The conversation with Bhoumik Babu didn't go the way that Anirudh was envisioning. 

In fact, it went in a completely opposite way. 

He had stepped out of the house and closed the door behind him, to make sure there was a barrier between Bhoumik Babu and Bondita. 

Anirudh should have known... 

He should have known that Mini would be released from jail.

Her sentence was served...

Yet, he forgot. 

He forgot that Saudamini existed, in his life with Bondita. 

His attention had been focused on Bondita. Raising her, teaching her, guiding her. Falling for her, loving her, going through beautiful chaos with her. 

Saudamini was not even on his radar in all of these years. 

"Anirudh," Bhoumik Babu said, as Anirudh looked at him with an stern expression. "Even I don't want to come to you like this. What face do I even approach you with? After what my daughter did to you, after what she did to Bondita..."

"To Saurabh," Anirudh whispered, his heart aching as he recalled the servant who was his best friend. 

Saudamini had kidnapped Bondita, and tried to murder her. But instead of Bondita, it was Saurabh who died... while saving Bondita. 

"To... him too..." Bhoumik agreed. 

"If you know what she did. If you don't even want to come to me. Then why? Why are you here?" Anirudh asked, looking at Bhoumik Babu with a sorrowful expression. "Why do you want to talk to me?" 

"Because I need your help," Bhoumik confessed. 

Anirudh stared at him blankly. 

What kind of help would the father of a murderer want?

"My daughter... she..." Bhoumik looked down with shame, and then brought his hands up in a form of pleading. "She... doesn't remember what she did." 

Anirudh looked at Bhoumik with disbelief. 

Bhoumik Babu continued, "The jail informed me... that they released her. And they told me what happened to her, in jail." 

Suddenly, the man started to tremble. 

Anirudh watched Bhoumik Babu shake, and his heart dropped immediately. 

After he embraced fatherhood... the mere sight of another father pining for his child was difficult for him to face. 

Still, he remained calm, and continued to watch him sternly. 

"W - when she went to jail, she was never treated well. She was the chhodi hui aurat of a Britisher -- someone who was left behind by her British husband, so they treated her very badly. And most of the prisoners were Indian... they... I guess, they felt like she ditched their country. And they hurt her. They hurt her badly," Bhoumik Babu said, a lone tear rolling down his cheek. "They kept the females and males separate. But the females were vicious... and the officers were male. The officers they abused her. Hurt her." 

Anirudh couldn't help the ache in his heart as he heard how she was treated. Even if she committed a crime, her sentence was given by the judge in court. How could others abuse her from within the walls? 

And officers too on top of that? 

What kind of law were they upholding by doing this? They were only taking out their own frustration... not doing anything else!

They had no right! No right at all to abuse anyone like that, let alone a woman who was confined to the prisons and already there to serve her sentence! 

Bhoumik Babu continued, "They even..." He squeezed his eyes shut, "Called her names like... w - whore... for marrying a British man. They said she seduced him. And called her all kinds of vicious names... and they... they..." Bhoumik choked. 

Anirudh didn't want to hear it. He didn't want him to continue. It hurt to hear this. 

It hurt to see that someone who had been his childhood friend, had turned out like this. The heartbreak that she could be this vicious, had already ripped him apart back just after Bondita had been left to Hira Mandi, when he found out the truth about Mini. 

After that, when she kidnapped Bondita and he lost Saurabh in the process... he couldn't handle just how low she could go. He had gotten so angry. And he had been so broken too... because above all else, he considered her a friend. A friend, who maybe could have made different choices if he himself had been better on his end. 

Back then, she had a rough time too. It didn't justify what she did. But the fact that she had basically been his girlfriend at the time, and overnight their lives changed when he married Bondita. It hadn't been fair on her either. 

Somewhere... Anirudh felt like he could have handled things better. He had been very immature. Scared himself. He had been buried in so much fear, self-loathing, and horrendous thoughts, that he hadn't been fair to either Mini or Bondita back then. 

And hearing all of this about Mini... he didn't like it. He wouldn't ever want his worst enemies to suffer in this kind of way. 

"She was abused horrifically. She has stitches on her head from the last time they beat her," Bhoumik whispered, "They beat her so badly, that she was bleeding and unconscious for days. When she woke up, she couldn't remember anything." 

Anirudh took a deep breath, not understanding what he was feeling. 

Was it anger at those people who beat her up? Was it pain for someone who was once important to him? Was it disappointment in her... yet again, for turning out like this? 

She could have chosen a better path... 

But that didn't mean he was heartless. It didn't mean that he would support any kinds of vicious abuse against her. 

"Nothing?" Anirudh asked. "She remembers nothing at all?"

"Slowly, after a few days, she recalled her name. She remembered me. She remembered her childhood... she remembered you," Bhoumik continued, "She remembered the letters you exchanged. The officer told me all of this. Only one of the officers thought to call me and inform me. Nobody else cared." 

"The letters?" Anirudh asked, recalling the letters he used to exchange with her from back in London. 

"Yes, she remembered those letters," Bhoumik Babu continued. "But... I don't know what else she remembers, because I haven't... I haven't found my daughter." 

Tears poured down his cheeks. "I d - don't know where she is... or how she is. I don't know if she remembers the way home. And if she does... it will be the wrong home. I don't l - live there anymore." 

Anirudh looked at Bhoumik with absolute shock. 

"She didn't come home?" he asked. 

"When I went there, the new owners said nobody arrived," Bhoumik said. "She was released a few days ago Anirudh. I... I don't know what to do. I thought she m - may come looking for you... so I came here." 

"M - Me?" Anirudh stammered. 

The first place his mind went was Bondita. 

No, he had to keep Bondita away from Saudamini. 

At any cost. 

Even if she lost her memory... he didn't trust her. No. He could never trust her! 

"Yes, Anirudh. I came here because I need your help. To keep your eyes open... your ears open... in case she comes," Bhoumik whispered, his hands folded together in front of him. "I need you to help me find my daughter. Please Anirudh." 

Anirudh suddenly felt blood rush to his head. 

"Help?" he hissed. 

He would yell, but if Bondita heard, he would have bigger problems to deal with. 

"Did you forget that your daughter killed my best friend?" Anirudh hissed, glaring at Bhoumik Babu, "Did you forget, that your daughter tried to kill my wife? Did you forget what your daughter did to me? How she pretended to be blind. How she emotionally blackmailed me. How she plotted to separate me and Bondita? Did you forget all of those things? Why would I help your daughter? Why would I help you?"

Bhoumik looked at Anirudh, his hands shaking, and he reached to hold Anirudh's hands. 

"You're right. She did all of those things. She did everything Anirudh. She committed terrible crimes. But she has fulfilled her sentence. She even got abused... badly... she got beaten. Tortured. Assaulted in the worst ways. And now... she doesn't even remember what she did," Bhoumik said, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Please Anirudh. Please, she's helpless right now. She's not the same Saudamini who tried to kidnap and murder. She's different. She's innocent. She doesn't even know of her crime! Imagine her state!" 

"I DON'T CARE!" Anirudh bellowed, and realizing that Bondita might hear, he lowered his volume to a danger whisper and he hissed, "I don't care about her! Go and find her, if that's what you wish, and keep her away. Far away from me and my wife." 

"I would Anirudh, if I could find her," Bhoumik pleaded, "All I'm asking is for your help to find her. Please! You don't have to go far. Only if she comes to you, bring her to me. That's all I'm asking. I won't ask for more of your time and effort. Maybe you're not a father, so you don't understand. But the pain a father feels for his daughter... it's something heart-wrenching Anirudh. I would rather die than know my daughter is suffering." 

When he said the last words, Anirudh's heart ached in pain. 

He thought to his Little Bondita. He didn't know if their child was a girl or a boy, but he knew that either way... his heart already surrendered to them. He didn't think he could ever see them in pain.

If the mere thought of seeing his unborn child in pain was crippling him, what must this father be feeling for his daughter? 

"I still don't care," Anirudh hissed, pulling himself out of his emotional state. No, he wouldn't fall for these emotional blackmail tactics!

And how could he be so sure that Bhoumik was telling the truth right now? 

"Then I have no choice Anirudh," Bhoumik said, "You're giving me no option." 

Anirudh looked at him, confused. 

"If you don't help me, then the project that you're working on right now with barristers and revolutionists across the country, about creating more schooling facilities for women... I'm going to have to put a stop to that," Bhoumik threatened. 

Anirudh felt his nostrils flare up angrily. 

"How could you --" he started. 

"Because Harish Chatterjee, the person you're speaking to... I know him very well. As well as the British Officers, you're currently in contact with. I've known them longer than you Anirudh," Bhoumik threatened. "I can put a stop to all the work you're doing. And whatever you've been working towards will come crashing down in seconds." 

"What nonsense!" Anirudh hissed. "How low can you go?"

"I'm not asking for much. Just to keep your eyes open and hand my daughter to me if you find her, without abusing her further. That's all," Bhoumik repeated. "My daughter is my world Anirudh. One day when you have a child, maybe you'll understand what a child means to their parent. And that's why I would go to any lengths... for my daughter. Even if that means tearing the whole country down." 

Anirudh looked at Bhoumik, his heart aching again. 

Because he understood. 

He really did...

He was a father himself, after all. 

--

A few days ago...

When Saudamini was walking on the streets, right after being released from jail, she was walking in a random direction, unsure of where to head. She was in a plain white saree, that was provided to her for her leave, and perhaps she looked like she just returned from a funeral. 

Well, she felt like she did too... everything seemed so gloomy, depressing and confusing. 

As she was walking, she nearly collided with a bright blue jeep! It was a brand new car, and looked to be quite expensive! In fact, the jeep had come to a screeching stop, just as it fluttered against her saree! 

"Hey, watch where you're going!" an angry looking tall man yelled, when he escaped from the blue jeep, "This car is brand new! I don't want a dent on it because of your carelessness!" 

Saudamini looked up at the tall man, and raised her brow. 

"You weren't watching where you were driving!" she replied, and then pointed to her leg. "Your jeep nearly injured me. It even touched!" 

Chandrachur looked down at her leg with an annoyed expression. 

The car was a brand new gift from Barrister Babu, because Bondita had stolen his car and got it sold off to someone! She had made a fool out of him, and he had underestimated her intelligent capabilities by a landslide!

Well, now he wasn't willing to let anything happen to this car, which was far more expensive than his last one! No, this car was his baby! 

He wouldn't even let his wife Tupur clean it, when she insisted!

"What are you doing walking in the middle of the street?" Chandrachur questioned. 

"Trying to find my home," Saudamini said. "But... I can't find it." 

"Where do you live?" Chandrachur asked. 

"Tulsipur," Saudamini replied, "But... I don't know the way there." 

Chandrachur's mind moved to Bondita. 

Tulsipur. 

"I can drop you!" he immediately said. 

Maybe he'd get a glimpse of Bondita too. 

"I thought that you were mad at me for my carelessness!" Saudamini replied. 

Chandrachur faked a grin and said, "No, not at all. It was my fault. Really! So to compensate, I should drop you home.  I'll take you right now." 

Saudamini nodded and got in the passenger seat of his car. She had no other choice. She didn't know where else to go. 

She was a bit hesitant about this man, because somewhere in the recesses of her memory, there was some kind of trauma associated with men... but she couldn't recall exactly what that trauma was. 

"What's your name?" she asked him. 

"Chandrachur," he responded, "And you?" 

"Saudamini," she said, and glanced at her jagged fingernails. 

She didn't know what happened to her... but this wasn't her. She liked her pretty clothes, her well done nails, her maid who took care of her everyday essentials and pampered her. 

She wasn't used to going out alone like this. She wasn't used to this look. This rugged hair, these plain clothes, this feeling of having nowhere to go... 

Her lifestyle was different. Completely different. 

What crime did she commit exactly? Did she really commit a crime? Why couldn't she remember?

The last she remembered... 

Her eyes closed, as she recalled... 

Anirudh... 

He had come back from London! 

And he was... going to propose to her! He said... he would tell her what she wanted to hear from him, and what he wanted to say to her! 

Ishhhhh!

Suddenly a blush appeared on her cheeks, and she looked down shyly. 

"Anirudh," Saudamini whispered to herself, "Did you... end up proposing to me?" 

She was aware that she lost some part of her memory. 

What happened in all this time? 

Anirudh must be waiting... 

He must be waiting for her! 

Chandrachur on the other hand was speeding to Tulsipur. 

Bondita must be worried about him, right? After all, he had murdered someone for her sake! 

Well, he had murdered someone to save Barrister Babu. He still couldn't figure out why he didn't just let Barrister Babu die, that day when they were saving Bondita from the goons who tried to sell her to some British adult magazine publishers!

But Bondita must be concerned about the effect the murder must be having on his mental state!

"Yes, Bondita! You must be so worried about me," Chandrachur muttered under his breath with a grin.

He wouldn't ever give up on his Bondita!

--

After Bhoumik Babu left, Anirudh went to their bedroom and asked Bondita if she would like to go outside. 

Bondita closed her textbook and got ready. 

Anirudh silently took her to the beautiful hills of Darjeeling. It was slightly chilly outside, and Bondita was in a thick shawl that Anirudh had bought for her in Darjeeling. Anirudh was in his regular white waistcoat, white dress pants, and bright yellow shirt. His glasses added to the strict look on his face. 

He had to break it to her. 

He couldn't keep such an important thing away from her. Especially, if Saudamini came... it may affect her too. 

Anirudh was looking away from her, somehow unable to meet her eye, as if he was doing something wrong. 

"What's wrong Pati Babu? You seem to be in deep thought," Bondita said softly, as they glanced at the beautiful horizon. 

"Bondita..." Anirudh finally said, turning to look at her. 

He gently took her hand, "There's something I want to tell you. It's about... S - Saudamini."

Bondita froze on the spot. 

She hadn't heard that name in so many years... 

--

I hope you enjoyed this slightly longer chapter!

Thoughts on the conversation between Anirudh and Bhoumik Babu? 

CC/Saudamini's interaction?

What do you think about Saudamini and what happened to her? 

What will happen when Saudamini goes to Tulsipur? Will she meet anyone? 

How will Bondita react? 

What will happen next? 

What are you looking forward to and what are you nervous about? 

I'd be very grateful if you can support me by hitting star! 🥰 

Thank you for reading and I love you all! ♥