Amrit's concern for Bondita and Anirudh's gift

As they were returning from their street food indulgence, Amrit had initiated a conversation with Bondita regarding their studies that slowly turned into a discussion about her nightmares. Only after making sure that Batuk and Uday were quite ahead of them.

She wasn't a fool. She had seen how Bondita had dark circles underneath her eyes today. which only meant one thing, Bondita had nightmares again last night.

"Bondita, did you wake up from your nightmare again last night?"-Amrit's question had startled Bondita as she fumbled to answer her.

Looking at Bondita's fumbling Amrit understood. And she sighed internally.

Honestly, when she had heard of Bondita's circumstances and seen the bullying, she was facing from the boys, she was heartbroken for her. How could someone remain so strong in the face of so much adversity!

She had been awed by her resilience and her intelligence. They had stuck a quick friendship but it took Bondita a long time to confide in Amrit.

When Amrit had got to know about her mental traumas and scars, she was horrified. She honestly wanted to hug her tightly and hide her in her arms.

But she also realized something, no matter how tight-lipped and passive Bondita was about the topic of her "Patibabu", he was the only one who had the power to heal her soul.

She only prayed, he heals her sooner than later.

Anirudh had gotten home in a rage almost. Screaming at Bihari for coffee in a frightening voice and then bursting on his Kaka when he asked him, "Why was he behaving like a Nalayak bagar billa?".

Anirudh thought, he had calmed down significantly by the time he left the bazaar. But, while coming back all he could see was the image of Uday feeding her their 'Rasgulla'. He was heartbroken. Seeing her close to a boy, even his brothers lately had made him incredibly jealous.

But, seeing her with him, a guy who admired her, someone who didn't hurt her in the past like he did; made him want to tear his hair off. Or punch something.

He after shouting with his kaka, had closed his room's door with a bang so loud that it made the occupant's of the Haveli shudder in fright.

He wasn't even sure, when he had started crying. He wanted to cry loudly, letting everyone know his pain but it wasn't possible. For he was the 'Strong Anirudh' who everyone looked up to.

He today for the first time, had realized the pain behind the tears that Bondita had once shed for him.

"She had maybe locked herself in a room, just like this one and cried the same way when I had married Manorama"- Anirudh thought with a wry grin and eyes filled in tears.

"I deserve this pain today, but please don't go away from me, Bondita. I can't see you with anyone at all"- he whispered in a broken tone to the walls of his room.

Funny how time changes! Once it was Bondita's tears and today it was his own that the walls of the Roy Chowdhury Haveli was witnessing.

Bondita had entered the Haveli in a good mood but it soon evaporated when she saw the tensed face of her Kakasasur ji. He was really scared. And it made Bondita wonder, what new trouble were they going to face again?

"Bahu, thank goodness, you've arrived. What took you so long?".

"Never mind, Anirudh is in a very bad mood. He shouted at Bihari and fought with me unnecessarily. I didn't even do anything"- Trilochon babbled on to his Bondita bahu like how a child complains to his mother without letting her get a word in.

Bondita was stunned by kaka's words. But her stunned reaction didn't last for long.

As she saw Batuk snickering at the behavior of TRC.

She rolled her eyes at his behavior and asked Trilochon in a gentle voice,

"Kakasasur ji, where is Patibabu now?"'

"He is in his room, Bahu. Go and meet him. Only you can calm him down"- Trilochon's words made Bondita take a breather. And she assured him that she will meet him as soon as she changes her school clothes.

It was Batuk's turn to roll his eyes. Clearly seeing though her lies.

"Boudi is probably delaying her meeting with dada. After all, who would want to enter the lion's den when the lion is super angry"- Batuk thought while he watched Bondita going to her room in a hurry.

As she took a quick shower and changed into a yellow Banarasi saree with minimal jewellery, she wondered; did his case hearing go wrong today that he was in such a terrible mood?

Unknown to the fact that, she herself was the reason of his bad mood.

She quickly went to the kitchen in order to instruct Koyeli about what to make for dinner. In the meanwhile, she also made him a cup of his 'Special Coffee'. She was taking so long to meet him maybe because she truly didn't want to face his ire.

As Anirudh heard the knock on this door with the aroma of coffee, he corrected himself and said in a loud voice "Come In, Bondita".

As soon as Bondita entered the room, she knew Anirudh was in a terrible state. He looked like, he was crying. Even his voice was quite hoarse. She didn't know what had happened but she knew she had to calm him down for the sake of his family downstairs.

"Patibabu, Are you fine? Why are you crying? Did you lost the case? Please, don't cry Patibabu"- Bondita's words nearly melted Anirudh as heard her voice filled with concern for him.

Dressed in a light yellow saree with her wet hair tucked underneath her saree pallu, she looked like his own personal sun. That was only meant to shine on him.

Her wet hairs made him want to run his hands all over it. He wanted to know,

"How did her hair smelled? Did they smell like vanilla, like her shampoo that was imported from England for the members of the Haveli?"- he was lost in her beauty when her voice brought him back to earth.

"Patibabu, I know you upset but....."- Bondita's words were cut off by Anirudh's answer.

"I won the case, dear wife"- Anirudh's words of endearment made her heart skip a beat for the first time in a long while. She was simply stunned.

"Was he sick?" was all she thought as she stared at him blankly.

Anirudh was observing Bondita's stunned reaction and internally smiled. But his smile soon vanished, when he remembered the scene from the Bazaar.

He gripped his coffee cup so tightly that he nearly broke it.

Bondita was about to exit his room, when she was stopped by his voice.

"Bondita, I've brought Payals for you: May I make you wear it by my own hands?"- his words turned Bondita into a statue. She was stunned.

The person on whom she was nothing more than a burden, wanted to make her wear something by himself? Was he sick today?

Bondita numbly nodded at him and he smiled at her. He gently held her hands and made her sit on the bed. And he himself sat on the floor. Bondita was about to stop him but he gave her a look that made her shut up.

He gently put her left foot on his knee and removed the her old anklets delicately. He was careful to not hurt her. He repeated the same process with the other foot as well and took out the new Payals from his shirt pocket.

Bondita at a glance could understand that they were expensive.

"Patibabu, they look very expensive. You didn't need to buy them for me. I already have many trinkets"- her words were cut off Anirudh's irritated voice.

"Bondita, you are my wife. Don't I have the right to buy something for you?"-Anirudh's words made Bondita think,

"No, Patibabu I am not your wife. I am just an unwanted responsibility that you are stuck with".

As Bondita was stuck in her thoughts, Anirudh took time to look at her feet. They were so delicate and smooth. He could keep holding them all day long, he thought.

Bondita was startled when Anirudh put on the anklets in her feet gently.

They were quite heavy and something her kaka sasur ji won't mind her wearing.

Anirudh observed Bondita looking at the anklets in a daze. So, he asked her,

"Did you like it, Bondita?"

"Yes, Patibabu, they are very beautiful. Thank you so much"- Bondita replied to Anirudh with a happy face all the while frowning to herself.

All that she was thinking was "Why are you doing this to me, Patibabu? Don't shower upon me so much kindness that I won't be able to repay you before going away".

Her reply made Anirudh extremely happy. She liked it. His Bondita liked his gifts. She liked it. He was so happy that he could jump all over Tulsipur.

"Please don't sit on the floor, Patibabu. Get up please. It'll pain you".

Her words made Anirudh thought how much does his Bondita care for him, all the while Bondita thought " I can't let him sit on floor for me. He has already done so much for me, I can't let his debts on me grow more".

As Bondita walked out of his room, Anirudh sat sipping the coffee and thinking about how to make Bondita forget about Uday feeding her rasgullas today and suddenly a plan formed in his mind.

How was the chapter?
I hope it was enjoyable.