Anidita - Beautiful Lies

16

"Sampoorna didi...." squealed Bondita in merriment, seeing her pregnant sister after a month. She sprinted towards the foyer, running down the stairs dotingly eyeing her protruded belly and hugged her on next. "Bondita....." Sampoorna beamed in delight and patted Bondita's head lovingly while embracing her close to her. "How are you doing my baby Sister?" Bondita chuckled at her words, and tears rolled down her cheeks feeling warm. Bondita broke the hug and grinned, "I am good my cute chubby sashuri ma..." and fondled her cheeks like babies do. Sampoorna pretend to frown but the next moment both sisters brust into laughter.

"Was everything alright on road? I hope you faced no difficulties..." Bondita asked offering Sampoorna a glass of water, making her seat comfortably on the wooden lavishly appointed sofa. "All was good..." Sampoorna said taking a sip of water. "Where is Anirudh?"

"Patibabu?...." Her cheeks gained a little color, " He has gone to Calcutta." Her eyes down due to the heaviness of shame, as if she was not just talking about him, but he was present in front of her replaying the not so innocent acts of last night.

Sampoorna noticed the tint of shame her eyes were holding and found something offbeat in that. Was her sister blushing while talking about her husband? Did something happened? Not being too much optimistic but may be they had a heartfelt confession? She knew what ruckus & rumors had been spreading in the forest like fire. And unfortunately she also knew what conflict both her big babies were facing. At least if not for the marriage annulment law, then for the curse of bimarriage they both suffered from. She had left upon the hope of them living a life like normal couple did, but right now her sister's gesture didn't suggest her the same.

"Why so sudden? Any case?" Sampoorna asked eyeing Bondita who rushed towards the kitchen and bought out a shiny silver canister of desert. "Yes case...." Bondita sighed kneeling in front of her and opening the lid brought a round orange colored sweet for her to have, "I specially made these you! And for it..." she referred to the unborn baby sleeping peacefully in its mother's womb "special laddu for special persons"

"Bondita...." She saw Sampoorna covering her nose with her hand before nodding her head in negative. "I feel nauseating while having them..." She said breathing heavily between the gap of her fingers. "Ohhh..." Bondita immediately shoved away the container to Bihari, making Sampoorna feel better. "I am so sorry di... I didn't knew. I thought you loved laddu just I did to my roshogollas... Shotti!" Bondita held her ears, and Sampoorna smacked her head saying, "Dhat pagli. I know that...." She made her hands down, "Its just the pregnancy that changed my appetite. Otherwise had it been your old Sampoorna didi, I must would have emptied the whole container by now..."

"Dustu...." Bondita glared at her big tummy and Sampoorna just watched both masi and baby having a serious conversation. "Why do you trouble your mamma? Why don't you let her eat? Don't you too want to taste this finger-licking deserts?" Bondita softly caressed her belly.

"Bondita, why are you still so childish?" She kissed her head, pulling her closer to her lap. "I am childish?" Bondita slightly pouted, clearly remembering how different and aged she felt with her patibabu recently. "You are my lado (dear).." Sampoorna chuckled.

"But Sampoorna didi..." Bondita got up and sat beside her, a little peeved at her words, " You must have to sacrifice so many things right? You cannot have what you like, you cannot roam whenever you want, you cannot do whatever you desire? So I was just explaining the baby.... To let you what you want to."

"Bondita...." Sampoorna's eyes welled up at her sister's naivety and selfless concern. "That is where we mothers get peace. Sacrifing for our own child. Our heart fills contentedly when we do everything what we have to do for the betterment of our child and not when we do what we just desire without thinking of the baby."

"Going preganancy is so tough Didi." Bondita leaned her head on her shoulder and tightly clutched her arm listening to her with undivided attention. "Indeed it is... But this is what makes motherhood beautiful. The bonding between the child and mother more deep and deep."

"Sampoorna......" Both the sisters jerked at their placing as a loud screeching voiced followed their ears. "Binoy babu..." Sampoorna gasped in exuberance as Binoy rushed to the hall and took his pregnant while lovingly in his without caring who was seeing them with wide eyes.

"Ishh... Babu.." Sampoorna whispered lightly near his jaw as Binoy twirled round and round, in the heavenly feelings of having his wife and unborn child to him after long months. "I missed you and it..." She felt his words breaking and hugged him tightly pulling his neck to her. It was so difficult for them to spend their days solitary especially when it was such a special phrase of their life. The journey of parenthood. Though afraid of the upcoming future, both had finally some chance to cherish their moments.

Had it not been her jethji, Trilochan, they might not have had to stay away like this. But at the same time understood his dilemma. It was not just about people taunting Bondita for not giving a heir to this family at the correct time but also a disgrace to Roy Chowdhury's too. And not forgetting about Anirudh, who have to play with his step sibling in his arms, when it was actually time for him to play with his own blood.

Both Anirudh and Bondita had nothing to do with people's notion about them. But it ment the world for Trilochan what his childrens were facing, without being at fault. Thus announced Sampoorna to cherish her pregnancy at her maternal home. Rest it history.

Bondita saw the couple intimately loving each other and left the scenario with throbbing heart. Guilt strangling her, as realisation drawn upon her slowly. Though all the explanation of their separation was given to her in envelope of lies, she knew the unsaid truth.

"Ahh......" Heedly passing through the corridor, bumped with Dawrkonath babu who was coming along the way with musical notes in his hand. She was sure to fall flat on her face, when he held her wrist at the nick time, thus saving her. Momentarily she stopped breathing until she realised she was actually safe and sound, absolutely unscathed.

"Are you ok?" His innocent smile looking extremely uncomfortable at the moment, feeling him pulling her up and closer to him. Bondita gulped nervously and stood straight right next to him. Looking back to his face, where the shadows of curtains kissed effortlessly. Dark lengthy room, with whitish curtains dancing symmetrically offering other things to be blur expect the two standing in hushed silence. It was needless, petrifying for some reasons.

"I am...." She breathed heavily putting a hand on her chest trying to stop it from coming out. Sweat beads tickled down her temples to chins and she easily made out when it kissed her blouse hewing it darker. A young handsome man, in his early 20's eyeing her so softly did not suggested her to be really comfortable.

"Thank you....." She really needed to leave. It was not alright to be here for longer, she guessed. The moment she turned she felt a familer tug at her wrist. Ohh... He was still holding her hand, eyes unblinking, body frozen as if someone casted a spell.

"My hand...." More than uncomfortable, she was peeved. It was alright to help someone but untoward touch was not something she was promoting. Finding him unnerved, applied force to snatch her hand bringing him out of trance. Her lips left a small puff of air, as she brought her hand to herself. His fingers left red marks where the bangles had failed to adorn.

"Pardon me..." he husked and timidly looked away. Looks like entered to reality anew. "Its ok..." she lightly said and saw his lips stretching into a warm twinkle as a token of answer. Hesitantly pushed his spherical spectacles upwards in his sharp nose and stepped back creating a passable distance. The distance which should be maintained between a married young women and a young charming man belonging to two different lifestyles.

Trying to light up the situation Bondita humbly replied, "Batuk... I will send him to you. Let me know if you need something else." Completing her words stepped a little back when she heard him saying "I..." Hmm... She hummed raising her brows, desperately wanting him to complete as soon as possible so that she can leave. "Can I get a cup of tea...." He hesitantly asked, playing his fingers. "Actually I have a mild headache...." He continued pressing his temple vaguely. "Drenched in the rain and got cold..."

O...her lips took the shape and utter softly, "I will get one." He nodded lightly, his lips pressed together may be in shame and turned back in his place to walk towards the secluded room. Bkndita stood their for a while watching that young man donned up in peach colored kurta and dhoti disappeared in mist fog like rays.