Their room lit up as the sun rays entered through the window. It didn't take long for Ani to wake up. He had slept peacefully after spending a special night with his beloved.
He realized she was wrapped around in his arms. Their bare bodies giving warmth to each other.
He looked at her, she was still asleep. Her hair were falling on her soft cheek. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her in his life.
Gently brushing away the hair and tucking it at the back of her ear, he placed a kiss on her forehead.
She moved a bit when she felt his lips on her skin, but did not wake up.
Ani smiled at her innocent face. How could she be so gentle yet so strong from within. He went ahead and kissed her bare shoulder only to look back at her to see if she woke up. But she didn't.
He took her hand in his and kissed it as well. He was proud of her, he respected her, he loved her, she was everything for him.
She slowly opened her eyes only to find him staring at her intensely. Realizing the condition she was in, she suddenly felt shy and sat up covering up her body with the thin sheet of blanket.
Ani chuckled and sat up to hug her from the back. He engulfed her completely.
"Kya hua...abb sharm aa rahi hai?" He teased.
She chuckled hesitantly trying to hide her blush.
Ani took a sigh and tucked his chin on her neck. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
"Patibabu...jaane dijiye na... mujhe ready hona hai..."
"Bas thodi der ruk jaao na...."
"Nahi.. hume der ho jayegi Patibabu jaane dijiye na ..." all she wanted was to get dressed quickly.
"Theek hai ... jaao... " he loosened his grip but kept looking at her face which was crimson red.
She wrapped around the sheet around her body and tried to leave the bed, but something stopped her from getting up.
She looked back to find Ani holding one end of the sheet.
"Patibabu?" she said with her eyes widened, not knowing how to react.
"Ise yahi chhod do ..." he whispered.
She bit her lip to hide her nervousness and snatched away the end from his hand. While he giggled at her actions, she walked away as quickly as possible.
Bondita was standing in front of the dressing table in her room. Dressed in a simple saree and minimal jewelry, she believed in elegance and simplicity. She looked at herself and realized that today she was supposed to wear two things that made her feel complete.
She took a pinch of sindoor and applied it. She recalled her days with Anirudh. From the day she could remember, every second spent with him was blissful. He had been her best friend, her mentor, her guardian, and her love.
From the other side of the table, she picked up her black graduation coat. Wrapping it around, she recalled her journey as a student. When she was a kid, she was unaware of the importance education had in one's life. There was a time, when her only dream was to be a good wife, good mother and a good homemaker. But now, her dream was to be a good person. Good to herself, good to her loved ones and good to the world. She was proud of herself for what she had achieved. Today was the day she was about to step into a new life.
Anirudh was looking at her from a distance. She was perfect for him. A woman who proved it to him that nothing was impossible. He knew that all his guidance and efforts would have gone waste unless she had it in herself. She had been his student, his best friend, his support structure and his love.
Bondita turned around to look at him and raised her brow.
"Kya hua?" she asked.
Ani shrugged and leaned at the wall next to him, enjoying every second of the occasion. Today was the day, she would officially graduate as a Barrister.
Bon walked towards him with a warm smile.
"Patibabu...shayad mai achhi patni aur student toh bann gayi... lekin kya achhi bahu .."
Ani rolled his eyes and wrapped her in his arms.
"Bondita... tum har kirdaar me sabse achhi ho... bohot jald jaan jaaogi" he smiled.
Just when Bon was about to ask what Ani meant, she heard the door bell. Breaking the hug in a second, she looked at Ani feeling confused.
"Kaun aaya hoga Patibabu ?"
"Jaake khud dekh lo.." he said with a giggle.
Bondita ran towards the door and opened it, hoping that her guess was right.
Her face lit up as she saw her family standing at the door.
"Kaka Sasur ji..." she said with a beaming smile as she pulled her saree over her head and leaned down to touch his feet.
Kaka blessed her with tears in his eyes.
"Kitni badi ho gayi ho bahu...hume samajh nahi aa raha kya kahe...hum bas.. bohot khush hain tumhe dekh ke"
Both of them were unable to speak. Only tears could tell the emotions they felt.
Som, Batuk and Binoy popped up from the back with a teasing smile. Bondita quickly took blessings from Binoy and happily greeted both her brother -in laws.
"Aap sab yaha ... mere graduation ke liye aaye.... " she said choking with emotions.
"Bondita...mai Anirudh ko apni aakho ke saamne barrister banta nahi dekh paaya tha... lekin mujhe bohot khushi hai ki aaj apni Bahu ko dekh paaunga... shayad hi koi aisa Sasur hoga jiski kismat itni achhi ho.." said Binoy with a proud smile.
Bondita turned around and looked at Ani who was standing at the back and listening to all this, she gave him a nod understanding what he earlier meant.
The stage was set and Bondita's name was called out. She had passed with flying colors. She walked up the stairs to receive the degree. Looking at Kaka and Binoy she could see proud tears in their eyes. Som and Batuk looked at her as an inspiration. It was the happiest day of her life.
But as she walked to get the degree, she saw the person who was probably happier than her. Anirudh, who handed over the degree to her with all the love and respect he had for her. His eyes weren't just welled up, but tears were rolling down. He couldn't control them at all. It was the proudest moment of his life.
She took the degree and looked him in the eyes. They were speaking without words. She looked at him as if she was asking how could he not control his tears? And Anirudh just shrugged at her accepting his defeat.
Bon gently wiped off the tear and walked towards the mic. Everyone waited for her to say something.
"Aaj maine jo bhi haasil kiya hai... apne teachers ke vajah se kiya hai... isiliye mai iss mauke pe unn sabko dhanyawaad karna chahti hu... jinhone mujhe na sirf padhaya... balki zindagi jeena bhi sikhaaya"
Everyone listened to her quietly.
"Mere Kaka Sasurji aur Sasurji.... jinhone mujhe sikhaaya ki parivaar kya hota hai. Jaha har koi ek doosre se itna alag hoke bhi ek doosre ke itne kareeb ho... unhone ye bhi sikhaaya ki ek parivaar ka paalan poshan kaise karte hain ..."
Kaka and Binoy exchanged proud looks.
"Som aur Batuk, jinhone mujhe hamesha apni baudi nahi, behen ki tarah pyaar kiya aur sikhaaya ki apnaapan sirf khoon ke rishto se nahi aata ..."
Batuk and Som smiled at her with happy tears.
"Meri sabse achhi dost.. Ishika.. jisne mujhe sikhaaya ki bharosa aur dosti kya hoti hai"
Ishika beamed with happiness listening to her friend's words.
Finally Bondita looked at Anirudh.
"Aur sabse zaroori... Mere Patibabu... jinse maine ye seekha ki chahe zindagi me hume kitni bhi mushkile kyu na aaye... hume kabhi haar nahi manni chahiye. Unhone mujhe hamesha aage badhna aur sahi raah chunna sikhaaya... unhone mujhe doosro se hi nahi... khud se pyaar karna bhi sikhaaya..."
Anirudh gave her a warm smile trying to hold his tears as everyone stood up to give an ovation to the brightest student of the University.
When she stepped down from the stage, Ishika hugged her tight and the entire RC family came there to bless her. She smiled at Anirudh who was still standing on the stage and watching her.
Watching Kaka and Binoy right there, she went ahead to remove her graduation hat and take over her saree on the head. But Kaka stopped her immediately.
"Abhi ise pehne raho Bahu... apni baaki saheliyo ke saath hawa me uchhaalna... jaise sab karte hain ?" Kaka said giggling.
"Lekin Kaka Sasurji..."
" Bahu...Saree ke aanchal ko tum apne sar pe rakhti ho... hume izzat dene ke liye.... lekin aaj tumne jo haasil kiya hai... uske liye tum izzat ki haqdaar ho"
Bon smiled at him proudly.
After the ceremony was over, Bon was walking in the college garden remembering her days. Almost everyone had gone back home. She was lost in the memories when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Barriater Bondita Roy Choudhry?"
She knew it was him. Her Patibabu.
She turned around to find him at a distance. He was smiling proudly at her. He slowly stretched his arms open, and she ran towards him to hug him tight.
"Congratulations..." he said.
"Thank you... Sir..." she giggled.
"Sir?" He said teasingly.
She looked up at him.
"Bondita... I am proud of you..." he said softly.
"You should be proud of yourself too...." she said with tears in her eyes.
"I love you.." he replied with a smile.
"I love you too..." she said resting Her head on his chest.
*************** The End **************
A/N : Thank you so much my readers. I've got immense love for this book and I'm glad you all liked it.
I stopped watching the show long time back, but there is just 1 book which is still pending. I'll be publishing it here very soon. I'm so grateful for your patience ❤
Also, I wanted to know if there are any Vincenzo fans out there among my readers. 🤣
Anyway, This story is so close to my hearts and Thanks a lot to each and everyone who voted!
Love u all!