Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

Chapter 58: Mulakaat

Anirudh and Bondita stood infront of each other with a small smile on their face. The memories played infront of their eyes, just how a movie reel works. So much had changed since the last time they saw each other.

Life had not been gentle with Anirudh after the divorce. He had faced loneliness he never admitted. He had missed having someone who knew his habits, his moods, his silence. No one knew the version of him before he built walls.

Seeing Bondita again standing in front of him reminded him of who he used to be before ego, before resentment, before things turned bitter.

He noticed how Bondita was draped into a simple cotton saree, with a gold chain around her neck and a watch on her left hand. She used to wear glass bangles that chimed but now there was nothing and it did hurt him. Her hair that reached her waist were still the same. Her face had matured. The roundness was gone, replaced by definition, sharper cheekbones, and steadier eyes. She no longer looked like the woman he had saved from getting sati.

The appearance of Bondita, which was previously lively and happiness that came when she was around, was no longer there.

Bondita who still loved Anirudh, when she saw him standing infront of her, she was loss of words. She couldn't decipher what to speak. She noticed from his face how tired he was. How alone he had become. Was it because she left? Bondita saw his jawline. It used to be softer youthful, and slightly rounded when he smiled. Now it is sharp. Defined. Almost severe.
Not from vanity but from strain. The kind that comes when a man stops resting properly.

His cheeks are slightly hollowed.
His collarbones are more visible beneath the shirt he was wearing. His wrists leaner, veins prominent hands that have signed papers, argued cases, held responsibility alone.

Both looked at eachother eyes and could see how alone both of them were. Anirudh who had always lost himself in her eyes saw the care, the love and yet again, he found himself lost in her eyes. Her eyes had always given him the answers to his questions, her eyes had always soothed him when the world questioned his. He missed everything about her. Bondita ki aakhein, abhi bhi wahi sharart hai. Bondita too looked in his eyes and saw the longing. She saw how he longed for a friend. How empty he was. The more she looked, the more she found herself lost.

They came out of their thoughts, when Anika spoke a aloud. " Aaree aap dono ko aise hi tukur tukur dekhte rahenge ya kuch kahenge bhi.."

Coming out of their thoughts, Bondita and Anirudh looked at Anika and then at eachother.
Anirudh, broke the silence and said " Kaisi ho.. Bondita?"

Hearing her name from his mouth after 6 long years, did summersalts in her stomach. She maintained her composure and spoke " Mei thik hoon. Aap kaise hai, Barrister Babu".

Hearing "Barrister Babu" from Bondita, Anirudh's smile vanished in matter of seconds. Barrister Babu? But Bondita used to call him Birristerra Babu right?

" Barrister Babu, Kahan kho gaye? Kahiye na kaise hai?" Bondita said outloud bringing Anirudh back from his thoughts. Giving what looked like a forced smile, he said " Mei bhi thik hoon.." but his eyes betrayed him.

Pranshul and Sulochana who were confused what was happening, suddenly noticed each other. Shocked, they greeted eachother.

" Aare Samdhan ji. Aap yahan?" Sulochana said and looked at Pranshul. " ji nomoshkar. Humne humare dost ko bulvaya tha humare bacho ki shaadi mei, toh unhi ko mandir ke darshan karane laaye the. Waise kya aap Anirudh babu ko jaanti hai?"

" Aami toh prothom kore dekh chi. Bondita oo aamake kichu boleni.." Sulochna said and both of them again looked at Anirudh and Bondita. ( I am seeing for the first time. Bondita didn't tell me anything.)