" yeh kya ho raha hai yahan ? " Anirudh's stern tone echoed through the hall making everyone still in their place.
Somnath and Batuk were still holding the baby as they were fighting to hold her. The baby was looking back at forth between them confused. They too were fighting to hold her as if she was the last piece of sweet left in the box.
Trilochan as usual was ignoring them like they didn't exist.
They both gulped in fear as their brother approached them. But still they both were holding the baby. She was dangling between them.
" paaapa paah pa " she happily threw her hands seeing him.
He gave her a small smile before taking her in her arms. As soon as she went to his arms Anirudh glared at the two of them. His eyes were so intense that it could have burned hole in their shirts.
" bacchi hai meri.. Rassi nahi jo aise kheench rahe ho " their mind stopped working after hearing that one word. They didn't register what he said after that. He said meri. He said his child.
" aur Batuk se to maine umeed hi chod di hai par mujhe tumse ye umeed nahi thi Som. How can you be so careless? Woh bhi ek doctor hoke. " he scolded but they were looking at him like he was some kind of ghost.
" kya ho raha hai bhai ? main ek minute ke liye kya gayi mahabharat shuru kardi aap logo ne " Bondita came rushing down the stairs.
" tum " Anirudh suddenly pointed finger at her , glaring like a predator but it didn't take him seconds to turn into a cat seeing her hands on her waist and threatening look in her eyes. The biwi ka khouff was working too well.
" main kya " she asked intimidated.
" in.. I-in gadhon ko kyu diya isse. Pata hai kya kar rahe the yeh log " he accused.
" tel me pakode to tal nahi rahe the. to itna chillane ki jaroorat kya hai. Dono ke dono khaate peete mushtande hai paanch saal ke bacche nahi jo ek 6 mahine ki bacchi nahi sambhal payenge. " she scolded him instead.
" aur aap dono " she turned to them as they were holding back their laughs. " Aap isse nahi sambhal paa rahe jab aapki apni aulaad hogi usse kaise sambhalenge aap " she lightly scolded.
Somnath blushed profusely but Batuk pouted.
" shaadi to kara nahi rahe... to aulaad kya nariyal ke ped se tapkegi . Inki chodo main to pocket mein sehra liye ghum raha hu meri to yeh kara nahi rahe " Batuk rolled his eyes at Trilochan, giving him a look.
Bondita tried to mask her laugh but incredibly failed.
" kaka kal pandit ko bula lijiye " Anirudh suddenly ordered making their eyes wide.
" m-maine itni jaldi bhi nahi kaha " he spoke nervously.
Anirudh gave him a look that screamed are you for real.
" pa-pandit ko kyun beta? " Trilochan feared as his mind raced with possibilities.
Anirudh looked at the baby warmly who was playing with his brooch, keeping head on his shoulder. He pecked her head and turned to look at the family members.
" kyunki kal main iska naam karan aur annprasan dono rakhwana chahta hu. "
Bondita's heart beat was racing ,trying to get out of the rib cage. Did he just..
" KYA? Tum pagal ho gaye ho Anirudh " Trilochan shouted making them all confused and Batuk made a disgusting face .
" iss mein pagal hone ki kya baat ho gayi main samajh nahi paa raha . main to seedha seedha aapse yeh keh raha hun ki mujhe isska naamkaran karana hai pandit ko bula lijiye . " Anirudh held the baby tighter , looking at him with judgement .
" par kyun ? " Trilochan asked . " yeh humaari bachhi thodi na hai jo hum naam karan karayenge isska . pata nahi kiski bacchi utha laye tum , insaniyat ke naate theek tha . humne mana nahi kiya , dhyaan rakhna tab tak bhi theek tha ...GOD lena . Anirudh pata nahi kis jaat-"
" KAKA " Anirudh bellowed .
Trilochan gulped .
Bondita stilled .
Somnath sighed and Batuk grinned .
" 6 MAHINE KI BACCHI KA BHI JAAT PUCHENGE AAP . YEH JO THEEK SE BOLNA TAK NAHI SEEKHA USSE PUCHENGE KI BETA TERI JAAT KYA HAI . HUMAARE JAAT KI HUI TO RAKHENGE WARNA ANAATH AASHRAM CHOD AYENGE HAINA "
Bondita was getting worried about his voice and the baby who was in her own world not even flinching with the shrill shouts . She was about to stop him when Batuk stopped her from going further .
" jaane do Batuk itna chillayenge to gala kharaap ho jayega unka . " She said worriedly but Batuk still stopped her .
" chillane do Bondita ...Ajj ache kaam ke liye chilla rahein hai chillane do . kaka ko yeh sabak sikhna jaroori hai . aur unke gale ki fikr mat karo . pain proof hai unka gala jitna bhi chillao gala nahi baithega . " He spoke , assuring her .
" SAALON PEHLE AAPNE WAISE HI EK AADMI KO PAANI PEENE KE LIYE TARSA DIYA KYUNKI WOH NEECH JAAT KA THA . EK TARAF YAHAN KEHTE HAI KI PAANI PEELANA PUNYA KA KAAM HAI LEKIN USSI PAANI PAR NEECH JAAT KA KOI ADHIKAAR NAHI KYUN ? KHUD USS JAMEEN PAR NAHI CHALTE JAHAN WO PAIR RAKHTE HAIN , USS HAWA MEIN SAANS NAHI LETE JIS MEIN WO SAANS LETE HAIN . JIS BHAGWAAN KO AAP PUJTE HAIN UNHONE TO KABHI FARAK NAHI KIYA AAP LOGON KO BANANE MEIN TO AAP KO KIS NE HAK DIYA . "
Bondita felt pride flood within her veins how her husband take stands for everyone .
" KAAN KHOLKE SUN LIJIYE KAKA , YEH MERI BACCHI HAI . MERA ANSH HAI , MERA VANSH HAI , MERA GUROOR HAI . ISKE RAGON MEIN DOUD RAHA KHOON BHI MERA HAI AUR ISKE DIL KI DHADKANE BHI MERI HAI . AUR KHABAR DAAR MUJHE AAPNE ISSE ALAG KARNE KI KOSHISH KI TOH ...MAIN ISSE AUR BONDITA KO LEKAR GHAR CHOD KAR CHALA JAUNGA AUR AAPKO APNI SHAKAL TAK NAHI DIKHAUNGA . " He threatened .
Bondita's eyes welled up with tears as she remembered the way he accepted her , declared it in front of the world .
kyunki yeh tan, mann, aatma se meri hai. Iske aansu mere hain, iski muskaan meri hai . Iski takleefein meri hai, iski khusiyan meri hai. Yeh jism se bhi meri hai aur aatma se bhi meri hai
Trilochan shivered with fear . He didn't expect that Anirudh will threaten him like that .
" n-nahi beta tum t-tum yeh kya keh rahe ho ... t-tum tum ghar chod ke kyun jaoge ? " he nervously fumbled with his words .
" chala jaunga ... aur yeh dhamki nahi hai sach hai . " he warned darkly . " 6 saal se ratt lagaye baithe hai ki shaadi karle shaadi karle ....shaadi ke baad baccha karle baccha karle . Ab shaadi bhi ho gayi , aur baccha bhi hai . baccha khud ka ho ya god liya hua . bacche ki maa usmein farak nahi kar rahi to aap kyun kar rahein hai ? "
" beta sun to " Trilochan trailed off as he saw how dissappointed his nephew was over him. Anirudh without any other words left from there and went upstairs with her.
Bondita ran behind him after looking at Trilochan for some seconds. He shouldn't have said that. Bondita knew her kakasasurji was a good man but sometimes he say and do things that can not be accepted by humanity.
" patib-sir " she corrected herself at the right time. God she was frustrated with the slipups.
She opened his room but he was nowhere to be seen. Then she heard the giggles next door, from her room.
She checked inside and... Heaven is nothing in comparison to what she saw.
The duo were playing happily.
She leaned into the door and watched them, filling her heart with warmth.
" aap pakka yeh karna chahte hai ?"
He stopped playing and met her gaze. She didn't need the answer seeing the sincerity in his eyes that he doubts his decision . But he nodded regardless . His face wasn't expressing the happiness she found in his eyes .
" kya tum iss baat se raaji ho ? " he asked almost in a warm voice .
She was taken off guard by that question . " han ...mujhe kyun koi problem hogi "
He let his gaze return to the baby who was crawling up to his lap to reach for his brooch . He took her in his arms and seated her on his lap , gently played with her full cheeks .
" isse maa aur baap dono chahiye . ek baap se jyaada maa ki jaroorat hai isse . " he spoke , it sounded a little more than whisper . She patiently listened to him . " isse god lene ka decision mera tha ..... par mujhse jyaada tumhe iski jarooraton ka khyaal hai . she needs you more than me . so main tumhari marji bhi sun na chahta hun . kya tum iss decision s-"
" bohot khush hun " she didn't even let him finish .
A hidden smile reached his lips .
She went to him and sat beside him , caressing the baby's head . " jaroorat to isse iske papa ki bhi hai . kyunki kandhe pe bitha kar duniya to wahi dikhaenge , pehli chudiyan bhi wahi dilwaenge . aur maths ke sawaal galat hone par daant bhi wahi lagaenge ....haina ? " She eyed the baby as she laughed .
His heart warmed listening to the future possibilities .
" mujhe khushi hai ki aapne iss baar iss bacchi ki khushi ke saath saath apni khushi ki liye bhi chuna. Chinta mat kariye isse main apne bacche se bhi jyada pyaar dungi "
He didn't doubt it.
" maine bohot soch samajh kar yeh faisla liya hai. Abhi isse humari sacchai ke baare mein pata nahi chalega.. Lekin jab ye badi hogi-"
" to hum isse khud bata denge " she interrupted him, she was hurt, she was a little hurt that he accepted the baby as his daughter but still didn't accepted her as his wife.
She sighed and went to her cupboard , and she took some papers out. Anirudh studied her eyes and the papers in her hand. His mind was puzzled seeing it. She handed it to him.
She answered him before he could even question.
" prenuptial agreement hai , maine sign kar diya hai. Jaisa ki aaj tak hota aya hai aage bhi waisa hi chalega. Main aapse ek paisa nahi lungi... Na abhi... Na kabhi divorce hone ke baad. Agar future mein aap ne chaha to. "
Anirudh was just sitting, stunned. He didn't let his shock show over his face.
But now it was her turn to be bewildered.
Anirudh handed her the papers back and the baby too and disappeared to his room, leaving her puzzled. Her eyes went wide seeing papers in his hands too. Her heart hammered in her chest as her fear grew. Divorce papers again?
He took the baby back from her and placed her on the bed and handed her papers he brought. Her hands trembled as she took the papers.
She realized it was two sets of papers. First one was the adoption.
She couldn't believe her eyes when she studied the second one.
It was marriage certificate.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
And his next act shocked her more than ever.
He took the prenuptial agreement papers , held it in his both hands and.... Teared it apart.
Shredding them into pieces.
" jab hum sab shuru kar hi rahein hai to ....i i think ..we should . hamein ...we should give it a try . " he finally let out after hesitating a lot .
Bondita felt warmer by his words , he was giving their marriage a try . she is winning , she is winning in life .
" main ..m-main abhi bhi time chahta hun . mujhe bohot waqt lag chuka hai main jaanta hun ...par main thod-thoda aur waqt aur chahta hun . i trust you ..main tumpe bharosa karta hun , bohot karta hun but i don't trust myself with anything . main khud par bhi bharosa karna chahta hun . " he let out his feelings ..first time in years , in front of someone and it took him a lot of courage to confess the things going through his mind and Bondita admired his courage ...because it's not easy to tell about our feelings to someone .
" hum ajnabee the jab hum mile the ..... agar ..agar hamein zindagi saath bitani hai to humein pehle dost ban na padega . " he said meeting her eyes . And found only the feeling he can't say out loud yet . " humaari shaadi jabardasti hui " he spoke with guilt . " par ...p-par tum ..t-tum rehna chahti ho mere saath ...after everything . i respect your decision . " the look in her eyes causing his stomach to somersault .
" and i agree too . "
Now it was her turn to find butterflies in her stomach.
" hmm " she crossed her arms " to aap dosti karna chahte hai. " she teased playfully to which he flushed. " waise aap ko dekh kar lagta bhi hai aap ki koi dost nahi rahi hogi. Iss liye garam rehta hai aapka dimaag, hamesha sadi hui shakal banae firte hain " she roasted .
" main jaa raha hu yahan se " he threatened, pretending to be annoyed with her.
" acha acha sorry sorry sorry... Friends " she jumped up and down to stop him and reached out for his hand.
He looked at her then at her hand. His hand was shaking when he reached out to hold hers. It was embarrassing for him. Then saving him from the embarrassment Bondita grabbed his hand and shakes it.
" friends Mr roy chowdhury " she said with a large grin.
The softness of the palm.. He never wanted to leave the hand but sadly he has to because the baby needed her attention.
" aap isse sambhalo main doodh lekar aati hun, khane ka time ho gaya hai gudiya ka "
He nodded and took the baby from her.
She was about to leave when a idea popped out. She peeked his head out from behind the door and asked. Anirudh was drinking water at that moment.
" ek baat puchu? "
He gestured yes, still drinking water.
" agar main 6 mahine ki pregnant hoti to kaisi dikhti ?"
Anirudh spurred all the water in his mouth at her question. Blood rushed to his cheeks imagining her impregnate with a large belly.
She giggled and ran out after giving him a heart attack.
Now this will haunt him for nights.
..............
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
The music playing softly in the background carries a mellow vibe, weaving through the room like a gentle breeze.
Bondita softly laughed as she saw the baby was truly mesmerized by the song and was trying to hum with the lyrics . She found that the baby had a soft spot for music a long ago and honestly music soothes her soul , she was addicted to music too . And she was amazed that baby was trying to hum the tune .
" to angreji gaane pasand hai madam ko " she smiled softly at the baby .
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you
She held the baby and sang with the radio itself copying the lyrics . The baby giggled and her heart skipped a beat when the baby muttered something .
" lou uuuu "
what she heard was love you .
Her eyes widened in astonishment, her breath catching in her throat. Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she realized the magnitude of this milestone. Her heart swelled with affection as she showered her baby with kisses, relishing in the precious moment they shared.
Anirudh was going to his room , but he always stopped at her door before sleep just to spend time with the baby , actually with her but of course he wouldn't admit it loud . It was a habit for him now . Today he witnessed something that soothed his soul . His heart swelled with pride and adoration as he watched his partner cradle their baby in her arms, a picture of maternal love and warmth.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?
A soft smile graced his lips as he witnessed the exchange between mother and child, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the family they had created together. His eyes shimmered with emotion as he beheld the tiny bundle nestled against its mother, their bond palpable even from across the room.
And then, as if on cue, their baby responded with its first word, a garbled yet unmistakable "love you."
Anirudh's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening in awe and wonder.
Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he witnessed this milestone, a testament to the miracle of life and the power of love.
Bondita suddenly felt his presence . She turned to him and ....she could feel the same warmth he felt ...listening to the baby , to their baby .
They both had tears as their gazes met .
Anirudh crossed the room and enveloped his baby in a warm embrace, cherishing this moment of pure, unadulterated love.
He was so happy today ...so so happy . He couldn't even express it .
A moment later he reached out a hand towards Bondita .
She took it , completely hypnotized by the moment . She gasped when he placed a hand on her waist . they found themselves drawn to each other in a tender dance. With their baby cradled between them, they swayed rhythmically to the music, their movements slow and graceful.
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Bondita's head rested gently on Anirudh's shoulder as they moved in perfect harmony, their bodies swaying in sync with the lilting melody. Their hands intertwined, fingers laced together in a silent expression of love and unity.
As they danced, their eyes never left each other's gaze, filled with an unspoken understanding and affection. In that moment, nothing else mattered except the bond they shared as partners and as parents.
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
Bondita's eyes spoke the lyrics . She was willing to give her hand and her whole life too .
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you
And he can't help ....falling in love with her .
this dance sequence was in my mind for decades . And i fell in love with it too . i'll surely miss the baby from now on . She helped a lot in their relationship ...didn't she ? well suggest me some names for the baby only to find out her real name . i think Anirudh babu sudhar rahe hai .
ps i love the song .
love author