Barrister Babu: One Shots- Until you Came.

Chapter 5: We don't do divorces here x)

Note: This story continues as in the official one, until the divorce....what if it never happened? Here's a glimpse of my imagination for the same.
Also, Trigger Warning: self-harm.

                                                 * * *

16 y/o Bondita's POV:-

'Love.'

Such a strange word.

What is love, exactly?

Something you feel for your parents, brothers, sisters? Or something they say you feel for someone special?
Having experienced the former one all my life, they told me of the second kind. They said it hypnotises rationality of the mind, turning it into obsession. Sweetness surrounds the things liked by the one you admire, though once they might have made you gag. It's a sugary dessert that lures the wisest of tongues, yet makes their love-drenched hearts float in liberation. An endless sugar rush as long as one feels that fuzzy feeling called love.

'So...basically, that person becomes as important to you as a roshogulla.'

'Hey...roshogullas are very important, okay? They might not have medicinal advantages, but they do help you in getting more of that feel-good hormone, Serotonin!'

'Hmm...the only person I'd ever give up a roshogulla for, would be... B-barristra Babu?
Then does that mean I love him?
Romantically?'

I had often found myself staring at this handsome Greek God from time to time- hey, he is- but never did I ever think I'd fall in love with him. And it was only now that I started to realise the warmth spreading within my chest whenever he caught me eyeing his pretty eyes for too long. Oops.

As I thought about how indecent my own emotions felt to me, for this man who was supposed to be the object of my romantic affection was also my Shikshak Babu.

Sure, we were married. But we never believed in it.

Following in Barristra Babu's footsteps, I was already a strong voice against child marriage in town, responsible for freeing about a hundred women from their woes, their shackles. Being an inspiration, as Barristra Babu wanted me to be.

Despite not divorcing legally, we had made our relationship clear.

A marital bond between a minor and adult is wrong.

'...then why does he feel so right?'

                                             * * *

8 years later...

Bondita's POV:-

Not much has changed.

I had finally received my Barrister's degree, with a Gold Medalist's honour as the cherry on top. I now practise in Tulsipur, for I couldn't bear spending a day more than the 8 years I already did away from my family.

And, Anirudh Babu.

I still love him the same, and my heart has ached and burned with regret all these years for not telling him.

When I left this place, 8 years ago, I left in a fit of rage. The decision for my education had been made without my consent within a matter of days.

If only I had been given a month with my family, a proper happy month...I would have never complained. I pleaded, and pleaded, and pleaded. Only to have my pathetic pleas fall on deaf ears.

It had been two months since my return, and we barely exchanged words at breakfast.

That's it.

"How has practice been going?"
"Let me know if you need more clients."
"Let me know if you need help."
"You want help? I'll send over my assistant tomorrow."
"Mr Khanna manages that, he'll be of better use than me."
"I'm fine. Just work stress."
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine."

"I'm fine."

It was evident that he had been on edge, and really low all the time, and yet he never gave away an inkling of what was actually going on with him.

Dark circles, skipping meals, bruises at random places, expressionless face all the time, bony hands, and a death-like pallor that stayed, that unwavering uneasiness.

This was all I had observed until the previous week.

When I finally saw what was wrong with him.

Frustrated from waiting around for him to open up, I had decided to take matters into my own hands and prank him to bring a smile on that gloomy face of his.

Alas.

What I saw, no one should have to go through...my Barristra Babu...MY  Barristra Babu, didn't deserve it.

The man who shone like fireflies in wistful nights, the one candle flame in consuming darkness, the light that melted my miseries into gleeful times, he was marked by starlight itself.

Then how?

Sliding the door open, and through the slit, I saw a weak semblance of the once mighty barrister in front of me. He was holding certain sharp elements in his hands, little iron blades. And with those instruments, he was carving out painful cuts on his arms, and crimson life-essence crept out of the deformities like refugees leaving their land when forced to.

Tears welled up in my now burning red eyes, and I looked away, unable to see such a sight.

But I had to.

The blood had now pooled around his feet, mixing with the water that fell as he splashed it on his face and his...cuts.

What had happened to render Barristra Babu to such a vulnerable state?

                                         * * *

A/N: -

So...I'm thinking I should continue the one-shots from time to time but also actually continue this one as a proper short story? What do you all think?

P.S. Please check out my other story, "Make Me Forget", it's got a really complicated storyline- soul-sisters falling in love, and then getting hitched to fate's chosen ones. I won't say who really ends up together, but just know that it's gonna be a pretty interesting ride! I love the female leads, but the male lead's got a charm of his own!