Barrister Babu: One Shots- Until you Came.

Chapter 7: And the hearts heal.

ANIRUDH'S POV:-

"Barristra babu...why, for the love of God, would you do...THAT?" Bondita said, calmly.

(A/N: guess the reference xD)

"I know... you probably hate me right now, and you're not in the wrong for doing so. I'm sorry, I just- I'm sorry that I hid who I am, hid such a huge part of my life- which is not only hurtful, but maybe disgusting, even- I-"

A million things were swimming in my head right now, and I didn't know. I kept mumbling, seeing blood drip from my feeble fingers onto the marble below, staining the white. Until I felt a jerk on my shoulders. I looked up to see Bondita's face, laced with worry...and what seemed to be...love?

"Barristra babu! I don't hate you! I can never even think of doing that...I- I don't care about your past, okay? I love you, the WHOLE of you- with your flaws and your goodness. I don't care if you like both men and women or if Jamaayi Babu was your first love or the thousandth.

I love you for who you are, with all that baggage, even if you think it takes away from you. Because...I know it only adds to how beautiful you are as a person...the person who changed a little girl's life, saved her from Sati and taught her to be independent, to be her own person. Thank you, and please don't hate yourself... you're a soul to be cherished, not despised."

The young woman who was once my little student, spoke, her voice full with maturity and compassion beyond her years.

As I continued to listen, I felt my vision turn blurry once again.

"Shh..." I put a finger to her lips and pulled her close.

"Th-thank you, B-bondita... for caring..." I said in-between choked sobs.

As I ran my fingers through her hair, soft and pretty as ever, I began my story.

"First of all, I want you to know that I love you too. I realised that soon after spending some time with you. You've grown so much, you know? I know that you used to crush on me as a child, alright? But I never felt like that, at least eight years ago. But who you are right now is someone I want in my life, forever and ever."

Bondita turned a deep shade of crimson at my words, and the sweet nothings I continued to whisper in her ears. I didn't think the human body was capable of that, and I chuckled at my own thoughts. She gave me a funny look, probably thinking I'd gone crazy. Then she looked at my wounds and hurried to get a first-aid box. After she patched me up, with surprising efficiency than I expected from a young adult, she gestured for me to go on.

"As I was saying, I love you,"

She turned even redder. Wow.

"But...that doesn't mean my feelings are that simple...it's much more complicated.
I think you need to know what really happened to bring me to this point."

"Saurabh and I, we've been best friends since we were in diapers. Growing up, he had always been a brother-like friend to me, at least from an outside perspective. For me though, he was always something more– keeping me company, offering me comfort on restless nights after Maa's passing.

Kaka could only do so much for he had Batuk and Somnath to take care of. Baba, on the other hand, spent his grief wasted away in high-end bars, earning money, and being self-destructive by cutting himself off from us, emotionally. Soon, we realised, we both felt something more than friendship for each other...something deeper.

I loved him, for he was my only support-system, writing letters frequently and visiting me for a month in London every year. Then one day, Baba gave us an unexpected visit and caught us in the middle of...being affectionate. He cursed and hit me and Saurabh until I passed out.

I remember he took all the blame onto himself, he loved me more than I did him. Something happened the week after and I forgot everything... he never forced me to remember, he behaved as a mere friendly acquaintance when I came back to India. But then after going to a therapist eight years ago, I finally remembered...the good and the bad. I couldn't handle it, and I-I-"

I broke down, unable to relive through it all... he died, all because of me. The one who loved him once and forgot everything... very conveniently.

"It's okay, hmm... it's all going to be okay."

Her words fell like soothing waters on open wounds.

"Thank you." I said, feeling gratitude surf the blood in my veins for her timely help.

If it wasn't for her, I'd never...

Nevermind.

It's all going to be okay.