Barrister Babu

Chapter 41: Pehli Rasoi

"This is nice," Trilochan let out with a smile as he tasted one of the curry. "Well done, Chameli bahu."

"Even that curry is also made by Choti Patni," Chameli let out, making everyone silent.

Every dish was presented nicely and everyone liked the food, but it turns out Mala made everything. So Trilochan thought that at least the curry he was having at that time was made by Chameli, but she denied that too.

"Then what did you make, Chameli boudi?" Batuk asked grumpily. He waited for Chameli's pehli rasoi, but here he was having all the food made by his only non-favorite boudi — Mala.

Chameli lowered her gaze. "I... I don't know how to cook much so I made kheer as Bondita taught me that before..."

Keth rolled his eyes, clearly displeased. "You should learn from Mala."

Chameli felt her eyes getting watery instantly.

Bondita got up from her chair and placed a hand over Chameli's shoulder, giving her an assuring smile. "It's okay, Chameli. When I first came here, even I knew nothing. You will learn everything. Mala and I will teach you, right, Mala?"

Mala nodded.

Trilochan gave a subtle smile at that while Anirudh turned to serve kheer for himself. He tasted the kheer and said, "This is so delicious, Chameli. Well done! It is my favorite, by the way, and you made it absolutely perfectly."

Batuk also followed Anirudh and took a lot of kheer as he started tasting too. "Wow, Chameli Boudi. This one item overpowers everything I ate so far for breakfast."

Mala put on a tight-lipped smile, hating the fact that her Anirudh Babu was praising Chameli so much. Mala was the one who suggested Chameli to make kheer as it was the only item she knew to make. Mala didn't even take Chameli's help in making other dishes because she wanted the full credit, especially from Anirudh.

"Even Mala did a great job," Keth chimed in.

Trilochan cleared his throat and said, "I am happy that both of my new bahus' performed the ritual nicely. Here, take the ashirwaad." He forwarded two small boxes to both of them.

"Thanks, Sasurji!" Mala happily took it, while Chameli walked slowly, limping a bit. It didn't go unnoticed by Anirudh and Bondita.

Anirudh and Bondita exchanged a knowing look.

Chameli took the box finally and said, "Thank you, Sasurji."

"Okay, now that breakfast is done, Bondita, bring coffee to me. Then we will leave for the court." Anirudh got up from his chair. "I will be in the study."

"I am done too. I should hurry up, otherwise I might get late for college," Batuk was about to go, but Keth stopped him.

"Wait, Batuk. I will drop you as I am on my way to the office too." Even though Batuk wanted to deny it, he would indeed be late and he promised his Bondita Boudi that he would work hard. So he agreed.

###

Bondita was in the kitchen, making coffee for Anirudh and jaggery tea for Trilochan.

Chameli and Mala were also in the kitchen with her as they started preparing for lunch already. However, Mala was more interested in the coffee Bondita was making. Maybe, she could make it one day for her Anirudh Babu.

"Chameli, you don't have to cut these vegetables," Bondita spoke up, noticing that Chameli was trying to sit on the small stool.

"Yeah, let me do it," Mala offered unwillingly.

"No need. Koyeli didi or Bhari babu will do it once they return from the market," Bondita announced firmly.

"It's okay, Bondita. I can do it," Chameli said, but as she tried to sit, she winced in pain.

"Chameli," Bondita instantly held her. "Are you okay?" she asked with full concern.

A sad smile appeared on Chameli's lips. "It's okay, Bondita. Even if I am not, I will be okay."

Bondita was still worried, but Mala rolled her eyes. "Every woman has to go through this once in her life. So it's normal, Bondita. Her body will adjust to it."

A shiver ran down Bondita's spine hearing that. Every woman goes through this?

Her mind shifted to when she was a child and the women of the society were preparing her for Anirudh, just because she had her period. 'Chooriyan tootegi, palang tootega.'

"No!" Bondita said aloud, shaking her head. "Women must speak up about their comforts and discomforts. Men must respect the opinion of the women — when a woman says to stop, it means STOP. No means NO."

Mala scoffed. "This is the reality, Bondita. Accept it like Badi Patni did. Only pati's pleasure is what matters. Besides, woh toh bohut rough pasand karte hai, haina?" she turned to Chameli, who remained quiet, thinking of last night. She couldn't voice out anything. Keth literally broke her and all she could do was yelp while praying for the night to end.

Bondita's nose wrinkled in disgust. Her patibabu even asked her permission to hold her hand, and here what she was hearing was... simply scary and disgusting.

Mala scanned Bondita's facial expressions and arched an eyebrow. "You must know too, Bondita, right? After all, Anirudh Babu did that with you as you are his wife."

Bondita became quiet. She didn't want to answer Mala. More like, she didn't feel the need to. It was between her and her husband.

"Bondita, we have to go to the court too!" Anirudh hollered from outside.

"Coming, Patibabu!" Bondita hollered back as she poured two cups of coffee and turned to Chameli. "Chameli, there are painkillers in my room in the first drawer of the nightstand. Take it from there, okay? And when Som comes home, if your pain remains, he can suggest something."

Chameli nodded as Bondita rushed out of the kitchen.

Mala watched everything and analyzed something. 'Judging by Bondita's reaction, it doesn't seem like they did anything physical yet. Bondita was small when she was here, and amidst all the fiasco, I am pretty sure Anirudh Babu didn't gain sexual pleasure yet.' A smirk appeared on her lips as she thought, 'It means I can still lure Anirudh Babu like I did with Keth Babu. After all, Anirudh Babu is a man. He must be sexually frustrated and I can help him with that.' 

A/N: Next update when there is at least 20 comments! Thank you!