After a journey of 9 days from Tulsipur I finally reached Siliguri(Siliguri is the only city of Northeast Bengal so all kinds of transportation are available here but not in other places of Darjeeling). I know Bondita asked me to call her once I reach Siliguri but due to a storm that had taken place a few days back, all telephone connections were shut down. I can call her once I reach Gangtok, not before that. I waited for the car to take me to our Bungalow that baba had bought. From there I will go to meet Sir Francis on Thursday.

I can't explain how badly I wanted to hear her voice calling me pati babu. I opened my wallet and smiled, looking at my 12-year-old little Bondita.

It has been 9 days and I had told him so many times to call me but it seems like he has forgotten. He has no idea what I am going through. A person should be this much responsible to his wife but no...pati babu doesn't care at all.

I think I am overthinking a lot nowadays.

I was moving to and fro in the study, waiting eagerly for one call. Why was he not calling me? Is he fine? Is he alright?

"Bahu rani ji" Bhari kaka interrupted my thought. He was standing near the door with a duster and a broom, "apne bulaya tha?"

"Ha wo study saaf karna hain" I took the piece of cloth from him, "ap wo kona saaf kar dijiye, mein ya saf kar deti hu".

Bondita started to pick up all the books lying on the table and started to dust them, "pati babu bilkul saf safai nehi karte, saare kitab faila k rakhte hain". She climbed on a stool and again started to complain while keeping the books in alignment, "sab mujhe hi karna parta hain".

"Ek baat kahe Bahu rani ji" said Bihari who was sweeping the floor, "humare Barrister babu vivah se pehele aise nehi the, khud apne kitabo ko sambhal k rakhte the. Kisiko hath bhi nehi lagane dete the, ap aye aur pura insaan hi badal gaya".

Bondita giggled and moved towards an old drawer which was remained untouched for many years. Bondita opened it while talking to Bihari, "jante of Bhari ka....." A sudden silence prevailed in the room.

While cleaning the drawer Bondita found some old photographs of her childhood. She picked up the bundled old pictures from the drawer and a subtle warm smile crept on her face.

Fresh old memories seemed to peep in her mind. Each picture had hidden emotions in them. Bondita started to go through each and every picture with a pleasant smile like early summer unless she stopped at one particular picture.

Her smile slowly faded away and the word she uttered even made Bihari cautious.

"Choti patni..."

There was this picture that she was holding of Anirudh and Manorama performing some post-marriage ritual. Her most painful and harsh memories were in front of her eyes.

But those old scars are best left alone, to heal them after you've opened them up. These painful memories, they're just the same as nightmares.

Bihari, who was looking at her saw her holding her head. She was about to fall when Bihari held her by her Shoulder, "ap thik hain?"

"Ha bass thori chakkar a rahe the, mein kamre mein ja rahi hu" saying this she took slow steps to her room with the photograph.

As soon as I knocked at her door, she hid something in her blanket, perhaps some photos at which she was looking with interest. "Suna tumhari tabiyat thik nehi" I sat in front of her.

"Ha wo chakkar a gye the" she said softly, "accha Batuk tumhare dada ka phone aya?"

"Arrey wo bolne hi to aya tha, Gangtok k bungalow mein phone karke pata chala Dada aj subah hi pohoch gye".

Hearing this, a fine line appeared in her forehead, "unhone mujhe phone nehi kiya?"

"Busy honge" I said casually but found her lost in her own world. She seemed disturbed to me. I decided not to ask her much but suddenly she again held her hand and rolled her eyes up which made me panic.

"Tum thik ho Bondita?"

"Ha bass chakkar a gye the" she said, clutching my shirt tightly for support. I took out some pills from the first aid box and asked her to have them which might make her feel good.

"Tum chinta maat karo, aram se leti raho, dada ka phone ateein hi mein bula lunga tumhe" I assured her. She wobbled her head with a smile.

Is it because I am worried about him? Am I overthinking?

No matter how much I want to forget but that day when he married in front of my eyes is a nightmare to me. I was starving, I was bleeding, I was crying but he was not with me. Whatever the cause was, it has left a scar on me.

It's a mark, not of a pencil that can be erased. It's an ink mark, even if I scratch ut out, the mark remains as it is. As time passed by I fell asleep.

2 weeks after I left Tulsipur and Finally I reached Gangtok.

Governor's men asked me to wait outside while he checks the authenticity of the papers. I was waiting patiently and thinking of Bondita. After reaching Gangtok, I had to come here too, viceroy office so I couldn't make her a call. I looked at my watch. It was late night and she must be asleep.

"Excuse me" said a feminine voice. I looked up and saw a lady dressed in British attire, standing in front of me holding my files. "Arey you Anirudh Roy Chowdhury?"

"Yes!" I answered.

"This is Priyam" she forwarded her hand and I shook my hand.

"Mein Sir Francis ki beti Priyam. I checked your papers and they are perfect. Kal Dad akein signature kar denge"

This rose a question in my head but I decided not to ask instead replied, "thank you".

As we proceeded to talk about the official papers, we found each other really frank. My bungalow was very close so we decided to walk there but suddenly it started to rain.

"Oh no barish ho rahi hain, abh mein ghar kaise jau" I heard her murmuring. In rain, she cannot travel by her car as well.

"Tum aj raat yaha reh sakti ho" I offered her, seeing her helpless. At first she hesitated but seeing no other option, she agreed to stay at my bungalow. Priyam was all wet so I asked her to change. She changed into a shirt of mine and as she walked in, I recalled Bondita.

That day Bondita was also wearing my attire but Bondita is shorter and the oversized shirt made her look like a little doll.

"Thank you Anirudh for all these," she said. A servant brought the dinner and we started to talk while having it.

Priyam was extrovert and very friendly. It felt like we know each other for ages the way we were gossiping. It was still raining heavily and the roads of hill areas are not at all safe in the monsoon. "Bohot thand hain, mein bohot acchi coffee banati hu, piyenge ap?" She asked me all of a sudden.

"Nehi, Bondita k hath ki coffee mein jo swad hain wo aur kisi mein nehi"

"Who is Bondita?" She asked me.

"Meri patni"

"Ap married ho? Wow!" she said excitedly, "mujhe laga ap unmarried ho, ap apne patni ko kyu nehi laye?'

"Wo Bondita ko court mein bhi jana parta hain"

She seemed very impressed on knowing the fact that Bondita is a barrister. Not only that, but she also expressed that she wants to meet Bondita. Priyam was a girl of very jolly nature and bubbly attitude.

If you don't mind ek question puchu?" I asked her out of curiosity, "tum to bhartiya ho fir Mr Francis ki beti kaise?"

"Sare angrez burey nehi hotey Anirudh babu, he adopted me and raised me like his own daughter," Priyam said with a smile, "I never faced racism and was allowed to follow my religion".

Just then the phone rang. I picked it up and the voice on the other side made me smile,

"Hello pati Babu"

"Kaun hain Anirudh" Priyam asked me. Before I could answer Priyam, Bondita questioned me from the other side, "ladki ki awaz kaha se a rahi hain pati babu?"

"Ha wo sab choro tum kaisi ho ye batao"

I heard a female voice which worried me but keeping it aside, I was about to inform him that I am not well. My health is not well for a week, I am feeling frequent dizziness but before I could say, he hung up the call without talking to me.

He has never done this to me before. No matter what, he always calls me. For the first time, I was not well and he was least interested to talk to me. I stood there like a fool, holding the phone. My eyes were fixed on those photographs. It was a late night, why would there be a girl with him.

Suddenly my health started to deteriorate. Out of nowhere, I was choking on my own. A wave of nausea engulfed me. I tried to call for help but couldn't.

I ran to the washroom in an urge to vomit but it didn't happen.

Shall I call Pati babu another time?

No! I should not call him so frequent. He might feel irritated.

I went to my bed and turned to the other side. I looked at my left and felt his absence beside me.

Two weeks, 14 days, and not once did he feel like talking to me. I placed my hand on the spot where he sleeps.

When I called him, he was not really interested to talk to me. I was making all such stuff in my mind when a mild cramp occurred in my lower abdomen. I winced in pain but ignored it thinking it might be a normal cramp before my menstrual cycle but as the night passed by, my cramps started to increase. I sat on my bed and held my stomach. I wish pati babu was here but whom will I tell now?

Koyli didi was on leave and I cannot believe my own sister and rest are all men. The cramp increased and tears rolled down my eyes. I managed to walk up to the telephone to make another call to pati babu and tell him what I am going through. Maybe he will be able to help me.

The phone rang many times but this time nobody picked it up.

I was unable to bear the pain and tried to call him once again but this time before I could even utter a word, he shouted at me, "kyu bar bar phone kar rahi ho! Mein busy hu" and hung up the phone again.

While I was talking to her on phone, the official papers started to fly seeing which I had to hang up the phone. Priyam and I immediately picked up all the papers and placed them in the file.

"Anirudh, ek paper nehi hain yaha" said a worried Priyam. I counted the papers and realised she was right.

"Ek bhi papers kho gaya to tumhe dad se girl's school k liye permission nehi milega" she said and both of us started our search.

I was panic-stricken. What if I don't get the paper? I was searching everywhere when the phone started to ring constantly.

I was already experiencing stress and this phone irritated me. Unable to tolerate this anymore, I picked up the phone and guess who was calling?

Bondita

I was mad at her for calling me so many times hence shouted at her.

I sat on the floor, pulling my knees closer to my chest and curled myself up. I was feeling dizzy once again and so I held the bed stand tightly which will prevent me to collapse.

The cramp was mind by now but then...

I don't remember what happened because I finally collapsed on the floor.

Next morning

I freshened up myself and went to kaka Sasur ji. I have decided something but I need his permission first. After doing morning arti, everyone sat at the breakfast table except Batuk and Som dada who was not at home. Sampoorna didi and I served them breakfast.

"Kaka sasur ji" I said softly, "mujge apse kuch kehena hain"

"Ha bolo bahu"

"Wo kya ap mujhe Gangtok jaane ki agya denge"

Listening to this, he creased his eyebrows, "nehi kabhi nehi, tumhe hum akele kaise jaabe de sakte hain".

I looked at Baba making a puppy face but he said, "Dada sahi keh rahe hain Bondita, baro ki baar mano".

"Par kaka sasurji pati babu ne hi bulaya hai " I lied. I did wrong and asked Durga maa for forgiveness. I should not have lied but I was compelled to do so. After what happened last night, I was disturbed. His Bondita was in pain but he was least bothered.

"Abh Anirudh ne kaha hain to thik hain" said Kaka Sasurji which made me so happy that I hugged him, "ap bohot bohot bohot acche ho".

"Accha kitne?" asked Kaka sasurji who was in a mood of having fun

She spread her arms wide, "itneee acche ho ap".

Binoy and kaka looked at each other and smiled seeing her clapping and smiling like a child. "Mein jaldi se kapde bandh leti hu" Bondita ran upstairs.

"Arrey bahu gir jaogi dheere" shouted Kaka but Bondita was too happy to listen to anyone.

"Humari Bondita thodi chanchal hain par bohot pyari hain, hain na Bonoy" exclaimed kaka with joy. "Ha Da sahi kaha apne" Binoy agreed to him not noticing Sampoorna standing there with an evil smirk.

Bondita ran upstairs and started to pack her bag, "mein a rahi hu pati babu, apko surprise dene" she picked up a photo frame and placed it inside the bag. "Ap apni Bondita ko dekh kar bohot khush honge".

On the other hand, revolutionaries who were locked into cell, broke out the prison taking advantage of the situation some real criminals even escaped the prison.

Due to this riots broke out in North East Bengal. English Government declared Curfew, people were beaten to death by the English official and in all this chaos someone else also escaped the prison where he lived for 7 years after transferring him from a mental asylum.

I don't know why but I was only thinking about that girl. I went to college for clearing out some documents. I don't know what made me question this but I asked at the office, "sir, fest k din ek ladki ayi thi Lord Luther k sathon behalf of Sir Francis, wo kaun thi?"

"Are You asking about Priyam Ma'am" said the office staff.

"Accha to wo akhru ladki ka naam Priyam hain".

Bondita stood there silently, holding the ladies handkerchief in her hand.

For a moment she went numb but then decided to call the guard of the bungalow.

"Apne bulaya malkin" the guard bowed in front of her.

"Ha, yaha aur koi ata tha kya?"

"Ha malkin kal raat ek ladki ayi thi chote malik k sath" answered the guard.

"Fir?'

"Yahi thi puri raat".