"Did you not sleep last night?"
Beenapani closed her notebook and turned towards Bondita as she yawned for the third time after the first lesson.

"Philosophy makes me dizzy!"Bondita yawned again. "And I slept late."

"Slept late? Why? Did the old man keep you awake?" Beena teased her as Bondita rolled her eyes.

"Well, it's my daughter actually... She wasn't in a mood to sleep last night... Hence..."

"Wow! Your daughter? You didn't mention before that you are a mother!" Beena's face brightened for a moment.

"I'm mentioning now." Bondita smiled.

"How old is she?"

"About a year."

"Lucky you!" Beena sighed. "I always wanted to be a mother... Tell me Bondita, how does it feel?"

Bondita sat upright on her chair as she closed her eyes recalling Rudhi's beautiful, innocent face.

"It's an amazing feeling Beena. It's overwhelming. I miss her, all the time, wherever I'm not with her..." She paused. "I'm eager to hear 'Maa' from her."

Beena was listening quietly as her heart longed to share her friend's emotions.
"And what was it like before the birth?" Beena looked expectantly at her.
"I mean I have read so much about it... The mood swings, the overdose of love and care, and... and the pain... Tell me all about it Bondita... Everything... I so want to know." Beena's eyes reflected her tender eagerness as Bondita clearly saw the pain of unrequited desires of motherhood that had nestled in her heart.

"I... I didn't give birth to her."

"What!! Oh.. I didn't... I'm sorry..." Beena lowered her head promptly, biting down her tongue as she spoke in an apologetic tone.
"Bondita, I didn't realise she'd be your step daughter."

"She isn't a step Beena... I'm the only woman my husband ever married... I told you already, didn't I." Bondita paused to weigh her next reply.
"We've adopted her!"

Adoption wasn't a welcoming action, atleast not to the so called elite orthodox society of Bengal. Beena gasped at her answer and raised her hand, placing it on Bondita's shoulder. She squeezed her a little and lowered her voice.
"I'm so sorry Bondita... None of us are lucky enough to get everything in life."

Not realising the reference of her statement Bondita sat quietly awaiting her escape into the wonders of the next lesson, Women Studies!

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

"Mukherjee Saheb, wish you a very good morning."
Anirudh had dialled Neelmoni Mukherjee's private telephone number.

"Barrister Roy Chowdhury! What a pleasant surprise." Neelmoni's voice vibrated from the other end of the black telephone, although a little mechanical, but was vibrant as the new morning.
"Tell me young man, what can I do for you?"

"I won't draw an unnecessary prelude Sir. It's the Swadeshi Arson case." Anirudh's voice was concerned.
"Custodial death is unacceptable!!"

Neelmoni's voice too, sounded grave.
"But the officer in charge gave a formal statement that the Krantikari who died was already sick, suffering from acute tuberculosis."

"Absolutely not!"Anirudh gritted his teeth, yet maintaining his outward composer of his voice over the telephone.
"I have read the reports thoroughly after their arrests, infact I have spoken to each one of them individually, Ramakanto Sardar was not sick... He was tortured to death!"

The concrete firmness in Anirudh's voice made Neelmoni thoughtful for a while, and after a whole one minute of silence, he pressed the telephone receiver to his ear and spoke slowly.

"Barrister Anirudh, you are an educated man, getting into this mess might complicate things for you." He paused to gauze Anirudh's reaction. "You have a bright future Anirudh, infact governor general likes you. Hem even expressed his wishes to reward you with a Ray Bahadur title as well... Don't spoil this up!"

"Spoil? Mukherjee Saheb, what are you talking about? They are my fellow countrymen, my brothers... How can I let them suffer injustice where I'm capable of helping them legally."

"Don't let you emotions take over your judgement Anirudh. How long do you think you'd continue your Barristry? RayBahadur's title would get you fame, status and money, all in abundance. And once my Rai Maa gets married to your brother, whatever I have built, all would be yours... You can be the most powerful man in entire Calcutta, Anirudh!" The eagerness in the venerable man's voice was unmissable.

The clock ticked, and an acute silence rang in Neelmoni's ears as he anticipated Anirudh's acceptance. But instead the young Barrister's answer baffled him, and probably left him in awe.

"Neelmoni Babu," Anirudh finally spoke, his voice strong and determined.
"I hail from the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family. We were the only rulers of Bengal for a very long time... Hence, power and money has never been my motivation." He paused.
"I would do anything and go to any extent possible to get those Krantikaris their due justice. All I'm asking is your support as I fight for the prosecution, single-handedly, if necessary." His voice reeked confidence.

"Are you determined?" Neelmoni Mukherjee's voice was indecisive.

"Yes!!"

Another brief moment of silence before Neelmoni spoke again.
"Let me see what I can do then. It's my Rai Maa's future that's linked with your reputation now..." He said reflectively.
"Let me see what I can do."

The telephone line got disconnected as Anirudh sank back in his office chair, letting out a sharp sigh and brushing his soft hair with his strong slender fingers. He pulled out a red file and opened the front page before pulling the typewriter again.

LEGAL NOTICE
Claims of Prosecution

He typed, his eyes as focused as his resolve.
"I'll get justice... With or without you Neelmoni Mukherjee!" He muttered.
"I swear!"

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

The busy autumn day at the University rolled in it's destined pace, learners going in and coming out of classes, huddling at the lobbies, the ledges, filling the wooden benches at the green outsides, all absorbed in their unique rhythm of life.

"Prathamesh Sir is outstanding!" Bondita remarked happily, sipping her tea from the small earthen cup.
"The way he explained the necessity of understanding women rights... I had goosebumps!" Her eyes met Nalini's sitting across the table, rolling her tea cup with her fingers.

"Hmm... " She hummed.
"How was the bioscope yesterday, Bondita?"

Bondita furrowed her eyebrows at this sudden abrupt question.
"Bioscope? What bioscope? What made you think I'd go for a bioscope?"

Nalini shared a quick exchange of glances with Beena who was seated beside Bondita.
"No... Well... It's just that we thought you might have gone for the bioscope, as it's said to be a romantic one... And you are the only one married among us... So..."
Nalini fumbled.
"Nevermind... I know there are better things to do in life than bioscopes when one is married, isn't it?" She winked at Bondita as she smiled back a little without getting the actual context of it.

"Yeah, well... I do love a good bioscope." She sipped her tea noisily.
"Just not those ones with sad endings... There is already so much sadness around the world."

"Ya right... " Nalini murmured inaudibly. "I bet there is..."

Bondita got up with her sling bag in hand.
"So, see you tomorrow, girls." She blew a salute at them playfully.

"Won't you be attending English literature?" Beena enquired.

"I get dizzy with Neo classical nonsense." Bondita winked.
"Plus my husband promised he would summarise the entire era in brief so that I can atleast write the topic in exam. Hence...." She raised her hand waving her fingers in a goodbye as she turned around to leave.

"Lucky you... Wait... You'd go alone?" Nalini asked, rolling her eyes at her.

"Yes. I'll drive home."

She smiled and turned to leave, walking towards the canteen counter to dispose the plate she had eaten in.

"Wow... So the lady drives as well?"

A sudden male voice startled Bondita as she turned around to find Girish Lahiri standing behind her, smiling.

Bondita smiled back and shrugged.
"There isn't any rule passed yet against women driving, is there?" She raised her eyebrow in a question before excusing herself from the man.
"Oh... And yes, eavesdropping is bad... Even for the head of the student council."

"I wasn't eavesdropping madam, it's just that my sense of hearing is a bit stronger than others." Girish smiled unapologetically, "I can't help."

Bondita raised her hands folding them into a courtesy as she prepared to leave.

"Be a little careful with your driving Mrs, Roy Chowdhury... Your over protective influential husband might actually pass a law against women driving if you, god forbid, are met with an accident."

Bondita stopped at his words and turned around.
"How do you know my husband?" She furrowed her eyes at the man.

Girish chuckled.
"Barrister Roy Chowdhury is a public figure Madam. It's not difficult for people who read newspapers to not know him."

Bondita let out a sigh and nodded her head.
"I guess... Well, you are right." Bondita face turned a bit serious as she started walking towards the car parking accompanied by Girish.
"It's just that I don't want my friends to know who my husband is... So, I would really appreciate if..."
Bondita looked up as Girish smiled in assurance.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Roy Chowdhury. I completely understand, even in this world of nepotism, not everyone is comfortable talking about their influential family background in public."

"Thank you, Girish Babu." Bondita nodded her head and smiled.
She unlatched the front door of the car as Girish held it open for her.

"Call me Girish da... " He remarked, his eyes as clear as the morning sky.
"I don't mind having a sister who can drive." He chuckled softly.

"Thank you... Girish...da." Bondita smiled back.
"And trust me, your new sister is a good driver."

"And, would my new sister care to give her brother a lift, giving him a practical demonstration of her driving skills?"
Girish stood up straight from the car window, with his arms crossed in his chest.

"Where to?" Bondita asked.

"Alipore Judge Court."
Girish smiled,
"You'd have a visitors entry pass, won't you?"

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

PS: As most of you might know by now, my original name is Aindrila Ghosal.
I hail from the ancestry of Sabarna Roy Choudhury. Not a direct descendant though. My grandmother, father's mother, late MinaRani Ghosal (Roy Chowdhury ), was a direct descendant.
So, Sabarna Roy Choudhury's family is my father's 'Mamarbari'.