"Kaksasurji , do you think this will work? I doubt."

"Dont worry bahu! It works everytime. Girls fear these things too much."
Bondita gave him a stern look.
"I..i..mean other girls. Other stupid girls."

A few moments later..

"Bahu! I'm not liking this. What if someone comes?" Said kakasasurji.

"Shh!! Kakasasurji . Don't be so loud. Someone will listen."

"How would I look Zamindar Trilochan Row Chowdhury guarding the gate of a girl like a chowkidar?" Sadi trilochan looking here and there.

"So , would you prefer going in and doing the task."

"Huh! No, not at all. You go. I'm very worried ,what would happen tomorrow?"

"Did you bring what i told you to?"

"Yes, take it."

"If you see anyone , make a noise."

"What noise?"

"Any noise. Maybe a whistle?" Bondita shrugged.

"Whaaatt! What do you think of me as? I'm not a roadside romeo . This is shameful."

"Then how about barking, or meowing like a cat?"

"Bouma, what have you assumed me to be?" Trilochan asked incredulously.

"Kakasasurji , what else."

"Then , how does it feel to tell your kakasasurji to bark or meow or whistle?" Trilochan frowned.

"Ohkay fine. You just do this-- pshh! Pshh! Pshh!"

"What animal sound is this? "

"This is not any animal sound. It's just a signal. Come on, try it."

"Pish, pish!"

"No ,no put more emphasis on shh, say pshh! pshh!"

Trilochan cleared his throat and said ," pshht ! Pssht!"

"Will work."

Trilochan rolled his eyes.
"Now , go and don't forget to open it. Okay".

"Yes, yes".

Bondita entered Saudamini's room.

Outside, Trilochan was guarding the gate. Suddenly, he saw Anirudh coming towards him.

"Kaka, what are you doing here?"

"Hehehhehehh. I....i ...uh...hehe...i was feeling quite suffocated in my room. So i came here to take fresh here".

"Fresh air? Here in corridor? There is not a single window here."

"Hehe... I've become old. So .hehe i forgot. I'll just go on the terrace. Yeah."

"Ohkay .kaka goodnight".

"But what are you doing here?" Trilochan asked him suspiciously.

"Saudamini asked for a jug of water. But Maa called me for some work. So i forgot, now when I remembered , I've come to put it".

"She ....uh ..she might be sleeping now".

"Is it? I thought I'll just knock and let her know".

"NO! I...i...mean no. If you knock then she will wake up."

"Yeah, that might happen. But I'll just keep the jug. If she wakes up in between, shw would not need to go to the kitchen."

Anirudh started moving towards Saudamini's room.

"Pshht! Pssht! Pshht! Pssht!"Trilochan started making noises.

"Kaka , what are you doing?"

"There was a...a... cockroach. I was sending it away."

"I don't see any".

"But i saw."

Anirudh again moved towards guest room and clicked the door open. As soon as the door opened, a shrill voice came and Saudamini jumped over Anirudh .Anirudh was taken aback, stumbled over his foot and fell backwards taking Trilochan along with him. The jug of water was thrown almost in the air and it fell with clanging voice , splashing water on three of them.

Bondita who had run after listening to signal from the window came from another route in the corridor and was horrified to see the scenario, Saudamini lying on Anirudh ,and Anirudh on kakasasurji.
Whose side is kakasasurji ?

"Anirudh! There is , there is a big mouse. Big fat mouse like a monster."cried Saudamini clutching Anirudh's collar.

"What? What are you saying mini ? We just did pest control last month." Said Anirudh trying to remove her grip from his collar.

"I ain't lying . There is really a giant mouse".

"It's okay, mini . Nothing will happen".

"You both can console each other after you get up from above me or I'll not be able to get up ever. " Yelled kaka

Anirudh and Saudamini got up. Anirudh helped Trilochan to get up , while he winced rubbing his back.

"Sorry ,kaka. I didn't mean to hurt but there really was a big mouse."

"Let's go and see."said Anirudh.

"No, no . I will tell bihari to check tomorrow." Said Trilochan fearing Anirudh would get suspicious.

"Mini , you go and sleep in my room. I'll go to Batuk's".

Bondita signalled Trilochan to say something.

"Uhhh...Anirudh let her go to Bondita's room. She looks scared. She might not be able to sleep alone."

"Okay. Go to Bondita's room. Bondita! Take her with you." Said Anirudh.

"Ji, pati babu. Come, didi."

Saudamini and Bondita went to sleep.

"Bondita, i didn't get much time to talk to you. So, tell me. How are you?"

"I'm good didi."

"You don't seem very comfortable. Is there a problem? I can go back to my room if you want, but the mouse..."

"No, no didi. I'm fine".
Bondita forced a smile.

"I've heard Anirudh sends you school."

"Yes"

"Hmm. So you are the first girl to go to school in Tulsipur , right."

"Yes"

"Nice. I'm glad Anirudh is changing. He has changed a lot since I left."

"What do you mean by changing?"

"Ummm....how do i point out? He has become more sensitive and more caring. He wasn't like that before."

"Ohh. What was he like before?"

"Earlier, he just kept himself reserved . I had to coax him a lot to play with me. He always wanted to play alone. He didn't want anyone to touch his things." Saudamini laughs , feeling nostalgic remeniscing her childhood.

"Ohh".

"Is it because of you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah! He talks quite a lot about you."

"About me? This piqued Bondita's interest. What does he say about me?"

"Many things."

"What things?"

"Ummm, like how you keep him always on toes. How you keep on running everywhere. How you ask lots of questions. How you know how to convince others wittily." Saudamini laughed.

"Did he say that I'm beautiful?"

"Huh! Beautiful? Uhm, I don't remember him saying that".

"Ohhh. Okay." Bondita gave a disappointed sigh.

"Tell me a thing, what's wrong with Batuk?"

"Why?"

"I dunno. He keeps on peeking from behind pillars. When I call him , he runs." Saudamini laughs.

"He is mad. Don't bother."
Bondita rolled her eyes.

"Tomorrow , I and Anirudh are going to play tennis. Will you come? Do you know how to play tennis?"

"Tinis? What's that?"

"Not tinis bondita. Tennis. It's a game in which we hit a ball with a racket."

"Is it like 'gilli danda.'?"

'Somewhat, not exactly. You will know when you'll see. It's Anirudh's favourite. Doesn't he play now?"

"I haven't seen him playing tennis".

"No problem. You'll see tomorrow. Let's sleep for now. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Next morning, Anirudh, Bondita , Batuk and Saudamini went to play tennis in a nearby sports club, exclusive for britishmen and a few influential families.

"Wow, Pati babu! This is so big! It echoes too. Pati babuuuuuu!" Bondita shouted. It echoes back. Bondita laughs.

"Bondita!" Anirudh looked at her sternly.

"Sorry!" Bondita bit her tongue.

Anirudh and Saudamini were playing tennis after a long time , but did they play well.

Bondita was so fascinated with this new game, she imagined herself, wearing white skirt and shirt just like Saudamini has wore, playing with her Pati babu like this.

After 5 rounds , when Saudamini won by 3-2 , they settle down on sofa in a restroom. Anirudh was sitting on a single chair sofa,and others were on a large sofa.

"Pati babu! Let me also play."

"Bondita, what if you get hurt?" Anirudh looked at her.

Bondita went to sit on the right armrest of the sofa chair on which Anirudh was sitting. She encircled Anirudh's neck with her arms and leaned her left cheek on his head. "Please Pati Babu ,please. I also want to play this game. It's amazing. Please please ."Anirudh was liking this attention after so many days of facing cold shoulder.

"Ewwww! Bondita ! Move from there. He's so sweaty and smelly". Saudamini wrinkled ner nose.

"No! Pati babu! Tell me na! You will teach me to play or not?"
She bent and looked at Anirudh with her big round eyes jutting her lower lip out.

Oh!! Now how can I deny this face?
"Okay fine. But promise you won't get hurt."

"Yayyyy!!!! "Bondita fist her hands and threw in the air.

Anirudh started teaching Bondita the basics and techniques of tennis. He played a few shots with her. In games too, Bondita seemed an attentive learner.

"Dada, dada , come with me. They have renewed their workout floor. Let's go and see."

"Mini, will you take care of Bondita?"

"Yes, Rudh. You go."

Bondita and Saudamini started playing. Saudamini was shocked that Bondita was quite a good player for a beginner. Saudamini had always been a competitive person , losing from a newbie was not acceptable to her. She hit the ball with quite a force. Just then , Anirudh entered in the hall, and Bondita looked at him grinning, missing the shot, the ball hit her thumb thus dropping the racquet from her hand. She cried at the sudden blow.

"BONDITAA!" Anirudh rushed towards her. Bondita dropped on the ground cradling her right thumb, tears flowing from her eyes.

"Pati babu! It hurts." Bondita cried.
Anirudh touched her thumb, but she moved it away and cried in pain. "Don't touch. It hurts."

Anirudh looked at Saudamini who has now come by their side, seething in anger. "Are you mad? Were you trying to beat a small girl? I told you take care of her. Actually mistake is mine, i gave her responsibility to someone else. You can't see anyone else before yourself".
He pulled Bondita with her shoulders supporting her injured hand and took her to a nearby hospital.

How dare you Anirudh talk to me like this? Even baba hasn't ever talked to me like this. You indeed have changed a lot . Now i know what is the reason for this change. I thought she is just a small girl, but no she is too clever for her age. Saudamini won't let go this insult easily.

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