2021

"I'll desire you so much that I won't be able to look away for a moment. I might just kiss you and make you mine faster than I can breathe."

In 1950, Anirudh Roy Choudhary had made a statement, a statement that echoed through time and space, whose vibrations existed until the present day. 

In 2021, Anirudh Roy Choudhary fulfilled the promise -- the promise to kiss her, the promise to make her his. 

Both parts of the promise were fulfilled, as he held her hand and lead her out of the hotel. 

Bondita watched with wonder and awe, her whole being still filled with familiarity as she followed him out. 

It felt like she had already spent her whole life watching him and never got enough -- the way he conducted himself, the way he did things, the way he saw the world. 

It was like she had learned the art of this from him before, and she was going to learn it again. 

How it was possible, she didn't know, but everything about this man was closer to her than home. 

Anirudh lead her all the way out to the parking lot of the hotel. That was where he stopped and turned to face her. 

He gently removed his mask, and she also reached to remove her own. 

He took her mask from her and stuffed it in the pocket of his coat, and then he gently held her bare shoulders. 

Bondita shivered when he touched her. It was like her body needed this touch. 

"You must be scared," he told her, looking at her seriously, "My intention was not to do that." 

She shook her head, but before she could say anything, he had continued. 

"We don't know each other, yet I haven't left your side. I keep coming close to you. I keep interfering in your life, and..." he sighed, not sure what to make of this either. "... and now I've brought you here, with the intention of taking you to my home." 

Bondita's heart fluttered when he said this. 

"I know... you think we're moving too fast, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I just couldn't stand it when..." his eyes grew dark as he continued, "that man... he was about to... to touch you..." 

Bondita continued to watch him, trying not to smile. Why did she find it so cute even when he grew dark? As if that anger was familiar to her. It wasn't a scary anger -- she wasn't afraid of him. Rather, she loved it. 

Anirudh continued, looking at her seriously, but with an ache in his heart, "The only thing that played in my mind in there was what if... what if he tries again... what if he comes to you again... and what if I'm not there to... to protect you? What if something happens to you?"

Her heart fluttered again. 

"I... I couldn't let that happen, so... so I took you with me," he confessed. "I know it's not a long-term solution. I... I will get him arrested... there's no other way..." 

She just looked at him, a slight smile forming on her lips now. The way he was rambling was really adorable. 

"But until I can do that, will you come with me? Just for tonight... so I... I don't feel scared... that something happened to you. Will you come with me to my place?" Anirudh asked, "I promise I won't touch you. I won't do anything to you. I just want to keep you safe." 

Bondita was feeling emotional now. 

Why did a man who she didn't even know care for her so much? Why was he thinking about her like this? 

Was it too good to be true? 

Was Sanjay right? 

She squeezed her eyes shut. 

Her heart ached whenever her mind doubted this man. Her heart wanted to trust him, it wanted to feel the truth of their bond, but her mind had been trained since she was a child to doubt and only doubt. 

Bondita had never had faith in anything in her life. 

The closest she came to understanding trust was with her best friend Rimi, and even that had been built over a course of time. 

After she lost her parents, she had only seen the darkness of the world. She had only seen how alone she was. 

Her Mami had always caused her to even doubt herself. Anytime she spoke back, her Mami took her voice away from her by saying she spoke too much, she demanded too much. Her Mami would constantly say that her Mama and Mami were doing Bondita a service by keeping her with them. 

Over time, even her voice got silenced, her self-esteem slowly being chipped away. Her doubt in herself grew, and so did her lack of faith in the whole universe.

Rimi, and at times her cousin brother Prabodh were the only reason that she still found her voice, that she still hadn't lost her self completely.

Anirudh watched her with curiosity as she opened her eyes and took a deep breath. 

One glance at him and it seemed like all her troubles melted away. All her doubts were craving to be washed, and new hopes and faith were begging to be born again. 

It seemed like this man was making her real self ache to be brought out again, to shine again. 

Why? 

She had heard many news stories about people trafficking young girls. There was so much crime going on, how could she just go with a man alone? 

"Are you doubting me?" Anirudh finally asked, when she didn't respond. 

Bondita looked at him, almost feeling ashamed for having these thoughts. 

He was the one who had advocated for women rights in that Facebook news post. He was the one who protected her and saved her from Sanjay. 

She was in a dilemma. A big dilemma between her mind and her heart. 

Anirudh smiled at her and said, "It's okay. It's natural you will doubt me. But I can get rid of this concern of yours." 

Bondita just watched him, as he took out his phone and called Neil. 

"Neil, is Rimi with you?" Anirudh asked, and when Neil replied that she was, he continued, "Great... tell her that Bondita is coming with me, and if she goes missing, or if anything happens to her, it's my fault." 

"Huh Bro?" Neil asked, sounding completely concerned. "Why will anything happen to her?" 

Anirudh heard Rimi gasp beside him as she grabbed the phone from Neil. 

"Why will anything happen to Bondita?" Rimi demanded. 

"I'm telling you because it's only right that someone knows where she will be. Neil will give you my number Rimi, and you can contact me anytime you want to find out about her. And here's my address," Anirudh continued, and he gave his address. 

Bondita watched with shock as he took the time to make sure she felt comfortable. 

Would a man who wanted to take advantage of her, go to such lengths? He could have gotten anyone else easily at the party. Why her? 

Anirudh smiled as he hung up the call. 

"Now, say something," he urged, with a light chuckle, finding her quite cute. 

He was happy that she was doubting him and not just following him. He was very relieved by this. 

In fact, whether she believed it or not, Anirudh believed that she was quite a strong girl. 

The only thing Bondita wanted to do was hug him tightly. All she wanted to do was engulf him with her arms and kiss him when he went through the trouble to make that phone call to Rimi and alleviate her doubts! 

But instead, she just said formally, "Thank you." 

He smiled, and he teased, "Now may I take you with me madame?" 

Bondita blushed when he said this to her and she finally replied, "Yes, you can." 

This banter also felt intimate and known between them. 

Anirudh's heart fluttered as he offered his hand again, and she took it happily this time.

He lead her all the way through the parking lot, towards his quite expensive-looking Audi, and opened the passenger door for her. 

Bondita took a seat inside, admiring the interior of the car. 

She was a girl who had grown up taking autos and busses, and once in a while, taxis. Her Mama and Mami had one car, but it was an older one, which was on the verge of breakdown. It was definitely not as luxurious as this. 

Rimi borrowed her parents' car a lot, and it was a Mercedes-Benz, so the only time that Bondita really got to be in a luxurious car, was when she went out with Rimi. Rimi had to ask for permission to use it, so they didn't get to drive it around too much.

When Anirudh got in the car, and started to drive, Bondita looked at him with a smile. 

"Can I ask you something?" she asked him softly. 

"Of course," he said to her as he drove. 

"Why did you protect me?" she asked. 

"I can't stand seeing a woman get treated like that," Anirudh responded simply as he drove. 

A woman. 

She didn't know why she was slightly sad upon hearing his answer. So he would do this for all women? Would he bring them all to his home to protect them? 

But somewhere, she was also happy seeing his passion on this matter. She respected this view quite a lot.

She didn't ask him anything more though, and she forced a smile, because despite all of this, she was strangely feeling peaceful and content just by being beside him. 

They drove in silence, but it wasn't awkward. The silence was very comfortable. It was like they didn't need to say meaningless things to fill an awkward tension. 

Any conversation they then had, could be real. 

Finally, Anirudh pulled into a parking lot of a condominium complex. It was an underground parking, and when they got out of the car, Bondita followed him into the building and up the elevator up to the 32nd floor. 

Her heart was beating extremely fast as he took her down the hallway, towards his place. 

When he was unlocking the door, he glanced at her and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you." 

Bondita smiled back at him. 

Her heart wasn't beating fast because she was afraid of him, but rather because maybe she wanted him. Maybe she wanted to do something with him. And them being alone in here, was enough to make that happen. 

Finally, when he unlocked the door, he lead her inside, turning on the lights, and Bondita looked around eagerly. 

It wasn't a huge place, but it was clearly a high-end one. There was an open-concept kitchen, with the living room and dining room in one big room. There were a few doors down a small hallway, and Bondita assumed that those were the bathrooms and bedrooms. 

In this big room, there was quite a comfortable looking L-shaped sofa, and a dining table with four chairs around it. A flat screen TV was positioned across from the sofa, with a soft fleece blanket already on it, for comfortable viewing. There was also another smaller sofa beside it. 

The condo had huge windows -- from ceiling to floor, and there was a door that lead to the balcony beside the sofas. 

"You live in such a beautiful place," Bondita complimented. 

Anirudh smiled and he almost had the urge to say that the place wasn't as beautiful as her, but he bit his tongue before he said it. 

What if he made her feel uncomfortable? 

He didn't want to flirt with her and have her think he was trying to get close to her, even though he meant it.

He had to be respectful at every instance!

Besides, his behaviour was concerning him too. It was very odd that he even had the urge to say such things to her.

"Thanks," he replied, "Have a seat." 

Bondita nodded and removed her shoes by the entrance, before walking inside towards the sofa and taking a seat. 

He removed his own shoes and took off his coat, hanging it in a closet by the door, before joining her on the sofa. He was just in his dress shirt and blue tie now, along with his black pants. 

Bondita watched him, finding him very attractive.

She closed her eyes, as undignified thoughts began to come in her mind -- what did he look like under that shirt?  

Anirudh looked at her from beside her on the sofa and he asked, "Are you okay?" 

She nodded, a faint blush on her cheeks, opening her eyes again. 

"Would you like to eat or drink anything?" he asked. 

She shook her head out of formality, but she was quite hungry. She didn't get to eat at the party too. 

He smiled and asked, "Do you want to inform Rimi that you reached here?" 

Bondita nodded and took out her phone from her small purse beside her, messaging Rimi that she made it to Anirudh's place safely. 

Rimi texted back right away: get some, babes xoxo love u

Bondita's face turned red as she read that. 

Get some?

Did Rimi really think they were going to do something here? Her best friend had so much confidence in her, Bondita sarcastically thought! 

"What's wrong?" Anirudh asked, noticing the red colour of her cheeks. 

"N - Nothing," she stammered. 

He placed his arm on the top of the couch, above the backrest, extending it above her, and she looked away, gulping nervously.

He had done it without thinking about it, and quickly removed his arm as he murmured, "Sorry, I just sit like this so..." 

"It's okay," she said quickly. 

Then her stomach grumbled loudly, and Anirudh couldn't help but smile, as she blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed. 

"You are hungry," he pointed out lightly. 

Bondita said, "I... don't want to trouble you." 

"What's there to trouble me about? I'm hungry too," he told her with a smile, "We can order food, but it may take some time. Let me cook for you." 

"You'll cook for me?" Bondita gasped, as Anirudh stood up and headed towards the kitchen. 

"Nothing fancy. I don't know how to make anything crazy," he told her with a grin, "But I can make you maggi noodles." 

"Maggi noodles?" Bondita asked, standing up and following him, eyes widening with happiness, "They're my favourite!" 

Anirudh chuckled and he said, "You can never go wrong with maggi noodles." 

He turned to face her when she approached him in the kitchen, and noticed that she was in her tight red dress. 

As gorgeous as she looked, Anirudh knew that she must be feeling uncomfortable, so he just said, "I'll bring you a change of clothes. Is that okay?" 

Bondita looked at him with surprise when he said that, but she nodded -- did he have girl's clothes here? A feeling of disappointment hit her chest at the thought. 

Did that mean that he had a girl in his life? 

Anirudh disappeared into one of the rooms, and came out with folded clothes. 

"They're not going to be the most comfortable, I guess, but they'll be more comfortable than your dress," he told her with a smile, as he handed her the clothes. "They might be big." 

Bondita glanced down at the clothes and realized that he had given her his own clothes. 

A blush appeared on her cheeks and she asked, "You don't have... girl's clothes?" 

Anirudh chuckled and he said, "No, I don't have a sister, and my mom doesn't live with me." 

Bondita couldn't help but smile when she heard this. He didn't even acknowledge a girlfriend. 

"And... a girl...friend?" Bondita asked, just to be sure. 

Anirudh just looked at her with surprise and he said, "I don't have a girlfriend." 

"I - I meant a friend, that's a girl," she told him quickly -- she didn't mean that at all, but she needed to have all the angles covered!

Anirudh just answered, surprised by her sudden interest, "I don't have one of those either." 

She blushed and she said, quite happily, "Oh! Okay!" 

Anirudh smiled. She was really cute. 

It seemed like she just twisted her words to hear an answer from him, and for some reason this seemed like a familiar habit too.

"I'll lead you to the bathroom," he just told her, "So you can freshen up." 

Bondita nodded and followed him, her stomach performing somersaults of excitement, as the happiness to learn that he didn't have a girl in his life sunk in. 

Where was this night going to take them? Would truths of the past come pouring out as they spent the night together? 

-- 

Precap: 

"And this is why I don't believe in love," Anirudh confessed, after telling her about his life. "But my grandfather claims that love is real, it exists... that his brother and his wife were truly in love. But how can that be when the world is so messed up? Everyone is only concerned about themselves." 

Bondita looked at him, tears in her eyes as he narrated to her his story -- the pain in his heart, mirrored in her own.

"But you... you were concerned about me," she told him, tears sliding down her cheeks. "You didn't care about what anyone would think when you held my hand and took me inside the party. You didn't care about how you would look when you beat up Sanjay. If there is someone else like you who exists in the world, someone else who cares deeply about you, just like you would care for them, then won't that be... love?" 

Anirudh looked at her with shock, and she reached to hold his hand. 

He looked down at their joined hands, and he asked, "So you believe in love? How could you after having that experience with Sanjay?" 

She looked at him, a sad expression on her face. 

"I don't have any faith... ever since my parents died, neither do I believe in God, nor do I believe in faith itself," she confessed, "Ever since I lived with my Mama and Mami, I've witnessed cruelty in this world day in and day out. If there was any hope in this place, if Durga Maa existed, why would my life be so messed up? I have no hope... not for anything..." 

Anirudh looked at her with shock and pain, as she narrated her story too.

Would two lost souls find comfort in each other that night?

--

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! 

I'm super excited to write more. 

What do you think will happen now?

If you're excited too, remember to hit the star button and share your comments, and I'll try to post the next one soon for you! 

Love you all!