The Unventured Passions

Always, not Forever!

In life Anirudh was her stability, and he knew it. Yet he pulled every little thing from beneath her feet and seemed indifferent to the fact that she could no longer stand - until she feared being wrong. Bondita felt dumbfounded, clueless, and even though with all her being she wanted to confront everyone in her college who called her names, but at that moment, her better judgement guided her to follow the most basic instinct... Following her husband!

Anirudh didn't come to her college to rescue her, but to stand by her, to stand by what was just and right. Yet how gullibly Bondita had miss-judged his intentions. Wasn't he the one who taught her never to play the damsel? Then why suddenly that day she even thought that he'd want her to be one!

All in her mind!
Bondita blamed herself.
All because of what that white Pudding Witch told her about him...

Without wasting another minute inside the empty examination hall, Bondita rushed out. But alas! All she could catch was the departing fume of Anirudh's black Jeep.
How she hated this saddening epilogue, the sight of his leaving...

"Bondita..."
A gentle guilt ridden voice called her from behind, and Bondita turned around.

"Not now Beena..."
Bondita's voice quivered, and yet she felt Beena's hand on her shoulder, a hand of friendship, compassion, and Bondita turned around instinctively.
"Beena..." Her voice quivered more,
"He... He's upset."

"You want to go to him Bondita?" Beena asked instead, and as with a soft nod, Bondita expressed her approval, a soft smile stretched on Beena's lips.
"Come, I'll drive you then."
She offered.

***********

Anirudh Roy Chowdhury was a strong man, yet his indomitable mental strength was no match to the immense physical strength that he possessed. The late doctor Suresh Chatterjee used to call him superhero jokingly, but in reality Anirudh Roy Chowdhury was indeed a tough competition to beat anyone who might really possess that title. But yet, that evening, standing right outside the door of his hotel room, with Candice holding his arm in a plea, Anirudh Roy Chowdhury felt his knees weaken, his legs tremble and his feet becoming numb!

Batakrishna Roy Chowdhury was the father of Candice's child?
Batakrishna? His Batuk?

The initial shock of terror made his heart skip sad beats, and once it subsided, a raging disbelief arose in his heart and mind.

"Impossible Candice! What are you even saying? Are you even in your senses?"
Anirudh had almost let out a suppressed scream, and Candice quickly eyed the empty hotel corridor and gestured him to hush.

"Can we talk inside the room? Which one is yours?"
She asked instead, and realising the sensitivity of the content of their discussion, Anirudh let out a deep sigh and gestured her towards their left.

Candice walked ahead, and as Anirudh unlatched the door, she pushed it open and rushed inside, making herself comfortable on the soft white bed.
Anirudh kept standing by the door.

"Candice... Please tell me this is one of your sick jokes!" His voice was grave, and looking up at his helpless, confused expression, Candice let out a soft sigh.

"A mother can never do wrong by her child Roy, no matter how bad she might be as a woman." She sighed again.
"Batakrishna is the father, and this baby growing inside me is a Roy Chowdhury, your blood."

"But how?"
Anirudh almost growled the question.
"Batuk? Batuk is a boy Candice!"

"No Roy!" Candice protested at once.
"He isn't. He's a man... And, we shared our moments... He... He was kind to me, and... and passionate... And..."