Barrister Babu

Chapter 37: Cursed Indeed

"What are you doing in my boudi's room?" Batuk asked sternly.

"I... uh..."

"Bolo!" Batuk's loud voice made Mala flinch in fear.

"I... am sorry... I..." Mala fumbled over her words.

"What's going on here?" Keth inquired and Mala instantly ran to him in fear. She hid behind Keth. "What did you say to her, Batuk?"

"Dada, do you know her? What is she doing in my boudi's room?"

Keth sucked in a deep breath and let out, "Batuk, she is your boudi too."

"Huh?" Batuk, who literally woke up from his sleep a few minutes ago, became confused. "Boudi? Did Som Dada marry her?"

Keth's eyes darkened at that. "What rubbish are you sprouting, Batuk? Why will Som marry your boudi?"

Batuk tried to connect the dots again and gasped. "Did... Anirudh Dada... No, no. He wouldn't. That leaves me with you... Keth Dada, you got married yesterday. You could have not brought a second wife the next day as a wedding gift to your first wife, right?" he laughed at his own words. Definitely, Keth was playing with him — at least, that's what he thought.

"I married Mala, Batuk. She is my second wife," he informed Batuk, whose eyes widened.

Seeing that Keth wasn't joking, Batuk felt utterly disgusted at that. A second wife? Chi!

"When... why... What about Chameli boudi?" Batuk's heart clenched even at the thought of what Chameli might be going through.

"This morning because I love Mala too. And both Chameli and Mala will stay here, as my first and second wife. That's it. Let's go," Keth told Mala and both of them walked away, leaving a dumbstruck Batuk.

"How can Keth Dada do this? There is Anirudh Dada and then there is Keth Dada, two brothers of mine with two different ideologies and mindset. Why is it hard for men to treat women nicely?" Batuk clenched his fist, hating that Keth was his brother.

"How can Keth Dada give this shock to Chameli Boudi? How can he say he loves two people at the same time? That sort of love can never be pure and true. I will never follow his ideologies. Dugga Maa, if I ever follow his ideologies, just kill me. Let me be like my Anirudh Dada. I want to love and dedicate myself to only one woman throughout my entire life," he wished sincerely as he made his way to the garden.

Batuk needed to build something to distract his mind. He didn't want to accept what was happening in the house.

###

Bondita stepped inside Chameli's room, only to find Chameli lying in bed, lifelessly.

"Chameli..." Bondita called out, taking small steps toward her.

She didn't respond nor even looked at Bondita.

"Chameli..." Bondita sat next to her and placed a hand over Chameli's shoulder.

"Why..." Chameli muttered and looked at Bondita with her tear-stricken face. "Why did this happen to me, Bondita? What did I do to deserve this?"

Bondita felt a shiver run down her spine with Chameli's question.

Nobody deserves to go through this. Nobody.

"I really thought what he and I had was something special. I thought he was like Anirudh Dada. But it turns out he is the exact opposite of Anirudh Dada. Why didn't I see this before my wedding? Why did he pretend to be a knight in shining armor when he is the evil prince?" Chameli broke down in more tears as Bondita just patted her back, with her wet eyes.

"Are all the men like that? Chasing the girl until they get her and once they get her, their interest disappears?"

No, Chameli, Bondita wished to say. At least, her patibabu wasn't like that.

"Priorities changed just like that? Before the wedding, all Keth Babu could think of was me, but just the day after our wedding, he brought another wife because suddenly he loves Mala as well?" Chameli managed to speak with her broken voice as Bondita quietly listened. "All a wife wants is to be the number one priority of her husband. That's all I wanted from Keth Babu, a relationship like you had with Anirudh Babu. Was it too much to ask?"

Priorities... Bondita thought in her mind. Even though Chameli was crying in front of her, her mind couldn't help but wander to Anirudh with whom she had just come back from fighting.

She told her patibabu to not make her the first priority. Was she right in that? What if another priority of Anirudh wasn't about bringing changes in the society, rather Saudamini? What if Saudamini ever was in trouble and Anirudh had to make a tough choice? What if she became a priority case? Would Bondita still be able to say to make herself the second priority and Saudamini the first?

But I said all that because I felt like I was becoming Patibabu's weakness and I wished to be his strength. I hated to see him weak because of me, thought Bondita.

"Husband and wife relationship doesn't change it, but emotions does," Anirudh's words echoed in her mind.

Emotions... Bondita hated the thought of Saudamini being a first priority — even a priority of Anirudh, even though she was only imagining the scenario, yet she hated it.

"Look at him. Bringing another wife. Wasn't I enough? He didn't even spend a day with me to understand how I can be as a wife. I was willing to make all the changes and be a perfect wife. I didn't even get that chance, Bondita. Is it fair?" Chameli continued, making Bondita wonder more.

I am a fool to say all those things to Patibabu! I should be happy and proud that I am his priority, even more than bringing societal changes — which we agreed to do together. If I was put in the place, obviously I would have chosen my patibabu in a heartbeat.

"Husband and wife bonding is supposed to be something pious, special. How can I consider Keth Babu as my husband knowing he gave the same rights to someone else too? Tell me, Bondita. How can I? I cannot even divorce him because I have nowhere to go. What should I do? Tell me, Bondita, please." Chameli cried continuously, holding Bondita's hand.

Tears slid through Bondita's eyes as well.

Patibabu... I am here to listen to Chameli about her sorrows, but I should have been your strength and assured you that we got this together. I know it's tough for you to accept what happened as well. I should have told you that we would handle the situation together... but... I left you alone... Bondita's heart clenched at the thought. Your Bondita left you alone without understanding you for the first time.

"I feel like someone has cursed me!" As soon as Chameli said that, Bondita glanced at her, gasping.

"You won't understand my pain until you go through it personally. And today, I pray that may God let you feel my pain, Malkin." — that woman's curse echoed in her mind.

Seems like destiny was cruel. Bondita could feel the pain now for her best friend and the sad part was, there was nothing she could do. Because there was no such law against second marriages. She felt so terrible about everything.

Bondita wished to run to her patibabu and hug him. Just be with him and apologize to him for being so irrational. She wanted to thank him for prioritizing her over everything.

However, she couldn't leave Chameli alone in that condition, so she kept comforting Chameli, who kept ranting and crying till she fell asleep. 

A/N: Next update when there's at least 15 comments! Thank you!