Anidita: Falling Apart

For Supple Knees Feed Arrogance

At Dasbari (Krishnanagar)

Anirudh's POV

"Bondita".....I could feel her presence sweeping over me like the chilling air, my eyes searched for some remnants of her in the rocks nearby, even though I knew she couldn't be there yet her mystic features in my mind set up a transcendental ambience around the ribbon braided Jalangi River flowing down the hill, splashed its shallow water droplets wounding itself, cutting through the rough edge of stones in its path. I had left Tulsipur before dawn and reached beside the river bank by 8 in the morning, breathed the raw air closing my eyes, feeling the cool breeze touching my skin, awakening my senses with a new spirit and an elevated energy.

I slowly opened my eyes, finding myself waiting upon the vintage couch as my sight caught her advancing towards my direction, She was walking down the stairs, spotting a perfectly plated honey yellow saree with her magnificent long ebony hair cascading down her back. She stopped by me and bent down to touch my feet, breaking my trance like state with her strained frown emerging upon her face.

"Na, Bondita" I moved two steps back anxiously. "Didn't I tell you not to touch my feet whenever we meet"

To my discomfort, Bondita stood up silently seeking my blessings, replying nothing.

"Bondita" I continued as she stood motionless, gaping me with her fluttering eye lashes, the enchanting vulnerability of my soul and her soft gentle heart but empty doe shaped orbs "Since a decade, I had wished to cherish the Bondita who laughed with me giving happiness, cried with me wiping my tears, rekindled the light of hope in me with her logical reasoning, battled relentlessly along my side in my obsessive crusades to bring change, staying beside after everyone left my side. I wish to meet the same Bondita again who glared at me with her big doe shaped complaining eyes with folded tiny round arms crossing her chest, blowing her lips and swollen cheeks while scrunching her nose jerking away her head when I tried to fathom her sweet anger peeking her from behind.
Bondita, I have introspected myself again and my ruthless conscience crossed all it's boundaries to criticize me like never before, I really despise myself to have spoiled everything between us. Bondita, I know it's not at all easy to forget the past, but please think peacefully for a moment, it's not impossible as well. Now unfortunately, we cannot go back to the past and change it. But, we can certainly look forward and begin afresh, heal the wounds of our entwined past and redefine a beautiful future together. Can we go by the Jalangi riverside and talk as friends like before?

Admitting my long restrained emotions and chortling to myself over the treasured memories that quashed with misplaced waves of crooked fate and our unruly sentiments, waking upon the reality and perceiving her unmixed beauty and bewitching yet stern eyes, now stacking a sense of deep wearied dullness in her attitude, I peered into her once comforting eyes that held the profundity of serene ocean bed, glittering with innocent mischief and a gentle soul stirring smile on burgeoning petal shaped lips, never getting tired of questioning her once Pati Babu over incessant subjects, but now stands with a vacant look, approving to my request with a slow nod to my contentment.

At Jalangi Riverside....

Bondita followed me behind untill I reached the riverside first, and stood by the rope fencing its bridge.

Do you remember Bondita" I spoke after a long pause"I had once succumbed to Saudamini's manipulation and decided to drop you to your ma, then I ran outside and met sampurna, Saurav's wife then. She told me about the miracle medicine you and he consumed. I ran inside and saw you in a conscious but panicked state, worriedly I enquired your health sidelining Mini....