Only if: A LOSING GAME (Slow updates)

//Chapter 5//

"Ye hi sanskaar nhi diye hai meri maa ne. Aapko subah se pata nhi kitni baar ek hi cheez bata chuki hu. Aap har cheez me meri maa ko kyu beech me le aate hai? Vo jaha hai unko vahi rehnhe dijiye. Meri shaadi hui hai na is ghar me, toh koi bhi baat hogi toh sirf mujhse. Aur rahi baat pallu ki. Kaka sasur ji, sir pe mere bhi baal hi hai aap sab ki tarah. Koi khazana nhi hai jo sabse chupana pade. Dugga maa ki pooja ke samay aur rishtedaaro ke saamne toh samajh bhi aata hai pallu lena, par apne hi parivaar ke saamne rok tok ho toh kaisa parivaar hua bhala?" Bondita said.

Putting the pallu back on her head, she continued, "Abhi maa ke sthan pe khadi hu isliye sir pe liya pallu par har roz nhi ho payega humse aisa. Kitni dikkat hoti hai, aapko andaaza bhi hai. Arre ab insaan pallu sambhaale ya kaam kare?"

Trilochan was surprised beyond bounds. Who did he even chose as his bahu? Socha tha bahu ke aane se Anni ke pao ghar me tikenge, thodi akal ayegi usme, par ab samajh nhi aa rha akal usko chahiye ya bahu ko?

On the other hand, Aradhya was enjoying the drama to its full. Speaking up to kaka sasur has never been in her. There have been times when she highly disagreed with him but those moments demanded her being submissive. But seeing the table turning, it was no less than those fantastic stories her mother used to tell her. Her kaka sasur has been one amazing man but sometimes he did need a taste of his own medicine- being dominant.

Somnath seeing the funny look at his wife's face, and she trying to cover her snicker with her hand, smirked too. Bondita was definitely very cute and her being unapollegetic about her stance made her more admirable and adorable. She seemed to be that missing halchal of their lives. Person full of innocence and love who can bring all the raunak back.

Aradhya was surely a very important part of their lives, but she brought the stability, motherly love, patience and understanding with her. She turned out to be their anchor. But Bondita seemed to be that single ray of hope in room full of darkness. The one who could turn everything and make it right. The one who could be his sister, Aradhya's best friend, kaka's daughter who could provide him with numerous laughs he missed to encounter in his and Aniruddha's childhood and most importantly a calm shore for a repulsive sea named Aniruddha. His confidant, his friend, his mother, his father, his partner and his support system. That little ping pong ball.

"Bade malik, hum kya keh rhe hai ki kyu na hum Aniruddha baba ko ek baar bahar jaake dhoondh aye? Unke bina toh ye rasam vaise bhi nhi ho payegi na." Bihari interfered studying the environment. All this matargasti can happen even after Aniruddha returns.

"Haan haan jake dekh ke aao kaha hai ye ladka." Trilochan said, impatiently.

"Toh tabtak hum kya kare? Yaha khade rhe?" Bondita asked bewildered.

Trilochan sighed. Right now he had no energy left. He'll deal with her later. "Aradhya beta, zara bahu ko lekar uske kamre me chali jao. Tum dono wahi baitho. Aniruddha ke aate hi hum tumlogo ko bula lenge. Aur Somnath tum! Tum bhi zara jaake Bihari ki madad karo. Akele pata nhi kaha kaha dhoondega." He siad.

* * * *

Eyeing the basket full of fruits at the side table, Bondita huffed. Closing her eyes, she shaked off her head to get rid of the image. She was super hungry and the fruits weren't helping her a bit.

"Kya hua? Bhook lag rhi hai?" Aradhya asked motherly, patting Bondita's head.

"Haa baudi!! Bohot zor se. Kal shadi ke pehle kha nhi sakti thi aur shadi ke baad maa baba dono vidaai ki tayari me itna vyast ho gye ki khaa nhi pai. Vo darasal akele khaane ki aadat nhi hai na." She replied sheepishly, rubbing her neck.