Barrister Babu

Chapter 6: Let Her Know

Realizing the situation, Anirudh sucked in a deep breath and walked to Bondita.

"Bondita, listen..."

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and was about to walk away but Anirudh grabbed her wrist. "You are a barrister now and you won't hear my side of the story?"

She became quiet. Taking her gesture as a positive response, he said, "First, take a seat." He made her sit on his chair.

Then he stooped to his knees in front of her and took her hands in his.

"What's bothering you, Bondita? What's wrong?" he asked as softly as possible.

"I am sorry, Patibabu," she said with a trembling voice. "I just had a sudden outburst and...."

He caressed her hands. "Outbursts only happen when you have things pent up in your heart. I want to hear what's going on in your heart, Bondita. Please share it with me."

"But you don't share," she taunted in between her tears, making him chuckle.

She was literally being a typical wife and he didn't hate it at all.

"I will, shotti." He pinched his throat like her.

She nodded and started, "I know that we got married in unexpected circumstances. You didn't accept this marriage because I was too young, but now, things have changed Patibabu. Age cannot be an excuse now. I want you to experience what it feels like being a husband. I want you to get your happiness, your rights. For that, I need to know where this—our marriage is going."

He raised his brows. "And what options do I have here?"

"If you want to be in this marriage, I want it to be like a real one. But if you don't want to be with me, then we can get a divorce and you can marry the girl of your choice," as soon as she said that, Anirudh left her hand and got up.

He crossed his arms against his chest and stood leaning on the table. "Wow, Bondita. You want to give me my rights, but you are also giving me options," he said with a humorless chuckle.

She was about to get up from the chair, but he sternly said, "Sit."

They stayed quiet for a few minutes.

Anirudh processed what she said and ran a hand through his hair. "You want to divorce me?" he asked clearly.

She shook her head at that instant. "I don't. I want to make this marriage work but it's important for me to know what you want."

He sighed and leaned toward her as he wiped her tears with his thumb. "After this conversation, I don't want to see you cry for us—our marriage, ever again. Got it?"

She nodded.

Anirudh cupped her cheeks once again. "Listen to me, Mrs. Bondita Anirudh Roy Chawdhary, very clearly. In these four years, I kept myself busy to avoid thinking of you. I didn't eat timely because I never felt the need to and you weren't there to scold me. I didn't even argue with your Kakasasurji that much because I promised you. I know you worry about me all the time and I didn't want to inform all these to you because I was afraid to let you know..."

"Let me know what?" Fear crept in Bondita's heart.

Was this the time Anirudh would finally say that they should part ways?