Each raindrop was like a kaleidoscope, if one could only see more closely. Batuk wondered, as he sat alone, how it would be to stop time, to suspend this watery gift and peek through each one.
Perhaps it would be fun to sit inside those raindrops and take that gravity propelled ride to the earth, as he imagined it he felt his inner self laughing - a little at the crazy daydream and a little at his own silliness at the face of adversity. He saw the rain beads upon the tin sheet, upon each leaf of the redundant willow around his feet and washing his outstretched fingers. Soon they will pull together, forming the puddles, opening up a whole new avenue of rain-related fun, he thought and smiled. Perhaps it isn't normal to love such a morose rainy night so much, but who cares about normal anyway?
As at that very moment, Batuk Roy Chowdhury was pretty sure that "normal" was a made up thing.

"Batuk, are you ready?" A strong voice called out bringing him back to the reality, intimating him once again the reason why he was there.

"Satya Da, I'm still not sure... I don't think I can do this right!" Batuk felt a thud in his heart.

Satya narrowed his beautiful blue-green eyes, reflecting the aesthetics of the rain pearls.
"Brother, there isn't any time for this indecisiveness." He handed over a pair of  used latex gloves and pulled another pair out from his pocket for himself.

"Every second is precious. The more time we spend here taking about this, the more Samarth goes into the oblivion of death." Satya gestured him to follow.

"We two are the only ones available tonight in this safe house adept with the knowledge of surgery..." He paused. "And there are seven casualties, Batuk." Satya turned around to look directly in his apprehensive eyes.

"Look, either you do this, or I'm doing it alone." He bore his deep fearless eyes on Batuk, piercing his soul.
"I'm in no way letting my boys die without treatment!" He growled softly.
"You know why these men are lying there? Helpless... Writhing in pain? It's because of our motherland! It because people like you and me can breathe in a free India." Satya paused.
"I was just a few feet away when the bomb went off... I could've been in their place tonight.... "

Batuk noticed the hint of regret laced in his voice, eloquently reflecting his indomitable courage.

"I'll do it! I'll do it Satya Da." Batuk held his shoulder.
"But, I'm a first year student! She you are the epitome of medical genius! Do you think I can..."

Satya chuckled softly interrupting Batuk's words.
"I'm a drop out and you'll be Doctor Batuk Roy Chowdhury in a few years!"
A broad smile stretched across his lips.
"So, let's get to work brother... We have a long night ahead!"

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

The same rain, weaving threads of water in the night sky had a different connotation outside the new mansion where the Roy Chowdhury couple lay.
Bondita's tear stricken eyes were wide open in question as Anirudh sat patiently infront of her and held her hands in his.

"Alright, so tell me Bondita, how do you think mothers feed their babies... Where do you think they get their milk from?"
Anirudh asked her in a calm voice.

"I... I don't know for sure... But, all mother's have milk in them for their babies... All good mothers." Bondita emphasised on the last sentence.

"Even foster mothers?" Anirudh asked tenderly.

"Yes! As I said..." She hushed as her voice started to choke again. "All good mothers... And, I fear I'm not one!"

Anirudh let out a sigh at her words and leaned back against the bed-rest. He held her hand and secured it gently on his chest.

"You know what happened to Trishala Kakima? From our village.." Bondita murmured.

"No, I don't." Anirudh kissed the knuckles of her hand trying to make her feel relaxed.
"Why don't you tell me."

Bondita let out a breath and looked out the window with a forlorn expression.
"When his previous wife died while giving birth, Haru Kaka from our village married Trishala Kakima." Bondita paused and smiled.
"She was twelve years old and very pretty... She even used to give me Rosogullas."
Anirudh noticed a change in her voice as she recalled her fond childhood memories.
"But, even after one whole year, Trishala Kakima wasn't able to feed her step-son, she had no milk!" Bondita lowered her voice.
"The village healer said she was a witch, and before Haru Kaka would come back from the town, his family members drove her out of the house.... And later that night...." Bondita paused.

"What happened later that night?"

Bondita broke down into tears.
"Her body was found floating in the Kalo Dighi, that deep pond on the way to our village!"

"How old were you then?" Anirudh stretched his hand to wipe her moistened cheeks.

"Eight!" Bondita sobbed. "But, I remember... Barrister Babu, I know there are no such things in real, but will I be called a witch too?"

Seeing his wife in tears, an unfathomable pain stung in Anirudh's heart as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Stop crying Shona... I won't let anyone call you anything bad, and you're definately not a bad mother." He kissed the parting of her hair.

The rain outside poured incessantly, it's chill making Bondita hurled up to her husband's warmth.

"Shona, were you aware of how babies are born before we... You know, made love?" Anirudh showered kisses on her head as he hushed the question gently.

"Yes!" Bondita lowered her face bashfully.

"Did you learn that in school?" He asked again.

"Noo...!! I learnt it from Kshiti...." Bondita couldn't finish the sentence and she clutched Anirudh's shirt firmly.
Sensing her plight, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on her lips to deviate her mind from the sad memories.

"Shona, you have seen a milking cow, haven't you?" He suddenly muttered in her ears.

"Yes... Why?"

"Do you think a cow starts to give milk the moment it grows up?" He touched her shoulders tenderly and made her sit straight facing him.

"No..." Bondita replied thoughtfully.
"Only once it's with a calf!"

"Exactly!" Anirudh smiled.
"We humans are the same. Women don't start to milk unless they are with babies!" He pinched her nose lovingly.

"What are...!! You mean... Then Trishala Kakima?" Bondita eyes widened at this sudden revelation.

"It's sad Shona... She fell prey to the ignorance of this evil society." Anirudh kissed her knuckles again.
"I want you to learn everything... Know everything... So that you can save others from being victimized like this!"
His eyes sparkled hope for her.
"But, I'm wondering why didn't they teach all these in school!" He looked at her quizzically.
"How much did you score in science, Bondita?" He teased her.

"Dhaatt!!"

"No seriously, these are important life lessons... This should be a part of your curriculum... So, did they not teach, or did you not learn?"

"I'm good in science, Barrister Babu, try me... But no one taught all these in school." Bondita rolled her eyes at him as he tugged at her right hand abruptly, making her fall on his chest.

"Hm... Then I guess reproductive education is a bit too much for a convent run by nuns!" He looked directly into her eyes as she tried to free herself from his grip.
"But don't worry... You got me now... I'll teach you everything... Theory and practical!" He winked at her meaningfully as Bondita covered her face with her hands.

"I feel so foolish now!" She murmured inaudibly, her voice muffled in her palms.

Anirudh held her wrists and gently pulled them apart, revealing her flushed face. His right hand slide down her smooth neck, trailing further south to her soft quivering bosom, covered with only a flimsy silk saree.

"So, for now... Everything you have... It's just mine to taste... " He smirked at her with his face following his hand down her body.
Bondita let out a sharp moan as she felt his wet tongue rolling on her soft moulds.

"Stop...!" Bondita groaned softly, her hands pulling his hair in fervent desire.
"When will I have milk in them then?" She bit her lower lip, moaning the words.

Anirudh stopped to smile in her skin.
'naughty girl', he thought and he lifted his head only once to answer her question.

"Later, love... But, first let me suck out the honey from them tonight!"