The Unventured Territory (Completed)

Everyday is a new snapshot of time.
The bullock cart rolled smoothly along the red clay road, as the trees on either side glowed in unnamed shades of green, shimmering in the bright sunlight. Luv and Kush seemed happy to have each other back and as for the old man, he was probably the happiest! He chatted his heart out with Anirudh as the later sat behind, inside the hay shade. Bondita was half seated beside him, as her head rested on Anirudh's lap. He had wrapped his arms around her small frame tightly to cushion her from the occasional lurch and bump on the road.

"Barrister Babu... I can sit up you know!"
Bondita had quietly objected.

"No... Lay down."

Anirudh brushed her unkempt hair gently with his fingers as his hands shielded her face from the bright sunlight.

The afternoon sun had just started to slide down from overhead when Ghanashyam stopped the cart with a sharp tug.
"Huttt Hurrrrr....." His voice made the two bulls retreat their hooves.
He turned around to face Anirudh.

"Babu... Right there, that thatched hut is the post office." He pointed his fingers towards a particular direction as he got down from the driver's seat, tending to his dear animals.

"Bondita... We've arrived." Anirudh hushed gently as Bondita opened her eyes.

"I'm awake... "
Her glance followed the direction pointed out by Anirudh as she narrowed her eyes in apprehension.
"Barrister Babu... Do you think they'll have a telephone here?"

Anirudh too was thoughtful.
"Hm.. ideally all post office should have one. But I don't see any cables." He took a deep breath. "Let me go and check."

Bondita sat up as Anirudh hopped down from the cart.
"Sit here and I'll quickly go and check. Please don't get down." He instructed her.

Bondita narrowed her eyes again as she heard him speak.

"And why am I not allowed to get down?" Bondita hopped down from the cart instantly. Her knees wobbled as she felt the same nagging stretchy pain in her core. Her face flinched a little as she held Anirudh's hand firmly, before straightening her posture to stand upright.

"This is why?"
Anirudh exhaled sharply as he scooped Bondita up from the ground, placing her petite frame back inside the cart.
"Now, sit tight and I'll be back in a minute."

Bondita's eyes followed as he entered the modest mud building. She sighed deeply wondering her eyes on the surroundings.
It was a small market place... with a few vendors selling their wares here and there. There were people who walked passed the cart, few stood afar engrossed in their mundane banters. Bondita noticed a few women looking at her with eyes full of curiosity.

'Its probably because he lifted me up publicly!' Bondita thought as her face flushed at the visualisation of the idea.

Suddenly, a noisy conversation drew her attention. She moved to the rear end of the cart and darted her head out to fathom the source of the clamour.

A man in his late thirties was being humiliated by another one. The later looked a little affluent than the former. Bondita noticed that the man had held his folded hands up, begging and urging to the other man.
A small crowd had gathered around the scene, but no one said or did anything to thwart their dispute.

On the spur of the moment, Bondita widened her eyes in astonishment, as she saw the affluent one raised his hand high up in the air, about to be landed on the pleading man's face. But, out of nowhere his advances were met with hindrance. Anirudh had held his raised arm as the man glared at him with fiery eyes.

"How dare you...!" The man roared as Anirudh stood straight infront of him in his full length. His overpowering magnanimity served him as an added advantage.