Barrister Babu

Chapter 90: Natkhat Bondita (part two)

By evening, Anirudh was convinced he had made the biggest mistake of his life.

At lunch, Bondita had spoken to Som. She had spoken to Batuk. She had even spent ten whole minutes arguing with Bihari over the amount of sugar in her milk.

But the moment he entered the room... Silence.

Not even a glance.

Nothing.

At first, he had been pleased.

Good. She was reflecting on her mistake.

Excellent.

By afternoon, he was annoyed.

By evening... He was miserable.

"Batuk."

"Hmm?"

"Is she angry?"

Batuk looked up from his book. "Boudi?"

"Who else?"

Batuk shrugged. "She doesn't look angry."

"Then why isn't she talking to me?"

Batuk blinked. "Dada."

"What?"

"You told her not to." Anirudh closed his eyes.

Yes. There was that.

"But surely she understands I didn't mean literally," he uttered.

Batuk stared. "Dada."

"What?"

"This is Boudi."

Anirudh froze.

Right. This was Bondita.

The same girl who once spent an entire week reading a dictionary because he had casually remarked that improving vocabulary was important.

Of course, she would take his punishment literally.

And suddenly... He felt terrified.

Because Bondita was listening. Actually listening.

Dugga Maa. He had created a monster!

###

That evening, Keth found Anirudh sitting in the study with the expression of a widower.

Keth raised an eyebrow. "Who died?"

"My happiness."

Keth burst out laughing. "Still?"

"Dada."

"Anirudh, it has only been a few hours."

"It has been seven hours and forty-five minutes."

Keth blinked. "You counted?"

"No." A pause. "Maybe."

Keth laughed so hard he nearly dropped his papers. "You deserve this."

"Dada!"

"You made the poor girl cry."

"I know!"

"You punished her."

"I know!"

"And now she's obeying."

"I KNOW!"

Keth smiled wickedly. "So what exactly is the problem?"

Anirudh looked genuinely offended. "She hasn't called me Patibabu even once. Other days, she would eat my head calling me this three hundred times a day."