Only if: A LOSING GAME (Slow updates)

//Chapter 5//

Aradhya giggled. "Chalo is maamle me toh tum aur Ani babu ek jaise ho. Vo bhi akele nhi kha paate. Ab tum dono saath milkar hi khana." She said smiling.

"Anniruddha Roy Chaudhary! Unke saath milkar to meri jutti bhi khana na khaye. Mai bhook hartal pe jaa sakti hu par us insaan ke sath kabhi nhi khaungi." Bondita said crossing her arms, angrily.

"Hey bhagwan! Itna gussa? Shaadi hui hai tumhari. Pati ke saath nhi khaogi toh aur kiske saath?" Aradhya asked slightly hitting Bondita's head.

"Aapke saath. Som dada ke saath. Kaka Sasur Ji ke sath. Kisi ke saath bhi par Aniruddha Roy Chaudhry ke saath kabhi nhi." Bondita replied determined.

Aradhya started laughing hysterically. This day should definitely go down in history. She was laughing such painfully after so long.

"Kaka Sasur Ji ke saath! Arre pagli, vo tujhe apne paas thaali lekar bhatakne bhi nhi denge. Aur aise apne pati ka pura naam leke bulayegi kya?" She asked sobering up a bit but still laughing in periods.

"Tab toh pakki baat. Ek na ek din mai Kaka Sasur Ji ke saath baith ke khana zaroor khaungi. Aur dekhiyega baudi, vo saamne se mujhe bulayenge apne paas." Bondita said smiling ear to ear.

"Aur rahi baat apne pati ka pura naam lene ki. Toh sach batau toh maa ne toh pati babu kehke pukarne kaha tha par aaj jaise bartaav kiya hai na unhone mere saath, uske baad itni izaat dee hi nhi jayegi merese." She continued with a naughty look.

"Dene ki zaroorat bhi nhi hai." Aniruddha said barging in the room.

"Ye shaadi toh mai karna hi nhi chahta tha. Kaka ke zor zabardasti ke vajah se kiya hai. Accha laga jaan kar ki tumhare taraf se bhi koi ummeed nhi hai. Tum apna dekho aur mai apna dekhunga." He continued.

"Aur ye baat kaka tak nhi pohochni chahiye. Baudi aap bhi is baat ka khaas dhyaan rakhiyega. Tum neeche mandir me chalo, mai naha kar aata hu. Aaj ka tamasha khatm kare, mujhe aur bhi kaam hai." He said, picking up his towel and moving towards the washroom.

"Ani babu ye kaisi baat kar rhe hai aap? Bondita patni hai aapki. Aapne sabke saamne vachan liye hai. Uski maang me aapke naam ka sindoor hai. Subah jo hua vo bas ek galt fehmi aur us samay ki bhaga daudi ka nateeja tha. Aisi choti baaton se koi rishta khatm nhi karta. Pati patni sirf kehne ko nhi hota. Use nibhana padta hai, us rishte ko seechna padta hai. Samay dena hota hai ek dusre ko samajhne ke liye, jaanne ke liye. Koi gudde gudiyon ka khel nhi hai ye. Dono pehle pooja kariye saath me, fir shaanti se baith kar apne beech ke galat fehmiyon ko mitaiye." Aradhya said sternly.

"Baudi is rishte ko na mai mauka dena chahta tha, na hi dunga. Aur accha hi hai na ki Bondita ke taraf se bhi aisa hi hai. Ab kisi ka dil bhi nhi tootega. Aur rahi baat rishto ki baudi, toh mere liye rishte kya mayne rakhte hai aap acche se jaanti hai. Maine is rishte ko nhi, kismat ne meri zindagi ko khel bana ke rakh diya hai. Ab mai sirf apne mann ki karunga. Koi bhi aake mujhse ummeed nhi laga sakta." Aniruddha replied strongly.

"Aaplog neeche chaliye, mai aata hu." He said and got into the washroom, banging it.

Aradhya was shook beyond bounds. It was the first time Aniruddha cut something said by her. Earlier also when he took time to mellow down to her, he never disrespected her. He never proved anything said by her to be wrong. He never spoke back. This was the first and the very first for her to understand how deep the wounds of his childhood ran.

Kismat. Jo insaan apni kismat ko dosh deta ho vo apne aage khadi khushiyon aur mauko ko hamesh andekha hi karega. Us insaan ke liye uski kahi aur sochi baat hi sahi hogi. Vo khud apne haathon se apna vinaash karega. Aur jis raah pe Aniruddha chal chuka hai, uska ant uski soch aur bol khud hi karenge.