The morning had its chill. The sun was still playing hide and seek behind the mountains. Neither Anirudh, nor Bondita spoke the entire way. There was an unsaid tension, an incomprehensible air of twitchiness between the two.

Anirudh got down from the car and held the door open for Bondita. She slowly got down and followed Anirudh inside without any complaint.

"I have had your room prepared upstairs Bondita. Freshen up and come down for breakfast. I need to talk to you." Anirudh said.
There was a subtle enchantment in his tone the Bondita suddenly felt awed.

The breakfast was served in a proper English style, with bacon and sausage accompanied by bread toast. Koeli had done a wonderful job and Bondita ate silently.

"I wanted to tell you that you are not a random orphan whom I saved from the street."Anirudh broke the silence. "I married you... I ..." He stopped before finishing his sentence.

Bondita looked up. She saw a veil of sadness overshadowing Anirudh's face. His sadness touched her heart.

"Bondita, this was your birthday gift." He handed her the documents which she had left on the table with the car keys the previous day.

"What is this?" Bondita asked curiously as she opened the folds.
"A property deed? This house? Barrister Babu... What is all these?" Bondita was baffled.

"This means, you are legally the owner of the house and I'm your guest." Anirudh smiled.

"I can't possibly take this."

"You can. If you don't chose me, accordingly to the law, I'm to provide you with an accomodation and expenses till the time you don't decide to marry again." Anirudh said slowly. His voice was clearly stricken with pain.

Bondita couldn't held her tears any more. With a choked voice she said,
"And what if I choose you?"

She got up from the chair and ran up the stairs without waiting for Anirudh's answer.

Anirudh realised that he had hurt Bondita again, but what he failed to understand is the reason.
Everytime, he had felt about doing something right, he has always ended up hurting her.

'You are not the marrying type.
I have finally decided to part ways legally..', isn't this what Bondita had said. He questioned himself. 'Then why is she upset when I'm just carrying out her wishes now.'
Why is it getting difficult to understand his little Bondita with every passing day?
After a considerable amount of self debate, Anirudh finally decided to ask Bondita one final question.
'What is it that she wants?'
...............

The entire day Bondita had locked herself up in her terrace bedroom until Koeli knocked to lit up the evening lamp in her room.
Bondita quietly opened the door.
Koeli saw her swollen eyelids and tear strained face.

She slowly lit all the lamps one by one before she finally opened her mouth to speak.
"Bondita malkin... I know it's not my place to speak .... But..."

Bondita burst into tears before Koeli could complete her sentence.
" Koeli didi..." She cried. " What wrong have I done? Why is he behaving like this ? Why does he not want me? Since the time I have had my senses, I have only wished for him.... Then why Koeli didi... Why?" Bondita's sobs were getting louder and inconsolable.

Koeli hugged her tight as she buried her face in her arms and continued to cry.

"Bondita Malkin", Koeli spoke slowly wiping her own tears. " You are getting it all wrong." She paused. "Men are not like us. They wants to make us happy and hence they buy us gifts. The truth is they are clueless about the intricate emotions which we feel." She patted Bondita's head lovingly. "Anirudh Babu is only listening to your words and following them. He thinks that's what would make you happy, although it's killing him from inside."

Bondita looked up wiping her tears.

"What do you mean?" She asked in a choked voice.

"I have seen him pining for you." Koeli smiled." I have been seeing him since he was a little boy and he has always been the mature one." She paused. " But now, it's just that I see a different version of him.. restless, impulsive.. He, himself, is not able to comprehend how he feels for you and what is the right thing to do."

"Then what do I do Koeli didi?" Bondita asked innocently.

"Make him confess his love. You are a woman Bondita. In Gita, they say women are like water, that can take any form as per the vessels they are kept in. Show him the women in you Bondita beta."

Bondita hugged Koeli like a small child and sat for a long time, thoughtful , before she finally said,
"I'll make him realise his feelings Koeli didi, bless me."