The beauty of the place was all I needed. As my car headed towards North East, I could feel the freshness of nature.

Rays of mellow sunlight filtered through the verdurous canopy, penetrating through the leaves and casting an unearthly green–gold luminescence over the ground.

They were in varying shades of green: some were still budding, emerging a fresh, limey colour into the summer, whilst the grown, flatly panned leaves were brushed a lush emerald under the overhead sun.

The soft crunch of them on the ground made her wistful. They were a faded, shredded tapestry of autumn, she thought as she remembered the crisp golden hues and the vibrant oranges that had blanketed the forest floor the last time she had visited it. She remembered how they’d danced, pirouetted from the naked trees in a shower of colour, bringing a warmth to the biting chill that was beginning to settle in.

The nature here is lively. The flowers formed a colourful array bordering the path. I smelled each of them and played with street puppies on my way.

But at the same time, I was so worried about Pati babu that I decided to visit him. He has not called me, and the treacherous incidents that were taking place in every part of India, last time this happened, it was because of the Jallianwala Bagh and this time it is because of the Simon Commission and religious crusade, two at the same time.

But the sad part is when Indians are against the government, they themselves are not together.

My car stopped at a shop where I sat for some moment to take a rest since I was not feeling well. I read the newspaper. The first page had this picture of Indians against Simon but on the contrary, they were also against each other.

The Devanagari Script!!

The decision passed by the court recently was that all official work in Up will take place in Devanagri script to which the Muslim Community opposed as they demanded Urdu.

The condition of India was deteriorating in all aspects and this is why I was tensed for my pati babu. Bombay had already turned into a cemetery due to both Government conflict and crusade at the same time on top of that Pati Babu wants to establish a girl's school which is a great blow to religious sentiments.

I was thinking all this when I again felt dizzy and had an urge to vomit. No sooner did I feel so than I collapsed on the ground. Luckily the shopkeeper's wife helped me a lot. That lady sprinkled water on my face and gave me some water to drink."Pahari raaste mein aisa hota hain, ap chinta maat kijiye" I said to the lady who gave me a glass of water to drink.

"Beti apni jeebh bahar nikalo" she said all of a sudden, leaving me perplexed.

"Par..."

"Nikalo to sahi" the woman insisted and so I followed her command. Her face shown brightly in joy all of a sudden and she hugged me, "mubarakh beti mubarakh".

"Kya huya kaki?"

"Arrey tujhe baccha hone wala hain".

Those words hit me hard. For a moment I stared at her blankly then a smile crept on my face and tears escaped my eyes, "ap sach keh rahe ho?"

"Jhoot kyu kahenge bhala? Arrey mein bhi 4 baccho ki maa hu, itna to pata hi hain" She patted my head and gave me a box of sweets from her shop, "paise ki zaroorat nehi, ye to chote bacche k liye tofa samajh k rakhle".

The woman was very sweet to me. She helped me to my car and asked my driver to drive properly and smoothly. As the car started, I waved at her.

But!

All this time, I felt like someone was watching me. My sixth sense was constantly giving me this hint but the news I got made me so happy that I paid no heed to this.

My happiness had no bounds and I wanted to share this happiness with pati babu too. I sat in the car and as the car drove towards Gangtok, my heartbeat increased thinking as to how he will react. I touched my stomach and tears escaped through my eyes. I have nothing to say but only wait for the moment when I will meet him.

Now I understand why Sampoorna didi was questioning me about my health so much. She knew this!!

Congratulations Anirudh!" Priyam said, "dad ne sign kar diya".

Yes, I finally got permission for girl's school. I still remembered Bondita, on her periods when she got stained in the school uniform and due to the presence of all boys and male teachers, she locked herself in an empty classroom unless I went to her aid. I recalled how people were not ready to send their girls to a school full of boys.

"Tumhare school mein konse bacche parhenge?" Questioned Priyam.

"Konse matlab?"

"Hindu ya Muslim, bhartiya ya Angrez?"

"Bacche to bacche hotey hain" I answered, "sab k liye hain ye vidyalaya".

"Kyu dushmani mor le rahe ho Anirudh" said Priyam who looked worried to me, "tumhe pata hain na desh ki halat, pehele to ek angrez se permission li hain tumne upar se ye jo tum keh rahe ho, issey daar lag raha hain mujhe".

"Sabko sikhsha ki adhikar hain..." I was about to speak further when the phone rang

"Hello"

"Anirudh" said Kaka from the other side, "bahu pohoch to gyi hain na thik thak?"

"Kiski bahu?" I questioned him.

"Tere pas kya hum padosi k bahu ko bhejenge, Arrey Bondita. Usne kaha ki tuney bulaya hain ussey".

"Kaka ap phone rakho" saying this I hung up the call and sat on the crouch holding my hand, "is ladki ka mein kya karu?"

"Is everything alright?" Priyam placed her hand on my shoulder. "Bondita jhoot bolke yaha a gyi, is ladki ka mein kya karu? Ek baar mil jay itna daatunga ki..."

I banged my fist on the wall in anger. The radio was on that constantly tried to deliver the news the heated up atmosphere after the last congress session and the recent bill passed. Revolutionaries broke out of jail so Britishers were openly firing at any Indian they see on road, people were killing each other with swords for their respective language war, Urdu and Devanagri and in such a situation that careless girl lied and now she is outside in such a situation.

Everything has a limit. I know she is mischievous but her tantrums crossed all limits. I will not spare her this time no matter whatever she says, she will not be able to melt my heart.

Tears filled his eyes and I felt good seeing how much he loves his wife. "Koi baat nehi, wo adult hain, ajaygi sahi salamat" I tried to console him although I could understand his reason for worries.

"Bacchi hain Bondita!" He said in heavy and shaky voice, "kisiki ek nehi sunti, ane do ussey, itna datunga ki yaad rakhegi humesha".

He started to move to and fro in the room.

He was acting as if its not his wife but his child. I smiled a bit when he stood up and wrapped his coat around, "mujhe Bondita ko dhundna hoga".

"Nehi!" I held his hand immediately, "kahi nehi jaoge, bahar halat thik nehi hain".

"Madam" meanwhile my driver walked in, "gari a gyi hain kolkata jaane k liye".

Yes, today I was supposed to return to Kolkata but I was too tense for Anirudh as well. Before leaving I looked at him once because there was this strange fear that was gulping me and my intuition cannot be wrong.

I wanted to meet his wife but I couldn't. I had to leave for Kolkata.

Priyam was right, the condition outside is very risky but I am ready to take any risk for Bondita. Let me meet her, I swear to scold her like anything. I was angry as well as worried. How could she be so childish?

Her tactics won't work this time on me. Let her cry and hold her ears, I'll have to be strict and stone-hearted towards her.

After Priyam left, I walked through the corridor and was about to step outside when a car stopped near the bungalow.

Bondita stepped out and looked at me with a wide smile. "Pa-ti-Ba-Bu" she again sang like nursery rhymes, moving her body to and fro while standing at the same Position. She started making faces like a baby because she knew very well I am mad at her. I looked away in anger and she frowned.

She walked a little closer like a small penguin, "Pa-ti-Ba-Bu" she stood in front of me and made a puppy face.

I was raged and was about to bombard her but seeing her, my heart melted like anything. She kept the bags on the floor and ran towards me, embracing me in a warm hug.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I can't explain how much I was relieved seeing Bondita as if I got rid of a big burden. I patted her back and kissed her forehead. I failed to scold her this time because before I could, she held her ears, "sorry!"

"Tumne ghar pe jhoot bola?" This was the first question I asked her but instead of answering, she again hugged me, "chinta ho rahi thi apki Bondita ko".

"Tum janti ho na bahar kaisa halat hain".

"Isiliye to ayi kyu ki apke pass mein sabse zyada surakshit hu" we chuckled together.

We went inside the bunglow when she suddenly said, "Mujhe apse kuch kehna hain"?

But we were interrupted by one of the servant, "chote Malik apse koi milne aya hain".

Anirudh went away to talk to the person while Bondita changed into a simple saree and started to unpack her luggage. While doing so, she found a handkerchief lying on the bed.

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 un 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".

Bondita asked the guard to go away and stood there silently holding her stomach but then smacked her own head, "kuch bhi soch ti hain Bondita tu..." And kept the handkerchief aside.

She believes her pati babu blindly and if this faith is broken, she will be broken forever.

Anirudh walked in with a plate of food and kept it on the table, "mein naraz hu" he frowned.

"Kyu?' she asked innocently.

"Tumhe pata hain bahar kitna khatra hain, kyu ayi tum yaha" he raised his voice at her this time. "Mujhe apse kuch kehna hain isiliye ayi" she argued back and took his hand into hers.

She placed his hand on her stomach, "kuch mehsoos huya?"

"Pagal ho gyi ho kya? Kya mehsoos hoga?" He sounded a bit annoyed this time. Bondita chuckled, "mujhe chakkar atei hain, ultiya bhi aur khatta khane ka maan karta hain".

"Ha to aur khao bahar ka khana! Ho gyi na acidity" he said with anger, "ruko dawai lata hu".

When I turned away, she held my hand, "ap humesha se buddhu the ya fir kuch hadsa huya hain?"

"K..kehna kya chahati ho tum?"

Bondita came closer to me and rose on her toes to reach my ears, "Apki Bondita maa banne wali hain".

She looked at me with a smile.

I was shocked! For a moment I went numb. I had no idea what to say and how to react. She wobbled her head happily but I was still out of my senses.

"Shotti?" My voice choked while I cried in happiness.

"Tin Shotti" even she couldn't control her tears this time. I pulled her closer and embraced her in a hug. My happiness had no bounds. Bondita cried in my embrace so did I?

"Hum maa baba banenge pati babu" she clutched my shirt tightly and snuggled herself more.

I have never seen him crying so much. He kissed my forehead and my cheeks, "tumne mujhe sabse bari khushi di hain aj".

He kneeled on the ground and placed a soft kiss on my stomach. He cupped my face with his left hand and brushed off my tears with a thumb.

He pressed his forehead with mine as both of us burst into tears. This was a strange feeling, an emotion that we have never faced before. It was a blissful cry for both of us. Pati babu patted my head so many times that my hair turned messy.

He held my both hands tightly, "tumhe andaza nehi tumne aj mujhe kitna khush kiya".

"t...tum abhi aram karo" he lifted me and made me lie down on bed, "tum bass abh aram karogi".

He started to patt my head like he used to do when I was a child. He used to paat my head to sleep. He kissed my hand and I wrapped my hand around his torso, "itna pyar karte hain mujhe?"

"Itna ki tum soch bhi nehi sakti"

I placed my head on his chest, "To fir agar mein kahi kho gyi to?"

"Bondita!" He glared at me in anger.

"Agar kaha maine...boliye na please"

"Zameen Asman ek kar dunga par mein tumhe dhund kar hi rahunga'.

I closed my eyes. Nothing can happen to me when my pati babu is with me.

Suddenly I saw someone's shadow outside the window.

Few group of men were sitting around a bonfire, wrapping their shawl around, they were making some secretive plan when another man in his late 40s walked to them, "aplog yaha ye sab karo aur waha wo zammindar ka beta ap sabke koshish ko nakam karne mein tuley hain".

"Ae kaun hain re tu" A man placed a dagger to his neck.

"Jo bhi hu, accha hi chahata hu tum logo ka. Waha wo zammindar ka beta vidyalay bana rahe hain ladkiyo k liye aur saare dharm k bacche ek sath parhenge, apke, unke, isa k, sabke, kya asar parhega samajh pe".

Those men looked at eachother while the anonymous man smirked evily.

"Hath pakdo aur bhago"

Priyam and Batuk held eachother's hand and started to run.

"Tum jaha bhi jaati ho waha missibat ana zaroori hain kya?" asked Batuk as they both ran from those boys, "tumhe kisne kaha tang arane ko" shouted Priyam.

"Diary chor ladki!"