In order to make mountains move, one only needed to take the first step. Even when the result was unclear, the path became paved along the way. 

That was what Anirudh was learning, as he took the bag of money to the designated spot. 

He had no idea what to do after the money was released. He had no idea whether he could even trust that they'd release Bondita. He had no clue at all, about the different things that could go wrong. 

All he knew, was that he had to take it one step at a time. 

Before they left the haveli, Binoy had informed them that to get 1 crore, most of their properties would have to be sold, and on top of that, they wouldn't be the rich zamindars that they were anymore. In fact, they would be borderline broke. 

"We'll earn it back... B - Baba," Anirudh had cried. 

"The price for my Bahu and Waaris isn't simply 1 crore," Kaka cried back, "I'll give my entire life for them!" 

Binoy cleared his throat and said, "Da, I know that Bahu and our grandchild are important, but perhaps we are thinking about this too emotionally. Maybe there is a logical solution." 

"BABA!" Anirudh had screamed, fury in his eyes, "I WILL MAKE EVERY PENNY OF THIS MONEY BACK FOR YOU... BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN'T MAKE BACK? WHAT I CAN'T HAVE BACK?" His voice cracked, "M - my Bondita. If something happens to her, then s - she won't ever come back." 

Money could return, but Bondita could not. Why didn't they understand this? 

"Anirudh," Binoy said, sounding worried too. He went over to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "All I'm saying is to think clearly for two minutes. First of all, these kidnappers, do you think they've ever seen what 1 crore is?" 

"T - they'll count Baba," Anirudh cried, "We can't play double games with them.' 

"And in that time that they're busy counting 1 crore rupees -- which will take them days, you will find our Bahu," Binoy said with a nod. 

Anirudh looked at his Baba with shock. 

"That's right. They won't know what's real or what's fake," Binoy went on. "We will send them notes, but not real ones." 

Anirudh blinked a couple of times. "B - but I don't want to take any risks --" 

"Binoy is right," Kaka finally said, "We will also send the police." He didn't want to send the police because if word spread that his Bahu was out all night, then it would cause gossip. However, he also knew that he could not spare these kidnappers! "We will tell them to stand far back, and be seen only when needed, if called for backup." 

Anirudh said nervously, "B - but --if something happens to Bondita?"

"Nothing will happen," Binoy said reassuringly. "I'll arrange the counterfeit notes now." 

And this was how Anirudh drove to the spot, with the counterfeit notes in a humongous bag in the car. The police would soon arrive there, hiding themselves in the bushes, only to be called as backup. They didn't know how many were involved, so they couldn't take any risks. They had been well informed that Bondita's safety was the first priority. 

Until she was detected safe, and able to be rescued, the police would not make themselves known... no matter what. They were given clear instructions by Anirudh to not interfere, even if his own life was in danger. 

--

When Bondita returned to the shack after speaking to her Pati Babu, Manoshi looked at her fearfully. Ritesh and Akhilesh Dada had already locked them from outside.

"My Pati Babu will come," Bondita told Manoshi, a feeling of relief in her system. "He will come and surely rescue us." 

Manoshi ran to her and threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly, her head resting just above Bondita's chest. Bondita grinned and hugged her back. 

"Didi you must be very hungry," Manoshi whispered against her. 

"I'm not hungry anymore," Bondita said, breaking the hug and patting Manoshi's head gently, "I had forced them to give me food." 

Manoshi's eyes widened, as Bondita recalled what happened earlier: 

They were walking back from the place where she had gone to speak on the phone, and she demanded to the two kidnappers, "I have to pee!" 

Ritesh glanced at Akhilesh Dada, who said, "When you get back to the shack, there's a bottle there. Use that." 

Bondita breathed sharply. "No way! I'm a Roy Choudhary! Do you think I pee in bottles? Please! We are Zamindars!" 

Of course, Bondita had no issue with that, since she had been raised in a village, and even at Thakumaa's, there was no bathroom. 

Anirudh was working on constructing one at the Das haveli for them, but it was still a work in progress. 

However, she was thinking of using this as an opportunity to find an escape route -- to look for help. 

"If you don't allow me to pee in the bushes, then I will pee in my clothes, and your British officer won't want me!" Bondita huffed, dramatically. "Oh right! You are handing me back to my Pati Babu! Well, do you think those Zamindars will spare you, if you allow their Bahu to pee in her saree? What if they decide they don't want me after all when they see me covered in pee?"

"She's giving a headache Dada," Ritesh said, "Just let her urinate." 

"If she runs?" Akhilesh Dada responded. 

"We will watch her!" 

A horrified gasp left Bondita's lips, "You will watch me pee?" 

Akhilesh Dada said, "Ritesh, we can't watch her. How many times do I have to tell you, she doesn't belong to us?"

"We will hear her then," Ritesh responded, furrowing his brows. "Alright, go behind those bushes there and pee!" 

"I'm also hungry!" Bondita exclaimed as she took a few steps back, "Arrange food while I do this! Otherwise neither the British officer would be happy to see my cranky mood nor would my family!" 

"Kidnapping a Zamindar's Bahu is really hard work," Ritesh grumbled unhappily, "She is so high maintenance." 

When Bondita disappeared behind the bushes, she did pee, because she really had to, but her eyes were focused on looking around for an escape route. If she could leave here, then maybe she could find help and then come back for Manoshi. 

But with a sinking feeling in her chest, she realized that she couldn't do that. She had promised to not leave her. What if, after Bondita left, out of rage, they did something to her? 

So she dropped the idea, and decided to rely on her Pati Babu instead. Now that he knew what happened to her, he would surely find her. 

She had asked the two men to discuss food, so that they would be kept busy in conversation. However, she was really starving. So when she walked back up to them, she demanded, "Where's my food?" 

"Let's go," Ritesh just said with irritation, and took her to their car, where they had stored their own meals. 

"My wife made this for us," Akhilesh Dada informed, "But since you're threatening us, we will just say that if you don't be on your best behaviour, we will not give you this." 

"I will be!" Bondita said with an overly sweet grin. "Now give me food!" 

Akhilesh Dada gave Bondita the home-cooked meal, and she ate it hungrily, feeling a sense of relief. There was a roti in there, that she hid away in her blouse, just like Manoshi had hid the bag of nuts earlier. 

Back in the shack with Manoshi, Bondita removed the roti and handed it to her. "It might not taste the best," she offered, "But it's better than nothing. Please eat."

Manoshi looked at Bondita with tears in her eyes. "You brought this for me?" she asked. 

"Of course," Bondita said softly. 

"No Didi, I can't. Save it for when you're hungry again," Manoshi said, trying to pass the roti back to her. 

"Have it," Bondita said softly. 

"No, I feel so guilty," Manoshi whispered. 

Bondita sighed, and she ripped a small piece of roti, and brought it to Manoshi's lips, feeding her herself. 

With tears in her eyes, Manoshi slowly ate what Bondita fed her, never having felt this kind of love before. 

-- 

Anirudh waited by the forest after he dropped the money where he was told to. He was hiding a good distance away, having ditched his car further back. 

Finally, he saw movement and Ritesh appeared, looking around and grabbing the heavy bag. He somehow managed to carry it in his strong arms, and then started to run into the forest. 

Slowly, Anirudh followed, knowing that this was his opportunity to get to his Bondita. 

--

Inside the shack, Akhilesh Dada opened the door, and passed Manoshi an outfit for Bondita to wear. It was a lingerie piece. 

(Note: Here's the dress!)

"The British officer wants you dressed in this," Akhilesh Dada said to Bondita. 

"British officer?" Bondita demanded, ignoring the outfit. "My Pati Babu is coming for me!" 

"We changed our mind! We want to give you to the British officer instead! He will earn a revenue from you, and we may even get commission!" Akhilesh Dada explained, "Now hurry up and get ready in this dress. It'll be dawn soon, and the officer will arrive. Get out of this wrinkly saree, with those red stains at the bottom!" 

A smile suddenly appeared on her lips and she said, "Do you even know how my saree got these stains?" 

She continued with glistening eyes through her smile, "I walked in the footsteps of my God! And I hurt my feet in the process. But do you know what the best part is? That I can take any pain, and any pleasure, it can be raining or shining, it can be heaven or hell... but wherever my God goes, I will go!"

"And these stains, are a mark, a battle scar, a sign that I'm proud of! Proud because it reminds me again and again, that just like Bondita goes where her Pati Babu goes, her Pati Babu will also go where his Bondita goes! He will also come for me!" 

Akhilesh Dada looked at her like she lost it.

Bondita took the dress from Manoshi. "So give me the dress! I will wear it! Proudly, with no shame! There is no shame in dressing this way, anyways." 

The older man just continued to look at Bondita, stunned by her sudden acceptance. For an Indian woman in that day and age, it was not common to accept such an outfit. 

"And also know this! No matter how much or how little clothing I'm in, my true draping is through the love of my Pati Babu! The love of my God! The draping of his love is enough to give me every warmth and comfort in the harshest, coldest of nights... like a jacket on my bare body. I will never feel the winter storms, because he will forever shield me from them! You will never be able to take away this true clothing from Bondita! Because she will forever bask in his warmth!" 

Now, he again looked at her like she lost it. 

"This fire around me which you see, is not my own, but it's the fire he has given me. The fire he has empowered me with..." She paused, and looked at him with her intense eyes, as she held onto the corset, "And it is also the fire... that will burn you and everyone involved in the end!" 

The final bit caused Manoshi to look afraid too. 

"D - Didi... p - please," she whimpered, sounding scared. 

Bondita turned to look at Manoshi and softened her gaze. "Don't worry Manoshi. You will be spared from all of this. These thugs are who are going to be burned." 

Manoshi gulped nervously, seeing this side of Bondita. 

Akhilesh Dada just said, "Alright enough of all these long lectures and weird talking. Get dressed. I don't have time for the curses of such a young woman." 

"I'm not cursing you," Bondita scoffed, "I'm still only talking to you out of compassion. Remember, it is my compassion that you haven't been burned alive yet. Even if you do get burned, that is also my compassion. I've been taught to never hate anyone, and only to empower others."

She paused, and said, "My Pati Babu on the other hand though... I can't promise what he will do when he finds out all of these things. You see, his whole world revolves around my well-being. If he sees I wasn't treated well... this whole world may just end!" She shrugged nonchalantly. "So, I suggest, not letting it get to that point... although it may be too late." 

Akhilesh Dada just shook his head and walked out, locking the door behind him, while he went to find his companion. 

-- 

Ritesh almost made it back to the shack with the bag, not realizing that Anirudh was on his tail. Anirudh felt like he was quite successful, after about twenty minutes of following Ritesh, 

However, it turned out he was not... 

He was met with someone hitting the back of his head, causing the world to spin around him, and landing Anirudh on his knees first, clutching the back of his head, and finally face down on the floor, the world darkening around him. 

"Do you have no awareness?" Akhilesh Dada screamed at Ritesh, dropping the stick he just used to hit Anirudh's head. 

"Is he dead?" Ritesh gasped, as he saw the slight blood on the back of his head. 

"I didn't hit him that hard. I don't want to go to hell for murdering a Roy Choudhary," Akhilesh Dada hissed, "And if the police get us, we will be murdered. Brutally." 

"We should run," Ritesh said, sounding nervous. 

"Check, that there are no police," Akhilesh ordered. 

Ritesh nodded, and walked a few feet away, shaking his head. "No, it seems he is alone." 

"Then we'll take him further away and leave him. He won't wake up for a few hours anyways. In that time, we'll send the girl off with the officer." 

Ritesh nodded, "Hurry!" 

"I've given them the dress. She should be dressed up soon." 

"Manoshi is doing it?" Ritesh questioned. 

"Yes, but it seems like the Roy Choudhary girl is compliant. She said she doesn't care about dressing in such attire, because it's not wrong. She doesn't even realize it's despicable to wear such clothes!" 

"Disgusting," Ritesh hissed. "Let's go soon." 

--

As Manoshi got Bondita ready, she asked, "Didi... the way you look up to your Pati Babu, are all Pati Babus supposed to be like that? Should everyone look up to their husbands that way? Like they are God?"

Bondita shook her head, "My Pati Babu is different. He has given me life, and he is far more than just a husband. I don't call him that because he's my husband."

She felt very cold and bare in that pink corset, but thankfully, it covered almost half of her thighs. Then all she had to do was smile and think about her Pati Babu, and she was filled with warmth all over again. 

"Didi you are really brave to wear this," Manoshi said. 

"It's not wrong to wear any type of clothing, Manoshi. What's wrong is forcing people to wear something against their will," Bondita stated. 

Manoshi looked at her with confusion. 

"Even... women, who choose to venture into a world like where they're forcing us to go in. It's not wrong if they willingly choose these things. If they want to. In fact, they deserve so much respect for getting over something like shame, for understanding that they are more than this body... but the problem is when they are forced into this profession," Bondita explained.

"But Didi... what if the officer does something to you?" Manoshi whispered. "If you look like this... can he... stop himself?" 

Bondita glanced at Manoshi and said with a heavy heart, "I can't control what someone else does. All I can say is that the way a woman is dressed does not justify anyone's misdeeds." 

That was when the door to the shack unlocked and Bondita felt a tinge of nervousness, feeling bare all over again. 

Ritesh walked in with Akhilesh Dada, and when they saw her, Akhilesh Dada immediately turned away, and Ritesh gazed at her lustfully. 

Bondita took a deep breath, and didn't even attempt to cover herself -- she was covered anyways. Her legs and arms were the only things that were bare. 

"We did all this hard work, why does the officer get to have a taste of her first?" Ritesh demanded. 

He had dropped the bag of money in the car, and they hadn't counted it yet, having no time to. 

"Ritesh!" Akhilesh snapped, still not looking at Bondita. "Behave yourself. The officer will be here any moment." 

"The officer won't even know," Ritesh went on, "She's not a virgin anyways, even though Manoshi has done a good job erasing her sindoor. The officer won't know we tampered with her, when she already wasn't a virgin!" 

Bondita breathed sharply. She had taken off her own sindoor, shakha pola, and washed away her alta just as they had expected. 

"The mark of my sindoor is embedded in me. Even if I have to remove all of my wedding signs outside, everything is within me. It doesn't change the truth! So I'm not scared to do anything like that!" she said to them darkly. "And you're talking about tampering with me? You already know that you can't get near me!" 

"Ritesh stop," Akhilesh warned before he could get worked up. "If the British officer comes at the wrong time then..." 

"You stop him," Ritesh demanded. "Keep him busy in conversation outside while I silence this girl."

Manoshi started to cry as Bondita started to seethe with anger. Manoshi begged, "Please don't do anything to Didi." 

"Manoshi shut up," Ritesh hissed at her. 

Manoshi walked over to Ritesh and said, "Please... I did everything you asked me to do. Please let her go. She's very nice!" 

Ritesh's hand got raised and was about to be sent to Manoshi's cheek, when an angry Bondita came and grabbed his arm. 

"HOW DARE YOU?" she screamed at him. 

"You whore!" Ritesh spat at her, "Look at you strutting this outfit with confidence, as if you don't care who ogles at you! Not a tinge of shyness!" 

Bondita was getting angrier now. She knew she had begged earlier for her baby, but right now she just couldn't think straight. He was about to beat up the young girl, for merely defending her!

Ritesh hissed, "And the girl you're defending, do you even know who she is?" 

Bondita didn't care who she was. Was he going to say low-caste? She didn't care about Manoshi's background. Even if Manoshi was a stranger on the street, she would defend her... and here, Manoshi had become close to her heart. 

"I don't care --" she started angrily, but was cut off. 

"Do you think that we conveniently had such an ugly girl here with you? Please. Even we have standards and can kidnap other decent girls."

Manoshi was crying loudly, as Ritesh spoke. 

"I'm ugly, but Didi is beautiful. From inside and out," Manoshi sobbed. 

"Manoshi is not who you think she is," Ritesh told her with a smirk, "She's..." 

"Didi please," Manoshi begged, falling to her knees and grabbing Bondita's bare ankles. "Please don't hate me." 

"Who are you Manoshi?" Bondita asked, her heart hammering hard and fast now, when she saw the girl behaving this way. 

Manoshi cried harder, as Ritesh just smirked.

"Manoshi is my wife."

A shocked feeling filled Bondita's whole body as Manoshi's cries got even louder. 

Ritesh finished with, "And I'll show her through you, how I should have enjoyed her all along. She will be right here watching, as I enjoy you today, Mrs. Barrister Babu." 

Bondita felt a punch in her heart, and she suddenly pulled her ankle out of Manoshi's grip with force. 

"You... lied to me Manoshi?" Bondita asked, heartbroken with tears stinging her eyes.  

-- 

When Anirudh woke up, he realized that he was not where he had passed out. He rubbed the back of his head, where the blood had dried up. The sun was rising in the horizon. 

"B - Bondita," he gasped, looking around frantically, realizing that the kidnappers had probably seen him. 

They wouldn't hurt his Bondita right? 

He started to stumble forward, still not feeling fully conscious, tears in his eyes. 

What if something happened? What if she got hurt? It was his fault. It was all his fault! He should have never left her alone in the first place, and now he couldn't even do a good job of keeping himself hidden. 

If something happened to her, it was all because of him!

Instead of supporting her in this pregnancy journey, first and foremost, he had made her feel alone. They had sorted out their guilt, but it didn't stop the fact that it still happened. She still felt alone and depressed, all because of him! 

He did apologize. He did mend things with her. However, it wasn't enough. He had to fall to her feet. He had to make her feel loved. He had to show her that he loved her... 

And... 

Their baby. 

He loved her... and their... baby... too. 

He had to show her that. 

She probably felt miserable this whole time, thinking that he couldn't love their baby. He had shown her his love, that too maybe, but their baby? Had he shown her he wanted their baby? Had he made her smile, that they could have a happy life with the product of their love? 

No. He hadn't. 

And that was his biggest mistake, and his biggest realization. 

A realization that would send him deeper and deeper in a beautiful bliss, in the coming days. 

So he searched desperately. 

He searched for what felt like hours. The sun had risen up high in the sky now, and he couldn't find even a shadow of her in the scorching heat of the morning. 

What did they do to her? What did they do to their... their baby? 

The tears were continuously streaming down his cheeks, as he freely worried not only about Bondita, but their child too for the first time. 

His and Bondita's baby. 

Their baby. 

"Bondita! Bondita!" Anirudh cried, his heart feeling like it was ripped to pieces as he searched for Bondita. "Your Pati Babu was wrong Bondita! He was wrong, absolutely wrong! Don't suffer for my mistakes. Come back Bondita. Come back to me, please! Let me correct things! Let me make things right again! Let me fall to your feet and beg for your forgiveness. Give me one chance Bondita. Only one chance!"

https://youtu.be/3r5Kpi2iZwM

Dhoop jeevan tujhko dhundhe
Mile na tere saaye,
Mai hu karan iss dasha ka
Jiya bada pachhtaye,
Tu hai resham log pathar
Yahi fikar tadpaye,
Ek mauka de mujhe tu
Apni galti sudharu,
Aa kahi se chhule haath mera...
Rishta tera mera, Rishta tera mera
Rishta tera mera, Rishta tera meraaaa

With a life like the blazing heat of the sun, I am looking for you
But cannot even find the traces of your shade,
I am the reason for this situation,
My heart is regretting a lot
You are like silk, people are stone,
That is causing me worry and restlessness,
Give me one chance
To rectify my mistake,
Come and touch my hand from somewhere...
Bond between you and me (×4)

--

Precap: 

Anirudh runs into the men a little way away from the shack, and demands in desperation where Bondita is. 

"Dead," Akhilesh Dada tells him coldly. "Your wife is dead. It's too late now, Anirudh Roy Choudhary. You won't ever be able to get her back."

-- 

I hope that you enjoyed this chapter!

Any thoughts on the plot twist in the chapter? It was planned all along. If you re-read some parts again, you will see hints. 🙈

Thoughts about Anirudh accepting 'their' baby?

Anything that you enjoyed/that stood out?

What about the precap?

This track will probably end in another 2 chapters. 

Please press star and leave your thoughts! 

Love you all! 💕