Seeing me approaching the hut, Bondita immediately went inside and locked the door. "Bondita!" I shouted standing at the threshold, "mein lene aya hu tumhe".

I was about to step in but Sumati maa stopped me, "wahi ruk jaiye Anirudh babu". It was disheartening to hear Anirudh babu instead of jamai babu, enough to make me realize the extent of the damage I have caused. "Maa Bondita se kahiye na ek baar mujhse baat kare" I joined my hands in front of her.

"Apne to ussey chor diya abh kis rishte se baat karegi wo". I closed my eyes to let the tears flow. I kneeled in the ground, near her feet, joining my hands, "maa ap mujhe jo saza dena chahate hain dijiye bass mujhe meri Bondita se baat karwa dijiye".

"Apki Bondita?" She questioned me, "wahi jissey ap kisi aur ko saup ne wale the...apko pata hain yaha akey kitni royi wo, kabhi maine apni bacchi ko is tarha se tootte huye nehi dekha. Jab se ayi hain, ek murat ban k baithi hain, hasna bhul gyi hain"

When I heard about her emotional state, I felt like killing myself. How could I make such a big mistake? I joined my hands, "ek akhri mauka dijiye mujhe maa, mujhe pata hain bohot bari galti ki hain maine aur issey sudharne aya hu" I cried profusely holding her feet. Sumati maa loves me as her son. She made me stand, "andar hain wo". I smiled at her and went near the door.

"Bondita darwaza kholo, mein lene aya hu tumhe!" He banged the door. I leaned on to the door and cried my heart out, covering my mouth to prevent him from hearing my cry.

"Tum darwaza kholo warna tum janti ho, mein tod bhi sakta hu darwaza"

I pressed my forehead to the door and only cried. No sound came out from my mouth but then finally I spoke, "apke aur mere bich abh koi rishta nehi".

"Bondita darwaza kholo na" I cried and banged the door but it remained close. "Mujhe tumse kuch kehna hain".

"Mujhe kuch nehi sunna" she cried from the other side, "sab baatein khatam ho chuke hain, saare rishte toot chuke hain abh kuch nehi bacha. Ap please chale jaiye".

I banged the door again and again when she opened the door with rage and came out. She joined her hands in front of me, "Mr Roy Chowdhury ap baare log hain, aplogo k liye rishta koi mayne nehi rakhta par mere liye rakhta hain to please ap chale jaiye, mujhe akela chor dijiye".

"Mein tumhe liye bagair yaha se nehi jaunga. Agle 20 din tak koshish karunga aur tumhe mana k le jaunga yaha se par 20 din k baad bhi tum nehi mani to chala jaunga mein, humesha k liye tumse dur".

"Thik hain" she looked into my eyes and when she did I realized her eyes were red and teary proving how much I broke her, "par filhal ap jaiye" she said gesturing towards the gate.

"Jaane nehi aya hu"

She entered inside with Sumati maa and shouted from inside, "to thik hain rahiye bahar kyuki mein nehi aungi apke sath".

Bondita is stubborn but it is me who made her stubborn, I will not leave this place, I was so determined that I sat outside near the door waiting for her to come out. The day passed and soon it became dark but we both stuck to our decision.

Maa peeped out of the window, "Bondita maana unhone galti ki hain par itna sakti maat dikha, dekh subah se bahar baithe huye hain thand me".

I too looked out of the window. Why was he still there? "Maa zamindar hain, itna sehne ki adat nehi, bahar thora aur thand hoga to khud ba khud chale jayenge". Maa gave me a disappointing look. It was night by now and we went to sleep. I was unable to sleep and thought, he might have left. I looked at my watch, it was 2 am then.

Should I check once? He must have left by now but still, I opened the door and was shocked to see him, in the same place, sleeping but shivering in cold. Oh god! Why is this man so stubborn. I immediately wrapped a blanket around him and whispered while crying, "ap chale jaiye kyuki mein apke sath nehi a sakti". Ofcourse he was sleeping and couldn't hear me. I went inside the room but couldn't sleep the whole night because that person outside was not comfortable how can I sleep comfortably inside.

The next morning I looked through the window. He wasn't there. I turned towards maa, "dekha tuney, Zamindar hain, itna dard sehne ka adat nehi hain, pehele din hi har man k chale gye" thats when I heard him calling, "maa!"

Maa smirked at me, "aur wapas a bhi gye"

Bondita banged the door opened and walked to him with rage but he stood there like a child with a wide smile.

"Kal k baad bhi sabak nehi mila apko Mr Roy Chowdhury. Firse muh uthake chale aye yaha?" she said confidently with rage in her eyes but he remained calm with the constant smile on his face, "mein apne ghar aya hu tumhari nehi".

"Excuse me? Apka matlab?" She creased her eyebrows and gave him a questioning look.

"Mein yaha ka" he moved to and fro in the standing position just like she does, "paying guest, Bon-di-ta"

"Kisne kaha apse" she pointed a finger at him.

"Maine" Sumati maa walked from behind and stood beside him. He touched her feet while she patted his head with love "meri maa ne ijazat diya hain" he made an eyebrow movement, further teasing her with a silly, wide smile.

She glared at her mother, "maa tu bhi inke sath tujhe nehi pata kitna rulaya hain is insaan ne teri beti ko".

Sumati maa ignored her completely and dabbed his face with her pallu, " ap bohot thak gye honge na jamai babu?"

Suddenly Bondita spoke out, "Zamindar sahb apke bare se haveli ki tarha bohot se kamre nehi hain yaha, sirf ek hi kamra hain, bara narm bistar aur makhmali chadar bhi nehi hain, aram nehi yaha log khoon pasina ek karke kaam karte hain, ye apse nehi hoga isiliye jaiye".

Anirudh moved closer to her, "Kamra nehi to bahar rehe lunga, bistar nehi to zameen pe so jaunga, aram nehi to kaam karunga, jaane k liye nehi aya hu, har dard, har kathinayi sehlunga par tumhare bina ghar nehi lautunga".

"accha" she gave an evil smile, "to dekhte hain"

Anirudh was going inside to change into a Kurta and dhoti but turned back and threw the blanket that she had put on him last night at her, "tum bhi ye natak bandh kardo ki mere takleef se tumhe kuch nehi hota".

Soon he came out in a kurta and a Dhoti.

I was ready for my challenge. Nothing can be worst right? "Bolo kya karna hain" I said confidently. "Saaf kijiye"

"Bass itna" I chuckled.

"Ye nehi wo" she gestured to her right and my face went paler in disgust, "tabela!"

"Kyu kar nehi payenge?" She taunted me.

We went closer to the shed and it was so dirty. There was water and shabby cow dung everywhere. It was so smelly that I felt like vomiting. I looked at her who was smirking.

She is so clever. She knows how much I hate dirt.

I was stubborn and determined. I have to teach her a lesson so without thinking much, I went inside and my feet immediately got drenched in dung.

"Chaliye uthaiye gobar ko wahase!" Madam commanded me.

I hesitated so much to touch it. I closed my eyes and picked up the dung with my both hands to keep it away. It's so disgusting, it was so smelly.

"Bondita zamindar babu se kya karwa rahi hain tu" her mama said. "Mama inka ye kaam ho jay to baki ka kaam dikha dena". I glared at her but she ignored me and went away. It was such a dirty shed and I was doing all this for the first time. I already started smelling like cow dung. I felt ill and almost vomited but held my breath and cleaned the shed.

I wasn't feeling good and kept a check on him periodically. I hope he doesn't fall sick due to this but I controlled my emotions. I saw him struggling but after hours of hard work, he completed cleaning it. He sat on the floor as he was tired but I went to him, "abhi aram karne ka wakt nehi hain, khana pakana hain, lakriya katiye, mama apko dikha denge".

I know he was too tired and was breathing heavily, "pani!" He panted.

I immediately brought a jug of water and he drank some and poured the rest on himself to clean himself"Apse nehi hoga to koi baat nehi".

He gave me a strange look and tied the gamcha around her torso. I was actually worried, "har man jaiye na" this time I cried seeing his condition, "please jaiye".

His behaviour was making me angry because neither was he ready to surrender nor was he able to all these, "ap kyu kar rahe hain aise!" I cried and shouted at him, "itna bhi zaroori nehi hu mein" and picked up the axe.

He looked and me and uttered, "bohot" and snatched away the axe from my hand, "tum mere liye mere saans lene se bhi zyada zaroori ho."

I ran into the hut and peeped from behind the door. Chopping woods is not an easy task, it needs a lot of energy and strength but he had already drained them in cleaning the shed still he continued to chop. He was sweating and breathing heavily.

Tears rolled down my eyes seeing him but I rubbed them off remembering his 20 days challenge.

It can go to any extent to win her back. I made her cry so much and now it's my time. Yes, I have never done all this work, no I will not give up.

The food that I had was what they have every day. Plain rice and a sabzi but still I had it with delight while Maa fanned me.

My whole body was aching and I felt like as if sinew were breaking. After the day's toil, I fell asleep in the evening itself. There were mosquitoes outside that were biting me but I was so tired and needed this sleep so much that I could hardly feel those mosquito bites.

There are mosquitoes outside aur unke sath to pati babu ka purani dushmani hain so I walked out with a agarbatti.

I was stunned to see him sleeping even after so many mosquitoes were biting him. After the day's hard work and toil, it is natural for him to be in deep sleep. I smiled at him, and sat near his head, caressing his hair and questioned him that why is he doing all these? I am only his zamindari, he has no feelings for me then why is he not ready to leave? Why is he causing himself so much pain? My eyes turned moist.

Suddenly Pati babu, in his sleep, placed his head on my lap and held my hand tightly.

I was unable to move because if I do his sleep will be disturbed and he has worked so hard today so I don't want to do that. I tried to remove his head from my lap and free my hand but couldn't. He slept peacefully and I was stuck there.

If I move he will be disturbed to I sat there in the position the whole night. I can do this for him at least while my hand constantly caressed his hair.

The next morning somebody woke me up by splashing a bucket of cold water on me. Who can wake someone up in such a ruthless manner? I opened my eyes and found Bondita standing, folding her hands. Lady Hitler! I murmured.

"Ap yaha soney aye hain kya? Kal to bari bari baatein kar rahe the uska kya huya"

I stood up, "bolo kya karna hain"

Bondita jaane de na" maa pleaded to me" but She gestured to a group of men standing at the gate, "ye gaon wale kissan hain sare, jaiye aur inke sath khet jot k aiye, chinta maat kijiye ye log sikha denge apko".

"Khet?"

"Kyu naam nehi suna" she smirked.

"Ha ha mein kar lunga"

She took my hand into hers, "apka ye jo narm hath hain aur ye gora rang hain ye is baat ka saboot hain apse nehi hoga. Jo apne pehen k rakha hain wo insab k ek saal ki kamai se zyada hain. In logo k hath ladki k tarha sakt hain mehenat k karan, suraj k kirno ne sharir ko jaise jala diya ho aur ye log ye sab apne apno k liye karte hain. Muh mein chandi k chamach leke janm liya hain apne, makhmali bistar pe soya hain aur apna bachpan apno se dur videsh mein bitaya hain, isiliye ap rishto ki kadar nehi karte, insaan ko nehi samajhte".

I gave her an aggressive look, "mein piche hatne walo mein se nehi hu" and marched away with those men.

We reached a field where many were farming and all greeted me with respect but when they came to know I was there to work, they were surprised. I opened my Kurta and asked one of the farmers to tell me what to do.

"Hal jotna hoga, ap kar to lenge na?"

"Ap dikhaiye to sahi"

He place the heavy crooked bamboo rod on my shoulders. It was so heavy that my shoulders started to ache immediately. "Abh bas apko chalna hain seedha aur ye apna kaam karta jayega".

I took few steps and it was so heavy that I was unable to balance my body. My feet got dipped in the soil but I will not give up on her. I took a few more steps with a lot of effort and the plough instrument started to move, digging the soil in. I intensely screamed in pain but continued to walk. The sun was just above my head. I was feeling dizzy, my full body was aching. I was bare feet and therefore my feet got hurt several times and that is when I understood how much these people walk to feed us.

My back got scratched and cut marks so did my hand and feet. I collapsed on the ground after an hour but the farmers woke me up and asked me to take a rest.

I cannot take a rest so I started again.

I heard them whisper, "dekho to zamindar ka beta hokar ye sab kar raha hain". I felt like my muscles were tearing, joints were breaking. My arms were sore and I groaned again while ploughing.

I went to the field to see what he was doing and I was so happy when one of the farmers told me that he had successfully ploughed the whole field. I ran to him happily when he was sitting in the middle of the floor. Somewhere my broken heart started to mend again but not fully.

He was lying on the field, spreading his arms and looking at the sky. I felt like just hug him once but Control Bondita!

I thought of doing some mischief.

I finally did it and while I was lying someone splashed water on me. I stood up and saw Bondita with the water pipe. "Kya kar rahi ho Bondita?" I screamed at her and scolded her. "Ap ko saaf" saying she laughed and giggled and continued to splash water on me, washing away all dirt.

I looked at her face. She was laughing and this was the best price I got for my work. I understood she was in a mood of mischief. I picked up another pipe of water. "Nehi!" She tried to run away but I pulled her towards me, back hugged her and drenched her in water. She laughed and so did I. I splashed muddy water on each other, drenched each other. She ran and I chased her to drench her again.

I forgot all my pain and only enjoyed it. While she was running suddenly her feet hit a rock and she groaned in pain. I threw the water pipe away and ran to her, "kya huya" I touched her feet and realized it was bleeding. "Bacchi ho kya tum, dekh k nehi chal sakti" I scolded her while she frowned. "Abh chup chap baitho yaha pe" I asked her to sit on a rock, wore my Kurta and tried to find a cart or anything because she can't walk home.

I saw a man cycling. "Dada!" I stopped him, "ap mujhe thori der k liye ye cycle de sakte hain, meri patni k paer mein chot lagi hain".

The man agreed as he knows me, Trilochan Roy Chowdhury's son.

When I went to her with cycle her jaw dropped, "mein aise paer lekar issey chalaungi kaise?'

"Mein chalaunga, tum samne baitho"

She sat on the rod of the cycle and I pedalled it. She looked at me and smiled.

Agar Bondita mujhse ye sab nehi karati to mujhe kabhi pata hi nehi chalta in choti choti chizo mein hi asli khushiya hain.

"Ap chale jaiye please" she cried while applying the haldi on my bare back.

"Tumhare bina nehi, tum kyu nehi chalna chahati?"

"Insan toot ta hain to jur jaata hain, dil tootta hain to samet jaata hain par jab rooh toot jaye to kuch nehi bachta aur apne mere rooh ko tora hain" suddenly there was a thunderstorm outside and she hugged me immediately in fear, hiding her face in my chest. I could feel her tears dripping on my skin.