Benaam Rishta:An Invisible String

Chapter22

They smiled hearing the priest's words and looked at each other....this was the place from where their journey started and after enduring so much in their life,after so much struggle their love won and they reached their destination.......

*************

"Mammaaaa...." Out of nowhere Anidita and Anirbon jumped in Bondita's arms, as soon as they stepped in the small house where she had left them along with others. She held her children securely, chuckling at their eagerness. Pecked on the forehead of them , asked concernly if they were afraid.

"No Mamma, but where did you go?" Anirbon asked reflecting his worry. Bondita smiled and stroked his cheeks.

"Hmm... Babies, I have a surprise for you "

"Surprise!"they both squealed together in excitement "What surprise?"

"You always ask me where your Papa is, who......" and who is their father! But she herself did not know who was their real father. Anderson told her a cooking story. At first she believed that but gradually came to know his truth. Still, knew nothing about her family. Thought she really was an orphan. "So I brought him today. Here, is your Papa...."Anirudh came out from behind the door. Both Anidita and Anirbon squeaked joyfully to see their good uncle but soon their joyousness turned into a frown. He...their good uncle was their father! Anirudh walked towards them smiling with teary eyes. Both the children looked at their Mamma quizzically. Bondita nodded positively but still she noticed frowned line on their forehead thus she pinched her throat and confirmed "SHOTTI"

That's it. They didn't need anything else. Their Mamma's SHOTTI was something they consider as ultimate truth. And then, if God himself says that's wrong they wouldn't believe him. By then Anirudh came, sat in front of them on his knees and in no time his children were in his arms screaming "Good uncle"

"Papa bulao na..."He requested in cracking tone. When they called him Papa, in reflex he smiled feebly hugging them tighter to his chest. Showered their whole face with soft Kisses, releasing uncontrollable tears of mixed emotion. His children were in his arms. He didn't know whether to cry or be happy. Cry over his fate and destiny...for being unaware of his children's existence all this while, for loosing ten precious years of his children. That, His blood, his infants were growing up somewhere in the world, they are almost ten years old but he didn't have the slightest notion of this. Or be happy for getting them as stored happiness .

"Papa, Why didn't you come to us until now??" Anidita sniffed digging her face in her father's neck, Causing Anirudh to felt a prick in agony.

"Yes Papa. You know, we have always waited for you, to see you?There All children had fathers and we also wanted to see our Papa..." Anirbon also cried.

Anirudh squeezed his eyes shut, thinned lips to resist painful sob. Enclosing them more tightly, breathed " So.. sorry. I'm so sorry My Ba..bachche...I...your Papa was too unfortunate to go to you,..to get to know about...such a two hidden precious gems...."

Bondita's felt a twinge of guilt. She should have let him know about her pregnancy at the moment doctor informed her. But....she too was helpless. Circumstances forced her to take such step. With tears of culpability flowing down she caressed three of their head gently. Asked Anidita and Anirbon to call their Arjun uncle. they nodded and left.

"I'm extremely sorry Anirudh Babu....for hiding them from you. Because of me yo....." Bondita's words came to a halt feeling his arms encircling around her waist in lightening speed, face'hiding in the crook of her neck. "Thank you, Thank you so much Bondita. Thanks for such a precious gift..." He exclaimed crying out of happiness followed by a kiss on her cheeks lovingly. She smiled emotionally. Wiping off tears she cupped his cheeks in her cottony palms. was going to say something Anirudh interrupted..