Anirudh cuddled her more tightly than ever before as if he want to hide her inside his heart forever and ever. He is sobbing with relief on top of her head . At that moment he felt that his life, his heart beats and soul had returned back to his body.
Surendra and Murli felt embarrassed and bent their heads . Bondita became numb, all the courage she had gathered to stay away from him seems like it is shattering now. Her eyes have started shedding tears and she is sobbing on his shirt and this made him feel more emotional. What to do!? She felt that she should not be this weak and stay like this in her Patibabu arms but deep in her heart she is feeling fulfilled and at the same time her old injury is also coming back creating a new injury.
No she can't be this weak infront of him . She is trying to come out of his arms but his grip is more stronger and before she ask him to leave, he turned to Surendra and Murli and shouted still keeping Bondita in his embrace and patting her hair: Why did you do this to me? What enemity do you have with me? All these days you both have seen that I am wandering in this area and searching for her from morning to evening like a mad person. And you both...(he just sighed) had just kept quiet and are you enjoying my craziness and my pain?
Bondita came into reality and now she had to speak because he started blaming them. He should not get blamed.
Anirudh continuing his confrontation To Surendra: Principal sir! I heard that you have got good name in society as a best shikshak but why did you lie about Bondita to me despite of knowing the truth ? Why did you do this to me? You all accused me as an eveteaser and .. (his voice is trembling)
Bondita interrupted and pushed him slightly and told: Patibabu, neither of them are at fault. I only requested principal sir to not to reveal about my identity to you or to anyone.
Anirudh looked shocked and turned towards Bondita. She gathered courage and pushed away his hands and came out of his embrace.
She wiped her tears and told him sternly by looking into his eyes: I only requested Surendra sir to keep my identity and existence here as secret. Murli kaka also kept on crossing your path because I urged him to do that.
She turned to Surendra and Murli and folded hands and told that: Sorry Sir, sorry Murli kaka . I apologise you on behalf of my Patibabu... I mean I am sorry on behalf of barrister Babu (Anirudh smile and heart is dropped , he is deeply hurt to listen Barrister babu word again from her mouth. Infact the relief he is having from last few minutes that she had called him Patibabu is vanished. She had made him outsider again . Why Bondita why!? Please don't do this to me. It's hurting me to listen a formal addressing of barrister Babu word as an outsider.. Bondita is continuing to Surendra and Murli). Please forgive him . He didn't mean to say those words to you
Surendra asked her to talk to him and come back. Damini will be waiting for you.
Anirudh tried to interrupt and told furiously : No Bondita will be coming back with me. She won't join you.
Bondita interrupted and told Surendra: Sir I will come back to home in 20 mins . I promise. Shotti . Please give me time. Sir so that I can send him back.
Anirudh looked at her as he was deeply hurt by her cold shoulder and the facial expression of stern decision which is projecting on her face.
She nodded and Surendra asked Murli to come with him to give them space. As soon as they left, Anirudh started speaking with him by bending at his back to meet her eye level .
For the first time she didn't like him bending for her. Till some days before she felt that it is the speciality of their bond and his assurance to her that they don't have age gap as a hindrance between them, they are always one in every matter but now she strongly believes that what all she faced in recent times and especially her sampoorna didi words that they have this age gap difference. He doesn't love her at all. It's only courtesy, sympathy on her.
Especially he is carrying this age gap difference between them and now she too started feeling ashamed that her Patibabu.... no... no.... barrister Babu is bending for her. Not even one favour more she want from him.
He started conversation in a Soft voice by holding her palms and bending to her : Bondita I know you are angry with me. I am sorry once again..
She interrupted him : One minute barrister Babu.. and looked around and saw steps near classroom. She held his hand and brought him near steps of a classroom. He is asking: where are you taking me?Bo... Bondita. Tell me
She took him near steps and stood on the steps , now her height is almost equal to his shoulders. He need not bend for her again
He didn't understand she brought him there and when she is taking him to steps je is asking her: where are you taking me Bondita? What happened? .
She stood on steps equal to his height and asked him: Now tell me barrister Babu? What are you trying to tell me?
He bent again to reach near her face but she pushed him slightly and made him stand straight and asked him: Barrister babu! Please don't bend like this for me.
It hit him hard, he asked: why Bondita..you know na...I always does this for you
Bondita immediately stopped as if she is screaming: No..
He is stunned by her screaming she calmed herself down and said: No barrister Babu...don't bend for me? Will you bend like this when you are speaking with som dada or Bhatuk? I mean will you speak like this when you are speaking with your brothers
Again another stabbing word that she is addressing Somnath and Bhatuk as his brothers rather than calling som dada and Bhatuk. She is continuing.
No na..you will speak with them in your height only even though they are shorter than you. Then why do you bend for me? You have already done alot to me and I can't take any more favours from you and you need not stoop more for me.
If words have the capability to kill people he could have been died by now. Tears are filled in his throat and ready to come out through his eyes.
Still he managed himself. It's ok. He deserves this for giving her horrible pain. He had behaved so mercilessly with her when she is with him. Now her behaviour shouldn't worry him. It is what the damage he had done to her fragile heart. A simple sorry or falling on her feet won't join the broken heart. Still he had to try in every possible ways. So far she doesn't know that he loves her and he thinks that it is not correct time to express it
Anirudh: Bondita..I apologise you once again (folding his hands). Please come back Bondita.. please
Bondita removed his hands which had joined to apologise her..she told: Barrister babu, please don't apologise me like this. What is your fault in this? It's all my fault.. My craziness , my foolish thoughts and behaviour had made you to take impulsive decision of getting married again..I am ashamed of myself if I recollect it now.
Anyway all that is over barrister Babu. I have come here to study well and I also got admission in this school (she said pointing to school). Here everything is good. Principal sir had given me accomodation in his house and teachers classmates are all quite cooperative here. I am so happy here.
I also scored 85% marks in maths recent test which is conducted yesterday . So you don't worry about me and please go.
Anirudh in thoughts: how much have you grown Bondita!? You are managing your self well but it's hurting me that I am not needed anymore in your life.
Anirudh painfully: Bondita am I nothing to you ? Why Bondita why this much of distance had been created between us..this is not our place we will go from here. Everybody are worried about you there Bondita..
Bondita looked painfully and thought: Why are you telling about everyone Patibabu, when you are not interested on me? On what authority can I come there? If you have said that I miss you Bondita I want you badly I would have jumped into your embrace but no my wish won't come true in this life. It's better if I stay away from your life, Patibabu.
Anirudh (in mind): I can't live without you for a second.. please comeback Bondita.. I want to express and shower my love on you .
He is asking outside to Bondita to forget everything and come back. He is telling: please Bondita I won't shout on you. Shotti.
Bondita controlling her emotions: Patibabu I am not a little girl to cry and get angry on people who shout on me. I can also understand their intentions behind it. So please stop considering me as a little girl.
Anirudh shrugged off his shoulders and said: yes..yes Bondita. I know you are a grown up girl please come back na. please.. please Bondita
(In thoughts: It's becoming difficult to stay away from you)
Bondita: Barrister babu, Surendra sir had trusted me and given an opportunity to prove myself when I am in need. He had convinced management board members and had allotted me seat in middle of academic year. He will be insulted in school if I leave my studies and come with you. I can't betray him and comeback with you.
Moreover I have worked hard in these 12-13 days and had written the notes of all subjects of pending lessons from starting itself and studying hard here. With much difficulty I had adjusted to everything here. Everyone are quite cooperative here. So please if I come back with you I can't.manage myself and I will become weak in my heart.
So Please barrister Babu, please don't ask me to comeback and you go away.
Anirudh's energy is getting drained . He told that he will talk with principal sir and convince him. She told that : She feel the responsibility of staining his reputation. Moreover I am so attached with Thakuma here.
Anirudh suspiciously: Thakuma your Thakuma is here.
Bondita worriedly shooked her head and said: No..no..not my kalindi Thakuma but Surendra sir mother she loves me and asked me to call her Thakuma. We became good friends and I can't leave her and come back. So please don't ask me to come with you.
Anirudh is literally searching for reasons to ask her come back, because seeing her stern face and authoritative and accusing voice made him lost courage to say that he loves her . He found one reason: Even though she likes you but still they all are outsiders na Bondita. You and they both will be in trouble and uncomfortable to eachother.
Bondita gulped hard because she can't say him that she is working as care taker to Surendra mother and helping Murli.
She pretended annoying and told : Barrister babu, please neither they nor me are uncomfortable with each other. So please don't make this an issue.
I told you na I am fine here. However you have seen that I am safe here. Now you please go.
Anirudh didn't know what to say there she found clock in their school, she told that 20 mins are crossed. Damini Malkin will shout at me.
Anirudh furrowed his eyebrows and asked : Malikin..who is Damini Malkin and what made you call a person Malkin as if you are her servant.
Bondita felt nervous she told stammered with a worried expression and pretending face: woh ..woh.. Barrister babu actually I am attached more with Murli kaka he used to call Damini Malkin and I also took her name as Damini Malkin. it's just slip of tongue.
She saw Surendra approaching them. She told hurriedly to Anirudh that: Barrister babu, I am telling you once and for all that I am fine here. You please don't worry and go back. Don't wait for me here. I will be very upset and shattered in my mind if you take me forcefully away from here. I won't Forgive myself forever for betraying principal sir's trust if I was taken away. So please go.
She came to Surendra and stood beside him. Surendra also approached Anirudh and told: Anirudh ji ! I understand your concern. She had briefly narrated about you both story. But please don't worry for her safety. She is like my daughter and will be fine and safe in our school and ar our home. So you can happily leave now. Please inform your family members and her mother that they need not worry for her.
Bondita to surender: Shall we go sir.
Surendra nodded and went with him. She badly wants to turn to him and embrace him wholeheartedly but embracing him will only make her heart weak. Not even does she have courage to look at him. So she left without turning back and this had pinched Anirudh's heart even more.
He sat on knees on the ground there sobbing till his tears are dried
_______
In Krishnanagar: Lawyer and some of kalindi men came and told that Bondita's name is not registered in any school. They have checked it thoroughly in all schools.
Kalindi Das then asked: Then just enquire about her in Tulsipur thoroughly. perhaps that Roy Chowdhary family had kept her identity secretly.
One of her men: No Thakuma, even we enquired there also in every house of Tulsipur. Your granddaughter is nowhere. Moreover that Anirudh Roy Chowdhary himself is not in Tulsipur. And their family members I mean Barrister babu brothers are all the time busy in studies and his kaka baba are also enquiring about her. We still kept our men to keep a watch on them.
Kalindi suddenly stopped: Anirudh Roy Chowdhary is not in Tulsipur.
Goon: No Thakuma he is not in Tulsipur
Kalindi then screamed: Then you first find out his whereabouts. I am very much sure Bondita is with him only. Find about his details.
Lawyer and men: yes Thakuma. And they left.
Sumati just then came listening their conversation and asked Kalindi: why will Anirudh babu know about our Bondita, Thakuma? As we strictly told him so he might have left Tulsipur and went away.
Kalindi: Sumati ! Do you think he had left our Bondita just by our harsh words? I don't think so. He is such a crazy person. I am very much sure that Bondita is with him or he might be knowing her details. Just wait and see .
She smirked.
______
Anirudh is still on knees and Murli came to him and asked him to leave campus and go because he need to lock the campus.
Anirudh just then came out with shattered mind and praying to Durga maa to show him the way. His mind Is in dark. His mind and his ideals are warning him to leave Bondita and go
But on the other side his heart is not allowing him to leave her and go. Moreover she became very stern and may be turning into stone hearted for everything. His heart is warning him to stay with her else there will be more irreparable damage to be done to her heart but how ...how to stay with her..
Just then a post man had bumped into his way and fell down in mud. He is shouting Murli....Murli but Murli didn't pay attention and left to his house.
He is cursing Murli that : This fellow is not listening and what to do. Now who will go to principal saab house and face his wife. She is such a monster and will ask gossips about entire people in Siliguri personal letters and all.
Anirudh's heart is dropped listening post man's words. Principal sir wife isn't a good person. Then how will his Bondita stay there? He recollected that Bondita refering her as Damini Malkin. Why is she calling her as Malkin rather than addressing her as madam or kaki or any other affectionate addressing. Does that mean Bondita is working as ..!?
Postman asked Anirudh's help to lift him. Anirudh came out of thoughts and lifted him and asked what's the problem. He will help her.
There is one letter to be given in Principle saab house. And that too letter came on the name of his wife. But I don't have courage to go and face her because she always speaks bitterly and want gossiping news about people. If I won't give she will ask my family details. I am sparing her because my son is studying in this school and favoured by principal sir. That's why she shows authority on me.
Anirudh want to go to their house and see how is Bondita.. He told that he will handover the letter there.
Postman thanked him and told that you camr like a god please give her and told him the address of principal sir house.
Anirudh nodded and postman gave envelope card and left. Matter is written openly.
He know that it's not good manners to read other's personal letters but right now he wants to know the details of persons who are staying with Bondita. He apologized Durga maa in mind and read the information.
The letter came from her brother: Damini behen , I am your younger brother. how are you? Because of your saas you never came to mayka all these years since after your marriage. We all missed you badly.
We also went to vilayat and earned lot of money and returned to Bangal. Right now staying in Calcutta. (Some personal details are given....)
The reason for writing this letter is my son Avinash is coming to your house. You also haven't seen him since you left mayka. Now he is 23 years old. He had done graduation and is in search of job. He will come and stay in your house for few days. Hope you don't have any problem na. When correct time comes we will also come to meet you.
___
After reading the letter Anirudh got an idea . He decided to go to principal sir house as Avinash
Precap: Anirudh came with suitcase to Surendra house and impressed Damini. Surendra asked him to stop drama. Damini shouted on her husband that you are also like your mother you never respected people from my mayka.
Surendra looked helpless. Bondita is hell shocked to see her Patibabu there
_____
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