Rudhita - Jeene Bhi De

Chapter 61: Haq

" Chand khubsoorat lag raha hai na barrister babu.." Bondita said while looking at the moon but was interrupted by Anirudh " Anirudh. Anirudh naam se bulao."

Bondita looked back with wide and questioning eyes while Anirudh was staring at her with a different emotion in his eyes that Bondita couldn't decipher.

"K..kya?" Bondita whispered while Anirudh shrugged and said with a smile " Meine kaha mujhe mere naam se bulao. Anirudh."

" Mei kaise aapko naam se bula sakti hoon?" Bondita uttered with confusion while Anirudh leaned a bit and said " Dost hai na hum Bondita?"

" Haa hai par..."Bondita stuttered confused what to say. "Par?" Anirudh asked looking at her intently.

" Raat bohot ho gayi hai..apko jaana chahiye. Good night" saying this Bondita was about to go away when Anirudh stopped her by holding her wrist. " Agli baar mile toh umeed hai naam se bulaogi. Bulaogi na Bondita?"

Bondita wriggled under his hold, her heart beating fast. Yeh kya tha? Yeh kya ho raha hai?
Anirudh left Bondita's hand and started to walk towards the door. Stopping at the threshold, he looked behind his shoulder and said " Good Night Bondita" and walked away.

Here Bondita stood in utter confusion. She kept her hand on her chest and realised it was beating really fast. Her cheeks felt warm, her toes curled up. His mere hold has so much effect on her.

Calming herself, she went towards the railing and looked down. She saw him. He was about to enter the house when he stopped. Turning he looked up waving a bye. Bondita too waved a bye. Smiling he went inside and Bondita too walked away from the railing, lost reminiscing what happened few minutes back. She was lost in her thoughts when Anika hopped on the bed making Bondita coming out of her thoughts.

" Maaa lori sunao na" Anika said and kept her head on Bondita's lap while latter caressed her hairs and turned off the lights.

Next morning

Sengupta's and Chatterjee's were having their breakfast on the backyard while Naina, Tara and Bondita were serving everyone. Radha was sitting beside Kishore surrounded by Anirudh, Somnath and Batuk. Radha was surprised to see Anirudh and greeted him with utmost respect she had for him. All were talking about something when the other three women came.

Naina came and gave green tea to Somnath while Tara gave lemonade to Batuk. Bondita too arrived with two cups of coffee. Settling herself on the seat, she forwarded the cup of coffee to Anirudh.

" Bondita dada ne coffee peeni chod di hai. Humare ghar mei jo rashan Dene aata hai unko bhi bharosa nahi hua ki Anirudh Dada kaise coffee pina chod sakte hai. Bichare ke nuksaan hua" Batuk said while having a butter cookie.

Bondita surprised looked at Anirudh. " Sorry mujhe pata nahi tha. Aap kuch aur lenge? Mei bana dungi.." said Bondita but Anirudh interrupted " It's okay Bondita. Mei pi lunga." and took the coffee from her hand.

While Bondita looked at Anirudh with a smile the latter group was shocked. The biscuit fell from Batuks hand while Tara who was stirring sugar in tea looked at her dada surprised. Somnath looked at them with a smile while Naina whispered to him " dada bhora gaye hai lagta hai."

Anirudh took the first sip of the coffee and took a deep breath. Wahi swaad, wahi apna pan. Bohot yaad aayi thi tumhare haath ke bani hui coffee ki. Itne saal baad Aaj jaake aisa laga ki koi mujhe samajh paaya hai.

" Kaisi bani hai?" Bondita asked while Anirudh with a smile replied " humesha ke tarah, achi!"
Bondita smiled and nodded. Her cheeks turned pink. She took a sip from her coffee and looked around to see Mayur standing near the gate lost somewhere.