Barrister Babu: The Journey Ahead

After Seven Years

When she was studying in London, she only got to communicate with Anirudh and the family through letters. The letters arrived every few months, and as the years passed, the letters with Anirudh grew shorter and shorter. Her studies increased, and she supposed Anirudh's barrister career had taken off in India too. 

In the last letter she got from Anirudh, he congratulated her on almost completing her studies, and told her that he was waiting for her at home. She knew if the neighbours and society found out that she was back in Roy Choudhary Haveli, they would have big problems. She was an outsider according to them. A young woman who was staying in a house full of men without having any relationship with them. 

They didn't understand her and her pati babu's mann ka rishta. The relationship that connected not only their hearts, but their minds and souls. It was different from every relationship accepted by society. 

"Who?" an older looking Bihari ji asked, as he saw a young lady with a suitcase. 

He scratched his head and looked at her. 

Bondita laughed. 

He looked the same, despite having a few extra wrinkles and some greying hair. 

"Bihari Ji," Bondita squeaked. 

"Bihari Ji?" Bihari Ji asked, still scratching his head. 

"Bhaaaaari Ji," Bondita replied, referring to the first name she called him by. 

"Bhaaaaaari  Ji?" he replied, then his eyes lit up. "Bondita Malikin?" 

Bondita grinned and nodded. 

Bihari's eyes held a lot of emotion as he noticed how the child that he had served was now a beautiful young lady. 

"Let me call --" he started, but Kaka Sasur Ji had already come down. 

"Bahu!!!" he screamed, running towards her, holding his cane in the air, and Bondita immediately fell to the ground to touch his feet and take his blessings.

He touched her hair and Kaka Sasurji, like Bihari, also had tears in his eyes. 

"Kaka Sasurji, I missed you," she said, as she stood back up. "How is your health? You have been eating on time?" 

"You are still asking about me," Kaka Sasurji said with a chuckle, "I should worry about you. How was your journey? The boat ride took months." 

Bondita nodded. It was very scary, returning alone. Although Anirudh had gone there to drop her, he wasn't able to stay there with her. He had to return home to his family, for his career. And although he wanted to stay, Bondita made sure that he came back home. Who else would take care of her beloved Kaka Sasur Ji? 

"Yes Kaka Sasurji," then she started to look around and both Bihari ji and Kaka Sasurji looked at each other with a knowing expression. 

"Bahu," Kaka Sasurji said, with a knowing smile. "Are you looking for someone?" 

"No..." Bondita murmured, biting on her lip, trying to hide the temptation to run around and search this whole haveli right now. 

"Are you sure?" he asked, almost in a teasing voice. 

"Yes..." she said, slightly blushing. 

"He is in the study," Kaka Sasurji said with a chuckle. "He will be happy to know that you have come." 

Bondita's eyes lit up and she smiled at both Bihari ji and Kaka Sasurji. 

"I will come back after meeting him," she told them, and without wasting any further time, she ran towards the library, where her Pati Babu was. 

Although their relationship might not be of husband and wife, for her, he had always been and would always be her Pati Babu. No society could ever take away what was in her heart.