Bondita was preparing the papers for the first hearing which happens to be on the next day. Beena peeped from behind the door.
"Didi.... may I come in..." she whispered
Bondita looked back
"Of course... come in..." Bondita welcomed with a sweet smile.
Beena came in and started exploring her papers.
"You had to study hard??"
"Yes I had to"
"If I study hard I'll be like you?"
"Yes of course"

"Beena... " Sumita entered the room "don't disturb her.."
"No no it's ok Sumita didi..."
"I think she likes you much.."
"I'll be glad if I can be someone's inspiration"

********
"Sir, what do you think.. how should we proceed" asked Alok
"Hmm... first we need to know if he really stole the Dalil or not..." answered Anirudh
"But will he agree to tell it?"
"He will have to... otherwise leave alone property he'll be in jail"
"We are lawyers.. can't we save him?"
"Not if he lies..."

"Babu..." the servant entered "your breakfast"
"Yes keep it on the table" instructed Anirudh

The servant kept it on the table and moved out. Shouvik tried to look at the plate. It's the most boring sandwich he have ever seen.

"Sir, if you don't mind...." hesitated Shouvik
"Yess"
"Why is your sandwich so boring?"
Anirudh looked up at him. Alok tried to supress his smile.
"Because this is my appetite.. any more queries?"
"No Sir"

************
At the Court,

"My Lord I'll like to present before the Honourable Court my next witness......" Bondita continued
Anirudh has become restless. She is twisting his every logic. The spectators are at the edge of their seats of this heated argument.
The next witness took the stand.
"Yes Biren babu when did Somoresh babu come to you to get the dalil typed?" Questioned Bondita
"I didn't knew if it was a dalil or not but he came... somewhere... at the middle of the previous month."
"Alright, so your honour from this we can conclude that Somoresh babu got the fake dalil typed and replaced it with the original one..."
"Objection your honour..." Anirudh interrupted "how can my YOUNG FRIEND  conclude the thing he typed is the fake Dalil only"
Bondita looked at him. Young? What the hell he means by young?!
"Your Honour.. perhaps my OLD FRIEND is not aware of the chronology of the incidents...."
Anirudh looked at her. OLD?! What the hell!

Judge also understood that the young lady took that YOUNG comment by heart but he tried his best to supress his smile unlike the others in the courtroom.

Outside the courtroom.
"Hi I'm Alok"
Bondita looked up while chewing the kochuri
"Nice to meet you"
Alok sat beside Bondita "I'm the Junior of Barrister Anirudh Roy Choudhury " he commented with pride
"I see....."

Anirudh was comming at the canteen pressing his feet but his heart shrank when he saw Alok sitting beside her. Why this boy want to be friend with her?! He turned and left the spot.

After lunch the hearing proceeded. Hearing of this case is going on for long 3 days. Both Anirudh and Bondita have put up their stand so diligently that it was become a topic of heated discussion in court. At first all were sceptical about a Lady Barrister but the way she put her stand against the fierce Barrister Anirudh Roy Choudhury everyone has started admiring her, someone on outside someone in inside.

Bondita continued her fiery arguement. Anirudh will also not a man to step back. Judge is confused by their arguement. Both seems right !

"Your Honour every son have a right to his father's property and when a father leaves the property without a Will..."
"Objection you......." Anirudh tried to halt Bondita but suddenly the world before him became hazy. He hold his head and moved two steps back. Alok and Shouvik came and gave him support.
"Sir? Are you alright?"
Bondita looked at him and started breathing heavily. She grasped the chair and started sweating.
Anirudh again tried to stand.
"Ob.. jectio.."
"Take your time Barrister Roy Choudhury" opined the Judge "you didn't look well.."
Anirudh tried to stand but his body couldn't support him and he fell on the chair.

*********
"Alokk...." Bondita called
Alok looked back. "R a Bondita.. what's up... hearing is a week late.. any work?"
"Yes... yes... came to buy stamp papers.. by the way how's your Sir?"
"To be honest he's not well... "
"Why?? What happened to him??"
"Actually he didn't eat well na... sandwiches all day all night..."
"Sandwiches?! This man..."
"What?"
"Nothing... can I come to see him in the evening?"
"Of course you can... defence lawyers are not defence in the Warfield"

*********
"What are you cooking Bondita?" Asked Sumita
"Alu Posto... he loves it.." answered Bondita
"He?? So.... your he's here?" Taunted Sumita
"Yes... bhat sukto dal alu posto and Rui macher kalia.. he loves kalia but never admits.."
"Never admits?"
"He's like that.. tries to act grumpy all the time.."

*******
"Anirudh this isn't good" scolded Barrister Banerjee
"Sir please... I'm alright.. I need to prepare" replied Anirudh
"Alright I'm sitting here..."
"Sir..."
"Shut up..."

"Babu... a young lady has come to meet you.." a servant informed
"Yes let her in.."

Anirudh saw a pair of fair feet from below the curtain. The gold anklets... wait.. the anklets! Anirudh looked up at the door. The beautiful figure came in wrapped in violet saree with long braided hair and curled logs. Anirudh was enchanted.
"R a you are Bondita right?" Asked Barrister Banerjee
"Yes Sir.." Bondita touched his feet. Banerjee blessed her. Anirudh stood up slowly.
"Youu...." Anirudh exclaimed softly.
"Yes.. Alok told you have nothing to eat and thus thriving on sandwiches so I thought of cooking something for you"
"What?!" Anirudh looked at Alok. Alok nodded his head to and fro in denial.
"See this girl too got concerned for you.. and look at yourself" scolded Banerjee
"Well thank you but I don't think I need this.."
"See I'm a lady and not a guy"
"So?"
"So I can do Barristeri and also cook... can you cook?"
"No... I mean yes... coffee.."
"With salt?"
"Well it's going personal..."
"Where the hell is your dining?"
"Bondita Bondita... listen...."
Bondita turned back at him and looked at him in a suspicious manner.
"Why are you not letting me get in?" Bondita asked raising her eyebrows
"Because... wait... what do you mean?!"
"You are moving your nose"
"What?!"
"You are getting smell of alu posto and kalia..."
"Yes... I mean.. noo"
"You want the food but you are not letting me in..."
"Yes... no... wait.. why are you confusing me?"
"Case lost..."

Banerjee and Alok looked at each other. They never saw Bondita arguing in such a childish tone. And Anirudh too didn't get pissed off as he does.

Bondita serves the food.
"I'm sorry Sir I didn't cook extra.."
"Don't worry it's alright.. Anirudh needs it more" consoled Banerjee
"Where is yours?" Asked Anirudh softly
"You don't worry.. I'll have after going back.."
Anirudh looked a bit heartbroken. Banerjee looked at the way Bondita lovingly served the food.
"Sir.. it's late.. I think you should go.." suggested Anirudh
"No Anirudh... will this girl go home alone at night? I'll drop her..."
"Sir.. I can go alone... I stayed alone only in London.."
"I bet you never roamed in the roads ALONE at the middle of the night? You had friends with you"
"Ye.. yes Sir..."

Anirudh wanted Bondita to stay. He has many things to tell her. Bondita is still angry on Anirudh but something inside her is telling her to stay there.

Anirudh and Bondita both looked hesitatingly at each other.
"Sir.... I... I mean..." hesitated Anirudh
Bondita hold his hand and nodded her head.
Banerjee noticed the situation and got suspicious
"Well you two YOUNG or OLD will agree that I'm atleast much OLDER to you.." commented Banerjee "what's going on??"
"Sir.. nothing" Anirudh tried to close the case.
"Today I saw Bondita arguing in a childish tone... she argues well I agree but the tone.... and you too behaved... softly.. not rudely as you do with your juniors.. who's she to you?"
Bondita got hesitated.
"You can tell me.. I'll not disclose.. but I need to know..." added Banerjee
"Sir..... Sir..... she's... she's my... wife..."
Banerjee looked shockingly at Bondita. "But she's DAS"
"She changed.... the.. surname to her previous one..."
"Why?!"
"Sir... I beg you pardon but...." Bondita spoke in low tone..
"Alright.. I understood the whole thing... you two quarreled for some reason.. and I feel I should leave you two.. and dare not drop her back even if she want to... spent a night together and solve your problems.. and don't worry this OLD FRIEND of yours will keep it confidential" saying thing Banerjee left.

Anirudh and Bondita sat quietly for a while. Anirudh offered Bondita a bite but she refused. Anirudh hold her cheeks and pushed it in. Bondita too took a handful and pushed it into Anirudh's mouth. Bondita looked angrily while Anirudh smiled.

After dinner in the living room.
"Patibabu... tell your driver to drop me"
"You know my ears were thirsty to hear that Patibabu from you..."
"Please"
"If you wanted to leave then you should have gone with Sir only"
Bondita remained quiet and looked outside the window. She felt a tickling in her tummy. She felt a bit shy then turned back. But she saw Anirudh with his hands back is looking straight at her. It must be the saree tickling on her tummy.
"What were you waiting for so long??" Asked Anirudh in a strict tone
"Jii..."
"Have I ever touched you without your consent?"
"N... no... noo" Bondita hesitated and for some reason her head went low
"You expected me to... to convince you... right"
"Noo.. noo"
"Why is your head low?? Look at me"
Bondita slowly put up her head like a obedient child and breathe heavily.
"Will you come to my room?" Asked Anirudh
"Doesn't it sound indicative?" Bondita gathered some strength and counter fired.
Anirudh smiled at her.. "Aren't your acts indicative?"
"What did I do?"
"Well... what indicates a thing??"
"Means"
"Bringing my favourite food, wearing my chosen saree, putting on my gifted anklets..."
Bondita's face became red..
"I'm your OLD FRIEND  Bondita... and I'm not indicating the way you meant.. you know that very well.. you are trying to put me in a akward situation but failing miserably"
"I'm not failing Barrister Anirudh Roy Choudhury.. perhaps you don't understand what I attained by this... my work was to feed you.. it was my responsibility... now..."
"Bondita... we need to talk"
"I don't want to.."
"Bondita...." Anirudh's low deep tone ran chills up Bondita's spine.