Rudhita: Saat janmo ka saath

24. AN ATTACK ON BONDITA.

Bondita went back to the shop where Mallika and Vivaan were waiting for her. As soon as they saw her they rushed towards her and Vivaan restlessly asked: Kaha chali gai thi tum.... aise bina bataye.... upar se puri bheegi hui ho tum....
Bondita looked down and answered in a low voice: Wo.... mandir gai thi.... aur achanak baarish hui to.... bheeg gai....
Mallika then said a little rudely: Agar mandir jaana tha.... to bata kar jaa sakti thi na.... bekaar me hum yaha itna pareshan hue.... itni careless kaise ho sakti ho tum....
Vivaan then said to Bondita: Chalo.... koi baat nahi.... chalo ghar chalte hai.... and turned to glare at Mallika and said: Tumhe yaha.... kisine rukne nahi kaha tha.... tum yaha se jaa sakti thi... par tum apni marzi se yaha ruki.... to uske liye.... Bondita ko dosh dena band karo....
And he held Bondita's hand and left. Bondita stopped and asked: Vivaan.... Aunnu..... mera matlab.... Anirudh kaha hai....
Vivaan replied: Wo ghar chala gaya hai....
Bondita looked down sadly and uttered in her mind: Pata nahi.... kis haalat me hoga Aunnu.... bohot takleef de rahi hu na mai tumhe.... ho sake..... to maaf kar dena apni Bani ko.....
And they left for home.

All the arrangements for the Lohri festival was completely done in the lawn. Vivaan Mallika and Bondita reached Bondita's house. Sumati cametowards them and saw Bondita all wet and asked: Ye kya haal bana rakha hai Bondita..... itni bheeg kaise gai tum.... abhi thodi der pehle Anirudh bhi pura bheeg kar aaya tha... aur.... ab.... tum bhi....
Bondita sighed in relief that Anirudh came home. She then said: Maa... mai fresh ho kar aati hu.... and went to her room. Sumati looked at Vivaan and asked confusingly: Kya hua ise..... aisa ajeeb bartav kyun kar rahi....
Vivaan replied: Pata nahi.... shayad thak gai hogi... isliye....
Sumati nodded and said: Haan... ho sakta hai..... chalo.... tum bhi jaa kar taiyyar ho jao..... lohri ki pooja ka samay ho raha hai....
Vivaan nodded and left.
Bondita freshened up and came down. She saw Anirudh standing in a corner talking to Som and to her surprise he was normally talking as if nothing happened. He felt someone's gaze and looked up and found Bondita looking at him rather staring him. She immediately diverted her gaze and went towards Biji. Anirudh smirked looking at her and muttered to himself : Tumhe kya lagta hai My Sweet Bani.... ki tumne kaha.... aur mai haar maan ke peeche hat jaunga... No... Never... Anirudh Kapoor.... itni aasani se haar manne walo me se nahi hai...
The lohri pooja started. Anirudh was standing in a corner quietly staring Bondita when he heard some women talking. One of the woman said: Pata hai.... lohri ki aag ke saamne 7 phere le lene se.... ladka ladki ki shaadi ho jaati hai....
The other woman said agreeing with her: Haa.... dur unka rishta..... saaton janmo ke liye bandh jata hai....
Anirudh smiled listening to it and uttered in his mind: Agar aisa hai..... to ab tum nahi bach sakti mujhse.... Bani.....
He walked towards Bondita and held her hand and took her near the lohri fire and started taking rounds. Bondita tries to remove her hand but he holds it more tightly. They complete seven rounds. Bondita looked at him surprised. Shubhra then said: Anirudh..... ye kya kiya tune..... jaanta bhi hai.... iss tarah lohri ki aag ke saamne.... phere lene se kya hota hai.....
Anirudh replied: Jaanta hu Mom... isliye kiya hai.....
Binoy came forward angrily and was about to slap him but Bondita holds his hand and said: Ab ye mere pati hai... aap unpar haath nahi utha sakte....
Anirudh smiled.
Som came towards Anirudh and saw him smiling alone lost and tapped his shoulder and he came in sense. He looked here and there shocked and then looked at Som and uttered confusingly: Tu.... yaha... mai..... to... Som raised his eyebrow and asked: Kya.... aise akele khade khade.... muskura kyun rahe ho.... and then he realised that he was dreaming. He looked at Bondita who was talking with Biji and Jiyana. He looked at Som and then left without saying anything leaving Som confused.
Mallika came outside and saw a person and walked towards him. His back was facing her and she said: Tum... tum yaha kya kar rahe ho.... mana kiya tha na maine yaha aane... hum pakde jaa sakte hai....
The person turned around and hugged her. Mallika looked here and there and hugged him back. She broke the hug after a minute. He then said: I missed you... I missed you so much.... Mallika smiled and said: I missed you too....
He then said: Aur kitne din hume aise chup chupkar.... milna padega....
Mallika then said: Bas kuch din aur Shekhar.... you know na..... ye indian rituals.... inki wajah se late ho raha hai..... upar se wo Bondita aur Anirudh.... Heer - Ranjha bane hue hai.... sabse pehle to aaj..... uska the end karna hai mujhe.... par tum na.... please abhi yaha se jao.... warna koi dekh lega to problem ho jaegi.... waise bhi uss oversmart Jiyana ki nazre humesha mujhpar rehti hai.... uss party wale din bhi CID ki tarah.... inquiry kar rahi thi..... bohot mushkil se bachi hu mai....
Shekhar nodded and hugged her and said: I love you.... Mallika too replied with a smile: I love you too....and he left....
Mallika looked here and there and left. Jiyana was a bit far from them hiding behind a wall. After Mallika left she came out and uttered to herself: Mujhe pehle hi shak tha.... ye Mallika kuch gadbad hai..... kin tha ye aadmi.... ek to chehra bhi nahi dikha..... upar se kuch sunai bhi nahi diya.... par itna to pakka hai..... inn dono ke beech kuch to hai.... pata lagana padega....