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-- 

Anirudh shifted his attention to the wheel and started the car, as Bondita kept her hand on her belly, her insides warming up and sudden tears pricking her eyes. 

The feeling that she had pushed away all along, she was finally being immersed into. She felt like she was being bathed in motherhood. 

She still didn't want to get too ahead of herself... because she knew that while her Pati Babu agreed to keep the baby, it would still take some time to heal the wounds he was feeling inside, including the mental agony that he was inevitably still going through. 

She always wanted them to relish in this joy together... but now, when she was finally allowing herself to accept the joy, she was feeling it alone.  

Bondita removed her hand from her belly, a little sadly. She wanted to be overjoyed about this... she wanted to finally cry tears of happiness that she was becoming a mother, but she stopped herself again. 

Right now, she would just be happy that her baby was safe.

She had promised to walk beside her Pati Babu through every happy moment, and every sad moment in their lives. She had vowed to be with him in sickness and health. She had vowed to be by his side, no matter what. 

Even now, she would walk by him, and wait for him to accept this too. She would be happy with him. 

As Anirudh drove, he broke the silence and said, his voice heavy, still with undertones of pain, "Since we have chosen this... our lives will change." 

This was a conversation that they would need to have. 

Bondita nodded. "Yes Pati Babu. It will change." 

"Your... life..." Anirudh said, feeling a lump in his throat. "Will... change." 

This was the matter that was killing him like slow poison. Even if the initial shock had worn off, he didn't think the inner pain could wear off anytime soon... that he... ruined her life. 

Bondita turned to look at him, and gently placed her hand on his arm, hoping that he wouldn't push it off this time. 

Anirudh took a deep breath, allowing her to touch him. Her touch was soft... gentle, and perhaps he needed it right now. It wasn't something he felt like he deserved, but he didn't have it in him to push her away anymore. He was getting tired. Exhausted. He felt like he was drained from inside. Even if his outer breakdown was over, it wasn't gone. It would return once this period of exhaustion faded away. 

Bondita felt relieved that he didn't push her hand off, and she leaned closer from her seat, bringing her head to his arm gently and resting against it. 

"Yes... it will change Pati Babu... but that's okay... change is the only constant in life." 

Anirudh inhaled sharply. He didn't want this kind of change to happen to his Bondita. Not one which would provide struggles to her. He wished to see her succeed first, before all of these other life changes came their way. 

"Bondita, remove your head from my arm," Anirudh ordered. 

Bondita slid her gaze up to his face, still resting against his arm, a slight pout on her lips. 

"Do you not like my touch anymore Pati Babu?" she asked sadly, still not letting go of him.

"Sit straight. Don't lean in weird positions!" 

"But --" 

"Listen to me!" he warned, and Bondita furrowed her eyebrows, sitting up straight in her seat. 

"I'm not even pressing my stomach to yours this time!" she argued. 

"Your muscles will strain if you lean across like that. It's not a suitable position," Anirudh argued back, "And stop arguing with me. You will do as I say Bondita!" 

Bondita bit her tongue. 

Right. 

Why were her arguments still coming out, when she said she wouldn't do that?

"Okay..." she just responded. 

Anirudh was surprised that she gave in easily. She had been doing that a lot recently. 

Perhaps she cared about the baby too and that was why. Yes, that must be it. 

He didn't even realize that in his thoughts he had used the word 'too', implying that he already cared as well. 

"We should have done a check up at the hospital too," Anirudh groaned. "I'll call a doctor later today." 

"Thakumaa did my check up a few days ago Pati Babu," Bondita informed. 

"And what did she say?"

Bondita took a deep breath and was about to explain all the symptoms she went through for the last few weeks, along with enlightening him with the pregnancy guidelines that Thakumaa told her about, when suddenly she felt her inner reflexes act up again. 

"P - Pati Babu s - stop the car!" 

"What?" Anirudh asked, confused, turning to look at her, "Why?" 

Her hand rushed to her mouth, as she gagged, and Anirudh immediately stopped the car, opening the door and running to the passenger side door incredibly quickly, like a superhuman.

Bondita's superhero, he was, after all.  

"Bondita! What's wrong?" Anirudh yelled, sounding afraid.

He opened the passenger side door, and Bondita was about to come out, but she couldn't handle it anymore -- her vomit rushed to her mouth, and Anirudh immediately placed his hands in front, as she threw up on his hands. 

"We have to go back to the hospital! Something's wrong!" Anirudh screamed, sounding incredibly afraid, not even realizing that he had collected her vomit in his hands. 

Bondita looked up at her Pati Babu, not sure whether she should smile at his concern, or be worried that if this was his state when she threw up, how would he get through the entire pregnancy? 

"This is normal Pati Babu. It has been happening to me --" 

"IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO YOU, AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO INFORM ME?" Anirudh bellowed, his hands coated with her vomit. 

Bondita gulped and she reached into the dashboard of the car, where there was a swiss army knife. She took that out and used it to rip a portion of her saree. 

Anirudh looked at Bondita with shock when she did this. 

She gripped his hand, and used the ripped portion of her saree to gently wipe away her vomit from his fingers. 

"Pati Babu, you lovingly collect my vomit in your hands, and you don't even realize. But do you think that I can tolerate the blood that you had on your knuckles earlier?" Bondita questioned. 

The bloodstains were still there on his hand, untreated, and it still worried Bondita. 

"You didn't even tell me what happened, but that's okay. I just want to make sure you're okay," she said softly. 

"Bondita, you... you... vomit..." Anirudh just told her, sounding sad, looking like he could lose his mind at any moment. 

"It's a normal symptom Pati Babu," Bondita said softly, "Don't you remember Sampoorna Didi also vomited when she was pregnant?"

"Well yes... but you..." Anirudh said, extremely protective either way, "Let's go back to the hospital just in case!" 

Bondita smiled and tore another piece of her saree, bringing it around Anirudh's hand and wrapping it. Although the blood had dried by now, and it was probably too late to stop an infection, she still wanted to be safe. 

She was also, after all, extremely protective about her Pati Babu. 

"I've been vomiting constantly for the last few weeks... a lot..." Bondita explained, "Thakumaa said there's a name for excessive vomiting during pregnancy. She told me it's normal and I need to stay hydrated and constantly eat throughout the day." 

"How come I never noticed?" Anirudh questioned, as he stood in front of her, beside the open door. Bondita still hadn't let go of his hand, and he didn't move it away either. Her touch was nice and comforting, and Anirudh was too distracted to overthink that right now. 

"You've only been here for a few days. And I never let myself vomit in front of you... somehow I always controlled the urges. Except for the day with the roshogullas. I... couldn't help it that day." 

"Roshogullas make you vomit?" Anirudh asked her, his heart hurting when he heard that. So it wasn't the sweet shop owner's fault after all. 

Bondita nodded, "I guess so. And... coffee... tastes good..." 

"Coffee?" Anirudh asked incredulously. 

Was that why she was constantly asking him to drink coffee and sucked the taste off his tongue the other day? 

"Yes... Pati Babu, I... crave coffee." 

Anirudh just looked at her with shock. Bondita never liked coffee. She only liked it because it reminded her of him... but she never drank it. And now, she wanted coffee? Why? 

He never paid so much attention in Sampoorna Maa's pregnancy, and when Manika came to stay with them in Krishnanagar, he was too busy being Roopa to notice much. Vikram was the one who knew... 

Vikram!

He would have to consult the boy of his observations during Manika's pregnancy. He could ask Manika too, but he was upset with her right now, so he didn't want to talk to her. 

And Sampoorna Maa was clearly not happy with him. 

Yes, Vikram would be the best bet. That, and pregnancy books. He would need to order some. He had left the ones that he ordered for Manika's pregnancy, in the Krishnanagar haveli itself. 

Anirudh moved his hand away from Bondita's and moved back to the driver's side, beginning to drive towards the haveli again. 

"What else Bondita?" he asked her, furrowing his brows, "Other than... vomiting." 

"Hmm... I pee more frequently," Bondita explained, "I have heavy breasts... and they feel tender." 

"Like the same heaviness just before you get your periods?" Anirudh questioned. 

"Yes... like that..." Bondita said, and then a blush crept up her cheeks as she looked at him and smiled, "But you can massage them for me and make them feel better." 

The colour drained from Anirudh's face when she said this, and he just stared ahead, his jaw clenching slightly.  

Here he was certain that him coming close to her caused her life to get ruined, and madame was inciting him like this? No... absolutely not. He was not going to get tempted. He knew that whether he massaged her breasts or not, she would be fine. She could massage her own breasts! 

He... would give her comfort and take care of her, but he wouldn't repeat those unrighteous mistakes that he had committed in the past, which snatched her future away from her. He knew that Bondita was already pregnant, and perhaps there was no use in keeping a distance now... but that still didn't change the fact that a mistake was a mistake... yes, he would keep his distance. 

The premature closeness that happened between them was still premature... just because she was pregnant, didn't change that. 

If Bondita heard his thoughts, perhaps she would roll her eyes and scold him for overthinking, for being ridiculous, and he knew that. He knew that she would not agree with this logic... hence, he wouldn't even bring it up in front of her. 

Right now, his priority was her health and safety. Nothing else. 

He didn't know if he could even keep her happy right now, because of the storm in his mind... but he would try. He would try his best to keep her happy... without compromising her further. 

"W - what else?" Anirudh just asked, gulping nervously. 

Bondita noticed that he didn't respond the usual way. Perhaps, he would have teased her or flirted with her when she talked about massaging her breasts... at least, he would have said he would love to. However, he was clearly avoiding the topic, and it made her sad. She knew that he was still blaming himself for all this. He might put on an act for her, but she could see right through him. 

She knew him so well, after all. 

Still, she forced a smile and said, "I'm tired more... exhausted a lot." 

Anirudh's heart dropped again. How could he make her study through this? It would be too much for her. Sampoorna Maa was right. There was no chance of her to study... not while she was pregnant. And on top of that, he just didn't want to push her to those limits. He knew very well that she spent long nights studying, but at this time she needed to rest and take things easy. 

How could she manage both school and her pregnancy? 

No... Bondita was his priority. It broke his heart... killed him inside, but he couldn't put his dreams above her. 

He would have to give her this talk later. That... she should not worry about school. He didn't know how she would take it, considering that she kept on bringing up their dreams and how they would be fulfilled. 

How would he compel her to give up on their dreams? How would he convince her? 

"Thakumaa said I was around seven weeks pregnant. It's calculated from the first date of my last menstrual cycle," Bondita said. "I must be seven now." 

Anirudh glanced at her and murmured, "Seven and a half." 

Bondita looked at him with surprise. Of course, he remembered her periods better than her. He was the one who used to always celebrate when they came. Even though they had faith in the medication, it still made him happy that her cycle came on time. 

"Pati Babu... we have to tell everyone else too... about this," Bondita said to him, wondering how he would take this topic. 

"Why?" Anirudh just asked, as he stared ahead, his voice a little cold. 

"I mean... Sampoorna Didi knows, Batuk knows, Manika Didi knows... Somnath Dada knows too to an extent..." she gulped, and glanced at him nervously. 

"So everyone except me?" Anirudh asked, gripping the wheel a little more tightly. 

Bondita shook her head, her heart beating fast. 

"It's not like that... I wanted to tell you first but... I needed Manika Didi's help, and Somnath Dada, Batuk, and Sampoorna Maa figured it out themselves," Bondita explained. 

This didn't make him feel any better. Everyone figured it out? And he didn't? Why was he always late in all of her matters? 

He was always late to know what was going on with her!

From her being taken to Hiramandi, to her getting her first period, to the rise of her sexual desires... and now something as big as her pregnancy? Why was he so late, all the damn time? Why couldn't he figure it out sooner? 

"Pati Babu, I --" 

"Chandrachur also knew?" Anirudh asked. 

"Well, he was there when Thakumaa told me," Bondita said nervously, "That's how he knew." 

"I see... and he saved you from the... a --" abortion. 

"Yes," Bondita said, unable to meet Anirudh's eyes now. 

Anirudh didn't know whether he should be apologetic to Chandrachur now for beating him up when he was only telling him the truth. Plus he did save Bondita from that horrid process. Still, his words about Bondita hadn't been something he could tolerate. Perhaps he did go overboard though... 

It still cut him deeply, that Bondita went to the black market to get that abortion. He would need time to heal from this wound too. If she wasn't pregnant, he would even be way more upset with her for this. This was not something that he could take lightly. Her thinking of hurting her body? Intolerable! It was a firm rule. 

Anirudh took a deep breath and questioned, "So who's left then?" 

"Sasurji and Kakasasurji... and Bhaari Babu and Koeli Didi." 

Anirudh's grip on the wheel tightened even harder now. 

These were the people who would probably celebrate. His Baba may just congratulate them and be off, but Kaka... he would not miss this opportunity to inform even the Queen of England about Bondita's pregnancy! 

"Let's not tell them." 

"But they'll find out soon... since we are... keeping... the baby..." she said, and nervously added at the end, "...right?" She was still a little afraid.

Anirudh nodded, "Yes. We are... keeping... it." 

Bondita smiled softly. 

He continued, "But it's not necessary to tell them about our personal matters." 

Personal matters? She wanted to question. Her pregnancy would affect the entire haveli! 

But, this time, she remembered that she would not argue. And she knew that he was dealing with a lot inside... if everyone found out now, it would just add to his stress. It would make it harder for him to see people like Kakasasurji celebrating, while he was fighting his demons inside. 

"Okay Pati Babu," she just said. 

It was at this point that they parked at the haveli. 

As soon as Anirudh pulled in, Bondita quickly opened the passenger door. 

Who knew what Batuk was thinking right now? He must be feeling so miserable. She had to go and tell him immediately! 

She started to run inside the haveli, to quickly alleviate his concerns that he was still Super Chachu... and that nothing happened to the baby. 

As Anirudh saw Bondita running, his eyes widened and he yelled, raising his hand, "Bon --" 

But she had already run inside. 

"Madame is pregnant, and she's running inside the haveli like she's competing in a race," Anirudh grumbled under his breath, bringing his closed fist to his head and taking a deep breath. 

He quickly turned off the car and rushed inside as well, before Bondita could commit anymore blunders. 

Once Bondita went inside, she saw that Batuk was sitting on the floor of the living room, leaning against the pillar and looking miserable, just as she expected. His legs were spread out in front of him, his head slightly tilted down, his eyes swollen, like he had been crying. 

In the middle of the living room, Trilochan was having a cup of tea while sitting on the sofa. Batuk was behind him, and his awareness wasn't on him. 

He had been out for some Zamindar work, and nobody informed him of what happened. 

"Bahu!" Kaka gasped, when Bondita rushed in, wondering what happened to her all of a sudden. 

He had no idea where she went with Anirudh, but seeing that her saree was ripped, it seemed that perhaps Sampoorna Bahu was right... did Anirudh, hurt her? 

Bondita ignored Kaka, not even registering that he called out her name, and she rushed to Batuk, falling to her knees on the floor beside him and throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. 

"Batuk, everything's fine. You don't have to be sad. You will be super chachu!" Bondita said comfortingly, tears in her eyes. 

Kaka gasped loudly, his eyes widening, eyebrows reaching his hairline as he saw his Bahu hugging her Devar! 

"SHIV SHIV SHIV!" he screamed, and it was at this moment that Anirudh came rushing in. 

When he saw Bondita's position on the floor, Anirudh could feel the anger rise within him. What was with all of this carelessness? 

Batuk looked at Bondita as she broke the hug, his eyes widening, "REALLY? NOTHING HAPPENED TO MY NEPHEW?" 

"No," Bondita said with a grin, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

Batuk couldn't help it. He threw his arms around Bondita and hugged her tightly from his position on the floor, causing her to lose balance and nearly fall on his lap. 

Kaka's eyes grew much wider, that they nearly popped out of his sockets, as he saw this horrendous act! 

"GANGAJAL! SOMEONE BRING MY GANGAJAL!" 

Anirudh stormed over to Batuk and Bondita, his stomps incredibly loud. He practically pulled Bondita off Batuk, as if they were some pair of twins stuck at the hip, who he needed to separate. 

"BONDITA, GET UP RIGHT NOW!" Anirudh ordered, lifting Bondita off Batuk. He lifted her so high from the back, that her feet got elevated from the ground, and she gasped. His hands were on her hips, and he immediately placed her feet down on the ground. 

"BIG D!" Batuk screamed happily now, looking up at his Big D with happy tears in his eyes. "YOU'RE THE BEST BIG D." 

Bondita turned to look at Anirudh, whose full attention and focus was on her. 

He looked livid, and he bellowed to her, "NO HUGGING ANYONE. AND NO SITTING ON THE FLOOR. DO YOU GET IT? THESE ARE THE HEIGHTS OF CARELESSNESS BONDITA!" 

Bondita looked at him with wide eyes and gulped, nodding. 

Anirudh turned to glare at Batuk, but he was too happy to be afraid right now. "YOU BETTER NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR BOUDI!" 

Batuk pouted now. How would he meet and talk to his nephew without going near his Boudi? 

Even Bondita gave Anirudh a small look like he was being unreasonable, but she didn't argue with him. He was already a mess from earlier, and now he believed for some reason, that she was a delicate doll that needed to be protected... he would not be listening to any reason, when it came to protecting her with delicacy. 

Kaka stomped his foot in frustration. 

"CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS HAVELI?" he screamed. "EVERYONE IS BEHAVING STRANGE!" 

Batuk just rolled his eyes, and said, "Kaka, relax, it's good news."

"What good news?" Trilochan asked impatiently. 

Anirudh glared at Batuk, wishing he would control his tongue, but Batuk was so happy that he couldn't conceal his happiness anymore. He ran over to Kaka and exclaimed, "YOU'LL BE A GRANDPA KAKA!" 

Kaka blinked a few times and yelled, "SHIV SHIV SHIV! BATUK, ARE YOU PLAYING GAMES WITH YOUR OLD KAKA?" 

"No, of course not!" Batuk huffed. "Do I sound like I'm not credible?" 

"SHIV SHIV SHIV!" Kaka screamed again, as it hit him like a tonne of bricks.

The truth. 

The truth that his nephew had sexual relations! And on top of that, was going to father a baby?!

Bondita felt a nervous lump in her throat, and glanced at her Pati Babu, shaking her head slightly, trying to tell him with her eyes it'd be okay. 

Anirudh wasn't in a good mood right now. His youngest brother and his wife were behaving like small kids, hugging and sitting on the floor, not caring that they could crush the baby! And now, Batuk had confessed the truth to Kaka? 

Kaka suddenly rushed out of the room, and Batuk was confused. 

"What happened to him?" Batuk wondered, "Shouldn't he be happy?" 

Bondita shrugged, confused as well. 

"Good... he didn't make a scene," Anirudh just mumbled, and he said to Bondita, "Let's go. It's time for you to rest." 

Bondita wanted to argue to her Pati Babu that she wasn't a small kid who needed a nap time, but before she could either decide to argue or silently obey, something shocking happened. 

Kaka had returned. 

Not alone. 

But he was holding Somnath by the ear and dragging him inside. 

"UNCOUTHLY! DISGRACEFUL!"

"What did I do?" Somnath asked, sounding irritated. 

Kaka lifted his cane and hit Somnath's side with it, causing Somnath to yelp. "Owww, what happened Kaka, will you at least tell me?!"

"THOSE ASHLEEL IMAGES! I KNEW IT! IT COULD ONLY LEAD TO THIS!" Kaka bellowed. 

He smacked him with the cane again, causing Som to jump, as he looked at Kaka with shock. 

What was the problem now? Could this chapter about those images ever end?! 

"YOU HAVE BROUGHT SHAME TO OUR FAMILY SOMNATH!"

Batuk's mouth gaped open, and all of a sudden, he couldn't help it -- he started to laugh, bringing his hand to his mouth and trying hard to stifle the laughter before the cane found him next.  

Anirudh pressed his hand to his forehead with irritation, wondering when the drama of the day was going to end. 

Bondita watched with wide eyes, wondering how the first thought that came to her Kakasasurji's mind when he heard that he would have a grandchild, was Somnath?!

-- 

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The second half of the chapter with Bon/Batuk, Anirudh's reaction to them, Kaka's reaction to them?

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