmental comments into memories that were positive and fun. 

Once they got to the school, there were many reporters outside with cameras and notepads. 

As soon as Anirudh and Bondita came in view, they were swarmed by around five reporters. 

Anirudh protectively wrapped his arm around Bondita's shoulder. 

"Anirudh Roy Choudhary, and Bondita Roy Choudhary," one reporter said, "We have some questions we would like to ask you!" 

"Yes, please answer our questions," another one said.

Anirudh looked at Bondita, whose eyes had suddenly gone wide. She wasn't expecting people from the press here! But regardless, she was willing to answer them.

However, it seemed like Anirudh had other plans.

"We will answer your questions afterwards. Right now, we have to go in," Anirudh told the press members, and directed Bondita towards the entrance to the school, his arm still supportively around her shoulder. 

Bondita walked towards the school doors with her Pati Babu, and then suddenly stopped in her tracks. 

"What's wrong Bondita?" he asked, looking at her. 

"Pati Babu, why should we answer them later?" she asked him. 

"Because they may throw you off before your speech. I don't want anyone hampering your mindset," he told her, "We don't know what kinds of questions they'll ask." 

Bondita nodded with agreement and she said, "You're right, but I feel like we should tell them about what we are doing here at least."

"Bondita, we can tell them later," he told her firmly. 

"If we do that, won't it look like we are ashamed of what we are doing?" she asked. "We'll just say a few words. That's it!" 

Anirudh looked at her with a thoughtful expression. 

"But if you don't want to, then we will do it later," she told him, "I was just saying what I felt." 

"Alright fine," Anirudh said with a resigned sigh. "Let's talk to them. But not for long." 

Bondita nodded and grinned, taking his hand, and walking back to the reporters with him. 

"Before we go, we wanted to tell you about what we are doing here!" Bondita told the reporters. "I will be giving a speech to the female students at this school about menstruation, and how to manage their menstruation so that it doesn't hamper their ability to come to school." 

The reporters all began to write notes. 

"And Bondita Roy Choudhary, why have you decided to do this?" one male reporter asked - he looked to be in his fifties, and was bald in the middle of his head. There was a badge that said Bengal News pinned on his shirt. "Did Barrister Babu ask you or did you do this on your own?" 

Bondita looked at the reporter with a frown. Anirudh sighed too. He knew that they would get weird questions like these. 

"Reporter sir, whether I do it on my own, or if Barrister Babu asked me, it's the same to me, because the source of my energy and the manifestation of my thoughts are him only!" Bondita told the reporter sternly. 

Anirudh looked at Bondita with awe, a smile forming on his lips. 

He was the manifestation of her thoughts? 

The expression of Bondita's deep love for him sounded incredibly romantic. 

"Barrister Babu, have you not brainwashed your wife into following your controversial ways?" the same reporter asked Anirudh. 

Anirudh looked up at the reporter and said, with a proud smile, "I only saw her potential, and I nurtured that. Bondita was always this way. And it may be controversial, but these are much needed changes so that society can live at peace with each other. We shouldn't look down on others, just because they have a different gender, or go through different things." 

Bondita added on, "And about brainwashing, my Pati Babu has always encouraged me to do things on my own, learn on my own, and do what I feel inside. And I consider that beautiful, because he helped me think in such a way that he made me see the world for what it truly is. Call it what you want, even if it's brainwashing, then it's the most splendid form of it! My Pati Babu has empowered me, and now we will empower others!" 

Anirudh looked at Bondita proudly. 

Another reporter from the crowd stepped forward -- he was much younger. He looked to be in his late twenties. He had thick dark hair, and extremely thick eyebrows, with even thicker black-framed rectangular glasses. His badge said Tulsipur Times. He was part of their local newspaper. 

"Excuse me Barrister Babu and Bondita," the reporter said. "This is a very different movement, that we've never seen here in Tulsipur, nor have we seen much in many places in India. It's truly remarkable that you two have gone against many odds to change the way that people see things. People are very much invested in their own lives, and rarely think to empower others. So the movement you two are doing is great!" 

Anirudh looked at the man with shock, and he smiled. He wasn't expecting to actually get compliments. Bondita grinned too. 

"I'm Shubham Bannerjee from Tulsipur Times, and I wanted to take your picture, and feature it on the front page of tomorrow's paper," he told them, and then glanced at Anirudh. "But Barrister Babu, first can you explain to us your thought process behind all of this, behind your wife giving a speech." 

Anirudh grinned at Bondita and he just said, "Only Bondita deserves to answer this question. After all, she's the one giving the speech. She's the one making a difference in everyone's lives. I'm just her assistant!" 

Anirudh with a smile glanced at Bondita, and Bondita shook her head slowly at her Pati Babu. 

"My Pati Babu is not just my assistant! He's a very important part of this movement. But I will still answer your question. Menstrual taboos are something that arise from a misconception. People have misunderstood what has been written in our scriptures, and then throughout time, they've added their own spins to it. As the generations pass, the population has learned from their elders, who themselves were misinformed! Menstruation is not impure, it's not a sin. If it was, then birth would be too," Bondita explained. "But birth, creation, giving life to another, is considered to be virtuous in nature. Then how can menstruation be impure? It's the purest of things." 

The other reporters in the batch looked quite uncomfortable, but Shubham smiled, and wrote down her answer in a notepad. 

Anirudh also looked at Bondita with pride. 

One day his heart could burst just out of pride! 

"Now we really have to get going," Anirudh told them, "My wife has answered your questions, and she will be imparting this knowledge to the girls today, so they don't feel shy or embarrassed of their own natural processes." 

"Very good," Shubham just said, and adjusted his glasses, "All the best Bondita! And I'm sure, you must be feeling proud of your young wife, Barrister Babu!" 

Bondita smiled, as she glanced up at Anirudh, and Anirudh just smiled as well.

"I'm so proud that I can't even begin to explain," he told Shubham with a smile. His eyes got teary, and his voice heavy with pride. "She has filled my entire life with so much pride, that I can look up and proudly say my wife, Bondita has fulfilled my dreams. Not only has she fulfilled them, but she has also created dreams in the eyes of many, many others! One day, I will proudly say that too!" 

Bondita grinned at her Pati Babu, tears in her eyes as well. 

Tu karega garv mujhpe
Aisa karke dikhauu,
Jo khwab tera woh khwab mera banaa...
Rishta tera mera, Rishta tera Meraaa

-- 

Inside the auditorium, the group had already begun to set up everything that the driver had delivered. 

Surabhi, Mallika and Vikram were there, already setting up, when Anirudh and Bondita entered after getting their picture clicked for the newspaper. 

"Hello ji!" Mallika said to Anirudh and Bondita. 

Vikram was busy placing a sign on the stage, while Surabhi was arranging the pads to be distributed. 

"Thank you all for being here, for helping," Anirudh said gratefully to the group. 

"Don't make us strangers by saying such things Mr. ARC," Surabhi said with a smile. 

Bondita grinned at Surabhi, and Surabhi grinned back at her. Surabhi was really making a place in Bondita's heart! She was enjoying her friend's company, and the connection with her so much!

As soon as Anirudh's eyes landed on Surabhi though, a strange feeling of deja vu once again hit him and he didn't know why. 

No, I was sick... I don't know what I was imagining, Anirudh thought to himself, pushing away those strange hallucinations. 

He just smiled at Surabhi and said, "I'm very thankful that you're supporting your friend like this." 

Vikram just came up to them after he finished arranging his sign and said, "Bondita's Pati Babu, we are also very thankful!" 

"About?" Anirudh asked, surprised. 

"That you are letting us do this for you and Bondita!" Vikram said with a smile. 

Anirudh just chuckled. 

"You have the right to," he told Vikram with a smile, "She's your friend. You have all the rights to help her. You don't need my permission." 

Vikram grinned at Anirudh, feeling extremely inspired by this man. 

That was when Batuk came in, yawning heavily, still extremely tired. 

"There you are!" Vikram said, turning to Batuk, "Why didn't you just come tomorrow instead?"

"Vikrammm!" Batuk groaned, walking over to them on the stage. "Boudi, tell them I didn't sleep for two days!" 

His eyes met Surabhi's for a brief moment, and then he looked away from her awkwardly, suddenly feeling woken up. 

Bondita smiled and she just placed her hand on Batuk's shoulder. 

"It's okay, I'm very proud that you even helped for the last two nights, compromising your ever-important sleep!" she told him lightly. 

"Ji, you compromised your sleep?" Mallika asked, sounding surprised. 

Batuk groaned and asked, "What's so surprising about that? Mallika, I can do anything for my Dada and Boudi!" 

Anirudh just smiled and placed his hand on Batuk's other shoulder. 

"Alright now enough talking. Set up first," he told everyone. 

They all nodded and went to set up. 

As they were setting up, Surabhi was trying to carry a heavy sign, and Batuk noticed, gulping. He was about to turn around and ignore her, when Mallika shoved him with her shoulder, making him turn to look at her with surprise. 

"What are you doing ji? Go and help her. She needs help," Mallika said. 

"Why don't you?" Batuk retorted. 

"I'm not strong!"

Batuk grinned suddenly, wondering if Mallika was calling him strong. 

"You're so lazy Batuk," Mallika just said, and Batuk frowned.

"L - lazy?" Batuk spluttered. 

"At least go and help now!" Mallika demanded. 

"Alright, alright fine," Batuk just said, and went to help Surabhi. 

He caught the edge of the sign that she was holding on to, trying not to look at her. 

"Thanks," Surabhi just said, but Batuk ignored her. 

Surabhi just smiled, and she tried to walk with it to the other side of the stage. "This way," she informed. 

Batuk helped her set it up, trying hard not to look at her. 

"Batuk," Surabhi said softly, causing his heart to nearly jump out of his chest like he got a heart attack! 

Why was she taking his name like that? 

"What?" he asked, not looking at her. 

"Are you so scared of me, that you won't look at me?" she teased. 

Batuk finally looked at her and said, "I'm not!" 

As soon as he saw her, the rate of his heart started to increase frantically again, and he gulped. He needed to stay away from her, not get closer to her!

"Don't worry, my revenge is done," she told him. "I won't be kissing you anymore." 

Batuk's face flushed and he just said, "T - that... w - wasn't a... k -  kiss." 

Surabhi just smiled at him and said, "I didn't know you were so cute." 

"Cute?" he asked, his eyes widening. "I - I - hate you! Don't call me cute." 

"I saw yesterday how much you hated me," she teased, quite enjoying this. 

"You - shocked - me! It - wasn't - my - fault!" he stammered. 

"No matter how shocked someone is, the first response is to save yourself from attack. Which means you didn't consider what I did an attack," she told him, rolling her eyes, "And anyways Batuk, I tried to push you off that night... but you still didn't stop. You still violated me. That won't change." 

"You... violated... me... back!" 

"You're strong, you could have pushed me," Surabhi just said lightly. 

"I - I -" Batuk stammered, not knowing what the hell was wrong with him. "Don't talk to me! I don't want to talk to you!" 

"Fine," Surabhi just said, rolling her eyes, "I take back my words. You aren't cute!" 

Now Batuk felt even more offended and he didn't know why. 

He took a deep breath and finally hissed darkly, "Don't mess around with me Surabhi." 

She glared at him and said, "You don't mess around with me Batuk! I already apologized for what I did. It doesn't give you the right to be continuously rude to me!" 

Batuk just glared at her for a few seconds first, and then feeling like he was getting hot around his collar and face, just stormed away from there. 

She was ridiculous, but he felt even more so, because he somehow, somewhere deep down was enjoying this.

-- 

After Bondita finished reading over the speech, Anirudh took her hand and pulled her to the side, behind the curtains, a smile on his lips. 

Soon, the girls would gather in there and she would have to start. Vikram, Batuk, Mallika and Surabhi were checking to make sure everything looked good. 

"Are you ready my Barrister Babu?" he asked her softly. 

Bondita nodded, and took a deep breath. 

"I hope I don't mess up," she told him, sounding nervous.

"You won't," he told her, and cupped her cheeks proudly. "I know for sure, that someone who only thinks about the well-being of others, can never be so focused on their own fears, their own stage fright, that they forget about the mission that they originally had, and hinder the experience of the audience. They'll only focus on what is needed; which is to empower the audience." 

Bondita looked at him with a smile, his pep talk making its way straight into her heart. 

"You've looked over my points, and you also confirmed that they're good," Bondita said, nodding, "I'm sure it'll go well." 

Vikram and Batuk left the auditorium when the girls started to pour into the audience.

"I'm sure too," he told her softly, and then he leaned towards her and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "It seems like it's almost time to start. All the best...Barrister Babu." 

Bondita's heart started to thump very loudly, and she just wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. 

"My battery," she murmured against his chest, still sounding nervous. "I need your energy first." 

Anirudh chuckled and caressed her hair lovingly, holding her to him. 

He whispered to her, "Missy you don't know how much self-control I'll need, when I see you go up on stage." 

Bondita blushed against him. 

"Why?" she asked. 

"Because seeing you in this form is my greatest fantasy of all," he told her. 

A smile played on her lips, all of her fears alleviating with his seductive words. He meant what he was saying, but he was also trying to make her relax a little bit before she went up on stage.  

"You get turned on when I am like this?" she teased. 

"Very, very much... oh I can't even begin to tell you how much." 

Bondita lifted her face, her heart fluttering, as she looked up in his eyes, their arms still loosely wrapped around each other. 

"Soon..." he murmured to her softly, looking at her with a gaze of desire, "After all this is over... we will cool down together, in the shower." 

Bondita's eyes widened with excitement. 

The shower? No, she didn't believe him! She wouldn't until it happened!

He noticed her excited eyes and chuckled. 

"Yes missy, so go and show them who you are... and show me too," he told her seductively, making her blush. 

That was when the principal came up on stage, and she quickly broke the hug and took a step away from Anirudh, blushing hard. 

Anirudh was also blushing, a soft smile on his lips. 

He was going to enjoy every second of today. 

Every single moment of it. That meant, even when he went home, he would enjoy his beautiful wife to the fullest. 

The principal announced on the stage, "Our school topper, Bondita Roy Choudhary will be delivering a speech today. She will speak to you young ladies about... well, uh... she will tell you. She has topped in all of her classes, so she is a clever and intelligent young lady. Give your full focus and attention to her." He glanced at the side of the stage and said, "Bondita Roy Choudhary, please come." 

Anirudh smiled and clapped on the side, as Bondita slowly made her way to the stage. 

The principal then joined Anirudh behind the curtains, as Bondita adjusted the microphone on the podium. 

"You don't know how many parents threatened to take their boys out of this school," the principal whispered to Anirudh. 

Anirudh whispered back, "Don't worry sir, they're only making threats. But, right now your first female student Bondita will make history." 

The principal just forced a smile and watched with Anirudh on the side as his school topper delivered her first speech. 

-- 

Bondita gazed at the crowd in front of her. There were maybe 25 - 30 students here, all looking up at her, having heard from the rumours what the topic was about. She gauged their facial expressions, and saw that some girls were looking down shyly. 

"Menstruation," Bondita started, "Is something that nearly every female goes through, yet females shy away from speaking about it even to each other." 

She smiled at them and added on, "But I'm not here to force you to do something you don't want to do. I'm only here to enhance your lives. To make you more comfortable." 

First, she explained menstruation from a biological way, pointing to one of the posters they had made, just in case there were some girls who were unaware about how it happened. 

Bondita then went on to explain what she had explained to the reporters earlier. About how misconceptions had been passed down from generations to make this something that was called 'impure', when really it never was.

"There is even a temple, called the Kamakhya temple, in Guwahati, Assam, which celebrates the menstruation of the Goddess," Bondita explained with a smile. "They've got it right, that menstruation is something to be worshipped, that it is what brings life. It is the blood that goes into creating a human being, and therefore it runs in each and everyone of our veins! So if menstruation is impure, so is all of life." 

The girls were all looking up at her, intrigued. Even Surabhi and Mallika were there in the back, watching Bondita with interest. 

"I'm not here to tell you to go home and fight with your family members. They were taught differently, and they may not change their mindset now. However, you are all young. You have a fresh mind, you are more flexible and willing to soak in new information for what it is," she continued, "I'm only here to improve your circumstances during your menstruation. To tell you that you can still come to school if you bleed, because there are ways you can manage your cycles." 

The girls all looked up at her with curiosity, and some even with inspiration. 

"Ultimately, it's your choice. If you want to come to school during those times, you may. If you want to stay home and rest, it's your choice completely. Nobody will force you, and I will never tell you what to do. But I want to give you the option, by showing you these pads," she explained. 

She took out sample pads and showed them. 

"It's made out of a soft cloth, the same type that you wear during your menstruation, but this is in a pad form, which means that it will be easier to manage. It won't slip around everywhere. It will make it more comfortable for you, and will even prevent leaking to a large degree," Bondita explained to the girls. "I've been coming to school for many years wearing these pads. Today, I'll show you how to create them. Please take notes. It's not that difficult, and can be washed, sanitized, and reused." 

The girls all had their notebooks out. 

She pointed to another poster and explained how to make the pads. 

Finally, she concluded with telling them that they could come to her if they had any questions, and told them all that she would be handing out some pads to each of the girls. 

As the girls came to get their pads, the look that they gave Bondita... it was one that she could never forget in her whole life. The look of true gratitude, the look that she had touched someone's heart. 

Tears nearly welled in her eyes, as she handed over these pads. 

Although she did teach them today, Bondita was the one who learned the greatest lesson; that empowering others, made you the happiest -- it made your heart feel full, your life feel fulfilled and purposeful. 

On the side, Anirudh was just watching, smiling, tears continuously rolling down his cheeks, as he proudly watched his wife make a difference in the lives of those girls. 

Tujhme Roshan Hoga Sooraj toh Dhoop Bhi Aayegi
Shabd Kaagaz Par Chalenge toh Raah Toh Payegi,
Teri Kismat Tere Haathon Se hi Likhi Jaayegi
Tere Kadmo Ke Nishaano Par Chalegi Duniya
Mein Teri Aankho mein Dekhu Sapna Mera!
Rishta Tera Mera, Rishta Tera Mera,
Rishta Tera Mera, Rishta Tera Mera

"Shabaash Bondita..." he sobbed breathlessly. "Shabaash." 

Tears continuously to poured down his cheeks, and the principal just turned to look at him. 

"Would you like a handkerchief Barrister Babu?" he asked. 

"No sir," Anirudh just said, turning to gaze at the principal, "These tears have fallen because of my Bondita's beauty, her grace, her wisdom. Today, I want to cherish every moment of this. I don't want to change a thing here for the world, not even my tears." 

Bondita turned and gazed at her Pati Babu, who she noticed had wet eyes and continuous tears rolling down his cheeks. 

Her own eyes got wet, as she saw him sob with happiness, but she managed to control herself as long as the girls were here. 

Once the girls all left the auditorium, she finally collapsed on the floor, and sobbed uncontrollably. 

She made her Pati Babu so proud, that his tears just weren't stopping! This made her whole life feel fulfilled! How could she not break down?

Anirudh rushed over to her, as the principal watched, alarmed. 

Anirudh fell to the floor beside her, and engulfed her in a tight hug, as the two of them sobbed against each other. 

"They're... quite crazy. Why cry over a speech?" the principal just said, and walked away, giving them their space. 

Anirudh pulled her to his lap on the empty stage, and buried his face into her neck, as he continued to cry with pride. 

One of Bondita's hands clutched his hair, the other one on the nape of his neck, as she sobbed with him. 

No words were exchanged. Only tears. But the tears conveyed more than any words could that day. 

-- 

Precap: 

Some steamy shower romance. 🙈

-- 

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! 

I teared up so much writing this. It got me extremely emotional! I myself feel so, so proud that they've reached this milestone in this journey, and I hope that my readers who grew up with them also feel the pride. 😢

Please do leave your comments. So much happened in it, that I would love your inline comments on this part. 

Did you enjoy the news reporter scene? 

The friends scene? What's going on between Batuk and Surabhi? 

What should be their ship name? 🤭

Anirudh's pep talk and pre-speech flirting? 

Bondita's speech? 

The two versions of RTM?

And finally, the proud tears? 

How about the precap? Are you excited for some shower romance?

I love you all so, so much! ❤️

Remember to PRESS STAR too!