"Hey, aren't you the new bride?"
Bondita was standing in the secluded section of the terrace, that was accessible directly from the indoor passage of the first floor. This place was Bondita's recluse, and whenever she would need some air, she would always come and stand here.
The evening sun had just given up on his glory, leaving the sky shaded in his dying colours. The birds were flying in flocks to their loved ones, and the sweet aroma of the feast getting prepared in the kitchen filled the atmosphere.
Bondita heard the female stranger and turned around.
"Yes, and you are?"
She asked politely.
The wedding was a majestic affair, people from all across the village entered the mansion freely. There were decorators, chefs, and of course the actors from the drama company. And, Bondita lost track of known and unknown faces.
"Do I look that different without make-up?" The woman laughed out a little.
"Didn't you see me last night?"
Bondita narrowed her eyes and smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry... I..I can't.."
"RaghuPati, thousands of diamonds are faded at your feet! Rang a bell?"
The woman enacted the dialogue and laughed again.
"Oh... Yes! Ofcourse." Bondita smiled brightly at her.
"Maa Sita! Yes, I saw you backstage... You were brilliant I heard."
"You heard? I thought you saw." The woman raised an eyebrow.
"So the words were true... The bride and the groom weren't there during the play."
She looked at Bondita questioningly.
"Words? Where did you hear?"
Bondita asked.
"Words travels faster than light my dear bride... But, don't worry my lips are sealed."
The woman signed to zip her lips.
"By the way, I am Mohini... I work for the drama company."
The woman stretched her hand towards Bondita.
"And, I'm Bondita Roy Choudhury... The bride, but not a new one." She smiled again.
"So, you were a child bride I heard, educated and now getting remarried to your husband."
Mohini remarked.
"Wow! You know about me a lot it seems."
"You are my employer. I did my homework." Mohini shrugged.
"It's just that I didn't expect the educated Zamindarni to be this beautiful and cordial." Mohini held Bondita's hands and complimented her.
"You are beautiful too!" Bondita smiled brightly. "And, very talented."
"Yes, I love acting. It's very rare for a woman to join a drama company you know... But, I did!"
Mohini rolled her long pleated hair and strolled leisurely as she spoke to Bondita.
"My family has abandoned me... Now this is my family." She smiled absentmindedly as she touched her abdomen gently.
Bondita's eyes followed Mohini's caressing hands.
She furrowed her eyebrows and asked her.
"Are you?... I mean..."
Mohini turned around and smiled.
"Yes, I'm with child. But don't tell anyone."
Bondita came closer and held her hands.
"I won't. But, this is supposed to be good news!"
"It is! But, not for an unmarried actress." Mohini sighed.
"The moment everyone knows this, I'm no longer to play Sita." She paused, looking at her expectantly.
"And the father?" Bondita asked politely.
"The father is very happy... It's Lankapati Ravaan!" Mohini giggled.
"Actually this drama company is his father's. Had it not been for Nareen, I mean Ravaan, I would have been long lost."
Mohini inched forward towards Bondita and took her hand, making her touch her abdomen.
"A baby is all it takes! It binds families... It makes a relationship stronger." Mohini smiled with hope in her eyes.
"Your father-in-law is paying us a good sum... It's my fourth month... After this, Nareen and I would get married and will welcome the baby together."
Bondita saw moisture glistening in Mohini's eyes.
"A baby is all it takes... To soften a man's heart and live in it permanently!"
Mohini's voice cracked.
"You are young, beautiful... But, I have seen your husband... He is like Lord ShriRam himself... There wouldn't be a single woman who wouldn't crave for him." She paused.
"And, a woman to woman advice, tie him in the bond of fatherly love as soon as possible... If you want to keep him forever."
Bondita's eyes reflected her concern, but she forced a smile on her face.
"Mohini, you spoke justly... My husband is indeed like ShriRam, and I can vouch with my life that he won't look at any other women apart from me."
Mohini chuckled at her words.
"I don't know about you... But, I have seen the world a lot more than you have. Men are unpredictable. Even ShriRam made Sita go through Agnipariksha... Even he turned around from his beloved wife and sent her in exile... And, ironically the idea of taking her back occured to him when he saw his sons!" Mohini paused.
"Think about it new Bride, you won't be new forever... And, can you guarantee his fondness once he beds you regularly?"
Bondita narrowed her eyes at her words. Her last words poured hot lead in her ears, as her heart twitched at the thought of Anirudh not loving her anymore.
Mohini approached closer and placed her hand on Bondita's shoulder.
"Sister, I'm telling you this because I have started to like you... A lot! So, take my advice and act rightly..."
She turned around to leave, leaving a thoughtful Bondita stranded on the terrace.
"Have a baby... And, tie him forever... Before it's too late!"
Her words echoed in the air as Bondita saw her climbing down the stairs and fading away from her sight.
"A baby... A baby like Ani...!" Bondita's face flushed at the thoughts.
"I'll ask for a baby from him... A wedding gift!" She murmured, covering her face with her hands as she ran down the stairs, straight to her room, throwing herself on the soft bed with wild shy dreams clouding her mind.
.................................................
"Done and dusted!"
Mohini dashed open the door of Trilochan's bedroom as she let out a sharp seductive giggle.
"Now? What next? Seduce you? Or the younger brother?" Mohini inched closer to Trilochan as she ran her fingers on his grave calm face.
"Tell me..." Her voice became hoarse. "What do you want me to do now?"
She took his hands and made him touch her lips, planting a kiss on his fingers.
Trilochan withdrew his hands right away making her burst out into a fit of seductive laughter.
"Should I just..." Mohini walked away and lay her body on Trilochan's bed.
"I'm good at this."
She stretched her arms up her head and lay down in an artistic pose.
"You play Sita, but behaviour is that of Surpanakha's."
Trilochan furrowed his eyebrows in disgust and opened up the drawer, taking out a bundle of notes from it.
"I'm Mohini...! The seductress feminity of Vishnu..." Mohini laughed again, stretching her body on the bed further.
"By the way, I generally play Surpanakha in the play... Our Sita is having a baby... Hence, I'm the replacement!" Mohini rolled around, clutching her face on her elbow.
"So... Tell me Zamindar Babu... What do I do now?" She asked in a throaty voice, biting her lower lip in an un-ignorable sensuality.
"Leave!"
Trilochan threw the bundle at her and walked out of the room, tapping his sticks in his magestic demeanor.
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It was after the lavish dinner feast that the entire village gathered once again at the Courtyard of the Roychowdhury mansion to witness the second act of the RamLeela.
Ravaan had already abducted Sita, and it was ShriRam's turn to recite the heart-wrenching lament for his lost wife.
Both Anirudh and Bondita were seated among the audience that night. But, Bondita sat inside a veiled canopy, surrounded by women, while Anirudh sat in a couch with Batuk and his uncle.
The night was long and unbearable... Anirudh thought. It was their Kaalratri, and Anirudh wasn't supposed to see or talk to his wife that night.
It's wasn't that he was fond of these baseless rituals, but Bondita had expressed her wish of following this ritual strictly, and her wish was his command.
"Where did you vanish last night?"
Anirudh hushed to his brother.
"Dada... It's just that... Dada, there is a woman in the village, her husband is dying and she is to give birth in a day or two." Batuk spoke softly as Anirudh narrowed her eyes, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"And? Did you get a doctor?"
"No Dada, the nearest hospital is far enough for him to travel... And, our village doctor is visiting his daughter in Calcutta."
"Hm... Let me send someone to the hospital tomorrow morning and get a doctor as soon as possible... I'll telephone there."
Anirudh spoke gravely.
"Dada... Parvati di is a good woman... If her husband dies, can you send her and her baby somewhere far? Some convent or ashram?" Batuk hushed the question.
"Why?"
"I feel her life is in constant danger here... Family land feud!"
"I'll see to it... Don't worry."
Anirudh turned his gaze towards the canopy under which Bondita was seated. But, her position restricted his vision, making his heart twitch slightly.
It was past two at night when Trilochan noticed both his nephews yawn simultaneously as their droopy eyes reluctantly gazed at the stage.
"You two want to sleep?" He asked them gently.
"Yes."
"Yes!"
Both the brothers replied together.
"Very well then, Batuk, go and sleep with your brother in his room tonight... I know both of you didn't sleep last night...!"
Batuk jumped up at his uncle's words and started walking through the seated crowd as Anirudh followed his trail, leading to his own bedroom.
"Bihari..." Trilochan called out.
Bihari was seated on the ground. He turned around.
"Ask Bahurani to go and sleep if she wishes to... Tell her that I understand she is tired and in need of sleep."
................................................
"What a tiring day it was, Dada!"
Batuk jumped up in his bed and grabbed two pillows tugging them under his head."
"Batuk, scoot a little." Anirudh removed his kurta and wore his nightshirt around.
"What Dada... You can literally play football in your bed!" He spread his legs and arms further, closing his eyes, as he made fake snoring sound to annoy his elder brother.
"Batukkk!" Anirudh groaned as he slept beside him only to feel Batuk stretched his leg on his.
Apart from the occasional roll of conches and drums, the night was otherwise quiet.
Batuk was long asleep as Anirudh lay awake, twisting in his bed.
His heart longed for Bondita.
It's been a whole day that he hadn't seen or spoken to her, and the distance was unbearable.
After a considerable amount of contemplation, Anirudh finally got up from his bed and decided to check if Bondita was in her room or not.
He slowly left the bed, and opened the drawer carefully not to wake his brother up, as he pulled out some documents from it.
He crept out of the room and walked down the stairs reaching Bondita's door in the first floor.
The door was closed from inside.
"Bondita... Bondita!"
Anirudh knocked on the door softly.
But, no one replied.
'She must have fallen asleep then.' Anirudh thought as he looked at the documents in his hand.
Hesitating on his course of action for a few minutes, Anirudh finally decided to head back to his room as he heard a soft tap on the door from inside.
He turned around as his eyes fell on a piece of paper that was slided from below the closed door.
Anirudh kneeled down to pick the piece of paper in his hand.
Bondita's handwriting, and it read...
We aren't supposed to talk tonight.
Anirudh read the paper and sat on the ground, leaning his back against the closed door.
"I know we're not supposed to talk... But I wasn't able to sleep without knowing how you are! I haven't heard from you since last night."
Anirudh hushed the words slowly, making sure it reaches behind the closed door.
Same. I wasn't able to sleep. I wanted to speak to you as well.
Anirudh eyed the chit as a smile laced his thin red lips.
"Bondita, I have already told you about the wedding gift, I wanted to show it to you as well..." He chuckled innocently.
"I'm just getting a little restless these days, I guess!"
He slided the form and brochure down the door and waited for a reply.
Another chit came up.
These looks great... But, Barrister Babu, can I ask for my wedding gift from you?
Anirudh read the words and smiled lovingly.
"Ofcourse Bondita... You can ask for anything... There is nothing in this world that I'd deny you."
Anirudh stopped as another chit flew in.
Do you promise? Do you swear on me that you'd keep your promise?
Anirudh furrowed his eyes and hushed gently.
"Bondita, have I ever broken my promise?"
There was complete silence from the other side, making Anirudh grow restless.
"Alright, Bondita... If you want to me verbally consent... Here I go, I swear to give you whatever gift you ask for."
Anirudh stretched his legs infront and leaned back on the door in a relaxed form as sleep started to take over him slowly.
"Bondita?" He called out softly again as another chit was passed from under the door.
He picked up the chit and read the words.
I want you to promise me a baby. I want a baby from you as my wedding gift!
Anirudh rubbed his eyes again as he read the words on the paper
"A baby!" He gasped.
"But, Bondita, I told you that this is not the right time... I promise we'll have one in another four or five years.... What's the rush Bondita?"
No reply came from inside, but a sharp sound of unlatching the door. And in the next moment, Anirudh saw Bondita standing infront of him.
"Why such reluctance in having a baby Barrister Babu? You wanted to send me to Dehradun to study as you thought it's wasn't the time for us to stay together... I complied... Then, you decided the right time for us to start our married relationship... I complied! But, now, I want to have a baby... And it's your turn to comply."
Anirudh stood up from the ground, facing Bondita as his face dropped at her stern words.
"Are you scared of responsibilities?" She asked him firmly.
"What are you saying? Why would I be scared of taking responsibilities? Infact..."
Anirudh stopped mid-sentence as he looked away.
"Infact what? What Barrister Babu...?" Bondita asked him again.
"You promised to give me a baby... And, I would expect you to keep that in mind when you come to me tomorrow."
Bondita looked expectantly at his face for either a rebuttal or an answer, but instead Anirudh let out a sharp sigh.
"Goodnight Bondita! Sleep well..." Anirudh turned around to leave.
"May you think straight tomorrow morning."
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