Anirudh- The Story Of A Misread Barrister

Chapter-101: Bondita's Court and Marriage Proposal

The grand lunch was followed by a meeting where I revealed the real culprit behind the food poisoning to everyone. The revelation led to an unpleasant uproar in the crowd and gave rise to mixed reactions. Some of them instantly hurled abuses at Mr. Chatterjee while the others murmured words of regret for their bad behaviour. It was a perfect time to change them for the better, I thought.

Human minds become supple and easily get influenced towards good or bad while ruing their mistakes. So, I couldn't ask for a better chance. My efforts were to see them genuinely realise what is right and bring about a permanent change, rather than accepting their superficial apologies. What would I do with their apologies anyway, if they are not going to change their ways? Reforming and reframing their mindsets is a duty I have entrusted to myself long ago and I wanted Bondita's partnership in this.

In order to get her into action, I had to continue being bad for some more time. Without further ado, I asked the village head of Krishnanagar to introduce me to the jobless people of their village. He had already summoned them about this recruitment program, on getting prior information from me. My job was made easier as he eagerly helped, in anticipation of getting their villagers employed.

However, I was not actually in a mood to dismiss my old employees. I only wanted to teach them a serious lesson. At the same time, I do not want to shatter the hopes of these jobseekers too. Therefore, I have made up my mind to help them in some way or the other.

"Well, gentlemen, so you're willing to work on my lands, isn't it?", I addressed the people who were made to stand before me by the headman of Krishnanagar. "I will give you a decent compensation for your work, but in return I expect humanity. I may even ignore your mistakes in work; but will not spare any faults in your character."

Having said this, I commanded Subash to read out the contents of the agreement and get the signatures or fingerprints of the aspiring candidates.

Just then, we heard a sweet voice that said, "Wait a minute, barrister babu." There she was! My girl had finally made up her mind to confront me in public and I was absolutely delighted; contrary to the other men of my time.

"Can I say a few words?", Bondita asked, as her eyes traversed the crowd before fixing on me.

"Of course, you can.", I consented, excited to see what she would do.

Bondita began to speak to the people of Tulsipur in her sweet endearing tone. After ten long years, for the very first time, Bondita appeared before Tulsipur and gave her introduction as an adult.

"Nomoshkar! I am barrister Bondita; your innocent little Bondita. Do you remember me?", she asked the crowd, not pointing to anyone in particular.

"Anyway, I remember each one of you very well.", she told, taking names of different people while addressing them with relations like 'kaka' and 'kaki' and thereafter posing questions about their welfare.

This dear gesture undoubtedly touched our people and a subtle smile crept on my face, on remotely guessing what Bondita was up to.

"Do you know how much I missed Tulsipur and you people? The first thing that I wanted to do after returning to India was to meet all of you personally. When I expressed the same to my beloved kaka sasurji, he then told me to wait for an auspicious time. Meanwhile many things happened and I couldn't make it up to the plan.", Bondita dramatically spoke, occasionally widening and narrowing her almond eyes.

She was clearing buttering up the people of Tulsipur and trapping them into something which they couldn't have imagined. She is a pro in flattery and this trait of hers always sets me into laughter. I don't know how she picked it up. As much as I have understood, in order to protect herself from her mami's harshness, she had developed this trait at a very young age.