The day rolled as Anirudh sat in his study, engrossed in his work. He had quite a few letters to write, and a lot more to read. The fact that any claim from Mira's paternal side, that might topple his plans for her future, made him restless. He knew he would have to be prepared. He knew the society would favour customs over rationality, and that's where the challenge was!

It was after lunch that Anirudh decided to visit the camp as he thought it would be important to understand Mira's perspective as well. Plus, the sick girl's sunken face was too aching for him to erase from his memory.

"Bondita..." Anirudh called out. "I'll be off to the town and then to the medical camp. Do you need anything?"

"Just some Aalta." Bondita replied casually without looking up.

"Aalta?" Anirudh was a bit surprised. "Alright I'll get you a bottle."

He turned to leave as Bondita called out again.

"...and a needle, threads, a pair of long scissors, a bun pin, and... that's it." Bondita paused and looked up with a smile.

"Whom are you trying to kill, cut and sew?" Anirudh joked, "and what is a bun pin? Where do I get one?"

"Oh ho Barrister Babu, how can you not know what a bun pin is!" Bondita got up and came close to Anirudh. She opened her long dark traces with a little tug as Anirudh witnessed a cascade of dark brown waterfall flowing down, touching her waist. Anirudh raised his hand unknowingly to touch her hair as Bondita walked back a few steps away from him.

"Here, this is a bun." She turned around and rolled her hair in her palm in a quint fashion, tying it in a knot, as she spoke again. " And this is supposed to be a pin, holding the bun." She showed him a wooden pencil as she tugged the pencil inside the knot to hold it in place.

Anirudh was amused at this little demonstration of hers. He rolled his eyes in fake confusion as he nodded his head.
"Very confusing Bondita... So, isn't the pencil not good enough for you to pierce my heart... wouldn't the pin be a little too much?"

"Dhaatt!!" Bondita laughed shyly as she ran upstairs to her room.

Anirudh stood there looking at her trail, admiring her, as he smiled lovingly.

It was late afternoon as Bondita couched in her bed, reading up a book called Das Kapital by some philosopher named Karl Marx. She had secured the book from Anirudh's small in-house library. She had noticed that her choice of book had intrigued Anirudh for some reason, and she had been all the more eager to read it and understand the reason of his fasination.

"Bondita Bahu... " Koeli knocked at her door. "A letter for you." She smiled as she handled her a pink envelope.

"A letter from home." Bondita danced in joy.

"All well there?" Koeli asked.

Bondita opened the letter and skimmed.
" Yes Koeli didi, everything is good and everyone is well. It's just that they are missing us." She smiled at her as she went back to her bed fondling the letter lovingly.

"Dear Bondita beta," the letter was addressed to her. She started reading it further.

" It's been more than two weeks that you have turned 18. I hope everything is good between you and Anirudh. I'm counting day, when you two would come back home. I'm counting days, that you two will start your nuptial life in its true sense. I can't express how eager I am to hear cries and giggles echoing in our Roy Chowdhury mansion again! I have stories to tell them Bondita...
Maa, please grant me this one wish in life.

Anirudh is stubborn. He doesn't understand the nuances of a marital relationship. If needed, make him understand... If needed, make him realise the true nature and meaning of your relationship. My heartiest blessings are with you.
Maa Durga shall bless you with joy in abundance.

Regards,
Your hopeful KakaSasur.
Trilochan Roychowdhury."

Bondita folded the letter back. She rolled on her back and rested her head on a pillow.
'cries and giggles', she visualised the words from the letter as she closed her eyes.

.......

Anirudh entered the medical camp after his brief tour in the town market. He was extra careful with the list Bondita had given him. It was probably the first time she had asked Anirudh to buy something for her, and there was a sweet sense of affinity in it. Although it took him some time to figure out where to buy the bun pin from, but upon buying it, Anirudh took pride in his choice. He also bought some handmade chocolates for her as well.
'She would love these!' He thought.

The medical camp was a bit quieter than usual, the hustle bustle was a little less. One of the sisters were napping, keeping her head on a small desk in the corridor.

"It was a rough night Zamindar Babu."
Anirudh turned around following the voice only to find a young lady of small frame carrying a large basket, struggling to entire one of the rooms.

Anirudh rushed and helped her lift the basket. " Barrister... Not Zamindar!" He smiled.

"It's the same for me Barrister Babu. You are a landlord." The lady remarked humbly.

"Sister, can I meet Mira? The little girl who was admitted a few days ago."

The lady nodded her head and guided Anirudh to a small room leading through a row of beds, finally reaching the one at the corner.

"Mira... " She called her gently. " Look who has come to see you."

Mira stirred in her bed. She strained her eyes to look at Anirudh as she folded her hands together to thank him inaudibly.

It was for the first time Anirudh saw her face properly. Small round face with a pair of deep arched eyebrows joined subtly at the bridge of her nose. Her thin lips were dry with agony. She was pretty, but had a strange unfathomable sadness written all over her face.
'Mira Bai...' Anirudh recalled Bondita's words.

He sat beside her and spoke in a low comforting tone.

" Mira... How are you feeling now?" He asked.

Mira nodded her head slowly to confirm her betterment.

"She hardly speaks Barrister Babu." The sister remarked as she left the room.

"Do you know who I am?" Anirudh asked again.

Mira nodded her head again as her lips quivered a little. She strained herself and uttered the words, " You are my god... My savior!" She folded her hands together again and tears rolled down her shrunken cheeks.

Anirudh wasn't exactly prepared for this. He was taken aback by the abruptness of the situation.
He quickly moved forward and held her hands in his.

"Mira, I'm not your savior. You have to be your own savior, you have to be strong." He said.

Mira kept quiet.

"See, what I have got for you." Anirudh took out a pack of chocolate from his bag and handed it to her.

Mira looked at him in amazement. She opened her mouth and spoke slowly.
"No body has ever given me anything."

"Things will change now Mira... You will get all the happiness that you deserve. I promise!" Anirudh patted her head tenderly.

There was a sudden restlessness in Mira's eyes.
"Will you promise me one thing?" She said, holding his hands tight.

Anirudh nodded his head and smiled.
"I promise."

"Then promise me... Promise me, if I die, you would take care of my unborn."

*Aalta is a liquid red paint that married Bengali women apply on their feet and hands on occasions.