First of all, thank you so much for your heart touching wishes. I feel so overwhelmed. My emotions are all over the place. ❤️❤️❤️ Love you all. Thank you so much again.

Happy reading!

Bondita felt his head aching as her eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the surroundings. The first face she saw was her Pati Babu but couldn't see exactly the face as he had covered it with both his hands as his elbows rested on the edge of the bed. He was still in his school uniform and so was she.

As she tried to sit up , her head throbbed and she touched her forehead and realised she was bandaged there. She remembered they were coming on their way home when she fell but couldn't remember  how did she come here.

Bondita saw that beside Anirudh , a plate of food was kept covered with another one. She had to do something to dodge this. She sneakily stood up but the jingle of her shakhapola gave away and Anirudhh caught her hand as she stood with her back towards him.

"Where are you going?" He asked. Although his voice was calm, she could sense the brewing anger beneath it as if he was swallowing his anger in the moment.

"I... I have to go to Maa." She said timidly without facing him. She knew if she faced her , he would catch her lies in no time.

"First eat your food."

"I'll have it later on." She tried to remove her hand from his grasp but he didn't leave it.
"Let me go, Pati babu."

"First eat your food then go wherever you want." He pulled her back gently and made her sit on the sofa. He took the plate of food. As soon as he uncovered it, the sight of and smell of food made her mouth flood. She gulped as he tore a piece of luchi dipped in the sabzi and forwarded it towards her.

As he brought it towards her mouth, she moved her face away. Anirudhh looked at her sharply.

" What's wrong?" He knew what was wrong but he wanted to hear from her.

"I ... I'm not hungry." She said looking downwards.

" Why?"

"I don't know. Just don't feel like eating it."  She said trying to not look at the plate of food.

Anirudhh rolled his eyes. He could  clearly see her through her lies how much she wanted to eat but was stopping herself.

"I don't remember a single time when you don't feel like eating something. Look at this roshogulla . It's so soft and sweet. And this  matar pulao," He smelled it and left a content sigh. " Mmmmmm...... I feel like having my lunch again and you don't want to eat it? "

Bondita swallowed a large lump. The food was too tempting to resist but she couldn't eat. To make matters worse, her stomach growled loudly.

"See, now even your stomach wants the food. Come on, come on. Open your mouth."
He tried to feed her again but she stood up trying to run.

"Bondita..." He stood up too, his voice rising now as he blocked her path.
" Did you keep fast?"

Bondita knew she couldn't lie more now. She nodded timidly and avoided looking into his eyes. Her eyes shone as she saw Shubhra coming towards them.
"Maa!" She crossed Anirudhh and stood behind Shubhra hugging her.

"What happened ,Bondita?" Shubhra touched her head. " How are you now? Is it still hurting?"

Bondita shook her head in no and dug her face in Shubhra's back in the hope that she would protect her from Anirudh's wrath.

"Come out , Bondita. Answer me! Why did you keep fast when I refused?" His voice started rising with each syllable.

" For your welfare , Pati Babu. It's none of my benefit but yours."

" Who told you?"

" Everyone says. Even maa keeps fast for baba. Haina maa? " She looked at Shubhra with hopeful eyes. Shubra looked at Anirudh and then Bondita and then again at Anirudhh , in a dilemma about what to say.

Shubhra nodded looking at him. She didn't know why she was feeling like a culprit for keeping a fast when Anirudhh looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"Maa , did you tell her to keep fast?"

"No, no. I didn't tell her anything." She shook her head vehemently.

Shubhra and Bondita both felt like being scolded by the headmaster.

" Bondita, will you please enlighten me? What would you get with this fast?"

"I already told you. It's for you....."

"Oh just cut it! You couldn't even walk properly. Look at your face . It's all pale. You fell from the bicycle . What if there was some motor gadi which could have come at that time when you fell? "

Bondita stood on her toes and whispered in Shubha's ears. "Maa, he is making sense. What do I do?"

" Start crying." Whispered Shubhra.

" No, no. It backfired last time I did. Apparently tears don't move him anymore. He is becoming heartless day by day. Shall I pretend to faint?"

"What are you both whispering?" Anirudh, being agitated, marched towards them and pulled Bondita from behind Shubhra.
"You come with me." He held her hand in one hand while the other held the plate of food and he paced towards the stairs.

Bondita looked back at Shubhra pleading with her eyes to protect her but Shubhra shook her head and gave her a pitiful look. Bondita pouted , hung her head down and left a defeated sigh.

Anirudh and Bondita entered her room. He spread a rug on the floor and made her sit on it as he sat beside her.

" Bondita, I don't want to force you to eat but if I'll have to I will. But first,  I want to know why would you not eat. What is the need to be so stubborn about this fast  even when I'm denying ?"

Bondita opened her mouth to argue but he interrupted her.
" Don't talk about long life and all."

Bondita pouted. " But that is the sole reason. If I ate food, Dugga maa would be angry at me and what if she punishes me by hurting you."

"Who told you this?"

" When I went to the temple yesterday, some women were reading a story from a book. They were telling about a woman in it who didn't fast for Shasti for her husband and then her husband died. Then she went to the Goddess and asked them the reason. Goddess told her to do shasti fast in her next life. Luckily she remembered all this in her next life and she did fast for her husband and then he didn't die soon. Goddess gave her lots of wealth and seven sons and a long life to her husband. The women in the temple said at the end of the story that they don't want to face what she faced in her previous life, so they observe this fast. I also want you to be alive as long as possible. "

Anirudh left a deep sigh at the long story.
" Acha tell me, did the man keep fast for the woman's long life?"

"Pati Babu! You won't believe it . I asked them the same. "

Anirudhh couldn't hide his smile. "Of  course you would." 

"And no. He didn't keep fast. Why would he? Men don't keep fast , women do. They said so."

" Why? Don't men want their wives to live longer ?"

" They do. But they usually marry again if their wives die. Like Bokul kaka did when her wife died."

Anirudh felt a smile creeping on his face.
" Ohhhh.... Okay then. That means if something ever happens to you, I can marry again. Hmmm.... Let me think. I have to shortlist  some names in case such happens. " He tapped his index finger on his chin  just like Bondita does while thinking deeply.

" Pati babu! " Bondita gasped and gave a soft punch on his shoulder.
" Don't you dare to even think that."

Anirudhh laughed out loud at her angry and irritated face.

" Why? What would I do then alone? I don't want to be left alone. So I have to make some arrangements for me na! Let me make a set of criteria. " He started counting on his fingers. "She should be very polite and wouldn't beat her husband like someone I know. She would be accepting all my demands. Do the tasks I would give her, unlike certain people." He eyed her biting his inner cheek to prevent laughing again as he could feel her grinding her teeth with frustration.

"Pati babu!" She whined and he burst into laughter. She glared at him and he raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Okay, I've got a solution . What if we both keep fast and pray for each other's well being?"

Anirudh hung his head.
"Bondita!" He groaned. "You are not understanding the point here. Ok let me try again.  Does maa care for us?"

"Yes."

" Why?"

" Because we are her children." She said in an obvious tone.

"Does maa want us to be hungry? Did she tell you to ever keep fast to please her?"

" No! She would never. On the contrary, eating more food would please her because apparently she thinks we are so skinny." She giggled, making him laugh too.

" Then, why would durga maa be pleased if you starve yourself? "

" Hmm. Valid point. Then , why don't you say no to maa when she keeps fast? Would dugga maa be happy if maa starves herself? "

"I don't deny maa because she keeps fast out of faith, out of gratitude, not out of obligation to please goddess or out of fear that something would happen to Baba. Even fasting has its own spiritual and scientific benefits."

" Like? "

"I saw how tempted you were to eat food. Your fast broke there only when you wanted to eat that roshogulla. Because you broke your resolve to keep fast. When we fast, we try to overcome this temptation, we don't think about food. Rather we keep ourselves indulged in thoughts of God doing our work diligently. Fasting is basically a mode to develop self -mastery, to make our spirits the master of our bodies and rule over our earthly senses and impulses. That is why it's called upvaas (oop-vaa-s). Up means less and vaas means to live i.e. to live with less. Less food, less water, less rest, less comfort etc. etc.

See, I'll give you an example. In Northern India, people fast for nine days of Navratri in different forms while some do fast only on the first and ninth day. Some eat saagaar (food eaten during fast) once a day, some eat only one meal a day, some eat only fruits, some only water and even some rely only on a pair of cloves for nine days without food and water.
And some don't even fast. They just stay barefoot. Does that make Dugga maa more happy with those who fast hard? No, right. It's all a matter of faith and spirituality.  Also, fasting has many health benefits and it strengthens the digestive system of the body too."

" So what should we do now? "

" How about we eat healthy food and do lots of exercise to keep ourselves fit and fine so that we could live longer and together? And when we feel that we are fit enough to skip meals without collapsing , we can start fasting. How's that?"

" Will you fast for me? " She asked him curiously.

" I would. What will I do without you breathing down my neck every moment of my life? " He teased again with mischievousness in his eyes.

" Pati babu! You are so bad." She whined and pouted. " I'm mad to  keep a fast for you. Give me my food. Give!!" She snatched the plate and started stuffing her mouth.

"Bondita. Slow!"

Bondita said something with her full mouth which Anirudhh couldn't understand.

"Bondita first eat then talk or you would choke."

"I'm very hungry. I'll eat double today. Haven't eaten since morning."  She said after she swallowed.

Anirudh looked at her and smiled.

Bondita squeezed the roshogulla into the bowl to remove the extra syrup and put it in her mouth and let out a satisfied moan.

His breath hitched when some drops fell on her pink lips sliding down her chin. She poked out her tongue and swiped the drops on it. Still there was some syrup left on the corner of her lips and her chin.

A sudden thought crossed his mind. He wanted to lick that syrup with his own tongue. His not so innocent thoughts about her made him uneasy. He stood up and left the room ignoring Bondita's calls.

Anirudhh entered his room, locked it fast and then ran into the bathroom. He washed his face again and again which suddenly felt hot. He splashed water on his eyes again and again but everytime he closed them , he saw the image of her, her tongue swiping the sugary pearls off her lips. Even her innocent actions made him feel things nowadays. He remembered yesterday morning when she fell on him. The droplets from her wet hair rolled over from her forehead like a snowball rolling over the slope of a mountain, crossing the glabella onto her small nose before they fell on his face.

(Glabella is where you put bindi.)

Her shiny wet hair tickled his cheeks , and was soothing his hot skin. His hands which held her shoulders wanted to roam over her soft , supple skin some more, not much , just an inch more or two maybe.

Her creamy skin contrasted more in the navy blue color saree. His favourite color. Did she do it willingly.

He could not look into her eyes all through the route to the school. He felt as if she was looking at him. Did she realise what he was thinking? Did she dislike his touch?

He knew Bondita was never such to keep things in her mind. She would tell him if something bothered her. He had already told her to speak of her discomfort.

He was amazed when she suddenly came out of the class and hugged him. He didn't expect it. He guessed she didn't feel that way and everything was the same as before.  He was happy that she didn't think wrong of him but equally disappointed that he was alone in these strange feelings.

Were his feelings unrequited? Did she find Aditya more attractive? Or why would she call him her crush then?

She never told him that he was her crush or her special friend. Was it because he was very strict and always scolded her? Or always made her cry? He didn't like her crying. He didn't want her to cry.

Whenever she cried he wanted to engulf her in his arms and squeeze her tightly and tell her that he doesn't want to see her crying. He feels very pained when she does. Her pain distresses him now more than ever.

Unlike his nature, Anirudhh slept the whole noon in his room, but the sharp pitter-patter of the rain against the window broke his slumber. Some of the rainwater entered the room and drenched the carpet. He stood up to close the window. As he touched the window sill, he saw Bondita and Batuk running in the lawn in the rain.

The window and the wet carpet was long forgotten. He ran downstairs to stop Bondita and Batuk from getting wet in the rain. Exams were approaching.

"Awni! Go and call Bondita and Batuk from the lawn. I've cooked hot piping pakoras and tea for everyone." Called Shubhra from the kitchen window as she saw him coming downstairs.

Anirudh had come to stop Bondita from getting wet in the rain. It wasn't heavy, just a light shower.

The strong petrichor hit his nostrils and he inhaled a long breath of the tranquilizing smell.

He moved towards Bondita and Batuk. "Bondita! Batuk! Come inside. Maa is calling. She made pakoras and tea for everyone." He called out.

Batuk didn't need any more invitations. He sprinted back into the haweli but Bondita didn't move.

If Bondita liked anything more than food was rain, especially if it's the first shower of the season.

The cold droplets piercing the blanket of hot air and soaking the dry, cracked earth was a sight to behold. The soft growling of clouds was the sign of commencement of heavy downpour.

Anirudhh was about to call Bondita when she ran to the other side of the haweli when she heard him calling them inside.

"Bondita, don't run. You'll fall. Your bandage Bondita! It will get wet."
Anirudhh ran behind her to grab her.

The prattling of the rain combined with her squeals, her shouts and giggles were music to his ears. " Come, birristra babu! Come, catch me if you can."

Bondita always mocked him by saying Birristra babu whenever she wanted to challenge him. Anirudhh knew this and he was in no mood to turn away the challenge.

Adrenaline flushed into his veins and a new found vigour coursed into his body.

He threw away his slippers and ran after Bondita. Small footprints of Bondita's feet on the wet soil were followed by the larger ones of Anirudh.

The chase was thrilling. The more she tried to run away from her , the more he felt being drawn towards her. She was like an addiction making him feel withdrawal symptoms in her absence.

The chase was a reflection of his thoughts. The uncertainty of what she wants from him , the unrequitedness of his hormonal impulses from her side bothered him. He wanted to catch her, grab her, hold her, hug her and keep her caged in his arms always.

For days he had tried to keep his distance owing to what Aniket had told him. But at this moment, he wanted to forget everything.

All he wanted was to enjoy this chase.

"You'll never be able to catch me, Birristra Babu." Bondita called out over the sound of rainfall and showed him a thumbs down, mocking him.And this was the biggest mistake she made. Telling him that he would lose. Lose her.

Within a few seconds , she squealed as she felt a pair of hands held snaking around her waist from behind and lifting her off the ground. Both of them couldn't control the happiness oozing out of their bodies. Their laughter drained their energy and she left her weight on him laughing breathlessly.

Suddenly, Anirudh tripped on the slippery clay along with Bondita and rolled over the slope of the lawn which led to the backyard.

Bondita screamed at sudden loss of stability and turned towards him, hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

He instinctively wrapped his arms around her protecting her from the scratches of twigs and soil.

When they finally landed on the plain ground, she was on top.
This triggered Anirudh's memories of yesterday's incident.

Her chest heaved up and down. With each exhale, her wet clothed chest would touch his. Their wet clothes stuck like a second skin.

He raised her head and looked at her. Her eyes were closed. His own breathing was heavy. The raindrops were smothering her face. The droplets hit her lips before they rolled out in small streams and fell on his.

It was like a sweet, sugary cascade intoxicating his senses.

He tried to look away from them, and moved his gaze downwards and instantly regretted when his eyes reached the neckline of her bright yellow blouse which had lowered a little giving him a peek of her unblemished skin and he abruptly closed his eyes and rested his head on the ground to remove the image from his mind.

She opened her eyes after her breathing settled and saw his angelic face. His broad forehead was shining under the water. The sharp straight nose and the prominent cheekbones captivated her. His wet eyelashes fluttered and fanned his now pinkish cheeks to get rid of the excess water. She caressed his jawline with her soft fingers and he shivered under his touch.

But the most enchanting were his lips, dark shade pink which were bathing in rain. Even the raindrops could kiss them but she couldn't. The dip in his upper lip, which gave it the appearance of a bow, collected some rainwater in it before it overflowed over his lips.

" Pati babu!" She said in a raspy tone. " Can I kiss you?" She wanted to kiss him right in this moment to drink that puddle of water in that shallow dip ,not because someone told her to do it to make babies or because it meant love of a husband. But it was just an intense desire to feel  his soft, plump lips in that heavenly moment. 

"Hmm." He mumbled lost in the aura of her exhilarating touch. He felt stupefied.

" On lips?" She asked as she lowered her head towards his, trying to align her lips with his.

Note: Before anyone thinks where is Anirudh's self control ,his morals and all blah blah. Let me remind you, here he is not our mighty London return Birristra babu who knew the rights and wrongs of such things, but a fifteen year old hormonal teenager.  So, please don't hate my Awni babe here. Okay. ❤️❤️

Do tell me how the chapter was.

Maine apni packing chhod ke ye chptr likha hai. Kahin m kuch bhul na jau!  *Wincing*
But I so wanted to write, so here it is.

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