Continued from the previous part....

Bondita was working in the kitchen. She was preparing lunch for both of them, while Anirudh was busy making a few work realated phone calls.

After he was done, he came looking for her.

Bondita was kneading the dough, her hands completely immersed in the white clay. Anirudh called her out and she replied from the kitchen. He entered and sat on the slab beside her, while she smiled at him.

"May I help You?" He asked softly, tucking back a hair strand from her forehead.

"No, no... Its almost done!" She replied with a sweet smile.

Anirudh got down from the slab and murmured softly near her ear, "Okay, let me disturb you then."

Bondita shivered at his husky whisper near her ear. His breath was fanning her hair strands and she blushed looking down. Anirudh slightly touched her waist from behind. He moved his fingers forward softly, and then beneath her pallu.

He tightly clutched her navel. Bondita couldn't even swat away his hands as they were immersed in the wet clayey dough. Anirudh inched closer to her and turned her around to face him.

"Pati Babu!..."she gasped hard.

Bondita closed her eyes while her lips quivered, feeling waves of electricity pass through her whole being. He kneeled down softly, sliding his hands on her arms, and gazed upon her slender waist. He moved away her pallu, revealing her bare skin to his ever so dreamy eyes. Moving forward, he placed a soft kiss on her navel.

Bondita's breath hitched on this sudden move and she breathed heavily. She so wanted to clutch his soft hair but she couldn't. This was quite torturous for her.

Anirudh deepened his kisses on her navel and kissed her skin hungrily. She leaned back and clutched the edges of the slab behind her, while he continued his sweet torture. His fingers still playing with the pleats of her saree.

"Pati Babu! Someone will come!..."she said, breathing heavily.

"No one will!..."Anirudh replied against her skin.

Suddenly they heard a shriek outside the mansion!.. Anirudh looked upto her, startled and she too looked at him with a scared expression.

He quickly got up and ran to the entrance, adjusting his kurta, quickly.

Bondita too, washed her hands and adjusting her saree, followed him.

Anirudh, followed by Bondita, reached the door and saw an old man.

"Barrister Babu!... Zamindaar Babu!... Humaari Raksha kijiye!...Humaari Raksha kijiye Barrister Babu!..." The man cried and fell on Anirudh's feet. His voice was quivering with fear and he breathed heavily, maybe due to running for a long time.

Anirudh gestured Bondita and she quickly brought a glass of water for the man, while Anirudh held him by his shoulders and lifted him up from the ground.

"Aap shaant ho jaaiye!... Pehle paani pijiye aur bataaiye baat kya hai?..."He tried calming the old man down.

The man gulped down the water and spoke in shivering voice,"Ji.. Vo!.. Main ek gareeb kisaan hu!...Zamindaar Trilochan Babu ki di hui zameen par kheti karta hu, aur jo bhi kamaata hu, uska pura 'karr'(tax) bhi bharta hu!..."

Anirudh nodded and the man continued, "Par achaanak hi, pichhle hafte Angrezi sarkaar ne karr bahut badha diya!... Jo main nahi bhar paaya.... Aur ab!..."

He couldn't continue, his voice broke down and tears flowed from his eyes.

Anirudh patted his back and consoling him he asked, "Ab Kya?!...Bataaiye!"

"Aur ab, Angrez afsaron ne kaha hai ki agar 3 din mein maine saara karr soot samet nahi diya, toh vo log meri beti, Kaadambiri ko le jayenge!... Aur... Aur use Be... Bechkar karr vasool karenge!!!"

He said in disgust. He didnt even want to think about his daughter being 'sold off' like this!...

The earth beneath Anirudh's feet seemed to tremble!... He looked up at Bondita, wgo was already looking at him with eyes full of tears!...

Anirudh pressed his eyes shut and a drop of tear trailed down his cheek. He hugged the old man to calm him down. Though the man hesitated because he was from a lower caste, Anirudh didnt mind it at all.

He so wanted to cry but he didn't. He held the old man by his shoulders and said, "Kaka!... Aap chinta mat kijiye. Aapki beti ko hum kuch nahi hone denge!..."he looked at Bondita and she lept her hand on her husband's shoulder, assuring him of her support.

"Kaadambiri sirf aapki beti nahi, aaj se meri behen bhi hai!... Aur main vachan deta hu ki use kuch nahi hone dunga!... " he announced.

The old man was dropped to his home by the driver. As soon as the driver left, Anirudh dashed up to his room and came out with his Barrister robe and business card. Bondita stood in the hall tracing his trail. He quickly walked to the study and came out with a few files.

Coming near the door, where Bondita stood, he touched her cheek and said softly,"I'll be right back jaan!... Dont worry, I wont let anything wrong happen."

"I want to accompany you Pati Babu!..."she said quickly, little tears brimming in her eyes.

"I'll call you if I need your help and guidance jaan!...Let me go for now. You go and please have your lunch." He said softly, kissing her forehead and dashed out to his car. He quickly started the engine and raced the car, leaving a trail sand and smoke behind.

Bondita sighed and went inside. He asked her to have lunch but was it even possible to eat?... She just kept away the dishes for the dinner and went to the study to look for something that could help them.

_____________________________________

Anirudh reached the court and straight away ran to the judge. He vey well knew that police wont help him and it was no use talking to the British Tax collectors.

The Judge, James Boughler, was an old man. He had been working for the Deenpur High Court for quite sometime now. James knew Anirudh Roy Chowdhary quite well and even liked him too. But Anirudh didnt know whether he would go against his own peole or not.

Thinking all this, Anirudh reached the room where Sir James sat.

He knocked and entered softly on getting an invitation from Sir James.

The huge room was beautifully decorated with Antique, wooden furniture. Anirudh straight away walked to the table, where the old judge sat engrossed in some file.

Sir James slowly lifted his eyes to look at who had come and seeing Anirudh he removed his reading glasses and sat back on the chair, gesturing the young barrister to sit.

"Yes My Boy!... Tell me what brought you here?....A new case you need help in?" He asked him with a sweet smile. He had always respected the young barrister and his determination for wach case.

Anirudh sighed and went straight to the point.

"Sir I need your help!..."he said sitting on the chair.

"Go ahead!"James asked.

"Actually There is a man...."Anirudh told him the whole incident that happened earlier that day.

"Okay Young Man!.. Now when I know what had exactly happened, what do you want me to do?" Sir James asked, seriousness evident in his tone.

"I just want to request you to take a strict action against it. I know you have a say in the Goverment offices, and I only want you to help our farmers get out of this trap!..."Anirudh requested.

Sir James nodded, registering his words.

"I know you cant go against the government. But I also know that there is a lot you can do too!... Please dont refuse, just for the sake of Humanity atleast." Anirudh suggested.

"And the last but the most important thing sir!... I really want you to take an action that stops the involvement of women in any goverment disputes. The women are to be respected unquestioningly and many of the officers are really disrespectful towards them. I hope.... You understand!.." Anirudh said his last words and stared the judge expectantly.

Sir James stood up and walked upto the window, followed by Anirudh.

"So Young Man!... You want me to take a strict action, right?.... Fine!... I would stop the officers from going near that girl too. But the laws and a legal action would take some time." He said and Anirudh sighed with a smile.

"But you need to help me with it! I want you to prepare all the leagal papers required. That too, as soon as possible!... I have to leave for an urgent engagement the next week and thus, this task might delay a lot." Sir James told him and Anirudh agreed happily!

"Thankyou!... Thankyou so much Sir!... I knew I would get the ray of hope from you and only you!... That would be a really great help. And about the papers I will get them to you as soon as possible, as I know you won't step back on your words!..."Anirudh said happily, his eyes gleaming with determination.