Barrister Babu

Chapter 83: Reunion Breakfast

The next morning, the Roy Chawdhary Haveli felt more alive than it had in months.

Ever since Bondita had woken up, happiness had slowly begun returning to the haveli, but today felt different. Today, almost everyone was under the same roof again.

Bondita was healthy enough to argue with people again. And for the first time since her recovery, the entire family was having breakfast together.

Well... almost the entire family.

The absence of Batuk still lingered quietly in everyone's heart.

But this morning, Bondita refused to let sadness win.

Before sunrise itself, she had entered the kitchen despite Koyeli protesting continuously behind her.

"Bahuraniji, aapko aaram karna chahiye."

"Koyeli Didi, I am perfectly fine."

"Bahuraniji—"

"Koyeli Didi."

"Bahuraniji!" Eventually, Koyeli gave up and allowed her to help.

As a result, the dining table now looked as though a feast had been prepared rather than breakfast.

Fresh luchis sat stacked inside large brass containers. There was aloor dum, koraishutir kochuri, vegetable cutlets, cholar dal, mango chutney, rosogolla, mishti doi, jalebis, and enough food to feed far more people than the Roy Chawdhary family.

When Bihari saw the table, he stared at it for several seconds before finally muttering, "Koyeli, Bahuraniji breakfast bana rahi thi ya Durga Puja ka bhog?"

Even Koyeli couldn't stop herself from laughing.

By the time everyone finally gathered around the table, the dining room was already filled with overlapping voices.

Trilochan sat at the head of the table with Binoy beside him while Keth settled on the other side. Somnath looked half asleep, clearly having been dragged out of bed much earlier than he would have preferred. Chameli and Mala quietly took their places while Bondita moved around making sure everyone had what they wanted.

And as expected, Anirudh's eyes followed her every movement.

"Patibabu, stop looking at me like that."

"I am not."

"You are."

"I am making sure you sit down instead of running around the entire haveli."

Bondita rolled her eyes.

Across the table, Somnath immediately groaned. "It has started."

"What has started?" Binoy asked.

"Boudi's patibabu being overprotective."

"I am not overprotective."

"Yesterday you didn't let Boudi carry a flower vase."

"It was heavy."

"It was empty," Som retorted teasingly.

"It could have fallen."

"It was made of wood."

Trilochan nearly choked on his tea while Binoy burst into laughter.

Bondita looked thoroughly pleased. "See?" she said smugly.

Anirudh simply ignored everyone and pulled a chair out beside him. "Sit."

The single word somehow sounded more like an order than a request.