Barrister Babu

Chapter 70: Love Served on a Plate

Bondita sat cross-legged on the bed, leaning against the pillows as Anirudh carefully fed her a piece of luchi dipped in aloo tarkari. She took a bite, savoring the warm, comforting taste, but her eyes were locked on Anirudh with a sharp gaze.

"Pati Babu, this won't do," she said, swallowing the food and then narrowing her eyes at him. "Look at yourself! You haven't been eating properly, have you?"

Anirudh rolled his eyes, tearing a piece of luchi and popping it into his mouth before responding. "Oh, so now you will scold me?" He pointed at her playfully. "Let me remind you, Mrs. Bondita Roy Choudhury, you were the one who left me with no choice. What was I supposed to do without you?"

Bondita huffed, crossing her arms. "You could have at least taken care of yourself! Look at your face—so much stress, so much weakness! And this beard!" She pouted, touching his stubbled jaw. "You look like a wild jungle man, Pati Babu!"

Anirudh smirked, catching her hand in his. "And whose fault is that, hmm? You turned me into this! You made me so dependent on you that without you, I couldn't even eat, sleep, or live properly!" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "In fact, I think you did this on purpose... just so you could make me crazy for you."

Bondita gasped, pretending to be scandalized. "Aap toh bohot besharam ho gaye hai, Pati Babu!"

Anirudh chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Kya karein, Patni devi ji? Besharmi toh pyaar mein allowed hai na?"

Bondita blushed furiously and picked up a piece of luchi, stuffing it into his mouth to shut him up. "Bas, bas, zyada mat boliye aap!"

Anirudh chewed happily, winking at her. "Mmm, you know, even food tastes better when my Bondita feeds me."

She shook her head at his flirtation but couldn't hide her smile. "Achha? And when my Pati Babu doesn't take care of himself, does he think I will spare him?" She lifted a small bowl of kheer and held out a spoonful to him. "Now, no arguments. Finish this. You need strength!"

Anirudh made a face. "But I am fu—"

Bondita arched a brow. "One more word and I will tell Kaka Sasurji that you have been skipping meals!"

Anirudh sighed dramatically. "Haye, kya zamana aa gaya hai! Pehle mujhe har jagah dusron se ladna padta tha, aur ab apni hi biwi se haar raha hoon!"

Bondita giggled. "Achha? Haar gaye?"

He smirked. "Haan, lekin agar jeetna ho toh sirf ek tarika hai..."

"And what is that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Anirudh suddenly leaned closer, his face just inches away from hers. "Can I steal a kiss?"

Bondita's eyes widened as she gasped and smacked his arm. "Aap na! Who asks so smoothly like this?"

Anirudh burst out laughing, watching her cheeks turn pink. "I love it when you blush like that!"

"You!" She picked up a pillow and whacked him, making him laugh even harder.

Their playful banter continued as they fed each other, enjoying each other's company in a way they hadn't in so long. It was as if the weight of the past months had lifted, and they had found their way back to the happiness they once shared.

But as they laughed, teased, and stole glances at each other, they didn't realize that someone was watching them.

From the window, Trilochan stood silently, his eyes moist with unshed tears.

For months, this house had felt like a lifeless shell, burdened by sorrow and silence. But today... today, it felt like home again.

A soft smile spread across his face as he watched his beloved bahu feeding his stubborn nephew. He had waited for this day, prayed for this day. And now, as he stood there witnessing the love between them, he felt a deep sense of peace.

"Bahu," he whispered to himself, his voice thick with emotion, "only you can fix all that has gone wrong in this house. And I know... you will."

With that, he wiped his tears, letting his heart bask in the warmth of the love he had longed to see once more.

A/N: Thanks for reading the chapter! Next update when the chapter reaches 15 comments. 

Translation:

'Aap toh bohot besharam ho gaye hai, Pati Babu!': 'You turned out to be so much shameless!'

'Kya karein, Patni devi ji? Besharmi toh pyaar mein allowed hai na?':  'What to do, wifey? Shamelessness is allowed in love, right?'

'Bas, bas, zyada mat boliye aap!': 'Enough, enough, say no more!'

"Haye, kya zamana aa gaya hai! Pehle mujhe har jagah dusron se ladna padta tha, aur ab apni hi biwi se haar raha hoon!": What a world! I am usually habituated fighting with others, but now here I am, losing to my wife.

"Achha? Haar gaye?": Really? You lost?

 "Haan, lekin agar jeetna ho toh sirf ek tarika hai...": Yeah, but if I wanna win, there is only one way out...