"Barrister Babu, now you will have to find your new bride from among these women. If you succeed, we'll proceed with the next set of games, and if not, then you won't be able to see your new bride until tonight."
An elderly woman approached Anirudh and guided him in the hall full of women. There were atleast fifteen, Anirudh saw, and each of them wore the same white saree with red border, the loose end of which was pulled over their head, covering the face till neck. None of them wore any visible jewellery and their heights were almost the same.

"Now find your bride, Barrister Babu!" The woman giggled as she bowed down and stood aside.

Anirudh turned back to find his uncle and brother grinning at him, all the house-helps and few local villagers were also standing among the crowd to enjoy this plight of his as well.

'What kind of weird game is this!' Anirudh thought as his took a deep breath and smiled towards Trilochan.

"Kaka... Do I have to really do this? It's afternoon already, aren't everyone hungry? Why can't everyone just eat!"
Anirudh muttered the words sheepishly as Trilochan chuckled softly at him.

"What happened my loverboy? It's a simple task... Just find your wife!" He laughed out a little.
"It's only early afternoon Anirudh, the day started late and people had their breakfast a little while ago... Lunch is late... So don't worry, we have all the time to stand here and see you find your bride."
He winked at Batuk as both burst out into fits of laughter joined by other spectators.

"Alright... I'll find her!" Anirudh murmured inaudibly as he rubbed his palms nervously and turned around towards the women once again.

Had this been a romantic tale, the hero would have definitely been able to recognise his lady love, even amidst a crowd of thousands... May be through some tune of a lost song, or a ring just like Shakuntala and Dushshant....
'The ring...!' Anirudh suddenly gasped as he focused at the fingers of each of the women.
They all looked absolutely identical, barring one!
Anirudh saw a queens cut diamond ring gleaming in the finger of one of the women. The tip of her fingers were artistically painted with red Alta, and she wore only a pair or Sankha and Pola, just like the others. Her hands were held together, infront. Anirudh walked smartly towards the woman and bent down a little to lift the saree covering her head.

A roll of conch resounded at once and he heard Batuk clapping and cheering loudly.
Bondita looked up and smiled bashfully at him.

"I knew you'd find me!" She hushed.

Anirudh smiled back.
All the apprehensions and disaccord from the previous night seemed to have faded into oblivion as Anirudh and Bondita exchanged meaningful glances.

"How can I not find my baby bride!" Anirudh leaned forward a little and hushed into her ears, making her cheeks burn in crimson.

The entire afternoon was spent playing a number of ritualistic games involving the bride and the groom, some of which were fun while the others were useless, Anirudh thought.
Two elderly women were conducting the games, one of them was Sadhana Kaki, wife of Trilochan's manager, and other one was not known to Anirudh.
After every game, the women were giving a sort of feedback to them about their upcoming marital life.

There was a game where coloured rice was spread on the floor with betel nuts, and Bondita and Anirudh were asked to take turn and pick the grains carefully to fill up two small earthen pots, but the catch was that no sound was to be made while pouring the grains or closing the earthen lids.
Bondita ended up making a little sound while closing the lids but Anirudh was very careful. He titled the pots and slided the covers skillfully avoiding emission of even the miniscule of noise!

"Excellent, Barrister Babu!" Sadhana Kaki cheered.
"He is the one who would maintain peace in the household, Bahurani... And, you'll have to control your temper."
The other elderly woman gave the verdict.

"How?" Bondita hushed.

"Precision Bondita, and law of friction, simple physics." Anirudh replied calmly.

The next game was a test of patience.
The duo was given a pair of knotted yarn and Anirudh untangled his share with ease.
"How?" Bondita rolled her eyes at him as he shrugged casually.

"Accuracy, I guess!"

Bondita braced herself for the final game. A corked thin glass bottle was to be opened this time, without breaking the glass. And, yet again Anirudh uncorked it easily.

"Barrister Babu... It's really tight!" Bondita remarked openly.
"How did you do it?"

"Simple physics Bondita, I released the vacuum inside... Apply some science!"

Bondita blew air inside her mouth, puffing her cheeks like a little child as Anirudh burst out into unadulterated laughter.

"Grow up my baby bride," he whispered in her ears. "Else, how will you grow a baby inside you?" He laughed again.

Koeli had brought a plate of rice meal arranged beautifully along with a new saree.

"Now, Bahurani and Barrister Babu, stand up together." Sadhana Kaki instructed them slowly.
"Barrister babu, you'll now hand this plate to her and tell her that, 'from this day onwards, I'll take the responsibility to feed and sheath you!',"

Anirudh took the plate from Koeli's hand and handed it to Bondita gently. The women blew conches to bless the moment as Anirudh looked up to meet Bondita's eyes.

"If I'm fed and clothed, you'll be too." He smiled gently at her.
"But, today I'm taking responsibility of your good health and wellbeing, quality education and untainted happiness."

Bondita smiled back at him.

"Bravo Dada... I expected no less from you!" Batuk clapped his hands once again earning a look from his orthodox uncle.

Bondita kept the plate aside and bent down to touch his feet.
"Get up Bondita... We both are equals!"

The women giggled and whispered, pulling their sarees to cover their flushed faces, as Anirudh too, bent down to touch Bondita's feet.

"Shiv Shiv Shiv....!"
Trilochan shut his eyes closed and turned around, leaving the room instantly to save himself from this outrageous sacrilege.

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

"Dada, did you telephone the hospital?" Batuk entered the study room as he saw Anirudh standing infront of the book shelf, looking at an old book.

"Yes Batuk, I've sent Bihari with the car. He is instructed to bring the doctor along with him, don't worry."
Anirudh replied, squeezing his younger brother's shoulder in assurance.

"Thank you Dada... I'm really scared!"

"Don't be Batuk, I'm there!"
Anirudh comforted him.
"Now cheer up, and do as I say, will you?"

Batuk looked up at his elder brother and smiled brightly.
"Of course, Dada... Anything!"

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

Bondita was walking towards the kitchen to check on the lunch preparations as a little boy of three suddenly ran towards her and held her knees.

"Hey there..." Bondita kneeled down and held the child in her arms.
But, the child spat food on her face instead.
Bondita left him immediately, pulling herself away and the little boy started to laugh.

"Manu!" A woman shouted out aloud as Bondita wiped her face to look at her.
She came running towards the child, carrying a bowl of mashed food and tugged at the boy's arm.

"Come here at once, you naughty boy!" The women yelled at him once again.
But, instead of listening to the mother, the little boy slipped like an eel and ran into the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry Zamindarni... My son is extremely naughty." The woman looked at Bondita apologetically.

"Um... Sorry I didn't recognise you." Bondita narrowed her eyes, smiling courteously at her.

"Oh.. no no... You aren't supposed to recognise me as well. I'm with the drama company." The woman smiled again.

Bondita looked at her face. She was no doubt beautiful, but not groomed. Her face showed signs of tiredness and composure at the same time. Her thin hair was plainly combed with vermillion straining her forehead.
But yet, the face looked somewhat familiar to Bondita.

"Have I seen you before?" Bondita asked her politely.

"You might have... If you are fond of theatres." The woman smiled back.

"Sorry, I haven't seen many."

The woman let out a sigh.
"I didn't expect you to as well. It was long time back actually." She folded her hand infront of her.
"My name is Nanibala. I'm the daughter-in-law of the owner of this drama company."

Bondita's face brightened immediately.
'Nanibala? The Nanibala Debi...! The talented prized actress of Bengal!'
How could she not recognise her!

Bondita folded her hands exchanging the courtesy and smiled brightly at her.

"Nanibala Debi! Of course I know you... I mean, who doesn't."

Nanibala looked pleased at her words.
"It was a long time back Zamindarni. I don't act nowadays. Manu and his chores keeps me occupied most of the time."

"Don't you miss the stage?" Bondita asked abruptly as she noticed a dark cloud envelop Nanibala's face slowly.

"It would be a lie if I say I don't... But, I'm happy with this motherhood." Nanibala forced a smile on her face, clearly trying to hide her regret.
"But, honestly, Zamindarni, if I had the chance, I would have liked to plan better, may be sorting my priorities better."
Nanibala let out a sharp sigh.
"But, Nareen has always been very supportive... May be someday I'll return back on stage." The last sentence was more of a monologue for her.

"Did you say Nareen? You mean Lankapati Ravaan?" Bondita widened her eyes.

"Yes, Lankapati Ravaan indeed, my husband!" Nanibala let out a chuckle.
"To share a secret, though he plays Ravaan, he is no less than ShriRam to me..!"

"You are his wife?" Bondita asked in disbelief.

"Yes, why? You look surprised." Nanibala asked her quizzically.
"We got married four years ago, but we've lived together almost all our lives... We've built this drama company together." A sense of pride reflected from Nanibala's eyes.

"No... I mean, do you mind if I ask who Mohini is?" Bondita asked abruptly.

"Mohini?" Nanibala narrowed her eyes and laughed out.
"Mohini is Nareen's cousin. She is a hired actress whom we have employed for the time being. She is from Bombai." Nanibala paused. "Infact, before her, I used to be the one who used to play Sita."

Bondita swallowed a lump. She smiled and excused herself from the woman.
Instead of entering the kitchen as planned, she walked up straight to her room, ignoring the busy humdrum of the household.
Why did Mohini lie to her?
The question rang in her mind in a loop as she sat by the window, overlooking the busy lawn outside the Haweli.

"Boudi... Boudi... My sweet dear Boudi."
Batuk burst open the door and entered her room without any prior intimation.
Bondita turned around and smiled as his cheerful demeanor contained her as well.

"What happened Batuk?" Bondita asked him politely.

"Boudi... Thank you so so much."
Batuk pulled out an expensive fountain pen from his pocket that Bondita had coveted for quite sometime now.

"Where did you get that?" Bondita asked him.

"Dada gave me." Batuk grinned happily.
"Infact he gave me the new foreign automatic typewriter which he had bought for you."

Bondita's face darkened.
"Why?"

"What why Boudi? He told me that you have decided not to study anymore. So he said these wonderful stationaries won't be of any use to you."

"But, I didn't say I won't study!" Bondita objected.

"How do I know... You tell him that." Batuk fondled the precious pen in his hand drawing Bondita's attention towards it.

"Isn't she a beauty! She glides so smoothly on paper, it feels like I'm writing on butter!" Batuk remarked as he kissed the pen lovingly.

"Batuk, I won't discontinue studying." Bondita spoke firmly as Batuk just shrugged at her words.

"Dada said you will now have babies, and will change their diapers and would feed them... And will stink all the time!"
Batuk flinched his nose.

"Your Dada said that I'd stink?" Bondita rolled her eyes.

"No no Boudi... He didn't say that. It's what I'm saying... Ofcourse you would stink of sour milk all the time."
Batuk turned to leave.

"Batuk wait... " Bondita called out.
"If the typewriter is bought for me, then I'll be using it..." She rolled her eyes at him once again.
"You dare not!"

Batuk let out a loud laugh.
"We'll see Boudi... You'll raise children and I'll raise my qualification standards."
Batuk mocked her with a wide grin on his face as Bondita threw a pillow at him in defence.
Batuk left leaving his laughter behind as his words planted seeds of self doubt in Bondita's mind.

'Am I being hasty?' Bondita asked herself.
'Why can't I have my education and raise a child together.' She stretched herself on the bed, looking straight at the curved ceiling, as her mind battled with the do's and don'ts of her future ahead.