Anirudh sat on the couch of his study with his head buried between his palms. What else could he do? He was fighting a battle with his mind and his heart. After the nullification of his marriage with his 12 year old Bondita, 7 years ago, he had sent her to London, somehow away from the clutches of the society and her Thakumaa who had her caged after her marriage broke. It was of no wonder that they themselves didn't want to break their marriage but revolution always begins at home. The law never stated that already married couples, linked through child marriage, would have to get divorced but when Anirudh and Bondita found themselves caught in a dilemma, they had to call of their marriage. When they were questioned about being bound by the same child marriage that they opposed, they broke this relation that they shared to show this society a mirror, though their 'Mann ka Rishta' never disappeared.

Bondita had returned three days ago from London and she was no longer Anirudh's little Bondita but, a fierce and courageous woman. He had met her then and two days back she had gone to Krishnanagar to meet her paternal family, her Thakumaa as well. She was returning tonight and Anirudh was finding it hard to fulfil the promise he made to her years ago.

Somnath was walking around the house when through the open doors of the study, he found his elder brother sitting in worry. Without wasting any moment, he barged inside, unnoticed by Anirudh. He could clearly make out from his posture that his Dada was tensed. He tapped on his shoulder as he said, "Boudi ke baare mein soch rahe hain, Dada? "

"Haan", said Anirudh, unknowingly.

When he registered that Som had caught him red handed, he tried to change the topic by blabbering other things, to which Som heaved a sigh and looked at his brother in dismay.

" Kya Dada aap bhi? Aapko kya lagta hai ki aap nahi batayenge toh kisi ko kuchh bhi nahi pata chalega? " said Som, sitting on the couch next to Anirudh.

Anirudh looked at him in confusion, trying to decipher what he was trying to say.

Som heaved a sigh yet again as he said, "Dada, main achhi tarah se jaanta hun ki aap kya soch rahein hain! "

"Kya soch raha hun mai? " asked Anirudh, raising his eyebrows.

"Aap Bondita boudi ke baare mein soch rahein hain aur main achhi tarah se jaanta hun ki aapke is fitoori dimag mein kya chal raha hoga unhe lekar? " he chuckled as he said that.

The word 'fitoori' made him frown and he eyed Somnath, "Achha! To tum sab jaante ho! To tum hi bata do ki kya socha hai maine? "

Somnath smirked as he said, "Jaanta hun main aapko! Kabhi kuchh seedha toh kar nahi sakte aap! Mujhe sach mein vishwas hai iss baat par ki aap unke bhavishya ke baare mein soch rahe hain aur woh bhavishya aapne apne saath toh socha nahi hoga? Haina? "

Anirudh was dazed for a while. It was true that he was was thinking about Bondita's future and his thoughts were jumbled up together as he was in a conflict. He didn't know what he wanted. For the society, Bondita was unmarried and she clearly couldn't stay with him without getting married; she was no longer a child. How could he forget how people had gone mad after Bondita's life when he decided to make her stay with him? Bondita got married to him when she was naive, she was a kid. But now that she had grown up into a mature girl, capable enough to understand the real meaning of marriage, he was finding it hard to battle his thoughts. At one point, he wanted to stay with his Sakhi, Bondita forever. On the other hand, he didn't want to force himself on her. What if she desired a man of her age? So, though his heart wrenched, he was thinking of getting her married to a man suitable to her age.

Anirudh looked at Som and he said, " Tum sach keh rahe ho, Som. Main nahi jaanta Bondita ke mann mein mere liye woh sthaan hai ya nahi itne varshon baad. Main bas use khush dekhna chahta hun, chaahe main uske saath rahun ya na rahun! "

A lone tear trickled down his face as he stood up with his arms folded against his chest. Som quickly understood what his Dada was going through. He stood up and placed his hand on his shoulder and said, "Dada, aap Bondita boudi ke baare mein baat kar rahe hain! Kya aap nahi jaante ki aap kya hain unke liye? Are aap ke bina nahi reh payengi woh aur na unke bina aap! Hum sab bhi nahi dekh sakte aap dono ko ek dusre se door. "

Anirudh wiped his tears with the edge of his thumb as he braved those words out, "Maine soch liya hai! Main Bondita ke liye koi aur jeevan saathi dhundh kar uska vivah karvaunga. "

Anirudh's heart broke with every word that he uttered.

Som was shocked and he made Anirudh turn around to face him as he said, being angry, "Yeh kya keh rahein hai aap Dada? Are kya matlab hai in baaton ka? Hamari boudi ko humse door nahi kar sakte aap! "

Anirudh looked up at him with a stern face, masking his emotions as he said, " Baat ko samjho, Som! Mera vivah toot chuka hai Bondita se! Bondita meri Sakhi hai, zimmedaari hai par Patni nahi! Uske liye main sahi nahi hoon. Aur tum aur Batuk use boudi bulana band kardo!"

Anirudh's heart was shattering with evey word that he said.

Som looked at him in frustration as he said, "Maaf kijiyega Dada! Bondita boudi hi meri boudi hain! Aur sirf aapke keh dene se sach badal nahi jaega! Aaj se 7 saal pehle jab aapka vivah toota tha, tab bhi woh meri boudi thi aur aaj bhi hai! Unhe boudi kehne ka hak nahi chhen sakte aap mujhse aur Batuk se! "

Anirudh looked at him. How could he tell him that even he was broken from inside at the thought of letting Bondita go away from him.

Som uttered again, "Vaise bhi unki marzi nahi poochhi aapne! Unka bhi poora adhikar hai apne jeevan ke faisle lene ka! Aap galat kar rahe hain Dada! "

Anirudh though was shattered yet he said, "Bondita ke liye maine jo socha hai sahi hai! Meri baat kabhi nahi taalegi woh! Jaanta hun main meri Bondita ko! Apne Sakha Babu ki baat humesha maanegi woh! "

Som hit his head with his palms in dismay, trying hard to digest the fact that how much foolish his brother was in such matters.

He said as he heaved a sigh, "Dada! Aapki Bondita aur meri Boudi bachhi nahi hain ab! Are agar unhone aapke saath apna jeevan bitane ka socha ho toh kya karenge aap? Dil tod denge unka!? "

"Bondita abhi bachhi hai Som!"

"Meri 19 saal ki boudi bachhi lagti hain aapko? Dada mujhe toh lagta hai aap bachpana kar rahein hain! " said Som, shaking his head in frustration. His Dada was so much hard to handle and on top of all, he knew how much he was broken from inside but he was masking his emotions.

"Som! Baat ko samajhne ki koshish toh karo! "

"Kuchh nahi samajhna hai mujhe Dada! Aap is baare mein Boudi se baat karenge bas! Unke bina unki zindagi ka koi faisla nahi le sakte aap!"

"Main Bondita ke liye jo bhi faisla lunga woh Bondita zarur maanegi!" said Anirudh, raising his voice as usual.

"Main bhi dekhta hun Dada!" said Som in frustration as he made his way outside.

Anirudh sat down again on the couch as he controlled his tears which were on the verge of falling down from his eyes.

As Som stood at the threshold of the study, he encountered Bondita who was controlling her sobs. Probably she had heard their conversation. She looked at him for once and his heart wrenched when he saw her swollen eyes, filled with tears. He never expected her to come early; she was supposed to reach here in the evening. He looked at her, trying to find the right words to console her heart. Just as he was about to say something, Bondita wiped her tears and rushed towards the staircase and he called out," Boudi! Rukiye!"

When Bondita reached the terrace, she knelt down near the railing, holding her knees close to her chest. She never expected that after seven years, her relation would be put at stake. She wanted to get married but, to Anirudh only. All those years, as she grew, she had realised what it meant to be someone's wife and someone's love. She could only feel loved and treasured with him. She knew she wanted him but just like he thought, she didn't want to force herself on him anyhow.

When Som saw his Boudi this way, the sight pained him and he went near her, trying to put those broken pieces back. He sat down on the ground besides her as he called out," Boudi, baat toh suniye!"

"Somnath Dada, nahi hun main aapki boudi! Suna nahi kya kaha aapse Sakha Babu ne!"she looked at him with eyes filled with tears as those words left her mouth.

Som knew that Anirudh's words had broken her. He said in a mild tone," Sirf Dada ke keh dene se sach badal jayega kya? Aap hi meri boudi ho aur hamesha rahogi!"

Bondita could only shed tears, she felt happy but then again as Anirudh's words resurfaced her heart, she said," Par Pati Babu ne...", she stopped; she couldn't call him Pati Babu anymore.

She continued, " Sakha Babu ne kaha na ki woh mera vivah karva denge."

Som smiled lightly as he said," Aap unhe Pati Babu hi bulaiye boudi! Bahut ho gaya yeh Sakha- Sakhi kehna ek dusre ko! Aur dusri baat, unhone kaha ki 'Bondita dusra vivah karlo!' toh aap karlengi dusra vivah? Reh lengi aap unke bina!?"

Bondita remained silent, she could never imagine her life without Anirudh who was now the love of her life. But could she oppose his decision, no matter if it ended up killing her?

She uttered through tears," Dada, unhone kitna kuchh kiya hai mere liye! Woh agar meri jaan bhi maang le toh main bina hichkichaye de dun! Jis insaan ne apna saara jeevan mujhe kaabil banane mein laga diya, unke kisi bhi faisle ka virodh kar paungi kya main? Chaahe uske liye mujhe kitna bhi dukh kyun na sehna ho."

"Aur agar main kahun ki unki khushi aap hi hain toh? Boudi nahi reh payenge Dada aapke bina!"said Som as he held her hands.

"Main jaanti hun Dada, kitni parvah hai unhe apni Bondita ki! Par agar unki khushi mujhmein hoti toh kya mere dusre vivah ke baare mein sochte woh?"she said, controlling her sobs.

"Boudi aap jaanti to hain unhe! Apne fitoor mein kuchh bhi kar dete hain woh! Par agar unke fitoor ko koi takkar de sakta hai toh woh hain aap, unka 'fitoor'! Aap hi unka fitoor hain boudi! Ladiye apne rishte ke liye unse. Kyunki main jaanta hun ki Dada chaahe jitna bhi upar se sakht ban lein, andar se unhe zarurat hai aapki aur aapko unki." said Som as he squeezed her hand, assuring her that everything will be alright.

"Boudi, baat kijiye unse! Bataiye unhe apne dil ki baat! Main apne Dada ko aise nahi dekh sakta!"

He stood up and held out his hand. Bondita took it and stood up as she smiled at him through her tears. He blinked his eyes in assurance and Bondita immediately paced downstairs. Som stood there as she saw her retreating figure, praying to God to put some sense in his brother.

---------------------------------------------------

Bondita slowly entered the study, trying hard not to make any sound. She looked at Anirudh who had his head buried between his palms, she she shook her head. There was an urgent need to confront him.

She called out to him," Sakha Babu!"

As soon as he heard her sweet voice, he looked up to find her smiling at him. His face lit up and he stood up from the couch.

"Aise sir pakad ke kyun baithe hain?"asked Bondita, eyeing him.

Anirudh was not able to find the right words to answer her. He turned his gaze away as he fumbled," Kuchh...nahi..Bondita.......woh...bas......aise hi......"

Bondita moved forward and as she stood just in front of him, he felt something was not right. He tried moving away, his eyes turned to the other side not facing her. But she cupped his face as she rose to her toes and made him look at her directly in her eyes.

When his eyes met hers, he felt another level of comfort. But as he looked at her closely, he realised that her eyes were swollen and he immediately realised that she had cried. Anirudh couldn't see tears in her eyes and he made the whole world know it.

He gently moved his hands to cup her face as worry made its way down his body. He asked as he frowned," Tum ro rahi thi Bondita?"

She smiled as tears made their way down her cheeks and he immediately wiped them away. He asked her again," Kuchh bolo bhi Bondita! Tumhari Thakumaa ne kuchh kiya tumhare saath! Bolo na kyun ro rahi ho?"

She looked at him through her teary eyes as she said," Aapki wajah se ro rahi hun main!"

Anirudh looked at her in awe, his hands still clasping her face. What did he do to make her cry?

"Kya?"

"Haan. Aapne hi rulaya hai apni Bondita ko!"

He took a few steps back and she now held his hands.

"Aapne jo kaha Somnath Dada se woh sun liya tha maine!"

Anirudh felt his body turning limp. Now, he would have to answer her question and he had been battling with his mind from three days over this very thought. He looked at her in awe. She was crying. His tears were on the verge of falling down but he turned away.

He said, blinking his eyes," Bondita, maine Som se jo bhi kaha woh sahi hai tumhare liye!"

"Agar main kahun ki main aapke saath hi rehna chaahti hun toh?"said Bondita as his back faced her.

Anirudh knew this would come. He gulped a lump formed in his throat. He said," Bondita, yeh kya bol rahi ho tum? Ab tum saksham ho apna jeevan saathi khud chun ne ke liye! Main sahi nahi hun tumhare liye!"

"Mere liye aap hi sahi hain! Main kuchh nahi sunna chaahti!" she almost screamed through her tears.

Anirudh was trying it hard to control himself. He knew she was crying. He turned around, looking at her. He moved forward as he wiped her tears away. She looked at him again. He cupped her face as he said calmly," Bondita, meri umr dekho! Tum itni kaabil ho ki tumhe koi bhi mil jaega tumhari umr ka, jo tumhe khush rakh payega! "

Bondita had enough of this now. She was enraged. She clutched his suspenders tightly, as she said,"Umr? Pyaar umr nahi dekhta! Pyaar toh aapse kiya hai na maine! Toh kisi aur se vivah kaise kar sakti hun main! Aur aapko aisa kyun lagta hai ki main aapke saath khush nahi rahungi? "

Anirudh looked at her in awe. He was at a loss of words now. His Bondita had become so fierce. He looked away, trying to mask his emotions.

"Meri taraf dekhiye!"

He was not looking at her. She held his face and made him look at her. His eyes carried those unshed tears.

She uttered again, through her tears," Pyaar nahi karte aap mujhse?"

These words broke Anirudh. How much he loved her! He loved her more than anything in the world. He looked into her eyes and turned his gaze away. At that point, he was thinking that Bondita deserved better, someone better than him but little did he know that he was the best for her.

"Nahi" he whispered in her ears as tears rushed down his cheeks.

Bondita stood there numb for a while as she saw him taking his steps back. Was it true? Did he not love her the way she did? His actions were enough to prove that he loved her like anything but why did he ever not express himself? Her heart wrenched and tears gushed out of her eyes.

Here Anirudh sat on the couch, trying hard to control those tears and emotions.

Bondita moved forward towards him. She stood in front of him and his teary eyes met hers. She very carefully sat on his lap, to his surprise and encircled her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her heart. She placed her head on his head while his face remained buried in the crook of her neck. She took his hands and wrapped them around herself.

She said through her tears, tightening her hold on him, " Agar pyaar nahi karte mujhse toh kyun ladte hain duniya se mere liye? Kyun mujhe padhaya likhaya aapne? Kyun mera har dard aapse hokar guzarta hai? Kyun meri aankhon mein aansun nahi dekh paate aap!? Boliye! Kyun ladte hain samaj se? Neend aapki aur sapne mere kyun hote hain, Pati Babu! "

Hearing 'Pati Babu' made him smile a bit. She cried hard and her hold around his neck tightened instinctively. His hands were securely wrapped around her while he shed those unstoppable tears, making her neck wet. He was crying his heart out now. His hold on her tightened as he buried his face more.

She said again, "Kyun intezaar kiya mera? Dusra vivah kar sakte the na aap? Kyun nahi kiya aapne dusra vivah?"

Her cries were making him weak. Unable to take it anymore, he pulled away and looked at her straight in the eyes. Her tears were pricking his heart.

He moved his hands upwards to wipe those tears. The next moment he cupped her face, pulling it closer to himself as he said, "Kyunki main pyaar karta hun tumse! Main tumhare bina nahi reh sakta Bondita! Par main tumhare kabil nahi hun! Main tumhe khud se zabardasti baandhna nahi chaahta Bondita! "

Bondita wiped his tears away as she said calmly, " Jis insaan ne mujhe kabil banaya woh mere kabil kaise nahi ho sakta? Us din agar chhoti si Bondita ko na bachate aap toh log jala dete Sati ki aag mein use! Aap hain toh main hun, Pati Babu! Aur kya lagta hai aapko aapki Bondita kisi aur se vivah kar legi? Kabhi nahi!"

"Bondita.. "

She placed a finger on his lips as she said, "Bas! Ab jab aapne khud keh diya hai ki aap pyaar karte hain mujhse toh aur kuchh nahi sunna mujhe! Ab ya toh main aapke saath rahungi ya phir mar jaungi! "

Anirudh frowned and raised his voice a bit as he said, " Kabhi bolne se mana nahi kiya tumhe iska matlab yeh nahi ki tum kuchh bhi bolo, Bondita! Aage se marne ki baat tumhare muh se nahi sununga main!"

Bondita smiled at him as she said, " Nahi karungi aisi baatein! Par mujhse vaada kijiye aise ajeeb se khayal nahi laayenge ab aap apne dimag mein! Dukh hota hai mujhe!"

Her hold on his neck tightened as she said through happy tears, "Yaad hai na kya kaha tha aapki chhoti Bondita ne aapse? 'Zindagi bhar aapke peechhe ghumti rahungi ek achhi patni ki tarah! ' Ab woh nibhana toh padega na? "

He smiled at her. He was wrong to think all of that. He had realised that both of them were meant to be together always.

He cupped her face as he wiped her tears away. She leaned in closer to him and placed a kiss on his forehead. He leaned in closer to her and she squirmed. He withdrew back, only to get pulled by his collars as she smashed her lips on his.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Hey dear readers! I don't know how it went. It didn't turn out the way I wanted.

With all the ruckus going on in the show, my instinct tells me that Anirudh is going to do a blunder when Bondita will finally come back to him after growing up. This man can do anything in his fitoor. Moreover I always wished Som to have a screen space in the show but alas! the makers have other things planned. So here I presented him to you.

Did you like this one? Let me know through your precious votes and comments.

Note: A sorry to the readers who are reading my other book 'Fitoor'. Sorry for the delay, the next update might take time.