The Unventured Territory (Completed)

Time is like a free flowing river... It determines it's own course and waits for none. And, our life is to flow in its rhythm.
Four days had passed since Anirudh and Bondita returned back from their uncalled adventure. Although, Trilochan had left no stones unturned, but he couldn't convince the couple to accompany him to Tulsipur immediately. They needed more time, time to tie all the loose ends of the endeavours that fate had woven for them.

"So... You won't come with me?" Trilochan had asked grimly during their regular morning breakfast.

"No Kaka... We have things to take care of here. It won't take long I promise. A month may be!"
Anirudh had replied as he held Trilochan's hands in assurance.

"Anirudh, without you and Bondita, the Haweli is not the same. We too want you back." Trilochan had paused. "Tulsipur is waiting to welcome their new Zamindar and Thakurain!"

"I understand Kaka. I promise we won't take long."

"Also, about the wedding. I don't know under what circumstances you two had decided to marry again, but I'll be preparing a grand reception for you when you get back."

"Why reception? No wedding?" Anirudh had asked quizzically looking up at Trilochan.

"No, because, to me and to everyone in Tulsipur, you two are already a married couple. This would be a ten years wedding reception that Tulsipur would celebrate."

Anirudh had nodded his head silently, thinking about how excited Bondita would be to hear the news.

Quite a few things had undergone a situational change since their return.
Kshitija got back her house for the time being. She left Suresh's place right after their abrupt fateful night. She had also arranged for a bail for her brother as well, but there were conditions!

Suresh's mother, Shrimati Meenarani Chatterjee had arrived a day after Kshitija had left. Her son had told her to prepare for his marriage and the old widow tried her best to hide her anxious emotions as she complied to her son's whims.
'What kind of marriage would this be? No arguing over shopping lists, no bantering of neighbour women!' The widow was sad but she knew well how to hide her emotions. Although she was a progressive woman, who toiled alone to educate her only son to become a doctor... But, there were some psudo progressiveness that she could never accept. She had never liked Kshitija much for her snobbish nature. But, she was her son's love!
However, one solace for her was that Suresh had agreed to bring Mira to her from the hospital.
Mira was the one whom Meenarani had loved, she had always wished for a daughter like her... quiet-natured, understanding, humble, respectful.
She wanted to feed Mira, arranging a modest baby shower for her... atleast this she could do for that unfortunate young girl who had called her Maa!

Anirudh hadn't objected to Suresh's proposal of keeping Mira with his mother. First, because for his own uncle wouldn't have taken it well to keep a seven months pregnant young girl in the house without a proper relation. And second, Mira's fragile health condition demanded an all time medical supervision, and there was no one else in Dehradun who could have done this better than the doctor and his old experienced mother.

Trilochan had decided to stay for a few more days, as the pleasant warmth of the mountain summer had always agreed to his health. Anirudh had insisted him to stay in his master bedroom downstairs, as he had shifted upstairs to Bondita's room. The entire day he would spend in the study, reaching up to Bondita's bed very late at night. For the last two days, Bondita, too, hadn't shown any eagerness to be with him as well. There would always be a healthy politeness in her manners during the day, while at night, she made sure that there were ample soft pillows in between them, forming a superficial barrier.
It had hurt Anirudh... But this was exactly what he had chosen!
There were momenta when Anirudh was aided with an overwhelming desire to pull a sleeping Bondita close into his arms, to kiss her puffy red lips, to play with her soft hair... But, something inside him told her not to!