Barrister Babu: The Journey Ahead

Having a Mann Ka Rishta is...Characterless?

Bondita didn't know when she fell asleep, but when her eyes opened it was already morning. She was still laying against Anirudh's chest with his arms wrapped around her body. She felt so cozy and warm that she didn't want to get up, but she lifted her face slowly and saw that he had already woken up. 

"Good morning," he said to her with a smile, and she blushed, remembering the events of last night. 

He couldn't believe this was happening right now. He had only ever imagined such a thing, but never thought that in reality, he could hold Bondita like this all night. He had been so sure that her feelings for him were out of respect and nothing else, but after what happened last night, those doubts of his were slowly melting away. They weren't completely gone, but he knew that he should trust her. 

He had mentored her so that she could be independent and make her own decisions, after all. She was strong enough now. So strong that she didn't need him for guidance anymore.  

"Good morning," she responded, and got off him, sitting up and fixing her hair. 

He sat up too and put on his shirt. He couldn't button it back up completely because Bondita had ripped it open last night. Remembering what she'd done, a small smile appeared on his lips. 

Bondita blushed when she saw that some of his buttons were undone. She looked away. Now that the sun was shining, she didn't feel as bold anymore. He could see her very clearly and it was making her shy. 

"Should we go?" he asked her. 

"Okay," she responded, not asking him where because it didn't matter to her. As long as she was with him, they could be stuck in the worst of places and she would be the happiest lady on this planet. 

He stood up and held his hand out. She took it eagerly and followed him outside the hut. 

"Before I take you back, I have to ask you something," Anirudh said to her as they walked through the forest. 

"Yes Pati Babu?" Bondita asked. 

"People might say things about you -- they won't be good things. They will talk about your character and malign your image in the society," he told her, "But I know that Tulsipur is where your heart is. Would you still like to go back there? Can you handle the taunts?"

Bondita squeezed Anirudh's hand reassuringly and laughed, "Pati Babu, if there's one thing I learned from you, it is to not care what they say. Of course I can handle it. If you're with me, I can handle anything." 

Anirudh smiled and before they knew it, they had made it back to Tulsipur. There were people on the street, watching them hand in hand, whispering to each other and passing comments. 

Their clothes were dirty from the rain and from sleeping in that hut. Anirudh's shirt was even not buttoned properly. Their hair was disheveled, and they definitely did not look like they had a respectable night outside. Bondita did feel a little self-conscious, but Anirudh's grip on her hand tightened and he took her towards the steps of the Roy Choudhary mansion. 

"What kind of shamelessness is this?" one of the men from their society said. "You two have spent all night outside and now you're walking back holding hands? That too... looking like that? Disgusting!" 

Trilochan came running down the stairs of their haveli and joined them on the street, Bihari Babu and the rest of the family behind him. On one hand Trilochan was happy to see Anirudh and Bondita, but on another, he was absolutely shocked to see them in that state. 

"Shamelessness?" Anirudh asked with a laugh, still not letting go of Bondita's hand. "You guys are talking about shame? The times are changing and your mentality and customs should also change according to the time. We don't have to prove our relationship to you. There is nothing wrong with what we did!"