The victory celebration weaved the crowd together as the most magnificent of cloths. It was a levitation that they all shared, it raised all up to a higher plane of emotional bonding.
Barrister Anirudh Roy Chowdhury had won, and he won because he never once played for himself. He took the paths that made sense to him and not the herd. He won because he sought a victory that would belong equally to everyone, for, Barrister Babu's victory rewarded them all as much as it did to himself, or more.

The long corridor, and the four steps leading to the open quadrangle had transformed into a festive ground in no time, all cheering for the Barrister, all willing to touch him once, just once. They scattered Abeer in the air, they smeared love on his feet too, painting them in bright pink, and as the elders approached, the mighty Barrister bowed down, joining his hands, as they in turn smeared their coloured love on his forehead, showering their heartfelt blessings on him.

"Barrister babu, zindabad!" The endless cheers reverberated through the open courtyard, and the British police stood aside in awe.
The twenty men were there too, reunited with their families, only in their heart they knew how much they owed to the man!
All had tears, happy tears, all were overwhelmed, and the shower of love didn't exclude the barrister's fiesty beautiful wife, and his younger brother who stood infront of him like a shield to a sword.

"Aha... Ram lakkhan Sita as if!" An elderly woman had wiped a tear from her eyes, a tear of gratitude, and the man standing beside her only folded his hands, nodding at her remark in awe.

"Indeed!" Was all he could utter.

Bondita too had tears in her eyes, tears of pride, tears of elation, tears of bliss, yet whenever anyone would hold a morsel of laddo to her husband's mouth, or sometimes a roshogolla, she would readily jump and take a small bite from it first, before letting it reach to the barrister's lips.
The sweets that he tasted that evening were shared by hundreds as prasad!

"Long live, Barrister Babu!"

The slogans continued, as all present there were bound by a common sentiment, patriotism.
They knew now this win was their chance to fight at the next level up. They knew he'll be ready because the count to restart had begun - so be gone, be gun, be strong! They felt the shifting of gears within the cosmos. The universe had begun to change course. A different future was coming, a better one that they would have had if the generations had not struggled for freedom, sung for freedom and strived to take good care of what they had... Independence!

"Barrister Babu, the final documents needs to be collected", a secretary approached him and hushed into his ears, as Anirudh promptly nodded at him and turned to look at Batuk.

"You leave at once, the women must be waiting, and be back soon." Anirudh leaned forward to speak to his brother privately.

"Dada, she wants to meet you."
He spoke instead. "Before leaving."

"Who Mira?"

"No. Maha."

The slogans still echoed around, and Barrister Anirudh clutched his wife's hand gently and waded through the ocean of crowd together, with his brother guarding them from behind.

This victory was everyone's victory, and for once Anirudh wanted them to get a taste of freedom, freedom of expression!

"Guide them outside the premises once I leave, but very gently, and carefully." He commanded to two of his assistants, as the men nodded their heads in unison.

"Given his talents, he couldn't have been anything but a Barrister... Uff what a persona!" One of them gaped at his receding figure from behind.

"Barrister indeed." The other chuckled, "Yet he still has this urge to become a superhero, and make victories possible that otherwise would never have been."

********

Anirudh was inside his office at the Alipur Judge court Campus, and with him was Bondita, passing on the boxes of sweets to the caretaker to be distributed outside among the gathered crowds.
The released men and their families had come to met him too, to thank him personally with their heartfelt gratitude, and Bondita stuffed sweets inside their mouths.

"No tears MashiMaa... It's a happy day." She had held an elderly mother's hand, as her own eyes glistened with emotions.

It was only late evening when they could breath a little in seclusion, as the caretaker closed the office door giving them the much needed breather inside.

"We did it Bondita!"
Anirudh had latched the door, as for the first time in the day she saw his face flushed with bright red of happiness. He had rushed to her, lifting her up in his arms, as they both swirled together in exuberance the way they used to.

"Yes Barrister Babu, we did it... And, and I don't have words to describe how I'm feeling right now."
Bondita cheered with equal glee.

"I wish I could get an assistant like you." Anirudh was smiling as this abrupt remark from him made Bondita frown.

"Really?"

"Why not? Didn't you realise how natural you were back there?"
Anirudh had put her down on the ground, and he took a glass of water and poured it down his throat, it felt like a cold ambrosia of contentment.

"God I was so thirsty!" He cleared his throat.

"How can you say I'm a natural?" Bondita was still stuck on his words, as she casted her eyes down thoughtfully, her hands fiddling with the glass paperweight unmindfuly.

Anirudh smiled.
"Ofcourse you are. I've known you too long to understand this potential, and hence I had suggested you to consider barristry as a career option after your graduation."

"I remember." Bondita murmured thoughtfully, recalling the morning in Dehradun when he had proposed to send her away to London.
"But, that would've meant staying away from you for another four years!"
Bondita sighed, and it was Anirudh's turn to frown.

"You really thought so?" He sank down on his leather chair and leaned back, his arms folded behind his head, as his eyes stared at her face.
"Bondita... You really believed I'd let you stay away from me?" He exhaled.
"When I said you'll be studying in London, I meant we both would be together... How could you even think I'd let you go alone?"
He shook his head sideways and Bondita narrowed her eyes at him.

"But you did let me be away Barrister Babu! For four years in Dehradun, without you! How am I to understand you're proposing to accompany me this time?"

Anirudh got up a little from his seat and held her wrist, as very gently he pulled her towards him, making her sit on his lap.
"Bondita... Shona... We've already had this discussion, hadn't we? You went to Dehradun because it wasn't right for us to stay together at that time, it would have been so improper given the kind of attractions we had started to feel for each other." He breathed out the words, tying his arms around her body, and Bondita leaned back, letting her head fall on his shoulder, both rocking slowly on the chair, together.

"So, if I study barristry, you'd accompany me to London?" She murmured softly.

"Ofcourse I would."
He whispered, as his lips found the crook of her neck, planting a soft kiss on her skin.
"Anything for you, Amar Shona."

Bondita shivered, and closed her eyes.

The man whom the entire world wants only belonged to her, but yet something inside her scared her with the thought of losing him everytime.

"Barrister Babu, you know I can never share you with anyone else." She suddenly murmured, and it made Anirudh purse his lips and smirk.

"You don't have to."

"Promise me that you'd always be mine." Her voice was suddenly chokey and Anirudh stopped the rocking chair and sat upright, as his fingers touched Bondita's chin to turn her face to her side, towards him.

"Shona... Whom else would I be? Where else would I go? You are my home Bondita, you are my everything." His words were soaked in love, and it made the held up tears run down her eyes.
"Why are you crying?"

"I... I don't know... I'm just scared."

Anirudh sighed at her words, as very gently he wiped the trail of tears from her cheeks.
"You have no reason to feel this way. All my life I've only loved you... And, there is nothing that could change this truth."

"Not... Not even your past?" She murmured, and it made Anirudh frown.

"My past?"

"You had a life before me, didn't you? And I always wondered how it was... And , even the thought of you being with someone else, even if it was before me, makes me wish to die...  And, what if... "
Anirudh pressed his finger on her lips.

"Shh.... don't say all these, please..." He hushed her, "nothing can come between us, nothing." He smiled, as slowly his lips found their way to connect to hers.
She parted her lips instinctively, closing her eyes, as slowly, very slowly the rhythm of their heartbeats connected to each other's through that touch of mouth, their tongues exploring the deepest layers of insecurities that lay buried in their minds.
The kiss deepened, and so did the passionate intensity of the moment. Anirudh had shifted her to the top of the office table, moving the files away, and Bondita pulled him closer to her body, making him almost fall on her, hovering over her on the table. His left hand was placed on her side to support his weight as his right explored the softness of her body. Perhaps it was the lightheartedness of the victory, or could be the pent up anxiety, and in that moment they both came crushing on each other in need for an immediate release, for an instant expression of immense connection that they felt.

Anirudh had crushed Bondita's lips with his, his hand crushing her body, kneading her, and Bondita grabbed the back of his head, pulling his hair to bridge the miniscule of gaps that lay in between their tangled bodies.

"When are we leaving?" Bondita pushed Anirudh a little away suddenly, catching up on the much needed breath and Anirudh cupped her face instantly to engage her lips once again.

"Do you want to leave now?"
His voice was hoarse and Bondita nodded promptly.

"Fine. Let's meet Batuk and leave immediately."

Very reluctantly, he got up from her body and straightened the creases on his white shirt, as Bondita ran her fingers in his hair to back-brush his hair in place.

Anirudh smiled at this gesture.

"Am hard!" He pouted at her, and she bit her lips playfully at him.

"And I'm wet... veryy wet."

Bondita smirked, and it made Anirudh roll his eyes meaningfully at her, intensifying the heat of the anticipation many fold, and they both knew how they would pounce on each other once in seclusion of four walls, away from the bustling crowd of the court.

"Are we going back to Davidson's banglow?"
Bondita had gotten down from the table, as she threw the question at him subtly, and Anirudh let out an exhale.

"Let me find a way out."

It was after around fifteen minutes that Batuk had knocked at the door, and Bondita had opened it promptly.

"Dada?"

"Inside, changing."
Bondita smiled, moving aside to let him enter, as her eyes fell on the lady standing behind him.

"Bondita, this is... Um... This is Mahamaya, a friend."
Batuk had introduced her, the little awkwardness in his tone was evident and Bondita smiled cordially, pulling her inside by her hand.

Mahamaya looked up.

It was the first time that she hadn't covered her face under the pretence of any make up, and Bondita saw right through her bright eyes.
Batuk too saw her, as she were, and somehow he couldn't help but admire the strength of her features.
Maha had a scar on her face, near her left ear, forming a slanting line right from her temple to her chin.
She had dimples too, and all these came out to meet Batuk's eyes for the first time since they met.

"Mahamaya?" Bondita asked, unaware of the engagement fiasco that the two had pulled in at Tulsipur, and Maha nodded her head in response.

"I wanted to see Barrister Babu once." She spoke gently, and the gravity of her tone impressed Bondita instantly.

"He'll be right back."
She smiled.

"Do you study together?"

"No."

"Then?"

"We've met through friends, and Batakrishna Babu is helping me to reach to my family in Chattagram."

"I see." Bondita nodded.

Batuk stood quietly. He had washed the Abeer off his face, yet pink tints laced his earlobes. He was listening to Mahamaya's flawless made up responses too, and yet somehow couldn't help but feel that there was more to her that meets the eye.

"Where is Mira?" Bondita had now turned to Batuk with questioning eyes.

"Waiting, in the car. She isn't keeping well, and I didn't wish her to get down amidst this crowd." He murmured, looking away, and it was then the Barrister entered inside the office, now changed into a pair of regular checked trousers and a blue shirt.

"Barrister Dada."

Before anyone could respond, Mahamaya had promptly rushed to him, as she bowed down to touch Anirudh's feet.

"Bless me", she had murmured, and as if instinctively Anirudh had touched her head, his eyes closed, and a single prayer came out of his mouth.

"Bijoyi Hou." He breathed, stirring the woman, as a soft smile stretched her lips in a heartfelt contentment.

'Bijayi Bhava!'
The strangest of wish to be bestowed upon someone whom he had met for the first time, yet somehow his lips had murmured those words.
Not a wish of unbound happiness, not of a long life, but a wish for her to be the winner, and Mahamaya smeared his blessings to her forehead with all her heart.

"You are more than I had thought you'd be." She stood up and smiled at him, and in that subtle smile Anirudh could clearly see the indomitable spirit that the woman bore inside her.

"Who are you sister?" He asked politely, and Mahamaya turned to look at Batuk.

"Dada, she's my friend, Mahamaya Lahiri. I'm accompanying her to Chattagram on our way to Faridpur." He replied, smiling and Anirudh nodded at his words.

"And Mira?" He asked.

"I'll take her to Faridpur, her mother-in-law and son resides there."
Batuk took out a small silver Medallion from his pocket and held it to his brother.
"Dada, this came along with Raimoti's letter, looks like some sort of a metallic emblem."

Anirudh took it from his hand and rolled it around in his hand, before passing it to his wife.

"It's a royal seal Batuk, the kingdom of Raipur if I'm not wrong." He remarked and a subtle smile played on Mahamaya's lips.

"You should leave now Batuk, and be back by Mahashivratri, your Dada's birthday."
Bondita had inched forward, touching Batuk's shoulder, as she murmured a silent farewell prayer wishing him a good journey.
"Dugga Dugga!"
She smiled at Mahamaya too, and soon after they left Bondita turned towards her husband, frowning at the thoughtful expression that had casted over his face.

"Barrister Babu?" She called him, and it made him sigh deeply, a strange heaviness weighing his heart.

"Bondita, if there is anything like a next birth, I would wish for a sister like Mahamaya." He murmured, and Bondita squeezed his hand gently.

"Same." She wrapped her arms around him resting her head on his chest.
"Or, we could wish for a daughter in this birth instead!" She hushed.

********

The middle-aged caretaker was still busy dealing with the visiting crowds, as Anirudh slipped out through the backdoor with his wife.
It wasn't that he avoided those visitors, but he knew the whirlpool of crisis that would arise at his attendance, giving the British police a chance to 'laathi-charge' on them, mercilessly.

"Barrister Roy Chowdhury."
Lieutenant Samuel, the assistance superintendent, a proud white man, had approached them, smiling, as his eyes promptly furrowed at the sight of two armed hindustani guards matching behind him.

"Who are these jokers?" He asked disdainfully, and Anirudh chuckled to match his tone.

"Sent by officer Davidson, to keep an eye on me I guess." He shrugged, his flawless British accent overpowering the Scottish bred superintendent.

"To keep an eye? On you?" He fluttered his small eyelids and laughted out loud.
"Anyway, I wanted to arrest you Barrister", he paused with a serious expression, and then burst out into another loud fit of laughter.
"High Commissioner, Justice Sir McKenzie is throwing a small supper in your honour, at the British Community Hall. He's happy the way you defended the honour of the British Raj in today's trial, and I'm here to escort you there, with Madame ofcourse."
He bowed down slightly towards Bondita, and she smiled in return.

"Well, we're too tired for a party tonight Sir Samuel." Anirudh hesitated, but the officer promptly rejected his refusals.

"Not a party Sir, it's a supper, a private arrangement, and I've clear orders to escort you there."

"Orders? From whom?"
Anirudh narrowed his eyes.

"Madame McKenzie to be precise."

Anirudh hesitated, and the assistant superintendent opened his thermocol hat and stood in attention.
"These jokers can leave you here, and I personally would drop you back to wherever you wish to go."

Anirudh raised an eyebrow at his proposal and shared an approving glance with his wife.
"Great Eastern Hotel it would be."

"Perfect sir."

"And you might have to talk to office Davidson that I'd prefer this arrangement better."

"Noted Sir." He wore the hat back, and stamped his left foot.
"He's my junior, and it wouldn't be a problem at all."

Anirudh smiled brightly at his assurance.
"Fine... Let's go then."
He held Bondita's hand and took a step forward.

"After you, Sir."
Samuel remarked.

.......................................................

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