Barrister Babu

Chapter 29: Love & Lust

Bondita, Chameli, Trilochan, and Batuk were there as saree selection was going on.

"Chameli, you can wear this one tomorrow," Bondita said as she took out a beautiful saree.

"Yes, I like this one too," Batuk chirped. "What do you think, Kaka?"

"Whatever the bahus' like, they can choose. I give them full right," as soon as Trilochan said that, Chameli picked up a random, simple yellow colored saree, making him scrunch his nose in disgust. "Chameli Bahu, drop that saree! This is not a zamindar's bahu type saree."

"But—" she stopped talking as Trilochan harshly turned to the saree-wala.

"How can you show us this cheap saree? Keep it away!"

Saree-wala nodded and took the saree from Chameli's hand as a frown appeared on her lips.

Bondita noticed that. She knew that her kakasasurji always wanted them to wear expensive saree and jewelry. Quickly, she took another saree of the same color and showed it to Chameli. "What about this one, Chameli?"

Chameli smiled and nodded. "Yes, I am okay with this."

"Great then! Bahu," Trilochan said to Bondita, "Pick some for yourself too."

Bondita nodded and was choosing some sarees for herself too when a client came to meet Anirudh and Bihari guided him to the study.

"Who is he, Bhari babu?" Bondita asked Bihari, who scratched his head.

"Barrister Babu's client, bahuraniji," he answered.

"This Anirudh! He told me he would stop seeing clients at home once my bahu returns," Trilochan frowned.

"Kakasasurji, this might be an emergency or very important, otherwise he stopped meeting clients here," she defended her patibabu.

"But boudi, Dada should be here, selecting sarees for you. It's a romantic gesture," Batuk whispered to Bondita, earning a glare from her.

Romantic gesture? Isn't love required for this? Kissing is okay because it happens between husband and wife even without love. But does Patibabu love me? Do I love him? Bondita wondered.

###

Bondita kept the sarees in her closet and made her way to Batuk's room. Her patibabu was really busy with that client.

"Boudi, come in," said Batuk and Bondita stepped inside the room. "I am sorry, it's a bit messy due to the clay." He tried to clean some space for Bondita to sit, who also helped him.

The two of them sat and decided to have a chat.

"So when will your classes start for Arts College?" she inquired.

"After Keth Dada's wedding, I will join mid semester. Anirudh Dada made all the arrangements." Batuk smiled at her and said softly, "Thank you, Boudi. You are really an angel in our life. I can't even imagine how life would've been if you weren't there."

"Why won't I ever be there, Batuk?" she arched an eyebrow.

"Uffo, Boudi, you will always be there. It's just, hypothetically, if you aren't in our lives anymore, all the dynamics of the RC will change. And Dada? He will go crazy and also make us go crazy."

Bondita chuckled. "Well, you all are safe from being mad for a long time then. Because I won't go away from this haveli anytime soon. I just returned here."

Batuk nodded. "Yes, Boudi and you better don't."

"Anyway, Batuk. I had a question." Bondita lowered her gaze to her fingers, with which she started playing.

"What is it?" he questioned curiously.

"Well... I want to know what love feels like. I want to know more about love."

Batuk was dumbstruck. "But don't you already love Dada? Why do you need to know more about love?"

"This is why I need to know. I am not sure whether I love Patibabu or not. I don't even know what love is supposed to feel like before knowing about it."

He rolled his eyes. "Dada sent you to London, Boudi. Didn't you read any novels there or watch any films?"

She nodded her head innocently. "I read crime-thrillers and mystery novels and even watched movies related to those."

He gaped at Bondita. "Crime-thriller? Mystery? What about Romance?"

She shrugged. "I never had the time and never even felt the need to as well. Though, my friends did watch a few."

"And you didn't bother asking them?"

"As I said, I was too busy getting a degree and I never felt the need to know about Romance," Bondita informed him.

Batuk was amused by her. "Do you have any idea about physical intimacy?"

She furrowed her brows, confused for a while until she got his question. "Oh! I know about reproduction and sexual intercourse. I am not that dumb, Batuk. I learned in the textbooks and a friend of mine told me this happens between husband and wife."

He ended up chuckling. Poor boudi only has basic book knowledge! he thought in his mind.

"Wait a minute, Boudi." Then he got up and took out a romance novel titled 'Love & Lust.' "Read this romance novel. You will have an idea of what love feels like."

She hesitantly took the book in her hand. "It is a good book, right?"

"Very good book, Boudi," he said innocently, which Bondita believed. "There are a lot of other books like this too. You can take any from this drawer." He pointed to the drawer at one corner.

A wide smile appeared on her face. "Thank you, Batuk!"

"Anytime, Boudi."

Bondita returned back to her room and saw that Anirudh didn't finish his work yet. She heaved a sigh in relief. She was scared to be in the room with Anirudh after their kiss. She didn't want to go to the next step which is 'intercourse' as per her bookish term, without realizing whether she actually loved her patibabu or not.

So she closed her eyes and decided to sleep before Anirudh could come to the room. 

A/N: Next chapter update when there's at least 15 comments. Also, thank you for waiting!