Anidita:Love's Liberation

Woven Destinies~4

             <continuation>

AUTHOR'S POV

    ~Emotional Turbulence~

The night passed fitfully for both Anirudh and Bondita, their minds consumed by the weight of their recent argument and the mutual misunderstanding that lingered between them.

For Bondita, her thoughts circled around the validity of her emotions and rights. She firmly believed that if she had the right to love someone, it included her own husband. She wasn't demanding reciprocation or rights; rather, she loved Anirudh for who he was, not just because of their marital bond. To her, this was a matter of personal choice and affection, not something to be dictated by societal norms or expectations.

On the other hand, Anirudh grappled with his own perspective. He reasoned that living together as husband and wife for so long, Bondita might not have had the chance to see other men in a romantic light. He felt she had unintentionally limited herself to loving only him out of duty or habit, rather than exploring other possibilities of genuine love. Anirudh believed that Bondita deserved the freedom to choose someone she loved deeply and authentically, not out of obligation but out of pure affection.

Their conflicting viewpoints reflected their deep care for each other and their desire for the other's happiness. Yet, both were equally resolute in their own beliefs, creating a chasm that needed bridging for their relationship to move forward.

Bondita's night was restless, her mind unable to escape the weight of their argument. Even in sleep, her subconscious churned with thoughts of their strained relationship and the uncertain future ahead.

Anirudh, too, found no solace in sleep. He lay awake on the couch, haunted by the echoes of their confrontation. Meanwhile, he was preoccupied with concerns about the growing frequency of their arguments and the possibility of separation or divorce—a suggestion he himself had made. He feared the profound impact such an outcome could have on him. Exhausted, he eventually drifted off to sleep on the couch.

As the sun timidly peeked through the curtains, Bondita stirred awake, her mind still clouded with unresolved emotions. The dawn offered no relief from the turmoil that had gripped her heart overnight.

Despite the turmoil within, Bondita summoned her resilience to portray her usual self. Pretending to be fine had become a skill she honed over the years, a shield against the creeping sense of sadness that threatened to overwhelm her in the absence of her family. This act of maintaining composure was her way of holding onto her identity, refusing to let the weight of recent events reshape her entirely.

She carried on with her morning routine as if the events of the previous night hadn't occurred, striving to maintain normalcy. Bondita proceeded to prepare Anirudh's coffee, knowing he would likely be awake and immersed in his work with Niharika, though today, with the case concluded, he might have a bit more free time.

Entering the study quietly, she found Anirudh sleeping uncomfortably on the couch.
Bondita felt a surge of compassion as she saw Anirudh's discomfort. His hands were awkwardly positioned, his head twisted uncomfortably, and there was barely enough room for his legs on the couch. It pained her to see him in such a state.

With a sigh, she tried to calm herself and set the coffee cup on the table. Kneeling beside him, she carefully adjusted his hands and legs to more comfortable positions. Finally, she gently turned his head so that he could rest more peacefully.

Anirudh groaned softly as he shifted in his sleep, and slowly opened his eyes. Their gazes met, and Bondita couldn't help but notice the redness in his eyes, as if he had been crying for hours. Her own eyes welled up with tears, empathizing with his pain. She understood his perspective on their argument, realizing he wasn't selfish enough to hold her back, even though it caused him immense pain.