Anidita: Responsibility Or Love?

Chapter 2: Bondita's Arrival

Anirudh was excited yet nervous to meet the one whom he always awaited for the past 12 years. He was waiting desperately at the port for Bondita's arrival. Wearing his formals with a black coat, a navy blue tie and a descent spectacle onto his nose he was looking at his wrist watch frequently.

"It's already 5pm where is Bondita? Did she arive safely? She said to me to wait here, I can't at least go to the ship dock and search for her." - Anirudh to himself

Anirudh can't able to control himself asked one of passenger about the ship and have realised that the ship from London has been docked already fifteen minutes ago.

"Where are you Bondita! Wait why am I getting nervous? She isn't an eleven year kid anymore. She is a barrister now!" - feeling proud of Bondita's achievements, Anirudh uttered.

While Anirudh was busy monitoring his wrist watch, he felt something on his feet. The moment he looked down, he saw a lady in a bright maroon vibrant traditional saree with a vermilion put up along her hairline touching his feet in order to get his blessings. Anirudh didn't know how to react in this situation and after few seconds of getting back into his senses he uttered,

"Bondita how many times I told you.." - Anirudh

"I know very well Pati Babu that you don't have four arms or a sudarshan chakr or a sword. I know you are a human not a God" - saying this Bondita looked up directly into Anirudh's eyes.

Anirudh helped Bondita to get up.

"So then why you.." - Anirudh

"Ain't you my Rakshak babu? Then how can I not touch your feet to get your blessings?" - Bondita

"Bondita!" - Anirudh

"Pati babu, now everything you have to say to me here at the port? I am too tired of this journey! I don't know when aeroplanes would come into picture!" - Bondita

"Soon! Now let me carry your bag and hurry because everyone are be waiting for us." - Anirudh

Saying this Anirudh took Bondita's bag but as soon as he withhold her belongings she snatched it away from him.

"You still think I am eleven year old Pati babu? I can carry my own bag." - Bondita

Saying this Bondita left and so did Anirudh behind her. As Anirudh was driving the car he noticed a smile on Bondita's face which surely depicted that how happy she was to return back to her country.

"Everything has changed! The scenery, those huts, the roads everything!" - Bondita

"Yes indeed! But Bondita I thought it would be very difficult for us to communicate after meeting eachother by a decade of gap." - Anirudh

"How would that be so Pati babu! Ain't you my husband and can a wife ever be distance mentally and emotionally from her husband!" - Bondita

A silence spread throughout as if Anirudh still after 12 years didn't ever accepted their relation as a husband and a wife.

"Don't worry Pati babu! Did you ever left any chance within all these years? I wouldn't have read that much books than your letters. Every month there used to be at least four letters from you all and from those minimum three used to be of yours. Telling me what I should do, what I should not, how to study, how to handle things up and also each and every detail of what was going in the house. You used to write everything like a 5 year old to me!" - Bondita

"Five year old? Don't forget Bondita who is an elder among us!" - Anirudh not able to accept the tease.

"I know Pati babu! You are more elder, more mature, more experienced than me but you forgot that we had so much conversation through our letters that physical distance never mattered for us. Pati babu, I think as your age is increasing your memory power is showing a decline too." - Bondita

"Bondita, my memory power is sharp enough okay! And you stop teasing me! I won't tell you anything but let's reach home I'll show you who has the sharpest memory power" - Anirudh

Bondita couldn't control her smile after hearing Anirudh's words. After few hours Bondita safely reached Roy Chaudhary Mansion. She was welcomed grandly not only by her family but also the villagers. Kaka SasurJi was very proud of both Anirudh as well as Bondita as both are officially barristers now. Bondita was very happy to reunite with her family also Swabhagyawati was blissed to see Bondita in person as Bondita had been her role model all through.
They had a great dinner and after a healthy and happy family chat, Anirudh went to his study as always to read his books before sleep.

"Can I enter Mr Barrister?" - Bondita

"Yes you can, Mrs Barrister!" - Anirudh

"Can I know today which book has grabbed the interest of my Pati Babu?" - Bondita

Bondita and Anirudh had a lively chat regarding their career field, books and stuff.

"I am happy to see you here Bondita. Lastly today I feel that today I fulfilled my promise to your mother and also my responsibility towards you." - Anirudh

The word responsibility hit Bondita hard. She gave a forced smile in reply to Anirudh's words. Anirudh also said that her belongings have been kept back in her room and he will be sleeping in his study as always so that Bondita won't be disturbed.

"As you say, have a good night sleep Pati Babu" - Bondita

"Bondita don't forget that tomorrow we have to go to meet Sumati maa! She will be waiting for us." - Anirudh

"I will be ready!" - Bondita

"Sleep well Bondita!" - Anirudh

Although Anirudh was fine with everything going on but Bondita seemed to be little upset yet respecting Anirudh's decision.
When Bondita was about to go to her room, she encountered Batuk.

"Bodi, is brother there? I wanted his help to tally these finance charts." - Batuk

"No Batuk, Pati babu is in his study!" - Bondita replied being disheartened

"Okay! Thanks Bodi, good night!" - Batuk

Saying this Batuk left to the study. Anirudh helped Batuk with his doubts but when Batuk realised that Anirudh will continue living in his study away from Bondita he felt absurd.

"Dada what you said? You will be staying up here in study and Bodi in your room! From now on too?" - Batuk

"Yes Batuk, why are you so surprised, we lived the same way before too and what's wrong in continuing the same!" - said Anirudh busy with her books.

"Dada, Bodi is not 11 year old now! She is grown up and.. no.. I ain't the right one to say now only Kaka will be able to make you understand this!" - Batuk

Batuk left the study leaving Anirudh in confusion.