If you would like a weekend spree (as stated on my profile), then get all parts to 450+ stars (including the last part - Chapter 287), and shower your comments! 

If I feel the love and excitement, I will post more chapters this weekend. Otherwise, I'll only be posting them slowly throughout the week. 

--

Anirudh was sitting behind his desk, contemplating over what could have happened to Bondita to make her so scared to talk to him.

His heart was aching, his mind trying to come up with different possibilities, but nothing that he could think of made sense. 

Did he do something, unintentionally? But if he did, then she usually made it obvious -- she would argue with him, tell him off, but she wasn't even doing that now. He was only met with her silence. 

Why Bondita, why? 

Tears filled his eyes, as he leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. His eyes felt like they were burning as they were coated with the exterior form of pain in his heart. 

There was a disappointment in her. A disappointment that she wasn't speaking up. She wasn't communicating with him. She failed her test, and he was willing to put that aside... but she wasn't even telling him what was wrong.

How could he not be worried? How could he not be hurt? 

Kuch khafa hu kuch dukhi hun
Narazagi hai tujhse,
Fir bhi koi dor hai jo
Bandhe huye hai tujhse,
Kimati si cheez jese
Ghum ho gayi hain mujhse,
Kyu na jane teri chinta
Ho rahi hai mujhe,
Har ghadi ab kyun hain dhyan tera...
Rishta Tera Mera, Rishta Tera Mera
Rishta Tera Mera, Rishta Tera Meraaa

The door to the study opened, and Manika walked in, as if a silent prayer had been answered. Someone, who maybe could help him understand things. Someone, who maybe could help him think calmly.

When she saw Anirudh's state, she immediately closed the study room door and rushed over to him, having a bad feeling that this was related to Bondita. 

Had she told him about her pregnancy? 

"Anirudh!" Manika said, approaching him and placing a hand on his shoulder gently, "What's wrong?"

Anirudh's breath was getting hitched in his throat, as he lifted his head slightly, turning to look at Manika. The tears that started, weren't stopping. The pain that his heart was feeling wasn't fading.

"Manika, I don't know if I did something wrong. I don't know if I hurt Bondita in any way, for her to lose faith in me," Anirudh cried, tears rolling down his cheeks. "She isn't talking to me Manika."

Manika felt a reflection of his ache in her heart. 

So Bondita hadn't told him. Her silence was what was slowly causing pain inside of him. How she wished that Bondita just mustered up the courage and told Anirudh. 

Yes, it may be hard on him in the beginning -- he may go through depression like she claimed, but he would have to get out of it. For Bondita's sake, for their baby's sake, he would have to toughen up... and she had full faith in Anirudh that he would.

If not in the beginning... even if he did lock himself into a shell, then he would come out. He would have to. 

Bondita's state would surely pull him out, because he wouldn't be able to see her suffering. 

However, what could Manika do, when Bondita had turned into a carbon copy of Anirudh himself? The same Anirudh who once went through misery to protect her, who refused to accept his own love, because he was scared of hurting her, of tying her, of trapping her in child marriage. He was afraid of conditioning her, he was afraid of not giving her a chance to explore the world. 

Bondita had turned into that same Anirudh, who thought of her benefit, despite his own misery. Now despite her own misery, she was thinking of him. 

To protect him, she was hurting herself. 

Just like Anirudh had done in the past for her. 

Things were coming around in a full circle here. 

Manika said, "The most heartwarming, yet alarming thing about the two of you is that to protect each other, you're willing to suffer great pains alone."

Anirudh looked up at Manika, wiping his tears with his fingers, and he asked, "Are you saying she's protecting me?"

Did Manika know something? 

Manika looked at Anirudh sympathetically and said, "If you weren't such an emotional wreck, maybe she wouldn't have to protect you."

Anirudh frowned, at Manika's roast once again. 

"Manika... I don't understand what you're saying. How is she protecting me?" Anirudh asked urgently. 

Manika sighed, and let go of his shoulder. 

"You should know by now that if she isn't talking to you, there can be only one reason. Because she knows that whatever she is enduring, will hurt you," Manika said to him.

"Huh?" Anirudh asked, getting more worried now when Manika spoke of Bondita enduring something. He didn't want his Bondita to endure something. "What can she be enduring that'll hurt me? Manika, she got 34% on her test. She isn't telling me why! I didn't yell at her. I didn't accuse her. I asked her, over and over again, why! Whether she didn't study! She told me that she needed time. But time for what Manika?"

Manika felt her heart get heavy, and she said, "Time... so you don't get hurt with what she has to say." 

"What are you talking about? Do you know something?" Anirudh asked, looking at Manika firmly now. 

Manika avoided his gaze and said, "Anirudh, did you get upset because she scored badly on her test?"

"Of course! It was a shock Manika. How was I supposed to process that my wife, who has been topping every subject for years, suddenly scored 34%? Am I not allowed to feel upset, disappointed, as her Shikshak Babu? She has never given me an indication that she is struggling! Not once has she told me that she needs help. Even when I went to Calcutta -- until a few days ago, she was telling me she was on top of everything! How am I supposed to process all of this?" Anirudh urged, looking at Manika. 

Manika nodded, understanding his struggles too. Bondita never gave him a sign -- she had probably only pulled herself away from him recently... and it was only a few days ago, she had found out herself about her pregnancy. 

Her low marks would definitely be a big shock for Anirudh. 

"But I didn't yell at her Manika! I didn't get upset over her score! Because I know that if that happened, there's a bigger problem! Something is on her mind, and she's not telling me!" Anirudh told her, ranting out the pain in his heart, his eyes growing wet again, "Why doesn't she trust me enough to tell me? What have I done to push her away from me?"

Now Manika's eyes grew wet, her heart feeling heavy to see her best friend in this condition. 

"I'm proud of you that you didn't yell at her," Manika just said softly. "And you know, Bondita trusts you more than anyone else... but just like she has this immense faith in you, she also knows you the best out of anyone else. Whatever she is doing... she is doing for a reason." 

"She must be! But I'm not satisfied with the reason!" Anirudh argued, glaring at Manika now, "I want to be there for her Manika, but she's putting up walls between us!" 

Manika looked at him with an aching heart and said, "Your love is amazing Anirudh, and her love is too, but sometimes I want to smack both of you!" 

Anirudh blinked a few times, looking at her, unsure of how to process her roast again. 

"She has seriously turned into a second Anirudh Roy Choudhary," Manika said, sighing, "You have succeeded in making her your replica."

"I didn't want to make her my replica! I wanted to make her better than me!" Anirudh argued, frowning. 

Manika smiled now and she said, "Don't worry Anirudh, she's going through a phase, otherwise she's definitely a lot more understanding. A lot more mature." 

Anirudh sighed heavily, his emotions calming down now when he heard praises for his Bondita, even if they were at his expense, "You won't stop this will you?" 

"Never," Manika teased, "You gave me permission to roast you for life, if I agreed to divorce my husband. You can't take back your words now." 

Anirudh suddenly smiled, unable to help the small chuckle that escaped his lips. 

Sometimes, friends were the family you needed in tough times, to bring a smile to your face in ways that you didn't even know were possible. 

--  

Bondita was in her room, sitting behind her desk, her history textbook out. She was trying to study, but it was hard. 

Jayadrath Sir had filled her with confidence, but the moment she thought about her Pati Babu, and the pained look he had in his eyes, she knew that this was just the teaser. He was going to get a bigger shock. He was going to go through an exponential amount of guilt and grief when he found out the truth. 

And the thought of the pain he would go through kept on haunting her mind, and was giving her a hard time. 

She stared at the letters in her textbook, and they were teasing her, as if once again claiming, just like on the day of her test... 'you will be a barrister? Impossible. It's too late now. Your dreams will be unfulfilled, just like your Pati Babu's desires.'

Tears crept in her eyes, and her hands started to shake. 

"How... do I... study...?" she sobbed, her head falling down onto the textbook. "How do I do this when your pain is all that keeps coming to my mind, Pati Babu?"

Kyu bharosa mera toda?
Zara dukhi sa mann hai,
Tu na jane mere saathi,
Yeh jo meri uljhan hai
Saare akshar muh chidaye
Yeh to mere dushman hai,
Tu karega garv mujhpe
Aisa karke dikhau,
Jo khwab tera woh khwab mera banaa...
Rishta Tera Mera, Rishta Tera Mera
Rishta Tera Mera, Rishta Tera Meraaa

-- 

"I'm not saying Bondita is pregnant! I'm just saying that's what it was when my mom constantly vomited! It happened twice, in both pregnancies of my younger sisters!" Vikram told Batuk. 

Batuk's eyes were so wide, they looked like they would pop out of their sockets. 

"BUT IT MAKES SENSE!" Batuk gasped loudly, his eyes extremely wide, "HOW CAN THEY DO IT SO MUCH WITHOUT HER GETTING PREGNANT?" 

Vikram's face went red, because he remembered the moment he too had walked in on Anirudh and Bondita, when they were in that strange position on the floor. 

"They must use protection," Surabhi said, rolling her eyes, "Batuk, Mr. ARC is very forward thinking. I don't think he would want to get Bondita pregnant while she's in school." 

"Yes, Bondita's Pati Babu is the most forward thinking person ever! He would want to make Bondita a barrister, but what if an accident happened?" Vikram asked. 

Mallika was the only one who was not understanding all of this. 

"What are you all talking about ji?" Mallika asked, "Protection, what protection? From what? And what kind of accident? Do what?" 

Batuk looked at Mallika, his jaw falling open, "You don't know about sex? Come on Mallika! You've seen my romance novels, haven't you?"

Surabhi snapped, "Batuk, focus!" 

"What?" Batuk asked, frowning, "She lives in some other world! How can she not know about sex and hang out with me and Boudi?" 

Mallika was extremely confused by this whole conversation! 

"Still, focus on Bondita," Surabhi ordered, and Batuk nodded, his eyes lighting up. 

"Wait... if she is pregnant, then does that mean... I'll be..." his eyes were widening. 

"A Chachaji!" Vikram gasped, looking at Batuk, "You'll be a Chachaji!" 

"CHACHA JI?" Batuk yelped, thinking about Kaka, who was old. "I'm not so old!" He huffed, and he said, "I'll be a CHACHU!" 

A grin appeared on his lips, and he brought his hands up, as if he was holding a baby, his heart warming suddenly, and he said, "A young, dashing, handsome, amazing Super Chachu!" 

Vikram couldn't help but laugh, and even Surabhi smiled.  

"Shouldn't we confirm if Bondita really is pregnant first ji?" Mallika asked, raising her eyebrows judgmentally at Batuk's sudden love for an unconfirmed nephew! 

"Right... yeah..." Vikram agreed, "But how?"

"The day after we came back from Thakumaa's, Boudi went out with Manika Didi somewhere. Vikram, you should ask her!" Batuk said, and then gulped, remembering that he was the one who had separated them in the first place. 

Vikram was still unaware about this. 

"M - me?" Vikram asked, nervously. "I don't want to disturb her..." 

Batuk gulped nervously again and he said, "She might only tell you. For... Boudi, this time... just this one time, talk to her." 

Batuk was still hesitant to send his best friend near Manika, since he was afraid that all of Vikram's feelings for her would break his heart and cause him pain, but Bondita not topping was such a shock, that it seemed like Batuk had to choose the lesser evil right now! 

Vikram nodded, feeling nervous. 

"We just need a confirmation," Surabhi said. "That's all. If Bondita is pregnant, then maybe this is why she didn't top." 

Batuk's heart warmed up again at the idea that he was going to be a Super Chachu! 

Oh if this was true, he was already brimming with excitement! 

-- 

When Vikram found Manika, he felt nervous. 

He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Their relationship had strictly been with him teaching her, and now that she had gotten the grasp of things, she didn't need him so much anymore. He still taught her, but their lessons were getting shorter, and there was less that he could show her... she had become quite independent, and Vikram was proud of her.  

She was in her bedroom, and he knocked on the door nervously. 

Manika opened the door, surprised to see him here, because they didn't have lessons today. 

Vikram looked at her, a spark in his eyes.

"Mishti... I wanted to ask you something, about Bondita," Vikram said softly.

Manika asked at the doorway, "Sure... what's wrong?" 

Vikram gulped and he said, "Do you think that there's... something wrong with her?" 

Manika looked at Vikram with surprise, and she looked down, just saying, "I don't know Vikram." 

Vikram tried to read her expressions, and he said, "I heard you and her went out, the day after she went to her Thakumaa's house. She has been vomiting a lot, which are signs of pregnancy. It happened to my mom both times she was pregnant with my sisters." 

Manika suddenly looked nervous as Vikram continued, "So... I think... you know Mishti... about... Bondita's pregnancy." 

He didn't want to force Mishti to admit anything. Pressuring her to tell him something was never on his mind, but Bondita's condition was worrying Vikram too. 

Perhaps, Vikram also had to choose between two evils today. 

And Vikram chose his best friend Bondita today, to the point where he was even interrogating his love. 

"Tell me the truth Mishti. Bondita is pregnant, isn't she?" Vikram asked her softly. 

Manika looked at Vikram, a sad look in her eyes, and she said, "Vikram, I don't know what you're talking about." 

Vikram smiled at her and said, "I can read your eyes by now, Mishti." 

Manika felt a pang in her heart and she said, "Vikram, please... don't do this." 

"Bondita made you swear not to tell anyone?" Vikram urged her. 

Manika looked down with guilt and she said, "Please Vikram. Don't think about this matter. Let Bondita figure out what to do." 

"Bondita needs support, Mishti. I know she must have your support, but she needs to know there are others who will help her too. That she isn't alone," Vikram said to her softly. 

Manika looked at Vikram and said, "I want her to have support Vikram, but she needs Anirudh's support the most right now. More than anyone else's." 

"Is he not supporting her?" Vikram asked, his heart hurting, "Bondita's Pati Babu would never not support her. I don't believe it." 

Manika responded, "It's not that he isn't supporting her. It's just that... he doesn't know. And she loves him so much that she can't bear to see him in pain or guilt. You know how he would do anything to make her a barrister. He doesn't want any distractions in her life."

Vikram's heart ached, as Manika essentially confirmed Bondita's pregnancy. 

"So she is pregnant," Vikram said, "And Bondita's Pati Babu would think the baby is a distraction, and this is why Bondita is doing badly on her test. Because she is distracted. But... Mishti, why does he think that she can't be a barrister and a mother at the same time?" 

"You know how he is, don't you? Where many dream of a fairytale love life, Anirudh... he dreams of a fairytale study life for Bondita," Manika said, her eyes welling with tears now, "Where things have to be perfect. It's how he has always been, in matters related to her and her education." 

Vikram nodded, understanding and he said confidently, "But he'll understand. I'm sure of it." 

"Even I'm sure of it. But... I'm just scared, it'll take some time. I just hope it doesn't become too late."  

"Will it?" Vikram asked, looking at her with his soft gaze. 

"He's... slow sometimes," Manika said with a heavy sigh. 

Vikram smiled at Manika and said, "It's a Roy Choudhary trait. All of the Roy Choudharys seem quite slow." 

Manika couldn't help but giggle at this. 

"Let's hope their baby takes after Bondita in this matter," Manika pointed out with a sheepish smile. 

Vikram laughed and he said, "Hey Mishti, Bondita's Pati Babu is amazing! Even when he's slow, it's because his brain is just processing many things at once! So he's not actually slow, he's just being super considerate of all possibilities!" 

Manika shook her head, laughing hard now. 

"Oh Vikram, you're such a fanboy." 

Vikram grinned and he asked her, "Why? Are you not a fangirl of anyone?" 

Manika's face suddenly went red, as she recalled the days when she used to obsess over Rabindranath Tagore Ji... Bondita had found out about it, and Manika had asked her to promise not to tell anyone, all of those years ago. 

She had been so in love with him, and that was how Bondita had learned the most important lesson of one-sided love too! It was only after hearing the stance her Manika Didi had on one-sided love, that Bondita had learned the art of loving her Pati Babu from afar, and not trying to attain him or his love. 

Those were very precious days, where Bondita's fragile mind had to be broken apart, only to be built up in the most beautiful of ways, ending up stronger, confident, and more independent than ever. 

Just like Bondita believed her Pati Babu was a magician, even Manika believed that Anirudh was magical, for being able to do this so beautifully... by sacrificing himself and his happiness, so that Bondita could be built up to the being she was today. 

"It seems like you are a fangirl too," Vikram pointed out lightly, as he saw Manika's red face. 

Manika wanted to hide her face, and she said, "Vikram!" 

Vikram laughed, and he said, "Alright, no more personal questions. I won't bother you now Mishti. Sorry for troubling you." 

Even though he was saying this in a light-hearted tone, it stung Manika's heart, and she just forced a smile and nodded. 

Vikram smiled, now his own heart aching, as he turned around and walked away... ready to deliver the news of Bondita's pregnancy and what struggle she was facing to the gang. 

Together, they would try to find a solution for her. 

-- 

Precap: 

The whole gang goes to Bondita's room and confronts her about her pregnancy, while she is writing her letter. 

It is the final night before the truth reaches Anirudh. 

How will Anirudh react, when he finds out the truth the next day? 

-- 

This chapter is close to my heart, because of the raw emotions between everyone. 

Did you enjoy this part? 

Every point in this journey is important, deep, and necessary, so that you can understand the essence. I know how eager you are, but remember, build up in stories is more important than the climax. 

That being said, the next two parts are what you've all been waiting for, so stay tuned. 

What did you think of the Manika/Anirudh scene? 

The gang scene? 

Batuk's excitement to be Super Chachu? 

ManVik scene? 

The overall emotions of the chapter? 

The Rishta Tera Meras?

Any moments that stuck out to you in this part? 

Are you eager for the next part? 

Then you know what to do -- press star, and shower your comments. If I see a good response, then I am willing to start a spree party. 

Also star the last part too, because it's behind... I will halt updates, if my readers are falling behind. So make sure you hit star. ❤️