Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

Hallucination

Anika was lying on the bed looking at the photo frame which she adored. Tears were falling down her rosy cheeks. Her nose had turned red and were blocked too. But she cared less. All she wanted was Bondita's embrace. 

"Mishti?" a sweet voice reached her ears. Anika's eyes twinkled hearing the voice. raising her eyes she saw Bondita standing with a small smile. Anika got up from the bed and ran towards Bondita. Before she could hug her, Bondita moved away. Anika confused stood and whispered "aap door kyun jaa rahe ho mujhse? Idhar aao, mujhe apne seene se lagao, pyaar karo na Maa."

"Umm, par mein aapko jaanti hi nahi." Bondita said with a subtle smile. Saying this she went and sat down on the bed. " Yeh kya bol rahe ho aap? Mein aapki mishti..."

" Nahi,bilkul nahi. Tum meri mishti hohi nahi sakti. Meri mishti, badon ka maan samaan karna jaa jaanti hai,unki baizzati nahi. Meri mishti apne baba se dher sara pyaar karti hai, nafrat nahi. Meri mishti toh apne maa se kiye har vaade ko yaad rakhti hai, poora kartihai,todti nahi hai. Aisi hai meri mishti. Toh bolo bhala tum meri mishti kaise hui?"

" Kya kehna chah rahe ho aap?" Anika asked while coming in front of her. " Yahi ki aapne apne baba se bohot galat tarike se baat ki." 

" woh yahi de..des.."Anika tried to pronounce the word but couldnt. Bondita laughed and putting her hair back, said " Deserve?".

"Haan wahi.." anika replied with fidgeting fingers. Bondita hummed in no and pulled her to her lap. 

Back to the Train 

" Kya tum mera dimag khana band karoge please?" bondita finally shouted irritatedly. The guy infront of her, stopped speaking and frowned.

" Tumhe mooh phulake baithna hai toh baitho, auron ko kyun chup Kara rhi ho?" The guy said irritatedly by Bondita's response. Bondita looked at the guy for a while and looked down, letting out a deep sigh. Looking up again, she saw the man Looking at her keenly.

" I am sorry. Sorry for my rude behavior." Bondita said apologetically. The man sighed and nodded.

" Naam kya hai aapka?" The man asked making himself comfortable on his seat. Bondita looked at him and asked " Kya?"

" Oh, hii miss kya, kemon acho tumi?" the man said and held out his hand for a handshake. Bondita looked at the guy and his hand. A small smile played on her lips and she said " Mera naam kya nahi, Bondita hai. Mein theek ho."

" Hmm, Bondita ji woh toh dikh hi raha tha ki aap kitne theek hai." The guy said with sigh while Bondita looked out of the window. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the unfamiliar roads.

" Yeh Train kahan jaa rhi hai?" Bondita asked to which the guy said casually " bambai."
Bondita's eyes widened and she shouted " Kyaa?".

Anika's room

" aur naani ji, aap Kaun hoti hai yeh batane waale ki aapke baba kya deserve karte hau aur kya nahi?" Bondita asked to which Anika looked down.

" Unhone aapke saath galat kiya. Rishta tod diya aapke saath. Aur majbooran aapko sabse rishta todna pada, ghar se jaana pada." Anika said.

" Aapke baba ne jo kiya, unka tareeka galat tha par sahi kiya." Bondita said while playing Anika's hairs. Anika frowned and jumped from Bondita's lap. " Aise kyun?"

" Jis rishte mei khush nahi thi, uss rishte mei mujhe bandh ke rakhna was not an good option. Tumhare Baba ne kabhi Mera bura nahi chaha hai beta. Agar chaha hota toh duniya waalon ke saamne Mera haath pakad kar Mera saath nahi dete, meri izzat nahi karte. Unka bas chalta toh woh kabka chod chuke hote mujhe, baakiyon ke tarah par kya unhone aisa kiya? Nahi. Pata hai kyun?" Bondita asked to which Anika nodded in no.

" kyunki woh sahi aur galat ka Fark jaante hai. Unhone mujhse Pati patni ka rishta toda hai, dosti ka toh nahi. Kaka aur Baba se Bahu aur sasoor hone ka rishta toda hai, beti ka toh nahi. Batuk, Som dada, Tara aur Naina se toh behen hone ka toh rishta nahi toda. Kuch cheezein beta Badon ke beech hi rahe toh achi baat hai. Maana beta tumahra dil toota hai, umeedein tooti hai par iska yeh Matlab nahi ki aap ek hi pal mei baaki saare rishte bhool jao. Tumhare Baba ne meri izzat, Meri feelings bachane ke liye, unhe jo sahi laga Unhone kiya. Hmm?" Bondita said.

" Apse rishta toot gaya unka, phir bhu unki tarafdaari kar rhi hai aap?" Anika asked to which Bondita replied " Unka dard mei nahi samjhungi toh Kaun samjhega? Tumlogon ko specially tumhe toh unki koi fikar ya value hi nahi hai."

" Aise kyun bol rhe ho, bilkul fikar hai. Baba hai woh mere. " Anika said getting little grumpy.

" Thodi der pehele jaise baba se baat ki usse toh nahi lagta." Bondita said smiling a little. Anika cried as she realized. How wrong she has been. She rubbed her eyes and looked in front but didn't see Bondita. Looking around she sighed. She Hal..halu whatever it was.

She wiped her face and looked at the mirror. Making herself presentable she walked outside the room slowly, making a long speech in her mind to apologize to her father. As she was creating, she her father scream that it echoed in the whole house.

Opening the door of the study, Anika saw her father panting and breathing heavily. Walking slowly, she saw her Father whispering something.
As close she reached, she heard him speaking, Bondita.

" Baba.." Anika whispered to which Anirudh  looked at her. A small tear fell down and holding her hands, he said " Bondita..". Anika didn't know what was happening. She looked at her father who was on the verge of crying. His face had already turned in to brightest shade of pink. Did he see a bad dream? About Bondita?

Anika lost in her world, didn't see her father walking out of the room and going out. Hearing the commotion going outside, she ran to only see her dada and bade dada speaking ill yo him while all he tried was to go outside.

She slowly walked towards Anirudh and hugged him. Binoy and Trilochan stopped speaking and looked at her. Anirudh slowly wrapped arms around her and whispered " she is not fine."

" she is baba." Anika whispered to which Anirudh nodded in No while still being in her embrace.
" leave her baba. Jahan bhi jaa rhi hai woh khush hai ab. She is free. I am sorry, meine aapko galat samjha. Aapko bhala bura kaha. Jabki aapne yeh faisla Maa ke bhalayi ke liye hi liya tha. I am sorry ki mein aapko samajh nahi paayi." Anika said to which Anirudh finally let all his tears out.

" Mujhe Bondita se milna hai baba. Man keh raha hai ki woh theek nahi hai." Anirudh whispered to which Anika patted his back and said " Bura sapna  hai baba. Maa theek hai. Ghar jaa rhi hai woh apne."

" Shotti?" Anirudh asked breaking the hug to which Anika nodded. Holding his hand, she took him to his room and made him lie down. Patting his head, she sat beside him all night. The words she heard from Anirudh's mouth " Please be safe, Bon...dita..".