My Destination, My Bondita

33 - Who Let The Truth Out?

Anirudh contemplated returning to Roy Choudhary haveli for many weeks. It wasn't an easy decision for him to make, because Bondita's safety depended on it. 

After the first few days of Bondita sleeping on the bed, she never went back to the hammock. In fact, after her period was over, Bondita just slept on the bed like she normally would. Anirudh didn't even say a word to stop her. He slept next to her like normal, and soon even the hammock came down to make more space for them in the hut. 

Every night, Anirudh would hold her to his chest and sleep with a smile. 

After many weeks of this, he had gotten habituated to it. He wouldn't be able to sleep if Bondita wasn't in his arms. Bondita had also gotten used to her Pati Babu's embrace. She felt like the Universe was hugging her every night as she slept; like she was in a deep and loving embrace. 

One day, about three months into their exile, Anirudh and Bondita were leaving their hut to walk to school, when Niyati approached them and said to Bondita, "It's been three months that you're here, but you aren't showing yet." 

"Showing what?" Anirudh asked. 

Niyati just giggled with a blush, and Bondita also didn't understand what she was referring to. 

"You are very blessed with such a body," Niyati said.  

Bondita glanced down at her body, confused. Even Anirudh turned to look at Bondita's body, wondering what happened all of a sudden. She looked normal to him. 

Then without another word, Niyati turned and left. 

"What was that about?" Anirudh asked. 

"I don't know Pati Babu," Bondita said with a shrug. 

After he dropped Bondita to school, he was on his way to work like normal, when he ran into Manika. Very often he would run into Manika on his way to or from work. 

"Anirudh, did you know that my dad got into a business partnership with your family?" Manika asked. 

"Wow, that's great," Anirudh said with a smile. 

"I don't know the details, but it seems to be a very important deal," Manika told him, smiling. 

Anirudh just continued to smile at Manika.

"So how about your wedding?" Anirudh asked casually. "Any updates?"

"No," Manika said with a sigh. "Not yet. My dad is very picky." 

"You sound unhappy?" Anirudh asked. 

"Every girl dreams about her marriage," Manika said with a glint in her eyes. 

"It's okay to dream Manika, but there is much more to a marriage than a wedding day," Anirudh was explaining. "Marriage is hard work. It takes commitment and compromise. It takes a lot of self-awareness and responsibility to fulfill." 

"You sound like you have a lot of experience," Manika said, raising her eyebrow. "I mean, you are married, so I guess you would." 

Anirudh looked away from her. 

"I already told you. What me and Bondita have isn't a marriage," Anirudh said. 

One day, he would have to let her go. He would have to let her choose who she wanted in her life. He was Bondita's mentor, and he grew emotionally attached to her based on this. That was all. He had completely convinced himself of this.

Manika rolled her eyes when she heard that. 

"I really feel like teaching you a lesson," Manika mumbled under her breath. 

"What are you saying?" Anirudh asked, confused. 

"I saw Bondita the other day. She doesn't look like she's expecting, but that's just because her genes are really good," Manika said, "You should take care of her. In this state, a husband needs to care for and love his wife. Not push her away." 

Anirudh blinked a couple of times, in shock. 

"I have to go now, but Anirudh if you call her your responsibility again, or your marriage not a marriage, then I don't think I will be able to stop myself from teaching you a lesson," Manika said, almost in a threatening tone. 

Then she left from there.

"Expecting? State?" he muttered to himself. "What does she even mean? It seems like everyone has gone crazy today." 

Later that day, Anirudh made up his mind. He had been thinking it over for a long time, but finally he decided that this was it. It was time to reunite Bondita with the rest of the family members. 

"Bondita, let's go home," he told her at the hut that evening. "Pack your things." 

Bondita jumped in joy, clapping her hands excitedly. Then she threw her arms around Anirudh and hugged him tightly. 

"Thank you Pati Babu!" she squealed with excitement, as he hugged her back with a smile. 

That night, when they reached the doorsteps of Roy Choudhary haveli, Koeli and Bihari welcomed them inside with a mini Pooja by the door. Her Kakasasurji had arranged for Bondita's grihapravesh with a brass pot of rice and alta. 

The whole family was standing there, Batuk looking the happiest, while Sampoorna just had a frown on her lips. 

After Bondita knocked the kalash of rice down with her toe, she stepped inside the bowl of alta and marked her entry with her footprints on a white sheet. Anirudh stepped inside the haveli beside her, smiling as well. 

Bihari took all of their belongings upstairs, while Kaka was examining his Bahu, looking confused. 

"Bahu..." her Kakasasurji asked. "How come you got skinnier?" 

"Kaka, what kind of question is that?" Anirudh asked, frowning. "She looks normal." 

Bondita glanced down at her body. She thought she was becoming a woman now! She was even growing breasts! How could she get skinnier? 

"In this time, a woman gains weight Anirudh," his Kaka said, shaking his head, confusing Anirudh. "You don't know anything." 

"Kakasasurji, my Pati Babu fed me a lot!" Bondita said defensively, "He won't starve me! How did I get skinnier?" 

"Bahu, I'm not talking about food, but your... your pregnancy!" Trilochan Babu announced. 

"What?!" Anirudh yelled, eyes wide, and he stared at Bondita with horror, as she gulped nervously. 

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