Two years passed, everything around Anirudh was changing for better. He is focusing more on his work and is happy for Bondita's internship, also had become the happiest with his son calling him Baba and sprinting to his arms, every evening.

It was exactly an year ago, one evening after returning from office when he was cooing his toddler, out of a sudden his son called him baba, merrily.

That time, with his moist eyes he swiftly  hugged his grinning toddler, and showered him with kisses.

He knew it was Bondita, she was only teaching him to speak, sometimes while feeding him, playing with him and also when patting him to sleep. He was extremely grateful to her.

The feeling was very fresh, and he rejoiced everytime when his son called him baba.

As much as he was elated for his son, he was also sad because Bondita had moved out with her thakurma to the neighbouring house.

The awkwardness between them had grown, and the unmindful, involuntary accident was all the reason. Now, they hardly talk, and it is either about Adhi or about their profession.

Adhi would mostly spend his day with Bondita, it is only during her working hours and in nights he is with his baba.

Anirudh missed his jubilant Bondita, the naughty one a lot. She had grown more responsible over the years, and more than him when it concerns Adhi.

Anirudh was having his breakfast when he saw the two walking inside, and mumbled, "Be ready for the drama, Anirudh." Bondita hardly comes to the haveli and Adhi would always be the reason.

"What did he complain now that you are shooting daggers at us?" His kaka asked, sipping his tea.

"My Adhi shares everything with me and how is that complaining, kakasasurji?" She asked, holding the Adhi's hand in hers.

"Yes, yes." His kaka derided and asked, "So what is it now?"

"Kakasasurji, see him. My Adhi is so fragile and delicate. How could you even think of piercing his ears? He is so small for that, isn't he?" She said, pulling Adhi close to her while he reached hardly to her knees.

His kaka said, "Bondita, it is nothing. Every one in the family had got their ears pierced."

"But my Adhi is so small for that, isn't he?" She asked promptly, and Adhi hummed with her, "haan."

"It is the correct time and age also.." His kaka tried,

"No kakasasurji. Not now please. Let him grow a little more then you can pierce his ears. But not now, it will hurt him and I can't see my Adhi in pain." She said worriedly, and Adhi nodded his head, humming again innocently.

"Borodada orelse we can do onething," Adhi said, and when his grandfather asked "what?" Pulling Bondita's mirror bindi stuck on his ear, and cheered "Problem solved,"

All saw him in disbelief, but

"My Adhi has become so intelligent..." Bondita squeaked in happiness twisting her knuckles over him to evade any bad eyes on him.

Anirudh shaked his head at their silly tantrums. Now, everyone in the haveli was used to all of these, if Adhi doesn't like anything he makes sure to bring Bondita and stop everything.

Wiping his mouth, Anirudh said, "Don't spoil him, Bondita. Then he will become more stubborn and will not be able to adjust in school."

Her brows furrowed, "School?"

Walking to her, he said, "Yes. School. In another two weeks he will be joining school. I submitted his application too."

Adhi had hugged her knee, hiding behind her, hearing school. His eyes a little moist.

"No. No Adhi. Don't cry."

"But baba ... school... I don't..."

Sitting down, pulled him on her lap, and rubbing his back, "sh... nothing. Nothing, no school."

"No school?" He frowned, looking at their overreaction.

"Sakha babu, See my Adhi properly. He is too small for school, isn't he? How will he face the outer world in this age?" She asked, whining.

He was getting irritated, "Outer world? School is not an outer world and he is just going to go to kindergarten for god sake. And he is three years old. So, ..."

"He is hardly three, sakha babu. Moreover he is smart and intelligent, so we could atleast wait for another year for his entollment." She asked, as both looked at him with a cute pout.

"Definitely not, he is going to school and that's final." He said, firmly.

"No. He will not go. He is so small..." She too got up.

The Zamindar huffed, "started again," while Adhi stood between them, looking both with his wide eyes.

"Yes. He will go." He said, looking at her. "And Adhi will never grow in your eyes,"

"No." She replied, more sternly.

"Yes,"

"No"

His kaka shooked his head now and walked out for his work.

"Yes,"

"No,"

"No,"

"Yes," he unconsciously uttered, and both grinned irking him.

She said cheerfully, "I know you will say Yes. Thankyou sakhababu. Shall we go Adhi?"

As they both darted out, he shouted, "You tricked me to ..."

Seeing them leaving victoriously, "You always do this." He said, annoyedly.

It was evening, as he sat leaning on the head rest in his bedroom. Adhi ran to him, and saddled him.

He laughed as his son tried to sit properly on his thighs, "What happened Aditya?"

Pointing at a woman in the photo, Adhi asked, "Your mama?"

His eyes glistened, he nodded and asked, "who gave you this?"

"Borodadu," Adhi replied, nonchalantly.

He saw his son seeing the photo with a serious expression and it frightened him on the thought of what would be his next question.

Seeing the frame then his father, Adhi asked, "Who is mama, baba?"

He sighed in relief, and holding his son fondly, said, "Mama is someone who loves a you a lot more than everyone," and rocking him, he said, "she cooks your favourite dishes and feeds you knowing that you are hungry, takes care of you, pats you to sleep, tells you stories, teaches you,"

Adhi leaned on his chest, and as he pat him tenderly, continued, "mama cannot see you in pain, and does anything to stop your cries, she runs behind you day and night, fights for you, plays with you, becomes happy at your success and..."

Standing infront of the door, Bihari hastenly said, "Chote Malik, Saudamini ji has come."

He was red, his nerves popped out and creases formed on his forehead. Handing Adhi to him, he said, "Hold him Bihari and stay in the room until I say." And when Bihari nodded, he stormed out in fury.

Seeing her, he snarled in pique, "Why are you here?"

"Anirudh please. Just once, only once." Saudamini's voice was frail.

Half an hour passed and they still stood arguing with each other. He clearly didn't want her anywhere near his son.

"Now being a mother to another, I just realized my mistake, the sin I have committed to my first born. Let me see him, once. Please Anirudh. Please. I am feeling terrible and only you could help me." Saudamini said, tearing.

"You are so foolish to think that I'll let you near my son. Never." He jeered, fuming.

"Howmuch ever you hate it, I am his mother and you cannot deny it." He chortled, hearing her.

"You know something? Anirudh. No one can stand you, it's only your family because they are obligated to. And a woman who becomes your wife, her life would be a hell with nothing. She will loose everything in life, peace, happiness and will rot with you. Yeah, yeah she will be seen as the Malkin of Roy Choudary Haveli for people outside but inside this big house she'll remain as a unpaid servant. You torture the people around you with your dreams. And this is a fact." Saudamini yelled,

"No." Saudamini looked back, and saw Bondita as she walked inside saying, "It isnt a fact, pari didi."

Saudamini said in irk, "you don't know anything Bondita. As his wife the woman will loose everything."

Bondita smiled answering, "But she will have him, pari didi and... he is the definition of happiness in life." Looking at his stun face, "with him by her side, I am sure there is nothing a wife could ask for."

His insides warmed and were ecstatic. He was awestruck hearing those words for him. It made him smile, instantly.

Saudamini said, "that's not an issue now, please convince him Bondita."

Bondita barely looked at him, and he saw it in her eyes but couldn't fathom what it was. And when she tried to speak, he warned, "don't even try, Bondita."

She remained silent, knowing all his turmoil to be a good father.

"How can you not let a mother to meet her son, Anirudh?" Saidamini bawled.

"Please, please talk softly. Adhi might hear.." Bondita whispered,

"Adhi?"

Bondita corrected, "Adhi.. Aditya Roy Choudary."

Saidamini turned to Anirudh, "You named him Aditya. So nice."

Putting his hands in pocket, he said, "Not me. Bondita named my son."

"Whatever," Saudamini sighed. "A child will know his mother and recognises too. You better know this, Anirudh."

Seeing the stairs, Bondita said, "Adhi..." looking at the little one climbing down the stairs fastly with Bihari running behind him.

"Bihari..." Anirudh screamed,

"See. He knew that I am his mother and that's why he is yearning to come to me." Saudamini said looking at her son and kneeling down called him to her, "Come Aditya, Come to your mother. Your mama has come for you."

Both were tensed and when Anirudh tried to rush to his son, Bondita stopped him.

"Th..th..th, come here, come to your mother," Saudamini cooed.

Slipping all the way, and walking past Saudamini, Adhi hugged Bondita's knee.

He chuckled, "Happy that my parenting didn't go wrong. My son is capable of knowing his people unlike me."

Bondita looked down, and Adhi merrily squealed, "ma..ma,"

All stood shocked, and Bondita had tears in her eyes as she picked him up to her and cuddled him with love.

She was over the moon, and had no words to express her emotions.

Snuggling her, Adhi was calling her repeatedly, "ma..ma.. mama," and she kissed his forehead lovingly.

He smiled at them, with his hands folded as he admired them. For once, he wanted to be selfish and ask her to become the mother of his son. Just once.

He whispered, "You are right, Saudamini ji. My son knows his mother better and recognises too."

Giving Adhi, Bondita said, "Hold your son, Pari didi. We cannot deny a mother from holding her child, sakha babu."

And when Adhi refused and sprung back to Bondita, he said, "My son is intelligent Bondita and is well aware of strangers."

Colours drained from her face and saddened Saudamini said, "He doesn't need me Bondita, he has his mother already." and walked out without sparing a glance back.

It was night and Anirudh thought of picking his son from Bondita's house so that they could sleep on time.

Entering inside he stopped to cherish the pleasing sight before him, Bondita was sitting on a rocking chair and his son had saddled her, and slept on her.

She too seemed to be in deep sleep. And while walking inside, he stomped something, and picking up found it to be her diary, the one she pulled from his hand on the day she arrived.

Curiously he opened, and read...

It
was him,
is him,
and will be him always...

He was baffled at the thought, 'Bondita loves someone' His heart aching a little as he flipped the next page,

For
I found you
In me...
ANIRUDH ROY CHOUDARY

He had tears of joy reading it, as his fingers caressed his name to believe it to be true.

Waking up, in a sloppy tone she asked, "Sakha babu.. you here?"

Hiding the diary behind, and seeing her holding Adhi with care, asked, "You love him, don't you?"

She nodded, smiling. "My Adhi is so dear to me. And I love him a lot."

"Lot?" He asked, strolling to her.

Still holding Adhi to her, she cheerfully said, "yes. I love him very much."

"Sure?" He asked, with hands folded across his chest.

She looked puzzled, "Yes. But why are you asking...?"

"Nothing, you love Adhi right?" and when she nodded firmly, he asked, "more than his father?"

Her eyes widened in astonishment, as she gulped unable to think further and that's when Anirudh showed her the diary.

Swallowing the lump formed in her throat, she stammered, "it.. its.. nothing..."

Pulling her both arms, staring into her eyes asked, "Don't lie Bondita, please. Not anymore."

She nodded, closing her tearing eyes.

He smiled, his heart hammering hard with the new found love.

Nuzzling his nose on hers, he pleaded, "Marry me, please."

She gasped, and he continued, "Even now, I don't know what is between us but.... I know It is life only with you, and with your presence I am always happy.

Cupping her cheeks, with glistening eyes he pleaded, "marry me. Say yes, please."

With wet eyes, she nodded smiling sweetly, feeling very fortunate to be bestowed with such happiness.

"You know why I love Adhi very much, the reason is you, Sakha babu." And she pressed her lips on his, wilfully this time with all her stacked up love for him.

He kissed her back with same intensity, lovingly.

Rubbing his eyes, Adhi woke up and sprung in her arms happily, "I found you, mama."

Both jolted back promptly and stared at their little bundle of happiness.

And both leaned on Adhi, and Bondita kissed his right cheek while Anirudh kissed his left cheek on the same time.

Anirudh wrapped his hands around them, embracing the love of his life.

------------------------THE END-----------------------
Thankyou!