Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

After Long Time.

Robert was arrested much to his father, Mark's dismay. He had threatened to destroy the Roy Chowdhary clan to which the men of the family tool it as a challenge.

Bondita was still holding onto Naina and crying when she heard the voice. The voice which she waited to hear. She looked at the door and saw her mother, standing with tear filled eyes, still wearing a white saree. Sumati widened her arms and asked her to come near her, to which Bondita got up and ran hastily to her and threw herself in her arms. Both fell down on their knees. Bondita hid her face in Sumati's chest and cried. Sumati felt her saree getting wet but she cared less as her daughter was most important for her right now. She kept fondling Bondita's hairs and cried silently, along with Bondita. Their was silence between them yet the silence spoke so many words, showed so many emotions at once.

Slowly one by one all the villagers left and it was now only the family. When Sumati felt, Bondita had stopped crying, she held her face and caressing it, she whispered "Shaant ho jaa meri bachi. Shaant ho jaa." Bondita sniffed and holding her mother's hand which was already on her cheek, said " Maa. Uss insaan ka chunnaa bohot ganda tha." Sumati nodded while crying and kissed Bondita's forehead. Bondita closed her eyes in contentment as she felt her mother's love. Her touch, her love was over powering those filthy man's touch. She again hid her self in Sumati's arms. After sometime, both parted away and stood.

Anika ran and held Sumati's big hand in her little palm, and giving a toothy smile, she asked " Aap meri Naani hui na?" Sumati looked at the family and especially at Anirudh, who gave a little smile and nodded.

Sumati smiled back and bending to her height, she pulled her cheeks and nodded. Anika giggled and again ran towards Anirudh and held his hand.

" Koyli, Bahu aur Anika betiya ko andar le jao." Binoy said putting his specs which was ready fall. Bondita didn't want leave her mother, but obliged to what Binoy said.

" Samdhan ji. Aap kuch dinon ke liye humare ghar ruk jaiyiye. Bahu aur hume acha lagega." Trilochan said joining his hands.

" Par beti ke sasuraal mein aise rukna shobha deta hai Kya? Log kya kahenge? Mein Bondita ko apne saath le chalti hoon, kuch din mere saath reh legi." Sumati said adjusting her veil and looking down.

" Maa. Pehli baat. Aap nazar upar karke hum sabse baat karengi. Chaliye, kariye." Anirudh said.

Sumati hesitantly looked at him. " Bohot ache. Ab yahan rahegi, please. Bondita ko aapki zaroorat hai."

" Par Jamai Babu. Log kya kahenge?" Sumati said being scared ,not about herself but about her daughter. Already so many things happened with her, now if she stays here, wouldn't it add to her problems?

" Log kya kahenge, iss kya farak padta hai? Apke liye aapki beti zaroori hai na?" Anirudh asked while Sumati nodded. " Toh Tay raha. Aap yahin rahengi." Anirudh said with a smile and bent down to take blessings. Sumati backed off immediately and said " Yeh kya kar rahe hai aap Jamai Babu? Ek vidhwa ke paer chunna..?"

" Aap bhale hi vidhwa Hon, lekin aap meri aur Bondita ki Maa bhi toh hai! Dijiye na ashirwaad!" Anirudh said and again bent down. Sumati looked at Bondita's in laws. Trilochan and Binoy looked at eachother and nodded, to which Sumati smiled and gave Anirudh blessings. Anirudh closed his eyes ,feeling mother's love after long time.

Later at Night.

Anirudh was pacing in his study, reading a case file when Anika entered with big frown on her forehead and questioning eyes.
Anirudh looked at her surprisingly and keeping the file aside, he called her.

Anika ran and asked him pick her to which Anirudh smiled and did it as she said.

" Baba. Maa toh Naani ke saath hai." Anika said playing with Anirudh's hairs. " Haan toh?" Anirudh sat on the sofa and Anika jumped and lied on his lap. Anirudh smiled and caressed Anika's hairs. " Toh kya mein Maa ke paas nahi soh sakti?" Anika asked looking at Anirudh. Anirudh smiled and asked her to get up. Making her sit on his lap, he said " Aapko jaise apko apki Maa  ki zaroorat hai, waise hi apki Maa ko bhi toh, unki Maa ki zaroorat hogi na?"

" Haan yeh bhi sahi hai." Anika said tapping her finger on her cheek. " Waise Maa naa sahi  Baba toh hain na? Baba ke paas soh jao." Anirudh said. " Nahi Baba, aap bohot gandi Lori gaate ho." Anika said but soon realised and she bit her tounge. Anirudh frowned and tickled her. Anika laughed aloud and Anirudh laughed along with her. He kissed her cheek and Anika hugged him tightly.

Dining Table

Everyone was seated. Everyone's eyes were casted on the stair case, waiting for the happiness of the house to come, giving her best smile and serving the food which she use to make with all love and care. However their hope got shattered when Koyli said that Sumati had asked to bring the food to Anika's room because Bondita denied to come down.
But gush of relief washed over their minds, when they realised that Bondita was finally eating food.

All ate the food but only little. After which everyone left to their respective rooms. Anirudh walked inside his room, only to sit back on his bed and holding his head. He cried in pain as his head ache turned severe. He took the medicine from the drawer and drank it along with water.

After 10 mins, what he expected was the pain would subside but it was totally opposite. He walked out of the room and was about to head towards his Kaka's room but saw Sumati standing on the threshold of the kitchen.

" Maa , aap yahan kya kar rhi hai?" Anirudh asked confusingly.

" Woh Jamai Babu, yeh thaal rakhne aayi thi. Bondita ne khaana khaa  liya, haala ki nakhre dikhaye par meine zabardasti khilake, dawai de di hai. Woh abhi Anika ke saath hai." Sumati said.

Anirudh nodded and said "Haan toh Maa jaiye na Andar. Kisne roka hai?"

" Woh mein..mein" Sumati stuttered while Anirudh understood and sighed. " Maa koi kuch nahi kahega, mein hoon na."

" Par yeh dharm ke virudh hoga na?" Sumati said .

"Kisne kaha Maa? Yeh ghar jitna Bondita ka hai, utna hi aapka hai. Aur yeh dharm Adharm, yeh sab befaaltu ki baatein hai. Yeh sab samaj ne banaya hai. Zindagi aapki hai, aap kaise jeene chahte hai, woh aapki marzi hai. Kisi aur ki nai. Theek hai?" Anirudh said.

"Par Jamai Babu.." Sumati tried to make Anirudh understand but Anirudh sighed and said " Theek hai, aap nahi jaana chahti toh mein chala jaata hoon. Layiye, mujhe de dijiye " Anirudh said and took the plates from Sumati's hands.

After long time, except her husband and her daughter, someone respected her so much. Tears accumulated in her eyes as she was sure that the person her daughter was married off, held the same thoughts just like her husband i.e bondita's father.

Anirudh returned back , holding his head  to which Sumati asked with concern. "Kya hua Jamai Babu?"

" Kuch nahi Maa. Bas sar mein dard ho raha hai. Dawai khayi hai meine, theek ho jayega thodi der mein. " Anirudh said with a fake smile, as the pain was increasing every minute.

" Dawai se kuch nahi hoga. Mere saath aayiye. Chaliye." Sumati said asking him to follow her. " Par kahan?" Anirudh asked confused.

Sumati made him sit on the sofa, in the living room while went to her own room. As she returned , Anirudh looked at her shocked.

" Maa...Nahi." Anirudh whispered.