Somnath was having a hard time adjusting to his new schedule. He would often spend the nights studying, so now that all of his exams were over, he was in a strange state where he couldn't sleep, nor did he know what to do with his time.

It was around three in the morning when he went downstairs, deciding to go to the kitchen to get some water. 

On the way there, he noticed a figure in the dark, resting at the bottom of Durga Maa's feet. 

He took a few steps closer and saw that it was Bondita there. 

An irritated sigh left his lips. 

Why was she sleeping here instead of her bedroom?

He always felt like Bondita was not fit to be a part of the Roy Choudharys, but over time, she had grown on everyone, including him and his father who were the most reluctant about her. 

Even though he had gotten used to her though, and at some points, she had indeed grown on him, there was still a nagging doubt at the back of his mind, that what if his Dada got someone who was his age? Someone who could properly fulfill the duties of a wife, without having to juggle things like school and her husband. 

Then perhaps it would be less stressful on his brother. 

After all, for the last five or so years, he had only seen his Dada running after Bondita, trying to fulfill all of her needs. 

It was only recently, now that she was older, that he saw the wild hormonal beast his Dada had become due to her!

And how could he blame his brother? It was a hormonal thing, and human tendency, although Somnath liked to stay far away from those things, because they would have been a distraction in his medical studies, and he found it quite disgusting. 

No doubt, Bondita wasn't a bad daughter-in-law or wife (from what he had seen), but he still believed there could have been someone better for his Dada. Someone who would stay home. Someone who wouldn't have a career in the future, leaving her husband alone even as they aged. 

A woman was supposed to secure the home, and here his Boudi went to school, and according to his Dada, would one day be a barrister. 

But now, the tables seemed to turn. Perhaps for the best.

Although Kaka didn't believe it, it seemed like Bondita was pregnant. From the symptoms he had noticed, anyways. 

If Bondita was pregnant, then perhaps she would understand her place in this house as a wife, a homemaker, and a mother, was far more important than any profession she was being told to follow. 

And perhaps, finally, she would have to leave those things, and stay at home to take care of her family. 

He wasn't completely sure about it, but just in case she was indeed pregnant, he had a duty as a doctor, and as his Dada's brother, to make sure she didn't sleep on the floor like this. 

So he approached her slowly and said, "Boudi." 

Bondita didn't flinch, and he breathed sharply. She was quite like Batuk too, at times. 

"Boudi," Somnath repeated calmly. 

Again, no movement. 

Somnath frowned and was about to prod her with his finger, but didn't want to touch her. 

Not because of any respect, but rather, he always had an issue with germs and such. He always got so weirded out whenever his Dada and Boudi ate from the same plate. 

How? Just how? 

Even if they were married, and shared sexual relations, Somnath found everything about it disgusting. 

Sharing saliva with someone, gross! 

On top of that, Bondita herself was not someone that Somnath considered worthy of his stature. He always had an issue with caste and class -- and Somnath definitely didn't believe that the girl with a widow mother, who grew up in a dirty village was the same class as the Roy Choudharys!

Kaka had somehow grown out of the same issues and become fond of his Bahu, but Somnath hadn't yet. 

Not to Kaka's level.

So instead of prodding her with his hand, Somnath went to the living room and picked up a small metal bowl that happened to be there -- why didn't Bihari or Koeli put this away before sleeping? This was irritating him as well. 

He went over to Bondita, who happened to still be sleeping soundly, a smile on her lips, as if she was having a peaceful slumber. 

Then he dropped the metal bowl on the floor. 

CLANK!

Bondita's head shot up, and she turned to face Somnath. 

"Boudi... you shouldn't sleep here," Somnath said right away. 

Bondita squinted her eyes, the memories of that beautiful dream slowly leaving her. She pressed a hand to her head, her heart feeling warm, fuzzy, as she tried to recall what happened. 

Definitely Durga Maa, or a divine form of her Pati Babu had come in her dream. 

But what had they said? 

She tried to recall, but Somnath was in front of her, pursing his lips with annoyance. 

"It's not good for you to sleep on the floor like that," he continued. 

Bondita looked at Somnath, wondering since when he was so concerned about her. Usually he left her alone and didn't bother in her matters. 

"Dada won't be happy too. You should sleep in your room," he said. 

Bondita rubbed her eyes with her knuckles, trying hard to recall her dream. 

It was beautiful, that was all she knew. 

But she couldn't recall what happened! 

Nevertheless, she got up and walked away from Somnath Dada, without giving him as much as a smile of acknowledgement, too lost in her own world, too lost in her own thoughts. 

She wasn't in the state of mind to interact with anyone or put up any conversations for the sake of formality. Not lately. 

After Bondita went upstairs, Somnath shook his head slowly and shrugged. 

"She should get checked by a doctor soon, so she can confirm that she's pregnant at least," Som said with a sigh, and then thought back to his medical books, and how Kaka called him fraudulent doctor. 

He shuddered at the thought. 

All his hard work, had gone in vain! All because Kaka had stumbled across some photos in his medical textbook about the female genitalia! 

If only he had been more careful! Now he would have to hear taunts about his profession for his whole life! 

-- 

"Thakumaa, why can't you let Bondita have an abortion?" Chandrachur urged, as Thakumaa stood there in her medical room, arms folded. 

Chandrachur had just informed her about Bondita's back alley experience, and she was incredibly disturbed by it, but she still refused to perform Bondita's abortion. 

"I've already told you Jamai Babu, I cannot listen to your request this time," Thakumaa said firmly. 

"Then you'll let Bondita lose her life? I told her that I'll speak to you, that I'll help her! She left from there on my word! Thakumaa, women were screaming in there in pain! They use coat hangers -- inserting them up the female... you know, and others have died from sepsis... do you want Bondita to go through that?" Chandrachur asked, sounding desperate. "Please Thakumaa, don't play with Bondita's life!" 

Thakumaa looked at Chandrachur, finding the concern for Bondita quite odd. 

"Of course, I don't want to play with her life, which is why I'm saying no!" Thakumaa responded. 

"Bondita will undoubtedly go back there, if you don't help her," Chandrachur said, "She can lose her life." 

Thakumaa breathed sharply. 

"Thakumaa, why can't you help her? Can't your medicines ensure a safer abortion?" Chandrachur continued. 

"Of course, my medicines can ensure a safer abortion. However, there will still be side effects," Thakumaa informed. 

Bondita would heavily bleed out of her vagina for days and suffer severely painful cramps, which were symptoms of a miscarriage. Her drugs would induce that. 

However, there would be further side effects from the drugs itself, which could cause her to lose consciousness for days or even suffer from blood clots. It was rare, but the chance was there. 

And anyways, Thakumaa also believed that Bondita should take this as a blessing from God and keep the baby. She had all the resources -- a loving family, finances, and support. Why should she give up the life in her womb on the premise of not fulfilling her dream? 

If Anirudh, her Jamai Babu, didn't understand, then he would need to understand. 

Being a mother was no less than a career. Motherhood shouldn't be looked down upon! In fact, in Thakumaa's eyes it was a greater deed to give life to, and care for another being with so much love! 

"Thakumaa, Bondita's life --" Chandrachur urged. 

"You can continue to keep an eye on her if you wish Jamai Babu, or I will send someone else to watch over her. There will always be someone to stop her. Nothing will happen to her." 

Chandrachur breathed heavily, not liking this at all! 

Anirudh Roy Choudhary would be back at any time, and Thakumaa was still refusing to get rid of the Devil in Bondita's womb! 

As much as Chandrachur wanted the fetus out, he knew his priorities. He would rather Bondita stay pregnant, than her lose her life in that back alley abortion place! 

ARGH, Bondita, how can I fix this without endangering you? 

-- 

That afternoon, Trilochan was having a cup of tea in the living room, while Binoy drank his coffee. 

"Can you believe that people think our Bahu is pregnant?" Trilochan scoffed.

First Somnath, then those doctors, who Trilochan was certain just wanted to spread rumours about the Bahu of this haveli! 

"Is she?" Binoy asked, bringing his cup of coffee down, and looking at Trilochan with shock. 

"Of course not! Do you think Anirudh has even laid a hand on her!" Trilochan said, furrowing his eyebrows. 

"Why not?" Binoy questioned, "Anirudh is a man too." 

"A man? He's not!" Kaka said, almost whining. 

This was his biggest problem!

"Then are you saying he's a woman?" Binoy asked, chuckling, "Well, I guess you won't be totally wrong. He did become Roopa." 

Kaka huffed and said, "Binoy focus on the topic! People are so outrageous to believe that Anirudh could have gotten Bahu pregnant." 

"Well, they are very affectionate towards each other," Binoy said lightly. 

"FAKE AFFECTION!" Kaka nearly screamed, startling Binoy and nearly making him drop his coffee. 

Binoy looked at Kaka with a raised eyebrow. 

"And why would they... fake their affection?" 

"So that I will leave them alone! Their fake affection has even gone to a point where they... Shiv Shiv Shiv, kiss in public!"

He still remembered those two moments in the Krishnanagar haveli, where Anirudh and Bondita kissed each other in front of everyone. On the lips! 

Shiv Shiv Shiv! 

"Binoy, everyone is just out there to mock me! The universe wants me to suffer! I will never get my wish of having a grandchild!" Trilochan complained, sounding like he could cry. "Not for the next seven lifetimes!"

Binoy just stared at Kaka blankly. 

"I asked for Anirudh and Bahu's child, but what did Durga Maa give me? Yours and Sampoorna Bahu's!" Trilochan huffed. "At your old age!" 

Binoy frowned at the mockery, and was about to say something  like how if he was old, then so was Trilochan, because they were twins!

However, Bihari came running to them right at that moment, yelling, "BARRISTER BABU IS HERE! The car is pulling in!" 

Trilochan and Binoy immediately put down their cups, glad that Anirudh was finally back after his long trip. 

-- 

Upstairs, Bondita was in her room, holding Anirudh's picture tightly to her chest, and crying. 

"You're going to be back soon Pati Babu," she whispered through her tears, "And I don't know how I'm going to face you." 

Bondita didn't exactly have a plan anymore. 

She knew that Chandrachur was going to speak to Thakumaa about the abortion, and if that happened, then she could still do it without getting her Pati Babu involved, but she was trembling day by day. 

Bondita didn't even know how she could go through with it anymore. 

She was losing every sense of willpower. 

"No... for you... anything," she sobbed, glancing at her Pati Babu's picture. "Anything, Pati Babu."

Chandrachur Jamai Babu... convince Thakumaa fast. 

"Boudi, Dada's here!" she heard Batuk's voice call from outside, and suddenly her hands trembled with fear. 

She should be happy. Excited that he was back. 

But no. 

She was afraid. 

Totally afraid. 

"C - coming! You all greet him. I need to use the bathroom!" Bondita answered, and then ran to the bathroom, and locked herself in it, shaking, more tears rolling down her cheeks, as she tried to pep talk herself into facing her Pati Babu. 

-- 

Bihari trailed behind Anirudh with his luggage, after Sampoorna Maa did his entry Puja. 

Sampoorna wanted to wait for Bondita, but she was taking too long to come down.

He only had one thing in his hands, and that was a tray of eight handiyas of ek badam wala roshogullas. Bondita's favourite.

But where was she?

Everyone had come to the main entrance to greet Anirudh, but Bondita was nowhere to be found. 

The mood was quite a happy one -- Batuk especially, looked overly excited! 

He kept the roshogullas on the living room table and asked his family members, "Where is Bondita?"

"Of course, we don't exist!" Batuk grumbled loudly, "It's just Boudi!" 

Anirudh couldn't help but chuckle, and he walked over to Batuk, clapping his back. 

"Of course you exist," he told him with a smile, "It's just odd that Bondita isn't here." 

After all, she would be the first one to run to him and hug him!

And Anirudh's arms were aching to hold her again. Only he knew how he managed to sleep for the last few weeks without her. 

"I'm here... Pati Babu..." Bondita's voice finally said from the back, her eyes wet with tears.

The family members parted to the side, and allowed Bondita to approach him through the middle.

A smile reached his lips, his eyes getting teary as he saw his Bondita for the first time in a long time. 

-- 

It's the weekend, and I can go on a spree, but get the last part and this part to 450+ stars if you would like that. 

I've also posted a note on my Wattpad profile about abortions and the coat hanger method. So you can read that, and if you would like updates from my profile (where I sometimes update about when I'm going on sprees, and when I'll post next chapters), then you can follow me. 

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! 

I gave more insight into Somnath's character here, and the way he saw his Boudi. Not everyone is like Anirudh especially in that era, and Som's personality was hinted to be this way in the show as well -- both pre and post leap (pre-leap many times he had a superiority complex, and post-leap, we saw how he behaved when he was getting engaged to Tapur, and wanted her to drop her career after marriage). 

Are you excited for the next chapter? 

What will happen now? 

Remember, if you take longer to hit star, then I also take longer to post parts. So hit star and share your comments for fast updates!

Love you all! ❤️