ANIDITA : A Life For Revolution

CHAPTER 5 : Part 6

Anirudh's p.o.v

My thoughts were constantly about the past events. How I came to London... How Daya didi dragged me inside to change into something formal before rushing to see Bondita after knowing where she is... And before seeing her, as Kaka said, how I should be handling the situation... Why I came to London...

"Aise zindagi mein aane wali samasyaom se bhaagna toh tumhari shyli nahi thi Anirudh! Ho kya gaya hai tumhe? Tumhe sach mein lagta hai yeh jo kuch ho raha hai usmein bahu ki galti hai? Tumhe samajh nahi aaraha hai kya ki yeh sab tumhare wajah se bhi hua hai? Agar tumne bahu ko yeh sab sachayi bataya hota toh kya yeh sab hota? Mante hai hum, use sunni chahiye thi tumhari baat lekin uski haal bhi toh samjho Anirudh! Saalon tak usne ek galat feimi lekar apni zindagi guzari aur jab ek din achanak se sach uske saamne aagayi toh uss se bardaash nahi ho payi. Ismein uski koyi galati nahi hai beta. Insaan hai... hamesha sahi nahi hote... Lekin ab jo tum karne ja rahe ho, yeh bewakoofi hi nahi balki usko diya hua vachan ko bhi toh thod rahe ho tum. Patni hai tumhara Anirudh! Sath dene ka vaada diya hai tumne use... Aur ab uss se door Culcutta chale jane ki jo faisla liya hai tumne, uss Bhattacharya ka vaidhik salahkar bankar... bohot badi galti karne ja rahe ho tum... Ek galti toh kiya tha tumne... Bahu se saari baatein chupakar. Ab uske upar ek aur galti karke iss rishte ko aur nuksaan pahunchane nahi de saktha mein tumhe. Jao... Samjhao use... Batao use ki tumne yeh sab kyun kiya tha... Aur agar nahi sun rahi hai toh bhi zabardasti suna dena... Ham jante hai apni bahu ko itni aasani  se nahi manegi woh... Lekin bohot bholi hai hamari bahu... Zyada der tak apne Pati babu ko pareshan nahi dekh sakthi woh... Tum Culcutta nahi London jaoge Anirudh... Bahu se milkar saari galat faimi door kar denge... Kyun?"

Standing in front of the huge doors in my black tuxedo, I blinked at the guards in front of me when they asked for the invitation letter. Damn! Will they allow me inside if I say I don't have one? I don't even know what this event is about, for heaven's sake. But I have to get inside somehow. I can't leave just like that and wait for Bondita to come back to Benedict Mansion. No way!

"Ani-rud! Finally it's you! Thank god you made it mate" An excited voice brought me out of my thoughts.

I looked in its direction to find a familiar face walking towards me with extended arms. I don't know who it is though the face strikes a bell inside my head.

"You got the letter timely, thank goodness" he hugged me and I gave it back awkwardly.

"Hey..." I said masking my nervousness. Letter? Which letter?

"Mr Kennedy, is this gentleman with you?" One of the guards enquired.

That's when it hit me. Lionel Kennedy! We were classmates. Had a couple of fights before but turned out to be friends later.

"Oh come on boys... What's the point in arranging an Alumni meet without having the Gold medalist of our batch in it? This is Barrister Ani-rud Roy Chou-dha-ri, for the love of god. But what are you doing outside?"

"Um... I just forgot the invitation card... You know" I shrugged.

"You don't need that. Come in now"

So these guards were asking me for the card that's probably in the dustbin of my study... inside an envelope that I didn't even care to open before tearing it into pieces.

"Lionel! Just a second" Somebody called out and Lionel left me muttering something.

I was too busy finding Bondita to hear what he said. But it wasn't that hard to find her either. There's only one girl in the hall who is draped in a light green Saree with simple jewelry and bindi and sindoor... I gave a relieved sigh before staring at her for some minutes. It's been months... She has changed. Has lost weight to be honest. All because of me. And I think a bit taller than before too. Soon to be Barrister Bondita Roy Chowdhary!