Bondita walked up the bloody mess on the floor that had been her adversary. He was grotesque. Already his eyes were swollen over and bloody spit drooled from his slack jaws. She walked down the stairs like a puppet, taking very small and slow steps. Her face was pale and seemed like all emotions were washed away from her face.

Bondita was petrified by the view but without thinking of her own health, she ran towards him but Iqbal held her hand tightly and prevented her to go near him. Anirudh's auditory ability was becoming unclear so was his vision but he could see Bondita crying and trying to reach him. He could do nothing but watch her struggle. She was yelling his name and when she revolted more, they dragged her by her hair, away from him.

"Suno Bondita" that man hissed at her, "hum tumhe chor rahe hain, jao tum yaha se" but Bondita was not ready to leave him at all. She looked at Anirudh who smiled at her with moist eyes and gestured her to leave from there.

Her eyes were red and swelled up due to continuous crying. She looked tired and distressed and her body froze when Zafar smirked at her evilly and pointed the gun towards Anirudh, a gun with only one bullet, enough to snatch her pati babu from her forever.

She looked at him and recalled all the difficult situations they had faced together while others continued to ask her to leave the place, their voices remained unheard by her.

He was about to pull the trigger but She freed herself from Iqbal and ran towards Zafar and stood exactly between her pati babu and the gun.

"Hato Bondita"

She pressed the gun to her stomach, "mein yaha apni vachan lene ayi hu aur mein yahi chahati hu ki tum ye goli mujhpe chalao" she said boldly.

"Ye tum galat kar rahi ho Bondita" Zafar stammered a bit, "tum jaante ho maine apne jannatnashen Abba ko vada kiya tha hum wo vaada nehi tod sakte"

"Tumne mujhse bhi vaada kiya tha ki mein jo chahu mang sakti hu to fir yahi mein chahati hu" he said and held Zafar's hand that was hoping to hold the gun. She pressed it to her stomach, "chalao goli!"

"Mein apne abba ko diya huya vaada nehi tod sakta!"

"Mein yahi chahati hu, yahi meri mange hain tumse ki pati babu ko maarne ne se pehele tumhe mujhe maarna hoga. Agar mujhe nehi maar paye to mere pati babu ko bhi nehi maar paoge tum, chalo goli mujhpe, fir unpe aur le lo apna badla...tumhe to bass badla chahiye, tumhe kya fark padta hain ki saalo pehele apne baba ko kya vaada kiya tha".

"Anirudh samjha apni patni ko ki haat jay varna sachme goli chal jayga!" Zafar groaned in anger but she stood in front of him boldly.

"B...Bondita..."

Bondita heard his faint voice and ran towards him. Iqbal was about to hold her but Zafar gestured him not to. After Bondita was ready to embrace death wholeheartedly for Anirudh, He wanted to see to which extent can these to go although he was determined to kill Anirudh no matter what.

Bondita embraced an injured Anirudh and caressed his hair just like he does to her, and kissed his forehead.

"Anirudh apni patni ko bol yaha se hat ne k liye" said Zafar but they both remained in the same position. Tears of each other mixed like two eternal souls of heaven. She could hear Zafar filling the bullets one by one.

"Bondita tum nehi hati yaha se to apne pati ka maut ankho k samne dekhna parhega tumhe" but she paid no attention to what he said. Both embraced themselves like unseperated souls.

"Bondita please tum jao yaha se" he whispered but she nodded her head in denial.

"Tumhe meri kas...."

Bondita placed her finger on his lips, "aj nehi pati babu..." She again pulled him closer to her, "apki Bondita apke bina adhuri hain, uski zindagi ki kahani bhi adhuri hain, Bondita apke sath jeena chahati thi abh apke sath hi maregi".

"Tum pagal ho kya Bondita?" Shouted one of them, "maarne ka itna kya shok hain tumko? Hato waha se varna sachme dono ko maar dalenge hum sab". Warnings that she didn't pay attention. This is what she wants either to live with him or die with him.

The scenario was heartbreaking in front of them. There was a man whom he loves and his unborn child, ready to die together but of course Anirudh was not with this decision.

"Nehi Bondita" he cupped her face and rubbed off her tears, "tumhe abhi aur jeena hain. She cupped his face back and her voice was heard in between Anidita's sob, "Apne mujhse vaada kiya tha ki kabhi akele nehi chorenge, har wakt sath denge, to fir maut k wakt kyu nehi?"

"Bondita!!" Shouted Zafar, "agar tum nehi hati to dono ki lash gir jaygi. Mere dass ginne se pehele Haato waha se..."

Both paid no attention to what he said. They pressed there foreheads with each other and cupped each other's face, "aj bhagwan humare pyar ki parikhsha le rahe hain" she cried and sobbed, "apki Bondita apko nehi chor sakti". Bondita's face was covered with scarlet fluid dripping from Anirudh's forehead.

"Bondita tum jo chahati ho wo mein tumhe nehi de sakta" Zafar shouted at her once again but the couple didn't leave each other.

"Bondita please jao yaha se" Anirudh whispered faintly but Bondita's hold on his shirt became tighter.

The day Zafar promised her, she had made up her mind that she will try to save him yet if she fails, she will embrace death with him. Anirudh had no strength to push her aside but Anirudh didn't want her to do this.

"Mujhe kuch hogaya to..." His voice came out in between his muffled cries, "tum punar vivah kar lena".

Hearing this she broke down a little more and clenched his shirt tightly than before. Seeing no way, Zafar tried to pull her away from him but Anirudh and Bondita are unseparated souls. Anirudh had always asked her to be stubborn for a good cause but he never thought she will be so stubborn for this.

Seeing no option left, he started countdown,

"10.................9"

Anirudh caressed her hair with utmost love and affection and again repeated the same thing, "please Bondita jao yaha se"

"8..................7"

Bondita nodded her head in his embrace. She held his hand and place it on her stomach. They looked at each other with the unforgettable pain in their eyes but a smile on their lips, a satisfaction of being together forever. She slowly placed her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat which sounded like a magical symphony.

"6...................5"

Now that Anirudh know that their fate was inevitable, he pulled her more closer to himself and closed his eyes.

"4..................3"

"Ye dono sanki hain kya" whispered one men to the other, "ye kaisi sanak hain, marna kisko pasand hain??"

"Pati babu...."

"Hmmm"

"Humari kahani kabhi adhuri rahene hi nehi dungi, is kahani ka ant sath mein hoga" she seemed happy now, happy because now she will be with him forever, happy because she won't be alone.

"Ye dono pura sanki hain kya?!" One of them commented, "ye ladki bhag nehi sakti thi kya?"

"2..............1"

This was the time when both had a subtle smile on their lips. They closed their eyes and was ready to face it but the firing never happened. They remained in each other's embrace for the last time.

Who knew death could be so peaceful? Who knew death could be so beautiful?

After a certain time Bondita realized that she could still hear his heartbeat. She moved away from a little at looked at him and realized he was looking at her too.

They gave each other a confused look and then looked around. No one was present there. They held each other's hand tightly and Bondita very faintly called, "Zafar?"

No response came from the other side.

Love had won over hatred once again.

Zafar didn't break the promise he made to his abba. All the revenge that he wanted to take for his Abba but if that revenge cost him breaking the promise then it's better not to take revenge. If water can break the hardest stones then love can melt the toughest heart. People who wanted his signature on the papers went away without the sign.

The purity of their love had melted the hearts of those who had once monsters.

Bondita very gently touched his wounds making him wince in pain. Anirudh in no time cupped her face and their lips meet, melted like hot knife on butter. The purest kiss of love, the bliss of love. His lips melted in hers and In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment.

Anirudh leaned down a little and placed a kiss on her stomach which made her chuckle. They had seen death so close.......

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

"Wait wait wait" Lolita interrupted Batuk, "why does Bondita resemble so much with me?"

"Isiliye to ye kahani suna raha hu" Batuk said while flipping the page as they sailed in the ship, "abh tum batao issey kya sikh mil ta hain".

She tapped her head in confusion.

"Ye ki" answered Batuk, "issan ko maut ka daar nehi hota, apno ko khone ka daar hota hain".

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

"Doctor" said Anirudh in faint and weak voice, "ap pehele Bondita ko dekh lijiye" he said while Doctor was busy treating his wound. Bondita was sitting on the bed just next to him.

"Mr Roy Chowdhury ap chinta maat kijiye, baby bilkul healthy hain, filhal apki tabiyat zyada kharab hain".

"Mrs Roy Chowdhury" the British Doctor handed her a parchment, "here are the medicines mentioned, hope he takes them on time and takes care of yourself too".

As soon as the doctor left, Bondita broke down but Anirudh didn't. He looked at her with a subtle smile. Bondita kneeled near his face and placed her head on his chest. She seemed scared. Bondita who remained captive for so many days but still remained brave, the same girl was scared now. She made his shirt wet with tears. Her hold on his collar was so firm that the fabric almost tore and her soft voice was barely heard through her muffled cries, "mujhe bohot daar lagta hain pati babu, mein apko kho nehi sakti, mein apke bina jeene ki soch tak nehi sakti".

"T..tum itni darpok kabh se ban gyi, tum to meri sherni ho" he caressed her hair gently.

"Pati babu apko bohot dard ho raha hain na" she made a puppy face, "meri galti hain, na mein jhagarti, na ap chale jaate aur naa"

"Shhhhh" Anirudh interrupted and smacked her head, "aur na mujhe pata chalta ki meri Bondita kitni pagal hain."

They didn't file a case against Zafar because he had gone through a lot. Whatever happened was really wrong and Once done cannot be undone but at least it will be Roy Chowdhury's repentance and apology to him if they do not file a complaint.

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

Baba was talking to his friend that is when we got a call from Dada. Som Dada picked up the call and after that, he came running and started to embrace us.

"Pagal ho gaya kya?" Said an irritated kaka and pushed him away.

"Mein kaka banne wala hu!!!"

"Kiska kaka?" kaka made a disgusted face.

"Anirudh dada k bacche ka kaka"

Kaka's eyes widened and a smile came on every one's face. Kaka was happier than anyone else. This is news that he was waiting to hear for so long. Kaka aur Bihari ne kya kuch nehi kiya ye sunne k liye.

"Binoy tumne suna!" Kaka said excitedly. I looked at Sampoorna who looked upset by the news and kaka had to pass comment. He looked indirectly at her, "Humari Bondita bahu har chiz mein agey hain".

Sorry but I failed to control my laughter hearing this. What was kaka trying to say??

I was happy for Bondita and Dada. She must be very happy and her happiness matters to me the most.

"Chal Batuk kamra sajate hain" Som dada said excitedly.

"Bihari-koyli Puja ki taiyaari karo, Roy Chowdhury o ka chirag ane wala hain"

I think kaka was happier than Dada and Bondita. Dada was the first son of this house and once baba had told me that that this is the reason why dada is his Raja beta, Bondita is the one whom he loves more than us, I can just imagine how much love will be showered upon their child, his first grandson or daughter.

But something that I felt bad about was when kaka was praying he said, "mere potey ka rakhsha karna"

Why pota??? How can he be so sure???

I want a neice, just like Bondita, brave, stubborn, inquisitive.

Then another thought came to my mind, "Priyam ko batau kya?" I just felt like sharing my happiness with her.

I went to study to make a call. The phone rang for a few seconds unless she picked it up.

"Mujhe tumse kuch kehena hain" we said together.

"Pehele mein" again together.

"Ok tum pehele" our words collided once again.

"I am going first" I added before she could say more, "mein kaka banne wala hu, Dada ne call kiya tha, kal laut rahe hain wo log".

"Congratulations Batuk" Priyam sounded cheerful, "abh suna maine Dad se shadi k liye haa kar di hain".

My smile fadded away immediately, "par kyu?"

" baba Germany jaa rahe hain to lead the English troop there, jaane se pehele he wants ki mein yaha kisi acche ladke k sath settle ho jau aur mein sirf tumhe hi janti hu".

Silence prevailed between us.

watched Bondita secretly with affection. She was so happy with the news and she picked up the toys brought for our child by Som and started to dance with them.

She hopped and jumped like a fairy, spreading her arms and enjoying her life.

I was about to stop her because she should not do these during pregnancy but she was so happy that I couldn't.

She climbed on the bed and started to dance but suddenly her feet got entangled with the bedsheet.