Annapurna Puja was held every year at Saikat’s house. Bondita went there alone even if Aniruddha was busy. She had become close friends with Saikat's sister Leela. She had been married for several years, but Saikat’s mother was worried because she was childless. When Bondita went to their house that year to attend to the invite, it was painful to see Leela Di. With dark circles under her eyes, where the other women were sitting together talking about their husbands and sons, in the Thakur Dalan, Bondita saw her sitting alone in the distance.
"How are you, Bondita?" Leela inquired politely. Bondita nodded and sat next to her.
"How is your family doing, Didi?" She asked in return. Leela Devi smiles faintly.
"I think my family life is over," She said in a trembling voice.
“What is wrong, Didi? What happened?” Bondita frowned at her words.
"He told my mother that if nothing happens in the next year, he will return me and marry again." Her eyes were teary.
"How does he know it's your fault?" Bondita questioned. Leela Devi gasped in shock.
"What are you saying? What else could happen?” She shook her head. "He told everyone, you know, what else can I say? Everyone doesn't get a good husband, not everyone is as lucky as you." Suddenly Bondita remembered all of Parididi's words. Since then she had not spoken to Barristra Babu except for in need. He was busy after three days of fever and Bondita had her exams. Besides, what would she say to Aniruddha?
"What will you do?" Bondita asked.
"Maa has called a Daima." That's when Leela stopped, her mother came and called her. Bondita was also asked to come inside the house. Her son was not yet married, otherwise, she would have had a daughter-in-law just like Bondita in the house by now.
An elderly woman with a wrinkled face observed Leela Devi and then came forward to check her pulse, and eyes, then took out some vials from her bag.
"Keep it, Maa." She chose some leaves and branched, crushed them, filled a bottle with its juice, and said to Leeladevi's mother, "Let her have this for six months. Then if a boy doesn’t arrive in her lap, change my name." Leela Devi's mother took it with a smile.
"You tell me, child." She turned to Bondita, "Do you have the same problem?"
Bondita shook her head.
"Yes, child, you have been married for a long time too, you don't have a woman at home, and your mother lives so far away if they were, you would..."
"Let me check you, what's the shame? I am like your mother." Dai came forward, checking Bondita's pulse. If she wanted, she could have resisted, or given some excuse. She looked at Mashima and the other women. If she said something, she didn't know whether they would spread gossip, and if she didn’t obey, it might hurt Mashima. So she remained silent. When Dai offered the bottle, she took it without a fuss. She would keep it to herself hidden somewhere and maybe they would forget about it by the next puja.
In the rainy season, the village had an outbreak of fever, everyone was suffering from infections, and one day Bondita woke up with a painful uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.
Aniruddha was standing in front of the mirror combing his ruffled hair when he noticed a look of pain on her face.
"What happened to you?" He asked, "Are you sick?"
"No... I mean... a little…" he sat on one side of the bed, "the stomach..."
"You want to go to the doctor? Medicine... “
“No, I'm fine. I feel its indigestion." Bondita reassured him. "You go, it will be fine in a day or two, Dugga Dugga."
"Tell Koeli if anything..." Aniruddha stopped.
“Don't you worry, Go on.”
Aniruddha walked out of the house and approached the car parked in the portico. Suddenly he noticed a middle-aged woman standing there, hesitating to come in.
"Looking for someone?" Aniruddha asked politely.
"Yes, Ginnima..."
"You can tell me what you need, I am her husband."
“Oh,” the woman smiled, pulling a bottle from her bag. "Will you give it to her?"
"What is it?" asked Aniruddha, a frown on his face.
"Daima sent it, her six months of medicine seems to be over." Aniruddha was surprised, What is this medicine Bondita takes? Why? He brought her medicines from the doctor when needed.
"Dai Ma said Leela Didimoni gave good news but when no news came from Tulsipur, she told me to bring another bottle to Zamindar Ginni."
Aniruddha had a sudden realisation. "Bondita herself went to her?" He asked in disbelief.
"I don't know that, but yes, she took the medicine with the Leela Devi of that village..." Aniruddha suddenly took out the money from his pocket.
"Take this, keep it, and don’t come by anymore." The woman looked at him in surprise.
“That means? The medicine…”
"Take that away." Aniruddha looked irked.
“What!” Suddenly the woman yelled, "Taking half a dose can have adverse effects!"
"Will you go? Or ... " She was afraid of Aniruddha's anger. Who has been able to survive in the village by angering the landlord? She walked away quickly. Aniruddha's face wore a frown, he was afraid, was this the reason for Bondita’s sickness? What kind of stubbornness suddenly came to her mind? Aniruddha thought. So she knew nothing about the secrets of the relationship between man and woman? Bondita had become an adult in a womanless world, perhaps it was true what Jetha Moshai said was right? Koeli should have talked to her about things instead of him. Made everything clear?
"Aniruddha Babu?" He was suddenly startled by Devaditya's voice. "Going to town today?"
“Yes. You find the will of Bagchi's house, I will come soon."
"Aniruddha Babu? There was something I…” Devaditya stopped him. He had an unsure look on his face.
“What happened? Is Bouthan okay?”
"Yes, but the way Maa treated Choto Malkin that day ... believe me, I am truly sorry." Aniruddha was clueless and he realised that Bondita did not tell him anything.
"I did not know until Sampoorna told me."
"What happened?" Devaditya sighed at Aniruddha's question. Then Devaditya told him everything. In such a superstitious society, not many people have to listen to things as harsh as Bondita had to. Aniruddha understood what Devaditya was saying was only a part of it. The entire truth was more brutal. But was this attempt Bondita’s way of finding a solution to the way they treated her? Was that why she never told him anything about how she suffered silently? Aniruddha was more upset. At the age when she should study and think about the future, she wanted to be a mother. Was it just society's expectations or a latent desire of her superstitious mind? Did anyone explain to her that being a mother was the goal of her life?
Aniruddha would not be surprised if she understood it to be so. What was the effect of all this on Bondita’s innocent mind if she did not even know anything about relationships? He could not think anymore. Aniruddha suddenly became angry. Why not say anything to him? He quickly went into the house.
Bondita was sitting on the corner of the bed reading a book. Suddenly she was surprised to see her husband in the room.
"Forgot something?" She asked with a faint smile but it quickly faded when she saw the serious look on his husband's face. "What happened?"
"Tell me what happened." Aniruddha did not try to suppress the anger in his voice. "And what did you not tell me? What else did you lie about?"
"What do you mean?" Leaving the book in her hand, she got out of bed. What did Aniruddha know? How did he know about her conversation with Pari Didi?
"I have explained to you many times Bondita, don't you understand?"
He sounded disappointed, “You are different from others, you are unique. Why do you want to live in mediocrity like them? Our dreams, your hopes, everything…”
“What are you saying? I do not understand..." Bondita tries to interrupt, "Have I done something wrong?" she asked tearfully.
"Why will you? I have done wrong. I misunderstood you, I thought my Bondita would be a light on the path of girls’ glory. Will guide others. She is different. I never thought you wanted to live an oppressed life like others, it was my fault.” Aniruddha went out the same way he had stormed in. With tears in her eyes, she sat on the floor of the room. Why did he say these things? Did Barrister Babu hate her efforts to become his wife so much? Was he angry with her conversation with Pari Didi? But she didn't ask him anything. What made him angry?
Koeli interrupted as she wiped her tears and stood up.
"The daughter of that Daima's house came to you. She met me at the Ghat and said Choto Malik threw her out of the house." Koeli sounded scared. Bondita's face turned pale. So he knew about that vial of medicines? What was he thinking about Bondita’s intentions? Fear loomed in Bondita’s mind.
