Continued from the previous part

The Roy Chaudhary haveli hummed with an unfamiliar, yet welcome, symphony of sounds. Not the usual quiet of a barrister's home, but the cheerful clatter of preparations for Somnath and Anishka's wedding.
Marigold garlands, vibrant and fragrant, were already beginning to adorn the doorways, their golden hue promising festivities.

Bondita was at the heart of it all, her boundless energy infectious. She flitted between the women discussing fabric swatches, offering suggestions for sweets, and even playfully instructing a hesitant servant on where to hang the next string of lights. A radiant smile was plastered on her face, a stark contrast to the previous day's courtroom intensity.

Anirudh watched her from the arched corridor, a soft, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. Her enthusiasm was a breath of fresh air, a testament to her ability to embrace joy even with the weight of her first legal battle looming.

He found himself walking towards her, drawn by her warmth.

Anirudh: lagta h ki Barrister Bondita k pass naya case h solve karne k liye
Anirudh teased gently as he reached her, discreetly adjusting a crooked garland above her head

Bondita chuckled, her eyes sparkling
Bondita:Pati Babu! Aap hi bataiye ki koi kaise khush nahi ho sakta,shaadi ho rahi h...do dil, do parivaar ek hone wale h aur kya ye khushi ki baat nahi h
She glanced at him, a silent question in her eyes that spoke volumes about their own burgeoning bond

Just then, Trilochan Kaka walked by, overseeing the delivery of a large trunk

Kaksasurji: Hmm..Bahu, kehna padega tum bihot acche se saari taiyaari sambhal rahi ho...dekh kar man khush ho gaya
He gave a gruff but approving nod
Kaksasurji: lekin bahu dhyan rakhna...kisi bhi cheez m koi kami nahi honi chaiye, Roy Choudhary ki haveli m shaadi h...kisi gaon ka mela thodi

Bondita nodded
Bondita:Ji KakaSasurji, sab kuch theek vaisa hi hoga jaisa aap chahte h... Anishka aur Som dada k khas din m koi bhi kami nahi aane dungi mein

Meanwhile, hidden away in her room, a different kind of preparation was underway. Sampurna, her hand still bandaged, watched the distant bustle of the haveli from her window. The sounds of laughter and the vibrant colours of the decorations grated on her nerves like sandpaper. She saw Bondita's bright, animated figure moving through the crowd, laughing with Anishka, and a bitter taste filled her mouth.
Sampurna: khushi? Kya khushi dekhi h maine jabse Bondita ki shaadi chote malik se hui h

Sampurna muttered to herself, her voice a low hiss.
Sampurna:sab Bondita ki itni tareef karte h...us haveli m uski itni izzat h, uske barrister baane k baad se toh use lagta h ki usne sab kuch hasil kar liya...use lagta hai ki mukadma do mahine baad ladne se woh jeet jayegi?? Do mahine bohot jyada samay h, itna jyada ki sabko mere dard ka ehsaas hoga aur Bondita ki asli jagah...ek vidhva ki beti...use Barrister banke ladna hai na, ab woh ye chahegi ki kaash usne ye shabd kabhi suna hi na hota

Her eyes narrowed, a cold, calculating glint replacing the usual self-pity. She clenched her bandaged fist, the slight throb in her hand a grim reminder of her self-inflicted wound, and a dangerous resolve hardened her features

The next day, Bondita and Anishka were amidst the lively chaos of the Tulsipur market, accompanied by Koeli and a few other haveli staff. The air was thick with the scent of spices and fresh fabric.

Anishka, new to the Tulsipur market, clung to Bondita's arm, overwhelmed by the choices
Anishka:Bondita
Anishka whispered nervously, holding up a shimmering saree.

Anishka: tumhe lagta h ki Somnath ko ye saree pasand aayegi?? Agar ye colour mujhpe accha hi nahi laga toh...aur ye saree...agar m isme gir gayi toh

Bondita gently squeezed her hand
Bondita:Anishka, Som dada ko woh sab pasand aayega jo tum pehnogi kyuki aakhir rahogi toh tum unki Anishka hi na...aur rahi baat tumhare girne ki toh Som dada tumhe girne hi nahi denge...woh bhi tumhe vaise hi sambhal lenge jaise pati babu hamesha mujhe sambhal lete h

As they moved towards a stall displaying sparkling bangles, a group of village women near them began to whisper

Woman1:Dekho, yeh Roy Choudhary ki Bahu hai... wahi jo ab kachehri mein mukadme ladegi

Woman2: Haa, Aur woh bhi apni hi behen ke sasural ke khilaaf

Woman3: wahi toh...Itni himmat isme isliye h kyuki chote malik iske saath h warna toh isme itni himmat kaha se hoti... Samaj ka kya hi hoga...agar Pati hi apni Patni ko ye sab sikha raha h toh kya kare....

Anishka heard the murmurs and flinched slightly
Anishka:Bondita, woh log tujhe ghur rahe h

Bondita, however, remained unfazed. She picked up a set of green glass bangles, examining them with feigned interest
Bondita: ghurne do unhe Anishka, aakhir unke ghurne se sach ruk ya badal toh nahi jayega na...ab ye bata ki in sab m se tujhe konsi pasand aayi??
Her calm demeanor seemed to diffuse the tension

Just then, Anirudh's familiar voice cut through the market chatter
Anirudh:Bondita, Anishka, sab le liya tum dono ne?? Motor Motorgadi intezaar kar rahi h

His presence was like a shield; the gossiping women immediately averted their gazes or quickly dispersed. Anirudh gave Bondita a quick, knowing look, a silent acknowledgement of her resilience

Late that evening, after the haveli had finally quieted down, Anirudh found Bondita on the balcony overlooking the softly lit courtyard. She was tracing patterns on the railing, lost in thought. The sounds of the day's preparations still lingered in the air, a faint echo of joy

Anirudh: thak gayi?
Anirudh asked softly, coming to stand beside her

Bondita sighed, a soft sound Bondita: Thodi si Pati Babu, bohot ajeeb si bhawna h, Som dada aur Anishka k liye bohot khush hu m lekin phir bhi jo Sampurna didi k saath hua, unki udaasi, unka dard, unki takleef..ek bhari pathar ki tarah h jise m hata hi nahi pa rahi hu

Anirudh gently placed a hand on her arm, his touch warm and reassuring
Anirudh: tum sara bojh ek saath nahi utha sakti Bondita, tum apni behen k liye lad rahi ho..ye bohot acchi baat h lekij iska matlab ye nahi ki tum uske liye khud ko bhul jao..apni khushiyon par dhyan do...jo sirf tumhare hone se h...jaise ye shaadi...agar tum na hoti toh shayad Som aur Anishka kabhi mil bhi nahi paate....jaise tumhare hone se is ghar ki khushiyan h..jaise tumhare bas hone se mere jeevan m itni khushiyan h...

Bondita looked up at him, her eyes glistening slightly, a soft smile blooming
Bondita:Aur aap Pati Babu, Meri khushi hamesha aapse judi h, is ghar se...is parivaar se...aap mere saath h na?

Anirudh's smile deepened. He gently leaned down and placed a light peck on her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment
Anirudh:Hamesha,Aur hamara vada yaad hai na? Chahe kuch bhi ho, hum har mushkil ka saamna saath karenge..

Soon, The wedding day arrived, a spectacle of vibrant colours, joyous music, and traditional rituals. The Roy Choudhary haveli was transformed into a beacon of festivity, every corner glowing with lamps and adorned with flowers.

Somnath, looking handsome and slightly nervous, performed the rituals with Anishka, whose shy smiles belied a quiet happiness.
His look 👇

The mandap shimmered under the countless lamps, the air thick with the scent of incense and blooming jasmine. Somnath and Anishka sat before the sacred fire, their hearts thrumming with a mix of anticipation and nerves. The priest, a jovial old man, was guiding them through phere

Panditji: Pehla phera... dharm aur maryada ka
the priest chanted, instructing them

Anishka's look 👇

As Anishka, taking the lead, started to move, her beautiful bridal lehenga snagged slightly on a loose piece of fabric on the ground. She stumbled, just a tiny bit, but enough to bring a gasp to her lips. Before she could truly fall, Somnath's hand shot out, steadying her by her elbow

Somnath: dekh ke nahi chal sakti kya, Anishka?
Somnath whispered, though his tone held more affection than true annoyance

Anishka pulled her elbow back with a playful huff
Anishka: Arrey, aapke liye hi toh thokar kha rahi thi, Somnath jiiii...Dhyaan mera bhi aap par hi tha!

Somnath chuckled, shaking his head
Somnath: Toh phir theek se dhyaan rakho na, ab se toh humara naam bhi aapke saath judega...Log kya kahenge, ki Somnath Roy Choudhary ki patni pehle hi phere mein gir gayi?

Anishka's eyes twinkled as she leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially
Anishka: Toh aur achha hai na? Sabko pata chalega ki mere Somnath jii...kitne jyada strong hain, jinhone apni patni ko girne se bachaya

Somnath rolled his eyes good-naturedly, but a wide smile stretched across his face
Somnath:Badi tez ho tum. Ab chalo, dhyaan se agla phera lo

Anishka: soch lijiye Somnath Roy Choudhary...agar ek baar shaadi ho gayi toh chorne Wali nahi hu m..

Somnath smiled
Somnath: agar aapse picha churwana hota toh aapke saath phere thodi le raha hota

Anishka: pakka na?

Somnath: sau taka...ab chaliye agla phera lijiye

Anishka just winked at him before taking the next step, a tiny, triumphant smirk playing on her lips, making Somnath shake his head again, but this time, with an even softer, more enamored smile

Bondita's look 👇

Anirudh's look 👇

Trilochan Kaka, who had been observing the rituals with keen focus, suddenly let out a small, exasperated sigh. He leaned towards Binoy, who stood beside him

KakaSasurji:Dekha Binoy?
Kaka whispered, shaking his head slightly

KakaSasurji: Mandap mein bhi yeh bacche nok-jhok kar rahe hain. Hamare zamane mein toh dulha-dulhan sharam se ek doosre ki taraf dekhte bhi nahi the! Yeh naye zamaane ke bacche... maryada ka toh gyan hi nahi!

Binoy, ever the pragmatist, simply offered a small, knowing smirk
Binoy: Samay badal raha hai, Dada. Rishte bhi badal rahe hain. Shayad isi mein unki khushi hai

Kaka just grumbled softly, adjusting his shawl, still unable to fully comprehend this overt display of affection, yet a flicker of warmth in his eyes betrayed his true feelings

Anirudh and Bondita, standing a little further back, exchanged a quiet smile, a shared understanding of Kaka's predictable, yet endearing, reaction. Bondita even let out a soft giggle, quickly covering her mouth with her hand

Anirudh stood with Bondita, watching the sacred fire flicker, their hands subtly brushing as they stood side by side

Bondita: Dekhiye na, Pati Babu..

Bondita whispered, her voice filled with warmth
Bondita:Kitne khush lag rahe hain, Dugga Maa inke Milan ko sada sukhi rakhe

Anirudh squeezed her hand gently, his gaze fixed on the newly wedded couple

Anirudh: sach m Bondita...Dugga ma inke pyar ko kisi ki nazar na lagne de

As the evening wore on, amidst the celebratory chaos, a lone figure stood in the shadows of an archway, watching the festivities with cold, unblinking eyes. Sampurna. Her face was a mask of bitterness, untouched by the joy around her. She saw Bondita smiling, laughing, a vibrant part of the family she felt had abandoned her. The two months until the court date seemed a lifetime away, but for Sampurna, it was enough time. Enough time to ensure that Bondita's newfound happiness would not last.
The wedding may have been a celebration, but for Sampurna, it was merely the calm before the storm she intended to unleash

To be continued....

Hope you liked it!
Don't forget to comment down your views!!

Also...you guys want a focus on love story of Anidita or a big twist between them??...

●Thanks for reading!●