Bondita was up early when she heard Thamma in the washroom and did not wait for her alarm clock to ring. She stared at the clock, wondering when it would be a decent time to run to Saudamini’s house and knock. She even took out some chocolates from her purse to give to the child when she went to see her. She had so much to catch up on and apologise for. She had quickly dressed in a white Salwar Kameez, added a pearl stud to her ears and headed for Mini Didi’s old home, paying no heed to Kalindi lamenting about the mess in the bedroom. It felt like Deja Vu as she pressed the bell and waited in front of the green door before she heard footsteps on the other side. “Mini Didi!” Saudamini was startled by Bondita’s hug as soon as she opened the front door.
“Bondita?” Saudamini held her by the shoulder, inspecting her with beaming eyes. “My God, Bondita!” She exclaimed. “How beautifully you have grown!”
Bondita’s eyes fell on the boy, about twelve, staring at her with surprise as she let Saudamini introduce them.
“This is Bondita Mashi, we call him Tupai at home.” Bondita bent a little to reach the boy and shook his reluctant hand. “Hi, there. I have something for you.” She took out a chocolate from her bag, and Saudamini reminded the boy to thank her. The boy murmured a thanks as Bondita patted his head gently.
“I have so much to catch up with you on.” Saudamini dragged Bondita by the hand into the living room. “Cha Khabi?” Bondita shook her head. “Na Na, I…” She checked her watch. “Have to report for work.”
“Then you must come by after work. First, I will pull your ear for skipping my wedding.” Saudamini sat beside her on the couch as Bondita held her ears with both hands. “Sorry, I know you are angry.”
“Should I not be?” Saudamini shook her head. “You did not even write to me once.” Bondita hugged Saudamini, making her stop, surprising her son, who looked amused.
“You know, when I met Mashi, she was your age.” Saudamini smiled at him and back at Bondita. “Now tell me what you will eat. Ektu kichu…”
“Na Babah, I will come by later. I need to go by 8 sharp or else...” Bondita stood up as Saudamini eyed the clock. It was five minutes to eight.
“By 8?” Saudamini raised her brows. Bondita realised nobody had told her she was working for Aniruddha, so she filled in. Saudamini wondered why Aniruddha did not mention it when he had the chance to.
“Do you have a strict boss?” Saudamini seemed amused as Bondita eyed her. “Not as strict as the teacher, I suppose.” Saudamini laughed as she shook her head. “He seems to have heaps of praise for you.” Saudamini sat down on the couch, eyeing Bondita, looking a little embarrassed.
“Actually, I will be going that way, too. Aniruddha is handling my property issues.” Saudamini smiled.
“Didimoni, Boro Malik wants to see you in his room.” Bondita was stopped at the threshold by Koeli as Saudamini walked in to find Aniruddha in the study. Bondita eyed her walking to the study as she walked upstairs.
“Mini, I went through the papers…” Aniruddha spoke without looking up as he shook his head, “You need to come to the office. I will direct you to a junior who would take care of the taxes. Once it's done, you can come to me and…”
“How did you know it's me and not Bondita?” Saudamini’s question made him look up. “Because she doesn’t go around the house in slippers.” Aniruddha shrugged. Saudamini eyed him. “And you did not mention she works for you; she did…” Aniruddha murmured an excuse that it slipped his mind. The clock struck eight as he looked at the threshold with narrowed brows. Saudamini gathered her papers and eyed him. He checked his wristwatch, wondering as Saudamini smiled.
“She is not late for work. Jethu called her upstairs.” Saudamini turned to leave, but stopped as Aniruddha looked slightly embarrassed. “Mind if I come now, for the meeting with your junior?” She wondered. “I can come with you because I don’t know your office.” She eyed Aniruddha, nodding as she turned to Koeli, “Can you do me a favour and take my son to Thamma’s? Tell him to stay there until I return.”
Bondita walked into Trilochon’s room as he lowered the newspaper. “You are awfully late.” He eyed the clock. “I have been waiting for you.”
“I was at Mini Didi’s…” Trilochon seemed disgruntled.
“Do you know what she talked to Aniruddha about? She still has to learn some manners!” Bondita shook her head silently, eyeing Trilochon, who mumbled about Saudamini’s lack of awareness.
“Which married woman walks into a man’s office like that in the middle of the night?” He rebuked. “I told her to come by in the morning, but she could not wait.” Bondita shook her head at Trilochon’s words as she tried to reason.
“She is in a hurry to sell everything here, so maybe…”
“Good for her. She should stay away from him.” Trilochon looked up at Bondita’s unreadable face. “Right?” Bondita did not answer. Instead, she asked what she was summoned here for.
“There is a school property in the name of an NGO. Bhowmik Babu donated the land to them.” He cleared his throat. “I made the arrangements because I was a counsellor.” Bondita nodded. “There can be some dispute there.” She frowned at his words.
“What kind of dispute?”
“I don’t know. She mentioned some papers were missing and indicated she would reclaim the gifted land.” Trilochon shrugged. “Who does that?”
“So you want me to talk to her?” Bondita suggested. Trilochon shook his head. “I want you to represent the NGO.” Bondita raised her brows at his words.
“You know she has appointed your nephew as her lawyer.” Bondita reminded him gently.
“So? Can I not appoint you?” Trilochon looked up as Bondita inhaled. “I am sure that will not be necessary, but if something happens, I will see to it that the school stays.”
“That is all I wanted to know.” Trilochon smiled. “And don’t indulge much with her. And tell Aniruddha too…” Bondita smiled faintly. Trilochon had a habit of not changing his mind about people once he disliked them. She could have argued that Saudamini had no fault in what transpired between her father and Binoy, but Bondita knew it would not convince Trilochon.
“They have been good friends for years. They should remain friends, don’t you think?” Bondita said instead. Trilochon grunted. Bondita took it as her cue to leave.
Aniruddha was standing with his hands in his pockets as Mini explained something to him. He nodded as his eyes fell on the stairs, and Bondita felt his stare. She did not need to look up to know he was staring at her. She walked down slowly as his gaze followed her, and she felt her ears getting warm as she was about to walk past them into the study.
Bondita stopped as Koeli brought in Saurav, and Mini introduced him to Aniruddha. Aniruddha nodded with a smile as the boy looked intimidated by him. Bondita stopped at the threshold of the study room, observing him shaking the reluctant boy’s hand. Mini smiled, amused.
“I thought you were good with kids.” She eyed Bondita, who walked into the study, keeping the door ajar and picked up some paperwork. Aniruddha smiled faintly as Saurav walked away with Koeli to the Choto Bari, and he asked Saudamini to wait in the car.
“I will be back.” He turned on his heel as Saudamini took the back seat and waited. Bondita had picked up the paperwork when he reached the study.
“Umm… lock the door. I don’t want any kid strolling into the study.” He made her nod without looking up at him. He cleared his throat and contemplated as she eyed the envelope on top with questioning eyes.
“This…”
“Oh, that. You need to respond to that on the email ID given. My senior in Calcutta is having a party, and I feel such places would be good exposure for you.” He tried to sound professional as Bondita eyed the invitation card in his name and looked up with questioning eyes. “But he invited you.” He looked up briefly at her face and nodded, looking away. “Yes, umm… RSVP Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury… plus one.” Before Bondita could react to what he said, he turned and went back to the car. Bondita breathed in, putting the envelope on top of her pending work.
“You were so good with Bondita that I forgot you were never good with kids in general.” Mini’s words made Aniruddha smile faintly as Bondita clutched at her handbag and looked out of the window.
“Did Mitra call you?” He tried to sound professional as Mini eyed them. Bondita shook her head, confused. “Was he supposed to?”
“Yes, about your new role…” He shook his head. “Did he not mention the promotion?” Bondita remembered the mention of the cubicle downstairs and working on more individual cases before she left for Alamethi.
“Oh, that.” Bondita nodded. “He did, I start today.” She said dryly. Aniruddha eyed her briefly in between driving. Perhaps he expected a reaction, but she did not have any. Mini observed them being silent for the rest of the way as they reached the office, and Aniruddha took her upstairs while Bondita was shown to her new work desk by the receptionist.
“Welcome to the world of the commoners.” Her cubicle partner joked. Bondita forced a smile as she placed her things down and eyed the envelope. She needed to respond to the email first.
