Bondita was spreading the bedsheet on the bed when she saw that the carafe was empty. She sighed and putting the bedsheet properly she took the jug and went out.

As she reached the kitchen she was surprised to see Anirudh there making a coffee for himself. Anirudh looked at Bondita who was looking at him, with questioning eyes.

" Kya hua? Aise kyun dekh rhi ho?" Anirudh asked.

Bondita entered inside and went towards the pot. She took laddle and putting it side, she took water and put it in the carafe.

" Aap din mein 6 baar coffee Peete hai?" Bondita asked without looking at him.

" Kyun tum gin rahi thi?" Anirudh said looking for sugar box.

Bondita closed the cover of both the carafe and the pot and said " Haan kyunki cheeni ka dabba aadha khatam ho chuka hai. Mujhe laga Anika aake khaa rhi hogi, isliye chupa liya meine."

" Tabhi mein sochun mujhe mil kyu nhi raha hai. Lekin Anika cheeni kyun khayegi?" Anirudh asked confused.

" Lo. Apki beti aap hi ko nahi Pata ki woh kya kar rhi hai. Raat ko sabke sone ke baad ya toh sabse chupke, chuhiya ke tarah chal ke khaake jaati hai aur phir jaati hai toh jaati hai, dabba khula chod ke jaati hai. Ek baar subha dekha tha toh chitiyon ki toli yahan aake pait pooja kar rhi thi." Bondita said giving the sugar box to him.

Anirudh laughed hearing Bondita. He kept the other hand on the platform while the other on his stomach and laughed his heart out. Small tears formed near his eyes but he continued to laugh while Bondita was shocked to see him laughing. She was lost in his melodious laugh. She was just watching his facial expression when he was laughing. His eyes and nose used to shrink while his hair fluttered with the passing winds. His face had turned red with continuous laugh. She felt good seeing him laugh and don't know why her heart fluttered when she saw him laughing. In daze, she uttered loud enough to let Anirudh hear " Aap haste raha kariye na, ache lagte hai."

And at this Anirudh's laughter ceased and got vanished in the air. He looked at Bondita and asked " Kya?"

Bondita keeping the sugar box aside and taking the cup said " Haste raha kariye. Ache lagte hai. Humesha Rakshas ke tarah kyun banne huye rehte hai?"

" Hello mei has sakta hoon. Infact abhi mein tumhare aakhon ke saamne has bhi raha tha." Anirudh said narrowing his eyes.

" Aap aur has rehte? Aapko Pata hai aap kitna ajeeb lag rhe the haste huye?" Bondita said to irritate Anirudh.

Anirudh was about to revert back when Bondita handed him the coffee and went away saying goodnight.

Anirudh frowned and took a sip of the coffee. He while drinking his coffee went to Anika's Room to check whether Anika had slept or not but to his surprise Anika wasn't there. Sighing he went towards Bondita's room. The door was little wide open. He saw that Anika had slept there with an open mouth. Bondita turned off the lamp and lied beside her. Anika kept a leg on Bondita while the latter kissed Anika's forehead and smilingly slept. Anirudh laughed at the duo and left the place, closing the door behind him.

Bondita was hiding from someone. She had hid herself behind a sofa, and peeking outside when someone tapped her shoulder and whispered " Mujhe dhoond rhi ho?" . Bondita turned to look that he was sitting close to her and smirking at her. " Aap..aap yahan?" .
The man pulled her near him and humed. Bondita blushed seeing the closeness.

Bondita woke up with a jerk and looked around. " Yeh kya tha? Yeh kaisa sapna tha? Aue woh kon tha?".

She looked at the time and sighed. It was 2 in the morning. Hitting her forehead she slept.

Next Morning.

Bondita was running behind Anika who was denying to have the porridge. As soon as Bondita held Anika, Kaka called Bondita from behind. As Anika found Bondita to be distracted,she ran out of her hold but dashed into Anirudh. Anirudh picked her in his arms and said " Rail gaadi ke tarah kahan bhaag rhi ho?"

Bondita came and panting hard said " Apni..Apni beti ko kariye ki yeh khaye. Baba pure ghar mein dodaa liya mujhe par ek niwala nahi khaya hai. Ab isse khilane ki zimmedari aapki" Bondita said handing him the bowl. Bondita sat on the sofa and started to fab herself with her sarees pallu.

" Tum khanaa kyun nahi kha rhi?" Anirudh asked while raising an eyebrow.

" Iss khaane ki shakal dekhi hai? Kitni gandi hai. Bleh" Anika said pouting.

" Oh rajkumari. Duniya mein aise kayi log hai jinhe khaana naseeb nahi hota hai aur tum nakhre dikha rhi ho? Anna ka apmaan nahi karna chahiye. Chup chap Khao." Bondita scolded while Anika puffed her cheeks and looked away.

" Puchki Bondita bilkul sahi keh rhi hai. Beta khaane ka apmaan nahi karna chahiye. Aur tum hi socho, agar tumahre dadu ko Pata chala ki tumne Anna ka apmaan kiya hai toh kya hoga?" Anirudh said thoughtfully.

Anika started to think,

" Anika. Tumne Annapoorna ka apmaan kiya hai. Yeh hume bardaash nahi. Tumhe ek mahine tak koi khilone nahi milenge aur nahi tumhare man pasandeeta khaana. Samjhi."

Anika kept her hands on her ears and shouted
" Nahi."

Bondita and Anirudh secretly smiled while
Kaka came from behind and asked " Kya Nahi.?"

" Dadu agar meine khaane ka apmaan kiya toh kya aap mujhe dand denge?" Anika asked innocently while Kaka replied seriously
" Haan haan. Zaroor denge. Arre Khanna toh Annapoorna hai. Annapoorna ka apmaan humse bardash nahi."

Anika swiftly turned and took the bowl from Anirudh's hands.

" Mishti. Araam se khao." Bondita said.

Anika choked in between. Bondita rushed to get water for her from the kitchen while Anirudh patted her back worriedly. Anika's face turned red while Kaka shouted to get water for Anika.

" Kisne kaha tha jaldi jaldi khaane ko? Gale mein atak gya na? Ek baat nahi sunti ho tum Meri." Bondita said making Anika drink water.

" Sorry." Anika said wiping her face.

" Naina Roy Chowdhary ka ghar yahi hai?" a post man asked.

" Arre Zamindaron ki bahu hai. Toh yeh hi uska ghar hoga na. Jaante nhi ho kya?" Trilochan kaka said with narrowed eyes.

" Aree nahi nahi Zamindaar babu. Woh kya hai na tulsipur mein pahali baar aaye hai toh thoda confusiya gye." The post man said with his broken English.

" Naina. Tere liye kisne parcel bheja hai. Dekh toh." Bondita shouted while the reply came
"Ji didi abhi aayi."

Naina came running and took the package. The post man greeted and went away. Bondita was drinking water when Naina started jumping and then hugged Bondita who stumbled.

" Arre pagal ho gyi hai kya? Kya kar rhi hai?" Bondita said balancing herself.

Naina twirled Bondita around and said " Didii..."

" Dekh Naina Mujhe chakkar aa rahe hai. Chod de mujhe." Naina lost in her own world left Bondita with a jerk. Bondita was about to fall when Anirudh held Bondita by her shoulder. Bondita took a sigh of relief. She looked at sideways and got lost in his face. Though they were maintaining distance Bondita couldn't help but feel her cheeks burning. Anirudh made her stand and asked if she is okay but  She came out of her world when Anirudh snapped his fingers infront of her.

" Tum theek ho na?" Anirudh asked.

" H..haa. theek hi hoon. Theek ho mein." Bondita said with a quivering smile. Anirudh gave a smile and went towards Som who was frowning at jumping Naina.

" Yeh mujhe kya ho raha hai?" Bondita asked herself.

Naina " Didi Pata hai..."
" Bondita ." Someone called her out. Bondita looked at front and got shocked. Tears pooled near her eyes and she whispered
" Aap.."

Hey,
You guys have to start keeping a habit of getting short updates from now on.
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