Anidita: A sweet journey towards a new dawn

Chapter 41: Anirudh realises the reality

(Disclaimer: am not supporting child marrige at all.)
That night...
Anirudh fed Bondita in the room and made her sleep on the bed.
"Aap mujhe wapas nehi bejenge na Patibabu"
"So jao Bondita " Anirudh caressed her head
"Main kahi nehi jaungi.."
Anirudh didn't reply but started making soothing music through his mouth. Bondita slowly felt asleep. She was holding his hand firmly. Anirudh kept the doll on that place and freed his hands.
At the dining place he saw Banerjee and kakima waiting for him.
"Sau geyi Bondita? "
"Ji ha kakima per aplog abhi tak..."
"Adad hain Anirudh humain" said Banerjee "woh Joy to kitabo ke under rehta hain... khana sona sab apne kamre main... chalo baith jao.."
Anirudh sat down. Kakima served the food and herself got sitted too.
"Accha Anirudh itna darate keu ho bacche ko.."
"Ji... darata hu ... matlab kakima samjha nehi..."
"Darate nehi ho? Bondita ne kaha ki tumne use aise kanun ke bare main kaha hain jisse tum dono ki shadi tut jaigi..."
"Ha kakima... daraya nehi tha... sachmaun aisa pitition kiya hain maine court main..."
Banerjee was going to put the rice on his mouth but halted..
"Shadi todne ka pitition?!"
"Woh matlab dir baal vibha ek kupratha hain... Bondita ke dimag main na jane keya bhar rahe hain sab.. woh mere sath.... mere kamre.... woh mere sath ek kamre main sone........ main mere mu main bhi nehi la sakta aise batain sikha rahe hain mujhe aur woh mujhe woh sab mang puri karne ki jid liye ay jati hain.. padhai likhai chorke sindoor kharidne nikal jati hain keuki gao ki aurat o ne use samjhaya  ....." Anirudh started rubbing his hand uncomfortably
"Main samach sakti hu tum keya kehna chahate ho... yeh samaj ki barso purani soch hain... itni jaldi nehi badlega Anirudh ... per iskeliye tum us vacchi ke dil ko keu chot paucha rahe ho?"
"Main use mere nam se hi alag kar dunga... to kaun use yeh sab batain aur nehi puchega... baal vibha kupratha hain aur main uske birudh jarur jaynga. "
"To tum Bondita ke sath apna shadi todke vaal bibha ke burudh jaoge ." Banerjee gave a sarcastic look
"Haa..."
"Aisa kanun laoge jisse age ki vaal vivha bhi abaidh ho jai.."
"Ji"
"Uske baad woh bacchiya apne pati ke naam se azad ho jaigi fer apne baap ke paas jaigi uski baap use apnake school bejenge padhne..."
"Ha aur hum..." Anirudh was going excited..
"Come on Anirudh... kabhi bahar kadam rakhkke dekha hain tumnain?... ha baal bibha ek kupratha hain... per kisi kupratha se ladna itna asan nehi hota... sirf kanun kabhi kupratha ko rok nehi sakta... use rokne ke liye samaj ki soch badalna jaruri hain... pati ka naam hat jaye to woh chori hui aurat ban jaigi..  yske apne use mar dalenge .. they'll murder her Anirudh .."
"Aur mard log khysi khusi chor denge jarur apni choti si patni ko keuki isse unhe ek aur shadi ka mauka jo milega..." kakima interfared
Anirudh just stared at them...
"Accha Anirudh" Banerjee added "Bondita ko jo chor doge to woh bacchi jaigi kaha?"
"Main hi uski shari zimedari lunga..."
"Tum hi zimedari loge..... to usdin shadi keu ki thi usse? Aise hi ghar la sakte the .."
"Tabh to kanun......"
"Sati ke birudh kanun hain Anirudh ."
Anirudh had no more logics to give..
"Ek baar tumnain Bondita ke sath shadi tod di to tumhara adhikar chala jaiga uske upar se.. aj jo tum uske suraksha kabaj yski himmat ban khare ho woh adhikar kho doge tum... us bacchi ko samaj ke aur tane sunne parenge... aj agar uska bhabisya surakshit hain to tumhari naam se hi.... Anirudh ek baar tumnain jo kar liya chahe woh kupratha hi keu na ho per tumain jo ek bar kar liya use wapas sudharne jaoge to it'll be more disastrous. Log bohat kuch kahenge per tum jante ho tumhain keya karna hain...."
Anirudh stared at him...
"Aj sayed tumhara adhikar nehi raha vaal bibha rokne ka per wkbar us bacchi ki taraf dekho... iska bhabisya tumhare hath hain.... use aise banao jaise dusre usse inspired ho...."
Anirudh looked down at the food. He recalked the misery Bondita faced when once he sent her back angrily. He can't let her be out of his protective shelter. He'll not let a single scar on her.
Anirudh went back to the room. Bondita is sleeping hugging the doll. A sweet smile is on her face. He sat on the floor and kept his hand on the bed. He rested his head oh his hand and fell asleep.
Kakima was going past their room. She saw them from the window. She just couldn't but bless this kids.

In the morning..
"Keya khabar hain Mistry" enquired kaka
"Ji malik hum khabar le rahe hain... agar apki izazat ho to aj hum Kolikata jai?"
"Ha jarur jao... aur jaldi lauto...."

In Calcutta
Bondita opened her eyes. She got up and saw Anirudh dressing up. He put up his coat and saw Bondita in the mirror.
"Uth geyi tum...." Anirudh exclaimed while wearing the watch.
"Kitni der ho geyi..." Bondita got up quickly. As she put her feet on the floor she felt herself to be heavy. She thought she might hav slept too much.
"Main apki coffee lati hu..."
"Bondita mera khana ho geya hain... abhi mujhe court ke liye nikalna hain..." he bent down towards Bondita "kakima ke paas acchi bacchi banke rehna ha... ek bhi sararat nehi... agar koi sararat ki to tum mujhe jante ho.."
Bondita nodded her head.
Anirudh left. Bondita ran behind him. He stood beside the car and opened the door. He sensed something and looked up. Bondita was standing on the balcony. A smile automatically came on his face.  She waved her hand smilling. He also waved his hand in return with a smile. Banerjee was mesmerised looking at this kids. Kakima cane from behind and caressed Bondita's head.
Bondita stood there till the car was out of sight and Anirudh too kept looking back.
"Aur nehi dikheha Anirudh... " teased Banerjee
Anirudh turned his head infront and made his face as if someine has caught a child stealing chocolates.
"Bondita ko wapas bhejne ka dil karta hain Anirudh "
Anirudh looked at Banerjee
"Keya.. bolo..."
"Ji Sir.... man to nehi karta per... kaha rakhu use?"

Bondita entered the kitchen and sat beside kakima
"Kakima apki madad kar du main.."
"Nehi Bondita tumhari hath main chot hain na.."
"Nehi mujhe adad hain..."
"Bondita tumne mu nehi dhoya acche se... akhain aise lal keu hain tumhare?"
"Llal?"
"Idhar ayo" kakima checked her forehead.. "r a tumhe to bhukhar hain?!..."