The letter from Arvind

Even though, he had looked over the will more times than necessary, Anirudh still had some doubts about the legitimacy of the contents.

They had forgot about the envelope, which contained pictures of the haveli in the chaos.

Bondita was in school, trying to concentrate fully on her studies. As her half-yearly examinations were just around the corner.

He surprisingly wasn't jealous anymore of that boy. The dance competition had probably made him burn every day but the aftermath of it and the words that had come out of their mouths in that fight made him realize that her loyalty to their relationship was far more important to her than any other boy.

She wasn't as fickle as him to give her affections to anyone.

Bondita was coming back from the washroom with Amrit. They didn't have a proper conversation in the last few days due to the chaos surrounding Bondita. Uday was surprisingly absent these days.

He tried to be as inconspicuous around her as possible.

The dance competition had satisfied his desire for a dance with Bondita but the memory of it, instead of being beautiful had ended up becoming bittersweet for him. All the moments leading up to the competition only served to remind him about her status as someone's wife.

After a long struggle with his mind, he had decided to distance himself from her. It was better to stop his heart from craving her presence than ruining their fragile friendship.

"Bondita, are you okay?"-Amrit asked her later as she noticed her friend being distracted during school time.

Bondita nodded absently at her friend. Not wanting to tell her about the dirty fight she had with Anirudh. She didn't want her friend to know about the accusations, Anirudh had thrown about Uday and her.

Uday was Amrit's brother. And Bondita didn't want her to think less of her husband.

"Woh, my mother just left yesterday. I am feeling a little sad. We no longer have that bond of the past. Every conversation ends with her giving me instructions regarding the obedience, I should have for my husband. My mother's idea clashes with my own ideas regarding my relationships with my in-laws and husband. Sometimes, I wonder about my mother's love for me. And how conditional that is in the face of my husband's idea for my betterment "-Bondita was disappointed regarding her conversations with Sumati.

Their every conversation had made Bondita feel suffocated but the biggest reason for her suffocation was the blatant ignorance, Sumati showed towards the past.

As if it was nothing more than a imagination of Bondita.

"Bondu, I think you should forgive your mother. Not for the sake of her betterment but for your own."-Bondita shook her head in negative as Amrit said those words.

She didn't have problem with her mother anymore. What she had problem with was the way her mother had let her husband get involved in polygamy for her sake.

Her mother could have conversed with her strictly, like she had done in the past.

Her mother could have made her husband understand the consequences of such actions but instead of doing so, she had without any objection, stood with her husband.

Her tears hadn't shattered her mother as much as it had probably shattered her husband. Her mother didn't saw the vile words that were thrown at her.

Her mother didn't saw the brainwashing process, she had gone through at the hands of the villagers and Trilochon.

Those women had made her believe every single word of them. Those words had increased significantly after that anniversary fiasco.

She was ready to give up the so called duties of marriage but it was those women, whose words along with her in-laws pleadings that had made her determined about her marital relations.

At that point, she felt that her only way to repay her husband for saving her life was to surrender herself, without even knowing what that surrender actually contained.

Everyone saw her mistakes.

They looked at the faults that she had exhibited but they never for a moment stopped to acknowledge their own contribution to that mess.

"I have probably forgiven her Amrit. But I don't think, I'll ever be able to trust her again."-She finished the words as quickly as she could. As they had reached their classroom.

The bathroom that they were coming back from was especially constructed, after the admission of Amrit and 4 other girls in their school. But it was built near the room for the female teachers. So, they had to walk quite a bit.

But Bondita was happy nevertheless as the school had improved itself, since the first time she had came here.

Anirudh opened the envelope to estimate the total land area of the haveli as the cost of renovating it would need to be included in the budget plan that he was creating.

As he was opening the brown envelope, a letter fell from it. The letter was simply placed in the envelope along with the pictures.

Anirudh didn't want to open the letter without knowing, who it was addressed to. He didn't want to be a Thief in the eyes of someone else by opening the letter.

He wanted to see the pictures first but the letter held a magnetic pull of some kind. He felt as if he had to read it no matter what.

He consoled his mind by repeating the words that he would hand over the letter to its recipient. Once he knew, who it was written to.

Anirudh curiously opened the letter. It was written on a paper that had yellowed quite a bit due to the years of being being in the envelope.

He gasped a little as he saw it addressed to his wife.

By looking at the pristine handwriting and the words, he understood it to be his father-in-law's letter to his daughter.

He felt his eyes starting to water as he read the letter.

Amar Sona meye (My dear daughter),

Kmn achis ma? Asha kori tor kokhono ei chithi porte hobe na. Ami jani na keno ami eita likhchi ajke bose theke? (How are you dear? I hope, you never have to read this letter. I don't know, why I am writing this today sitting here?)

Tor Thaku maa valo na re Bondita. (Your paternal grandmother isn't a good person,Bondita).

I had for years tried to ignore everything she did, after all she was the one who brought me up after everyone died in my family. But nowadays, her atrocities towards you is making me feel disgusted to be a part of this family.

She always wanted a boy child for the family. She never liked the fact that, I didn't get married for the second time for the sake of a son.

I married your mother quite late. Most of my friends were already parents to children, who were growing up as teenagers by the time of my marriage.

For most of my life, I only cared about money. I wanted to satiate my hunger for understanding and compassion from my family with money.

I was trying to replace love with money.

Your mother came as a surprise for me.

I didn't expect to fall in love with her. A girl of 19.

Her ways of the world were different from mine. She was brought up to be an obedient daughter-in-law and an obedient wife. She had for the longest time, tolerated every taunt because she felt that, it was her duty to bear everything for my sake.

There were days our ideas clashed with each other. Her simplicity about the worldly matters frustrated me.

For, I was always afraid of people depriving her of her rights after my demise.

Your birth became my reincarnation.

Everyone had expected a son from us.

My aunt didn't like your crying. She hated the way, you expressed your opinion so freely as a child. She wanted to get you married when you were 7 years of age to some boy of her acquaintance.

You don't know about it. As I had threatened her to burn down the haveli, if she had decided to invite them home.

I know, a lot of the fathers get their daughters married as a child but I always loathed this tradition.

When your mother couldn't conceive after your birth, she wanted me to get married for a second time. It was the first time, I was truly furious enough to kill someone.

Sona moni (My dear), I don't believe in polygamy and I hate the men who indulge in it.

I think, nothing good comes out of cheating your spouse by bringing another one home. Your grandfather had married more than two wives. I have grown up seeing my own mother and her sister wives being in a constant battle for the love of a man.

They had committed sati for a man, who didn't even know; how to stay loyal to one wife. You may be wondering, why I am telling you about your family history? When the chances are that, you will never get this letter.

I just want to get rid of this heavy feeling in my heart. Our families are not like others, my dear. We have our own secrets. We pretend to love each other in front of outsiders but I cannot fully in my conscience tell you that, I have ever slept peacefully in this place.

I have always been in fear of my own and later of your life here.

I don't trust them anymore. Not when, I have the responsibility of you on my shoulders. I will not let you be the object of a man, who will be disloyal to you.

I'll never let you shed any tears, due to a man and his fickle emotions. I hope, one day you find someone, who will place you above all others.

For whom, your happiness will be the most important thing in this world.

I hope, you will find someone just like, how I found your mother.

Sorry dear, for I had lost myself in the memories. Love does that to you.

I want to get you all out of Krishna Nagar very soon. It seems as if, my lust for money will come in handy.

There is an account on your name in the British bank of Deenpur. The owner is my friend and will never give the details away to someone else other than you.

I want you to go there and open the locker number 513289. Inside of it, there are bundles of cash for you and your mother. In case, I am not here for you both.

After your 16th birthday, Mr Basu will reach you with my will, if I am not there.

I sincerely pray that the property papers will be revealed by myself to you.

As, you won't get the properties before reaching adulthood. I want you to use the money to take care of you and your mother.

I am placing this responsibility on you because your mother is too soft hearted for this world.

If anything happens to me before your 16th birthday and thaku maa creates any situation, I want you to stay at the building in Kolkata, until you are eligible to stay at the deenpur haveli.

I want to make you study, my daughter. I want you to grow up and never be under the pressure of society. I want you to be the like those females, we read about in fairytales.

They fight in the fairy tales for their country and for their own selves. Just like them, I want you one day to fight for yourself.

I had gone to Kolkata and saw girls going to school there. It made me want to take you to school, one day with me. I know, that is impossible here in krishna Nagar.

I am already looking for a home tutor, who will be teach you alphabets and much more. I want you one day to read this letter on your own rather than depending on somebody else.

Your studies will start as soon as we shift there.

Even though, you will never read this letter I am placing it in this envelope with the pictures of the haveli, I have recently brought for us. I hope, one day in the future, you will read this letter in front of me and laugh about your foolish old father and his foolish words.

Take care my daughter. You are a piece of my heart, which will always be the most precious possession for me.

Remember that everything I do is for you and your better future. Don't ever fall pray to the demons inside your head and don't ever bow down in front of the das family.

Your identity as my daughter is much more powerful than your identity as their granddaughter.

Never let your spine be broken due to the weight of others expectation of you. Their expectations should not be a barrier in your life.

Listen to your heart. Listen to your gut feelings about a person. Don't trust people easily. For greed can turn the most virtuous humans into something heinous.

Tomar boka baba (Your foolish father)

Arvind Das

Anirudh felt as if, if had he got a whole new understanding of the man, he had never met. His ideals, his hope for his daughter's bright future made Anirudh feel blessed to be his son-in-law.

At the same time, he once again felt disgusted with his past actions.

Arvind had desired a marriage for Bondita, where she will be the only one. Where she will not get replaced by somebody else.

Anirudh had failed there. He had made Bondita feel the worst. His actions had hurt her the most.

His attraction and his second marriage had made her feel melancholic about life. Her state of mind had shattered at his actions.

His step to improve her, had destroyed her lively self completely.

Due to him, she had hurt herself.

Her reactions were driven by his actions.

He had failed as a desirable son-in-law.

But Anirudh won't fail as a life partner anymore.

"Pati Babu, you called for me?"-Bondita had barely changed out of her school uniform and had lunch. Before koyeli informed her about the summons of Anirudh.

She didn't dilly dally today. She wanted to find out more about her father's will.

Today, she wanted to learn more without fighting with him.

"Yes Bondita. I have something for you"-Anirudh had calmed himself considerably from his earlier self hatred session.

He didn't want to let Bondita witness his breakdown.

"Moreover, his disgust over his own actions shouldn't make her vulnerable."-Anirudh thought to himself.

"Bondita, maa has reached Kolkata safely. Salim told me that Noor Bhabhi will constantly check on her. And Mr. Basu will take her to check the building in Kolkata tomorrow."-Bondita sighed in relief at Sumati's safe arrival.

Her mother wanted to check the building as soon as possible.

Her fear was rising as the Das family had gotten to know about the will.

"Thank Salim Bhai Jaan for me, patibabu. He is taking out his time for ensuring maa's safety."-Anirudh smiled at the way she addressed Salim.

She had never met him face to face. Only conversed on phone. But the amount of respect, she had for his friend made Anirudh admire Bondita's generous heart.

"What's that?"-She asked him suddenly as she looked at the piece of yellowish paper on his desk.

Anirudh silently pushed the letter towards Bondita.

Silently urging her to read it.

Bondita's eyes widened in surprise at the contents of the letter.

It was a letter from her father. The one, she never understood fully before he was taken away from her. He was an engima for her.

His actions made her feel grateful but at the same time, she would have preferred him alive than receiving the estate and money.

She felt her heart beat faster as the word 'Bank' came to her attention.

She for a long time hated their poverty, after his death.

She, the resident of grandeur was suddenly demoted to huts and beatings from relatives after his death.

She felt her heart finally calming down.

The pain, her father's death had caused her was getting a little lighter.

She could finally see that her father never saw her as a burden. For him, she was the most beautiful treasure.

At the same time, she felt sad for the dreams her father had seen for were fulfilled but without him being present.

"I wish, he was here today. I wanted him to be proud of me, patibabu."-Anirudh smiled at Bondita's tone.

Her words were filled with longing for her father. But the words also held a tinge of joy.

"Silly Bondita, your father was always proud of you."-she looked at his eyes.

His brownish eyes were conveying his honesty. His eyes were not lying to her.

"I think, we should go for 'Chorui bhati' (Picnic) tomorrow."-Anirudh nodded at his brother's words later that night.

The family was having their dinner, when the topic was brought up again.

As soon as Anirudh's stamp of approval was on the plan everyone had started preparing the list for things to take with them tomorrow.

Bondita and Batuk started planning for the activities, they'll partake in.

Somnath made a mental note to bring his favourite books to enjoy studying in a different environment.

Sampoorna made a list of foods that they'll take with themfor the picnic.

And Anirudh made his own plans to spend time with Bondita, without the interference of his Kaka and inspect the estate.

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How was the chapter?

Did you guys like it?

Tell me in the comments

Thank you VaishnaviRaj4 for giving me the idea of incorporating Arvind's letter to be read by Anirudh. I hope, I did justice to it.

Now on a serious note,

What kind of scenes do you want to see in the estate?

1. Romance and love

2.Horror and love confession

3. Mystery solving session of Anidita