One week has passed after our return. Despite me being injured, nobody was able to save me from Kaka's anger.

"Gair zimmedar ladka!" Shouted kaka at me, "bahu ko akele chor diya tha ghar pe, hum sab ko kuch nehi bataya tuney".

I rolled my eyes. Is he forgetting that it's not me but his ladli bahu who lied to them and followed me? I looked at Bondita who was sitting like a queen on the couch and was nibbling on mangoes. She looked at me and giggled to which I glared. The fact that now she was a highly sympathized member of her house, she was misusing her powers.

"Kaka Sasurji" she cried out all of a sudden, "pati babu mujhe gusse se ghur rahe hain". Kaka smacked my head hard, "bahu ko kyu ghur raha hain tu?" Kaka patted her head with a warm smile.

"Mein andar a sakti hu kya?" Said a sweet voice along with a knock at the door. Priyam stood there with two bags in her. After returning when we learned about Batuk and her relationship, I was very contented because I know her and she has a very sweet personality.

"Dekho Priyam beta" said Kaka grumpily, "tum acchi ladki ho par vivah pehele yaha ana aur pati se milna...."

"Kaka sasurji" Bondita interrupted him, "vivah se pehle har ladki ko pata hona chahiye ki uski kissey vivah ho raha gain, milna chahiye, janna chahiye".

"Kutark shuru" Said kaka, being frustrated, "tum mili thi kya apne pati babu se? Nehi na? Galat nikla kya humara ladka? Nehi na?"

I winked at her secretly when kaka said "galat nikla kya humara ladka?" To which she glared at me. Anyways, Priyam came inside and I left both of them to have some chat together.

"Bondita dekho mein chote baccho k kapde layi hu" she said excitedly and took out a few clothes from her bag but the clothes were not that of an infant but a toddler. "Priyam" I stopped her, "kapde to acche hain par navjaat shishu itne bade nehi hotey".

She frowned at me and looked at the clothes once again," mujhe idea nehi hain, maine navjaat shishu nehi dekhi na kabhi".

"Koi baat nehi" I assured her, "dekh lena jab tumhare khud k bacche honge" I teased her while she folded those clothes back, "nehi baba!" Exclaimed Priyam, "mujhe bacche sambhal na nehi ata. Mein na ek kaam karungi, mein unhe tumhare pas bhej dungi, tum sambhal lena"

We laughed together and had a cheerful conversation unless Sampoorna didi came with a plate of fruits. Not that she wanted to feed me but she was forced to and I know that. I haven't told this to anyone but the day I left for Darjeeling, She knew about my pregnancy by the symptoms yet she didn't talk to me and allowed me for the long hectic journey.

If pati babu gets to know about this, he will again start shouting that I don't want it at all. All I want is to be happy then only my child will grow into a healthy baby.

After Priyam left, Pati babu came inside and picked me up all of a sudden to which I got scared. "Pati babu mujhe niche utariye" I pleaded but he picked me up and rotated while I wrapped my arms around her neck and giggled. I can't explain how much happy we both were. He is usually a grumpy and serious kind of person and I have never seen him behaving so childish. There was a constant smile fixed on his lips with a shine of happiness and I am glad that I could give him this happiness.

All I want is to see him gappy like thus, always. He made me sit on his lap and wrapped one arm around my waist and held my other hand gently. She kissed my knuckled and whispered, "thank you Bondita" and embraced me more firmly. The kind of satisfaction that I saw in his eyes, I have never seen before.

Everyone was so happy at our house. Baba had informed all his friends about the news. All the villagers congratulated me. Pati babu went to Devipur himself to inform thus to maa but due to my health, I couldn't visit along with him although I wanted to meet her. She said that she will come to meet me soon. Kaja Sasurji had distributed a silver coin to all the villagers. Som dada and Batuk gave our room a makeover, making it look like a child's room, full of toys and drawings. Bhari kaka was not even letting me enter the kitchen.

Months passed by and finally a developed a slight baby bump which finally made me feel the presence of my child growing in me. I looked at myself in the mirror n noted down the physical changes I went through in my mind.

While I was looking myself at the mirror, I saw him in the mirror. He came out of the bathroom in his bathrobe and hugged me from behind.

"Dekho na pati babu" I said, looking at his reflection, "mein kitni alag lag rahi hu".

"Ha moti ho gyi ho"

This irked me. I know I have gained weight but who asked him to be so honest? Honesty is not always the best policy. I pushed him away from me and blew my cheeks but he again pulled me closer and hugged me from behind, "par abh aur bhi pyari lag rahi ho".

At this, I chuckled. Next I held his hand and placed his hand on my abdomen to make him feel our baby.

I had to face so many problems, neither could I walk properly nor sit properly. My feet were swelling up and I had terrible mood swings.

But amidst all these, pati babu took great care of me. He tried hard to eradicate all my discomfort. A cradle was also bought by Som dada by now.

At night we both look at the cradle and imagine scenarios together, dream together of our baby. How will he/ she look, what we will do then, how we will raise him/her...

The empty cradle became a medium of our beautiful dreams where soon my baby will sleep. Koyli didi and I had knitted small shoes and clothes also Priyam gifted me some. Kaka Sasurji had given me Pati babu's clothes which he used to wear as a baby and little karas of hus for our child. Baba arranged the best Doctors of Calcutta for me.

Few changes developed in me too as I realized that I have gained weight. Sometimes things became very embarrassing and uncomfortable for me in this house of men. The first time colostrum productions in me took place, I was very embarrassed but Koyli didi told me that this will happen to me frequently and I will have to be more cautious about this especially when all these men of our house is around me. She also stated that this is a good sign that my body is gearing up for my baby.

Kaka Sasurji ji is a visionary. My Baby was still in my womb but he already started to cover the edges of the table of our house so that the child doesn't get hurt while crawling.

After all finally his dreams were coming true. Roy Chowdhury's chirag is about to be born.

I realised how much a woman's life changes. This experience was so different yet magical.

But I was too careless sometimes. I used to run and do all mischiefs that I used to do for which kaka gets at mad at me. That day she shouted so much at me for having papayas that I almost cried. There is a superstition that papayas cause infertility. I was being scolded by Batuk and Som dada as well who never scolds me.

Life had changed a lot and I love this change. I also felt an increase in Pati babu's love and care for me.

One such day...

Few women decided to visit the haveli to meet their Choti Malkin and bless the mother and the child.

Koyli had dressed her beautifully like a bride in a red saree with heavy work of laces and golden jewelleries. She walked down the stairs slowly along with Koyli and Sampoorna and they made her sit on a couch comfortably. Koyli placed a cushion behind her. In that room only women were present. Each woman shared their own experience of motherhood with each other. They played games mend for guessing the gender of the child and those women also gifted ger a little Gopal.

Each woman narrated their experience, some informed her about the dos and don'ts when the child is born.

"Pati ka pyar to adha adha baat jayga" Bimla kaki said at which all of us giggled, "dekhna choti malkin, chote malik bacche se zyada pyar karenge".

"Ha ha" Sumita didi added, "Dhiraj k baba bhi aise hi karte hain".

Bondita chuckled softly when those women started to complain about their respective husbands. She knew very well that her Pati babu will always love her the way he does now, she was confident about it.

She suddenly noticed Rashi kaki sitting silently beside her. She pressed her hand and smiled at her, "kya baat hain kaki ap bhi koi kissa sunaiye"

"Kissa?" She let out a painful chuckle, "mein kya hi kissa sunau jab ki mein khud kabhi maa nehi ban payi".

Hearing this, her smile faded away but she was still confused because Rashi kaki has a son named Raju. "Par kaki fir Raju...."

"Wo to choti patni ka beta hain"

"Choti patni?"

"Haa" Rashi said casually, "mein unhe pita hone ka sukh nehi de payi isiliye usne dusra vivah kar liya".

Bondita was left with shock hearing his and she immediately questioned her, "apne kuch kaha nehi? Ye galt hain!"

"Isme galat kya hain" she looked at her with moist eyes, "pita hona unka adhikar hain aur mein koi nehi hoti hu unse ye adhikar chinne wali.Aur ausa hi hota hain is samajh me. Jante ho choti malkin jo aurat maa nehi ban sakti wo pati k nazro ki kit banke rehjati hain, har samnan aur pyar kho deti hain".

Bondita remained silent during the whole conversation. Her pati babu never raised his hand on her and always respected her so no matter what she will never face this and she knew that but she was disturbed by the fact that a women's existence to her husband is only giving birth. This was the dark side that she had no idea about. She was upset and angry at the same time. Why would a woman face such harshness? Is love so fragile and fake that once she cannot meet up to his expectations, he will leave her?

She had so many questions clogged in her head and all she wants is the answers.

There was a ghust of happiness here but of all my Bondita was the happiest but instead of becoming more responsible, she became more childish.

My happiness was no less than hers but the difference is I cannot express it. People only see a mother's love and fail to understand the feelings of a father.

Bondita had given him the best gift I could ever ask for. While I was entering her room, I heard a melodious humming and tinkling sound of anklets.

I 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. My heart almost stopped beating seeing her losing her balance.

Bondita got imbalanced but I immediately held her by her waist. She closed her eyes tightly and clenched my shirt in fear.

"Pagal ho tum!" I shouted at her on top of my voice, "agar tum gir jati to pata hain kya hota? Choti bacchi ho kya tum? Itni careless! Is halat mein koi itna uchal kud karta hain kya?"

Tears dripped down her eyes and she started to breathe heavily. I was shouting at her but when I saw droplets of tears, my heart melted. I shouldn't have shouted at her. I hugged her once again and caressed her head, "Bondita, daro maat, Kuch nehi huya hain, sab thik hain" but she was to scared to leave me. I should have bombarded on her more for this but I didn't.

She moved apart and continued to sobb softly. I rubbed of her tears and made her sit on the bed, "ro kyu rahi ho? Sab thik hain na".

"Mein daar gyi thi" she said with quivering voice.

I made her head rest on my arms and patted her head, "mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hain ki tumhare man mein koi jigyasa hain".

"Pati babu" she said very softly.

"Hmmm"

"Apko agar kabhi pita aur pati in dono rishto mein kisi ek ko cunna pare to ap kissey chunenge".

I gave her a questioning look. Why would she have such questions? Did anyone say something to her?

I almost opened my mouth to answer but she again spoke out, "Rashi kaki kabhi maa nehi ban payi to unke pati ne vivah kar liya firse, Surmani kaki maa nehi ban payi isiliye Biraj kaki se shadi kar liya tha na Munshi ji ne?"

I wonder why she was saying all these all of a sudden. She continued to throw her hypothetical questions at me. Bondita seemed losing her calm and became restless when I remained silent.

I kissed her forehead to calm her down, "jo insaan aisa karta hain, na wo ek accha pati ban pata hain aur nahi accha pita" but seemed like my answer could not satisfy her distorted mind. Although she closed her eyes and fell asleep in my arms, I could see a worry on her face.

Why was she even thinking about all these? She should not think about all these at all. Not like something like us going to happen.

I looked at her innocent face. There was a strange auraa coming from her, a sweet innocent one while she slept peacefully in my arms. I patted her head and kissed her abdomen. They are my most precious jewels.

"Ro maat" they said, "ladke nehi rotey" they said but I wanted to cry, cry loudly, cry my heart out but, "ansu kamzori ke nishani hain, mard kamzor nehi hotey".

I was loosing myself. Thousands of thousands clogged up in my mind and all I wanted was to cry but I was not allowed to express my feelings, atleast not right now even if my world was falling apart

"Anirudh" baba uttered and placed his hand on my shoulder and I hugged him and sobbed silently in his embrace.

"Ro maat sab thik ho jayga" he comforted me and caressed my hair, "ladke nehi rotey, tu ro maat!"