Anirudh- The Story Of A Misread Barrister

Chapter-19: A New Challenge

{Recap:  After the annulation of their marriage, Anidita landed in Madras along with Bondita's mother. With the help of Anirudh's friend Subramaniyam Iyer, Anidita settled down in Madras for time being. Bondita has been doing very well in studies and Anirudh is successfully able to give back her childhood, which was once on the verge of getting lost. A new challenege has knocked their door. Read further to know what happens next in their lives..}

It was one of those rare days when there weren't many hearings and hence I stayed back at the office without going to court. There were just a couple of them which didn't really require my participation and hence I asked my junior Surya to handle them. I was all alone in the office after everyone else including Subbu, left to court. Sitting at my desk, I was going through the diary to make a note of the cases that were scheduled for the next week, as it was already Friday.

At that point, I quivered by the sudden sound of a stone that fell on the floor a few inches away from me. Based on its position, I assumed that it was probably launched through the opened window that was to the left of my desk. On a close examination, I understood it was not just a stone, but a message, as said by the paper in which it was wrapped. Without wasting a moment, I read the content written on it and rushed to the banyan tree which was behind our office to come across a man who covered himself with a black shawl, exposing only his eyes.

In the afternoon, I was briskly walking hither and thither across the backyard of our house, lost in deep thoughts about the man whom I had met that morning at the office. Suddenly I noticed Bondita following my trail of footsteps and walking very close to me. I could make out that she was just a few inches behind me. If I turn around, I may topple over her, causing her to tumble.

"Bondita, why are you coming behind me?", I enquired by turning my head to a side, viewing her out of the corner of my eye, without turning my body.

"I am following you sakha babu.", she answered immediately.

"What? This close?", I asked still continuing my walk.

"Haaa", she quipped without stopping to escort me.

"Bondita... I feel awkward if you are walking so close to me. Come forward.", I ordered in a tone of little seriousness.

She obeyed and within a moment appeared in front of me with her sparkling eyes totally fixed on those of mine.

"How come you are home at this hour of the day? Tomorrow is Saturday which means a half day, then why today?", I questioned with squinted eyes.

"Sakha babu, as you know that there are competitions being held in our school there aren't any classes today. So, after the elocution competition I came back home. While tomorrow is a holiday, since it is the second Saturday of the month.", she replied with a glint in her eyes at the thought of a long weekend.

To be frank, I was also happy at the thought that she would be at home for the next two days. Days like these are very special when both of us get to be at home and spend some quality time. The thing that I like about such fortunate days is that, she would always be around me either with her homework or serving me as a personal assistant by arranging my books in an alphabetical order, organizing my wardrobe and taking care of many other subtle things, thus making life a lot easier for me. On such days of leisure, after the completion of our home works, we used to spend the remaining time sharing the stories from our respective routines, with each other, not forgetting to involve Sumati ma in our conversations.

All the three of us would sit in the rear verandah of the house that saw the backyard. Sumati ma would lean against the wall of the house while Bondita and I would sit facing to each other also leaning ourselves against the pillars that supported the verandah, thus forming a triangle.