She hugged him more tightly in a protective way while those men approached them.

One of them pulled her by her hand but she embraced me, creasing his hair, shielding him and crying.

They tried to pull her away from him but her hold was firm on him. Anirudh could actually see and hear everything in his subconscious state

Bondita hugged me and shielded me while they tried to pull her away.

"Choro mujhe!" She resisted them with all her might, at least tried to resist them. I hugged her more tightly, helpless enough, seeing her fighting for me.

That man finally pulled her away, "choro choro!" She cried as our hands parted away. They dragged her away from me and captivated her tightly.

"Choro mujhe!" She cried.

I only looked at her through my tired teary eyes.

"Khatam kardo isko!" Pandit ji ordered his men.

"Nehi! Please choro unhe!" She cried.

I was stunned by her mental strength when she bit that man's hand and ran to me again. She again embraced me protectively.

Apne pati babu ki Rakhshak babu!

I recalled the times I saved her and today everything has changed. I am proud of how she has grown up, I'm happy that I could successfully pave her the way I wanted.

"Jhansi ki Rani, Meri Bondita!"

Those men again tried to pull her away and attack me but this time I don't know how but she went all mad and ferocious.

She picked up the broken piece of glass and stood up guarding me, "mere pati babu k paas bhi aye to Dugga maa ki kasam jaan lene se pehele ek bar bhi nehi sochungi"

There was the rage in her red eyes, boldness in her voice. She was fierce just like Durga maa. She looked like Durga while saving me.

Those men stepped back in fear.

"Pass mat ana" she yelled pointing to the broken piece of glass.

Rightly said, every woman is a Durga in herself. There was a fire in her eyes and I smiled subtly.

Bondita, a daring, intrepid, fearless girl alone fighting with men. Likely, she won't win but at least she was trying to resist them to come near me.

I am proud of her!!!!

"Koi aagey nehi ayega" she warned them again and again, "agar kisi ne mere pati babu ko chuya to Dugga maa ki kasam rakt Ganga bahega aj yaha!"

It is difficult to describe her ferocity in words.

"Mein apne pati babu ko kuch nehi honey dungi chahe meri jaan hi kyu na chali jay!"

I looked at the clock, 15 mins left for the clock to strike 5 and I was wasting my time actually resisting them. Because at 5 people will start to come to the temple and once they do, they will know the real truth.

"Tum sab khare kya ho? Itne saare milke ek ladki ko nehi pakad sakte" yelled Pandit ji.

They held my hand and snatch the glass piece away. Throwing it away they pulled her away from him, "abhi kuch der mein log ana shuru ho jayenge, jao issey devi roop mein taiyar karo".

"Mein tumlogo ka sath nehi dungi logo ko thag ne mein"

Pandit ji raised his hand in air to hit me but before he could someone held his hand.

Although injured Pati babu resisted me from being hurt. He pushed him away and I ran and hugged him tightly.

"Hum apna dhanda tum dono k wajase cahupat hone denge kya?" He laughed...

Little did he know the temple mic was on. The mic through which all prayers are conducted was on. So all conversation that happened, the whole Haridwar heard it.

Pati babu's condition was worsening yet we were in each other's arms. My whole saree turned red since I hugged him and he was soaked in blood.

Suddenly there was a bang on the temple gate and the guards came running, "prabhu logo ko asliyat pata chal gaya, log pagal ho rahe hain bahar".

"Kya?' shouted Panditji, "unlogo ko kaise pata chala".

"Hummey bhagna hoga" said one.

"Iske bina nehi jayenge" pandit ji pointed at me.

"Chal!" He pulled me again away from him. We held our hands tightly but pati babu, due to his injury collapsed on the floor.

"Pati babu!" I shouted.

"Mein nehi jaungi tum logo k sath, pati babu utho, rakhshak babu uthiye na!' I cried, "uthiye pati babu!"

People broke the gate and started entering.

To save themselves, he left me, pushed me away and tried to flee from the back gate.

I fell down and hit my head.

But he couldn't flee. Commoners held him by his collar, "makkar kahika".

They started picketing the temple, breaking things. People went mad.

Of course their sentiment was hurt. They believed in him and he took the advantage to loot others.

In no time I ran towards pati babu forgetting my wound. "Uthiye pati babu".

"Koi help kijiye na" I cried but people were busy picketing and beating up those imposters.

"Koi paani dijiye" I cried for help but nobody paid heed.

Humans have lost humanity. Even animals help their mates when in need but we the most developed animals don't.

A girl cried and begged for help to save her injured husband but nobody came forward. All were busy taking away the money from daan peti.

Agar koi na sahi to mein akeli hi rakhsha karunga apne pati babu ki.

I supported him by placing his arms on my shoulder and took him outside.

Stopping a cart I asked the man for help. "Dada pass k haspatal chaliye please" I cried and begged.

I opened my golden earrings, "ap ye rakh lijiye par please madat kar fijiye'

I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital ward.

"Accha huya hosh a gaya apko" the nurse smiled at me.

"Mein yaha kaise?" I held my head.

"Ap bohot khush kismat ho ki aisi patni mili hain. Apki patni akele apko yaha le ayi aur apka ilaj karwaya, bohot pyar karti hain apse?"

I awkwardly looked away, "pyar?" I murmured.

"Apki patni ne hospital mein apne gehene jama karwa diye apke ilaj k liye, kal se bahar baithi hain, rukiye mein unhe bulake lati hu" the nurse said and went away.

Bondita? Kyu kiya tumne aise? To kya aj bhi tumhare dil mein mere liye pyar hain? Jo maine chahata wo nehi huya?

Doctor entered followed by her. She sat beside me timidly and held her ears, "sorry" she cried, "mein agli baar se jald bazi mein koi faisla nehi lungi Shotti".

I chuckled softly looking at her face.

"Tumhari wajase wo pakra gaya, Shabbash Bondita"

Her face shone brightly in joy.

"Mrs Roy Chowdhury" the doctor interrupted us, "he needs proper care and complete rest. Ye dawaiya likh diya hain maine" he explained her everthing, "dhyan rakhna inka".

"Apko mein kuch nehi hone dungi" she held by hands and cried.

"Mujhe kuch ho sakta hain kya? Apne pati babu ki Bondita, apne pati babu ki rakhshak babu".

She now looked at the prescription, "agar abh ap apna dhyan nehi rakhenge" she again started bossing around, "to mein bohot datungi".

I chuckled.

"Hasiye maat!" She scolded me, "apko bhi aise chikte hiye mandir mein ghusna nehi chahiye tha, dimag nehi hain apme?"

"Accha tum itni hoshiyar ho to kyu chali gyi akele unlogo ko pakarne" I questioned her.

"Kyuki mujhe pata tha ki mujhe kuch hone se pehele ap bacha lenge mujhe par ap? Apko itna akkal to hona chahiye na, naam k hi barrister hain ap, akkal to mano....hain hi nehi"

I raised my eyebrows, "accha meri akkal mand hoshiyar patni devi, shama kar dijiye mujhe" I said dramatically.

Again the same thing happened. It was her fault but I apologized.

But what the nurse said was still ringing in my ears.

Yes, I am the luckiest guy. Agle janam mein kuch accha hi kya hoga that I got her in my life but....

How will I live without her?

Remembering my promise, my face went paler. I stared at her, how will I part her.

Dying is a lot more easier than parting away from her.

"Kaha kho gye ap?" She snapped her finger. "Pati babu ek baat puchu, ap gussa to nehi karenge na?" She asked me innocently.

I nodded my head.

"Aap mujhe kabhi chorenge to nehi na?"

Believe me Bondita, every minute of my life, I asked the same question to myself ki mein tumhe kabhi chorunga to nehi?

"Bahu hum tumse gussa hain, kyu aisa kiya tumne" kaka cried. "Mujhe maaf kar dijiye kaka sasurji" I cried too.

Pati babu was already taken to his room by Bhari kaka.

"Humne us thag pe yakein kiya, galti hum ne kya hain" cried kaka sasurji.

"Hummey ye batao ki har baar tum kaise fas jati ho bahu, tum mussibat k pas jati ho ya mussibat tumhare pas ata hain".

I chuckled hearing this.

"Bondita" Sampoorna didi spoke suddenly, "tu to ghar ki bari bahu hain par ye baat to tu bhi manti hain na ki Anirudh babu par aye har mussibat ki zimmedar tu hain" she pointed fingers at me.

Is it so? Kya mein hi Karan hu?

"Tum chup raho, humari bahu to karan hain Anirudh k khushi ki" kaka glared at her. "Bahu " he turned towards me, "jao jaake Anirudh ko marham laga do".

"Bondita jaygi?" Sampoorna didi questioned him.

"Bahu nehi karegi to kya tum karogi? Waise bhi tumhe bas apne pati ko makkhan lagana ata hain marham nehi"

I was thinking all the incidents when Bondita came in with a glass of warm milk and a bowl of haldi. She sat in front of me, "jaha jaha chot lagi hain dikhaiye"

I forwarded my hand silently and she applied the haldi gently. After covering all visible wounds she spoke out, "bas idhar hi lagi hain?"

"Ha " I lied.

"Jhoot! Aur jidhar jidhar chot laga hain, dikhaiye"

I had wounds on my back but I can't show her so I looked away awkwardly.

"Dikhaiye!" She glared at me.

It was an uncomfortable moment for both of us. I awkwardly opened my shirt while she closed her eyes. "Piche ghum jaiye". I turned away, facing the mirror. I saw in the reflection, her eyes closed while she applied the haldi.

Her fingers touched the wound on his bare back and he closed his eyes tightly in pain.

Silence prevailed in the room but finally, she broke the silence, "itni parwa hain apko meri?"

"Haa aur nehi to kya" he said after clearing his throat.

"Apko pata hain ek insaan ko dusre ki inti parwa kabh hota hain?" she said with teary eyes as both looked at each other in the mirror.

"K..kabh?" He choked while asking the question.

She stood up with the bowl of haldi and went towards the door.

She turned back and answered, "wo to Ram hi jaane" she almost cried and left the room.

"Kya Ram jaane? Ruko! Bon..."

What was she trying to say.

Kya jaane Ram??? What was the thing that she was talking about which only god knows???

.......................................

"Dil se baara jhootha, Dil se bara beiman is duniya mein koi nehi. " Batuk said to her while turning away the page.