I was unable to walk properly in those shoes. My feet were aching as if someone has stabbed them with a knife yet I tried to walk in them kyuki pati babu k liye kuch bhi. The gown was making me uncomfortable too. I have never been in a gown but if that's what he loves then unke liye kuch bhi, jaan bhi.

Thanks to Batuk, the way he handled me and supported me, Best friend for a reason. He didn't let me fall and will never do, I know that.

"Pati babu dikh nehi rahe" I told him as I searched for him, "zaroor kisi ladki k sath honge".

There were so much food and drinks, for the first time I was attending an English party...all food that I only saw in books

"Pyas lagi hain" I told Batuk.

"Tum yahi ruko mein pani leke ata hu" he went away in search of water while my eyes searched for a sight of my pati babu.

"Hi pretty girl" said an English man of my Pati babu's age.

I forced a smile.

"Wanna dance?" He forwarded his hand but I nodded in no and moved to another side.

"Hey what is the matter" that man followed me, "Jacob, Matthew come here" he called two of his friend.

"She isn't dancing".

"Hey she looks too young isn't it David said Jacob as they stood surrounding me.

I tried to leave but Matthew held my hand, "hey common come to the dance floor you Indian girl, do what we Britishers say".

"Hath choro" I whispered and struggled to free my hand, "Batuk!" I called his name.

David touched my hair gently, "come on little girl, dance with us" he said and I jerked off his hand. "Mujhe dance nehi karni".

"Stop acting like a queen, you look cute" said Jacob and touched my cheeks.

I tried to leave but due to my shoes I was about to fall but Matthew held me. "Leave me!" I cried. "Not before a couple dance" he winked at me and pulled my hands. "Batuk!" Yelled and tried to run again and was about to fall but someone held me. This touch was a protective one, I looked up and saw pati babu holding me.

Batuk came running and I hugged him as I was scared and crying. Pati babu looked at David and held his collar and pinned him to the pillar, "himmat kaise hui Bondita ko chune ki" he was about to punch him but I stopped him, "pati babu rukiye"

"Pati babu?" Said Matthew and laughed hard. Addressing the crowd he said, "look friends, Anirudh has married a child".

The English crowd laughed at him. "This is your revolution Mr Anirudh Roy Chowdhury? Marrying a little child".

Jacob made fun of Dada, "see Anirudh's little wifey".

Bondita looked at me while crying. I rubbed off her tears and gestured to her not to cry.

"Pati babu" she whispered.

"Chup Bondita!" Dada suddenly yelled at her. Even I got scared and surprised. "Kyu aye ho tum yaha?"

"Pati babu ap meri baat to suniye..." She said while sobbing.

"pati babu pati babu kyu laga k rakha hain, nehi hu mein tumhara pati" he yelled at her in front of everyone, "nahi tum meri patni ho".

I witnessed her breaking down completely. I knew Dada will break her heart...that is what he is good at.

"Ye ap kya keh rahe hain? In logo k mazak k karan ap humare rishte ko aswikar kar rahe hain?"

"Arrey koi rista nehi hain humara!" He yelled at her, "tum sirf ek zimmedari ho meri".

Bondita simply ran out of the hall

We reached home and without a word, she went upstairs.

"Maza aya na apko dada?" I looked at him furiously. "Batuk pareshan maat kar" he said annoyingly. "Pareshan to apke shabd karte hain Bondita ko" I couldn't control my anger anymore.

"Arrey chilla kyu rahe ho tum dono?" Asked kaka.

I narrated everything to kaka.

"Maine bas ussey sach bataya!" Dada was adamant.

" Ha Anirudh Babu ap mahan ho, sach bataya, bara upkar kiya humpe" kaka said sarcastically, "To tujhe ye upkar karne ko kisne kaha tha?" Kaka yelled at Dada.

"Mujhe apse ye umeed nehi thi dada, arrey apko un ladko ko rapta lagana tha naki Bondita ka dil todna. Ap swarthi ho".

"Batuk!" He shouted. By now everybody had come to the spot.

"Anirudh baat ko samjho" Binoy added, Bondita abh bacchi nehi rahi, aise wakt mein baccho ki dil aur dimag nazuk hotey hain, wo log baat ko sentiment pe le lete hain. Kuch din pehele hi mere ek dost ne apne teenage bete ko danta tha, usne suici....."

"Baba!" Dada shouted and held his hand to his ears not to listen the sentence further.

"Ha ap swarthi ho! Jab baat apke ego par aya, jab unlogo ne apka mazak uraya ap unke badle Bondita pe bharke, ap apke patni k maan ka rakhsha tak nehi kar paye".

My words were bitter but utter truth.

When I said that he couldn't protect her I saw his rage turning into guilt. The fire in his eyes turned into tears.

"Ye maat bhulo mein tumhara bara bhai hu" he said sternly.

"Ap agar apne patni ki rakhsha nehi kar sakte to at least apman maat kijiye. Mana hum apse chote hain, par dil apki tarha uska bhi hain, dard usey bhi utna hi hota hain jitna apko."

Dada definitely needed a reality check. I can't bear her crying all the time and this time it wasn't even her fault.

But Dada being dada, instead of accepting his fault, he went to study and locked the room.

Batuk's word broke me into pieces, shattered to the core. I wanted to speak but no voice came out as I choked. I closed my eyes to let out a tear and went to my study. I don't want others to see me crying. Whenever I break her heart, I break myself but no one understands me! No one!

I sat on a chair all stressed waiting for her to come to me with a coconut shell to talk to me, trying to make me laugh and will say sorry cutely.

But she never did. She never came that day.

Next morning

I went to the breakfast table. Everyone was present except her. I wanted to show everyone that I don't care, yes I don't. She is only a zimmedari. I tried to make myself believe as well as others.

No one was talking to each other. All were quiet.

I tasted the food and immediately understood it wasn't cooked by her.

Kaka and Batuk glared at me but I ignored them.

"Bade Malik" Bihari came running suddenly.

"Arrey kya hain, chor ghus aya hain kya?" Kaka was annoyed.

"Bahu rani ji purey ghar mein nehi hain, maine acche se dekha". I stood up immediately, "nehi hain matlab?"

Batuk, Kaka, baba, Som searched for her but couldn't find her.

"Khush hain tu?" Kaka yelled at me, "par gaya kaleje ko thandak?"

"Wo zaroor khel ne gyi hogi kaka" I tried to explain.

"Aur agar ghar chor k chali gyi ho to? Apko chorke?" Said Som.

"To kya? Khushi manao dada, zimmedari chali gyi, abh ek kam karo ek acchi ladki dekh k vivah karlo jo apke umr ki bhi ho, heels mein chalna ata ho, gown sambhalna ata ho aur jiske hone se apko sharminda na hona pare" Batuk clapped with tear-filled eyes.

I just stared at him as my feet strumbled.

I was about to rush out that's when Ms Greta her English teacher entered. "Arrey Anirudh, I need to talk to you"

"Yes sure" I said rubbing my eyes.

She handed me a storybook of Cinderella, "Bondita is such an amazing student, jo bhi mein parha ti hu ussey real life mein apply karti hain".

I stood there confused.

"I was telling her the story of Cinderella and she was so fascinated by hearing it. She also said that she wants to be like cinderella and attend a party in a gown and dance with her prince. It is her book, I just came to return it."

Things were now getting a lot clear in my mind.

"You know Anirudh, every girl thinks herself to be a princess, even I as a child used to think that I am snow white. It's good to teach a female student, after all, I can relate to my childhood" she chuckled.

What? Bondita only wanted to feel like a princess, live her fairy tale and that is quite natural for children. She just wanted to feel like Cinderella and I turned her fairy tale to complete hell. What I have done??? I have to find her by hook or by crook.

"Bondita" I murmured and rushed out of the haveli in her search.

Now, this is for all...teenage is a very sensitive phase. At this stage, a person grows emotions, sentiments and ego. One needs to deal with such things carefully coz instigating n hurting a teenage mind and heart can only lead to the wrong step.