"Guilt is a matter of balance, Batuk. When you need to feel guilty it will show you how to become a better person, less angry, more compassionate."
Bondita was seated beside Batuk inside the phaeton carriage, along with Raimoti, who had occupied the opposite seat. Bondita had insisted on her lying down, and she hadn't objected.

"But, I was really mean to her Boudi... I feel too bad."
Batuk was hushing, as his intention was not to let Raimoti know of his deeds.

Bondita sighed.
"Then you apologise." She kept her hand on his shoulder.
"Remember Batuk, when you go too far with guilt, it becomes as a heavy bag you were supposed to put down once you'd learned whatever it came to teach you." She paused.
"Forgiving yourself is necessary to enable further personal growth. This is being human. This is how we are wired."

Batuk nodded slowly and Raimoti smiled, her eyes closed.
"You speak really well, Bondita, just like your husband."

Bondita smiled too.
"How are you feeling now Raimoti?"

"Err... I've been better."
Raimoti sighed and folded her arms to her chest in her lying position.
"I need to take a bath, and Great Eastern sounds as good as a Scottish poetry."

"Scottish poetry? Why suddenly? We have plenty sweet ones here in Bengal."
Batuk spoke up suddenly, and then he became quiet again, probably realising that perhaps it wasn't his place to speak.

"Blame my mother, she was a Scot." Raimoti exhaled sharply.

"Satya had lived in Scotland since childhood." Bondita smiled.

"But he told me London."
Raimoti opened her eyes slightly to look at her.

"London, probably, but I think majorly in Scotland, he speak in fluent Scottish accent."

Raimoti's brows were narrowed.
"Scottish accent?"

"Yes. But that's nothing, he speaks in British accent too, he has fooled so many officers so many times..." Batuk chuckled, but pressed his lips immediately, as the guilt in him started to creep up along with his smile.

"Yaa... Versatile... I know... I've read..."
Raimoti sighed again.

"We all have." Bondita smiled.

"Bondita, can I ask you something?" Rai had suddenly turned her face, looking at her directly as Bondita nodded her head in agreement.
"So, this Mira... How is she related to you? She seemed pretty close to your husband."

Bondita sighed.
"We found her almost dead on the streets, she was pregnant."

Both Batuk and Rai gaped at her words.

"And, she had this natural affection towards Barrister Babu, she believes him to be her saviour, and I don't blame her for that... He had indeed done a lot for her."

"He does for everyone." Raimoti sighed.
"Aren't you jealous of this affection Bondita?"

Bondita pressed her eyes shut for a moment.
"She saved me for a knife stab, Raimoti... She's a good woman." She paused to smile.
"I was a little jealous, I won't deny, but slowly I understood that Barrister Babu is my husband, and I'm his wife, and there is nothing in this entire world that could break that truth... No matter, how much his compassion is bestowed on others, no matter how much he is loved in return, but in his heart it would be always me."
A crimson hue of happy blush had crept on Bondita's cheeks, as Raimoti stared at her with mesmerizing eyes.

"Wow! Such profound trust." She murmured.

"Isn't trust everything in a relationship? I trust him with my life, and he does the same too... And I know for certain that he won't do any such thing which if I do, would hurt him deeply."

"Symbionts, in love." Raimoti smiled, and exhaled again, as she closed her eyes trying to rest her worried heart.
"It's nice to have such positivity around."

Her words were a hush and it made Bondita smile too.

"And, you... Batakrishna Roy Chowdhury, just don't sulk and brood... Apologise to her, and not just words, we womenfolk are a big sucker for actions."
She smirked in a tease, and with gaped expression Batuk saw his dear sister-in-law joining her as well.

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

The carriage had stopped infront of the lavish palace-like hotel, it's grandeur matching up to the queen's quarters. It was the place built by the British to cater to their own luxurious needs, and over time, the place had become a seat for the royalty amidst the heart of Calcutta.

Anirudh and Rishit, along with the two girls had boarded another carriage, as Anirudh took a little time pawning Raimoti's earrings for the money they needed.

I'll get you a similar one Rai.
Anirudh had promised himself, as he took the bundle of notes from the jewellery maker.

Bondita had already reached the hotel, waiting in the lobby, as Anirudh entered with the others.
There were British officers all around, and Raimoti thought she had seen a few of her father's men in the lobby too.

"It won't be nice to make an entry on our names, especially yours." Raimoti had pulled the black shawl over her face, covering herself further from the prying eyes.
"Anyone influential can find out about our whereabouts from the entry ledger."

Anirudh nodded at her words.
"But, false identification is a crime Raimoti." Anirudh sighed, making her roll her eyes at him, but in return, Anirudh smiled back at her.

"Rishit!" He called politely, as the man came forward instantly.
"What's your plan again?"

Rishit turned around once, glancing at the two girls standing at a corner, one hurled up with the other, seemingly scared and awed with the place at once.
He sighed.

"I've a train to catch at night, to Bombay, I'm resuming studies." He smiled,
"And the plan was that I would drop the two girls at your place on my way... But, now... Well, whatever you command me Sir."

Anirudh placed his hand on the man's shoulder.
"I'm happy you have decided a path Rishit... And I'm indebted that you brought those two girls here... And..."

"Cut the chase, will you?" Raimoti intervened.
"Rishit Babu, or whatever your name is... We need a little help." She looked at him straight.
"Anirudh Da here can't identify himself, as he's being hunted by some nasty goons." She paused. "In simple words, we want you to sign your name in the guest register and identify all of us as your family." She looked at Anirudh and he nodded in agreement.
"Look, nobody knows you here Rishit Babu, and so we all would be safe but if you don't..."

Rishit smiled brightly, and spoke up without letting her complete.
"Madam, it's true that I don't know you, but here, this man, I'd do anything for him, for today, if I'm alive it's only because of him."

Raimoti sighed and rolled her eyes at Anirudh.
"So you just let me waste my breath."

The hotel register said Mr. Rishit Kumar Sinha and family in clear bold words, and as per the security custom, the English speaking Indian manager at the desk asked him to state his relations with the people with him.

Raimoti was standing nearby and taking a glance at her shawl covered beautiful face, Rishit sighed and smiled at the same time.

"That's my sister, Miss K. Sinha."

Raimoti smiled back.

"And that man?" The manager asked Rishit, pointing at Anirudh. Although his tall majestic appearence would speak for his elite descendance, but the clothes he wore spoke otherwise, earning a frown from the snob manager.

"He... Um..." Rishit fumbled and Raimoti pitched in, promptly.

"That's my PisheMoshai, and that lady beside him, is my PishiMaa, and the lady there in white saree in my step grandmother, and the one beside her is her foster daughter, my grandfather married late you see."
Raimoti was smirking as the manager looked at her with a confused gaped expression.

"And, that man?" He pointed towards Batuk, who had now approached them with a smiling face.

"Oh.. this... This is the man I'm betrothed to." She winked at Batuk, as the smile from his face disappeared instantly.

The manager nodded and made his entries, as Rishi walked back to Anirudh.

"Why do you do this all the time?" Batuk hushed, making Raimoti smirk again.

"Do what? Tease you?"

"Yes." Batuk whispered.

"Why do you get teased if you know I'm teasing you? And, besides, I'm bored." She exhaled sharply. "Where is he?"

Both knew that they weren't to take his name in public, even the walls had ears, he would say, and Batuk picked up the reference at once.

"He's overseeing things with Girish. He'll join us tonight."

He saw Raimoti smile, as his words had made her turn towards the manager once again.
"Um.. excuse me... We're expecting one more of our family members joining us tonight."

The manager nodded.
"And, who'd that be?"

"The boy I love." Raimoti promptly replied, making Batuk gasp,
"My nephew, Sarthaki Sinha." She winked.

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

This is my second update. Please vote and comment, if you want me to update more today.