Vandita's happiness evaporated instantly and her face lost color. She slowly walked back to her room.
"Why is her Barrister Babu behaving like this?" She questioned herself. She played the previous night's encounter on her mind in a loop. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't equate and match up a reason for this sudden changed behaviour. She quietly opened her notebook and started writing.
"Dear Barrister Babu,
It's all so confusing these days. It's so difficult to understand things. Things that you say and thing that you don't.
You have said many a times that you love me. Then why it is so difficult for you to hear the same from me? You have kissed me on my forehead more times than I could count. But why is it unacceptable to you if I kiss you back?
You say our marriage is complete, Koeli and Uncle says it's not. Whom should I believe Barrister Babu? I'm so confused here. I just want to be happy. Because I know for sure if I'm not happy I'll never be able to make you happy. And I want to see you happy above everything else.
It's strange these days... I dream of you often. I dream of being in your arms. This never used to happen before you know. Last night, I thought my dream had come true. I was actually in your arms. I felt so happy, I felt loved. But this morning you behaved as if last night never even existed! How could you do that to me? How could you take such a beautiful memory away from me Barrister babu? Aren't you the one being cruel here?
Sleeping in your arms, I dreamt of Maa last night. I saw her patting my head to make to fall asleep.. then suddenly in Maa's place you were there! You told me to sleep sound as you will be awake to fight away all the monsters who comes at night.
I just want to be with you Barrister babu. I just want to be not so confused.
I just want to understand..."
Vandita couldn't complete the letter. She burst out into tears. She held her pillow tightly to her chest and cried her heart out...
It was still raining outside, and Vandita's door was closed. Else it would have been impossible for Awnirudh to undermine those heart wrenching wails of this young girl.
It rained outside as well as inside... all day, before a tired sobbing Vandita got drifted off to the land of sleep...
.......
Broken promises and broken hearts are among the worst things in this world.
Awnirudh saw Vandita quietly walking away. He felt a sharp pain in his chest. As if someone has punched him right in the heart!
He locked himself up in his study the whole day. He couldn't even gather the courage to stand infront of the mirror... courage to face himself, let alone be Vandita!
In his heart, he knew what he just did was pure hypocrisy. He can never deny that he desired Bondita... He wanted to touch her lips, he wanted to take her...
He recalled how Vandita's quivering lips looked like, how her bare smooth skin felt like! A sudden surge of emotion made Awnirudh cry out aloud.
"Why?... Why is this happening to me?"
He felt disgusted of himself.
His sole aim in life is to make Vandita independent, to make her shine in life, to give her a bright future she deserves. Then why was he doing this to her? Why was he falling weak?
......
......
The Roy Chowdhurys returned back early in the morning. Happy to be back to their known comfortable niche. Both Awnirudh and Vandita greeted them with a warm welcome.
Awnirudh was purposefully avoiding a conversation with Vandita. And Vandita was too hurt to confront.
Kaka Sasurji (Uncle-in-law), Zamindar Trilochan Roy Choudhary, blessed Vandita to be prosperous in marriage. Vandita quietly touched his feet.
"Bahu, why are you looking so pale? Have you not eaten anything? " Kaka Sasurji enquired.
"Cheer up Babu, I have already made a list of invitees who would attend today's grand evening celebration." He smirked proudly.
"Grand Celebration? For what?" Objected Awnirudh.
"Your 5th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Awnirudh. I'm glad that you have finally made your marriage official." Kaka smiled with content.
"Now, I'll just count my days in hope of getting to play with my grandchildren soon."
This statement was like the last mail in the coffin. Awnirudh couldn't take it anymore. He burst into a fit of violent rage.
"No celebrations would happen. You understand me? No celebrations!
There is nothing to celebrate."
Awnirudh paused with a house full of stunned faces staring at him.
"Batuk, go to your room this instance." Awnirudh ordered his youngest brother who was of the same age as Vandita.
"Baba, Kaka... I have made nothing official. I can I ever? Vandita is just a child!" Awnirudh explained.
"Child? Awnirudh? She is 14! Your mother had given birth to you when she was 14.." his father remained him.
"Yes.... And she died at 23 while giving birth to Batuk!" Awnirudh interjected.
"I don't want Vandita to die at such a tender age, Baba... Infact I don't want any girl to die such an untimely death". Awnirudh paused.
"And hence I have decided to send Vandita away to Royal British Dehradun Convent for girls, tomorrow. I'll drop her off personally if necessary."
Vandita was quiet all this while. But now she couldn't contain herself any longer.
"What? Boarding school? Why? What did I do?" Vandita cried out.
"Sorry Barrister Babu, please don't send me to a boarding school.. I'll never ask you to sleep with me, ever again..."
"I. Did not. Sleep. With. You. Bondita" Awnirudh was trying his best to contain his fuming anger.
"You did. Why are you saying you didn't?
We hugged.... and...and you kissed me as well." Vandita sobbed, desperately trying to make a stand.
An enraged Awnirudh for a moment was searching for words.
His father and uncle was already glaring at him.
"I hugged you as you were cold. It was not the first time that I had done so. I hugged and carried you home the day I married you... You were semi conscious Vandita. I hugged you when you stood first in your class... How was yesterday any different?" Awnirudh said coldly.
"But it felt different" Vandita objected.
"It didn't to me." Awnirudh lied. "And about the kisses. Where have I kissed you Vandita? he asked.
"Forehead.." she pointed. "Eyes.."
"And?" Anirudh asked calmly.
"And... nowhere else..." Vandita murmured, she'd never lie, her barrister Babu never taught her to.
She was turning red in embarrassment.
"Vandita.. look at me. Have I kissed you on those places before as well infront of everyone?"
Vandita nodded her head in agreement.
"When?" Awnirudh asked.
"When I fell sick last year... and when I won the gold medal... and..."
"Have you ever seen me kissing Batuk the same way Vandita?" Awnirudh gave the final blow.
"Yes", Vandita replied feebly
"Then how was last night different?"
Awnirudh gave a final look to Vandita before turning towards his folks.
"And thus, I rest my case here." He proclaimed.
"Pack your bags Vandita Roy Choudhary. You have an early morning train to catch"
Awnirudh stormed out of the hall leaving a teary-eyed Vandita and rest of the family speechless.