It's been eight months since Bondita had sent her letter to Anirudh. No replies.
Her heart sank a little each day as she saw the peon delivering other letters but hers. Her academic year was already over as she had joined mid-year. She topped her class and was showered with praises from teachers-students alike. She wrote back to her Kaka Sasurji who had send her a lovely silver pen as a reward. But her heart ached for Anirudh.

Instead of going back to Tulsipur, she decided to stay back in Dehradun during her vacations. She had two reasons. First, she was helping Ms. Lenny to educate the local village women on basic Home Science and Sanitation.
And second, she was secretly hoping to receive his letter!

It was one such afternoon when Bondita was back to her dorm after a long morning of work with Ms. Lenny, that the peon finally arrived.

Bondita's heart started thumping inside her chest.
She took the letter and a small wrapped package from the peon and her eyes lit up!
"Barrister babu" she gasped

She sniffed the letter before breaking the seal of the envelope as carefully as possible... And there comes her coveted piece of paper!!

"Dear Bondita Devi,

You did sound like a grown up lady already! It took almost 5 months for your letter to reach me. And I'm writing back immediately.
I hope you have had your share of Rosogullas, because I haven't. I'm waiting for you to turn 18 so that you can feed me yourself.
Don't worry, you won't have to choose me to feed me Rosogollas. Remember what I had, 'you are the master of your own life'.
Also, I didn't marry any helpless girl, I married a feisty tigress! And I hope she is doing well.
But I wonder whether my tigress misses me or not, because I miss her terribly.

Bondita, I had so much to tell you, so much to write but now when I'm actually writing to you, it seems I'm too full for words. I want to see you Bondita. Send me a Polaroid of yours, will you? I'm sending you a portable Polaroid camera with this letter. I'm sure you are smart enough to learn it's functionality.

How did you do in your exams? I'm sure you will have already graduated to the next grade when you will have my letter in hand.
I hope Lenny is treating you well.

PS: Did you give some Rosogullas to your new friend Kshitij as well for suggesting names for you? You know, you should. Poor lad.
And, I think, I'll have to talk to Lenny now as I thought I have put you in a girls'convent!

Yours always,
Anirudh Roy Chowdhury"

Bondita's delight knew no bound. She held the letter close to her heart. Tears of joy flew down her pink cheeks.
"Barrister babu, I miss you... I miss you very much.." she murmured.

After the initial heat of the moment subsided, Bondita slowly untied the package and unwrapped a small beautiful Polaroid camera. Her joy knew no bounds.

The next few months flew effortlessly and Bondita was immersed in discovering and mastering new techniques and styles of photography. She would carry the camera everywhere and would click memories hoping one day she would get to show Anirudh her temporary little world. Temporary... As her real world is Anirudh.
Home is where the heart lies.

❤️