I am so so so overwhelmed by the love on the last chapter. I posted a message on Instagram and on my Wattpad profile about just how honored I am by your love!

It broke every record of comments I've received on ANY chapter of ANY book I've written!

Thank you for that!!! You are all AMAZING. You filled my eyes with tears, and heart with gratitude! ♥

I would be incredibly happy to get your comments and reactions on this part too, as it's also very near and dear to my heart! 

I'm going to try and post the next update this week too! 

Enjoy!

--

It all happened quickly. 

She had no idea whether this was really right or wrong, but Bondita knew that somehow everything felt right.

Anirudh also wasn't sure what he was doing. Was his impulsive decision... wrong? 

She lied to him, and he was mad at her for that. Extremely mad. Yet, he couldn't shake off the feeling inside him... a feeling like this was meant to be. 

They were sitting at the mandap. 

Mami looked absolutely rattled. She didn't look happy, and seemed like she didn't want to be part of the celebrations. 

Mama had run after Paritosh's family members, trying to reason with them. 

Timsy was on her phone again. 

Neil and Rimi were standing there beside Prabodh, all of them looking happy for Anirudh and Bondita. 

Bhavani and her husband were also there, with Bhavani holding on to his arm for support. 

"Ohhhh Kaali Maaa," Mami was screeching with unhappiness. "Just what face has this girl left us with?! Completely made us lose our respect!"

Rimi who was just a little distance away from Mami shot, "You had respect in the first place?"

Mami glared at that uncouthly girl! 

"I cannot be here for a single moment!" Mami just said, dramatically. "I will not partake in this nonsense!" 

"Good bye!" Rimi huffed, "You won't be missed!"

Mami stormed over to a seated Bondita and grabbed her shoulder quite roughly. 

Anirudh couldn't help but feel a strange sense of protectiveness, like he wanted to grab Bondita away from her! 

Like Bondita didn't belong to anyone else... but him. 

No, it wasn't the type of possessiveness he saw in movies or literature. It was different. 

He didn't want to own her. He didn't want her to listen to him. He wanted... something else. Something deeper. 

It was like she was someone who was born of him. Perhaps the closest comparison could be of a mother and a child, but even that wasn't exact. 

There was a reason, a deep-seated reason, why he felt like she was his.

And it had nothing to do with an idea that he owned her! She was free... but his.  

"I told you that rich men don't like middle class women. You'll get used then thrown to the streets," Mami hissed at Bondita, so only she could hear. 

Bondita trembled when Mami said that. 

"You think these rich men can keep their attention on one person for so long? You fool, you idiot!" Mami snarled, "You let such a good relationship go, for an unstable, uncertain future! You should only marry within your class... and you... ugh, you are a disgrace."

Tears filled Bondita's eyes, her insides filling with insecurity again. 

"You will only come running to me and begging for forgiveness because I told you so. Mark my words," Mami snarled, "Until then do what you like! You may see me as an evil lady, but I did want to protect you... but alas, you are too foolish... and nobody can protect a fool!" 

Then she let go of Bondita's shoulder quite harshly, making her fall back slightly against Anirudh. 

Anirudh noticed the expression shift in Bondita, and then he turned to look at Mami who had already started to storm away. 

Mami grabbed Timsy on the way, causing her to nearly drop her phone!

She tried to yell at Prabodh to come too, but Prabodh stood his ground, and said he would come later. 

"What happened?" Anirudh asked Bondita, after Mami left with Timsy. 

She just shook her head and straightened herself up. 

Bondita knew she loved him. She had no doubt in that... but she was scared. Deathly scared. Terrified that what Mami said would end up being true.  

However, she had made up her mind. 

Maybe it was a risk, maybe she was a fool. But she was willing to be a fool... she was willing to take the risk. She had decided that she would marry Anirudh... and see where this uncertain future would lead. 

"Did the varmala exchange happen?" Bhavani asked. 

"No dear, it didn't," her husband whispered, "The bride has sat down."

"What? They already skipped the pidi and shubho drishti! No, the varmala has to be exchanged! They can't skip this too! Ask her to get back up!" Bhavani said. 

Anirudh looked up at the girl, the same warmth in his heart. 

"Bondita," Anirudh said, without even thinking, "Stand up." 

Bondita turned to look at Anirudh, shocked. 

"W..what?" she asked, her heart aching at the worst of possibilities! 

Did he change his mind?

"We... didn't exchange garlands," Anirudh said, "I think we both have to stand." 

The pandit nodded in confirmation, and Anirudh stood up. Bondita stood up after him, feeling a sense of relief. 

"They're going to exchange the garlands now dear," Bhavani's husband said, and squeezed her hand. 

A happy smile reached Bhavani's sight-less eyes and lips. 

"Can you... come in a pidi too Maa?" Bhavani asked Bondita. 

"Dear, the wedding has already started... how can she find a pidi?" Bhavani's husband asked. 

A sad look appeared on Bhavani's face, and a restless feeling emerged in Anirudh's heart. 

"Bondita, come in a pidi!" Anirudh ordered. 

Bondita looked at Anirudh with shock, and even Anirudh was shocked in himself. 

"I mean... if you... want..." he finally mumbled. 

"Yes please come in a pidi!" Bhavani insisted. 

"There's a pidi outside," Prabodh said, "We can arrange for it." 

Bondita nodded in agreement, not wanting to turn down Bhavani's request too. She didn't know why, but she wanted to see the old woman smile! 

As Bondita left with Prabodh, Neil also joined them, so they could lift the pidi. 

While Bondita was going, Anirudh felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Like he wanted to keep her with him. 

"You love her a lot!" Bhavani squealed with excitement. 

Anirudh looked at Bhavani with shock. 

"W - what do you mean?" he stammered. 

"I don't have sight, but I can feel!" Bhavani said with a grin, "I can feel the energy of this place, and the energy that you're emanating! You love her!" 

Anirudh just gulped, not trying to pay too much attention to what she was saying. 

All of a sudden, Bhavani loosened her arm from her husband's grip, and placed her hands on Anirudh's shoulder, causing him to nearly jump! 

"You're wearing a kurta? Take it off!" she ordered. "The groom is not supposed to have a top!" 

"W - what?" Anirudh gasped. 

She started to pull on his kurta top, as if she had full rights to him! 

"H - hey!" Anirudh said, "I - I can wear my top!"

"No!" she refused, "You can't!" 

Anirudh put on a grumpy face as Bhavani pulled the shirt off him! 

Her husband just shook his head and apologized, "I'm so sorry!" 

"No it's okay," Anirudh said, glancing up at him, "I don't... mind." 

As strange as it was! 

"I don't mind either!" Bhavani said cheerfully. "And I'll keep your kurta top safe! Don't worry! And here, take my shawl! I guess we don't have the regular white ones here!"

Bhavani took her bright pink shawl off her arms and wrapped Anirudh in it! 

Rimi started to laugh, as she watched this, but not in a condescending way -- rather, she was finding this fun! 

Anirudh didn't feel embarrassed to wear a pink shawl -- he was just annoyed that he had to do so much to get married! 

"He's a young man, dear," her husband said softly. "You can't just remove his shirt." 

"It feels like he's my own," Bhavani murmured back. "I don't know how to explain it!" 

Her husband just sighed and nodded, squeezing her hand. Even though he didn't quite understand, he trusted her. 

It was at this time, that Bondita entered on the pidi that was being carried by Prabodh, Neil, and two other men. She had two betel leaves in her hands, holding them over her eyes for the Shubho Drishti ritual.

Anirudh stood up immediately when she came in, his eyes wide, heart hammering hard. 

Bhavani's husband was whispering updates in the excited lady's ear. 

Bondita was carried to where Anirudh was. Then, with the betel leaves still over her eyes, she was being circled around Anirudh, not once... not twice... but seven times. 

As this went on, she felt dizzy -- not because of the circles! But because she felt a hint of familiarity. 

She vaguely remembered...

A story of Bhagwaan Ganesh, and how he circled his Maa and Baba, saying that they were his universe! 

She felt like... she had also circled her Universe once upon a time. 

Her Sansaar. 

Tears emerged in her eyes, and her hands holding the betel leaves shook. 

Who was her Sansaar?

Why was she crying? 

Suddenly, the pidi stopped in front of Anirudh, and slowly, she began to pull her hands away, to reveal her face to him. 

Anirudh didn't know what hit him. 

It was as if he was seeing her for the first time. Perhaps the ritual was magical, because as she uncovered herself to him... it was like he had seen a Goddess. 

Someone who was so beautiful, that his breath was taken away. 

He couldn't do anything... except freeze and stare. 

Bondita noticed the pink shawl on his shirtless body, and she tried hard not to smile, her heart feeling warm and light. 

Slowly, Bondita was able to get off the pidi and stand up, and the two of them were given garlands. Neil and Rimi stood there with excitement. Prabodh was standing beside them.

"Thrice," Bhavani said, "You have to exchange them thrice!"

Anirudh looked at Bondita, who was looking down on the floor, a nervous expression now on her face. 

As Anirudh lifted his garland, Bondita gasped, because she was suddenly picked up and held high by Prabodh, a teasing smile on his face!

"Not so easily!" Prabodh said with a grin. 

Anirudh looked at Prabodh with shock, as Neil chuckled and went behind Anirudh, grabbing him and using his strength to lift him as well. 

"Come on Anirudh, make Bondita yours," Neil said with a grin. 

"She's already his," Rimi added on, stepping beside Bondita, "Her sindoor is still on!" 

"Probably the first wedding, where the sindoor happened first!" Neil said back. 

Bondita was blushing, and Anirudh was looking quite embarrassed too. 

"Hurry up Bondita! My arms hurt!" Neil added on. 

"Come on Anirudh, let's see if you can wrap my sister in this garland of flowers," Prabodh teased. 

Anirudh just sighed heavily, not understanding this commotion! 

He picked up the varmala and leaned towards Bondita to slip it around her neck, as Bondita leaned towards Anirudh to put it on him as well. 

Prabodh shook Bondita gently, causing her eyes to widen. 

"Gentle!" Anirudh yelled at Prabodh, "What if she falls?" 

There was silence for a moment, and even Bondita was shocked -- until Rimi burst out in laughter. 

Even Prabodh was smiling, not feeling insulted at all!

"If this is your state before marriage, I can't imagine what your state will be after marriage!" Rimi teased Anirudh. 

Bondita blushed hard, and she quickly managed to put the varmala around Anirudh's neck. Anirudh ignored Rimi's statement, and gently placed the varmala around Bondita too. 

The two of them did this three times, removing their own varmalas, and circling it around the other one's neck. 

Finally, when they were let down, they sat in front of the homa, and the rituals started. 

Time passed, and Anirudh and Bondita didn't look at each other, both of them nervous, and a little stern with each other! 

Finally, it was time for the kanyadaan. 

"Her Mama and Mami left, who will do her Shomprodhan now?" Rimi wondered. "Are you allowed to do it Prabodh?" 

Prabodh glanced at Rimi and smiled, about to nod, when Bhavani stepped ahead. 

"If you all don't mind, my husband and I would love to do the kanyadaan," Bhavani said. 

"You?" Rimi wondered, "But why will you?" 

Bhavani looked at Rimi and said, "I feel like I want to..." 

Rimi looked at Bhavani, her heart also feeling warm as she looked at the old lady. It was like even she knew who she was!

For some reason, there was a part inside of Rimi that also wanted to do the kanyadaan, as if Bondita was really her sister, or Anirudh and Bondita were her own children. 

"Dear, please don't make things uncomfortable for them," Bhavani's husband said. 

"It's not uncomfortable!" Anirudh finally said. 

Bondita nodded immediately, "Yes, please... you can do my kanyadaan. You have taught me so much, and I feel an overwhelming sense of love from you. I won't mind at all!" 

Bhavani smiled happily, and she came with her husband to do the kanyadaan. 

"We need the groom's parents too for the ritual," the pandit said. 

Anirudh's face turned pale. 

His parents. 

Right. 

He hadn't even informed them! 

"Should we do it?" Neil suddenly asked Rimi. 

"Do we look like his parents?" Rimi questioned, rolling her eyes. 

"His parents won't come," Neil said, "It'll be a shock for them, even if we were to call them!" 

"But... us?" Rimi gasped, "How can we?" 

"I dunno, I guess we are well-wishers, aren't we?" Neil asked. 

"Fine, whatever! I'm from the bride's side, but I've been made the groom's mom!" Rimi said dramatically. 

Bondita couldn't help but chuckle, as Anirudh sighed heavily, waiting for this to be done. 

"Why is this even necessary?" he groaned. 

Bhavani heard him, and he was slapped lightly on the shoulder by her!

"Hey, there is a reason for all these rituals! My Maa wrote in her diary about it when she was alive!" Bhavani told him, shaking her head. 

"What did your Maa write?" Bondita asked curiously. 

"Maa explained that Kanyadaan isn't about giving away a bride. That she isn't a bag of groceries, who you give away," Bhavani explained. "The truth is that, for a family, their greatest wealth, more than anything monetary... is their daughter."

"She is the Goddess Lakshmi of their household. Kanyadaan is a parents way of telling the groom's family to take care of their Goddess. That they are entrusting the family with their greatest wealth... the deity of their own home." 

Anirudh looked at Bhavani, his heart melting with such beautiful words. 

Bhavani continued, "They don't like to send their daughter empty-handed, so they give her valuable things to take with her to her sasural. So that she never has to rely on her husband's income, and has wealth to her name! However, over time people took all these well-meaning customs and formed a dowry system, when it was never supposed to be this way!"

"In fact, in the olden days, women were given so much respect and honor... and many times it was the men who gave immense amount of wealth to the bride's family. Not to buy her, but to show the family that they were worthy enough to take care of her. They showered wealth on the family as an act of kindness... of gratitude. Of course, in all this time, everything has been misconstrued, and people started to belittle women. Twisted these things to satisfy their own agenda, and made our culture look bad!" 

"Your Maa... wrote about this?" Anirudh asked, his heart hammering faster. "Who... is your Maa?" 

Bondita turned to look at Anirudh, feeling a tinge of jealousy. He was asking about Bhavani's Maa as if he was incredibly interested!

"My Maa was amazing," Bhavani said breathlessly, her un-seeing eyes holding a wave of nostalgia. "I don't remember her... except the warmth of her touch. She left me with a locket... and she passed away when I was far too young." 

A sinking feeling entered both Bondita and Anirudh's hearts. 

Bhavani touched the locket around her neck gently. 

"I can't send you to your sasural empty-handed," Bhavani said to Bondita softly, and she unclasped her locket. 

Bondita's eyes widened. 

"That's your Maa's only gift to you! Why're you taking it off?" Bondita gasped, almost in a tone as if she were scolding her. 

As Bhavani held the locket in her hand, her hand froze. 

"How did you know that?" she asked. 

"What?" Bondita asked. 

"How did you know that... my Maa left me with no other gift except this locket?" 

Anirudh turned to look at Bondita, shocked.

"I... I... just assumed," Bondita said, wondering why she said that with such confidence. 

Bhavani smiled and she said, "I never took it off. Today is the first time. Something inside of me is telling me to take it off and give it to you, as if it belongs to you! I don't know why... it doesn't make sense to me either. However, one more thing I've learned from my Maa's writings is that one should always follow their heart! So this locket is for you..." 

"No... please," Bondita said softly. 

"I insist. If it's meant to be with me, it'll come back to me," Bhavani said, and coughed slightly. "Please..." 

Bondita didn't argue anymore, because she didn't have the heart to say no to this woman. 

After the Shomprodhan where Rimi and Neil did act as Anirudh's parents, Bhavani said to Anirudh, "Can you... put the locket around her neck?" 

"Me?" Anirudh questioned. 

"Please." 

Bondita nervously glanced at Anirudh, as he lifted the locket, and gently clasped it around her neck. She closed her eyes, as she felt his fingers brushing against the skin at the back. 

When she closed her eyes, she remembered... she was going somewhere... was it a hostel? And a man... a familiar man... had given her a locket. 

This exact locket. 

Her eyes sprung open, and reality hit her. 

What was wrong with her? What were these flashbacks? 

"I can't see, but I'm sure it looks beautiful," Bhavani said cheerfully. "Tell me, how is it?" 

"G - good," Anirudh just stammered. 

"Just good?" Bhavani asked with a pout. 

"Great. Excellent," Anirudh added on. 

"And beautiful? Does she look beautiful?" Bhavani questioned. 

"Yes... yes she does," Anirudh admitted. "She does look beautiful." 

Bondita blushed when he complimented her. Before she could feel too shy though, the pandit announced that it was time to start the pheres. 

Prabodh tied the gathbandan, and the two of them stood up to take the seven rounds around the fire. 

"Has your Maa said anything about this?" Anirudh asked Bhavani, as the pandit began to chant the mantras. 

Bondita felt that pang of jealousy once again when he inquired about Bhavani's mother!

"Maa has written that these seven rounds are symbolic to the seven chakras in our bodies. A husband and a wife vow to learn about each other... love each other...  in turn learning about and understanding themselves. Life is about finding yourself. Not anyone else." 

Bhavani added, "Maa said by accepting and understanding each other's flaws and mutually committing to each other, by vowing to figure it out together... and by navigating through these seven chakras as best friends, you go inwards, and realize the fundamental truths about life." 

Bondita's eyes grew wet, as she felt deep within her, the familiarity of those words.

Anirudh was also feeling very... very restless... wanting to know more about Bhavani's Maa. 

"That's so beautiful," Bondita said breathlessly. 

"My Maa has written many beautiful things!" Bhavani said, "I learned from her works!" 

"How did she learn all of this?" Bondita asked curiously. 

"She always credited everything to my Baba," Bhavani said to her, "But I have a cousin, who is also my Bua! She said that Baba always credited everything to my Maa's pure hard work and perseverance. She learned through experience, and through Baba's guidance." 

All of this was familiar. 

Very familiar. 

To the two of them... and not just them... 

But one more. 

"Your... cousin? Bua?" Rimi's voice finally piped in. "Who was she?" 

"Sash--" before Bhavani could finish, they were urged to begin the rituals. 

So they took the seven rounds around the fire, both of them lost in a deep wonder, about how powerful these wedding rituals were. 

Finally, it was time for Anjali, where the two of them were to offer puffed rice into the Agni. 

Anirudh went behind Bondita in his pink shawl, bringing his arms around her from behind and holding on to the tray with her. 

After they offered the puffed rice into the fire, and completed the rest of the rituals, they sat back down for the final offering of sindoor. 

"What has your Maa said about this?" Anirudh asked Bhavani, and Bondita gripped the saree around her legs! 

Even though these rituals were eye-opening for her too, and she was enjoying hearing about them, she was not fond of Anirudh's interest in Bhavani's Maa!

"My Maa loved sindoor," Bhavani said with a grin, "She loved wearing it, and I heard that she would even throw tantrums when she didn't have it!" 

Anirudh couldn't help the upward curve of his smile. Bhavani's Maa was cute! 

Bondita noticed that smile and she inhaled sharply! 

"Bondita already has sindoor, but I guess you can do the ritual properly this time Anirudh," Rimi teased. 

Anirudh picked up the sindoor, and glanced into Bondita's eyes, unable to help the smile on his lips. 

Bondita just glared at him! Was he thinking about Bhavani's Maa while marrying her?

Anirudh noticed the look in her eyes and his smile dropped. He asked, "What? Did you change your mind?"

Bondita glared at him harder now, making him gulp! 

"What is it?" he asked her. 

"Do you want to marry me?" she asked him sharply. 

"Uh... well... I agreed didn't I?" he asked her. 

Bondita was not happy with his answer. She wanted to puff out her cheeks and cross her arms! 

"Fight later!" Rimi just said, trying to get them to hurry before they could change their mind! 

Bondita had tears in her eyes now. She ignored Rimi and she said directly to Anirudh, "Why can't you just say yes? Why do you have to say everything in a twisted way?" 

"Bondita, what's the problem?" he asked her, furrowing his brows. 

"You had a straight face for the whole wedding, like you're unhappy! I don't want your life to be miserable because of me!" Bondita cried. 

Rimi and Neil exchanged glances, and Prabodh sighed. 

"Oh no!" Bhavani gasped, sounding worried, "Maa, his life won't be miserable because of you!" 

Anirudh sighed and he said, "Bondita, what are you expecting exactly?"

"Nothing," she said, and crossed her arms, looking away from him. 

That was the problem, wasn't it? That she had been expecting something. When she herself had decided that she would have no expectations when it came to him! She had promised him that much in their first meeting itself! 

Anirudh reached for her hand, and gently clasped it, causing her to look at him and melt slightly. 

"I know that it's not smooth. But... don't see it as a bad thing. We may have to work on our relationship. It may... not be like the movies. It may be far from what you want, even... but Bondita... I'm willing to try," Anirudh said to her softly. "Is that... not enough for you?"

She sniffled, her heart melting when he said he was willing to try. That was enough for her. More than enough. 

In fact, she wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him right now! 

"And if it doesn't work?" she asked him softly, to see what he would say. "If this trying... doesn't work? If you... are miserable in the end?" 

"Why would I be?" he asked her, a gentleness in his tone. "I mean... I don't know what the future will hold Bondita. But, I can tell you... that just like this lady said, the seven rounds we took, symbolized a commitment where we vow to be together despite the ups and downs. I'm willing to see it through until the end with you... and really try."  

Bondita asked, "Even if you are sad through it all?"

"Happiness and sadness are mere emotions. These emotions fluctuate every day. That which changes cannot be real. But there is something that exists. Something that is real... that is what I want. That's what I want to find with you," he murmured to her. 

"Soham..." Bondita and Bhavani said together at once. 

"Can I... apply sindoor now?" Anirudh asked her softly. 

Bondita finally grinned and nodded. 

A smile appeared on his face now, and Anirudh took the sindoor. He filled her parting with it. 

A copious amount, once again fell onto her nose.

She had really been colored by him! Bondita felt an overwhelming sense of joy as she was immersed in his sindoor -- like this was a mark of marriage that she loved so much! 

"They're married!" Bhavani exclaimed with happiness to her husband. 

"Yes dear, they are," he said to her, rubbing her hand, as she rested her head on his arm.  

They weren't alone though!

Another guest had arrived.

Just before Bhavani said that, and right when Anirudh had filled Bondita's hair parting, an even older man had arrived with the support of Anirudh's father. 

Batuk Roy Choudhary, had come just in time to see Anirudh filling Bondita's hair parting. 

Batuk squeezed his eyes shut and opened them, blinking a few times. 

"Is she... Bondita?" he asked breathlessly. 

--

Precap: 

"Home? How can she go home with you?" Rimi questioned playfully to Anirudh. Bondita was standing next to him. 

"Why not?" Anirudh asked, frowning, "She's my wife!" 

"No what I mean is... she's not coming alone! I'm coming too!" 

"WHAT?" Anirudh screamed, making Rimi want to cover her ears! 

"Uh, hello... you may not have heard, but there's a ritual called Kalraatri! I have to come and sleep in between you two tonight!"

Little did they know, that she was really fulfilling all of her vows from the past to interrupt the moments between Anirudh and Bondita!

--

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

This part took longer because it was content-heavy! Required a lot of research and verification before it could go up. 

I hope to get the next part to you faster! I'm aiming to get it posted this week!

Anything you liked the most in this chapter/anything that stood out to you? 

How will Batuk react? 

Thoughts about the precap? 

Predictions about what's coming up? 

On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you for the next part?

Also the twist I was about to post in this chapter, is coming in the next chapter. It'll fit better... but this chapter has a build up to that twist! 

Please leave your comments, and remember to hit the star button! 

Love you all! ♥