Guys, it's sad that the previous chapter barely crossed 100 votes. Please go back and vote for that chapter if you really don't want me to slow down on the updates!

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Batuk woke up to the steady patter of soft rain upon his bedroom window, droplets yet to scatter the nascent rays of rising sun, and the sound brought a calmness to his mind, a soothing melody, a natural lullaby. With eyes at rest he felt his centre, a lively happiness within himself for these blessed moments of solitude... The heartbreak was still there, but it wasn't pinning him anymore, as his mind and heart drifted on calm seas, aimless as a child on summer vacation, paddling, at ease with the fluidity of time. Candice suddenly felt like a distant nightmare, whose touch although was lingering in his body, but the effect had faded considerably. Batuk closed his eyes and hugged the soft bolster, rolling on his stomach, and soon the memories of the previous night flooded his senses. He was still on the bed, cuddling his cosy white comforter, and Bhargavi's smiling face made him smile.
What a brilliant child! He thought, and then his mind recalled the horrific things that she had to endure, feeling guilty about her defeating eyesight, the deprivation, the trauma... And the thought of trauma turned his thoughts to another person, her pristine beautiful face looking at him longingly, her large dark eyelashes fluttering at him with hope...

"Mira!"
Batuk sighed, and pressed his eyes, and suddenly her face became much more prominent, her quivering lips, her reddened eyes, her slender features, her unblemished skin, her long cascading hair glistening in the raindrops... Everything, everything became prominent, offering him a plethora of sensuous visuals, and he felt a sudden rise in his heartbeat. His muscles were stiffened involuntarily, and a familiar eccentric feeling of desire enveloped his senses making him groan out loud.

"Uff...!!"

What was happening to him?
Batuk wondered, and nodding his head sideways in a vehement self objection, he jumped out of his bed and exhaled sharply, leaving behind the dreams of the night, and the happy memories smeared on the creased white bedsheet.

Mornings were meant to offer new perspectives, new way of looking at life... And, Batuk's indomitable spirit was somewhere willing to take the chances of happiness.

Rudhi had always been an early riser, and while coming out of his room, Batuk heard his niece cooing happily at his sight, stretching her arms longingly towards him from Koeli's lap.

Batuk's face brightened at once, as he almost ran to the baby, picking her up in his arms with an affectionate promptness.

"ShonaMaa... I missed you so... so much..."
Batuk muttered mothereses to the child, filling her round puffy cheeks with his loving kisses, and the child wrapped her arms around her uncle's neck and drooled on his shoulder in happiness, scrapping his skin gently with the four milk teeth that had just surfaced.

"Show me show me... Aww...."
Batuk made her open her mouth, as his eyes teared up seeing those little white teeth in her mouth.
"Now you and I would have mutton together..." He grinned happily kissing the child once again.

"Beyu beyu... Ta Ta... Beyu beyu... "
Rudhi giggled, pointing towards the stairways leading to the backyard of the mansion, and Batuk knew at once what she was pointing at.

'Beyu' was her way of conveying her desire to go out, and 'Tata' was her version of calling him, Kaka...
And with an untainted happy grin on his face, Batuk made her sit on his shoulder at once, her legs saddled around his neck, as they both headed towards the open secluded greenary outside their house, both humming their own tune.

The backyard wasn't much, but it was beautiful, pristine, and the small clear pond reflected the cheerful rays of the morning sun. The scenary was modest, yet breathtaking... And, parking themselves a little away from the pond, on a hammock, Batuk sat comfortably, overlooking the beautiful gleaming water of the pond, his niece sitting happily on his chest.
They swayed with the wind, in rhythm, and as Rudhi drew patterns on Batuk's bare chest, where the sunrays played hide and seek, he simply sighed at the beautiful innocence of the glossy green water, calm... quiet... just like...

"Mira!!"
Batuk let out a suppressed gasp, turning around and sitting upright, as infront of his eyes was Mira's alluring feminity, coming out of the water like an ancient river nymph, forming careless ripples behind her, and needless to say, the ripples had graduated be to his heart too!

Either uncomfortable in the ways of a confined bathroom, or perhaps for the sake of bathing in that irresistible water, Mira had decided to ditch the indoor to play with the cold yet tepid water under the open sky, her face calm, her eyes deep, and her heart devoid of the sadness just for the moment. Unacquinted with the flora of plain lands, Mira had picked up a pink water lily, playing with its un-bloomed petals, and Batuk saw with gaped expression how she touched the flower to her nose, sniffing it, before running it down on her soaked body...
Batuk gulped, as the lily trailed down her neck, to her masterfully sculpted slightly heavy bosoms, moving yet south to the deep crevice of her navel. Her thin soaked saree wasn't doing much justice in hiding her enticing beauty, and Batuk saw how with every breath, her chest heaved up, capturing his breath it it's rhythm.
It was perhaps an accidental moment, and Batuk saw Mira smiling, her eyes closed, self contented, and suddenly he felt it to be the most precious scene that he had every witnessed... As if she was a part of the nature, or mother nature herself, inseparable to the surreal scenary, and before he could let out another gasp, Rudhi cooed loudly, raising her hands and beckoning Mira towards them...

"Mammam... Beyu..." She was gurgling the words.

It had startled Mira for a brief moment, and then, she smiled, a bright smile, brighter than the day, and walked towards the baby, ignoring Batuk's presence entirely.

"Mammam... Mamma!" Rudhi was giggling, her hands held up and Mira promptly touched her chin, kissing her nose lovingly.

"My clothes are soaked Shonamoni... You'll have to give me a little time." Mira had bend down on Batuk's chest, murmuring mothereses at the baby, and Batuk sat there like a stone statue, acutely aware of the proximity of their closeness, his breath hitched, and his heartbeat pounding like a wild untamed horse. Mira's wet hair strands had fallen on his body, caressing his skin, and although Batuk was aware that probably it wasn't intentional on Mira's part, however, he was getting equally annoyed at how these small actions were raising storms inside his heart.

"Um... You're bathing here?" He had cleared his throat, trying to make his voice as grave as possible, and Mira smiled calmly at him.

"The water looked tempting. We don't have such ponds in the mountains."
Her words were an innocent murmur and Batuk felt a feather brush in his stomach.

"Oh well... Ahem... Go change."
He coughed out the words somehow, and Mira nodded her head in obedience, leaving the place at once.

Batuk gaped at the sight again, the swaying movement of her slender waist, her slow steps, her wet saree clinging to her white skin, she was everything that would raise a havoc in any man's heart. Then how can he be spared? As she had clearly pointed out the previous night, that unlike his brother, he was just a man, with flaws and flesh, and a tender heart perhaps!

Mira had walked inside the small cane boundary quietly, where her dry clothes lay, and after a few minutes of breathless anticipation, Batuk saw her coming out, clad in a simple white saree, the strands of her dampened hair falling loosely on her bare shoulder.

"Come to me now Shonamoni..." She had extended her arms forward, and needless to say, Rudhi had jumped on her at once, hugging her tightly, and she turned around to look at Batuk.

"Ta ta.. aye..."
She raised her hands and moved her fingers, beckoning Batuk towards her, and as he complied, Rudhi clasped his hair firmly in her tiny grip and pulled her face close, close enough for him to notice the small brown mole on Mira's chin, and feel the fragnant warmth of her breath.
This was her old way, and Batuk had always enjoyed how she would do this to her Dada and boudi, bringing them closer every time.
But, why he? Why now?

"Leave... Rudhuuu... Leave my hair... !" Batuk groaned in a childish innocence, and Mira smiled, helping him free his hair from the baby's grip.

"You're becoming so naughty day by day." Batuk's face had flushed, his cheeks blushing in the colours of the spring, and Mira winked at the baby in a lighthearted playfulness.

"Can I take her inside?" She asked him politely, and all Batuk could do was nod awkwardly.

"Um... She... She hasn't eaten yet." He scratched his head innocently and Mira smiled at him again.

"I'll feed her." She murmured softly.

Mira had left, leaving Batuk alone, standing under the old mango tree in their backyard, his ears ringing, his face flushed and his heart racing.

"Fuck!!" He let out a curse under his breath and ran inside.

"Bhargavi... Bhargavi..." He yelled at the top of his voice, earning a displeased glance from his uncle, and as he reached infront of the staircase, he saw Bhargavi standing infront, a neem stick stuffed in her mouth, her eyebrows joined in a frown, and her face flinch in a morning annoyance.

"Bhargavi... " Batuk pulled out the small stick from her mouth, making her pout unhappily.
"Get ready... We're going to the hospital."

"Now?" Bhargavi pursed her lips, and Batuk nodded at once.

"Yes, now... But before that I want you to do something for me, will you?"
He asked, excitement dripping from his voice, and Bhargavi nodded in agreement.

"What?"

"Follow me... To the study... Right now!" He commanded.

The glossy green receiver of the telephone was held in her hand, and Batuk carefully dialled a number.
"Ready?" He widened his eyes at the girl, and Bhargavi nodded half-heartedly.
The telephone was ringing.
"Say exactly as we practiced... Alright!"
He whispered, and before Bhargavi could reply, a voice responded on the other side of the telephone line.

"Yes... The governor's residence... Name please."
The accent was British, and Bhargavi gulped nervously.

"I... I... Candice here?" She murmured fearfully, her eyes on Batuk, as he continued repeating the words to her.

"Yes?" The voice replied slowly, as if measured.

"Go to... To..." Bhargavi swallowed hard, and Batuk mouthed the words again encouraging her to speak.
"Go to Hell... Candy." She finally blurted out, and before she could keep the receiver down, the voice spoke up promptly.

"Wait...!" Candice hushed, followed by a few seconds of silence, and then a sharp audible gasp.
"Batuk?"

The words came out as a hush, and Batuk, whose ears were pressed to the receiver, along with his confidante, felt a tug in his heart. But before he could decide a befitting response, he heard Bhargavi speak up, unrehearsed, in clear vernacular words.

"No... I'm his friend, Bhaggu... And don't you dare make him cry again... Or else... Or else..."

The line got disconnected, and a constant beeping noise filled up the silence of the room.

"Or else what Bhargavi?" Batuk was looking at her, his eyes gleaming in an unfathomable emotion, and Bhargavi lowered her head at once.

"Or else... I don't know."
She blurted the words and ran out of the room at once, leaving Batuk gaping at her unfinished words.

"I too don't know Bhargavi... I too don't know!"
He exhaled loudly.

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It was just the break of dawn, and the further corner of Murshidabadi sky was whitening slowly, the clouds shivering away in the chilly winter wind.

"So who is she to you? You Boin?"
Budur-un-nessa was watering the bullocks one last time, as Satyakirth loaded the cart with little food and water for the journey.

"No... She's my... my friend, bhabi you can say." Satyakirth smiled at the girl, and Budur smiled back.

Bondita was standing near too, stuffing a saree in her sling bag, as she narrowed her eyes at Satya's response.

"Will you come back Bondita Apa?" Budur had hugged her in a farewell and Bondita cupped her chin tenderly.

"I don't know... But I wish you all the happiness in life Budur." She smiled lovingly at her.

"I don't need happiness Apa... I need my land to be free." Budur had promptly replied, and Satya smiled at her words.

"That day will come soon too sister... Be brave."

A teary farewell it was, and as the cart started to roll on the muddy road lazily, Bondita sniffed back a tear and looked at Satyakirth with questioning eyes.

"Why did you say I'm not your sister?"

"Because you're not." Satya replied plainly, busying himself with an old map that he had laid inside the cart.

"Why?" Bondita asked promptly, her eyes narrowed, and Satya sighed at her inquisition.

"Because a relationship such as this comes with a lot of baggage, responsibilities... And I'm not prepared to carry them out Bondita..." He paused.
"Friendship is better, it's easy."

"Such a vague argument Satya." Bondita had pulled her knees together, hurling up inside the scanty space of the cart.
"Tell me the real reason." She demanded.

"Smart woman." Satya chuckled, before a forlorn expression took over his smiling face.
"I had a sister Bondita... And she gave away her life for me."

"What? When?" Bondita shuddered at his words, and Satya let out another exhale.

"At birth... She died and I lived... My twin sister... Maya."

"Maya!" Bondita repeated, and Satya nodded silently.

"Yogamaya actually... Her name." He looked away at the empty wilderness outstretched infront of them, the bullocks dragging their cart through the rugged terrain of the red soiled land.

"That doesn't mean you'll never have a sister..." Bondita murmured softly, unsure if that's the right thing to say at that moment, but Satya turned his face towards her and stared at her for a few seconds, thoughtfully.

"Infact, you know what... I've another sister, another Maya actually... Not by birth, but my rakhi sister... And, she has been true to our bond always, jeopardizing her life several times for me, for our cause." He smiled fondly.

"Another Maya?" Bondita gaped at his words and Satya nodded his head.

"Infact, whatever little theatrics you praise me for, I've learnt all from her... She is the mastermind behind the Chattagram plan that we're about to execute."

"Really? Wow! Where is she?" Bondita gasped in awe and wonder, and Satyakirth sighed and smiled fondly.

"God knows, may be shouting her lung out at some random vendor on the street, may be drying pickle, may be... " He chuckled softly, " I don't know Bondita, she's the second most unpredictable woman I've ever met."

"Second?"
Bondita widened her eyes.

"Yes. You know who's the first one?" He whispered.
"Raimoti!"

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