Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

I am with You, Always

Next Morning

The sunlight peered through the white and translucent curtains, which were dancing on the passing wind. The whole haveli had fallen into complete silence. It felt the same after Vanshika left and before Bondita entered the house, Lifeless. Last night, after Anika slept, Anirudh asked Naina to take Anika with her. He sat near Bondita, all night so that if she needs something in middle of night, then he could help her. Later, in the morning around 7 am he slowly got up and left the room, to get himself changed and call the doctor.

After checking her up, the doctor called the family members outside. "Unki halat kaafi naazuk hai. Maana padega, she is a fighter. Aakhri dam tak ladi hai woh. Par abhi filhal woh trauma hai. Apne ko chot pahunchane ki koshish karegi ya kar sakti hai, after what all happened with her. She has to stay strong and you all have to do same. Mein kuch dawaiyan likh de raha hoon, please get it for her." Exchanging greetings , the doctor left.

The sunlight fell on Bondita's face, she scrunched her eyes. But soon sweat beads formed on her forehead and started to toss and turn on the bed. She clutched the bedsherr in fist and started to speak incomprehensible words. Her lips and whole body trembled. Though the cool breeze was flowing, it didn't help Bondita as she was having a nightmare. The flashes of yesterday's events came to her mind and she woke up with a jerk.
She trembled and looked around. Pulling her knees close to her chest, she digged her face inside it and rocked her self back and forth.

Naina who was passing by the corridor, saw this and ran towards Bondita. She tried to hold Bondita's hands but Bondita pushed her away and ran inside the washroom.

Inside the washroom Bondita sat against the door and looked around the place and again sat pulling her knees close to eachother.

" Dada. Som ji. Kaka sadoor ji, Baba. Jaldi aayiye." Naina screamed and started banging the door. " Didi. Please Darwaza kholiye. Please. Mein, mein Naina hoon. Aap mujhe choti behen maanti hai na? Please Bahar aa jayiye." Naina said in a choking voice.

The family members came and ran towards Naina. All of them came, but Anirudh didn't as he had gone out to buy the medicines. He had left with the doctor itself. Initially he would have given this to Bihari, but since he wasn't familiar with English Anirudh had to come, as he wanted to talk with him.

" Bahu. Darwaza kholo beta." Trilochan Kaka pleaded but Bondita didn't reply. " Bondita. Dada kehti ho na mujhe. Dada ki baat nahi manogi ? Bahar aao na." Som said with tearful eyes. " Haan beta. Dekho hum sab tumhare apne hai na. Apnon se kya Darwaza beta? Aa jao Bahar." Binoy said removing his spectacles, as his vision had turned blurry due to all the tears accumulated in his eyes.

Thankfully, Anika wasn't at home. She was sent to school, to keep her away from all this. Though she was mature enough and she has to learn about this one day, still she was a kid and certain things should be kept away from a child, for meanwhile. Anika didn't want to got to school at first place, but after lot of 'please', 'requesting' and 'crying' session, Anika went to school.

" Mujhe Maa chahiye. Maa chahiye." Bondita said in a feeble tone to all the family members.

" Haan haan beta. Hum zaroor bulayenge. Par beta Bahar roh aao." Trilochan kaka said in a pleading tone.

" Nahi. Pehle Maa ko bulao. Phir hi mein aaungi." Bondita said sternly.

" Aye Bihari. Kahan Mar gye? Humari Bahu iss halat mein hai, tum kahan Mar gye?" Trilochan kaka shouted. Bihari came running. He was sweating profusely.

" Maalik ooh, hum na Bahu Raaani ji ka man pasandeeta khanaa bana rhe the. Aur unko jo chot aayi hai, uske liye Haldi ka lep." Bihari said wiping away the sweat, which he had always kept on his shoulder.

Trilochan's eyes turned blurry. Even the servants of the house were this close to his Bahu. He nodded and said "Jao jaake Bahu ki Maa ko le aao." Bihari nodded and ran in a swift.

Outside Doctors Cabin.

Anirudh after conversing with the doctor, came to take the medicines. He gave the chemist , the prescription and waited for him to get the prescribed medicine. He was lost in his thoughts, when he heard two men talking to eachother.

" Arre jano ki, Choti Malkin ke saath kya hua?" One man said. " Haan haan sunna hai. Aare bohot galat hua bechari ke saath."

" Bechari? Aree jo hua acha hua. Kisne kaha tha uss Bondita ko angezz ke bhai jail bhejne ke liye. Ussi ki saza mili hai usse." The man said.

" Angrezz..Robert?" Anirudh whispered when he heard them again " Tumhe kaise Pata ki jisne Bondita Malkin ke saath woh sab kiya  woh ek angrez hai?" The other man asked.

"Arre kal jab mein dukaan band karke jaa rha  tha toh uske angrezz aur uske bete ko baat karte huye sunna. Aur toh aur uske bete ke saath pe chot bhi Lagi thi." The man replied.

" Bohot bura hua." The other man said. " Mein toh kehta hoon, ki acha hua. Anirudh babu toh Bondita Malkin ki oor dekhte bhi nahi hai, chunne ki toh door ki baat hai. Waise uss angrezz ko maza toh aaya hoga, kyun?" Both the men laughed but soon stood like a statue when they saw Anirudh standing their, his fingers turned into fist. He was about to confront the men, when he saw Bihari going in a bullock cart somewhere.

He glared the men and went away. He was not the one, to answer them because he wanted Bondita to give them a beffiting reply.

He stopped Bihari and asked him to which he got to know what Bondita had done. Clutching the bag tightly, he ran to his home.

He saw the whole haveli empty and guessed that everyone must be with her. He ran inside the room and everyone took deep breath, finally seeing him there. He slowly walked and Binoy indicated the closed washroom door.

" Bondita.." Anirudh slowly called her. Bondita heard his voice. She turned and kept her hand against the door. Anirudh on the other side, kept his hand on the door and said " Bahar aao Bondita. Hum sab tumahre apne hai. Apnon se bhala koi darta hai kya? Bolo" .
He waited for her reply. After two mins, Bondita with a feeble tone replied a no.

" Toh bahar aao. Dekho sab kitne pareshaan ho gye hai. Tumhari chinta kar rhe hai. Bahar aao." Anirudh said, concerned.

" Mujhe Maa chahiye." Bondita said sobbing.
" Maa aayegi Bondita. Bihari ko bheja hai, leke aayga woh Maa ko. Hmm? Aur hum bhi toh hai na tumhare paas? Mein bhi toh hoon!" Anirudh said.

" Aap.." Bondita whispered.

" I was, I am and I will always be there for you." Anirudh said. It was soothing to Bondita's ears. She slowly got up and held the door knob. Sensing her movement, Anirudh too got up and stood, patiently.

After 5 mins, Bondita opened the door and peeked outside. The whole family was standing, worried. Bondita came out and gave a guilty look. Anirudh looked at her if she had harmed her self, and to his relief she hasn't.

" Sabko pareshaan karne pe maza aata hai na? Pagol mein." Anirudh said and frowned at her.

" Sorry." Bondita muttered. "Kapdr badal lo. Khaana khaake, dawai leni hai aur araam bhi karna hai. Naina tumahri madat kardegi." Anirudh said and he was about to leave when Bondita stopped him.

" Kuch der pehle aapne kaha ki aap Mera saath denge, humesha.." Bondita asked.
"Haan dunga mein." Anirudh said confusingly.

Bondita hesitantly raised her hand and curled her finger into a fist. She let out her pinky finger and said " Pinky promise?"

Anirudh looked at her and smiled lightly. She was all grown up yet didn't leave her innocence. So much happened with her and she trusts him. He let his pinky finger, get entangled with hers and smilingly he whispered " pinky promise."

Bondita gave a lighr smile, finally which brought a little relief to the family members.

" Naina. Bondita ki madat karke, neeche aaj na. Mujhe kuch baat karni hai. Aur aap sab, mere saath chaliye." Anirudh said and giving a final look at Bondita, he went away followed by other family members.

Precap: Promo.

I will again update tha chapter at night. Half written already. And about Love Amidst Hate, i will do it today at night or tomorrow.

Any os ideas you all have? Also do comment,pilij.

Love
Trupti.