Bondita's POV

The light of the bright sun seemed faded as they entered through the gaps of the curtains.I stood up, disturbed,and covered the window with the curtains for I did not want the light to enter my room.What shall I do with the sunlight when my heart is engulfed with darkness?

Sounds of conch shells somehow came in through the closed door and I pressed my hands to my ears to prevent the sound.I don't even know what has he done to my Rai.

"Yeh Bondita waada karti hain aapse ki apni akhri saans tak ladegi yeh Bondita,Rai ke liye."

I promised him to take care of Rai,to be by her side till my last breath.How will I do that?If I would know Chandrachur can stoop so low,I would have ended my life that very day when I had to be separated from Birristra Babu.

But now there is no stepping back.I won't leave Rai alone when I have taken her responsibility.It is my duty to save her from the brutal clutches of the society.

Now my wait is for the time to pass and the night to come,as soon as possible for it would be the end of the uncanny fear we were engulfed in.

I took out a shawl from the wardrobe and went near the window.A chuckle appeared on the corner of my lips as I remembered how the window would be the only way for me to go out when Birristra Babu would not allow me to go to the pond to take a bath. And today it is the only way for me to make my way out when all the other doors are closed for me.

Taking in a deep breath,I wrapped the shawl around me and made my way out.

Author's POV

Having made her way outside the house,rather a cage,she breathed a sigh of victory and hid herself behind the trees to go unnoticed before the right time.

Time passed slowly for her but finally it was night and came the time to take the eight year old bride to the mandap which was made at a little distance from their house as Chandrachur knew Bondita would surely intrude in as she would not be able to take Rai being sold off.

And she secretly followed all as they went to the Mandap.Rai was made to sit on the Pidhi and she was supported by a woman as she was not in her conscious state.

Bondita watched it all while concealing herself behind the Pandal. Her eyes welled up as she reminisced how her Mama and Mami wanted to sell her off,the same way.And that day her Rakshak Babu saved her.And today it was the time for her to be Rai's Rakshak Babu as she could never let Rai go through the same hurdles she went through.Because Anirudh was by her side,she easily overcame all the hurdles but who will be there for Rai?Was there anyone as perfect as Anirudh?

The wedding commended and Bondita was about to make her way inside when a tight grip pressed her mouth hard and choked her throat. She made vigorous movements to get out of the grip but the grip was too tight for her to cope up with.She was pulled back near a tree and was pinned to it.

"Tumhe kya laga main nahi janta tha ki tum Rai ko bachane ke liye yaha aayoge?"

Bondita looked at Chandrachur before her whose smirk sent shiver ran down her spine.

"Tu...tum?!"She questioned through her quivering voice.

But the next moment a gush of strength engulfed her and she glared at him with her red eyes.

"Aaj tum mujhe rok ke nahi rakh sakte ho.Rai meri kamzori thi aur uske wajah se main har bar ruk jaati thi.Par aaj jab baat Rai par aa hi gayi hain to main chup nahi baithi rahungi."

Saying this she pushed him backwards and he fell on the ground. She took a log in her hand and hit his head hard with it and ran towards the mandap where Rai was made to stand for the Saat Pakh.

"Ruk jayiye!!"She yelled on the top of her voice.

That voice of hers was something which no one had ever experienced. Today she was no more the innocent Bondita who would easily fall into the clutches of the society.She was taught by her Shikshak Babu to fight against the wrong.Today she was the fierce and strong Bondita who would never back off from fighting for justice.

Bondita went towards the fire and lit the log up.She went towards all the guests with her slow steps while everyone moved backwards.

"Rai se dur hat jayiye."She warned them.

The woman who was holding Rai moved back and before Rai could fall Bondita safely held her in her protective embrace.Bondita took her outside the Mandap and called her out softly.

"Rai!!"

Bondita gently held her cheeks and caressed her hairs before pulling her closer to herself.Now that Rai is with her she won't let anyone to separate Rai from her.

"Agar aap mein se koyi bhi Rai ko chune ki koshish bhi karenge to main aaj yaha aag laga dungi."

"Rai ko bachana meri zimmedari hain aur main woh puri karungi chahe mujhe maut ka samna bhi kyun na karna pade."Bondita spoke determindedly in her loud voice.

Bang!!

A loud sound echoed in the silent surroundings and Bondita's feet stumbled.Her tight hold on Rai loosened gradually and finally she fell down while Rai was held by Chandrachur.

"Aaj tum Rai ko bacha nahi payogi Bondita.Aaj uski shaadi zaroor hogi."

The women again took Rai inside while Bondita was lying on the ground,half- conscious.Will she not be able to save Rai?Will Rai have to face death even without dying?

"Yeh Bondita waada karti hain aapse ki apni akhri saans tak ladegi yeh Bondita,Rai ke liye."

These words continuously ringed in her ears and her hands went to the log which she had lit up and she clutched it in her grip.The way the log which she lit up did not extinguish, the fire which was lit by Anirudh, years ago,couldn't be extinguished.

His each and every words set up a courage in her and she finally got up with much difficulty.She stood with the support of a tree and walked inside where the last ritual,i.e, Sindoor Daan,was left.And before Rahgav could fill Rai's empty hairline with the red powder,she snatched Rai away.

"Maine kaha tha ki main Rai ki zindagi kharab nahi hone dungi, ussey jeete jee mrityu ke muh mein nahi dhakel sakti main."

"Agar apni khud ki jaan bachani ho to aap sab chale jayiye yaha se.Warna main yaha aag laga dungi."Bondita warned,more strictly this time.

Bondita took Rai towards the entrance.Everyone left the place as soon as it was possible for them as they knew it would not be possible for them to control Bondita.Everyone except Chandrachur left the place.

Chandrachur took his slow steps towards Bondita while Bondita moved back with Rai gripped tightly in her embrace.

"Main akhri baar keh raha hun ki chod do Rai ko.Warna bohot bura hoga."

"Bura to tab karoge na jab tum zinda reh payoge."

Saying this almost expressionlessly, Bondita walked out of the Mandap before throwing the log towards it and setting it in fire.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she knew what she did today wasn't the correct way to do it.But she had no choice.If she would let Chandrachur go alive,he would obviously come back and make their lives harder than hell.She finally succeeded in doing justice with Rai and herself,no matter what the way was.
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