The Unventured Passions

Entangled Souls

It wasn't midnight anymore, it wasn't dawn either, a momentary transition, and Anirudh was half seated on his bed, his eyes closed and head held back, lost in deep contemplation.

Where did he go wrong?
How could Bondita not understand his emotions?
How was she deviating from the path that was meant for her?
But, was she meant for the path too?
Was he imposing his ideas on her?
Was she...

Anirudh couldn't think anymore, as a nagging throb inside his head made him feel dizzy.
If he had been imposing his ideas on her, then he'll have to apologise...
Or else...

He had sank back in his pillow, the sleep felt restless, agonizing, and along with it was the agony of his broken leg... to which he felt oblivion all these time.
His eyes were fixated at the slowly rotating ceiling fan, and if he could have had supervision, then he would probably have been able to see the reason of his heartache lying inside their bedroom, just above his head, and in the exact same pose as him.
Anirudh got up from the bed and dragged his casted leg down.

The night hadn't treated Bondita well too. For a long time, she had buried her face in the pillow shedding tears.

How could he do this to her?
How could he accuse her of a crime that she hadn't committed?
She did try to seduce him unknowingly that night, at the picnic, inside the tent, but he too had responded. How could he just pin it on her entirely?
And, vulnerability? Was she not vulnerable at that moment, too?

Bondita sat upright, her head still cupped in her hands, and as she finally looked up, with a loud sigh, her eyes fell on the political science textbook that lay abundant on her study table, in need of an immediate attention.
Her eyes had narrowed. It's been more than two weeks that she hadn't touched them, her books, and the moment this realisation dawned upon her, she felt a cold sweat sweep down her spine, the examination chills!
Getting down from the bed, she touched the book, running her fingers through its cover, before she sank down on the chair to flip through it's pages, her mind slowly able to divert from the emotional crisis that her heart had experienced that night. It was the perfect distraction!

The night was thickening, and around quarter past two, standing outside the half closed door of the second floor bedroom, Anirudh heard his wife reading aloud, the difference between a Democracy and a Republican form of government.
He smiled, the sharp pain in his leg much bearable, suddenly!

........................................................

Batuk was getting ready for college, hurrying his way out.
"Boudi... Boudi... My breakfast!" He almost shouted his lungs out standing outside the kitchen window.

"Stop yelling."

Batuk turned around to find Bondita standing behind him, with Rudhi in her arms, a feeding bottle pressed to her tiny lips.

"Boudi I'm getting late... What's for breakfast!" Batuk asked enthusiastically, sitting down at the dining table, and checking his bag for a few last minute arrangements.

"Make your own." Bondita replied plainly and turned to leave.

Batuk looked up.
"But..." He was suddenly dumbfounded.
"How can I... I mean, it's your kitchen... and, Mani Kaki?"

"She called in sick. And, this is your house too, so how is this only my kitchen?" She looked away. "And, guess what, I probably have some world savings to focus on, so make your own food, all of you." She had forced on the last three words of her sentence.

Batuk had a gaping expression, his frown reflecting his cluelessness. He wasn't prepared for this early morning squabble, and was incognizant to this sudden bitterness of his sweet natured sister-in-law. He simply let out a sigh and got up from the table.