The eastern horizon had just started to lighten with a faded aura of the new sun, as Anirudh and Bondita drove back to their Banglow.
Koeli had just been awake, instructing Gobindo with sweeping directions near the front entrance, as she saw the car entering the garage.

"Barrister Babu... Babu... What's the news?" She came forward with eager eyes as Anirudh smiled at her.

"It's a boy, Koeli. Both the boy and the mother is doing well."

Koeli raised her hand to her forehead muttering a soft prayer to the goddess.
"Dugga Dugga...!"
She looked at Bondita as she forced a smile on her face, before rushing inside the house.
She hasn't been able to think straight post her discovery of the matched typing font. For a moment, she almost regretted confronting Suresh, but, on second thoughts, why shouldn't she?
Suresh was the one who should be scared of, he should be the one to repent... not her!
She had noticed how his expression changed at the mention of Kshitija's unborn child, tearing away the last shred of Bondita's confusion about his crime.
But, what surprised her more was why didn't Suresh say anything in his defence? Why didn't he confront her? Not even a justification!

Thoughts muddled up giving rise to an uneasiness as Bondita slowly entered her room upstairs and threw herself on the bed.
Anirudh had followed her, as he entered the room in a trail.

"Hey there... We just came back from a hospital. Won't you take a bath?"

Bondita didn't look at him, instead she just uttered a sound announcing a 'no'.

Anirudh slowly came forward and sat beside her on the bed. He pulled the comforter over her body, sheathing her into the much needed warmth.
He ran his fingers through her soft hair as he neared his face to her ears.

"Shona... I thought of bathing together... You and I... Like that night." He hushed the words as Bondita felt a warm gush of breath on her neck, making her shiver a bit.

"I'm not feeling like Barrister Babu... Please excuse me." Bondita pulled the comforter further up covering up till her ears as she slowly turned around, facing her back at him.

"I can excuse you now... But, that would have consequences." Anirudh whispered the words again as she felt him lifting the strands of hair covering the nape of her neck, as he planted a soft kiss on the skin. Bondita jumped up as a shiver ran down her spine.

"What consequences?" She muttered softly.

"A number of consequences actually... Turn around first." Anirudh smirked as he held her shoulders gently, turning her around to face him.
He looked straight into her eyes, hushing the words right into her heart.

"First, you can't fall asleep till I'm back... And next, once I'm back from the shower, I'll be cold and I'll need your warmth..." He paused to bend down, as he planted a wet kiss on her nose. "And, I want you to warm me up... without your clothes."

Bondita's face flushed immediately at his words as her eyes fluttered nervously under his piercing gaze.
At that moment, all the thoughts, all apprehensions, all worldly affairs seems to perish into meaningless oblivion as she keep staring at his eyes. All that mattered was him... And his eyes... And his scent!

Bondita couldn't think anymore as she felt her thoughts were muddling up with an irresistible urge of pulling Anirudh close to her... Closer!
She raised her hands and wrapped his neck, brushing her fingers through his hair.

"Ahaa not now tigress... Let me be back from the shower first." He pulled himself away from her loose embrace making her acutely aware of the cold emptiness.

"Come back fast or else I'll fall asleep."
Bondita murmured in a sleepy tone as she saw Anirudh moving a few steps away from her, unbuttoning his shirt one by one.

"Aren't you a tease!" Bondita murmured again pressing a smile on her lips as she saw Anirudh removing the shirt completely, tossing it on the floor. Bondita gaped at the sight of his exquisite bare body, as he intentionally flexed his muscles in a subtle movement.

"Close your mouth tigress!" Anirudh smirked, making Bondita's cheeks flush once again.

"Uff... Either you continue what you are doing or just go into the shower." Bondita blurted out, murmuring the rest of the words softly. "Do whatever you want, just stop killing me like this by standing here!"

Anirudh let out a loud laugh at her honest words.
"Bondita, stop gawking at me like that... I'm a married man now." He smirked again as Bondita saw him unbuckle his belt, gliding down the trousers shamelessly down his legs.

"Issh...!" Bondita covered her eyes with her hands as she saw Anirudh entering the bathroom through a crack between her fingers.

"Uff... This man...!" She sighed and turned around, tucking herself comfortable inside the soft warm comforter.
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as her thoughts drifted to the scenes from the night before.

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

Kshitija was standing inside the familiar bathroom, right infront of the blood filled bath tub. She was wearing a red Benarasi and her forehead was smeared with vermillion. She had raised her hand towards Bondita pointing at something, or someone... Bondita was unable to fathom the exact direction that Kshitija wanted to intimate her with.

"Tell me Kshi.. What is it?"
Bondita urged her...

Kshitija didn't speak, instead she suddenly inched closer to her... step by step... Bondita tried to move back, but her feet was glued to the red flooded floor... Kshitija came yet closer, and this time Bondita could feel her cold breath on her face. She raised her hand, holding Bondita's neck, choking her, as she pinned her to the wall mercilessly.

"Stop Kshi... Stop... "

Kshitija grinned evilly as blood dripped down her mouth, painting her white set of teeth into a scarlet tinge.

It was blood-curdling... her grin... the way she bended her head to one side. And, then she moved her lips, only three words.

"You die next!

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

"Shona... Shona... Relax... I'm here with you."
Bondita opened her eyes as she saw Anirudh's face leaning infront of her, his eyes clearly strained of concern.
She was sweating profusely as the strange dream had increased the intensity of her heart beat.

"What... What... happened?

"I think you were dreaming Shona." Anirudh placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You were asleep when I came back to bed. So, I didn't wake you up." He smiled gently as his warmth and tenderness filled Bondita's heart with a gratifying love.

"I must have done something really good in my past life to have you in this one!"
She raised her hand, touching Anirudh's face, as her eyes wailed up in tears.

"I don't know about past life. But, I know I'm very lucky to have you as mine... And, I'm never going to let go of you." Anirudh lowered his head, feathering kisses on her eyes.
"I'm here Shona... Holding you tightly. You won't dream anything bad now." He lay down on the bed, once again beside her, as his strong gentle hands spooned her from behind, wrapping her into an embrace.
"Now close you eyes and try to sleep."
Bondita felt his soft breaths caressing the bare skin on her neck as she closed her eyes, slowing counting the gradual lub dub of Anirudh's heart, drifting herself to the land of sweet sleep once again.