The rain clouds gave way to the scorching sun the following day as Bondita woke up as the first rays of the sun hit her face and disturbed her sleep. She cursed herself for keeping the window open and sat inside the mosquito net with a sleepy yawn. She eyed the alarm clock on her desk that said 6.30. Bondita scratched her head and pulled the mosquito net up to search for her slippers. She heard the bell ringing from Thamma’s room and the chanting of mantras. A smile came involuntarily to her lips as she realised that she might have come after ages, but everything in Chandannagar seemed to have been at a standstill. She grabbed the Kurti from the chair to change from the top she was wearing and wondered what she could do for the day. For the first time in a long time, she was free from the routine of boarding houses. Her eyes fell on the mess around her room since she had not unpacked the day before. Bondita decided to spend the morning unpacking her belongings. She opened the door of her room to find Kalindi with the incense stick outside in the living room area.
“How are you awake so early?” Kalindi asked, “Are you unwell?”
“No.” She shook her head, adjusting the Kurti with a smile.
“Oh no, did my prayers wake you?” Kalindi looked worried. Bondita tied her hair up in a bun and smiled at her worried face, surprising her with a hug.
“What are you doing, silly girl? I just bathed; don’t touch me with your stale clothes.” Bondita refused to let go of Thamma, who scolded her.
“How can clothes be stale, Thamma?” She frowned. “You smell so fresh. I just missed you.” A smile appeared on Kalindi’s face as she shook her head, placed the scented sticks down and patted her grandchild.
“There starts the questions!” Bondita narrowed her brows at Kalindi, who chuckled a little.
“Now let me go. Tell me what you want to have for lunch today.” Bondita was about to think when they heard a knock on the main door. Kalindi involuntarily eyed the clock that had struck seven and opened the door. Bondita could tell it was Trilochon coming for the morning tea.
“Suprobhat.” Trilochon Roy Chowdhury entered the house. Bondita rubbed her eyes and wished him good morning. “My my, you are awake already?”
“My prayers woke her up,” Kalindi said with a hint of guilt.
“It's good…” Bondita reassured her. “I have plenty of unpacking to do.” Trilochon nodded.
“You are having lunch with me today.” His words made her open her mouth to protest, but Kalindi came before her.
“Why? What’s the need…”
“It's between her and me, Kalindi. Did I invite you?” Trilochon sounded amused as Bondita laughed.
“Fine, I will be there. I also have something to discuss with you…” Bondita smiled with a nod.
“Is it a boy?” Kalindi’s words startled Jyatha Moshai. Bondita looked awkward.
“What? No!” She shook her head. “What made you say something like that?”
Trilochon eyed Kalindi’s amused glance at her awkward grandchild and chuckled.
“Well, people your age…” He eyed Kalindi, who nodded in agreement “Often come and tell parents about such…” Bondita’s eyes widened. Never had she imagined having this conversation so casually at home.
“Of course, you can tell us anything now, you are grown up.” Kalindi chimed in.
Bondita shook her head. “Why are you after me so early in the morning? I will be there for lunch.” She reassured Jyatha Moshai before heading back to her room.
“Will you have tea?” Kalindi enquired as she agreed from inside the bedroom.
“Did you see that? She blushed.” Kalindi smiled at a clueless Trilochon.
“What? When?” Kalindi shook her head as he sat down in the chair. Kalimdi went to the kitchen to make tea and breakfast for them.
Bondita sat on the floor of her room, picking up her messy clothes and jewellery box, taking her books out of the suitcase and placing them on the shelves, and humming a tune. She wondered where Thamma and Jyatha Moshai had this idea of asking her about men. She wanted to talk to Trilochon about the job offer from Aniruddha. She could never decide on what she should do without his guidance. Kalindi always told her relationships should never be integrated with career choices, but somehow, hearing how Bhowmiks and Roy Chowdhury lost their partnership made her sceptical. She was sure Trilochon would know what to do. It was such an opportunity to learn and grow, yet it would mean… She looked up at the green window on the red house. His window was open, but the curtains were drawn. Bondita suddenly remembered one such autumn morning.
Mini Didi had gifted Bondita a set of binoculars for her birthday. She was unsure of what to do with it. One fine morning, while she was at her desk, finishing her task before running to the Roy Chowdhury courtyard to see the idol of Maa Durga along with her children being made, she looked up absentmindedly from her book and spotted Aniruddha in the window. He was pacing in his room, in a sleeveless vest which he usually wore under his shirts, his silhouette appearing once in a while near the window. He was holding some sort of book. Eager to spot him more clearly, fourteen-year-old Bondita had taken the binoculars out and put them to her eyes. There he was, a pen in between his teeth, reciting something out of a notebook and adding words to it by pulling the pen out of his teeth. He appeared to be pacing the room and stopped briefly by the window. Bondita gulped. She could spot the thread across his chest and the mole on his arm. Her cheeks grew warm as she removed the binoculars briefly and looked away coyly. He seemed to disappear from the window and reappear again after a while. This time, ready in a white shirt, his hair wet, running his hand through it. Bondita put the binoculars back on.
Aniruddha suddenly had a sense of being watched. He came to the window, looked around as if to spot someone down by the lawn and pulled the curtains back. Bondita was disappointed. Why did he draw the curtains? What precious things are in his room to see?
She had resumed reading when Koeli knocked on her door and said, “Choto Malik is calling you to the study.” She nodded, gathering the finished tasks from the last day and the maths problems she doubted, grabbed her pen and straightened her skirt before she walked into the study. He was standing with his back to her, hand in his pocket, eyeing Bihari, who was putting all the paperwork in the car. The sound of her anklet made him glance over his shoulder as she smiled faintly.
“I have some doubts about yesterday’s homework.” She said as soon as Bihari left.
“Hmm?” He raised his eyebrows. “We will deal with that in the evening when I come.” She silently slipped the finished work onto his desk as he picked it up and rolled his eyes. Bondita waited for his scolding when he placed the books down. “This is well done. On to the next chapter today.” Bondita smiled, satisfied, as she turned to leave. He would be going to work soon.
“Who gave you the binoculars?” She stopped, alarmed at the threshold at his words, her heart skipped a beat. She half turned, a little pale and unsure as he stood facing her with his hands in his pocket, eyebrows raised, with an amused smile. “Did they not tell you it's bad manners to spy on others like that?”
Bondita opened her mouth and could not speak. He walked up to her, rolling his eyes at her. “I asked who…”
“Mini… Di…didi…” She stammered, looking away, scared.
“And what were you doing with it?” He raised his brows as Bondita licked her dry lips.
“I was checking how far it can see…” She said quickly.
“Through my window?” Bondita did not answer. Instead, she eyed him suspiciously. Was he in a bad mood? He swatted her head playfully, amused at her scared face. She turned to leave in a hurry as she ran out to the threshold of the house, but stopped. Aniruddha was putting a pen in his pocket when she returned with a question.
“ You said you are my friend and will tell me everything, right?” He looked up briefly at her standing by the doorway and nodded, unsurely.
“Then what do you write in those notebooks?” She raised her eyebrows, imitating him. “Why is that a secret that can’t be done outside the room?” Aniruddha looked a little taken aback by her question. He did not expect the counterattack.
“I… write important stuff… why should I tell you?” He narrowed his brows.
“Fine, I will go check for myself.” Bondita ran up the stairs and across the study as soon as she said it, and Aniruddha had no choice but to follow.
“Bondita, stop. Bondita! I am warning you.” His stern voice was met with a giggle as she pushed open the door to his room and stood there looking around, her braid swaying as her head moved to and fro.
“Where is the blue…” She was about to grab the notebook from his writing desk when he interfered, snatching it and straightening his arm out of her reach. Bondita jumped twice in vain and could not reach his shoulders. “I will tell Jyatha Moshai if you don’t…”
“Hush!” Aniruddha stopped her with a finger over his lips. “You are so stubborn.” She smiled victoriously as he placed the notebook down.
“Promise not to tell anyone, ever!” He warned as she grabbed the notebook and leafed through it. Bondita gasped. He wrote poems. She stared at the words in ink and back at him in utter surprise.
“You… wrote these?” She asked as he nodded, unsurely. She could not simply put his image with that of a poet.
“Enough now, those are not for kids.” He snatched the notebook back.
“But why is it a secret?” She asked with a frown. “It's a good thing…”
“Doesn’t suit my image, does it?” Aniruddha made her shake her head and laugh. “Besides, if anyone knows, they will make a big deal about it, especially Mini…”
“Why are the poems not for me to read?” Bondita sulked.
“Because you won’t understand everything in there… Maybe when you grow older…” He shrugged. “Now go, I will be late for work. And next time I see you turning those Binoculars around my window…”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Bondita held her ears and bit her tongue before she ran out of the room and down the stairs, her anklets making music around the quiet house.
Bondita finished her chores and took a bath. She took a green Kurti from her belongings and teamed it with a white salwar and white dupatta, bangles and a pair of silver jhumkas before she took Kalindi’s leave and reached the Roy Chowdhury courtyard. The idols were in the making, and since Mahalaya was near, they were painted with finishing touches. She stood in the courtyard, hands folded, smiling, as she looked at the white face of the idol, devoid of eyes, wondering how, in a matter of days, a structure of hay, clay and colours turns into a woman returning home with her children, the epitome of power and faith. She was jolted out of her thoughts by Batuk, who called her from the first-floor balcony.
“There you are. Come upstairs, I have something for you. ” Bondita nodded her head at Batuk, smiling sheepishly and walked upstairs, first to his room.
“I heard about your internship from Thamma.” She said with a smile as Batuk nodded. “I start after Pujo again…” He held out a packet of Fatafat, in its usual orange and black polka dotted packaging, as Bondita smiled, taking it. She opened the pack, popped one and offered one to Batuk. “I will bring popsicles tomorrow.” She promised, “Like the ones we had in summer.”
Batuk nodded, laughing about how the elders said they were made with drain water, while Bondita reminisced about the sweet cigarette candies they often acted like Feluda and Byomkesh with. Bondita twisted the end of her Dupatta, leaning against the four-poster bed, watching as Batuk laughed at their childhood recollection. “Something else I should know?” Batuk frowned at her words as she cleared her throat and had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“Someone else…” She raised her eyebrows with a smirk as Batuk protested.
“Do you have nobody else to bother? Did Som Dada put you up to this?” he looked at her suspiciously.
“I am just curious!” She shrugged, “Can’t I be…”
“Really? Then tell me about yourself first…” Batuk raised his brows, crossing his arms across his chest. Bondita inhaled.
“I have been asked this before, by Thamma and Jyatha Moshai, and I will tell you what I told them…”
“Wait, what?” Batuk rolled his eyes. “Jethu? I can’t imagine…”
“Guess what …. he truly loves me to care… unlike you… With you, he has no choice.” Bondita was amused as Batuk narrowed his eyes.
“Fine, I won’t bother you. Just don’t come to me when you need help, then.” Bondita shook her head, imitating him, “Please, Bondita, help me, I will never tease you again.”
“I never talk like that.” Batuk snapped. “Never.”
Bondita continued, amused. “Really? Dada, please don’t beat me. It was her, it was her…”
“I was a child.” Batuk defended. “You told me to climb the tree…”
“So?” Bondita chuckled. “Do you have no brains? What if I told you to jump off a cliff?”
“I trusted you.” Batuk made Bondita stop chuckling. “I trust you, still.” He added, “If you told me to jump off a cliff with you, I would.” Bondita made a face at his words, even though his words warmed her heart.
“Fine, don’t be so cheesy. I trust you the same, too.” She nodded.
“Then why do I feel like you are hiding something?” His words startled her.
“What?” Bondita looked alarmed. “What could I possibly hide?”
“I don’t know… Something to do with Som Dada?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Oh…” Bondita breathed a sigh of relief. “How did you…”
“Come on, he is on his phone most of the time, he barely shares where he went to and with whom… I am not blind.” Batuk shrugged.
“Alright, I will tell you if you tell me everything I missed while I was not here,” Bondita suggested.
“Deal.” Batuk extended his hand, and Bondita shook it. “But wait… first, let me put on some music.” Bondita smiled. Back when they were teens and they shared secrets others should not hear, Batuk always used to turn on the stereo as they talked to make sure their voices were drowned out by the music. Batuk walked up to the music player and scoured through his bunch of CDs to take out a Falguni Pathak one. Bondita’s eyes lit up. “You still have that? You used to tease me for liking those songs.” Bondita smiled at the memories as Batuk smiled sheepishly. “Those cringy songs reminded me of home when I was away. Especially at first, when you were gone… I used to hear those.”
“Aw, you missed me.” Bondita teased as Batuk eyed her. “We all did, in case you doubted.” He watched her open the CD from the cover and push it into the tray to hit play.
Maine Payal Hai Chhankayi … ab toh aaja tu harjaayi… started playing as Bondita smiled and nodded. “I know. Remember how Mini Didi taught me to dance to this song with a dupatta?”
“Yes, you forcibly made me watch and clap. It was torture.” Batuk sneered as Bondita hit his arm with her fist.
“Ouch, you still do that? You are a grown woman; act like one.” He sounded amused as she eyed him. “Remember how I used to love Tanha Dil?” Batuk made her nod as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Now, tell me everything.”
Batuk shrugged, “What’s the hurry? We are not going anywhere. For a change.” He smiled.
“You know something, I realised?” Bondita waited for him to sit down beside her, snatching the remaining Fatafat from her hand as she narrowed her eyes at him. “ Whenever someone in my college asked me if I had a sister, I always said yes without thinking twice, but when we were here, I always used to say you are my friend.” Bondita smiled at his words. “Why can’t I be both?”
“Well, the sister in you is a bully. The friend is supportive.” Batuk shrugged. “Which one do you want now?”
“The sister who doesn’t judge.” Batuk smiled as Bondita nodded, “Go on, tell me everything.”
“First…” Batuk ranted about his days away from home. About how his career choice upset Aniruddha because he wanted him to pursue law and be his partner. Batuk talked about life in Kolkata over the past two months and how his busy schedule and coping with life alone in the city forced him to not be able to contact Bondita despite knowing she was there. He had just returned from Bangalore, where he had stayed in the college hostel with roommates. The last time they talked. But life alone in the company-provided housing, doing everything by himself, was different. He also spoke of how Binoy wanted him to go abroad like Aniruddha did, but he did not feel like going so far away. He wanted to return home as and when he pleased, not miss out on festivities and celebrations. Bondita knew some of it; the rest was new. She allowed Batuk to rant, realising he had so much to share and waited for her to be home. He also brought up the topic of how he barely saw his father anymore. Bondita watched him speak before she asked, “Why does your father not live here anymore?”
“Did Jethu tell you he is upset?” Batuk was suspicious.
“No, I have eyes, Batuk. And a brain better than yours.” She shook her head with a taunt. Batuk inhaled. “Ever since the fiasco with Mini Didi…”
“Are you in touch with her?” Bondita enquired. Batuk shook his head.
“No, I am not, but I do have her address from Shillong…” He appeared to be thinking, “She sent a letter to Jethu once or twice in the beginning, on Bijoya and Nabo Barsho. She also sent pictures of her boys.” Bondita asked about the picture. Batuk walked out of the room, followed by Bondita, into the reading room on the first floor. It took him a few minutes to find the letter and picture attached. It was a colour picture of Mini Didi in a saree, sitting with an infant on her lap and a boy of about five years standing beside her in half pants and a shirt.
“They look like her.” Bondita was unsure of what to say. She looked at Mini’s face keenly, and she appeared to be smiling happily in the picture. “Did she come back?”
“No, she did not come by after the wedding. Bhowmick Uncle used to go there…” Bondita looked curious at his words. “He died when he was visiting her.”
“Did anyone contact her thereafter?” Bondita enquired.
“Well, Baba sent his condolences as far as I know…” Batuk shrugged.
“What about…” She gestured in the direction of Aniruddha’s room.
“He seemed to be unbothered by the whole thing…” Batuk shrugged.
“I thought they…” Bondita realised she was thinking out loud.
“Liked each other?” Batuk nodded, “Me too. I mean, you can never say anything about him, her… definitely.” Bondita did not tell him what Mini Didi had once confided in her. Instead, she asked, “But why would he refuse her?”
“What I know from Som Dada is that he thought Mini Didi was too pampered and nitpicky to be with him. And that he never looked at her in that way.” Batuk shrugged. “Never knew it was reason enough to say no. They ended up arguing.”
“Who?” Bondita frowned. How did Batuk know all this? He lowered his voice.
“When Mini Didi came to meet him the last time, they closed the study room door…” Bondita suddenly felt awkward as Batuk continued, “But I stood there and heard everything.”
“Batuk!” Bondita scolded, “That is bad manners…”
“I never told anyone, I swear on Maa Kali, just telling you now.” Batuk stopped. Bondita did not resist as he expected her to, so he continued.
“She said she thought they would go back to London, and she would be a fashion model there. He said there was a lot more to life than that kind of luxury. She said he was not a realist, getting emotionally swayed by rescuing people from misery…” Batuk stopped as Bondita eyed him briefly. She did not know who else he helped apart from her to be attributed as his lifestyle, but nodded for him to continue “She thought it was stupid to save others than to have a better future…”
“And what did he say?” Bondita tried to suppress her eagerness to know.
“He called her shallow and pointed out that was why he said no. She thanked him, said she thought he saw her as a friend, to which he agreed and emphasised that was not enough to marry her. She left abruptly.” Bondita was about to ask whether he looked sad when she left but decided against it. A part of her still could not believe what had transpired.
“But then why did he not marry anymore?” She asked.
“That is what puzzles both of us, you know. Som dada thought he did like Didi for a while until he realised she doesn’t think alike… but I think…” Batuk stopped. Bondita grew quiet; she appeared to be thinking.
“I think he is not someone who even thinks of those things…” Batuk shrugged.
“Meaning?” Bondita narrowed her brows.
“He is a workaholic. People like him don’t seek families; they are engrossed in their work and achievements. I have seen people like that at work. Their world is this. Dadabhai works all day, and on days he is not working, he helps people. He finds happiness in that. During holidays, Jethu has to scold him to stay home and not go help the needy. Even when he is home, he works…”
“Maybe he is lonely…” Bondita spoke unmindfully. Batuk dismissed it.
“If he were, he would not have rejected so many women. Jethu brought so many good…” He was about to narrate that story of resistance when Koeli interrupted the conversation with the announcement of lunch being served. Bondita joined Trilochon and Batuk at the white marble dining table.
After lunch, Trilochon sat reading the newspaper when Bondita came and sat by him on the floor.
“Eki, Maa? Sit on the chair,” he insisted, but Bondita did not stir.
“Can I ask you something?” She made him nod “Do you think it is a good idea to work for someone you know?” He removed the newspaper from his lap and his glasses from his nose and stared at her. “Depends on how well you know each other…”
“Well…” Bondita expected Trilochon to say it was a bad idea to work for Aniruddha. She would repeat it to him and get away from the offer without citing her own opinion. Instead. Trilochon seemed happy with the idea that she would work under his guidance and have a safe work environment. He lamented how bad the times are for women, and it was indeed good, especially in her profession, to work for him. Bondita quickly realised that behind his reasons, Trilochon also had his reasons for not letting her go away again. Bondita nodded, deciding to hand over her resume to Aniruddha when he came home.
“He would come very late.” Trilochon said when she came by after dinner, “You keep the resume file on his desk; I will tell Bihari to tell him.” He walked away as Bondita nodded and was about to leave when Somnath intercepted her.
“Did you manage to tell him?” He asked.
“Not yet…” Bondita shook her head. “It will be better if you also…”
“After you tell him first. How can I just stand there while you tell him about her?” He shook his head. “That is so embarrassing.” Bondita frowned at his choice of words.
“If it was so embarrassing, why did you not think of that before choosing her? Huh?” Bondita shook her head. “You will get me in trouble.”
“I thought you were the only one not scared of him.” Somnath frowned.
“I was not when I could get away with things…” Bondita suggested. “Now I don’t know what could anger him.” Her scared look amused Somnath. “Just run away if he looks angry. Then I will talk to him.”
“Uff…” Bondita was about to revise the plan when they heard the car on the portico, and Somnath ran upstairs. Bondita turned to see Aniruddha walking up the stairs in his white shirt and black trousers, his black coat hanging loosely from one arm, while on the other, he held paperwork. He stopped at her sight as she smiled, holding out the file.
“I came to give this…” He frowned at the file cluelessly. “My resume…” She reminded him.
“Oh.” He placed the file on top of his paperwork. “ I thought it was Payesh again…” He smiled faintly.
“I can still serve you warm food.” She offered.
“No Bondita, go home. I will…”
“No, it's alright, just go change… I have something to say anyway…” Bondita rushed towards the kitchen as he shook his head. “Of course you do,” he murmured and went upstairs. He walked into the dining room as she placed the warm bowl of chicken curry on the plate and served him freshly made Ruti. She noticed the missing glasses and asked, “Are the glasses only to look wiser?” He smiled, amused, as he shook his head. “No, I do have both plus and minus power. Not as much as I can’t do without them.”
“I see, you are old.” Bondita bit her lip as he chuckled, shaking his head.
“That I am. Who made these?” he asked, observing the unevenly shaped Roti.
“I did.” She smiled. “Koeli left some stiff cold ones.”
“I am used to those…” He smiled faintly. “Can’t complain…”
“I know… Jyatha Moshai was saying…” His glance made her stop as he smiled amused. “That a wife could do good for me?” Bondita’s heart skipped a beat at his smile. “Why can’t he leave people at peace?” Bondita cleared her throat and sat down on the chair next to him, watching him eat.
“You see, he says so because he wants Som Dada to settle… and people…”
“Bondita, when did you start caring for people’s two cents in everyone’s lives?” he snapped. Bondita grew quiet. He took a morsel and added, “If he wants to settle, he can, I can tell Jethu so…”
“About that.” Bondita interrupted. “There is a girl…” Aniruddha looked up at her, a little shocked. For the first time in his life, he realised Bondita had grown up enough to understand the nuances of love and relationships, something that seemed beyond the comprehension of his imagination. It irked him that Som was sharing such things with her rather than him.
“He told you?” He asked in disbelief as she nodded, unsure of whether it angered him.
“She is very good…”
“And he thought it wiser for you to talk to me than him?” Aniruddha seemed irked. Bondita inhaled.
“He is scared of you.” She eyed him and murmured, “I can see why.”
“What do you mean? He is my brother.” Aniruddha defended, “I have known every detail of his life since…”
“You are a bit unapproachable.” Bondita bit her lip as he opened his mouth to protest. “Batuk and Dada don’t know how you will react to such things…”
“What do you mean by that?” Aniruddha pushed away his plate and leaned forward, forcing Bondita to look up at him “All of you think of me as some grumpy old man who will be against any…”
“Look at you. If this were anyone else, they would have run away.” Bondita interrupted. “You did not even let me talk of her.” Aniruddha stiffened at her words.
“Fine, tell me about her.” He made her sit straight with a smile.
“She is a teacher, she wants to work after marriage… which is good, right?” Bondita asked suggestively. Aniruddha nodded “Of course.”
“Here, her picture…” She took the picture out of Somnath’s book that was on the table and handed it to Aniruddha “Ashalata Mukherjee.” She smiled. Aniruddha eyed the picture briefly. “What do you want from me? It seems like you all have everything handled.” He frowned. Bondita exhaled.
“Oh, I understand you are upset we did not tell you sooner, but you are his elder brother. Like you said, only you can tell Jyatha Moshai such a thing….”
“What do you mean by such a thing? Is it a bad thing?” He interrupted. Bondita shook her head.
“No, but Som Dada is a little, umm… embarrassed to…” Aniruddha frowned cluelessly “What do you mean? If he loves her, he should be able to tell that to Jethu.” Bondita stared at him with a hopeless nod. “How can someone just go tell their guardian that they lo… like someone?”
“Why can’t they?” Aniruddha shrugged. “It's not a sin.”
Bondita stood up, irked. “Why are you arguing with me?”
“What is the big deal? If I loved someone, I would have told him myself.” Aniruddha shrugged as Bondita looked away. “I am not arguing, Bondita. Fine, I will talk to Jethu and…”
“I should go.” She stepped back, making Aniruddha stare at her, confused. “It's late.”
Aniruddha watched her walk away towards her house in the darkness as he sat down with the picture she left, wondering how to talk to Trilochon about it.
Bondita sat down on her bed and heaved a sigh of relief. She did not think the conversation would go the way it did. Now it was over. Something in her heart felt uneasy and heavy. She did not understand why Aniruddha was irked. Whether it was about Somnath not telling him or it was about telling her, the outsider. No matter what the Roy Chowdhurys said, she was indeed nobody. Bondita suddenly felt restless.
“If I loved someone…” She lay on her back, wondering, could it be possible that Batuk was right, or that he never loved Mini Didi? She closed her eyes. Even if it were so, nothing changed. She had to work with him; she had to repay her debts to him as soon as she could. Then, she would take Kalindi and settle somewhere away from his shadow. Somewhere, she would not live with his memories in every nook and cranny and fall asleep to his thoughts every day.
Comments
Post a Comment