After the pooja, Bondita was taken to Anirudh's room.

Anirudh was pacing in the hall for the green signal from his Kaka to go to his room.
He wasn't at all understanding this fuss for a specific timing to meet his wife. He was already running out of patience. But his Kaka wouldn't budge. What life has become? He has to wait for permission of others to meet his own wife. Her birthday would start in an hour and he didn't want to miss it. He just hoped she stayed awake uptil now.

"Anirudh, now go to your room. Bondita bahu is there only." Said Trilochan, who himself was glued to the clock since an hour.

Anirudh didn't need any other invitation. He dashed towards his room, but only to be cornered by his cousins and his friend Gopal on the way.

"Are, Anirudh! " His cousin Joydeep laughed . " Why so hurry? She is your wife only. Send some time with us too." He teased sharing glances with others.

"No, actually it's her birthday today, so I'm in a bit hurry." Said Anirudh trying to finish the conversation as soon as possible.

" Oooooohh! It's her birthday." He snickered ." Then , I guess Boudi is going to get her best birthday gift today."

" What do you mean? " Anirudhh asked with a frown on his face. He had brought her gift but they didn't seem to be talking about that.

"I knew it. You are as slow as a snail in your married life. That's why your kaka told me to give you some lessons." Gopal beamed with a proud expression.

" What lessons? "

" Lessons for your wedding night."

"What? We-wedding night?"

"Yes. I guess you are not that innocent , that you don't even know the meaning of wedding night." He snickered.

Anirudh's face blanched with horror . He knew what a wedding night was . He had married cousins and friends with their marriages old enough to call them experienced. The thought of him and Bondita indulging in such act didn't even cross his mind once.

For him, she was still a small, naughty child who couldn't take care of herself alone. He needed to be with her to make sure she is safe. It's true, he was feeling some strange attraction towards her, but this...... This was not in his thoughts for miles far.

"This is a joke right. This pooja was just kaka's usual veneration for peace and prosperity, right! Tell me you are kidding. " He asked with a concerned expression.

" Why would I lie Anirudhh?" His cousin snickered." Today is actually your wedding night. Your suhaagrat. Didn't you notice your wife all decked up like a bride?"

" Yes , Anirudh. It's fine to be nervous for first time. Don't worry. We all are here to help you. " Said Gopal with a cocky grin. " Kashi is there to explain her. Don't worry. "

" What? No no no. She....she will get scared. I .... I need to explain her these sensitive things my way. " He said .

" You can Anirudh. That too your way. " His another cousin laughed with a meaningful look. Anirudh winced.

"Yes, Anirudh. Kaka said that today is an auspicious occasion for a heir. You can't let him down." Said Gopal.

" Yes Awni! Why worry? Just a bit of caressing here and there, wherever you like. And then..... You know.... " Joydeep hesitated.

" Ohho! This joydeep is such a timid one." His other cousin lowered his voice and said, " Anirudhh, just put your thing into her and rest your body will know what to do." He winked.

Anirudh could feel bile rising his throat at their words. His fists clenched , trying to tame his anger from hitting these so called well-wishers of his. But he needed to reach Bondita as soon as possible now before someone corrupts her mind with these senseless things.

"I have to go." Anirudh said and tried to go but his cousins didn't leave him.

" Anirudh wait! See what I've brought for you." Gopal showed him a packet and gave a devilish smile.

" What is this?" Anirudh asked with confusion.

"Oh Anirudhh, you don't know. This is a very popular herb known to increase sexual appetite. Just one pouch and you are as charged as a race horse for the whole night." He wiggled his eyebrows meaningfully.
"I took it before my wedding night and Kashi couldn't walk for three days straight."

Anirudh was so close to vomit then and there. He felt as if his ears would start bleeding any moment.

"What are you saying Gopal?" He yelled. "Bondita is very , very delicate. She won't be able to bear these things right now. I will talk to kaka. Please don't talk about her in this manner." Said Aniruddh frowning , feeling this conversation becoming dirtier every minute.

" Meh! She is not a child, Anirudhh. She is a grown up woman. She is 13 for godsake. Kashi was only 11 when we had our wedding night. She didn't say anything. Yes, she pretended to be angry the next morning, but it was all a ruse to capture my attention." Gopal laughed.

" Areh! Anirudh . You don't worry. You will see how your own wife will seduce you if you don't take the first step yourself , and what kind of a man you are when you can't satisfy her basic needs. This is your duty towards her. Don't deny her right. " said Joydeep.

" Her right? " Anirudh asked.

" Ofcourse it's her right. Which woman wouldn't want her husband's love? "

" Yes Awni! Don't behave like a sissy. Just coax her if she doesn't understand in starting but if she makes too much fuss, then just tear her apart and show her, her real palce . Go, and show her the real man you are. I have heard many stories of hers. I bet fiesty women like her love aggressiveness in bed. When you will give her the happiness of a child, she would wash your feet and drink. "
Said his distant cousin, he didn't even remember his name even. Why was everyone invited for this thing was beyond his understanding. And how dare he talk about Bondita like this?

Anirudhh lost his cool at his words and pounced on him like a predator and pushed him down on the ground and throttled his neck.

Everyone panicked and grabbed him in a hurry and tried to push him away from his chest but Anirudh's blood shot eyes had so much rage in them, he yanked their arms with all his might and landed a blow on his left eye, making him mewl in pain.

"Owwwwww! Anirudh! Please someone , someone save me. He'll kill me."

" Don't you even dare to utter her name with your filthy tongue or I'll skin you raw , you bastard! " Anirudh yelled and landed one more punch on his jaw, discolouring his skin.

Gopal pushed him with his body and pinned him down on the floor. " Anirudhh! Enough! Don't fight. He has learnt his lesson. Let him go. You want to kill him or what."

"Yes, I'll kill him. How dare he bad mouth my wife?" He bellowed.

Gopal made him stand on his feet. " Relax, Anirudh. Nobody will say anything. But remember what I said. Bondita would want the same. Don't snatch her happiness and rights."

Anirudh didn't answer and left, caressing his hand.

"Now, I will have to do something or this stupid will ruin his life and hers too. She is his wife dammit not his child. Bloody idiot! " Said Gopal.
" KASHI! KASHI! " He called.

Kashi came running to him pulling her pallu to her head.

" This is the way you show yourself in front of other men." He pulled her pallu lower to cover her face till nose.

"So-sorry. I....... I..... was in hurry. I..... didn't... see everyone was here. I...I...just...." She stammered , her hands shivering.

" Okay, okay. What is this in your hand?"

" Th-This.....this is kesar milk for Chhoto Jomidar babu. Boro Jomidar babu told me to keep in his room."

" I was about to tell you to teach that Bondita some good stuff. But i Guess we don't need her help now. This milk will do its work." He emptied two herb pouches in it.
"Now I'll see , how Anirudhh controls himself." He smirked, while everyone patted his back laughing.
"Kaka would be proud of me. He chose the correct person for his work." He laughed cockily.

Kashi's eyes widened when her husband emptied the herb in the milk meant for Anirudhh. She knew the consequences of it, firsthand. Her hands shivered imagining the aftermath of this conspiracy of her husband.
I won't let him drink it. I will have to do something.

"Why are your hands shivering?" Gopal held the glass, fearing it will fall.

"Sorry, sorry. Give, I....I'll give it to chhoti malkin." She tried to take the glass back from him.

"Kashi! I hope you don't have something else going on in your mind. Kaka has given me responsibility to take care of Anirudhh. Did you teach Bondita well, what she has to do?"

"Ye-yes."

"Everything?"

"Hmm."

"Open your mouth. I don't understand this mumbling. " He pressed her arm in his right grip.

"Aah! Ye-yes . I .... I told her everything."

"You better."

" BIHARI BABU! BIHARI BABU"

" Ji"

" Give this glass to Bondita. Tell her it's for Anirudh. He should drink it as a part of rasam. Tell her ,her kakasasurji said that."

" Ji."

" Bihari kaka, give it to me. I'll go and give." Kashi said.

" No need. He will do the work. " Said Gopal firmly.

Kashi looked at Bihari Babu with pitiful eyes trying to communicate silently but Bihari was too oblivious of her ocular language. He left from there immediately.
I hope you remember what I said to you chhoti malkin. But I don't know whether he would be able to listen to you this time.

Flashback

" Kashi didi! Come inside and tell me how am I looking? Will Pati babu like me? Will he find me more beautiful than everyday? " Bondita twirled showing her saree to Kashi.

"Khub khub bhalo chhoti malkin. He... He would surely like it."

"Ohho didi. Don't call me malkin. Call me Bondita."

"H-How can I?" She hesitated.

" Because gopal dada also calls pati babu by his name. So you can also call me Bondita." She chirped.

"Ok, B-bondita. I.... I have to tell you something. About today's rasam."

" Is it? But I already know about all this."

" Acha! Who told you?" She asked surprised.

" Haan. Some ladies of village told me."

"What did they say?"

"Dhatt! I feel so shy." She blushed remembering the kiss she had thought Anirudh would give her.

" Ohhh, are you ready for that?"

" I think so. Everything pati babu will only do na. I don't have to do anything. So I'd don't know how I should be ready. "

" Yes. Bondita, tell me a thing does he listen to you?"

"Of course , he has very good ears. He always listens whenever I call him and sometimes my mumbling too." She stuck her tongue out.

Kashi let out a dry laugh. " No, I mean does he.....will he ... obey you if you say no for something? Like for today's rasam ?"

"Why would I say no for rasam?"

"If you....., I mean , if you don't like it. If you feel pain, during the act."

" He can never hurt me, didi. He always makes sure I'm not in pain or discomfort." She defended.

" Nice. Nice. Bondita, if he does something you don't like, tell him no straightaway okay. Don't hesitate. If he really cares for you, he would stop."

" Ok didi." She nodded.

Flashback ends.

***

"Bondita! Bondita! Are you inside. Open the door." Anirudh came to his room and knocked.

" Pati babu!" Bondita squealed with delight and jumped from the bed to open the door. But then remembering something, she sat on the bed again.
"Come inside, Pati babu. The door is unlocked."

Anirudhh entered the room and was dumbfounded to see it. He could not recognise his own room. The whole room was decorated with scented candles and flowers. Linen curtains were hanging on windows. The lights were dim creating an eerie feeling in his heart.

But the most heart-wrecking scene was Bondita sitting in the middle of the four poster bed with her knees touching her chest, decked up like a newly wed bride in a red banarasee saree with golden work on the border. Her face was covered with her veil and she was playing with her bangles, making them giggle in a melodious sound.

"Pati babu? What happened?" Her question broke his trance.

He closed the door and came to her in slow steps, feeling scared.

"B-b-bondita! Wh-what are you doing here?" The condition of the room was self explanatory but he wanted to listen what she thought she was doing.

"Me? What am I doing? I'm just sitting here."

"I... I mean why did you come in my room?"

" Why , I can't come?"

"No, you... You can.... I mean.... Why now? Why aren't you sleeping in your room?"

"Pati babu! Today is an important rasam. What did they say? Ummmm.... Yes suhaagraat!" She snapped her fingers. "It is very important . Kasasasurji was so worked up today . I can't tell you. He has been eating my head since two days, to follow whatever is told to me. So that we can start a happily married life. "

Anirudh gulped visibly at her words.
Happily married life.
That means she knows everything.
She is ready?
But I don't feel ready.
Will she understand, if I say no? I hope she doesn't take this rejection to her heart.

"First , remove this ghomta Pati babu. I can't breathe under it ." She said wringing her hand.

"Yes. Yes." Anirudh removed her veil with shaky hands and revealed her happy bright face.

"How am I looking Pati babu?"

"V-very....very nice....Bondita! Are you, are you sure? Why we..... we are here for.... You want to...... Want to... Do this right?"

"Yes, pati babu! I'm sure. I was waiting for this since so many days."

"Oh!"
Now there is no way back from this. He can't possibly break her heart. She had waited for this for so long. Why she didn't tell me? Had I gone this long away from her , that she didn't even tell me , she wanted this.
"Why didn't you tell me this before, Bondita?"
His voice broke.

"I thought you would say no. I was worried that you won't do it."

"If you would have told me before, I would have explained you why I said no."

" I know why you would say no."

"Why?"

" Because you think that I'm small and can't do these tasks."

"Then , why Bondita. If you understand that you are small , then why all this? "

" But last time you had said , I'm not that small, when we made the deal."

" Deal? "

"Yes."

" Bondita, tell me very clearly. What do you think we are going to do? "

" You don't know? "

"No! "

" You forgot our deal? "

" What deal Bondita! I am not understanding." Anirudh said getting irritated now.

" Hawwww! Pati babu! You forgot our deal. Remember what you had said befor you went to Calcutta."

Flashback

" Bondita ! Shhhh! Shhhh!! Stop crying! See you can't even breathe , properly." Said Anirudh wiping her tears and nose with his hanky, and crinkled his nose in mock disgust. " See, your nose is running."

"Pati babu!" She whined and pushed him.

" Acha acha! Sorry." He laughed. " Tell me what will I have to do to make you stop crying."

" Take me with you."

" Bondita! I told you na . I can't take you."

" Why? "

"Kaka will get angry. And you know na Dida, she doesn't like you much. She might scold you there."

"Pati babu! Please. I will bear whatever comes my way , if you are with me. P-please take me." She sobbed.

" Bondita ! Bondita ! Acha tell me , who will take care of maa , if we both go to Calcutta? Can we leave her with Batuk alone to take care of her?"

" No! Batuk can't take care of himself. We can't leave maa with him. " She sniffled.

" Then, won't you take care of her in my absence? I can only trust you with such big responsibility." He made a dramatic amazed expression. " Baba will go to factory, Kaka will go for his zamindari work, and Batuk , well , he is unreliable." Anirudhh looked at Batuk who gave him a snarky look.
Anirudh pleaded to him with his eyes to keep quiet. Batuk looked away crinkling his nose.

" Shotti! You think I'm responsible. I'm a big girl now?"

" Not big girl! But not very small also ."

" How much not very small?"

" You remember metric system?" She nodded. "You have become micro from nano now." He made an impressive face by pressing his lips.

"Shotti! That means 1000 times bigger." She grinned. He laughed.

" Shotti! Now tell me , will you cry now? If you do like this, how will I go? I will keep thinking about you and won't able to sleep too." He pouted trying to copy her the way she does to convince him.

"Mkay." She said feebly and look down.

"Now, now don't make these gloomy faces. If you sleep on time, eat on time and take care of yourself, we would paint and decorate the study together, like you said last week." He smiled.

"Whattt??" She put her hands on her mouth in surprise. " We will paint? But you had said no?"

" Yes, we will paint now. But... But... Only if you behave nicely. Deal?"

" Deal." she hugged him in delight.

He laughed. " Now , no more crying. I'll call you once I reach there and everything gets settled. Okay."

"Okay. Yayy! Yayy!!! " She jumped and clapped like a small child she was while Anirudh looked at him and smiled.

Flashback ends

"That time, you had said , I'm not that small, so you can freely kiss me now as per the rasam." She grinned with delight.

" Ohhhhhh , you are talking about kiss. I... I thought. I'm such a fool." He facepalmed. "Thankyou thankyou bondita. You saved us today. " A huge sense of relief filled his body, lifting a heavy weight from his heart.

" What did you think pati babu? " She asked getting confused.

" I--"

A knock on the door interrupted them. " Chhote Malik! Chhote Malik!"

"Coming!" Said Bondita. She goes to the door and opens it. " What happened? "

"This, this is kesar milk . Boro Malik has told you to give it to chhote Malik. It's a part of rasam."

"Oh, okay. Give." She took the glass and closed the door.

Bihari remembered Trilochan had told him to close the door from outside, in case any of them runs out. He locks the door from outside and leaves.

" Pati babu, see kesar milk. Come on, drink it." She grinned.

Anirudh takes the milk glass and touches it to his lips.

Hello my sweet readers!

Please do tell how the chapters was, and don't forget to vote.

What do you think would happen now? Any predictions?

I will update the next part quicker this time. Shotti!