"What did you do Anirudhh? Why did you break my trust?"

Anirudhh hurriedly buttoned his trousers and looked at Bondita.

She looked dishevelled, and indecent. Her hair was messed and clothes were partially torn. Kohl stained tears were running down down her cheeks.

He realised the scene in front of Shubhra was giving a wrong impression. He looked at his mother and shook his head. "It's...It's not what you think."

"Maa!" Bondita saw Shubhra and shrieked.
She crawled towards her clutching her abdomen scared. "P-please save me. P-pati babu! He-he was about to beat me." She hiccupped.

Shubhra looked at Anirudhh in shock and ran quickly to her and removed her shawl covering Bondita's bare shoulders and took her in her warm embrace.

Bondita grasped Shubhra as if her life depended on her and started weeping and sobbing.. " Maa! Pati -pati babu! He is ....he is so bad. He- he broke his promise. Tell him...tell him not to----Aaah!" She winced tightening her hold on her abdomen. " My stomach hurts so much."

"Maa, it's not what you think. It...It might be menses." Said Anirudhh as he came towards Bondita and almost touched her shoulders when Shubhra pushed him a back angrily on the floor.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER WITH YOUR FILTHY HANDS! SEE THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD!! YOU THINK I'M A FOOL! " She growled as she saw the patch of blood spreading its boundaries on her baby pink gown.

"Bihari babu! Lochan da! Batuk! Ani ke baba! Come fast! Bihari babu! Call the doctor fast, please." She shouted.

Bihari came running to the room and saw the scene infront of him and got shocked.

" Go fast! Call the doctor! Bring him via motorgadi. Hurry up!"

Lights danced in front of Anirudh's eyes as he stumbled on the floor. He held his head and blinked his eyes again and again to clear his vision. He stood up and his legs became wobbly.

"Did you drink?" Shubhra asked in disbelief. Anirudhh too hazed and confused didn't answer. "Anirudh! Answer me, did you drink?" He shook his head in negation but his expression and his imbalance said otherwise.

"Bondita! Shona! Look at me. " She asked cupping Bondita's cheeks. Bondita whimpered and her face contorted as another wave of pain twisted her uterus.

"It--it hurts! A lot! Please... maa... It hurts. Make the pain go!" Shubhra wiped her tears and nodded whispering soothing words in her ears.

Trilochan ,Batuk and Binoy came running to the room and saw Shubhra consoling a crying Bondita while Anirudhh was sitting in a scruffy state, looking dishevelled and confused.

"What is happening here?" Trilochan asked.
He saw the blood and scrunched his nose. Batuk ran to hold Bondita crying in his mother's arms when Trilochan stopped him.

" Batuk! Wait! Don't touch her! She's impure. Shubhra behen, take her to her room. What mess she has created! "

"MESS IS WHAT HE HAS CREATED!" Shubhra screamed pointing at Anirudhh. "Look Da, it happened what I feared. Didn't I tell you to not encourage such things but you won't listen to me? See what he did to Bondita!" She pulled Bondita from her embrace and one look at her and then at Anirudhh was enough for Trilochan and Binoy to understand what must have happened to her.

Trilochan stood with his lips pressed firmly and his grip tightening on the stick. He did want Anirudh and Bondita to move ahead in life but looking at Bondita right now was burning his heart.

Binoy looked at the scene and smirked at Anirudh. Ise kehte h chirag tale andhera!

"This was supposed to happen one day." Said Binoy in a mocking tone. " Didn't you tell me Da, Bouma was frolicking around with another boy, playing games like house and fulshojja? What husband would bear it? I wasn't against her going to school. But I had a hunch it would end up like this. See Da, the results of bending your rules. Bouma needed to know her place. I agree what Anirudhh did was not completely right. But what husband would bear another man's name on his wife's lips? She needed to learn a lesson."

Shubhra's blood boiled like hot molten lava and angry hot tears steamed down her cheek. " NOOO! SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THIS." She screamed and stood up leaving Bondita on the floor as Batuk again came to Bondita ignoring Trilochan's words when Shubhra gestured him to hold Bondita.

Anirudhh had now succeeded to stand up with the support of his bed. "N-no, maa. I- I didn't. Bondita .. she..." He headed towards Batuk trying to take Bondita from him when Shubhra came in between and slapped him hard. Before he could recover and look again, she slapped him again. Anirudhh doesn't remember Shubhra ever raising a finger on him even in amusement.

Her eyes looked red like the embers burning coal. Fury danced in her eyes like the Tandav of Lord Shiva and this scared Anirudh. He never saw her like this. Ready to kill!

"Like father, like son! You proved today that you are your father's son." She pointed her index finger at him. Anirudh looked at her heartbroken. He felt as if all the blood rushed from his brain to his heart which bled out of the slashes her words were inflicting on it. His throat was dry and rough like a sandpaper. "Don't they say that sin gives birth to sin? You were also born out of your father's sin and look you turned out to be a sinner too. I'm ashamed that I bore you in my womb and drenched you with my blood because ultimately it's your father's dirty blood that runs into your veins. Is that why you want to take her to London? To fulfill your filthy needs? "

Anirudhh stumbled back in horror. Colour drained from his face and tears rolled on his cheeks. A loud sob was threatening to come out of his throat but his larynx felt as if filled with sand. He had lost his ability to voice his thoughts.

"Malkin! I've brought the doctor." Said Bihari.

"Doctor? For what?" Asked Trilochan.

"What do you mean for what , Da? To get Bondita checked. What else? Batuk , help me lift her." Batuk had kneeled down to support Bondita. He pulled her up by her shoulders wrapping her one arm around his neck while Shubhra supported her waist.

"No! A male doctor won't tend to her. I won't allow other men to check her there. We'll call Dai maa. She would see to her."

" But Daai maa's home is quite far. It will take another half an hour for her to --." Said Bihari but stopped as he saw Trilochan's glare in his direction.

"What do you want Da? For her to bleed out of her life? Can't you see her condition? Have all men of this house lost their humanity?" She looked at Anirudhh whose heart broke in a million pieces when he saw hate in her eyes and heard venom in her voice. "If that is so, then I won't stay here for a single minute. I'll take my daughter with me where atleast she won't be mauled." Her words were creating a hole in Anirudh's heart which was constantly increasing in size.

"Shubhra behen! I'm not denying her treatment. But some other men. Chhiii!"

"I'm asking for the last time , da. Are you allowing her treatment from doctor or not? If no, then I'll take my leave from this house and your lives." She gritted her teeth and seethed in anger. Trilochan clenched his teeth in helplessness and shifted aside to give them space.

Anirudhh sat on the bed with a thud. Trilochan came to him and put his hand on his head. Anirudh looked at him with teary eyes, shook his head and hugged his waist. Trilochan caressed his head. " It happens, Anirudh. But ..." He cleared his throat getting uncomfortable with the topic. "Uhh.. you could have taken her into confidence first. You should have been gentle for her first time."

" Yes, that I agree with. Why made such a big deal out of it? Women are delicate down there. You should have been a less brutal." Said Binoy.

Anirudhh looked at both of them with lost eyes and fresh tears dripped out of his eyes in disbelief.

Everyone thinks I raped her? And ...and maa said I am born out of my father's sins. Am I a constant reminder of her misery? Her pain? Her agony? Her helpless ness! I'm born out of rape? This is my whole identity. A child born out of rape!

He sat there numb. Trilochan and Binoy's words were not registering to his mind. But Shubhra's words were echoing in the labyrinth of his ears again and again like a richocheting bullet hitting his heart with a new entry wound. His blood turned icy cold and his limbs lost the strength. His eyelids drooped and the last thing he remember was Binoy and Trilochan calling his name, before he delved into darkness.

***

"What exactly happened?" Asked the doctor as Batuk and Shubhra laid a sniffing Bondita down on the bed.

"Daktar Babu! She is..." She looked at Batuk who looked at her innocently trying to understand the situation. "Batuk, go and bring another Kashi didi from Gopal's house." Batuk nodded and ran out to call Kashi.

"Daktar babu! She... uhm... actually...."

"Maa! It hurts! My stomach! It pains!" Whimpered Bondita.

"Beta, what happened to you?" Asked the doctor. Bondita looked at him and let out a sob. She looked back at Shubhra who nodded to let her tell the doctor.

" Doctor kaka! My stomach hurts and my... menses have come and it pains a lot down there." Bondita said.

" May I check you there where it hurts? " He asked politely. Bondita looked at him scared and shook her head.

" Daktar babu! She is scared. But you can check her."

"Badi Malkin! Although she is a child but a married one. I can't check her without her consent. I atleast need her husband's consent to check her private parts."

" Why? Doesn't she deserve a treatment if her husband doesn't allow? " Shubhra yelled at him.

" Badi Malkin, I'm not denying her treatment. But I can't check her if she is not ready. It's against the rules."

" Bondita, let him do his duty." Said Shubhra caressing Bondita's forehead. "See you are bleeding too much."

Bondita shook her head in negation to which Shubhra sighed.

"Daktar babu! She... has been forced. Can you do something to lessen her pain?" She closed her eyes as she let out the painful words out of her mouth.

"Forced? By whom?" The doctor looked shocked.

"By... her husband."

"Oh." His surprised face took a downward notch. It was nothing new to the doctor who had spent several years practicing in India uptil now. But what was strange was Shubhra calling a doctor after such incident to check the woman involved.

Shubhra looked at him displeased. Did he also think that it was completely normal?

"Badi Malkin! We can do one thing. You bring in some warm water. I'll call my wife. We live nearby. She had worked in London as nurse, although she left the practice now because here people don't prefer female nurses. But she knows techniques. I'll call her till then." Shubhra nodded at his answer satisfied.

The doctor's wife came and consoled Bondita in solitude to get checked. Bondita after realising that she can believe in the soft spoken woman agreed to get checked. She cleaned Bondita's private parts and inspected her. She realised that it was nothing just menstrual blood as her vulva was completely intact. Shubhra had gone to the kitchen to prepare soothing herbs leaving Bondita in company of Kashi and the doctor's wife.

The nurse informed her husband. "I asked her. She had experienced episodes of bloody vomit a couple of months back, after that she didn't get her menses. Because of that her cycle had become irregular and her flow heavy. You know women here in villages hardly track their periods. She doesn't even correctly remember the dates."

When she informed, Binoy overheard their conversation and bribed them to hide the matter. The couple was reluctant at first but as Binoy increased the weight of the bundle of notes, they complied.

The nurse informed Shubhra that Bondita was indeed forced. Shubhra knew but the obvious words pained her more. She felt she had failed to become a mother.

Binoy was livid when Trilochan reprimanded him about what Shubhra said in front of Anirudhh. Binoy's apologies s fell on deaf ears as Trilochan kept rebuking him for his behaviour. When he asked about the incident after they came from Krishnanagar as he was already doubting it, Binoy's guilty face exposed himself. Trilochan was beyond angry with him and denied him the funds to open the new alcohol factor in the outskirts of the village enraging him further.

When Binoy listened to the Doctor and his wife's conversation, he realised that if Anirudh is deemed innocent, he would have to bear the brunt of Trilochan's anger alone. If he used Anirudh's mistake as his shield, Trilochan would behave softer. This way Anirudhh would also realise that the mother for whom he grasped his own father's collar can turn her back anytime on him. He had high expectations from Anirudhh. He didn't want all these household stuff to hold him back from his goals.

The effect of the drug Bondita had instilled in Anirudh's system by deceit took about a day to wear off. Inspite of Trilochan's efforts, Shubhra left for Calcutta to her mother's house along with Bondita and Batuk. Binoy supported her saying that she needed a change of weather and till then matter would resolve or the villagers would know.

Anirudh was beyond wrecked when he heard. He called a number of times to his dida's home but Shubhra wasn't ready to talk to him. Moreover she kept a strict eye on Bondita and Batuk like a hawk. Trilochan gave him pitiful eyes while Binoy smirked at him making him look away. He remembered he wasn't at his best behaviour towards her that night but he did remember that he didn't force her. But who would believe him?

As much as Bondita was angry with Anirudhh, she wanted to spend as much time as possible with him but Shubhra was adamant on staying there. Apparently Dida was very happy with her for the first time in her life and pampered her with all her being. But still she felt alone and stranded.

Days rolled over painfully for everyone for their own different reasons and it was finally the day when Anirudhh was to leave for Calcutta to board his ship. Anirudh was delighted to meet Bondita. He had called at his dida's house to inform her who told him that they would reach the port.

Anirudhh's eyes were constantly on the entry gate. The second last whistle blowed but his mother, Dida and Bondita were not in sight. His vision started getting blurry as the last hope of proving himself innocent seemed inaccessible.

He picked up his suitcase and bid farewell to his kaka with a heavy heart who was in tears, giving him suggestions and reminders fulfilling the duties of a mother in Shubhra's abscence.

Anirudhh had expected this day to be anything but like this. He kept looking at the entrance still clutching to the last piece of hope. He walked slowly dragging his unwilling feet towards the huge ship, when he heard her voice.

"Pati babu! Pati babu!" He looked back in a whiplash and left the suitcase with a thud on the ground when he saw Bondita running towards him in a red saree holding her pallu to stop it from flowing away under the effect of blowing wind.

She indeed looked like a little bride from afar. His child Bride! Who was bearing the brunts of a married life trying to be a good wife in order to meet the societal expectations, not realising what she was stepping into, blinded by the norms of the marriage, in her innocence.

Days of her abscence blurred his vision with tears again but this time happy ones. He ran towards her leaving his stuff closing the distance between them.

Two pairs of legs ran toward each other, their eyes shedding tears and watery smiles etched on their faces. They stopped at a moment. The two pairs of eyes looked at each other. Tears shining in them as they took in each other's appearance.

"B-Bondita!"

"Pati babu!"

Hey everyone, express your thoughts on this chapter!

The next chapter will start with their separation , with Anirudhh in London and Bondita in India fighting their own battles away from each other with the only thread connecting between them being their letters!

If you want to give suggestions or intersting tracks, inbox me , as I realised I have a very talented Audience here.

Would love to hear your opinions.

Don't forget to vote and comment.