A reason. 

Kaka had a reason. 

That was why when he whacked Anirudh hard with his cane, he wasn't the least bit sorry. 

What was Anirudh even doing, allowing that murderess to cling to him like that? He was furious! 

Anirudh turned to glare at him, and he hissed, "Kaka! What did I tell you?"

Kaka remembered the threat about Anirudh leaving with his waaris and he just huffed unhappily. 

He stormed towards Anirudh, Mini and Bhoumik and grabbed his cane off the floor. 

All he did was stand there and try hard not to glare at Saudamini. 

"Kaka... are you... upset?" Saudamini asked, looking afraid. 

Trilochan pointedly ignored her. 

Sampoorna was standing in the distance, feeling disgusted. Only Binoy went ahead to join Trilochan. 

"Bhoumik Babu," Binoy said, "Long time no -" 

"Yes, you and Mini met after a long time," Bhoumik interrupted quickly, and then he stepped towards Binoy, patting him on the back, "But we - we have been in touch."

Saudamini just smiled and glanced at Anirudh who was looking away. 

"It's so nice to be back here," Saudamini said. "Baba told me that everyone misunderstands me, so not to be upset if people speak ill to me. But you... you don't misunderstand me, Anirudh. I know that. You have faith in your Mini." 

Anirudh didn't even turn to look at her. 

"Does everyone else here misunderstand me too?" Mini asked softly. 

Anirudh finally spoke and he said, with a heavy heart, "N - No. Nobody misunderstands you here." 

"Really?" Mini asked, her eyes lighting up. "Then... there will be no problem if I come back and live with you Anirudh?"

"What?" Anirudh asked, shocked, and he just turned to look at Bhoumik with intensity. 

"Of course, you will stay here my daughter," Bhoumik said, just as intensely glaring at Anirudh. "After all, where else will you live besides in your husband's home?" 

"I'll go to our room Anirudh!" Mini said with excitement. 

"What!" Anirudh gasped, but she had already started to run up the stairs, as if she had never left this haveli behind at all. 

"What nonsense is this!" Kaka huffed, "She cannot stay here." 

"Yes Bhoumik, she can't stay here," Binoy agreed. "She may have forgotten what she has done, but we have not."

"She believes she is Anirudh's wife. She will stay here," Bhoumik said, glaring at the two of them. "What happened to her was all your fault. Now you shall bear the cost."

"It was not our fault! And she is not Anirudh's wife!" Kaka argued. "Shiv Shiv Shiv! What is this nonsense!"

Bhoumik snapped back, "If your family didn't allow that child to come here as Anirudh's wife, Saudamini would have been married to Anirudh and they would be living a very happy life right now!"

Binoy shook his head slowly and said, "Her true nature just came out thanks to Bondita coming to our house at the right time. And frankly, your true nature as well Bhoumik."

"Our Bahu is irreplaceable!" Kaka yelled. 

As they fought, Anirudh ran after Saudamini who had reached his old bedroom. 

"Anirudh, is my stuff here?" Saudamini questioned. 

"No!" Anirudh said, grabbing her wrist before she could enter. "I mean... this isn't my bedroom anymore. I moved to the bigger one."

"Oh, did we need more space?" Saudamini asked, with a smile. "Which bedroom is it? The one that used to be empty?"

Anirudh took a deep breath and said, "Look... Mini. I know that you forgot many things. And that's why I want you to take your time. Stay with your Baba. Feel better. Then... when you're ready, come here."

Saudamini looked at him with surprise. 

"Anirudh, why would I stay with Baba when I'm married to you?" 

"Mini, you don't want to rush into this world, when you have no memories of it. Take... your time."

Saudamini suddenly took his hand, making Anirudh very uncomfortable. 

"You care about me so much. You were always so gentle," she said with a sigh. "Which is why I fell for you... very hard." 

Anirudh suddenly locked his eyes against hers and muttered, "That, or was it because I was from London?"

"Of course, you being from London is a great asset!" Saudamini said with a grin, "When are you taking me there? Did we go?"

"No..." Anirudh mumbled, "And I don't think we will ever go."

"What? Why?" Saudamini asked, her heart dropping. 

"My mission is here in India Mini. I... have a lot of things to do here." 

Anirudh watched her, almost testing her again, wanting to see what she would do. 

Saudamini just smiled at him and said, "No worries Anirudh. Let's be together here." 

She squeezed his hand and said, "I want to spend time with you making new memories now. I forgot about our time together... but now, I want to only remember everything. All the good times I have with you."

Anirudh forced a smile. 

And slowly, as you fall for my beauty more and more Anirudh, you will take me to London! You will leave your fitoori ideas behind, and we will live a normal, happy life in London. I want to live with you Anirudh, in London! 

--

Batuk rushed into the haveli after school, his feet pounding against the wooden floors as he called out for his brother. 

"Big D! Big D, where are you?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the house.

Anirudh was in his study. Mini had gone back with her Baba to pack some belongings, and Bihari had quickly moved Bondita's stuff out of the room, including all pictures of her. 

Anirudh couldn't let Mini find out who Bondita was. He wouldn't ever allow her to be Mini's target. He had failed Bondita in this regard before. He wouldn't do it again. 

He looked up as soon as Batuk rushed in. 

"Big D!" Batuk was panting for air. 

"What is it?" Anirudh asked, "Is Bondita okay?" 

Batuk nodded, clutching his chest and gasping. "She's fine. But... I want to go stay with her. Can I? She must be so lonely there Big D!" 

Anirudh was about to impulsively say no, but instead he nodded as soon as he realized that Batuk hadn't yet found out about Mini. 

If Batuk found out, he didn't know whether he could keep his younger brother's mouth shut in front of Bondita. 

"Yes," he said right away. "Pack up and go now." 

"What?" Batuk gasped, eyebrows raising, not expecting such a quick response. 

"Yes, Batuk. I said yes." 

Without giving his Big D a chance to take his words back and say no, he rushed to his bedroom to pack his belongings. 

When Batuk came back down, lugging a suitcase along with his backpack, Anirudh took the suitcase from him.

"Come, I'll drop you off myself," he told him. 

Batuk's eyes lit up. "Really Big D?"

Anirudh gave him a half-hearted smile. "You stay there with Bondita. Take care of her... and be gentle." 

"I'm very gentle!" Batuk huffed. 

"Right... continue to be. Don't let her miss the haveli or miss me," Anirudh told Batuk softly, making Batuk wonder what happened to make Anirudh take this step.  

The two of them got in the car. 

As Anirudh began to drive, Batuk asked, "Big D... what happened by the way? Why did you send Boudi to the farmhouse?"

Anirudh shook his head and said, "It's nothing to be worried about Batuk. I have a reason." 

"But what reason?" Batuk pressed on. 

"Batuk, sometimes in order to keep the ones you love safe, you have to make some sacrifices for the greater good." 

"Why?" Batuk asked bluntly. 

"Because if you don't, you can hurt others."

"But... doesn't it mean you'll get hurt? You're keeping yourself away from her," Batuk pointed out. 

"Maybe," Anirudh said with a soft smile. "Maybe it does mean I'll get hurt. But you know what brings me the greatest amount of happiness? It's knowing that the ones I love are safe and sound."

Batuk sighed loudly, "I don't understand. I don't get it."

"You know that for Bondita, I can die," Anirudh told Batuk with a soft smile. "I can face any danger, any fears of mine. I can do anything Batuk." 

"I know," Batuk said grimly. 

Anirudh chuckled, noticing his brother's jealous expression. "I'd do it for you too Batuk." 

Batuk turned to look at his Big D, his eyes lighting up with happiness. 

"But Big D... I'm your family. Boudi... became your family... over time right? She was a stranger once... but you've always known me! I know you love Boudi, and I love her too! I would do anything for her as well. But... it's not romantic! I don't know... I wonder if I would do any such thing for my girlfriend?"

"Batuk, when you love someone, when you care about them so deeply that you forget about your own existence... it doesn't have to be romantic. Because at that point your love has passed all levels of romance. At that point, you will feel like your pain, your suffering doesn't matter... as long as you can protect them, see a smile on their face, see their comfort. That's what is important to you, and that's what'll give you the greatest amount of joy." 

Batuk looked at his Big D, smiling. 

"Sometimes I see what Vikram sees in you." 

Anirudh couldn't help but shake his head, his face turning a little red at the idea of Vikram. He knew of the boy's fanboy crush on him all too well. 

It was a short, but sweet bonding moment for the brothers. 

The energy of his older brother resonated in Batuk for a moment, as the lessons invigorated him. Perhaps he didn't understand right away... but he knew that one day he would understand. 

And his Big D confessed that he would do the same for him, as he would do for his Boudi, and that was enough to send Batuk over the moon!

(And of course, it gave him a weapon to tease his Boudi with later on!)

"Let's go," Anirudh said, parking the car. 

He glanced at the farmhouse, his heart beginning to beat very fast. 

Would he get to see Bondita again?

Instinctively, a smile appeared on his lips at the thought. 

--

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