Anidita : Broken Strings

Beginning of the end

It was the day of result. The final page of the  most dreadful chapter of their lives. The chapter that will decide the track of the story of their lives.
It was today, when Bondita was going to leave for Hostel and Manorama for her final mission. Surrendering herself to death for the people. For the country.
Bondita had no time today. Final minute preparations, rechecking the suitcases and above that, she had to attend the Viceroy General's party because she had scored highest marks in exams. The ceremony and the train timings were at a difference on an hour. She couldn't deny the invite because it was very influential for other people and women to see a girl progressing in a men-centric society.

She knew Manorama was going to be there. And so was Anirudh, probably. They did not talk about that. But she decided not to think about them. She tried very hard to detach herself from Anirudh. She couldn't decide if she had just accepted the reality and chosen to compromise or chosen the right path by distamcing herself.
Should ahe have fought staying there with her family?
Maybe not. She was so deeply broken that it seemed pointless to fight. And for who? Anirudh? Who chose to run away from her?

She smiled picking up her shoes from the bottom of her wooden cupboard. Smiled recalling who brought it for her.

That day, no one in the house talked to anyone. It was deathly still. Everyone was just minding their own businesses. Manorama was nowhere in the house. She had gone for her preparation. Anirudh hadn't come out of his room yet.

Bondita prepared everyone's morning drinks and gave them to the members. At last, she pooked at the Coffee and sighed. She knocked twice on the white door of Anirudh's room before entering and placing Anirudh's coffee at the small side table.
She turned around to inform him "Aapki Coffee." And earned a hum as a response from the man whose back was facing her. He turned around to face her and said hesitatingly, "Sab... Sab taiyyari ho gayi hai? 12 baje hum haveli se niklenge... Toh tum..." he took a pause, not knowing what to say.
"Main Som dada ke saath jaane wali hu. Aap Manorama ji ke saath reh sakte hain." She replied.
'Manorama ji ke saath reh sakte hain' the words hurt Anirudh. How wrong she was to assume that he wanted to spend time with Manorama and not see her off at the station. How she thought, she wasn't his priority. But before he could form words to reply, Bondita left the room.

Every now and then, Bondita would think about the events that'd take place if she had chosen the other path. That is, staying in Tulsipur in the haveli. At moments she'd also think of herself as a coward for not fighting for what's her. But when she would come back to the reality and process what's happening around her, she'd think again; Pati Babu, for whom she could fight, doesn't want to fight himself, then does it all even make sense? Will it be worth everything she had to undergo? Will it be futile?
Then she would decide to keep walking on the path she had already chosen.

Anirudh too was in similar state of mind. He would think of the other paths je could have chosen, but with Anirudh, the other path could probably have been better. Then, he would decide to keep walking on the path he had already chosen. Because anyway, all the harm couldn't be undone now.

Bondita, getting out of the room went to the idol of Durga maa. The only place that made her feel home these days was her Durga Maa. As they talk about finding home in persons, Bondita lost her solace and her home. He was now just another 'person'. She lit the diya and stood adhering her palms together. She didn't know what to pray for. She didn't know what she should ask for. Yet, she felt the need to be there.
She closed her eyes and asked Durga Maa to guide her. She asked her to do whatever would be right for her. She handed over the string of her life into the hands of the almighty, the world's birthgiver.
In a corner away from the temple stood Trilochan, looking at his Bahu with tears-filled eyes. His heart ached seeing her helplessness.

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Bondita went to her room and draped herself in a simple royal blue silk saree. She wore minimal jewellery and did her hair into a bun and stood in front of the mirror examining herself.
Something didn't feel right. She felt that rather than wearing a saree, she should wear her school uniform. She changed into her uniform and tied her hair into two plaits. She again stood in front of the mirror. Something was still missing. School shoes, a watch, white shirt, blue apron and skirt evrything was right... She looked at her face. A frown of confusion and dark circles for the stress and sleep deprivation. No smile. She remembered how Anirudh used to tell her that smile is the simplest and the most beautiful element in a person. She decided to smile a little and not let anything put it off. To be empowering, she had to look confident. For that she needed to wear her Confident smile and hold her head high; carey herself as a sum of what she has achieved and all what she's capable of achieving. That's what she should look like.
She put all the thoughts and turmoils on a hold.

Meanwhile Anirudh got ready to go with Manorama, not knowing Bondita is going to be there. Manorama and Anirudh went to the car. Manorama with a huge box in her hand. She declined Anirudh's offer to help her carry it.
Bondita came downstairs with her identity card so that she could get an entry. As she reached the main door, she saw Anirudh and Manorama leaving in the car. The smile that she had decided to carry faded. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm herself, just then "Chalein, Boudi?" Somnath said stepping out from behind her. She nodded with a smile and went away.

While Anirudh and Manorama were still at the gates waiting to show their invite, Bondita had gotten in with her identity card already.
Manorama went in to prepare a costume that could conceal the suicide bomb she was going to wear.
Sometime later,
Anirudh stood at the entrace of the gate while Bondita was already on the stage receiving the honour.
There were constant announcements but what caught Anirudh's attention was 'Bondita Roy Chaudhury'.
"Now Sir Viceroy General will present an award to Bondita Roy Chaudhury, who has topped in her class this year. She is the only female student in her class and has set an example for the other girls in the village. Let us welcome her on the stage with a round of applause!"
Hearing this, Anirudh proudly smiled and rushed into the hall afraid to miss the most important moment.
There she was on the stage, confidently receiving her award. Anirudh clapped the loudest. By now, hapy tears had brimmed in his eyes. The clapping stopped. But in the silent hall, loud and clear were heard Anirudh's claps, by everyone including Bondita. Her eyes looked through the crowd and met Anirudh's. She saw nothing but pride. They held the eye contact for a moment as Anirudh stopped clapping. Tears cornered her eyes as well. Why was he confusing Bondita so much?
She once again just wanted him to be proud of her. She only wanted to dance with him happily over this achievement. She was scared that she was falling weak.
She wiped her tears and looked away from Anirudh pretending she didn't see him at the first place, which hurt Anirudh to the core.

Three big events that day. Out of which one ended there. The second was Manorama's plan and the third was Bondita's departure.
The two events like Anidita's eyes filled with tears were filled with doubts and fears and anxiety.
This day, a chapter will definitely be in the history. But as the answer to the question with how people will remember it is how the day further proceeds.

*Unedited*
You must be shocked to see me appear out of nowhere all of a sudden after ages. So I would just say that my life changed A LOT. A lot happened in these months and now I am so very stressed all day which leaves me with a writer's block that I've tried to overcome with this update.
This is more like a filler chapter and there's gonna be not more than 2-3 chapters after this. (I don't assure updating regularly even today so sorry 😭😭😭😭😭)
But I'd still like to hear from you, how you've been in these months and that if you liked how the story progressed. Please ignore the typos, this is an unedited chapter and I am travelling rn 🙌🏻🌝.
Also I request Y'all to be respectful and keep the hate away before reading. I don't want more stress in my life 😭. (I've had experiences. Some people are all sweet to you and do a backflip and become disrespectful witches. I expect you all go not judge people because everyone is hoing through so much that you can't see).
Also, take care of your health, it's winter. Don't catch cold lovelies!
See you with the next update!
Love y'all 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖