"Bondita! Mein a gata hu, tum bahar ao" he shouted looking at those doors upstairs, "Bondita dekho tumhare biristra babu a gye hain".

Pandit ji wickedly smiles as he knew she won't respond. She had been drugged must be lying unconscious in the room and once she wakes up she will be in grief by the fact her husband forgot her.

"Bondita awaz do please" he looked at pandit ji, "tum daaro maat kisise, mein hu na".

"Barrister Babu, kabh se keh raha hu chale jao par nehi, tabhi mein sochu us ladki mein itni zidd ati kaha se hain" said Pandit ji.

He now drew a line in front of him, "ye hain apka Lakshman rekha, uspar rahoge yo jiyo ge, ispar aoge to maaroge".

I recalled on the day of my wedding, baba stood in front of my door and told me if I stay inside, I will be free from this zabardasti ka rishta and my life will be normal again but if I cross the line, I will only have to bear the pain. I crossed the line and saved her from the widows.

I recalled Tarabai throwing the ghungroo at me saying if I cross the line, I'll have to die but I crossed the line.

Every single time I crossed the line for her and I am glad that I did.

So, without thinking further I crossed the line, "Bondita!" I once again called her name.

"Himmat to bhar bhar k hain!" Said Panditji.

A thought the stuck in my mind was why am I doing this. If I don't love her then why am I ready to die for her. Is it only out of my responsibility or because she means a lot to me?

"Bondita kaha ho tum?" I cried, "Awaz do na please".

I tried to go upstairs but few men stopped me and pushed me away.

They held my arms but I jerked them all with all my might.

I was alone and they overpowered me. I snatched the stick from one and fought for a while but things got bitter after the blow on my head.

When the dawn came I could barely move. Every muscle has seized up. My body was struggling to recover, to repair the damage. Unable to move with any grace my movements are jerky.

After a time being I recalled her face and stood up again with support, but the damage was done. I couldn't stand for even a minute.

They all hit me and kicked me, I again tried to stand up but failed. My legs were not helping me. My soul cried for her, I cried for her, not for me.

I could never recall how long the beating had gone on for, only the final kick and the sound of the iron bar falling to the concrete. I spat blood as tears rolled down my eyes.

It was a sadness in his eyes, a heaviness, an unyielding sorrow that slowed his speech and robbed him of his once easy smile.

Then he tried to say her name, his cracked lips failing at the first syllable. A bloody mess was created, his cries remained unheard.

Bondita woke up slow holding her head. She rubbed her eyes and looked here and there, "didi mere pati babu nehi aye kya?" She asked a girl softly.

"Ayenge to batayenge tujhe, abhi tak nehi aye" lied the woman.

She blew her cheeks, "dekhna, ayenge to baat nehi karungi bilkul bhi, muh fula lungi aise fir manane ayenge apni Bondita ko".

Pandit ji walked to Anirudh, and leaned down. He was sucking in thin breath, trying to say her name but each time failing at the first syllable.

"Iska kya kare prabhu, chor diya to firse wapas a jayga" said one of the men.

"Upar wale kamre mein le jao isko aur fek do waha" saying he went away.

Bondita is here but I am helpless. I am injured and in this room. They will never let her know that her pati babu is here itself.

I heard her voice several times, talking or laughing or arguing but I couldn't call her. I was not in such a condition.

I heard sounds of her payel from outside. She, roaming around in her tinkling payel.

I could hear her which means her room is very close to mine.

I tried to get up but failed.

But I believe in my Bondita. She is smart, she will know that I am here. I only hope that these people don't exploit her more.

I went to the window, "bohot naraz hain apki Bondita. Ekbar aake mera naam pukarte to mein bhagi a jaati par ap aye hi nehi....baat nehi karungi mein unse bilkul nehi karungi".

"Mein bohot gussa hu"

Suddenly a wanan walked in with sweets, "Bondita dekho hum kya laye hain tumhare liye".

I smacked my lips, "itne saare mithaiye mere liye?"

"Ha tumhare liye" the woman smiled at me.

"Waise zabardasti mujhe yaha le aye par aplog ho bohot acche" saying I gulped one rosogolla, "suno na didi, mere pati babu aye to mujhe bata na".

Saying this I put three rosogolla in the container, "ye swadest Rosogolla mein unhe bhi chakhaungi, bohot pasand ayega unhe".

"Bondita, sham k arti k liye taiyar ho jao"

I frowned at them, "nehi, aplog mujhse galat kaam karwa rahe hain, mein nehi karungi ye sab, pati babu ko pata chala ki mein logo ko thag ne mein madat kar rahi hu to bohot naraz honge aur bohot daatenge".

"Naraz honge jab wo ayenge" said a familiar voice. It was that Pandit who entered the room.

"Aye to nehi abhi tak wo"

I lowered my head and murmured, "ayenge pati babu".

"Ha par kabh, abh tak a jana chahiye tha na tujhe dhundte huye"

I glared at him but somewhere I was disappointed. He forgot me...how could he? I rubbed off my tears and smiled, trying to be positive and strong.

"Didi pani peeni hain" I said.

"Ruko mein le ati hu" saying didi went out of the room leaving the door open.

I snuck out of the room immediately and looked down from the corridor.

The view horrified and confused me at the same time.

The hall was drenched in the pool of blood, a bloody mess was created. "Itna khoon kaise yaha?" I wondered.

I white visible line was also drawn on the floor and all doors were closed. Yaha ho kya raha tha?

I looked here and there. No one was present so taking the opportunity I went downstairs to examine the matter.

"Aaaaa!" I groaned in pain when something got pierced in my foot. I looked down and saw broken pieces of glass.

"Kanch yaha kaha se aya?" Wondering my eyes stopped at a broken watch on the floor.

I looked around, "ye ghari kiska hain?" I called but seemed like all were busy in their respective work.

I didn't actually looked carefully at it. If I did I would have to known it was his.

View of blood has always horrified me but why was there blood in a temple. This is not even kali maa's temple then why?

Did anyone die? Was anyone killed here? I got goosebumps, did these people commit some kind of murder?

When I looked around, I saw a few men entering a room and them coming out.

I went upstairs and first decided to knock at the door but my hands stopped.

I strange feeling crept into my heart. I hid behind the pillar and waited for those men to go away.

Zaroor meri tarha koi aur bhi hain yaha, mujhe pata lagana hoga.

They locked the door from outside and went away.

I immediately held the lock, took out my hairpin and opened it.

In college, once one of my friend got locked inside the library at that time I used my hairpin to unlock it.

Once the door got unlocked I went inside but my feet stopped me.

"Pati babu!"

The lock fell from my hand on the concrete floor.

I stood numb and petrified. Pati babu was injured, his white kurta was sogged in red blood. He had wounds all over his body and bloodstains on his face.

"Pati babu!" I ran to him immediately and placed his head on my lap, "kisne kya ye sab?" I cried.

These people lied to me all these time. He was here for me but they lied. They had beaten up my pati babu so badly.

I tore my saree's pallu and wrapped it around his wounded head.

"Pati babu ankhei kholiye na" I cried , "dekhiye mein yaha hu".

I don't know how many days he has been here without treatment.

I am responsible. I cried in front of him. Because of my adamancy, my over smartness and one impulsive decision, I landed him in so much trouble. I hugged him tightly, "baat kijiye na pati babu".

He was still not responding but held my hand tightly in his subconscious state. "Apki Rakhshak babu apko kuch nehi hone degi."

I need to get him out of this place as soon as possible. I have to save his life.

"Apko kuch nehi hoga" I cried.

I heard claps from behind, "dhund hi liya apne pati ko".

She picked up the broken piece of glass and stood up guarding me, "mere pati babu k paas bhi aye to Dugga maa ki kasam jaan lene se pehele ek bar bhi nehi sochungi"

There was the rage in her red eyes, boldness in her voice. She was fierce just like Durga maa. She looked like Durga while saving me.

Those men stepped back in fear.

"Pass mat ana" she yelled pointing to the broken piece of glass.

Rightly said, every woman is a Durga in herself. There was a fire in her eyes and I smiled subtly.

Bondita, a daring, intrepid, fearless girl alone fighting with men. Likely, she won't win but at least she was trying to resist them to come near me.

I am proud of her!!!!