Barrister Babu

Chapter 1: A Leap

"Today, I'm returning home—my Tulsipur," mutters Bondita, with a faint smile on her lips. "Patibabu doesn't know yet. He thinks I will return next month."

"Is it right, Bondita?" inquired Chameli, her best friend. "You lied to your Patibabu about this. Already, he couldn't attend your convocation. He must feel guilty."

Bondita shakes her head. "Chameli, he had an emergency case, and it's more important than attending an event. It was about fighting for women's rights."

"Still, isn't he guilty for not attending?"

Chameli's question wandered into Bondita's mind. Her patibabu was guilty, but she was the one who had immense guilt—for being a responsibility, a liability.

"Enough of your questions, Chameli. We can get these answers only after we reach Tulsipur."

###

Soon, they reached Tulsipur. Bondita and Chameli took their belongings and stood in one corner. People were looking at them, both of them were dressed in simple salwar suits.

"Bondita..." Chameli shifted closer to her in awkwardness. "Why are people looking at us like that?"

"Leave it," she sighed and turned to her. "They are just spotting the difference as women here only wear sari."

"Then won't your Patibabu complain too when he sees you wearing that?" Chameli arched an eyebrow.

Bondita smiled. "He will never do that. Chameli, I always told you, he's not like a common man, he's just an exception. Extraordinary."

"Such a man exists? I don't believe it no matter how much you say," Chameli uttered in disbelief.

"When you will meet him, see it for yourself. My patibabu is an ideal man." She started walking toward a cart. "Now, let's go."

###

"Baba, you should stop nagging me about this marriage thing!" hollered Keth, in the living room.

"Even your younger brother is married then what's your problem in getting married?" Trilochan Roy Chawdhary casually took a sip of his tea as his son glared at him.

"Anirudh's situation is way different and I don't want to get married now. That's it!" with that, Keth stormed off the house.

Anirudh was walking inside the house from the court at that time and understood the situation—a regular fiasco.

"Anirudh, you are home! I will tell Bihari to prepare your coffee. Go freshen up." Trilochan acted normally.

"Kaka," Anirudh started, "let Keth Dada decide what he wants to do with his life."

Trilochan stopped drinking his tea. "He is turning thirty this year. If he doesn't get married now then I don't know when I will see the face of my grandchildren."

Anirudh chuckled in disbelief. "Of course. You just want to see grandchildren."

"Am I wrong here? I am not telling you and Bahu anymore so it's better to get Keth married now," he said sternly.

Anirudh sighed and walked away. He promised Bondita to argue less with her kakasasurji till she was away. And he was doing a good job in that so far—four years.

"Come home soon, Bondita," he mumbled with urgency in his voice. "I—we need you."

He glanced at the picture of Bondita which was on his wallet. She used to send her pictures with letters about where she visited in London.

"She indeed grew up to be a beautiful woman," Anirudh said, caressing the picture. "I can't wait to see you."