Days passed, everyday Bondita would sneak out of the hut after Anirudh left for court. The girls too would give an excuse or the other to go to the river bank. The first touch of education had opened a new world for the girls. Though they had just started learning the alphabets, but somewhere their conscience realised how this society snatched away this crucial right from them. They understood how beautiful the world of education is. At the same time they also understood how this society ties them in the customs to avert their progress. Bondita tried her level best to bestow the knowledge she has gained to the girls despite of her age. At times she used to bring her books and showed the girls pictures of different things. Sometimes she brought her slate and the girls would try to write on it.

This time of the day was the most special for them as here no one objected them to do anything. They were free. And who doesn't likes freedom ? Along with learning they used to play with each other and share secrets. They have grown a beautiful bond over the days.

On such fine morning Bondita  left for the river bank dancing and jumping in joy. Reaching there her eyes widened to see Bini and Mou fight tooth and nail. They were pulling each others hair, ocassionally punching and slapping each other while Lata di and Kajol tried to separate them.

" Band karo ! " Bondita shouted at the top of her lungs. She walked towards Mou and Bini and showed them eyes asking "Kutte billi jese kyu ladh rahe the tumdono ? "

" Kutta ? Bondita tumne mujhe kutta bola ? " Mou asked being perplexed at Bondita's comment

" Or mujhe billi ? " Bini frowned.

" Tu toh hai hi jungli billi jesi " Mou taunted Bini.

" Kya kaha tune ? " Bini fumed in anger.

" Basssss ! Shant hojao dono. " Bondita yelled being irritated by the fight. The girls immediately stopped fighting but they kept on shooting draggers at each other. Bondita turned towards Lata and asked " Lata didi aap bataiye kya hua tha yaha ? "

" Aare bus ek gudia ko leke dono tabse jhagad rahe hai " Lata said.

" Ek gudia ? Itni bhi choti chiz nahi thi wo. " Mou scowled. She then turned towards Bondita and whined " Pata hai Bondita maine iss Bini ke gudde se apni gudiya ki shaadi kya karwai isne toh meri gudiya ko apni sampatti man liya "

" Ha toh shaadi ke baad teri gudiya meri hi hojaigi na. Jese ladkiyo ki shaadi ke baad ladki ladke walon ki hojati hai waise hi " Bini shrugged.

" Nahi Bini, bhale hi shaadi ke baad ladki ka sabkuch uska sasural ban jaata hai phirbhi wo toh beti apne ghar ki hi rehti haina. Iss lihaj se Mou ka apne gudiya pe pura haaq hai. " Bondita said to with Mou jumped in joy.

" Nahi Bondita didi, mai nahi dungi isse gudiya. "  Bini said and turned her head to the other side.

Bondita went near Bini, giving a little squeeze on her shoulder she said " Bini, kal jab tumhari shaadi hojaigi phir agar tumhare sasural walon ne tumhe apne maike aane nahi diya. Tabh tum maan logi unki baat. "

" Kabhi nahi, mai apne maa baba ko chorke nahi rehsakti. " Bini said.

" Dekha, ab samjhi tum jab humse humari pyari chiz chin jaaye toh kesa lagta hai. Chalo ab tum dono sulha karlo jaldi se " Bondita said to which Bini nodded her head in affirmation. She went towards Mou holding her ears and said " Mujhe maaf karde Mou. Aage se esha nahi karungi ". Mou downed Bini's hand nodding her head and they shared a sisterly hug while others smiled looking at them.

Later on they continued their usual studies and fun. Unknown to Bondita, Anirudh returned early from court that day. As he opened the door he was all terrified not to find Bondita inside the house. He looked up to find the tiles of the roof misplaced. Panic striken he started running here and there asking each one about Bondita's whereabouts. But all his attempts to find her seemed futile. He returned to the hut disheartened and sat in a corner. Bondita on the otherside came along with the girls singing and chatting on the way. When she reached near her house she saw the door opened. Realising the return of her patibabu Bondita gulped in fear. Lata noticed Bondita face which had turned pale by now.

" Kya hua Bondita ? Ye tumhara chehra pila kyu padh gaya achanak " Lata asked placing a hand on her shoulder.

" Pa..pa patibabu agaye " Bondita stammered. Saying this she quickly ran inside the house while the rest followed her. Bondita peeped inside to find Anirudh sitting in a corner. She tip toed inside the house and said in a feeble voice " Patibabu ". As soon as her voice hit Anirudh's ear he lifted his face only to find Bondita standing there downing her head.

" Bondita Bondita tum tum thik hona na. Chot toh nahi lagi na tumhe " Anirudh said while checking Bondita. Bondita was utterly perplexed to see Anirudh's response. He  scolded her whenever she sneaked out of the house without any information, but this time it was a different side of him. His eyes portrayed the immense care he has for her. Bondita gave a subtle smile seeing his concern and said "Mai bilkul thik hu Patibabu "

He agve out a sight then slowly cupped her face saying " Tumhe pata nahi Bondita mai kitna darr gaya tha jab tum mujhe nahi dikhi."

" Kaha...kaha gayi thi tum ? Bolo "  He asked

" Hum batate hai chote malik " Lata said as she entered the house with the other girls. Anirudh looked at the girls in confusion. " Tumlog kaise jaante ho Bondita kaha thi ? " asked Anirudh

" Wo isliye kyuki----- " Lata narrated the chain of events that happened in the past days. Shocked will be an understatement to describe Anirudh's expression hearing to the narration. He was at loss of words. He turned towards Bondita and asked
" Bondita ye sab jo keh rahi hai kya wo sab sach hai ? "

Bondita could only nod her head in positive as an answer. Surprisingly Anirudh held Bondita by her shoulders and shouted in happiness " Bondita Bondita tumhe pata nahi tumne kya kiya hai. Tumne wo kiya jo maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha. I am proud of you. Bravo girl ". Seeing his reaction everyone's pale face started glowing and lips curved into a smile. Anirudh turned towrads the girls saying " Ajtak Bondita tumlog ko padhate aayi hai, magar kalse mai tumlog ko padhaunga. Thik hai ? "

The girl's eyes widened when they heared Anirudh's words. They shared glances.

" Aap padhayenge ? " Kajol asked in disbelief

" Kyu nahi padha sakta ? Chinta maat karo itna bura shikshak bhi nahi hu. Kyu Bondita ? " Anirudh said.

" Um-hm mere shikshak babu duniya ke sabse ache shikshak babu hai." Bondita beamed. The girls happily agreed to the proposal and left the place.

After the truth came into limelight, Anirudh started teaching the girls on a daily basis. He even bought books and slate for the girls. The riverbank became an unofficial pathshala for the girls. Everything was going well until one day when someone noticed the girls studying. Lata's sister-in-law was fetching water from the river when she heard sounds of laughing and giggling. Out of curiosity she started to investigate when her eyes fell on the group of girls, Bondita and Anirudh. She quickly ran to her house and informed her mother about the same. This news spread like a wild fire leaving villagers fuming in rage. Anirudh, Bondita and the girls were returning to their houses when a stern voice objected their way. They turned around to find a fuming mob infront of them.

" Kya baat hai aapsab yaha ? " Anirudh asked.

" Yaha ane pe majboor kardiya hume apne chote malik " said one villager.

" Majboor ? " Bondita frowned.

" Aare aap apni patni ko besharam ki tarah vidyalay vejrahe the wo kya kam tha jo ab humari bahu betiyo ko bhi isme saamil karliya " yelled one man from the crowd.

" Besharmi ? Vidyalay jaane mai kaisi besharmi " Bondita scowled

" Aare besharmi hi toh hai. Ladko ke bich ek akeli ladki. Chi chi chi " one woman spated out her embittered words.

" Bus ! Apni gandi soch apne paas rakhiye samjhe aapsab. Ek shabdh or bola toh acha nahi hoga aplogo ke liye. " Anirudh yelled listening the disgusting comment.

" Lo bhaiyo ulta chor kotwal ko daate. Aare kuch nahi kehte hum agar baat aap apne ghar tak rakhte. Lekin apne humari bahu betiyo ko bhi iss paap mai saamil karliya hai ? " said another man from the crowd while others agreed to the same.

" Paap ? Konsa paap " Bondita questioned.

" Aare ladiyo ka padhna paap hi toh hai " shouted the the mob.

" Kyu ? Mai puchti hu kyu ? Jab vidya ki devi ek stree hai toh hum ladkio ka padhna paap kyu ? " Bondita roared at the crowd which made them numb.

Mou took a step forward and supported Bondita saying " Mai sehmat hu Bondita didi ki baat se. Akhir kyu sikhsha ka haaq nahi hume. Boliye kya jawab hai apsab ke pass ?"

" Aare kya hi karlogi tum ladiya padh likh ke. Akhir mai toh ghar hi sambhal haina tumhe. Aur toh aur ladkiya ghar mai achi lagti hai vidyalay mai nahi " Taunted a man while others laughed. No matter whatevr the field is why only a girl's ability questioned ? Why only a girl has to prove her worth for something ?

" Aapsab aisha kaise keh sakte hai ki hum ladkiya padh likh ke kuch kar nahi payengi ? Kabhi afsar diya hai hume ye saabit karne ka ki hum bhi kar sakte hai. Nahi ! " Bondita replied boldly.

" Aur denge bhi kese kyuki aapsab daarte hai. Darte hai iss baat se ki agar ladkiya sikshit hogayi toh aapjese log apni joothi mardangi kispe dikhayenge. Kyu sahi keh raha hu na mai " Anirudh questioned the conservative male dominated society. The villagers shared glances at the comment. While everyone in the crowd stood mum, a middle aged woman came and held Lata's hand.

" Tu tu idhar aa, kulta teri itni himmat tu padhai kare. " saying this she raised her hand to slap her but before she could do so someone stopped her.

" Maa ! Apki himmat kaise huyi Lata pe hath uthane ki ? " Lata's husband, Niladri asked jerking off her mother's hand.

" Aare tujhe nahi pata beta ye ladki chip chip ke padhai kar rahi thi " Lata's mother in law pointed towards a sobbing Lata.

Niladri turned towards Lata and asked " Maa kya keh rahi hai ? Lata mujhe saaf saaf batao baat kya hai "

" Mai mai kuch dino se chote malik ke paas sikhsha grahan kar rahi thi. Daya karke mujhe padhne dijiye. Mai mai vada karti hu mai ghar ke saare kam karne ke baad hi padhungi. Magar mujhe padhne dijiye, mujhe acha lagta hai padhna. Mai apke pao padhti hu " Lata pleaded joining her hands. She was about to touch Niladri's feet when he stopped her saying " Nahi nahi Lata, tumhe mujhse maafi mangne ki koi zarurat nahi. Balki maafi toh mujhe mangi chahiye, maine kabhi tumhari dil ki baat jaani hi nahi. " He joined his hands infront of her shocking the entire crowd.

" Tum padhna chahti hona toh padho. Mai tumhare sath hu " Niladri declared looking at Lata. Lata faced gleamed with joy as she heard the same.

" Ye tu kya keh raha hai ? Mati maari gayi hai kya teri ? " Niladri's mother yelled at him for his decision, which according to her was absolutely stupid.

" Nahi maa aab jaake akal aayi hai mujhe " Niladri replied back. He went towards Anirudh and joined his hands saying " Chote maalik aap Lata ko padhaiye. Uske sikhsha ke liye jisbhi chiz ki zarurat hogi mai laake dunga. "

Anirudh came forward and downed Niladri's hands. Anirudh hugged him tightly saying "Neeladri mai tumhare iss nirnai se bohot kush hu." Everything was going to end in a happy note when Bini' Mother intervened.

" Jisko padhna hai padhe magar meri Bini nahi padhegi. Chal yahase " Bini's mother declared.

" Mai padhungi " Bini protested. In turn she held her hand saying " Nahi padhegi tu. Kal hi mai tujhe tere mamaghar vejungi. Abse tu wahi rahegi. Samjhi ? ".

Bondita wanted to stop her but was stopped by Aanirudh from doing so. They were leaving when Anirudh shouted " Kakima, aaj bhale hi aap Bini ko padhne nahi de rahi. Magar ekdin ayga jab aap khud usse vidyalay vejengi. Or sirf aap hi nahi iss gao ki haar maa vejegi." Bini's mother mad faces and left the place with her daughter.

" Aaj jese Lata, Mou or Kajol ne padhai ki taraf kadam badhaya hai waise hi ekdin har ladki badhaigi. "  Anirudh said aloud.
He then forwarded his hand to Bondita, who inturn placed her hand on his. One by one the three girls also held each other's hand indicating their support. Niladri too joined the group. They all stood together holding each other's hand showing their unity. The crowd  gave up finally and started to leave.

That day Anirudh-Bondita broke another conservative society and paved way for girls education. Though today the number of girls were small, but Anirudh knew that one day this number will increase by heaps and bounce. Afterall : -

" Boond boond se hi sagar banta hai. "

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