The doctor's arrival was enough to break the duo from their trans.
Koeli accompanied the doctor to Bondita's room.
Anirudh helped Bondita lay down gently with utmost care and pulled a chair for the doctor before standing up and positioning himself beside her bedpost.

"Bondita bahu, what did you eat in the morning?" the doctor asked politely.

Bondita lowered her eyes and quietly nod her head to either sides.

"Actually, today is Shasti Puja doctor babu." Koeli quickly pitched in.

"Oh, I see..." The doctor replied before checking Bondita's pulse rate.
"The unconsciousness was due to extreme fatigue and fasting Barrister babu. It seems she has fever as well."
The doctor opened his bag.
"I'll give her some medicine. She needs to have them with a glass a warm milk aided with ample rest and care."

"Fasting? Fatigue? Bondita is fasting?" Anirudh glared at Koeli spitting the question in a rage.

"Actually Barrister babu, it's not Koeli didi's fault. I had to fast as today is Shasti. I have been doing this every year since our marriage." Bondita explained slowly gathering her strength.

"But Bondita, sona,... why did you have to fast? Who asked you to do this?" Anirudh asked gently.

The doctor handed over the medicine mediating in the conversation.

"Anirudh Babu, Shasti Puja is a very common ritual observed by every upper class Bengali married women 6 times in a year", he paused. "You have been in London for quite a long duration to have remembered this. Your late mother used to do Shasti Puja quite elaborately in this Haweli as I recall." He chuckled fondly remembering old memories.

"It's done for the wellbeing of the husband and the children." Koeli added.

"Koeli I know what a Shasti Puja is for goodness sake", Anirudh snapped, "but why is Bondita fasting? She is not even..." Anirudh suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Looking at Bondita's face he couldn't mutter the courage to complete his sentence.

The eventful afternoon was followed by a windy evening. Bondita lay in her bed all day long and Anirudh sat beside her reading her stories from the Aesop's fables.
This has always been their little custom. Whenever one falls sick, the other would read stories from the Panchatantra or the Aesop's fables. Once Anirudh asked Bondita to read from The Ramayana after which Bondita had gleefully remarked that like Sita, she is also ready to jump into a pyre for him! Needless to say, since then Anirudh hasn't dared to ask her read anything else beyond moral stories.

Bondita has been unexpectedly quiet this evening. It's odd for Anirudh to witness her without her usual questions and queries.

Evening turned to night and Koeli served them dinner and made their bed in their respective rooms before leaving for the local nightlong village Shasti Puja function. Anirudh's Father, his uncle and brothers were in Siliguri for a business cum leisure trip. And it was only these two who remained in the entire Haweli.. Anirudh and his ailing Bondita.
Anirudh fed her a few morsels of food before tucking her in bed.

"Bondita take this glass of milk and drink at once",he demanded gently.. "Once you have these medicines you will start chirping in the morning you see." He pinched her nose lovingly before helping her swallow the meds.

"Now sleep tight my little Bondita, sweet dreams", he kissed her forehead once again, but this time only to realise that she is burning up!

He could feel her shivering underneath the blanket.
He took a deep sigh and dimmed the oil lamp kept on the bedside table.

The room darkened with only shadows of two unearthly bodies looming in the dark.

Suddenly, both of them were startled to their core by an earth shattering lightening, followed by a loud thunder. Bondita quivered in her bed and pressed her ears with her palms.
Anirudh bolted the windows tightly before standing infront of Bondita.
"Bondita... don't worry I'll stay with you tonight. I won't leave you."