After one week

Bondita is discharged. Anirudh nearly begged her to stay in Roy Choudhury Haveli so he can take care of her ( always be near her) Bondita is now home. Anirudh gentle placed her on the bed.

Anirudh - tum theek ho Bondita ? Koi pareshani toh nahi hai na ?

Bondita - mein theek hu Barrister babu.

Suddenly Bondita saw someone peeking from the door.

Bondita - Darvaze par kon hai ? Andar aao.

But no one came inside. Bondita looked at Anirudh confusingly to which he said.

Anirudh - mein jaakar dekhta hu

Saying this he stood up and went to see who's there. Bondita can see Anirudh smiling while looking at the person which made her more confuse. Anirudh looked at her and said.

Anirudh - Dekho tumse milne kon aaya hai ?

Bondita saw Radha scooped up in Anirudh's arms. Her small figure clinging onto him for comfort. A smile appeared on Bondita's face.

Bondita - Radha....

Anirudh - Ha ! Hamari princess Milne aayi hai. Kabse tumse milna chahti thi.

Bondita was happy seeing Radha after so long but she sensed something in Radha's emotions. Guilt ? Regret ? She put her thoughts aside and beckoned Radha to come closer to her.

Radha slowly came near Bondita and stood, looking at her with her big innocent eyes. Bondita smiled and said.

Bondita - Kesi ho ?

Radha sniffed and gave her a 'I am sorry ' card to her. Anirudh came closer and saw the card. While Bondita was reading the card, Anirudh rubbed her back to comfort her. While reading Bondita saw the lines :

I know Ma ye sab meri vajah se hua hai. Agar mein baba ke sath rehne ki zidd na karti toh ye kabhi nahi hota. Mein apko hurt nahi karna chahti thi. I am sorry. Aap khaoge toh mein apke sath vapas London bhi chal lungi.

Bondita look at her concerned and pulled her closer

Bondita - ye khuch bhi apki vajah se nahi hua hai. Samajh mein aaya ?

Radha looked at her with teary eyes and asked, her voice cracking.

Radha - Shotti ?

Bondita - Shotti !

Radha hugged Bondita tightly, but because of the bullet wound Bondita winced in pain.

Anirudh - princess....Ma ko taklif ho rahi hai

He took her in his arms and sat beside Bondita, so Bondita can comfort her.

Bondita - meri pyari beti aise thodi rote hai.....aap toh Ma ki pyari beti ho na ?

Anirudh - Ha. Aap toh ek princess ho....

While she was crying, her tears wetting his shirt and they both caresses her hairs in comforting manner to show their love to her.

Eventually Radha fell asleep in Anirudh's arms.

Anirudh - mein Radha ko uske kamre mein sulakar aata hu.

Bondita nods and Anirudh goes to Radha's room. He tucks her properly in her bed and gave a forehead kiss before leaving. He was going back in Bondita's room when he saw someone standing there. He silently peeked to see who it is.

He peeked through the door and saw the person was Aarif. He was holding Bondita's hands. Anirudh's body froze for a moment.

Anirudh (in mind) -Kahi ye Bondita ko apne sath le jaane toh nahi aaya hai ? Mein kis muh se Bondita ko rokunga ?

Bondita noticed Anirudh's presence and called him.

Bondita - Sakha Babu andar aaiye na.

Aarif looked behind and saw Anirudh, his expression were neutral. Anirudh hesitantly came inside the room and sat infront of Bondita's bed.

Aarif - Toh kese hai aap Barrister babu ?

Anirudh looked nervous infront of Aarif and nodded.

Anirudh - mein theek hu

Aarif - theek toh honge hi, ankhir kisi ne apni jaan daav par lagakar apko bachaya hai.

Anirudh became silent hearing that. His body stiffed controlling his frustration and guilt.

Anirudh - tum ye sab batakar kya saabit karna chahte ho huh ? Ki... Bondita ki haalat ka zimmedar mein hu ?

Aarif - saabit toh mein tumhe ye karna chahta hu ki tumhare dushman ne tumhari jaan bachayi hai ! Jisse tumne itna dukh diya tha !

Anirudh - BONDITA MERI DUSHMAN NAHI HAI !

Anirudh shouted and stood up. Aarif too stood up and began fighting. Bondita got worried because of this.

Bondita - Aap log kya kar rahe hai ! Shant ho jaaiye !

But they were too busy in their argument to listen. Bondita decided to stood up despite her injury and came closer to them. She starting pulling Anirudh to stop the fight. At that moment Aarif shouted.

Aarif - USS DIN VO GOLI TUMHE LAG JAATI AUR TUM MAR JAATE TOH ACCHA HOTA !

Anirudh froze hearing that. Bondita couldn't take it anymore and shouted.

Bondita - BAS BAHUT HUA AARIF ! TUMHE LAGTA HAI KI SAKHA BABU NE VO SAB BADLA LENE KE LIYE KIYA ?! MEIN BATATI HU KI ASAL MEIN HUA KYA THA !

Bondita explained him everything, why he kept her as a slave in his house and why he spread the news of Radha's death. Aarif was shock hearing that and Anirudh's eyes widens with suprise.

Anirudh ( in mind) - Bondita ko ye sab kese pata chala ? Ye baat toh mujhe aur Dugga Ma ko hi pata thi.

Bondita - AUR ISLIYE SAKHA BABU NE VO SAB KIYA ! VO MAJBOOR THE ! AB AGAR TUMNE SAKHA BABU KE KHILAF EK AUR SHABD BOLA TOH ACCHA NAHI HOGA AARI !

Aarif stood their silently, guilt washing over him. Anirudh placed a hand on Bondita's shoulders and said.

Anirudh - tumhe meri gavaahi deni ki zarurat nahi. Isse tumhari aane vali shaadi shuda zindagi par asar pad sakta hai.

Bondita got confused and asked.

Bondita - shaadi shuda zindagi ?

Anirudh replied sadly - Ha. Tumhari aur Aarif ki shaadi shuda zindagi. Mein tumhare beech ladayi ka karan nahi banna chahta.

Bondita - KYA !!!!

Aarif - KYA !!!!!

Bondita - MERI AUR AARIF KI SHAADI ?!!! AAP HOSH MEIN TOH HAI ?!

Aarif - ASTAGHFIRULLAH !!!!! BARRISTER BABU MEIN SHAADI SHUDA HU !!!

Anirudh - KYA ! TUM SHAADI SHUDA HO !!

Hearing this Anirudh became shocked. His voice matched theirs. Aarif took out his pride and showed the picture of Fatima.

Aarif - ye hai meri begam Fatima.

Anirudh looked at the picture and looked back at both of them confusingly.

Anirudh - Toh tum ek dusre se pyar nahi karte ? Tumhare beech khuch nahi chal raha hai ?

Bondita - HEY DUGGA MA !!!

Aarif - YA ALLAH ! ASTAGHFIRULLAH !!!

Bondita sighed and says to Aarif.

Bondita - Aarif tum bhara jao. Mujhe Sakha Babu se khuch baat karni hai.

Aarif nodded and left them alone in the room.

Bondita - apko pata bhi hai aap kya keh rahe the ?

Anirudh - mera chhodo. Tum ye batao, tumhe kese pata chala ki jo mene kiya, uske peeche ye vajah thi ? Mein kab se tumhe batana chahta tha par tum meri baat sun hi nahi rahi thi.

Bondita - shayad ek raat mene apki sun li.

Anirudh looked at her confusingly and asked.

Anirudh - matlab ? Kehna kya chahti ho ?

Bondita - matlab ki jis raat aap nashe ki halat mein mere ghar aaye the, apne nashe mein mujhe sab bataya tha.

Anirudh was hell shocked hearing that.

Anirudh - matlab tumhe uss raat se sab pata tha ?!

Bondita - Ha

Suddenly a realisation hit Anirudh.

Anirudh - toh kya isliye tumne mujhe bachaya ? Vo goli jo mere liye thi tumne li ?

Bondita stood quiet but her eyes said that he was right.

Bondita - ab aap mujhe bataiye. Aap Aarif ko dekhar humesha gussa kyu ho jaate hai ? Usse ladne kyu lagte hai ? Aur apko Aisa kyu laga ki mere aur Aarif ke beech khuch hai ? Aur hai bhi toh usse apko itni takleef kyu ho rahi hai ?

Anirudh cleched his first, restraining himself to say the words.

Bondita ( in mind) - mein apka javaab janti hu Sakha Babu, par mein apke muh se sunna chahti hu, vo bhi hosho avaaz mein.

Bondita - Boliye ! Mere aur Aarif ke beech agar khuch hai toh isse apko kyu takleef ho rahi hai ?!

Anirudh - KYUKI MEIN TUMSE PYAR KARTA HU BONDITA !!

Anirudh yelled out. His eyes locked with Bondita and he continued.

Anirudh - Mein tumse pyar karta hu Bondita. Aur abhi se hi nahi, 8 saal pehle se. Jab tum London se lauti tab mene apne man ko samjhane ki koshish ki tum meri dushman ho mujhe tumse dur rehna chahiye, par andar hi andar mein janta tha ki ye sach nahi tha.

Saying this he took a long breath and said, his voice cracked.

Anirudh - agar fir bhi tumhe London.......

He couldn't complete because Bondita hugged her tightly and buried her face in his chest. Anirudh too repriocated the hug and wraps his strong arms around her. After sometime she looked at him still not pulling from his embrace and says.

Bondita - mein bhi aapse bahut pyar karti hu Sakha Babu.

Anirudh hearts flutter hearing that. He remembered the day Bondita confessed her love in intoxicated state to him.

Ha Sakha Babu bahut pyar karti hu mein apse.

A smile tugged on Anirudh's lips. He cups her cheeks and pull her closer, his eyes meeting hers asking for permission. Bondita smiled and nods in affirmation.

Anirudh kissed her lips gently pouring all his love in that one kiss, his hands caressing his cheeks. As the kiss deepens he smiles having Bondita with her. He realised he finally won her and now she's beside her.... forever.

______________________________________

So this is the last chapter of my book NOT BESIDE YOU. Hope you liked my book. I usually don't insist to comment, but for today I really want to know what you really think about my book.

And thank you so much to everyone who are here from start. I am really grateful to all. And I'll miss you all too <3

And I am really sorry. I tried to write an Epilogue but it was not as I thought so I decided to end my story here. Thank you so much everyone once again.