Hi my dear readers! Here's the next chapter! 

It took me a while to write, but I enjoyed writing it, and it's longer than usual. I would love your inline comments, and do press star if you are enjoying this! If this gets a good response, I may post another chapter this weekend! 

Enjoy!

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Present Day

Their texting adventures were getting wilder. 

After Anirudh texted her that he wished he could feel the wetness, Bondita had pressed her legs together more tightly, there suddenly being an aching desire forming between her legs. She was so stunned, that she was staring at the phone with wide eyes. 

Anirudh: You're not replying? You don't want me to feel it? I won't if you don't want me to... I'll never force you

Bondita just smiled, her cheeks hurting now from all the smiling and blushing.

Bondita: I want you to feel it... I want you to feel all of me

Anirudh read her message, his own cheeks hurting from smiling, his own heart hammering, and his own desires going crazy in need for her.

Anirudh: Then where should I start?

Bondita touched her breasts from over her shirt, shivering as she did it. She quickly brought her fingers to her phone and typed...

Bondita: Last time... you almost touched my chest.

Anirudh licked his lips, this conversation getting wilder and wilder with each passing moment.

Anirudh: If only we weren't interrupted. 

Another blush appeared on Bondita's cheeks and she typed: I can touch them for you. 

Anirudh's heart was racing. 

Anirudh: Oh yeah? What else will you touch? 

Bondita whispered to the phone, "You are good at this Anirudh Roy Choudhary." 

Along with these wild desires, she wished that she could embrace him. She wanted to be held by him. She wanted to hold him too. She had strong, strong feelings for Anirudh... yet, it seemed like a future with him was impossible. 

And she was doing all of this. 

Their relationship had a no expectations clause; one which was spoken when they first met, and unspoken now. Yet, she felt guilty. 

"Should I tell you... about Paritosh?" Bondita wondered, and her eyes filled with tears immediately. "But then... will you leave me?"

When she didn't reply, Anirudh pouted from his bed. He was just getting started, and he was enjoying this passionate session that they were having very much. 

Anirudh: You don't have to tell me... I'll imagine it ;)

Bondita glanced down at her phone, her tears falling to the screen. 

She brought her fingers down and typed. 

Bondita: I want to share everything with you... about me.

Anirudh: Oh really missy

Bondita: But it's not so easy

Anirudh stared at his phone, a state of confusion looming over him. Was he pushing Bondita too much? 

Bondita: I mean... 
Bondita: Not about this... 

Anirudh: What is it about? 

Bondita wished she could easily tell him... but she was deathly afraid. Scared that the little bit of him that she got to enjoy, would leave too. It was perhaps very selfish of her, to want to hang on to these moments. But, she couldn't help it. She didn't have the heart to let him go... not when it felt like he belonged with her. 

Bondita: Last time, when your mom came, she said you didn't want to get married. Why? 

Anirudh frowned at such a question. 

Anirudh: You know that I don't believe in love... or marriage. 

An ache hit her chest. 

Bondita: Good night. I'm going to sleep. 

Then she put her phone to the side, tears in her eyes. He didn't believe in love, yet it felt like they shared something... and if it wasn't love, what was it? Was her love only one-sided? So many thoughts were running through her mind.

How she didn't expect anything from him, but at the same time, her life was hanging by a thread. 

Bondita just closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep, deciding that there was no point in thinking about this further. 

She would just enjoy the small moments of happiness that she got, and cherish them for as long as she could. What she felt for Anirudh was undeniable, and even if she got to spend a minute with him, then she would gladly enjoy that moment. 

Perhaps, it was wrong to hide the truth of her upcoming marriage. But she was afraid to lose Anirudh... and at the same time, she was scared... what if he felt a pressure? A pressure to accept his feelings for her when he wasn't even ready? If at all, he felt the same feelings for her. 

Anirudh on the other hand, was confused when Bondita said she was going to sleep so suddenly. 

"Did I say something wrong?" he wondered. 

They had been having such a fun conversation, and then it took a serious turn. 

She was behaving a little strangely. But then again, they hadn't even met all that much, nor did they talk too much. Maybe she was just like this, and he didn't even know her well enough. 

His mind was still fixated on her though, unable to get her out of his thoughts.

"Why do I keep thinking about you all the time?" he wondered, as he sunk in his bed, trying to get some sleep. 

-- 

The next morning, an unexpected visitor arrived at the front door. 

Bondita was sitting at the dining table, in her cotton pyjamas, eating Poha or Chirer Pulao. 

Mami was complaining about how the preparations were still not ready for Bondita's wedding, and going on about how stressful this burden was!

Mama was also eating quietly beside Mami. Prabodh was quietly sitting beside Bondita. Timsy was still sleeping upstairs. 

"If it's so stressful, you can cancel the wedding," Bondita said, in the middle of chewing. 

Mami glared daggers at Bondita and hissed, "You live under my roof. You eat my food. You have grown up under my money. I've spent everything on your education, and you... you still talk to me like this!" 

Bondita sighed, putting her spoon down. 

"Maa, can you stop the same lecture?" Prabodh asked, sounding extremely tired.

"You're so useless," Mami snapped at him, "Look at your age. Instead of getting a job, you're stuck at home all day long. Everyone has a job, except you!"

"I'm trying!" Prabodh argued. "And you know how hard it is --" 

"How long are you going to make your old dad work for?" Mama intervened now to Prabodh. "Bondita's wedding is costing us so much money. We have to get you and Timsy married too." 

"Who will want to marry such a jobless fellow?" Mami taunted. 

Bondita felt bad, that her Mama and Mami's attention turned to Prabodh now, even if she had been saved from their scrutiny. 

"Mami, it's very hard to get a job... and he's trying," Bondita offered as support.

"Trying won't pay the bills!"

Prabodh was looking very annoyed now. 

"Maa, stop all this pressure," he said, "Do you know how worthless you make people feel with your taunts? Just because I'm your son, does it mean you can say whatever you want to me?" 

Bondita agreed with Prabodh, but she didn't say anything, in case it backfired. 

"You are my son, and I can say whatever I want to you! Your Baba and I were the ones who fed you your whole life, who educated you, who clothed you!" Mami said, as if she did him a great service. 

Bondita muttered under her breath so only Prabodh could hear, "That's a basic human right for birthing a child. I don't understand what great work you did for doing the basic things a parent has to do for their children. Then guilt tripping them, because you did what you were supposed to do. As if your child got some privilege!" 

Prabodh smiled slightly when he heard Bondita's defense.

Thankfully, before this conversation could get more heated, the doorbell rang, and Mama went to check who it was. 

It was at this time, that Timsy came down, rubbing her eyes, in her silky pink fairy pyjamas, and a pink headband with cat ears. 

When Mama opened the door, he saw a lady wearing a very expensive looking Banarasi saree, along with some expensive jewelry. She had black sunglasses on and a designer purse over her shoulder. 

"Namoshkaar?" Mama asked almost like a question, bringing his hands up and sounding confused, wondering if this was one of his wife's guests. 

"Is this... Bondita's residence?" the woman questioned. 

Now Mama was even more confused! What business did Bondita have with this expensive looking older lady? 

"Yes..." Mama answered. 

"May I come in?" the lady asked, removing her sunglasses, and glancing around the house, a look of distaste on her features. 

"Sure... but who are you?" Mama asked. 

"Radhika Ganguly," she just answered, stepping inside and removing her designer sandals. 

The name sounded to be a known one, although Mama couldn't quite tell why. 

Mama lead the way to the dining hall where everyone was. Bondita was eating her food, and Timsy had even joined at the table, eating. 

"There's Bondita," Mama said. 

Bondita looked up from her food, her eyes widening, when she saw that it was Anirudh's mom! 

What was she doing here? 

"Sumitra, we have a guest," Mama informed his wife. "Her name is Radhika Ganguly." 

When Mami heard this, she immediately stood up, nearly knocking her glass of water over. 

"R - Radhika ji, you? Here?" Mami just gasped. 

Mama went over to her and whispered, "Who is she?" 

Mami hissed at him, "Aarav Roy Choudhary's ex-wife!" 

"Aarav Roy Choudhary? The CEO of --" 

"Yes," Mami interrupted, and forced a smile, trying to look as polite as possible in front of the rich, classy woman! 

Bondita stood up nervously, as she glanced at Anirudh's mom, wondering why she was here. Did Anirudh send her here? But then... why wouldn't he tell her? 

Radhika looked Bondita up and down, not looking happy, and then she glanced at Mama and Mami, who were looking at her nervously. Her eyes landed on Prabodh's messy hair, and unruly appearance. Only Timsy seemed to be well-dressed despite her pyjamas, but she was too busy scrolling through her phone and didn't care about what was happening here. 

"A - Aunty... you?" Bondita asked. 

"How does Bondita know her?" Mami hissed at Mama.

"I know as much as you do!" Mama whispered to her. 

"You didn't even know who she was," Mami taunted. 

Radhika glanced around the small house, before her eyes landed on Bondita. She was pretty, no doubt about it, but for her son? A girl like this, who was from a middle-class family, whose family members looked like they belonged in a zoo?

"We - we were having breakfast Radhika ji. Please have some with us!" Mami said. 

Radhika nodded, as Mami's shaking hands grabbed a plate and put some poha on it for her. Radhika sat down on the other side of Bondita, and glanced at the poha, narrowing her eyes. 

"Onions? There are no onions here?" she questioned bluntly. 

Mami just stammered, "W - well onion prices these days, you know..." 

Radhika just shook her head. It was true that onion prices had skyrocketed recently! However, people of Radhika's status never looked at price tags.

The lady took a spoonful of food, bringing it to her mouth. It tasted okay, but wasn't extraordinary. 

"Is there anything else you would like Radhika ji? Tea? Coffee?" Mami asked. 

"Water is fine." 

Mami poured a glass of water for Radhika, nearly spilling it in the process. She was so nervous! 

"You must be wondering why I'm here," Radhika said. 

Bondita was extremely nervous too, wondering if her relationship with Anirudh was about to get revealed in front of everyone. 

"Bondita, I guess your family doesn't know about what is going on with you and... Anirudh," Radhika said, glancing at her. 

Bondita looked at Radhika, the colour nearly draining from her face! 

"A - Aunty..." Bondita just stammered, "A - Anirudh is j - just my f - friend." 

Radhika smiled at her, an overly sweet smile. 

"A friend? A friend you lured and trapped with your middle class tricks?" Radhika asked, "A friend who doesn't even want to get married because of you." 

Mami let out a shrill gasp when she heard this, and Mama's eyes widened so much that they nearly popped out of his sockets!

Timsy finally looked up from her phone, her eyes widening too, and Prabodh was blinking, utterly confused! 

"It's... not like that..." Bondita whispered. 

"Let me make it clear what it's like," Radhika informed everyone at the table. "Your daughter... or niece... whoever she is, is trapping my son, and I won't have any of it. I came here with an open mind, thinking if the situation is okay, maybe we can talk about their relationship, but seeing the state of this place, it's become clear to me, that either the whole family has made this plan, or your niece is trying to get a better deal." 

"A  b - better deal?" Mami asked, sounding shocked. 

"Of course. By trapping someone who has such a kind heart, she can move out of this cheap place, and go for a luxurious life. It's a smart plan, and I must applaud her smartness, if you all aren't involved in it too. But as the matter is about my son, I cannot let it happen," Radhika explained, her tone quite calm. 

Bondita looked at Radhika and said, "Aunty, it's really not like that!"

"Bondita shut up! You've already lowered our head in shame!" Mami hissed.

Radhika turned to look at Bondita and questioned, "If it's not like that, what will you say? That you and Anirudh love each other?" 

Bondita felt her throat dry up. She wished she could say that. She loved Anirudh... but she couldn't speak for him. How could she say such a thing if he wasn't even ready? 

"We... are good friends!" Bondita said. 

"Right... and that's why I spotted you in his suite the other day, in that state, with your messy hair," Radhika informed, "If you're just friends, that makes you even more characterless." 

Mami gasped so loudly when she heard this. 

"His suite?" Mami gasped. "Bondita, your marriage is happening and --" 

"She's getting married to someone else?" Radhika questioned, shaking her head slowly. "Wow... slow claps for you Bondita. You're as cheap and characterless as one can get!" 

Tears invaded her eyes, feeling a stab in her chest at the insults, and Bondita just defended, "It's between me and Anirudh, w - whatever we share. Why does e - everyone need to analyze it? It's n - nobody's business!" 

"Between you and Anirudh? You wench!" Mami shrieked, insulting her. "How dare you do such disgusting things? Chhee!" 

As the tears spilled down her cheeks, Bondita looked from Radhika, to her Mama and Mami, to Prabodh, and Timsy who was still watching with wide eyes. 

Then she stood up and she said loudly, "If I'm disgusting, if I'm characterless... for... this! Then fine! Call me what you like. I don't even care! I can take it!" She turned to Radhika and said directly to her, "But you're his mother, right? Then doesn't his happiness matter to you?" Because she could take a thousand insults upon herself, but seeing injustice happening with Anirudh... she didn't think she could ever take that. 

"Of course it matters. Which is why I came here to see your intentions!" Radhika said coldly. 

"Then see it correctly! I have no ill intentions towards him!" Bondita said loudly, her vision getting obstructed by her tears. "Anirudh is... amazing! Anyone will marry him! But... even I don't wish for just anyone to have him. I want him to have the best! The very best!" 

Radhika thought the girl was strange, and quite delusional! Did she want to trap her son, or want him to have the best future wife? Her talks were confusing. 

She just stood up and said to Mama and Mami, "Please control your daughter... niece... whatever. Keep her away from my son. Let my son have a proper life with the one who deserves him... not this middle class girl!" 

Bondita held back a sob and she asked, loudly, "In 2021, we are still stuck on such things? Why does it feel like this society hasn't even progressed?" 

Radhika just put her sunglasses back on, and then walked out of the house without another word, ignoring her. 

After she left, Mama fell down on his chair, clutching his chest, his eyes wide. 

Prabodh looked at Bondita with concern, as the tears rolled down her cheeks. 

Timsy was still blinking with shock at the sudden drama, not expecting this from Bondita! 

Mami rushed over to Bondita and grabbed her arm, twisting it, causing her to yelp. 

"YOU DISGUSTING GIRL!" she screeched, "DOING SUCH CHARACTERLESS, CHEAP THINGS. IF THAT RADHIKA SPEAKS, THEN OUR ENTIRE REPUTATION WILL GO DOWN THE DRAIN!"

Bondita squirmed in pain and she said, "Mami, stop!" 

"NO. WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS MARRIAGE HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!" Mami said, sounding panicked, and she turned to glare at Mama, who winced in his seat. "GO AND CALL HER SASURAL. NOW. TELL THEM THAT OUR FAMILY PANDIT IS INSISTING THAT THE MARRIAGE HAPPENS TOMORROW... OR TODAY!" 

"What?" Mama asked, his eyes widening. 

"JUST DO IT!" Mami screamed. 

Mama just nodded, and took out his cellphone to dial Paritosh's family. 

"Maa, cut her some slack," Prabodh said, "These days it's common for girls and boys to date --" 

"NOT WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. I TOLD THIS GIRL TO FOCUS ON PARITOSH, THAT RICH MEN DON'T LIKE MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN. BUT WHAT DID SHE DO? SHE CAUSED A SCENE IN FRONT OF RADHIKA GANGULY?!" Mami screamed, still holding Bondita's arm tightly. 

Then Mami glared at Bondita and hissed, "How did you even trap Anirudh Roy Choudhary? The Anirudh Roy Choudhary? Seriously? I'm still wondering if Radhika herself is a gone case for even saying such things! You and Anirudh? Has he gone blind?" 

Bondita swallowed a lump in her throat, fresh tears forming at the insults. She didn't know whether Anirudh had gone blind or not... but what they had between them, it felt very, very real. 

Mama finished his conversation on the phone and he said, "They were shocked about the sudden request, but they said they want the marriage to happen as soon as possible too. Tomorrow is fine with them if the pandit gives the go ahead." 

"Great! Then even if we have to get her married in a local Mandir, with no guests, we will do that tomorrow itself!" Mami said. 

"Mami please! Don't do this!" Bondita finally said, her eyes wet. 

"Shut up!" Mami just hissed. "Timsy, take her phone!" 

Timsy nodded, and grabbed the phone from the table, making Bondita's eyes widen. 

"No more of that stupid friend of yours Rimi! She is the one who influenced you to be like this! Who must that girl's parents be to raise their daughter in that manner?" Mami taunted.

She continued, "And that Anirudh Roy Choudhary -- if he spreads word, before you get married. Oh Kali Maa! We are done for!"

Bondita looked at Mami, suddenly feeling like something transformed within her. She got, extremely angry all of a sudden, and she felt like her consciousness had left her for a split second.  

Her Mami had called for Kali Maa after all. 

As if she was possessed, a deep fiery looked appeared on Bondita's eyes, and it was almost like another soul had taken over, as her voice got deeper and her words echoed throughout the room. "Sumitra Bannerjee! You may think that you have the power to alter someone's life as you wish! But remember! It is all a play! A play of karma! What is karmically supposed to happen, will happen! What is meant to happen, will happen! Try as you wish, Sumitra Bannerjee, but realize the truth!" 

Mami looked scared at this tone -- Bondita had never taken her name like this before! That too, in this unknown, strange tone... it didn't even sound like it was within Bondita's capacity!

Bondita continued in the same echoed voice, her look fierce, "Chances after chances you've been given! This is the second time that she has been your niece, and you still haven't learned! You still haven't unbound yourself from this karmic cycle! You're still treating her the same!" 

"W - what nonsense!" Mami spluttered.

Bondita's fiery voice continued, "Out of compassion, you have been given the chance! Yet you and your husband have not learned from the mistakes of your last life! You constantly say you have done a great favour on this girl? But the great favour has been done on you! The chance has been given to you, to set things right again... Improve Sumitra. Learn. Change! You were given this chance because there was potential! Activate it!" 

Mama looked scared out of his wits too now, and even Timsy and Prabodh were gulping with fear, never having seen this side of Bondita. 

"Where Bondita has to go, she will go! You can pull 1 and -1 out of 0, but add them up, and they are still 0. Just like that, nobody can break apart what is real! Nobody!" Bondita's voice echoed through the room, "But you... you can make amends! You can sort yourself out! Take this as my last warning of compassion!" 

Bondita's body suddenly felt dizzy and weak, when her consciousness shifted again, and she blacked out. Prabodh stood up, and managed to catch her in time, causing her to fall against his chest. 

"W - what was that?" Prabodh stammered, looking at Mama and Mami, who looked shell-shocked. 

"That was scary!" Timsy just said, sounding like she could cry. "Mummyyyy! Was she possessed?" 

"Impossible... s - she's doing... a d - drama... it d - doesn't make sense," Mami gulped, a deep sense of fear instilled in her too. 

"Y - yeah... w - what did she mean... l - last life... w - what nonsense," Mama said, his face pale. 

Prabodh just stroked Bondita's hair, concerned, as he held her against him. 

"Anirudh Roy Choudhary? Is that who you love?" he wondered, the gears in his mind turning, as he formulated a plan for his sister's sake.

-- 

Precap: Bondita is getting dressed for her marriage with Paritosh. Will Anirudh find out about her marriage, and stop it?

--

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

What did you think about Radhika Ganguly? 

The scene with the shift in consciousness? 

Mama and Mami, being Bondita's Mama and Mami in this life wasn't about the roles, but more about the fact that these two have been given a second chance to amend their mistakes. What did you think about this revelation and the depth behind it? 

What will happen now? 

Are you eager for the next part? Then do press star and leave your comments! If I see a good response, I may post it this weekend! 

Love you all!