As the day sore high, Roy Chowdhury Banglow too, started preparing to welcome baby Anirudh... Barrister Anirudh had asked Koeli to prepare five different types of sweets including Rosogollas.
He was working in his study as Trilochan sat on a lounge chair, casually flipping a book on theology.

"Dada babu... Would you like to taste these?" Koeli stood at the door of the study with a tray of sweets in hand as she flashed a bright smile on her face.

Anirudh looked up smiling. Generally, it's so unlikely for him to entertain any disruption when he'd work, but today was different.

"Definitely, I'd love to try... Come inside Koeli." Anirudh welcomed her inside as Trilochan sat upright at the sight of the delicious smelling tray.

"Wow... What's all these about? Bring it here... Let me try as well." Trilochan remarked happily.

Koeli walked towards him with the tray as he picked up a mango sandesh from it.

"Mira gave birth to a son." Anirudh smiled brightly, excitement evident from his voice as he got up from his chair and picked up a sweet from the tray.

Trilochan raised his eyes to look at him as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why are you dancing so much Anirudh? It's Mira's son... Not a Roy Chowdhury!" He kept the sandesh back on the tray and sighed deeply.
"Why don't you think about having one of your own and then we all can have some real celebrations with kheer and sandesh."
He folded the book back on the table and walked out of the study room leaving Anirudh and Koeli gaping at each other.

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

"Kaka can get really harsh at times!"
Anirudh complained to Bondita at they sat opposite to each other on their soft bed that night.

"Why?" Bondita asked absentmindedly.

"What why? Bondita, I just told you what happened this evening!" Anirudh widened his eyes at Bondita. "Where are you lost?"

"Nothing." Bondita forced a smile on her face. "Sorry. I got a little distracted."

Anirudh got up from the bed and leaned forward cupping Bondita's face with one hand.

"What happened Shona? It's there anything that's bothering you?"

Bondita hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words.
"It's just that I don't know whether Suresh Da is the right person for Mira... or not!" Bondita swallowed the words carefully contemplating what to say next.

Anirudh gave out a sharp laughter.
"Bondita... Don't think so much. Mira's life was on the verge of getting destroyed, and even if Suresh Da was not suitable for her, I still wouldn't have objected." Anirudh paused. "Right now, Mira's legal custody is important, not Suresh Da's character... And, trust me Bondita, I'd go to any extent to ensure that Suresh Da gets married to Mira and becomes her legal guardian."
Anirudh paused and took a deep breath as Bondita noticed a grave expression on his face.

Bondita let out a deep sigh.
How would she explain him her dilemma?
How would she tell him the sordid truth that she had just discovered?
And why would he believe her even? The typewriter belonged to Rishit and Suresh might have used it, but that doesn't prove that he typed the letter to Kshitija!
With every passing thought her heart became heavier and Bondita pressed her eyes shut to acclaimatize with these apprehensions.

Suddenly she felt Anirudh's right hand gliding around the nape of her neck, clutching her gently, as he pulled her close to him.

Bondita was lost in thoughts and this abrupt tug made her lose balance, as she fell on Anirudh's strong muscular chest.

"What are you doing?" Bondita hissed sharply.

"Pulling you closer to me. Why?" Anirudh hushed.

"You caught me off guard... My heart is beating faster." Bondita closed her eyes again, trying to calm her breathing.

"Mine too..."

Bondita opened her eyes to look at Anirudh as she saw that seductive naughty smirk on his face.

"Dhaat! Barrister Babu."

Anirudh pulled Bondita closer, making her acutely aware of every muscles and ripples in his body. He leaned his face on her shoulder and whispered in her ears.

"Shona, I know something is bothering you. But, you have to tell me what it is."

"What if it's unpleasant? What if... "

"Truth is seldom pleasant Bondita. Tell me. I promise I won't misunderstand."
Anirudh traced a line on her cheek to assure him of his words.

"Barrister Babu... You remember I've been telling you that I had seen the same font that was used to write Kshitija's letter, before?"
Bondita swallowed and Anirudh nodded his head patiently, listening to her.

"Well, I saw the same font last night... In Mira's old reports... from the medical camp... Typed by Suresh Chatterjee."

Bondita paused as she saw Anirudh's muscles stiffening at her words. He clenched his jaws and closed his eyes.

"Barrister Babu?"

Anirudh took a deep breath as he opened his eyes, looking straight at Bondita.

"Do you know it was Kshitija who had planned the kidnapping? She intended to kill both you and Mira... She even paid the goons a hefty amount to carry out her dirty work."

Bondita was quiet. A melancholic heaviness had engulfed her entire demeanor as she leaned back to the bed-rest and let out a sharp breath.

"Mavi had mentioned some mistress... So, I guess I always knew."

"Kshitija Sinha had proposed her love to me. She wanted me to leave you so that she can be with me..." Anirudh paused, trying the gather his words. "And, for this she was ready to go to any extent... Even killing you and Suresh and everyone who would have been a challenge to her."
His eyes ran through Bondita's face, trying to gauge an expression, but there were none.

"Also, she used Suresh Da to do all her dirty work... So much so, that she even disinherited her own brother making him go on the streets!"

Anirudh paused as a lone drop of tear escaped from Bondita's eye, straining her otherwise calm stoic face.

"Bondita... I still don't know what the truth is and I don't want to jump to conclusions. Killing a human being can never be justified. But, if Suresh Daktar has really committed this crime, I'll see that he gets what he deserves in the eyes of the law... But, did you even try to know why he did it, or, under what circumstances?"

Bondita looked up.
"So what are you now? Suresh Chatterjee's defence lawyer?" Her words were sharp as Anirudh sighed deeply, gathering his composure.

"No, I'm not defending anyone. I just want you to understand the pros and cons Bondita. The primary evidence, a sharp knife, that was recovered from the bathroom was Kshitija's. The police found a complete set in the Sinha Residency with only one missing, the one that was found in our bathroom... Next, the same knife had pierced her neck, causing her death... And, there were no fingerprints found except her own."
Anirudh spoke his points in a breath, as he paused to let Bondita sink in to the details.
"Also, I know how we found her that night... But, the police has confirmed that nobody forced her physically."

"But... A crime is a crime Barrister Babu... A wrong is a wrong... Isn't that what you have taught me since childhood?"
The sharp tone of disappointment was evident in Bondita's voice and Anirudh saw the flow from her eyes had intensified.
He inched closer to her and cupped her face in his hands.

"Shona... A wrong is definitely wrong and wrong doers are always to be punished. But, did you try to know Suresh Da's side of the story?" Anirudh paused. "How can you verdict someone to be a convict without hearing his side?"

"Why are you defending him?" Bondita cried out. "Why are you taking his side? What about Rishit?"

Anirudh withdrew his hands from her cheeks.

"I'm not defending him Bondita... Please understand. I'm trying to explain that don't jump to conclusions based on half truth! The concept of right and wrong is very relative. And sometimes, they intertwine in such a way that it becomes difficult to separate them... There is nothing called perfectly right or perfectly wrong." Anirudh paused again and inhaled sharply. "And as per Rishit, if he is innocent then I'll try to do everything in my power to get him out... But that doesn't mean Suresh Da would have to take his place behind the bars."

"What do you mean?" Bondita said sharply as she got down from the bed and stood infront of him.

"I meant, first you calm down, and don't jump to conclusions... Also, think about Mira and her son. What would happen to them if Suresh Da is jailed?"

"Ohh... So that's the main reason!" Bondita cried out again. "So it's Mira and her son for whom you are turning a blind eye towards the truth." She clapped her hands slowly as she turned towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Anirudh asked her calmly.

"Anywhere but in this room."
Her eyes glazed as she realised her sharp words, pointing straight towards Anirudh's heart.

"Now, you are being inconsiderate Bondita. Please listen..."

"Inconsiderate? Me? It's you who is defending a criminal! And guess what, you are too good... extremely convincing in the job.. no wonder you are the best barrister in the country... no wonder they gave you a gold medal... But, what I wonder is how they taught you to defend lies with such precision!"

She raised her eyebrows in mockery as her voice quake with a mix of overbearing emotions.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Anirudh spoke softly as his eyes looked earnestly at Bondita in a plea.
"Come back to me... Calm down... Please!"

"Calm down? How can I calm down when the entire world has conspired to fabricate lies to cover up a heinous crime!"

"You are over reacting." Anirudh's voice was still calm as he tried his best to make Bondita understand his position. "Think with your rationale. Don't get emotional. Emotional is a bane in the trade of justice."

"A trade of Justice! Wow!" Bondita clapped slowly. "I am impressed beyond words Barrister Roy Chowdhary." She opened door of the room and dashed out. "Don't you dare come after me." She darted her words at him before rushing out of the room in the open terrace garden.

Anirudh sat on the bed, taking a deep breath as he murmured the two words in solitary.

"I won't!"