Barrister Babu

Chapter 60: A Sudden Question

Bondita knocked on Batuk's door a few times, but all she got was silence in response. He didn't reply at all.

"Batuk, it's me," she said and knocked on the door again. "If you don't open the door, I will sit in front of your room all night. And you know me. I am not the one to bluff. I actually will."

Batuk, who was sitting on the bed, his hands in his hair in frustration, finally looked up at the door and sighed, hearing Bondita. He knew she would actually stick to her words.

He finally got up and opened the door, only to find her standing with a tray filled with food in her hand.

"I am not hungry, Boudi," he grumbled and Bondita stepped inside, walking past him, only to find the room in a mess as expected — after all, he was her Patibabu's brother. "Tum jao na. Yaha kyu aiyi ho?"

She shook her head with a small smile and placed the tray on a corner of his table. Then turned to him and held her ears adorably. "I am sorry."

Batuk narrowed his eyes at her. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Why won't I? I just compelled you to apologize to Chameli," she muttered, her heart clenching at the thought of Batuk staying angry with her.

He looked at her for a brief moment, and seeing her face, he realized she was actually feeling guilty.

"Boudi, chill. I am not angry with you," he finally uttered.

Bondita furrowed her brows. "You aren't?" she asked to be sure.

"Nope," he let out. "You stopped me from doing further battameezi. How can I be angry with you?"

"Then why is everything so messed up here?" She started to clean the mess bit by bit.

Batuk also started helping her, feeling bad that she had to clean up his mess. "I was angry at myself. Everything is my fault, Boudi."

"How is everything your fault, Batuk?" she asked, looking at him.

He sighed. "Why not? I was the one who made Chameli boudi feel that she is super special like you are to me. I failed to make her understand what you are to me and nobody can be anywhere near that position you hold in my life. Nobody can replace you, boudi."

Bondita gave a small smile at him. "I know that you will never replace me. But if Chameli is trying to be close like I am to you, what's the harm in it? You will have two boudis loving you."

"I have no problem with her. But nobody can be Bondita Roy Chawdhary, and I hate those people who try to compare themselves with you," he said sternly.

Bondita shook her head with a sigh. She knew she couldn't argue with him about this because he would never accept it that there could be more people like Bondita Roy Chawdhary, trying to build their own identity. All she could hope was, Batuk getting a life partner who would want to build her own identity.

"Okay, now eat the food. Enough of all the drama," she stated and pulled the chair of his table, motioning him to sit.

Batuk rolled his eyes dramatically and sat on the chair. Then he took the tray on the corner and started eating. "You can leave now. Your patibabu will start calling for you like a mad man in five minutes. You know he can't live without seeing you even for a minute."

"Haww! Batuk, you shouldn't say that about your dada!"

He shrugged. "It is what it is."

Bondita playfully smacked the back of his head before leaving the room.

###

Bondita stepped inside her room, only to find it empty. It was weird because Anirudh stopped working late-nights ever since she returned.

So she took the spiral staircase and went to the study.

Anirudh was standing in his nightwear, looking outside the window, probably lost in deep thought.

She was taking slow steps toward him, not wanting to bother him. Just as she was near, she heard him, "Usne khana kha liya?"

She was startled at that. She didn't expect him to even notice her presence as she wasn't making any sound.

Not hearing any reply, Anirudh turned to her and furrowed his brows. "Kya hua? Why didn't you reply? He ate his food, right?"

She nodded, unable to reply.

He took a proper scan of her face for a brief moment before chuckling. "You thought I wouldn't feel your presence, didn't you?"

She lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

Anirudh took a small step toward his beloved wife and placed his index finger over her chin, making her look at him straight in his eyes.

"Nazar jhukana is something Bondita Roy Chawdhary is never allowed to do, not in front of me at least," he said softly.

Bondita arched an eyebrow. "Are you putting restrictions on me now, Patibabu?"

He smiled and leaned toward her, giving a small peck on her lips. "The day I put restrictions on you will be the last day of my life."

A gasp escaped her lips as she pulled back. "Why do you always say these things, Patibabu? I don't like hearing it!"

She was about to walk away in anger, but instantly, Anirudh grabbed her by her hand and pulled her closer to him. He unclipped her pallu from over her head, making all her hair let down. Then he placed his chin over her shoulder, placing his hand on her waist, hugging her from behind.

Bondita's breath hitched at this. She felt like she would faint at the closeness, even though it was happening quite often now.

Anirudh tightened his grip on Bondita's waist, his touch both firm and gentle as he leaned closer, his breath warm against her neck. Slowly, he brushed his lips against her skin, trailing soft kisses along the curve of her neck.

Bondita shivered at the contact, her body tensing involuntarily, but her heart raced faster, betraying the calm she tried to hold onto.

She closed her eyes, feeling her breath become shallow as Anirudh's lips lingered longer with each kiss, his warmth seeping into her skin. The sensation was overwhelming—an electric current coursing through her veins, making her knees weak. She wanted to speak, to say something, but words failed her, caught in the intensity of the moment.

"Patibabu..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, a mix of surprise and longing. She felt a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her—a battle between the girl who had always revered him and the woman who now felt a magnetic pull toward him.

Anirudh, sensing her breath hitch, tightened his embrace, pulling her impossibly closer.

"Bondita," he murmured softly against her neck, his voice filled with tenderness. He pressed another kiss, right below her ear, sending another wave of heat through her body.

Bondita's hands instinctively reached for his arms, gripping them for support, feeling her heart pound in her chest. She bit her lip, trying to control the torrent of feelings surging within her.

The closeness, though familiar now, still had the power to leave her breathless, her mind clouded with thoughts she didn't dare express. She could never get habituated with these feelings. It was too overwhelming, but she enjoyed every bit of it.

All of a sudden, a question popped in her mind amidst all this. So she had to ask and she ended up asking, "Patibabu... Do you love me?"

Anirudh froze. 

A/N: My first update after being in the USA. Thank you for being patient! I will try to upload every week. Goal for this chapter is 30 comments. Have a nice day!