A Bond Like Anidita

6-Off to India (ii)

Before leaving for the port..bondita recalled sending anirudh the letter...

Bondita while packing her bag , saw her shakhapola which she never wore after coming to london - kya som dada ko btadu khat k bare m? Btadeti hu..ab to hum sbse milne bhi jarhe h..sab thik hojaega..she smiled..and wore her shakhapola..tied her hair in a bun and applied sindur in her mang ...arhi hu main pati babu..apse apne sawalo ka jawab mangungi or smjhaungi..apne khat to pada hoga na mera...akhir badi patni to main hi hu apki..or main janti hu ap manorama ko bhej denge hmesha k liye.....she came downstairs..

Som - chalo bond...he stopped as he saw her look..

Bondita- achi lag rhi hu na som dada?? Ksj ki di hui saree phni h ..

Som didn't say a word..

Bondita- ek bat btani h som dada apko..vo maine na pati babu ko khat bheja tha..

Som looked up at her with tears and anger in his eyes - kya??

Bondita- hn..dugga ma ko btaya bhi tha..

Som - par kyu bondita?? Kyu???

Bondita- mujhe lga tha ek bar pati babu pdenge to unhe meri yad aegi or hume bulalenge vo...par nam nhi likha tha maine ..shottii!!

Som shouted - mana kiya tha na apko maine...fir kyu??? Akhir kyu boudi???

Bondita- vo mere pati babu h..she said while crying

Som - nhi h vo apke pati babu..nhi h...ek sach or chupa h ajtk apse..

Bondita looked at him confused

Som - kaka or baki sab siliguri ki haveli m rhte h...or ap jinko apna pati babu manti h vo apni patni k sath tulsipur haveli m aish krte h...

Bondita was shocked..tears were not stopping from her eyes

RISHTA TERA MERA, RISHTA TERA MERA....

Som told him the entire story how everyone left tulsipur after the incident..

Som went towards her and removed the shakhapola from her hands - ye apke nhi h ab...apke pati babu badal gye h..vo anirudh dada nhi h jo apki chinta krte the..apke liye jan bhi deskte the

Bondita closed her eyes and cried - maf kardijiye dada..maf kardijiye

Som - maf mujhe kardijiye boudi ...apko phle hi poora sach bta dena chahiye tha

Batuk hugged both of them - boudi hum h apke sath..ap roiye mat..ab ghar chale?

Bondita was sad inside but smiled and nodded..

.....

After few days, the ship reached India.

Bondita,batuk and som were very happy on returning to their birth place...

Bondita looked to her home land while standing on the ship - vahi khushboo...vahi nazar.. mera desh..she smiled

Batuk - to chale boudi?? Apne ghar..

Bondita nodded (to herself) - is ship p bahut din socha apke bare m pati babu..or yahi laga ki apko bhul jana hi acha hoga....mere liye nhi bhi lekin hmare poore parivar ke liye...ap khush h apne jeevan m...mujhe bhi khush rhna seekhna hi hoga...lekin shyd apko kabhi maf na kar paun..apna hi parivar bikher diya apne...

Som - chale??

Bondita came out of her thoughts - hn

They stepped down of the ship

Bondita touched the soil and touched it to her forehead

AAJA TUJHKO MITTI PUKARE, PUKARE CHAND SITARE,
AAJA KE YE DESH H TERA,ISE GALE LGA RE,
YAHI H PYAR TERA JO,YAHI H RISHTE SARE,
RISHTA TERA MERA, RISHTA TERA MERA...(×4)