Barrister Babu

Chapter 36: Priorities Change

"This cannot be Keth Dada..." Bondita muttered. "I always thought he was like you, Patibabu... but..."

"Pretense, Bondita. All of it was a pretense!" Anirudh ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Bondita couldn't believe what Anirudh told her. Keth and Mala... "Chi," she breathed out, utterly disgusted. "Why didn't you stop the marriage?"

"Bondita, he gave me your promise! And Mala was crying and begging a lot," he pointed out, but Bondita shook her head, unable to believe it all.

"Promise? Patibabu, he gave you my promise, so what? You promised to bring changes in the society, be a revolutionary. Your main focus should be on that, no matter what!" As soon as Bondita said that, Anirudh glared at her.

"Bondita, do you have any idea what you are saying? Do you expect me to choose my revolutions over you?"

"I am a part of your revolution, Patibabu," she said firmly, looking straight in his eyes.

He sighed. "Yes, but things changed Bondita. We are husband and wife now. I will choose my wife over everything."

Bondita should've been happy with his words, instead her face fell. "Seriously? The famous revolutionary Anirudh Roy Chawdhary is choosing his wife over revolution? I thought you were different, but it seems that I turned you into a typical husband."

Anirudh clenched his fist in anger at her words. "At that time, I was hot-headed and didn't think much. But I try to think clearly now before making any decision. Priorities change, Bondita, but I am still sticking to my dream to change this societal thinking."

"Priorities change, I agree with that. But revolution should be your number one priority like it has always been. I can come in second. Why do you have to make me your number one priority? It wasn't like that before. Does a husband and wife relationship change every equation?" she questioned him sternly.

He again sighed in frustration. "Husband and wife relationship doesn't change it, but emotions does." Love does, he added in his mind. His love for Bondita would always make Bondita his first priority. He would sacrifice anything for that.

Anirudh never knew that he would be saying that, but it was the truth. Bondita was everything to him. Without her, he couldn't picture his life, let alone bringing changes in society. He wanted to do it only with her — together.

"Emotions? What kind of emotions?" asked a confused Bondita, but Anirudh remained quiet.

He didn't want to confess his love to her like that.

"May I come in, Anirudh Babu?" came a sweet voice and the duo looked at the doorstep, only to find Mala standing. She was still wearing that saree.

"No," Anirudh responded, making Mala's face frown.

"Actually, the study is a mess right now," Bondita told Mala, who took a quick scan of the study. It was indeed messy. "So it's better not to step inside unless it's clean."

Mala nodded, her eyes glued to Anirudh.

"Did you need something?" Anirudh finally asked her.

"Actually, I don't have any colorful sarees. All of those are white and Sasurji said to wear something by borrowing it from Bondita or Chameli." She looked at Bondita. "So I thought of coming to you, but if you want, I can go to Chameli an—" she was interrupted by Bondita.

"No need to go to Chameli." Bondita knew if Chameli saw Mala, she would be even more miserable. Besides, Chameli needed some alone time and the last person she would wish to see was Mala. "I will give you some of my sarees. Come."

Bondita was about to go but spared one last glance at Anirudh. "Be my previous patibabu. Be that fitoori Anirudh Roy Chawdhary, not the one who is just Bondita's husband," saying that she left with Mala.

Anirudh took a seat in his chair and sucked in a deep breath. Then his eyes fell on the picture of his and Bondita in the barrister robes.

"How do I make you understand, Bondita? I love you and I can do anything for you. There is still that fitoor in me, but I fear losing you. I pictured a life without you and it scares me."

###

Mala stepped inside Anirudh and Bondita's room along with Bondita, who went to the wardrobe to bring out some sarees for her.

"Bondita... this is your and Anirudh babu's room, right?" Mala tried to start a conversation.

Bondita just hummed in response.

Maybe if Keth had never married before, Bondita would have openly accepted Mala. But her best friend's life was at stake. How could Bondita easily accept Mala?

However, Bondita knew her responsibility as a Roy Chawdhary bahu. She had to follow that as her Kakasasurji also accepted Mala.

"Why was Anirudh Babu's study such a mess? Does he always do that and then you have to clean it?" She was more interested in Anirudh and Bondita's marital life as she thought Anirudh was angry at Bondita because of the way he called for her before.

Bondita didn't like the way Mala kinda accused Anirudh's character. So she shrugged and said, "It's between my patibabu and me so it's none of your business."

She handed a few sarees to Chameli, who gave her a tight-lipped smile.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. Get ready and come downstairs. Kakasasurji dislikes if someone is late, so don't be late," Bondita said and got out of the room.

She wanted to go to Chameli's room and check on her. So she made her way to Chameli's room.

Mala was alone in Bondita's room, so she took a proper look at the entire room.

It was so lavish and huge. Everything was neat and clean.

"One day, I will live here with Anirudh Babu. But for now, I am okay with living in the room next to this one. At least, I will be close to my Anirudh Babu," Mala muttered and made her way to leave.

As she stepped out of the room, she bumped into someone.

"Oww, Boudi!" Batuk rubbed his head and looked at the person he bumped with.

The moment Batuk saw Mala, his eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my boudi's room?" 

A/N: I am trying to give a realistic approach in this fanfic. Priorities change and now that Anirudh knows what Bondita means to him, without her in his life, he won't be able to live. He wants to bring changes, but with Bondita by his side. And Bondita is not in a clear state of mind to understand. All she is worried about is her best friend right now. I hope y'all understand.

Also, next update when there's at least 15 comments.