Anger caught me when Mr Gupta informed me that Bondita said no to three consecutive cases. She is hampering her professional life which I will surely not tolerate. I rushed to my room where Bondita was with Charu and Mitali kaki, preparing for our marriage.

I banged the door open, "kuch chahiye Rudh?" Inquired Charu.

"Mujhe apne patni se baat karni hain"

"Ha to tum aur Charu baat karlo, hum chalte hain" said Mitali kaki.

"Mujhe meri patni se baat karni hain" I shouted at them which made them shiver, my raged eyes were fixed at Bondita. Charu and Mitali kaki left the room.

"Ap kyu unse badtamizi se baat karte hain" she hissed at me but I shouted back at her, "tum case kyu nehi le rahi ho?'

"Ap agar khushi khushi ye vivah nehi karenge to mein bhi barristry nehi karungi"

"Tum galat raste pe jaa rahi ho Bondita" I pointed my finger at her.

"Apko kya?" she argued back, "ap sarthi hain kya mere"?

"Ha hu...aur tumhare rath ko galat disha k oor nehi jaane dunga"

"Mein jo kar rahi hu wo sahi hain aur abh mein bari ho gyi hu, faisle khud ke sakti hu, sahi galat samajhti hu".

she gave me a slight push and left the room.

I sat on the bed with a jerk and held my head. How will I get Bondita back? I felt like crying at that time.

"Dada" Batuk knocked at the door.

I rubbed off my tears and said, "Ha andar a".

"Dada wo mein aur Bondita soch rahe the school hokar atei hain, kitne saalo baad jayenge" but then I realized Dada was not at all attentive. I placed my hand on his shoulder and called him again and as soon as I did that, he wrapped his hands around and broke into tears. It seemed as if he was holding them for many days. I patted his head and allowed him to cry his heart out.

After a while, he rubbed off his tears and spoke on a very serious note, "Baat humare rishte pe ayi, mein chup chap maan gaya, baat humare zindagi pe ayi mein maan gaya par jab baat Bondita aur mere sapne ki ayegi, mein chup nehi baithunga".

"Kya soch rahe ho ap dada?" I questioned him.

"Jo Bondita aur humare sapne k bich ayega, mein usey jar se ukhar fekunga, chahe wo Bondita ki pagalpan kyu na ho".

Dada is a strong person, he can tolerate the hardest of things like a shield but when it comes to her "ujwal bhavishya" he becomes the most psychotic person ever and comes up with so clever ideas that land them into trouble. The last time he ended up marrying someone....I don't want to remember that. I was a bit scared by his words now, and also Bondita's behaviour was strange too and I think this time he is right. Bondita is acting crazy, she is acting immature and emotional.

Bondita and I decided to visit our school after so many years. Dada said that he will drop us at our school and then will leave for his work. Dada and I were waiting outside and she was late as usual. "Bondita! Is janam mein pohoch na hain hummey" I called her and after a while, she came out of the haveli in a pink saree.

"Haa a rahi thi na" she looked at me when Dada spoke out of nowhere, "jaldi karo, mujhe meri hone wali patni ko shadi k khareedari karwane bhi le jana hain". I looked at her face which went paler and paler. "Charu didi bhi chal rahi hain kya?" She asked him and in no time Charu didi reached the spot.

And you know the worst thing that could ever happen is when both of them touched the knob of the gate of the front seat, beside Dada. Dada and I both looked at each other, the most awkward look we could give to each other. Bondita moved away on her own and Charu didi sat instead of her which I didn't like at all. It's good to be grateful to others but not at cost of your own rights and happiness. Bondita and I made ourselves seated at the back seat and Dada drove the car towards our school. I noticed Dada's eyes fixed at Bondita through the front mirror but Bondita was busy looking outside.

"Kitna khoobsurat hain Tulsipur" said Charu Didi to which he feigned a smile and his behaviour disappointed her. Charu didi and Bondita both should understand now that he doesn't love her and love cannot be forced. Both of them are simply stressing him out, not understanding him and only suppressing him with what they want. I can understand Bondita's condition but why is Charu Didi not understanding? As much as I know, she is a well educated and highly opinionated girl, why would she agree to this marriage?

All of a sudden Dada stopped the car, "Bondita! Hath bahar maat nikalo" he shouted out so loud that Charu Didi got scared. He can stop being her husband but never being her guardian. Bondita immediately folded her arms and he continued to drive. When the car stopped in front of our school, our principal sir along with other teachers were waiting for us there. Charu didi waited in the car itself.

I was about to get down when suddenly Pati babu held the door for me and forwarded his hand like he always does. I moved my hand away but he held my hand forcefully and we followed Batuk. When I stood in front of my school, old memories dripped in my mind one by one. The teachers, the playgrounds, the classrooms.

I touched my teacher's feet the sir said, "Bondita my most favourite student" and then looked at Pati babu as if both were gesturing something. Pati babu left us and then we had a talk with the teachers.

The same playground where I used to play hopscotch with the boys, the charts on the walls, the classrooms, the benches brought tears to my eyes. Batuk went to talk to other teachers while I roamed around the school with the principal sir. I saw girls studying with boys too which made me happier and I was glad to be the pioneer.

"You have no idea how proud I am feeling today" said sir, "aur kitni bari bhi ho gyi ho".

"Sab ap k wajase sir".

"No no my dear, mein nehi Anirudh"

When I heard his name, my smile faded away. I followed him to his office and I came to know something that I should have known years ago.

"Tumpe garv hota hain mujhe, mein sabko kehsakta hu ki Tulsipur ki First female Barrister is my Student"

"Thank you sir"

"Us din Anirudh ne jo bhi kaha tha sab sach ho raha hain" said sir.

"Kis din?"

"Don't you remember you admission day"

A wide grin crept on my face, "yes I do,mein apne kaka k sath bahar thi, ap usdin pati babu ko admission form nehi dete to mein jaha..."

"Hold on hold on" he stopped me, "maine nehi diya tha, Anirudh ne mujhse bohot request karke liya tha"

"Shotti?"

"Ha, Anirudh was the brightest student, my favourite child and we were so proud of him but the way he ruined his life made me disappointed."

"Ruined?"

"Haa maine ussey usdin kaha bhi tha ki kyu apne zindagi k sath ye khel khel raha hain wo. Ussey London mein barristry karna chahiye par yaha akein ek bacchi se shadi kar liya aur fir apna zindagi, apna career sab kuch duba diya"

I faked a smile

"He told me that one day I will be proud of his wife Bondita, he doesn't regret his decision in fact you were his best decision. He promised me that one day I will give your example to others and see, wo sach ho gaya".

I went quiet for a moment. I recalled the day Tara bai stabbed him, pari didi threw the dog collar at him, he worked hard to pay the fees. I recalled the first letter I wrote. I recalled how Baba used to shout at him for ruining his career. He was just a young boy then who had a beautiful life ahead. He was supposed to marry his love, settle in London and lead a peaceful life instead he invested his whole life in an unknown child, a person he never knew.

On our wedding night when Baba drew the line and warned him that if he crosses it, his life will be ruined, he crossed it for me.

When Tara bai drew the line and warned him that if he crosses the line, he will lose his life. He crossed it for me.

When Thakumaa drew the line and warned him that he will lose everything if he crosses the line, he crossed it for me.

Everything he did was for me and I was shattering his dreams. I felt really guilty at that time. All I was thinking was of being a mother because people told me if he marries someone else, I will also be able to become a mother.

"Haa sir" I cleared my throat and added, "Krishna ne Arjun ko paya aur Anirudh ne Bondita ko".

In the evening when I went to pick them up, Batuk was there but not Bondita. He told me that she is in the playgroup. When I went there, I saw her jumping and playing with little children, like a child. She was laughing and hopping and prancing. Those children kissed her cheeks when she picked them up. I realized that she has some needs too. I was only thinking about myself. She is the mother who lost her child and she wants to experience the motherhood.

Should we try for adoption?

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

Three of us reached home and was stunned by the chaos taking place. Baba was dragging Sampoorna and she was pleading.

"Baba!" I separated their hands, "ap ek aurat k sath aisa bartav nehi kar sakte".

Bondita hugged Sampoorna who was crying

"Kya ho raha hain ye sab?"

"Mein batata hu Dada" said Som and he narrated how Sampoorna locked up Bondita that day. We all were shocked to the core. This time anger grasped me as well. I looked at Bondita who was expressionless yet holding her didi for support

We all got scared when Kaka placed a slap across Sampoorna's face. Dada who always opposes such aspects, remained silent. What she has done is disgusting.

Bondita walked towards her like a puppet and held her by her shoulder, "ap ne aisa kyu kiya didi!" She cried and shouted, "apto meri didi hain!"

I looked at Baba who was boiling in anger but gazed at the floor. It was painful for baba that because of his wife, his own son had to go through so much.

"Dekha Binoy" kaka taunted, "sautela sautela hi rehta hain" and this sentence was mend for baba but affected Dada, Bondita and Charu didi more.

"Niklo tum!" Shouted Baba but to everyone's surprise Bondita shielded her, "kahi nehi jaygi meri didi".

"Bondita" Dada grabbed her by her shoulder, "accha hona acchi baat hain par hadh se zyada kuch bhi sahi nehi hai, usne jo kiya galat kiya...".

"Kya humne Galat nehi kiya" She started her tark which left us confuse.

"Bahu humne kya kiya?" Asked Kaka.

"Meri wajase Didi ne apne pati ko khoya tha kacche umar mein uske baad kya ap sabhi ne ek vridhwa ko apmaan nehi kiya tha"

The hall was silent by now.

"Kya unhe apman nehi sehna para, agar hum sab unhe ek vridhwa nehi balki ek aurat ka samman dete to aisa nehi hota. Mein apne didi ko acchi tarha se janti hu, wo aisa nehi thi, ye to halat aur hum sab the jisne aisa banaya hain unhe".

"Bondita" Sampoorna joined her hand and cried, "jo maine kiya wo bohot galat hain".

"Anirudh dekh" kaka shouted, "abh Mahatma ban rahi hain bahu".

"Baba, kaka" Bondita requested both of them, "hum unhe dusra mauka deke dekhte hain, mere liye, akhri mauka"

No matter what, Baba and Kaka cannot go against her. Bondita and Sampoorna hugged each other and I think she realised her mistake but lost Baba's love forever. I was shocked by her gesture, the damage done to Dada and Bondita was unrepairable yet she forgave her so easily. I was expecting dada to shout but when I looked at him, his eyes were filled with pride and was adoring her from a distance.

These two are out of my league. Nobody can decode this barrister couple.

These two are complicated, they are tangled....

After Bondita justified Sampoorna even I felt she is not completely at fault. I remembered how people treated Sampoorna, how my own kaka treated her. She has taken everything away from me and Bondita but that doesn't mean we will do the same. If she is at fault, we are at greater fault

But the best part was after a really long time, I saw Bondita raising her voice boldly, sharing her opinion, justifying the other side like Barrister Babu.

She never fails to make me proud. I loved the way she pointed out the faults of the society and her nature to mercy.

That's my girl!

And I want this girl back at any cost. I can go to any extent for her, any extent. She is influenced by people around her and I will have to show her the right direction. I will drive her chariot to the right path after all I am her Krishna and She is my Arjun.

Anirudh entered the room and found Bondita lying on the bed. Both of them saw each other and wanted to talk since both realized the mistake from their sides but unknowingly a barrier was created between them. He was supposed to marry someone else in a few days.

Bondita who had forced him to do so, now wanted him not to do so but she was unable to say this or else it will be hypocrisy. All so the society had washed her brain by saying that he needs fatherly happiness and all.

Anirudh wanted to talk about adoption but even he couldn't. He was afraid that she won't agree. He closed the door, switched off the lights and lied down beside her but unlike every other day, there was a one-hand distance between them. Earlier she used to place her head on his chest and sleep but not anymore. Both faced the other side and wept silently.

He turned back once and assumed her to be asleep and the same happened with her. Both only wept. She clenched the bedsheet Tightly, unable to hold her emotions inside. She cannot sleep without being in his embrace. She was an insomniac who recovered from his love. So it's difficult for her to fall asleep. On the contrary, she cannot go close to him because she knew in a few days someone else will share the same bed instead of her.

It was midnight when Anirudh woke up because he was feeling thirsty.

He felt a weight on his chest. Bondita, unknowingly in her sleep, wrapped her tiny hands around him and placed her head on his head. Anirudh caressed her hair when drastically he realised tears in her eyes. She made a subtle movement in her sleep which made her look more innocent.

He gazed at his beautiful wife's face and was in grief to think how slowly he was losing his Tark karne wali Bondita and this time he was determined to bring her back.

"Mein tumhe khush nehi rakh paunga Charu baat ko samjho" he said to her in a shaky voice, "mere dil aur dimag mein bas ek hi insaan hain. Wo mere dil ka sukoon hain meri jeene ki wajah, jeene ki wajah hi na ho to mein jee kar kya karunga?"

Charu stood there silently and watched him with teary eyes, "par mein to bilkul waisi hu jaisa tumhe pasand hain Rudh"

"Wahi to baat hain" he turned towards her, "tum waisi ho aur Bondita bilkul alag oar alag hokar bhi ek the hum, geeli mitti thi wo aur maine apne haato se usey aisa banaya hain" his eyes went moist, "isiliye to dil se jude hain hum dono aur mein apni Bondita ko khas Bondita se aam Bondita bante huye nehi dekh sakta".