My Destination, My Bondita

17 - The Shenanigans of a Schoolgirl

A/N: The last chapter got 220 votes. I was so teary-eyed when I saw that. Thank you so much for your love. It means so much. It gave me so much motivation to post this chapter soon for you all. ❤️

The next morning, when Bondita woke up, she was still in Anirudh's firm hold. She noticed that he was leaning against the wall, his head to the side, his eyes closed. He had been holding her in his arms all night. 

She quietly got off his lap and moved the blanket to cover him so that he'd be warm. Then she took her school clothes and was about to leave to take a bath. As she was leaving the hut, her foot shook by the doorway at first. She was a little afraid to head behind the hut alone. 

Bondita looked back at her Pati Babu's sleeping figure and decided that she couldn't wake him up. Because of her, he had been sleeping so uncomfortably already. 

She had to be strong, just like he always told her to be! 

So without another thought, her head high, Bondita Roy Choudhary stepped outside of the hut and went to the back where her Pati Babu had made her personal bathroom for her. 

When she returned after her bath, in her school clothes, Anirudh was still fast asleep. Bondita glanced at him for a moment, her heart fluttering many times as she looked at him. 

She still didn't understand this feeling, but it was warm and nice. It made her feel so happy. 

Bondita sat on her hammock and began to comb her hair, dividing it into two parts and braiding them. Then she took her sindoor and applied it to the parting of her hair, placing some on her forehead too, just above her eyebrows, after which she applied alta to her hands and feet quietly. 

After her alta dried, Bondita packed her schoolbag. 

The sound of Bondita putting her books in her bag was what shook Anirudh awake. His whole body was aching. 

"Bondita," Anirudh said sleepily, blinking a few times to see her in her school dress. 

"Good morning Pati Babu!" Bondita told him with a smile. "I'm all ready for school!" 

He removed the blanket from his body and checked his watch. There was still some time until he had to take her to school. 

As he got up, he felt a sharp pain in his back. His hand immediately went to rub his back. Bondita noticed this and jumped over to him, touching his back gently. 

"Are you hurt Pati Babu?" Bondita asked. 

"No Bondita, I'm okay," he answered, not being honest. 

Holding her like that last night had been really taxing on his muscles and his whole body was sore. He didn't want her to feel bad about it though, so he stood up straight and smiled at her. 

"See, I'm fine," he said, then he bent down slightly so he could speak to her at eye level -- this caused back cramps for him usually, but today it was aching extra. "Bondita, are you sure you want to go to school today? If you would like, you can rest today." 

"No Pati Babu! I'm completely fine!" Bondita told him, "I'm excited to go to school!" 

She wanted to see Batuk again! She wanted to meet all her classmates, many of whom had become her friends too. 

"Okay," Anirudh said with a smile. "I'll freshen up and then I'll take you. Are you okay to stay in here alone for a little while?"

Bondita sat on her hammock, her legs swinging back and forth. She nodded her head with a smile at him.

He took his clothes and himself went to take a bath.

When he came back, he saw that she had put on her socks and shoes, but hadn't tied the laces. With a smile, he bent down on the ground and tied her shoelaces.