Breaking The News

Bondita as well as Batuk had spent the rest of the school time in tension as they knew Trilochon was going to have a massive reaction in regard to his bahu dancing with someone else in public so intimately in his eyes.

As soon as the school bell had rang, Bondita and Batuk ran to the School gates go away and tackle the news at home as soon as possible.

They had completely forgotten that Anirudh was going to pick them up today. So, as soon as they went out they saw him leaning on the car's bonnet awaiting their arrival in his handsome avatar.

Bondita gulped nervously seeing him. While Anirudh grinned at her as he felt his all exhaustion go away after seeing her enchanting face.

He had arrived just five minutes back to school. But his grin quickly vanished seeing the grim expression on Bondita's face.

He was about to talk with her, when Uday did caught up to her and held her hand.

Batuk looked at his brother and smirked at his expression of pure jealousy. Anirudh looked like he was going to burst or hit someone.

Bondita was startled, when Uday held her hand. She knew he wanted to talk about their practices but she didn't want to discuss it before having a talk with her family.

"Bondu, when are we gonna start practicing? Should we start from tomorrow after school or..."-Bondita shushed him up before he could utter anything else. For she didn't want Anirudh to hear him.

Anirudh had fumed when Uday called her Bondu and held her hands so affectionately. He hated seeing her talking so freely with him and behaving in such friendly manner.

"How dare he call my Bondita Bondu??And what practice are they talking about"-he thought to himself and frowned. There was a pit of jealousy growing in his stomach.

And he couldn't see their interaction any longer.

Bondita was about to answer him, when Anirudh had walked up to them and said in a no nonsense, non negotiable tone,

"Bondita, we are getting late. We should move. 'We' will see you later Uday"-he gave a bright smile to him walked off. While Uday also fumed at him.

And Bondita quickly walked off as well following Anirudh, after telling him to wait for her to break the news to her family first.

In the car, both of the teen-agers were very silent. Not even Batuk had initiated a conversation yet. For Anirudh, that was a surprise as his little brother always grabbed the chance to chat with him on the car and making his ears bleed.

He could sense that something was wrong. But he waited for them to tell it to him themselves.

But, he didn't cross questioned them for he was still seething from Uday holding Bondita's hand and talking with her so intimately.

It's not that he didn't trust her. But he didn't trust the boy and Anirudh's main insecurity came from himself.

He knew their age gap was quite a bit. And that age gap had the power to drive a wedge between them. And Bondita talking or laughing with a boy so close to her own age only reminded him of his recent distance with her. He was also reminded of his own fragile beginnings of Marriage.

Even though, she was a little child, his closeness with Saudamini was wrong to Anirudh.

He could see the same type of affection between them both but prayed that Bondita doesn't mistake it for love.

"Maybe karma is punishing me"-Anirudh thought as they parked outside of the Haveli.

Bondita got out of the car, even before he had parked the car properly. Like she was a criminal running away from people, who were running after her.

Anirudh was bewildered at her actions, he thought to inquire about it to Batuk. But before he could ask him, he also ran away hurriedly. As he was afraid to blurt out the truth in front of his "fitoori dada".

Bondita quickly took a shower and draped a dark blue saree. She was fumbling today with her actions as she was afraid of the reactions from her family members.

She was afraid of disappointing the people who stood by her at her toughest times. She didn't want her Kaka sasur ji to be angry at her or not believe in her words.

But most of all Bondita was afraid of Anirudh's reaction.

"Would he agree to me dancing with Uday or will he get mad and shout on me"-she thought to herself.

She wasn't a fool and had seen the looks Anirudh had thrown at him many times. She had thought of it as nothing before. But today the way he had said 'we', with such authority had made her tremble in a unknown emotion that was unexpected to her.

"Is he jealous? No no Bondita, why would he be jealous of Uday! That too for your sake. You are just his special Responsibility. Don't think otherwise"-she convinced herself, while wearing her bangles.

Unknowingly, today she had worn the set of yellow glass bangles that Anirudh had brought for her as part of his win in court.

She had never wore his gifts before but today unknowingly, she started something new in her routine.

She didn't realize her actions. And in tension walked off to the kitchen to help prepare dinner.

A part of her was excited to dance. She had seen Anirudh dancing with Saudamini and loved the dance steps.

And a part of her at the age of 14 in a British party, in which they were invited to had made her want to dance with him similar to the Britishers who were dancing in the party.

But she had scolded herself quite harshly and made her mind to never go in that direction again. As those were forbidden terrains for her.

Now that she had gotten the chance to dance like that, a part of her was giddy with excitement.

Uday was her friend and sharing a dance with her friend was not that wrong for her.

Batuk on the other hand, was quite nervous for he didn't even take his family's permission to participate in the competition. He in a arrogant manner had put his name forward without any thinking on his part.

He wanted to show off in front of his classmates, who were teasing him about being afraid of his family. So, he in a fit of rage had put his name forward for 1000 meter race as well as weight lifting sports category.

He knew, he was going to embarrasse himself quite a bit. But even more than that he was afraid of his Kaka's reaction along with his brother's endless teasings.

So, he decided to go to his Boudi, who was already quite nervous.

"Boudi, Boudi"-Bondita was making the rotis, when Batuk had barged in the kitchen. Her musings were interrupted by him.

"Huh what Batuk, do you need something"-she questioned him all the while having a good idea about his problem.

"Boudi, how are we going to tell everyone"-Batuk in a scared voice asked her.

"I think we should tell everyone after dinner. It is best time. And it's not as if we have a choice. They will get to know anyways"-even though she sounded quite confident to Batuk, but she was scared out of her wits in reality.

"Boudi, you didn't know about your own dance competition list but I had entered my name with full senses. That too in 1000 meter race and weight lifting. Dada's will mock me so much after loosing. Boudi do something"-his whining was irritating Bondita but she calmed herself, for it was no use getting angry on the idiot Roy Chowdhury.

"Batuk, don't worry I will not let anyone belittle you. Your dada's will not dare to mock you. Trust me you have a good chance of winning"-she consoled Batuk with false words all the while knowing it was impossible for him to even run 100 meters. And weight lifting was out of the question due to his weight.

But she didn't want to upset him so she lied to him.

"What are you both whispering to yourselves"-their words were stopped as soon as they heard Somnath's voice.

Somnath had come to the kitchen to chat with his Boudi a little but withnessing Batuk and her in a deep conversation made him completely believe that both of them had messed up somehow.

He knew their every expression and actions. And right now, they looked like two convicts, who got caught escaping. He wanted to question them both as well as try to save them from family's scolding. But they didn't give him a chance to do so.

"Nothing Som dada, we were just talking about school and our studies. What are you doing here? Do you need something"-Bondita lied to him like a pro.

"Nothing Boudi just wanted to talk with you. But I'll talk to you later. It seems you are quite busy"-he uttered the words and walked away without waiting for a reply.

As he knew, if he had waited there then both of them would have trapped him in their web of words.

"Let them share their problem first in front of Baba and Kaka. I'll save them then, if I can"-he thought to himself and walked away to his room.

Everyone had sat down for dinner, Bondita after serving along with Sampoorna had also sat to have dinner today beside Batuk. Far from her designated seat beside Anirudh.

It had baffled the family members. And made Anirudh instantly suspicious of them. He was looking at them constantly while having dinner. Even Binoy was noticing how they were constantly watching Trilochon and him stealthily.

Unknown to both Bondita and Batuk, they were not as Stealthy as they believed themselves to be.

"Batuk, don't say anything now. We'll tell them after dinner"-Bondita warned Batuk. Unknown to them Anirudh was watching them constantly and had heard their words.

"Tell me right now, what are you both hiding?"-he asked them irritated with their constant whispering. He was feeling a little out by their secretive behaviour.

"Nothing dada, it's nothing"-Batuk nervously replied fearing for his brother's reaction on the news.

"I won't ask again. Tell me now"-Anirudh had finally lost his cool at them. His tone was furious.

"Dada, actually I...I got selected for 1000 meter race and weight lifting for the annual competition. I am going to participate in the competition in a week"his words had made Anirudh and all the family break out in giggles. As the idea of Batuk and extreme sports was unthinkable.

"Ohhh god. You and sports hahaha"-Anirudh was laughing at him along with Somnath.

"Batuk, are you mad? Do you want to get insulted in public"-Somnath spoke up all the while trying to control his laughter. He could already imagine his little brother making a fool of himself in public. And it didn't surprise him to see his Boudi supporting the idiot.

Trilochon was laughing as well but had quitened down slowly as he looked at Bondita's still tense face. He knew she was going to utter something as well.

"Bahu, do you have to tell us something important?"-Bondita had flinched at his words and Anirudh's gaze had immediately got locked on hers. Worried to death for her.

"Kaka sasur ji, I am selected for ball dancing category with Uday. I didn't even put my name on, it I swear on my mother. I didn't do it Kaka sasur ji"-Bondita had started nearly crying at the end of her speech.

Anirudh had went still at her words. As Uday's proximity with her today finally made sense to him fully. He didn't know what to feel about it.

On one hand, he was happy to see her competing in School. On the other hand, the idea of her sharing such closeness with that boy made him want to bang something. He was angry at the universe, at this moment for putting him though such a trial.

"Bahu, why are you getting scared! Did I say something to you? I trust my bahu and I believe in you. It's good to be selected for this. We'll all be there to watch you perform on stage. In fact, call that boy and practice here at home. That way, I will be assured about your safety. You have to win. Okay both of you..We are zamindars and it's not in our blood to lose"-his words had shocked the family members, who were waiting for his Shiv..Shiv..shiv and pot of Ganga Jal.

They looked at him, like he was an alien or an imposter. His words didn't match his usual behaviour regarding the etiquettes and manners that a Roy Chowdhury bride had to follow.

"Da, are you feeling well"-Binoy had reached out to check his temperature, when Trilochon swatted his hands away. Irritated at his brother's behaviour.

"Nalayak, don't touch me with your curry laden hands. You will make me impure..shiv..shiv..shiv"-he screeched like a banshee at Binoy.

Anirudh was still looking at Bondita and hoping it was a nightmare. But his Kaka's words had confirmed everything.

He desperately wanted his Kaka to deny Bondita but today it seemed as if everything was going against him and he was helpless to stop it.

"Kakasasur ji, thank you so much. But you don't need to agree for my sake. I really tried to cut off my name but the principal didn't let me. I really tried"-Bondita didn't know, who she was convincing. Trilochon or Anirudh.

Anirudh's eyes were red in pain or anger, she didn't understand but the way he was looking at her made her scared for their eventual confrontation regarding it.

She wanted to avoid it but both of them sharing the same room wasn't actually going to help it.

Anirudh felt like the food tasted bland and he didn't even touch his food any longer and simply walked away ignoring Bondita's calls.

While Trilochon smirked at his retreating back as he thought, "My plan has hit it's mark. Now Anirudh will realise Bondita bahu's importance in his life and they will give me pota-poti soon after that"-his smirking wasn't unnoticed by other family members excluding Bondita.

"Bondita Bahu, take food for him as you are finished eating. It's not good for him to go hungry"-Binoy said to Bondita as he desperately wanted to know Trilochon's plan.

"Ji, sasur ji"-she simply obeyed him and took some food on the plate for him.

Not knowing, it is going to take a completely sweet turn for her.

As soon as Bondita had left the dining area, everyone simultaneously looked at TRC waiting for his explanation.

"Da, why did you agree to Bondita dancing with another man in public? Did you forget, she is your nephew's wife. Didn't you see Anirudh's state after your decision! And why did you agree for something like this? Moreover, you are behaving differently. Are you truly fine?"-Binoy's constant questions and accusations had irritated the zamindar.

Trilochon frowned at Binoy and others as he finally uttered,

"That bagad billa needed a push to realise bahu's worth in his life. I need to make sure that he completely devotes himself in his married life. "Paarivarik Jeevan' is very important for them. He won't even touch Bahu nor truly would give her any sign of his acceptance of their marriage untill he gets consumed in pure jealousy. Bahu will only get further away from him if he continues dillydallying like this. Bahu practising dance with Uday would make him green in jealousy and it would be the perfect way to ensure their future. Anirudh in his anger will surely give bahu an indication of his feelings. And bahu then will not be able to run away from him too. I am older than you Binoy. I have thought about this clearly. I will tolerate a little shame for their 'Paarivarik Jeevan'. Do you all understand. Don't ever question me again"-his speech had successfully made everyone open their mouth in astonishment.

For nobody could have thought of him to be so cunning to make a plan such as this.

"But da, what if it backfires on us? What if Anirudh does something in his fitoor? You know how he is right!"-Binoy was worried, for his son was not the brightest, when it came to feelings. He was also worried for Bondita. For he didn't trust his son to not hurt her in all this.

"Trust me Binoy, it will work. I have full faith in my plan"-Trilochon's words had made Batuk whistled at him on the dining table.

"Wow Kaka, you are a genius. I truly admire your brain. Don't worry, I will help you in making dada super jealous. He will get mad with jealousy. I will make sure of it"-Batuk words had made Trilochon smile at him like a good conspirator. He was pleased to see his nephew's dedication towards his dada's 'Paarivarik Jeevan'with his Boudi.

"He takes after me. So intelligent Batuk is"-Trilochon thought to himself in glee.

All the other members thought their plan to be stupid and had an indication of it going wrong but didn't say anything to the two fools.

On the other hand, Anirudh had closed off his study's door violently and was constantly pacing in irritation.

The teacher side of him made him giddy to see his Bondita perform on stage but the jealous bastard in him made him super angry at his fate of watching his wife closely dancing with a boy, who was closer in age to her and was someone who admired her fiercely.

He hated himself for feeling like this but didn't know what to do.

"Why do you hate me so much God?"-he painfully asked the almighty.

His musings were put on hold as soon as he heard Bondita's anklets chiming at the door.

Bondita couldn't let him go hungry and was about to knock on the door when the door got automatically opened by Anirudh making her hands dangle up in the air.

"Patibabu, I have bought you food. You didn't eat na. Please finish dinner. Your health will deteriorate if you skip meals like this"-she didn't wait for his reply and simply walked inside the room making Anirudh gape at her .

"Umm Bondita, I am not in the mood. Please take the food back"-he said while sitting on the sofa. Ignoring her questioning gaze.

Bondita huffed at him and sat next to him on her own with the food plate.

"Patibabu, don't waste food. Please have it"-her words and the softness of her voice made Anirudh look at her and he nodded at her unknowingly in a trance.

"But only if you feed me"-his sly words had made her breath hitch. She felt shy and awkward but nodded in a trance.

"Fine, open your mouth"-she told him and timidly fed him the morsels of food, all the while Anirudh looked at her adoringly.

Then his eyes fell on her bangles. He was elated to see her wearing it today for the first time.

"Bondita, these are the same bangles that I had brought you right. I am very happy that you have worn it today by going against your dear kakasasur ji. They look beautiful in your hands"-his adoring words made her realise her folly and made her quite.

"Thank you Bondita for wearing these bangles. Do you know I had brought these yellow glass bangles for the colour reminded me of you being a sun in my life, who constantly shines for me. These are delicate just like you but they also cut you deeply when broken. You have a fierce voice against anything you feel wrong and you always shine in the hues of purity. Your purity and innocence reflects on your face darling just like this bangles shine in the sun"-his words had made her blush a lot. But she controlled it and asked him,

"Are you angry at me dancing with Uday Patibabu? I tried to resist the head teacher but he was adamant. If you are not happy"-her words were cut off by Anirudh's intense eyes on her.

He told her in a very soft voice, "I am proud of the opportunity, you have got sweetheart. Your achievements make me the happiest. I will cheer for you the loudest when you'll be on stage"-his words had calmed Bondita for she again realized, he didn't see her as anything more than a responsibility.

For he was happy to see her dance with Uday.

Unknown to the ugly green monster rising in him.

She didn't say anything more to him, afraid of him using another term of endearment and quitely went away from the study satisfied to have fed him his dinner.

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Sorry I had an important assignment to submit and that's why I didn't gave any update yesterday.

Sorry for those who were waiting maybe.

I am still a little tired from constant typing so if the chapter is bad do forgive me.