The priest handed him the photograph of the girl of age 24-25 in a beautiful saree, dark round eyes, an epitome of beauty, "sulakhshana, sushil hain ye" added the priest, "aur nakhshatra ka aisa yog hain ki vivah k ek varsh purv his putra santan ka janm degi".

"Humari beti wo har chiz degi apne pati ko jo unhe unki peheli patni na de pyi aur mard to hotehi aise hain, jo aurat khushi degi, pati usika hoga".

"Humme bass apki beti chahiye, sirf wahi humare bete ko wo khushi de sakti hain"

Just then Charu walked in with a tray. She was almost the age of Anirudh, beautiful and decent. She was draped in a blue saree and her hair was tied in a braid. She was happy and her inner self was jumping, finally, Anirudh's kaka had come to take her

Honestly, Kaka never liked Saudamini, he never wanted her to be the bahu, he always thought Charu would be the perfect one but then he married Bondita and the rest is history. Charu touched Kaka's feet in order to take blessings. "Khush raho bahu"

"Ei" whispered Shubhash babu, Charu's father in Mitali's ears, "ye sab to thik hain par Charu ko pata chala ki Anirudh shadi shuda hain to ye vivah tod degi humari beti".

Mitali looked at all the cash and gold kept on the table that was offered by Trilochan, "kuch nehi hoga, Charu ko mein sambhal lungi, app shadi ki taiyari kijiye".

After the rishta was finalized, Charu ran to her room and hid her face behind her palm, "isssssh"

She looked at Anirudh's photo and blushed continuously, "kabhi socha nehi tha ki hum dono itne kareeb a jayenge, tum mujhse pyar karoge. Kal a rahi hu mein, Tomar Charulata".

They both were really good friends, there were many photos of them together as children. Some were in play outfits others were normal. Anirudh had a lot of respect for her for her unique way of thinking which was very similar to his own and among all friends, Charu was always his first priority. Both were best friends unless he left for London after Shubhra's death. Charu's grand maa always wanted them to end up together but she knew that Anirudh loved someone else at that time. Now finally the wishes were coming true and she felt like he was destined to be hers.

She was very confident that he loves her that is why his kaka was here. An excited Charu packed her best clothes and was excited to meet him.

This fact wasn't hidden from Bondita. Kaka showed her the photo, "ye ladki hain Charu, acchi ladki hain".

"Charu didi to mujhse bohot pyari hain, dekhna pati babu ko dekhte hi inse pyar ho jayga", Bondita looked at the picture, her inner soul was crying yet she remained quiet. "Bahu der ho jay isliye fir se puch rahe hain hum tumse, tumhe koi takleef to nehi hogi na?"

She silently nodded her head in no but Kaka was still not satisfied by her answer.

"Kaka sasurji mein ati hu" she said to avoid the situation because if one more minute she had to wait there, she would have cried.

Bondita raised her saree a few inches above the ground and ran through the lonely corridor. Her long hair flew in the air and her pearly tears rushed through her eyes. She stopped in front of the room and stood there holding the door.

Anirudh was sleeping on the bed Without changing into comfortable clothes. He was so tired that as soon as he threw himself in the bed, he fell asleep.

Bondita watched him with affection, her vision was becoming unclear and she had no courage to go near him and only adored him from a distance.

The more she was watching him, the more she was breaking down. She was unable to accept the fact that in a few days he will not be hers anymore. She will have to think before coming close to him.

She took slow steps towards him. For the last time, can't she be his only wife? She sat beside him and rubbed her hand gently over her forehead. Her eyes were speaking so much, all her emotions have been condensed. She decided not to fall week so she was about to get up and Anirudh pulled her back and placed his head on her lap in his sleep.

How innocent he looked while sleeping. A subtle smile crept on his lips when he felt her presence, this was his most comfortable place. No matter how much she tried to leave but she was not able to. Bondita caressed his hair and placed her head on his. The room was silent yet one could hear hearts crying g and breaking into pieces. Anirudh held her hand tightly in his sleep but she could only weep and make no noise.

It was after a while when Anirudh opened his eyes, rubbing and yawning. He looked around and found none in the room.

"Bondita tum ayi thi kya?" He asked in the faintest voice possible but she was not in the room anymore. He woke up and rubbed his eyes once again when Bihari knocked at the door, "Chote Malik neeche mehman aye hain".

Anirudh almost ignore the mehman and asked, "Bondita kaha hain?"

"Pata nehi Chote Malik"

Anirudh nodded his head and went downstairs.

He came downstairs shouting her name just to get surprised by the view in front of him.

There was kaka, Binoy and Bihari talking to few people. As he went closer kaka pulled him by his hand, "kyu pehechan?'

Anirudh looked at the girl who was continuously blushing. He was unable to understand who this girl was but she did. She was mesmerized, seeing him all grown up into a man and much better than her imagination.

"Bol pehechana?" Kaka asked with a wide smile.

He again looked at her unless Mitali spoke out, "pehechana ga bhi kaise? Dono itne bare jo ho gye hain".

Suddenly his expressions changed and he looked contended, "Charu?"

Bondita was watching all these from a distance. She stood behind a pillar and watched her pati babu smiling, with teary eyes and a subtle curve on the tiny lips.

While both the family were busy talking, Anirudh and Charu walked to his study. They meet each other after so many years and so many things had changed.

"Kaisi ho?"

"Acchi hu! Tum kaise ho Rudh?'

"Accha"

They discussed about their childhood, matters related to the country, about the future. Every time she looked at him, she couldn't resist but blushed.

"Yaad hain tumhe bachpan mein hum ghar ghar khelte the"

Anirudh let out a soft chuckle, "ha aur hum dono pati patni mante the".

"To tumhe apne patni se kaisi upekhsha hain?"

Anirudh who had no idea why she was there or what she was talking about, closed her eyes and recalled Bondita's face, "koi upekhsha nehi hain mujhe".

"Aisa thori na hota hain?" She asked him assuming him to list down some qualities of hers but Anirudh answered, "mere pass jo hain wo kisike pass nehi hain" he said looking proudly at the frame on the wall, "aur ussey dekhne k liye nazar ki nehi nazariye ki zaroorat hain".

Charu stood there perplexed by his words.

She looked at the picture and saw a little girl with a young Anirudh wearing Barrister robes. They looked happy together in the picture and calmness and satisfaction was visible on his face on looking at the picture.

Kaka saw him from a distance, laughing and smiling after a long time. "Kitna khush hain Anirudh" he murmured happily.

"Par Malik" interrupted Bihari, "chote Malik ko sach pata chalega jab tabh itna khush rahenge kya wo?"

After a heartfelt conversation, Charu walked to the guest room where her parents were sitting.

"Baat hui?"

"Haa"

"Accha laga?"

"Bohot" she blushed. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Charu looked behind and saw a girl in her 20s was standing at the door.

She carried a tray of snack which she placed on the table, "aplog kha lijiye ye sab".

"Tum kaun ho?" Charu asked her as she had no idea who this girl was, "bolo kaun ho tum?"

"Mein...wo...pati babu"

"Arrey Bondita hain, bataya Trilochan Babu ne, kuch Barristry practice karti hain Anirudh k sath"

Hearing this a pleasant smile crept on Charu's innocent face, "tum female Barrister ho!" She exclaimed happily, "wah Bondita! Tumse milkar mujhe bohot accha laga".

Bondita faked a smile and looked at Mitali who had lied to her daughter.

She crossed her finger behind and thought in her mind, "maaf karna Dugga maa jhoot bolne k liye ".

"Bondita accha huya tum ek ladki ho is ghar pe warna mein kissey baat karti?" Saying this she pulled her out of the room, "waise mere vivah k baad to mein yahi rahungi fir hum bohot baatein karenge".

Mitali gestured to her not to open her mouth from behind as it may hamper the marriage alliance.

Bondita was brainwashed by the society that made her blind in differentiating between right and wrong. She was unable to see the unjust that Charu was facing. She was being married off to an already married man who loves someone else and she was unaware of it. Not only that, a condition was put forth that she has to give birth in a year after marriage to a baby boy.

Bondita, who was supposed to lose everything just for her husband's sake and bear the pain of seeing her husband with another woman.

And Anirudha whose life was completely controlled by other people, people who were unable to understand his internal turmoil.

Everything was wrong in this decision which was right in the eye of society.

"Kyu milna tha tumhe bolo" she snapped her finger in front of my face.

I was nervous as to how I should start the conversation, "tum ne jo is faisle mein sath diya, uske liye tum jo mango ge mein dunga".

Priyam raised his eyebrows and smirked mischievously, "kuch mehenga mang liya to?"

"Jitna budget hain uske andar" I said as we walked through the market lane.

"Shah Jahan be Mumtaz ko Taj Mahal bana k diya aur tum mujhe itna nehi de sakti"

This girl always had to say stupid things, what she says makes no sense at all. I was trying to be generous yet she had to make things worse.

"Accha batao tumhare liye sabse kimti kya hain aur wo tum mujhe de do" she spoke all of a sudden.

"Mere liye meri diary sabse kimti hain aur mein wo kisi ko nehi deta" I replied back to her immediately, "ye panne mere zindagi ke chote chote hisse hain, ye mein kisiko nehi de sakta".

"Aisa kyu?" She questioned me back, "aisa kya likha hain tumne jo tum kisiko nehi bata sakte".

I looked at her blankly. She was so interested in knowing me more but my diary is something that I cannot share with anyone and I will never give it to anyone.

"Bohot kuch hain" I finally spoke to her, "meri diary apne ap mein ek kahani hain aur jissey is kahani ki zaroorat parhegi usiko parne milega ye".

we walked upto our haveli and I had to bear her non stop talking. Gosh! how can someone talk so much?

"waise" she continued, "mein kabhi maar gyi to Taj Mahal banake doge kya mujhe?"

"Chup!" I raised my voice at her fir the first time which made her ho silent, "tum ladkiyo ko humesha maarne ki baat kyu karni hoti hain?"

"maar to sab jaate hain to is sach ko kehene se kya daar?"

Before I could speak further, Som Dada came running out of the house, "Batuk accha huya tu a gaya, ye dekh" he showed me a golden bracelet.

"ye kya hain da?"

He scratched his head, "haar shayad"

"bewakoof" Priyam giggled suddenly, "haar nehi Mantasha kehte hain issey par Som ye tum kyu lekar aye"

"Godam k samne se mila" Som dada saud breathlessly, "Bondita k accident k baad koi nehi gaya tha waha, aj mein jab waha gyi to ye mantasha mila mujhe aur Mantasha sirf aurtein pehenti hain".

"mein to gehene hi nehi pehenti" Priyam said immediately.

My and Som dada, both of ours eyes widened. I know we were thinking the same and both of us spoke together:

"tere baba ki patni!"

"apke baba ki patni!"

We both almost shouted when Priyam looked at us bluntly, "Sampoorna bhi keh sakte the tum dono"

I found myself on the bed of the guest room. I placed my hand beside me but pati babu was not there anymore.

"Pati babu" I looked around but there was no one in the room.

What am I even doing in the guest room?

I made the bed and walked towards my room and as I went closer and closer, I could hear giggle of a girl from my room.

Its stange! Who is laughing and giggling in my room. I went closer and peeped inside.

What I saw, broke my heart into pieces. My body froze immediately and my whole world was shattered immediately. Charu Didi was tying the tie of Pati babu just like me. She was so close to him and he was holding her by her waist.

Charu didi was draped in a red Saree and her hair line was marked with vermillion. It was the same Saree that pati babu had gifted me once.

Why is she wearing my saree?

Why is she in my room?

Why is she so close to my husband?

"Arrey Bondita tum yaha" Charu didi's voice brought me back from my thoughts, "tum humare kamare mein kyu ayi ho?"

"Apka kamra?" I whispered softly which was not heard by them.

"Tumhe itna sense nehi hain ki pati patni k kamre mein knock karke ana chahiye?"

"Wo didi mein to bass..." I was interrupted by pati babu who looked irritated by my presence, "Charu isko itna sense hoti to mere sath nehi hoti? Pata nehi aisi naubad a gyi thi usdin ki ek bacchi se vivah karna par gaya aur meri puri zindagi iske piche bit gaya"

"Wo court mein jaa rahi thi..."

"Tum court nehi jaa sakti" Charu didi snapped in and picked up their son in her arms, "Tum court gyi to baccha kaun sambhalega?"

I looked at pati babu and expected him to take my stand but he said, "Bondita bacche ko janm nehi de sakti par itna to kar hi sakti ho, Charu ne kaha hain ki ajse tum court nehi jaogi".

"PATI BABU!"

I woke up with a jerk and looked around after realising that it was just a horrible dream of mine. I was in the bathtub, sweating and breathing heavily because of the night mare. I don't remember why I am here but I turned on the tap and soon the bathtub started to get filled with water.

Voices started to echo in my head, I looked up and found my own self standing in front of me with a smirk "jab pati babu dusra vivah karenge to kya dusri patni pati ko tere pas ane degi?"

I looked away, to my right and again found myself standing, leaning to the wall, "Aur jab pati ko dusre patni se santan sukh milega wo peheli patni ko kyu mur k dekhenge?

I wanted to prove both of them wrong, "mere pati Babu mujhse pyar karte hain aur mein bhi to maa banungi"

"Maa?" She chuckled, "ye Sauteli maa?"

"Bondita" the other one interrupted, "us vivah k baad tu apne pati babu k santan ka daima ban k reh jaygi, kisi kone mein pare rehegi. Na Anirudh mur k dekhega na ye parivaar, har peheli patni k sath aisa hi hota hain."

"Aur Barristry bhul ja tu" said the another, "apne aur apne shikshak babu k sapno ko jala de kyuki unke bacche sambhal te sambhalte barristey karne ka mauka kaha milega?".

"CHUP!" I covered my ears with my hands and shouted at them, "aisa kuch nehi hoga! Mere pati babu bohot pyar karte hain mujhse, wo kabhi nehi badal sakte".

"To hath kyu uthaya tha usne?" This question was thrown at me to make me go silent but U shouted and cried out louder, "CHUP HO JAO! CHUP!"

In no time pati babu rushed inside.

Majumdar babu filed a case in court and this was a great opportunity to make Bondita start barristry and forget the past. I picked up the case file and walked to my room to give this good news to her.

I opened the door but found no one in the room except that the floor of the room was filled with water.

"Bondita!" I called her name several times but got no reply in return. Drastically I heard faint sobs from the bathroom, also the water was flowing from there.

I opened the door and was shocked to see her in the bathtub with all her jewelleries, saree on. The Tub was overflowing and she had covered her ears and sobbed continuously.

"Bondita!" I ran towards her and sat on the wet floor just beside the bath tub, "kya huya hain Bondita? aisi halat kyu banake rahi hain tumne?"

I was scared to the core. Bondita hugged me immediately and broke into tears, "ap mujhe bhul jayenge kya?"

she clenched my shirt tightly and her nails dug into my skin. I was shattered to see her like this but I was unable to understand what was she talking about. I picked her up from the water and wrapped a towel around her but she again hugged me and was not ready to leave me.

I kissed her forehead and caressed her hair, "Mein khudko bhul sakta hu, sabko bhul sakta hu par meri Bondita ko nehi".

Little did they Know Charu was standing right at the door. She had come to meet Anirudh with some books because when both were children, they used to read books together and she wanted to recreate those moments. She also wanted Bondita to join them as she liked her as a person. Her parents also encouraged her as they wanted her to spend more time with him.

With lots of hope, she stood near the door and was about to knock it when she saw Anirudh coming out of the room with Bondita in his arms. She had wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her face in his chest. Both were wet. He made her stand , wrapped a towel around her and kissed her forehead. Bondita hugged him immediately and she hear Anirudh say, "Mein khudko bhul sakta hu, sabko bhul sakta hu par meri Bondita ko nehi".

Charu, on seeing all these, held the door for support. Tears filled her eyes and made their way through her cheeks but what still confused her, isn't Bondita married because she saw sindoor in her hairline. Have they been involved in some kind of affair? but soon her doubts were cleared when Anirudh picked up a pinch of vermilion and filled her hair line, scarlet red ,which was washed away due to water.

Bondita placed her head on his chest and his collar was marked red now. Anirudh closed his eyes and Charu saw a certain calmness and satisfaction on his face something that she noticed earlier when he was looking at the frame in his study.

A sudden realisation hit Charu when she recalled the little girl in the picture with much younger Anirudh had also put in sindoor and Bindi.

Charu couldn't see all these more. People lied her, her hopes and dreams were shattered so was her love. She covered her mouth and ran towards kaka's room, crying.

"Kaka Babu, mujhe apse baat karni hain"

"Tum meri Bondita nehi ho!" he shouted at her as he held her by her shoulder tightly, "meri Bondita alag hain, tark se fark mitati hain, koi usey bandh nehi sakta, wo khule soch ki hain, kisi bhi ku pratha ka sath nehi deti" saying this he gave her a slight push, "tum samajh k baare mein sochti ho, sabke baaton mein a hati ho aur ku pratha ka sath deti ho"

"tum" he pointed hiz finger at her, "Khas Bondita nehi Amm Bondita ho"

Bondita rubbed off her tears and looked at him confidently, "mein bas apse ye keh rahi hu ki agar apne ye vivah nehi kiya to mein apko chorke chali jaungi humesha k liye, dhund kar bhi nehi milegi apko Bondita".