RAABTA

Thaam kar mere haat ko Kadam sang barha le... Bondita stared wide-eyed as Saudamini arrived in a white ball gown.  "You look like a princess." She exclaimed. "So pretty." Saudamini pressed her right cheek and asked "Where is Aniruddha?" Bondita shrugged. She hadn't seen him all day. It was Bihari who told them that he told them to wait in the Jalsa room. Bondita's eyes lit up. She had only heard of the Jalsaghar. She was never allowed there. But today, Kakababu himself gave permission to follow Saudamini and Aniruddha along. On entering the Jalsaghar the first thing Aniruddha noticed was Bondita, in her braided hair, and light blue saree, twirling right in the middle of the dance floor. Her anklets made music and added to her giggles as Saudamini smiled at her. "This place is huge!" She smiled as her voice echoed around the empty walls. He then noticed Saudamini, who had taken an effort for a proper ball look. Her eyes travelled to him to

Tere Kismat teri haaton Se hi likhi jayegi. Bondita walked into the study in the early hours of dawn to find Aniruddha ready in his casual shirt and trousers. He did look like a teacher as he was setting up a blackboard across the couch with a pen in his mouth. Standing at the threshold with her pencil and copy in hand, Bondita's wet hair fell over the side of her bottle green cotton saree as she cleared her throat prompting him to look up at her. He removed the pen from his mouth and directed her with a hand gesture towards the couch. "Did you go to the pond again?" He asked with his back to her, writing something down on the blackboard. She bit her lips.  "I thought you were sleeping." She was quick to defend. "I didn't want to disturb you." "You can use the washroom without disturbing me. Now you are making excuses to go to the pond. Is it because you meet your friends there?" His voice was unusually different and stern. She looked up

  Tujhme Roshan Hoga Suraj Toh Dhoop bhi Aayegi Shabdh Kagaz par challenge, Toh Raah tu paegi. "And then you know Didi he just jumped in and started shouting. Everyone got intimidated, including Kakababu." Sampoorna's eyes widened at Bondita's words. She was moving her hands dramatically as she spoke. "Pin drop silence. He's feared like a demon I swear when he starts shouting. Nobody uttered a word. " Bondita's eyes widened. "Even I got a little scared. He's like a Rakkhosh ." She giggled. " Rakkhosh Babu !" "Bondita!" Sampoorna warned her "He's helping you. And you are calling him Rakkhosh ?" Bondita pressed her lips as her eyes sparkled with a mischievous smile. "If anything he's been a protector of the school. A Rakshak ." Bondita suppressed her smile and nodded.  "I am grateful to him. Not that I am not." She agreed. "But he's so strict and grumpy." "Choto

Ladhna Pade To Duniya Se, Ladh Jaungi Sath Dega Wo, Agar Ho Hausla Mera. "Do you want to attend the Panchayat meeting?" Aniruddha was taken aback by Trilochan's offer at the breakfast table.  "What will I do there?" He looked awkward.  "Well, we hear and solve people's problems. The panchayat heads and myself. Don't you Barristers do something similar?" He asked. Aniruddha smiled. "I suppose no laws are stated in these judgements of the panchayat?" He asked, almost sounding amused. "What feels right for the society is the law here. That's been the case for ages. But what if you come along, explain to them, talk to them?" Trilochan smiled. "I insist." "Oh, he just wants to show you off Dada, go on." Somnath chuckled. They stopped the discussion as Bondita came out, looking fresh in a crisp-washed magenta cotton Tant saree and glass bangles. "Where are you going?" Trilochan asked, "Don