Mira suddenly took on a pale look, as if she had been painted with white-wash all over. Her hands were trembling, holding the betel leaves in them, and her lips quivered, murmuring some inaudible words. The loud conches grew louder, and the scent of the incense took over the masculine musk that Batakrishna wore. Mira felt light inside her head, but her heart was weighing a ton. It was as if her heart had suddenly stopped beating and all the blood had run accumulated into her hands, desparate to touch Batakrishna's forehead, smearing the turmeric and sandalwood paste as promised.

Anything for him, was her last thoughts relaying in her mind.

Batakrishna, however, was looking down, his eyes casted on the white lotus kept on the brass plate infront, and beside it he could see Mira's lotus feet.

Mira felt nauseous, and she knew she won't last when her stomach gave in.

"Are you not well?"
Mahamaya had held her trembling hands in hers. She had a frown on her face, and then with her head falling forward Mira crumpled like a puppet suddenly released of their strings.

"Mi...Miraa?"
Mahamaya supported the fall with her body, sheathing her instinctively in her arms, protecting her from the soft flame of the long brass pradip, and Mira's unconscious body collapsed in her grasp.
Mira hadn't made a sound, but Maha's words had made Batuk look up and turn. His face ashen as he saw Mira's skin went as pale as the lotus infront, and he knew at once she was clocking out. Any blood sugar dip and this happened, his medical senses told him... face of a china doll and a body of rags!

"Miraaa!!" Batuk screamed at the sight, startling the two old men sitting infront of him, and the conches stopped at once, so did the Chandipaath.

"Didiii..." Bhargavi had come running too, so did Koeli, but dodging everyone aside, Batuk picked up Mira's limp body in his arms.

"Batuk?? What the... What are you..."
Zamindar Trilochan, dumbfounded at this sudden unexpected developments, had only been able to form incomplete expressions, and looking at Abinash Lahiri, he only let out sheepish chuckles to ease the torment of the moment.

"What is he doing? How dare that widow..."
Abinash however had spoken up, but was promptly seized by his daughter.

"Baba the girl is sick... She has heart ailments at such young age... Come on... Daktar Babu is just helping!"
She rolled her eyes at her father, and Abinash lowered his gaze at once and looked away awkwardly.

Who was he to speak if his own daughter was in support of her would be husband's actions! He might just as well be contented that after such hassles and so much of lies, he was finally able to find a match for her, and that she too had agreed to it!

Trilochan and Abinash had sank down, but not on couches this time, as Batuk had carried Mira's unconscious frame, laying her down on the couch.

"Get me some sugar... Water... Jaggery... Anything... Anything sweet... Fast!!"
Batuk was almost screaming as Mahamaya immediately picked up the small silver pot of Gangajal kept for the rituals, and held it near him.
Batuk had almost snatched the pot, sprinkling some water on Mira's face, and the girl groaned a little.

"Miraa... Miraa, look at me... Mira..."
Batuk's over-concerning restlessness was taking the shape of unmissable affection infront of everyone, threatening to reveal his true feelings for her, and sensing the imminent red flag of the situation that might prove to jeopardize her own intentions, Mahamaya stepped in.

"Batakrishna Babu, let me."
She had almost shoved Batuk aside, as with expect hands, she cradled Mira's frail body and fed her spoons of jaggery water that Koeli had brought, letting the liquid sieve through Mira's throat, and Bhargavi stood near her head, fanning her continuously.

"She didn't eat anything since yesterday." Bhargavi had murmured, and it enraged Batuk to a new level.

"What?? Why??"
Batuk's eyes had fumed up, and Koeli opened her mouth.

"It was Shital Shosti yesterday, and Ekadoshi the day before."

Batuk roared at this revelation!
He screamed and threatened everyone to discard the age-old practices of unnecessary fasting, and Abinash Lahiri sighed at this outburst.

"Is he generally like this? Your nephew?"
He hushed, and Trilochan nodded his head in shame and dismissal.

"He just... Well, he gets a little enthusiastic around patients..." He let out an awkward chuckle, contemplating the reason of this sudden outburst.
The action definitely needed reprimanding, Trilochan thought, but to stay quiet was the need of the moment.

Minutes passed and Mira opened her eyes, and the sight that welcomed her was Batuk's concerned eyes and quivering lips.

"Mira!" He was patting on her cheeks continually to bring her back to consciousness.
Mira gulped, and her eyes fell on Mahamaya, standing behind Batuk's stooped down frame.

"So...sorry", she joined her frail hands at the woman and murmured, a soft tear rolling down the corner of her eyes, and Mahamaya nodded slowly. It was a silent exchange of apology and acknowledgement, and the two woman shared a moment that wasn't for Batuk to fathom.

Mahamaya cleared her throat.
"Daktar babu you should take her back to her room."
She suggested and Batuk scooped Mira up from the couch, cradling her in his strong arms at once.

"Arey... Arey Batuk... Where are you going? Bihari is there... Mohon is there... Arey..."
An agitated Trilochan had gotten up finally, but Mahamaya turned around and joined her hands at him in a plea.

"Let him take her Zamindar Babu... And don't worry I'll be there too... With them, all the time."
Her eyes reflected an assuring calmness and it made Trilochan swallow his disagreements.

If the would be bride was consenting to his medical escapade, then who was he to object! He had wished for this understanding, hadn't he?

Trilochan nodded half-heartedly, consenting, and Mahamaya smiled gently before she followed Batuk up the stairs. Behind her was Bhargavi.

"Mira... Mira can you hear me? Can you... Can you see me?"
Batuk hadn't waited for his uncle's consent. He had almost ran up the staircase cradling Mira in his arms, and the urgency in his action was unmistakable, making everyone frown.
He kicked the door of the room open, not the guest room but his own bedroom, as very carefully he laid Mira on his soft bed.
Mira opened her eyes slowly.

"I... I couldn't... " She swallowed hard, and Batuk saw streams of tears fading into her hairline.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry I couldn't do it."
She sobbed the words out, as her frail fingers feebly clasped the sleeve of Batuk's kurta.

"No Mira... I'm sorry... I'm so so sorry..." He blurted out the words and cupped her face, his touch reeked nothing but unadulterated love, and with widened eyes Mira saw a drop of his tear fall on her cheek, moistening her everything in turn.

"Strange isn't it?" She murmured, as with a feeble touch she raised her hand to wipe the single dampened strain from his eyes.
"Can't let you be, can't keep you either." She exhaled sharply, and another trail of tear rolled down her temple.

"Don't say that Mira... We both know what's in our hearts." He murmured the words, his fingers rubbing the tear marks from her face continually.
"You are mine Mira... As much as I'm yours."

"No... Batakrishna Babu... Don't say such things."
Mira coughed out, her breathing rugged as Batuk quickly grabbed a glass of water from his bedside table, and held it to her lips.
Mira panted.

"Everything goes wrong when I'm involved. I'm a bad omen Batakrishna Babu..." She paused to breath.
"With every passing day, I feel I'm going down, and I'm scared that I'll pull you down with me too." She sobbed the last words and Batuk slipped his hand behind her neck, as lowering his body he clutched Mira close to his chest.

"Don't say these... We aren't going down anywhere!" He muttered, and Mira inhaled the musk of his body sharply, letting her mind relax at his familiar fragnance.
"I'm sorry I forced you earlier to come down Mira... I shouldn't have." Batuk was slowly caressing her hair, her face still held to his chest, and Mira took deep breaths to calm her graduated heartbeat.
"Love is not a thing to be forced, and if I've learnt anything from my brother, it's this!" He sighed deeply, letting Mira's head touch his soft pillow slowly.
"I won't force you Mira... Ever."

Mira tried to smile at his words, but inside her heart she felt a havoc of tsunami rising high, threatening to destroy everything at shore.
"Thank you", was all she could murmur, and Batuk pressed his lips in a forlorn smile. It felt as if his heart wasn't secured from the destructive tsunami as well, and her little thank you had made it even worse.
She wanted to tell him so much... She wanted to cup his face too, she wanted to tell him how difficult it was for her to be away from him, to see him with someone else, but all she did was sigh.

"I just wish I could make you understand that it's not about luck or fate or destiny... I mean whatever I feel for you, and whatever we've shared, it's very much real Mira... And that you aren't any bad omen or there isn't any such credulity." He breathed out the words, and Mira closed her eyes in response.

"Anyway... I'll take you to your son Mira... To Faridpur, as soon as you are well." He murmured, and Mira opened her eyes, a bright smile plastered on her lips made him smile too.

Wasn't this what his Dada had once said...
To smile at her smile and to cry her tears!

"And what about your fia... Um... that good lady..."
Mira murmured the question, and before Batuk could answer, they both heard Mahamaya speak up, as in their moment of emotional exchange none had realised when Mahamaya had crept up behind them with the bowl of jaggery water in her hand.

"His fiancee would definitely accompany him, Mira." She rolled her eyes playfully and smiled.
"Now if you're breaking his heart then there need to be someone to mend it too, isn't it?" She chuckled softly, and as Batuk turned to look at her, she winked at him too.
"Now Batuk Babu, if I may call you so... Go and fetch the transistor, will you? I'll sit with Mira here."

"Transistor?" Batuk frowned, surprised and annoyed at this strange request, and Mahamaya rolled her eyes at once.

"Isn't there a price for everything? I saved your back down there, and now you do mine..." She paused, walking up slowly towards the bed, as she sat beside Mira, touching her head gently.
"Fetch the transistor, I need to hear the afternoon news." She fluttered her eyelids and grinned.
"And, oh... Please ensure your uncle and my father sees you outside... And, if they ask tell them Maha is taking care of Mira as you have work."

Mira had closed her eyes, her breathing was getting steadier and for the first time Batuk narrowed his gaze to take a good look at the woman sitting on the bed beside her.

Nineteen? She definitely can't be and Batuk could vouch for that.
And although it was difficult to say how she really looked because of those extra layers of white pancake casts on her face and the thick kohl around her eyes, but Batuk suddenly could see very clearly the strength that she possessed.
An awestrucking inner strength, he thought, and that there was a lot to learn from her.

"Also, I needed to make a trunk call, to a... to a private number, if you could arrange." Mahamaya had hesitated for a while, and Batuk turned his eyes away at once.

"Su... Sure Madam... I'll dial the operator's for you... Or, if you want I can directly drop it at the telephone Office in Calcutta."

"You're going to Calcutta? When?" Maha asked, an immediate cloud of apprehension on her face, and Batuk fidgeted for a moment.

"Tomorrow... Early morning. I've something urgent with officer Davidson."
The last words were more of a self explanatory statement, hushed under the breath, but it was enough to take away the shine from Mahamaya's face.

"Transistor, Batakrishna Babu." She suddenly murmured, her voice a little distant and Batuk nodded at once turning to leave.
"Umm... On a second thought... Don't worry about the trunk call, my lover would know it anyway... So, I think it's not needed anymore." She added.

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

'... the Raipur royalty, however has issued an official statement this morning stating their lack of knowledge and participation in the recent occurences around its borders. For those who are wondering, the British police post near Raipur border had been reportedly a site for extortion, rape and torture since the past few months. Many locals had faced the wrath of the posted Sub-officer Norman, whose untimely demise yesterday had raised a heated discussion among the British leaders, compelling them to consider a more thoughtful approach while dealing with local Indians. Although the Raipur royalty had been silent as usual about making a stand, however the residents till the adjacent three villages are celebrating this victory. 'A victory of good over evil' they quoted.
However, the big question still remains... Who was behind this?
The arrows as found on the dead officers clearly were shot from the bow of the notorious Thuggees, yet, the witnesses claim this the credit for none other than their sacrosanct!
Yes, the mighty Satyakirth Sen, after his prolonged absence for about a month has struck again, and this time it wasn't just justice, but there seemed a hidden vengeance behind the masscare.
So, what made the sacrosanct, the rogue Prince of Raipur, strike against the British the save the very people of the land where he is legally an outcast? Was this his Kranti or was there any hidden agenda that's yet to be unraveled to our knowledge... We'll keep on to this news, and update you more, and till then, let's take a brief commercial...'

Anirudh Roy Chowdhury had stopped pressing the keys of the typewriter kept infront, as with rapt attention he listened to the evening news broadcast in radio. Bondita too had folded the Political Science textbook that she had been skimming all afternoon, as with a crease on her forehead she too listened to the news along with her husband.
Unaware of the recent developments in Batuk's life, including his betrothal that morning, Anirudh and Bondita had invested the entire morning in pursuit of their individual goals within the confinement of the police bunglow.
Anirudh had almost redone and arranged the entire Swadeshi case, due for trial in two days, as Bondita focused more on the upcoming college examination due on the third day.

"Satya??"
Bondita had hushed, exchanging a glance with her husband, her eyes widened in awe and worry, but before Anirudh could react they both were visibly startled by a loud thumping noise downstairs, as if something heavy had fallen down, and along with it came Davidson's sky-piercing scream.

'That bloody scoundrel!' ... was what they both heard, and without wasting a minute Anirudh ran out of the room, overlooking the hindustani guard who was seated outside their door with a bored face.

"Paul... Are you..."
Anirudh didn't complete his words, as the sight of a shattered transistor caught his eyes, smashed on the cemented floor, and at once Anirudh knew what might had happened. Paul's right hand was bleeding too, evidently self inflicted, and Anirudh let out a sharp sigh at this scene.

"Am I fine? Is that what you're asking Ani-rud?" Davidson huffed the words as Anirudh slowly approached near the drawer, pulling out a small fast aid box from inside.
"I'm... I'm.. not fine! And, with everyday I feel I'm going down hell... Chasing these shadows, yet never catching a sight of them!"
Davidson continued, and Anirudh  wrapped a reel of white bandage silently.

"I just wanna go home Ani... You know what it means, don't you..." He continued.
"Imagine you away from your wife, and family and chasing a ghost in a foreign country... It isn't nice mate, it isn't fair!"
He blurted out his anguish before sinking down on the cane chair in the modestly designed drawing room.

"Life isn't fair Paul... It's how we embrace the situation we're in."
Anirudh spoke calmly, his hands and eyes busy in tying the bandage in his hand, and Paul let our a loud grunt.

"Yeah... Else I'd been with Danielle, and you with Candice!" He muttered as a monologue and Anirudh chose silence.

"You still have a choice Paul... Stop hunting." He urged, looking up at the man's face, and Paul narrowed his eyes at him in a faint suspicion.

"You a sympathizer?" His voice was low, and Anirudh let out a soft exhale.

"I'm an Indian... A patriot... And I share the same sentiments as anyone who love their own motherland, like you do, for yours." He curled his lips in a faint smile and Davidson swallowed a lump in his throat.

"So you know this Satiya-keeth?" He asked, and Anirudh looked away.

"I wish I did." He replied instead, as very gently he placed Paul's wounded hand on the handle of the chair.
"I doubt Satyakirth is one man." He suddenly spoke, and Paul frowned at his words.

"What do you mean?"

Anirudh exhaled, and then closed his eyes, his words grave and meaningful.
"Satyakirth, I feel, is an idea, and not a single man... Chasing the name would indeed be chasing a ghost Paul."
He opened his eyes, and was greeted by Paul's flinched face.

"So what do I do mate? I wanna go home... And this Satyakirth is my one way ticket!"
He cried out helplessly, and Anirudh placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Do you really believe whatever these men, these terrorist as you call them... Whatever they are doing is entirely wrong? I mean their ways are probably questionable, but the intent? Won't you too fight for your land Paul?"
Anirudh words were measured, and it made the officer get up at once.

Anirudh kept to his seat, as his eyes roamed across the room following the man. He had stopped by a wooden cabinet, as Anirudh noticed him pulling out two stem glasses and a bottle of old bourbon from the celler.

Anirudh exhaled inaudibly and turned around, as his eyes fell on his wife standing by the door, her face had clear signs of worry written all over.
It's like putting a hand in the snake's pit... and, Anirudh wasn't unaware of the stakes. But he had to do this, he had to have this conversation with this British officer who once happened to be his dear friend... And, most importantly, he'd have to save him...
Satyakirth Sen!

"I just miss home Ani-rud... I miss us seated by the lake on those long summer days... Us and the girls, the basket of apples, the red wine, the aroma of the breeze, the soft touch of Danny's floating golden traces... I miss everything bruv!"
Paul had sat down on a chair opposite to Anirudh, as he kept the glasses on the small center table and half filled them with the colored liquid.

Anirudh stole a glance at his wife, and she slowly turned around, leaving the door.

"I just want my life back Ani-rud... My Oxfordshire days... Danny... Those evenings... I miss them... I miss them so damn much!"
He gulped the liquor at one go and turned to look at Anirudh.
"Tell me mate... Don't you miss her too? Candice?" He muttered.
"And does she know about her? Bondita?" He narrowed his eyes at Anirudh, and the latter stretched his back on the chair with a hard look on his face.
"How would your little wife feel if she knew about Candice, I wonder!" Paul hushed, and suddenly Anirudh knew clearly where the entire conversation was heading towards...

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

The last part of this chapter somehow got deleted, hence I rewrote and republished.

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