ANIDITA : A Life For Revolution

CHAPTER 2 : Part 2

Bondita's p.o.v

I got out of bed when the clock showed five. My night went away with me trying to figure out about Pati babu's behaviour while I drained out the morning hours thinking how to regain my lost charm. Taking out a pink saree and some jewelleries from the cupboard after having a bath and getting ready myself, I made my way to the guest room, knowing KSJ wouldn't let her sleep in Som dada's room until the Bashi biye.

"Suprabhath Laya!" I gave out my best smile when she opened the door.

Laya stared at me in disbelief, her eyes swollen and red – dark circles covering them. My smile instantly vanished at her sight. I went inside the room, placed the saree and jewellery down the dressing table and turned back to see Laya still staring at me at a loss for words. I smiled gently and hugged her tightly.

"Mujhe maaf karna Bondita" she whispered in my ear.

I broke the hug with a frown.

"Kyun?"

"Tumne mere liye itna sab kuch kiya aur mein... Mein nahi chahti thi ki yeh sab ho. Pata nahi mein keise... Kal meri wajah se Anirudh dada tumpar gussa ki na?"

My heart tugged lightly at the mentioning of him but I gave a laugh in response. Laya looked up in confusion.

"Laya... Pehle tumhe yeh samajhna hai ki PB ko tumse koyi shikaayat nahi hai, woh gussa hai KSJ aur Som dada se... Aur yeh shaadi sirf tumhara ya Som dada ka faizla nahi balki khud KSJ ka faizla tha na? Aise mein PB ko weise bhi gussa karna hi tha. Aur doosri baat, jab bhi woh gussa karta hai na, jaldi samajh lena ki aj Bondita ko zaroor daat padne wali hai... Chahe woh gussa kisi se bhi kar rahe ho lekin daat toh hamesha uski patni ko hi padhegi. Isiliye tum yeh sochna band karo ki tumhari wajah se mujhe kal daat padi thi"

She chuckled at my comment but it disappeared almost instantly.

"Mein janti hoon hamne bohot badi galti ki hai"

"Galti? Kya matlab hai tumhari? Yeh shaadi tumhare liye galti hai?"

"Nahi! Keise baatein kar rahi ho tum?"

"Phir kya galti hai?"

"Sabse yeh baat chupana... Kam se kam tumhe iski khabar honi chahiye thi"

"Jo baat ho chuki hai uske bare mein sochkar chintit hona bekar hai. Aur mein yeh bhi janti hoon ki tumne yeh baat sabse isiliye chupayi kyunki KSJ ne khud tumhe bola hoga"

"Koyi khush nahi hoga na iss shaadi se? Meri kasam khakar bolo Bondita, kya tum khush ho meri iss ghar ki bahu banne se?"

"Dugga maa ki kasam khathi hoon, mein itni kush hoon ki mein bata nahi sakti... Meri saheli meri devrani bane, iss ghar ki bahu banker mere sath iss parivar ki palan poshan kare, iss se badhkar koyi khushi dene wali baat ho sakti hai mere liye bhala? Aur weise bhi akele sare kaam karte karte dhak chuki hoon mein. Ab mein nahi karne wali kuch bhi. Ab rasoyi ki zimmedari tumhari hai mujhe kuch bhi mat bolna. Mein toh aise hi beidhkar maza leti rahoongi"

She gave me a faint smile in reply and nodded lightly.

"Ab yeh sab chodo aur phatt se yeh Saree aur gahne pehn lo. Hamein pehle mandir jaana hai pooja karne phir tayyar nahi hona Bashi Biya keliye?" I taunted her while she blushed in reply.

........................................................................

"Kabhi nahi socha tha aisa din ayega... Yeh sab mere sath hi kyun hota hai?" Batuk muttered to me.

"Chup ho ja Batuk. Abhi hi karni hai tumhe yeh sab baatein? Dikhayi nahi deraha rasm chal rahi hai?" I scolded him.

"Wahi toh baat hai Boudi, jisko patni banana chahti thi use mein apne dada ke sath Bashi biye ki ramn karte huye dekh raha hoon... Ap ko andaaza bhi hai kya chal raha hai mere andar? Kya kuch jhel raha hoon mein?"

I sighed in frustration and rolled my eyes at him. In front of us, Som dada and Laya were busy doing whatever the Pandit Ji was telling them to. PB and Sasur Ji were not attending the rituals. Sasur Ji went to meet Binley whereas PB has not came out of the study till now. I tried knocking once for giving him coffee but he didn't reply. However, Laya told me he met her and said he wasn't angry with her but with his Kaka for his decision and Som dada for marrying a girl of her age. Indeed he wanted to show he wasn't really supportive of Child marriage and that's why he's not here today.

Som dada filled Laya's maang with Sindoor and the ritual ended just like that. I heard Batuk giving a deep sigh beside me. I felt sorry for him but I wasn't ready to show it. But then I realized this can go either way. If he continues with this mind-set, there are high chances for a fight sooner or later. So I decided to woo him away the best way I can.

"Batuk... Woh tumne bhi dekha kya, jo mein dekh rahi thi?"

"Kya?" he asked uninterested.

"Woh ladki"

"Kaun ladki?" he burst out almost immediately.

"Wahi... Jo tumhe chup chup ke dekh rahi thi rasm ke samay. Pata nahi kyun, bas tumhe hi dekh rahi thi poore samay"

"Kahaan?" he searched in crowd.

"Arre wahan -" I pointed towards the pillar and acted innocent "Arre wahi thi, kahan gayi?"

"Boudi!" he whined.

"Kya? Tumhe lagta hai mein choot bol rahi hoon? Theek hai, mat karna vishwaas. Mujhe kya?"

"Nahi... Matlab, meine aisa kab kaha? Ap ache se dekho na, yahi kahi hoga woh... Bas chehra dekhna hai mujhe"

I grinned in accomplishment.

"Haan haan dekhoongi... Milegi toh tumse bataungi, theek hai?"

"Haan boudi" he said uninterested, searching in the crowd for a face staring at him.

Anirudh's p.o.v

I can't stay here for the rest of my life, can I? I have to face everyone and her – but what will I say to her? How will I justify my anger? But I have to do something today itself. I have to mend her today, for I don't want her sulking at me tomorrow. Not tomorrow!

I got up from my chair and paced the study, planning how to catch up with her again.