Anirudh- The Story Of A Misread Barrister

Chapter-98: Heated Arguments

"How can you declare Bondita as your bahu without our permission, zamindar babu?", thakuma questioned kaka.

"Thakuma, please.", Bondita pleaded but Ms. Kalindi Das didn't pay heed to her.

"Bondita was, is and will always be our bahu.", kaka emphasized.

"She was, once upon a time, but not anymore.", thakuma firmly stated.

"I don't believe in dissolution of marriages; because once God makes an alliance, he makes it for seven births as they say. Don't you know this Kalindi ji?"

"I can see, it is clearly not the case with our children. Their relationship didn't even last for more than a year.", thakuma remarked.

"It all happened because of my son's fitoor(madness). Now when he is ready to rectify his mistake why are you becoming an obstacle? Don't you want your granddaughter to get married?", kaka argued.

Bondita and I kept shifting our gazes from kaka to thakuma and the other way round, not knowing where and how to stop them.

"I would absolutely want her to get married, but not to your son or anyone from Tulsipur. They don't respect my Bondita."

"Kalindi ji", my baba interrupted, "Whatever happened the other day was unfortunate. We were in a delicate situation. At that time, controlling the angry mob felt more important than defending Bondita. Because an angry mob can never understand her value even if we try to explain. Anyway they are not our family; so you shouldn't bother. As far as our family is concerned, we like Bondita and have accepted her as our bahu long ago."

These words coming from my father felt very good. I was slowly getting to enjoy my father's love properly, which made me very happy. He might have made several mistakes in the past. Still, he is my father, the one responsible for my existence. I can forgive, right? I should rather.

We have ideological differences which created a gap between us for some period of time; but now he seems to understand my ideology and I, his perspective as a father. Perhaps he was right in his place when he wished the best for me. Which father would want his children to indulge in struggles on a regular basis? Revolution and pursuit of change is nothing but struggle.

However, my question to baba and all the people in general, 'are you just a parent to your child, a child to your parents, a spouse, a sibling, a niece/nephew? Are you not the citizen of your country? Don't you have any responsibility towards the world you live in? Don't you want to make it a better place?"

People are bothered about their children's lives; but they don't realise that their children have to thrive in this world which is becoming a hellhole day by day. So, according to me, a responsible parent is the one who would first ensure a better world for his children, before deciding their future or life's choices. Whatsoever, my father seems to finally realise this and I am happy.

"Binoy babu, I am not talking about the past anymore. Look at what happened a few minutes ago. This maid of yours is shouting at my granddaughter, in spite of knowing that Bondita has an acquaintance with Anirudh babu. Even if she doesn't know, is this a way to treat a guest or a neighbour? At least, she should have respectfully put her problem forward, but no. Bondita is good enough to apologise even though she didn't have to. The most disappointing thing is, your son who has been watching all this kept quiet and let Bondita apologise. Do I still have to believe that my granddaughter will not get insulted at your place?", thakuma vocalised her grief, pointing to Bihari's wife.

I didn't speak anything because by the time I understood the situation Bondita already apologised; then kaka entered followed by others and finally thakuma. Yet another time, I failed to protect Bondita's honour and became bad in the eyes of thakuma.