Chorui Bhati

Bondita was picking up the clothes to wear for the outing today. The previous night, she had fallen asleep way before Anirudh had come into the room.

The last few days were suddenly making her feel tired like never before.

All the events that had transpired about her father's will and the following revelations were making her feel cruel about herself. She wasn't happy about the home, money, or anything else at this moment. She would have exchanged all of it in favor of her father being alive.

Bondita had cried years for her father. For his guidance, for his support in this cruel world. She had spent days remembering him and then crying into her pillow because, he wasn't here for her anymore. She felt as if her ability to feel was numb.

It had gone far away from her.

When she read the letter, she wanted to cry loudly and bitterly about the injustices she had faced. She wanted to complain to that letter as if it was the reincarnation of her father. She wanted to complain about her life, the hell she had been through.

She wanted to complain about her relative's cruelties after his death. She Wanted to complain about them being responsible for almost burning her alive for a little bit of money.

She wanted to cry about Heera Mandi. Now that she was older and understood relationships and bodily functions in a better way, she saw the phrase of Heera Mandi in a new light.

She was glad that she wasn't older at that time. She felt relieved, she didn't need to go through the cruelties her Rasiya didi had gone through. She now understood, why her didi used to go out for entertaining others and why she used to cry after coming back.

She now understands the reason behind their bruises and busted lips and their tears.

She now understands the reality of that dark alley in a better way. There were days, her nightmares would feature Heera Mandi and Tara Bai. She would shiver in fear about the dark thought of Anirudh not coming for her.

She now understood that engagement of his properly. She in a way blamed herself for coming back and disturbing his life once again. Her mind always conjured new blames for her by twisting situations that only further deteriorated her marriage.

Manorama's letter to Bondita was another trigger for her. For the first time, she had become emotional after seeing the contents of the letter. But when she had read that letter during his absence, she had seen it in a new light.

She felt as if Manorama was happy to share Anirudh's love for her to Bondita.

Manorama's words only reminded Bondita about the writings of Anirudh's diary.

The letter had made her have nightmares of Manorama and Anirudh having a better life together with her crying away in Dalhousie.

She hated her for resorting to marriage with Anirudh to fulfill her goals. She had developed a strong dislike for her liaison with a married man. She even had nightmares of them coming closer to each other.

She used to blame herself fiercely after those nightmares.

What she didn't know was, Anirudh's nightmares featured the same thing as well. They were days, he woke up with a fear that Bondita was back in Heera Mandi.

That those monsters hadn't spared her in their lust and deviousness. Those nights of his would be accompanied by sleeping pills. His soul would shiver those nights imagining his 'little Bondita' crying for her patibabu.

There would be days, he would wake up fearing that Bondita had left him after his second marriage. He knew her determination to leave back then. She had given up after his acts with her for her 'Ujjwal Bhavishya' (Bright Future).

He had seen her cry with Batuk, a few days after she had resumed school. He had seen her from afar crying bitterly and his brother clumsily consoling her by patting her head as a father does.

He had seen his brother tying her shoelaces often those days. In a way, Batuk was the only one who had supported her unconditionally back then.

A lot of people had left her side even his uncle was in a dilemma about whether to accept his marriage or not.

Somnath tried to keep an eye on her from afar to ensure his little boudi's well-being but Batuk had turned into her bodyguard.

He was grateful to his little brother.

Even after those events, his brother had stuck to her like a glue. Making her come out of her room to play in the orchard like the children that they were to eating pickles on the roof hiding from koyeli and others.

He went with her to the bazaar after school to relish in the street foods that Tulsipur offered to cheer her up.

Bondita was trying to pick an outfit that won't make her feel too hot in this weather. The summer months were ending but still, the air had a tinge of humidity that made you gasp for a little cool air.

She opened her almirah to look for sarees and the new bundle of sarees caught her eyes. It was the sarees that Anirudh had brought for her on that shopping day before the competition. She hadn't worn any of them yet.

Honestly, those sarees had escaped her mind completely due to so many things happening in her life at once.

She wanted to somehow make Anirudh happy today. She wanted to thank him for his hard work by appreciating the gifts he had gotten her at many phrses of their marriage life.

She unknowingly, for the first time in many years tried to adorn herself for him.

This time not as a child under the brainwashing of the elders. But as a girl, who knew the meaning of relationships.

It was her way of gathering memories before going away.

She quickly took the saree and the matching blouse out. The blouse was delivered a few days back. The style was completely different from what she was used to wearing. But the style suited Bondita completely. It was a three fourth-quarter blouse with loose sleeves complementing the saree.

The saree wasn't heavy like her usual 'Banarasi' ones. It was a silk saree but extremely lightweight.

She looked into the mirror and for the first time in a long while, didn't feel like a sinner. Who had invaded a man's life against his will.

She quickly opened the wooden box, where all the jewelry from Anirudh were kept.

She took out two neck pieces from the box and wore them with a timid smile.

Those were the first pieces of jewellery, Anirudh had gifted her after Manorama's exit. He had brought it for her as a symbol of his first big win. But she had never gotten around to wearing it.

She wore neckpieces and earrings.

Today, she applied Kajal (Kohl) on her eyes. Her lips were adorned with the lipstick that she had gotten as a gift from Amrit a year back.

As she was getting up after wearing them, her eyes got stuck on the bangle stand on her dressing table. All the bangles were made of glass and Bondita had never worn them due to it. As a Roy Chowdhury bahu was supposed to be decked in gold all the time, according to Trilochon.

Bondita slid the pale pink bangles on her wrists and smiled to herself as her bangles produced a beautiful soft melodious chime just for her ears.

Her hair was in a bun today and for the first time, she wasn't ashamed to look good in front of Anirudh.

Anirudh was checking the cars for the last time and sighed at Bondita and Batuk taking too much time to get ready.

He and Som had been ready for hours along with Binoy and Sampoorna but the other members were taking their sweet time to get ready and it was irking him.

"I understand boudi taking time, dada. But why is Kaka taking so much time? We are not exactly going for his 'Biye' (Marriage)!"- Binoy laughed out loud at his words and Trilochon chose that exact moment to come out.

"Aree, why are you three laughing? Tell me."-His demanding tone only made the three Roy Chowdhury cackle loudly.

Trilochon only muttered his classic dialogue before sitting in front of the haveli lawn waiting for the youngest members of the family.

Anirudh heard the sound of the anklets and look to see Bondita descending downstairs. He felt his eyes go round in astonishment to see her wearing everything that he had gifted her. Today, her look was making him mesmerized. She looked like an ethereal being. The way she was walking towards him also had a charm of its own. Anirudh looked at the bangles and smiled wider.

Bondita stood in front of Anirudh and looked at him. She could see his happiness for the first time in a while. He was grinning at her forgetting his surroundings. His eyes reflected his joy. For the first time in years, Bondita grinned back at him.

Her heart felt lighter all of a sudden.

Trilochon chose to screech at that exact moment. Ruining the essence of it.

"Bahu, what are you wearing? What happened to your saree and ornaments?"-He looked at her as if Bondita had committed a huge crime by not wearing the Banarasee saree or heavy ornaments.

Anirudh was irked at his words. He had half a mind to leave his Kaka at home.

"Kaka, how can you dictate Bondita's clothing? Just because, she is your daughter-in-law by marriage, doesn't mean that you'll dictate which clothes, she will wear or not. It will always be Bondita's right to decide her clothes. No one can take that away from her."-Bondita was staring at Anirudh's face and for the first time in a while, saw the 'Fitoori' side of him.

She saw him fighting for her and it somehow made her nostalgic. But Somnath's nudge had got her out of it.

"Boudi, dada and Kaka will ruin the 'Chorui bhati (Picnic) by their screaming. Please, handle them."-Bondita took a quick breath and looked at Trilochon.

"Kakasasur ji, patibabu had brought me these adornments and sarees a while back. So, I thought to wear them for the outing today."-She calmly shut Trilochon Roy Chowdhury up.

He relished in their closeness. And that's why, she emphasized Anirudh's name in her sentence so strongly.

"Besides, don't I look pretty in it kakasasur ji?"-Trilochon quickly rushed to assure her. That yes, indeed she was looking very beautiful. Just what a Roy Chowdhury bride should look like.

Anirudh felt his heart doing somersaults at Bondita talking about him so rightfully.

Trilochon pouted at Bondita's words. As he felt Anirudh's sarees didn't have the same bling as his chosen sarees did. And the Jewelleries weren't as heavy as his selected ones.

Bondita quickly made her way to the car that was meant to take the youngsters. Somnath was in the driving seat and Batuk sat beside him. Promptly leaving the two seats for their Dada-Boudi.
Trilochon and Sampoorna were in the other car with Binoy driving it.

Anirudh was glancing at Bondita's face from time to time as today she was looking ethereal to him.

The way, she was constantly chatting with Somnath and Batuk was making him feel glad for his this trip.

Bondita was feeling shy sitting next to him. The car didn't have any hood. The wind was blowing strongly all around them.

Due to the strong winds, the saree pallu covering her head had fallen off. As soon as Bondita tried to put it back, Anirudh whispered,

"Ummm...Bondita, let your hair remain like this please."-She looked at him with a smile blooming on her face at his request. His request was making her feel giddy.

"Why, patibabu? Do I look pretty with like this?"-Anirudh was taken aback at the teasing tone of her voice but sincerely answered her.

"Tomake amar swapne dekha rajkonnar moto sundor lagche. Mone hocche, tomake dekhtei thaki saradin evabe. Ei saree te tomar soundorjo aro beshi prokash pacche. Amar chokh sorche na tomar theke. (You are looking like the princess of my dreams. I feel like staring at you all day like this. This saree is bringing out your beauty more. I can't keep my eyes away from you)."-Bondita blushed at Anirudh's flattery and couldn't help but ask.

"Sotti naki mittha bolchen apni (Truly or are you lying to me)?"-Anirudh teasingly smiled back at her.

"Sotti, Amar Bondita ke khub sundor lagche (Truly, my Bondita is looking the prettiest)."-She broke off their eye contact at his words.

The two were unaware that, his brothers had seen everything and they were grinning at their flirting.

"Look, boudi, we've reached. "-Somnath's voice made the couple look up to see the haveli. It was truly a work of art. The estate was covered with a long boundary wall and the gate looked imposing. As soon as they crossed the gate, Bondita felt her mouth open wide in astonishment at the extravagant British-inspired home.

Bondita looked at the haveli that was brought by her father. She felt numb. The haveli only made her feel the presence of her father and what would her life have been like, if she had grown up here instead of Devipur.

Every pillar of this haveli is only reminding her about her father. The tree in front of the haveli was reminding her about the countless what-if childhood memories she could have made here.

Anirudh looked at Bondita's expression. Her face was revealing her sorrows. She had gone down memory lane. Probably revisiting her childhood. He wanted to console her but restrained himself at the last moment because he felt as if, he had no right to intrude on this moment.

The ground in front of the haveli was covered in grass that had overgrown due to the lack of care.

Somnath stopped the car with a screech and Bondita reluctantly got down from it. Anirudh quietly held her hand. His hold was screaming comfort. His touch made her feel more settled.

"Wow boudi, your father had great taste. This house screams elegance and class."-Bondita smiled at her Som dada's words. Her mood lifted automatically at his words.

Someone praising her father made her feel an inexplicable joy.

"He was a man of great taste, dada."-Anirudh smiled at her praises for her father.

"Patibabu, the door is locked completely. How will we enter it?"-Bondita asked Anirudh as they all stood in front of the ancient-looking door of the haveli that was locked with a heavy and rusty lock.

Anirudh smiled at the pout that was forming on Bondita's mouth. The idea of the outing getting ruined was dampening her mood.

"Bahu, I think we need to go back home."-Trilochon's words brought the youngsters back on earth from their disappointment over the lock.

"Kaka, why don't we explore the backside of the haveli? There is a lake and plenty of trees there."-Somnath's words brought the cheer back to the Roy Chowdhury's and Bondita quickly forgot her gloom to walk towards the greenery.

"Khub sundor, tai na patibabu (Very beautiful, isn't it, patibabu)?"-Anirudh nodded at Bondita's words and she quickly walked towards the lake, looking into the waters of it in fascination.

Anirudh properly looked at his surroundings to imprint the memory of this place in his mind.

A Chandan (Sandalwood) tree was hanging low, and the branches of the tree were almost touching the water.

She was inhaling the smell of the tree deeply. This day was turning out to be a day of her smiling freely without any burden in her heart.

The smell took her back to the childhood. The smell took over her senses completely.

Anirudh saw many trees forming an almost straight line right back to the haveli. The trees were many. From medicinal to golden rumph's fig and even a few other trees that he couldn't recognise.

The orchard was filled with trees that were holding summer fruits. The ripening smell of the fruits made him take a whiff in delight. He saw even mango trees along with a tree of jackfruit as well in the orchard. But there were a great number of citrus and a few wood apple trees as well.

Just like the front of the haveli, the backside of it, where they were standing had many long overground grass patches.

In some of them, there were wildflowers growing. The flowers were not that noticeable or worthy in the eyes of the people but they were adding a certain wild beauty of their own into the atmosphere.

He was certain that some caring and pruning was needed for the entire orchard as well as the trees. If proper care was taken then the trees would benefit them in the long run.

As she walk towards the orchard following him, her mood automatically lifted as the trees were covering the sun giving her a much-needed respite from the humidity. She quickly placed a mat in the shade of the tree and set down along with him for getting for a moment of rest.

Every single thing that was wrong between them quickly got evaporated for a while.

The other members also place their mats to sit in a distance to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Anirudh carefully looked at the lake, telling his brothers to be careful to not go deep into the lake in fear of something happening to them. Which only earned him an eye roll from his exasperated brothers.

"Shhhh...boudi, look what I've brought with me!"-Bondita grew horrified at seeing a novel coming out of Batuk's bag. It had a few scenes that would make Trilochon drown him in Ganga to cleanse his sins. But Batuk had carefully wrapped the book with another plain cover to hide the scandalous cover it had come with.

Now, no one would be able to tell.

"Batuk, patibabu would kill you. Don't you fear his screams that you had the guts to bring it with you."-Batuk grimaced a little remembering the reaction of his brother.

"Please boudi, I want to read it like the English gentleman reads them sitting beside a lake. See, I've even worn clothes like them."-Bondita looked at his outfit, and true to his words, it was resembling a British young man.

She decided to help him this time.

"Fine, if patibabu tries to come towards you, I'll distract him."-he grinned at her and raised his eyebrows in a naughty manner.

"Will you distract him with your beauty by seducing him like the heroines seduce their lovers?"-Bondita grew red at his words. Never imagining him saying them in her face.

"Batuk..."-She had screamed so loud that Anirudh and Somnath had looked at the pair. She quickly controlled her voice.

Trilochon was already sleeping as his exhaustion was coming into play.

Binoy and Sampoorna had placed their mats a little away from them. The two were spending time on their own.

"Bondita, are you okay? Batuk ki bollo (What was Batuk saying)?"-Anirudh questioned her as soon as she came towards their place and she saw Batuk pleading with her to distract the 'Rakshas babu'.

"Woh patibabu, what are you reading?"-Bondita's question made him look at her suspiciously but he indulged her. Not in the mood to shout at anyone today.

"It's a collection of English poems. I got this book from England during my college days."-She sat down in front of him. Happy to see him delve into his memories of a time, when unwanted responsibilities hadn't invaded his life.

"Do you miss England, patibabu? Do you wish..."-Anirudh answered her before she could complete her question.

His smile had a sereneness. This smile wasn't clouded by petitions or anger over life's unpredictable twists and turns.

"No Bondita. If I hadn't come back after College then, I wouldn't be who I am today. I have seen the world with a different but refreshing perspective here. Our culture and love for each other makes me feel blessed for the night, when a British man had challenged me to come back here. I found you here, Bondita. My 'Jeene ki wajah' (Reason of living) in this land. I don't know, what would have happened if I never came back and met you but I don't want to even think of such a time when you wouldn't be in my life."-Bondita only found the truth in Anirudh's eyes today.

His eyes were conveying his truthfulness

He was happy here.

But she broke their eye contact. His eyes were like magnets that only drew her in.

She didn't want to get lost in them.

"Will you recite your favorite ones from this book to me?"-Her request was made with a simple smile directed towards him. Her smile had a desire for his voice.

How could he then refuse his bride?

Anirudh kept his eye contact with her and gestured Bondita to not break it. His face had a smile that was conveying his happiness at Bondita's request to her patibabu.

"To shuno (So listen),

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

A heart whose love is innocent!"- he finished the first poem looking at her eyes. It was memorized by him a long back. Every word of the poem was conveying his feelings for her.

He was describing her importance in his life though the poem.

Bondita felt breathless as he recited the poem. Her heart was doing somersaults as his deep and intoxicating voice whispered the words to her.

She suddenly felt incredibly shy but at the same time, she didn't want to look away.

"Who wrote it, patibabu?"-Anirudh felt his lips stretch into a smile at her words. As his 'Buddhiman (Intelligent) Bondita' made an appearance.

He loved this inquisitive nature of her. A nature that could never be suppressed by anyone ever.

"It was written by Lord Byron. Do you know him Bondita?"-she nodded enthusiastically at his words as one of his books was placed in the school library.

He wanted to convey his feelings for a long time. So, he asked her,

"Shall I recite another poem for you?"-at her nod, he looked at the pages, to find a romantic poem.

"Give me a thousand kisses,

then a hundred.

Then, another thousand, and a second hundred.

Then, yet another thousand, and a hundred.

Then, when we have counted up many thousands,

Let us shake the abacus,

so that no one may know the number,

And become jealous when they see

How many kisses we have shared."- Bondita's breath hitched in her throat as Anirudh finished his recitation.

He had spoken the words slowly so that only Bondita could hear them. The words made her blush prettily.

Her patibabu talking about kisses with her in such a manner had never happened before. She felt unsure of what to do next.

Her mind was warning her to get away from this dangerous man but her heart was telling her to look into his eyes for longer. To tell him about her love for him.

A love tha never intended to seek reciprocation or kisses. It was the pure love of a girl for her patibabu.

Anirudh didn't know, what was wrong with him to utter such scandalous words to his Bondita. After blurting out those words, he had expected her to slap him viciously.

He was expecting her to walk away breaking their eye contact but Bondita kept looking at him. Her eyes held a different emotion in them. She was emitting the same passion for him as he was.

He wanted to gather her into his arms and kiss her eyes. The bewitching eyes were his doom. He was bound in love.

"Shall I tell you something, patibabu?"-Anirudh was expecting her to reprimand him but was pleasantly surprised at her words.

"Tomar jonno peyechi ami amar khola akash (I've found my freedom due to you),

Tomar karone jenechi ami bhalo bashar shad (I've found the taste of love due to you),

Tumi to amar bileti babu, tumi to amar jadukor, (You are my English gentleman, you are my magician),

Tomar jadute peyechi ami jogoter bhalo basha (I've got the love of the world due to your magic).

O go amar jadukor, dhonnobad janai tomay ami, Karon amar jibone eshecho tumi (O my magician, I thank you because you've entered my life)

(I made this Bangla poem on the spot. Don't know, if it's already been written by someone or not. Don't bash me for my poetic lacking).

"Bondita, Ami jantam na je, amar bou eto valo kobita banate pare (I didn't know that my wife can create such beautiful poems)."-His words held a teasing tilt to them.

All of the words uttered by them were making both of them feel the urge to embrace each other and get lost in the other's scent.

Unknown to them both, their bodies were slowly leaning towards each other. Desperate for a touch of it's beloved.

Bondita suddenly came back to earth at the sound of the bird's loud chirping.

She felt embarrassed. But her body was gone beyond her control. She slowly touched Anirudh's hand, which was holding the book.

If Anirudh was surprised by her action, he didn't show it. He simply smiled at her unspoken words to him.

Batuk quickly came to them.

With a newfound treasure.

"Boudi, look at these guavas. I just picked them from the tree. Let's eat them."-the couple quickly sat at a respectable distance and Bondita started eating with Batuk. After offering one to Anirudh.

Somnath was absent. Wandering around the landscape on his own to find some inspiration for his camera.

"Batuk, where is Som dada?"-He looked at her cluelessly at her question and Bondita resisted the urge to look for her brother frantically. Fearing for him in a new place.

"Boudi, look what I've found!"-the three of them looked at each other curiously but walked with him to the outer land area of the haveli. There was another orchard. This one was solely dedicated to the mangoes. The trees looked ancient and unkempt but they had a beauty of their own.

"Som, since when did you become like Batuk? Looking for new fruit trees to loot!"-Somnath rolled his eyes at his dada's joke and told Bondita to look at the south side of the orchard.

Bondita gasped as she found a swing tied to the tree.

The swing was different from the one at the Roy Chowdhury haveli. But this one had it's own charm.

It looked old but sturdy. As if it was used by someone for a long time.

She suddenly wanted to sit in it.

She walked towards the swing in a dazed manner and sat down on it.

"Batuk, come on, push me."-She called out to her partner in crime. Not wanting to tire out Anirudh.

Anirudh frowned at Bondita's words and quickly walked forward. He didn't want his brother to push the swing. He wanted to be the only one to do it.

He wanted to be the reason behind her all happiness.

"Patibabu, you don't need to do it. I am fine."-Anirudh paid no heed to Bondita's words and slowly started pushing the swing.

Bondita's face had a big smile as she let the winds take her burdens away.

Anirudh was grinning as Bondita asked him to go faster and faster.

Her laughter was echoing in the air and so was Anirudh's. Batuk and Somnath felt like jubilant seeing the happiness on their brother's face.

Somnath quickly took a picture of the scene to one day, give it to his niece and nephews.

It was a memory of joy.

Trilochon Roy Chowdhury woke up to hear his Bondita Bahu's laugh mixed with his nephew's, after a long time. And Sampoorna quickly wiped away her tears.

Bondita got down from the swing and grinned at Anirudh. Her toothy grin resembled the 11-year-old Bondita. Whose face used to light up at Anirudh's machinations.

She looked like his old Bondita today.

"Dhonnobad (Thank you) birristra babu."-Anirudh covered the distance between them and stood in front of her.

Their faces are inches away from each other.

"Bondita, you never have to thank me. I..."-Batuk ruined their moment by rushing to Bondita and involving her in a game of tag by running away with the large hair clip used to keep her bun in place.

Her hair came tumbling down from the bun and Anirudh felt his heart hitch at her beauty.

"Catch me, boudi."-Bondita was shocked at Batuk's sudden game. Which only ruined her hair in this humid atmosphere.

"Batuk, give me my clip back...Batuk"-Anirudh was laughing at Bondita's attempt to catch Batuk.

"You've becolame boring boudi. You can't even catch me!"-Bondita quickly used her secret weapon.

"Patibabu, catch him...."-Anirudh at her words quickly got involved and started chasing Batuk.

"Somdada, we have to win from this 'fitoori' husband and wife. Run...."-Somnath stood gobsmacked for a second but quickly started running at full speed seeing Anirudh run towards him.

The four were so busy chasing each other that they didn't notice the swing moving back and forth on its own.

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It took me a long time to properly write this chapter because I couldn't write down all the ideas properly.

Sorry for the late update.

Is this story boring for you all? Or has the plot gone bland? The response to the last chapters was disappointing.

I had in the beginning said that it is a slow story. The characters and the plots will move slowly.

But if guys aren't liking it then tell me and I will fast-forward it.

Anyways, vote, and comment on this chapter.....

I want 100 votes at least..

All the pictures and poems are collected from Google.