~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~CHAPTER 3: SURRENDERING TO THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL TRUTH✨💫

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the post-wedding rituals of Anirudh-Manorama, both the newlywedded couples retire to their room. The room was immaculate—almost too immaculate. Every detail had been arranged with precision, as if curated for an audience rather than for the couple who now stood inside. The marigold garlands were fresh, the silk bedspread uncreased, the brass lamp glowing steadily. But the air lacked warmth. It was a stage, not a sanctuary.

The bed, a grand four-poster, was dressed in ivory and crimson silk, its canopy trimmed with zari. Two pillows lay side by side, untouched. A silver tray on the bedside table held the ceremonial glass of kesar milk, a bowl of paayesh, and a folded betel leaf—rituals that would remain untouched. The tray was for the servants to see, for the elders to nod approvingly. Not for the couple.

Manorama stood near the mirror, adjusting her bridal veil with practiced grace. Her saree—a deep maroon Benarasi—was flawless, her jewelry heavy with tradition. But her eyes held no anticipation. Only resolve. She knew her role: to be the symbol that allowed Bondita to step away from wifely expectations and into the world of learning, and also focus on her muhim.

Anirudh paced near the window, his kurta crisp, his expression unreadable. He hadn't looked at the bed. He hadn't looked at Manorama. His mind was elsewhere—perhaps with Bondita, perhaps with the weight of his own choices. The moonlight cast a pale glow on his face, making him look younger than his years.

The walls were bare, save for a single framed quote in Bengali script: "Shikskha hi mukti ka marg hai." Education is the path to freedom. Manorama had placed it there herself, quietly, defiantly.

The cupboard was half-filled—one side with Manorama's bridal garments, the other conspicuously empty. A symbolic partition. A reminder that this union was not real.

They had rehearsed this moment. They knew what to say if someone knocked. They knew how to smile when elders entered. But when the door closed, they exhaled—not as husband and wife, but as co-conspirators.

The room was beautiful. But it was hollow. A shell built to protect Bondita's future. A lie told with love.

Anirudh adjusted the folds of his dhoti, his gaze skimming across the bedspread, the untouched tray, the embroidered canopy. Then, to her, standing so composed, so dignified. Not a trace of complaint in her stance. Just a quiet readiness to play the part.

He exhaled.

"I'll be in the study," he said, his voice low but clear. "You should rest."

Manorama met his eyes briefly, her expression unreadable. But there was no hurt, no surprise—only mutual understanding.

He stepped toward the cupboard, picked up a book—not for reading, but for decency—and walked to the door. His hand lingered on the latch. Behind him, the silence pulsed.

"Thank you," she said softly, just as he turned. Not for leaving. But for knowing.

He nodded once. Then the door closed behind him with a quiet click, like the end of an act.

Anirudh stood before the brass basin, splashing his face with cool water. The scent of sandalwood soap lingered as he changed out of his ceremonial dhoti-kurta into a simple cotton kurta—one he wore during courtroom debates and study sessions. His gold watch glinted under the lantern light as he stepped into the study.

The room was stark compared to the wedding suite. No flowers. No silk. Just books, inkpots, and truths that didn't perform for anyone. He sank into the wooden sofa by the window, its upholstery faded but familiar. A gust of wind rustled the papers on his desk.

He leaned back, running a hand through his hair, the tension of the day finally unraveling. But quiet didn't mean peace.

Anirudh's inner voice appears.

Inner voice of Anirudh:-"Mil gaya tujhe tasali, mil gaya chain, meri pyaari bondita ka dil dukhaakhe haan."

Anirudh:-"Maine yeh sab kuch sirf isliye kiya thaaki ki woh padhayi pe dhyaan de sakhe aur.. uska mann shaadi se hatt jaye...Patni dharam ko bhool kar aapne padhaayi aur lakshya pe dhyaan dee."

Inner voice:-"Sach bata Anirudh,tujhe khushi nahi hoti jab bondita pyaare se tujhe khilaathi hai,uski nazar tujhe pyaar se nihaarthe hai,tujhe har baat tumse kehthi hai, even bade bade cases main bhi woh tumhari help karthi hai, toh woh sab jhooth hai kya Anirudh Bata??...

Anirudh: -"Khushi nahi balki bahut bahut bahut khush hota hun aur sukoon miltaa hai uske saath rehkar,dil mein sukoon rehtha hai jab main uske saath waqt guzaar tha hoon tho, jab woh rooti hai toh mera dil bhi maayus hoo jata hai, but mujhe darr hai ki kaii mere wajah se Bondita ka padhaayi aur ujwaal bhavishya main badha naa daale ..."

Inner Voice:-"Accha thikh hai Anirudh.Mann liya ki tumne Bondita ko Patni Dharam se dhyaan hata diya,maan lo Bondita padhaayi pe dhyaan dene lagi,chalo yeh bhi maan lo ki Bondita ne Tumhara aur Manorama ki Shaadi ko sweekar karliya,aur Bondita tayar hai Dalhousie jaane ke liye, Toh Anirudh mujhe yeh batao, tum bondita se dhoor reh paaoghe,bina usse mile,bina usse dekhee, bina uski awaaj ke bagaair,kyunki Bondita ne toh tumse baat karna hi bandh kiya hai jab se Tumhari aur Manorama se shaadi hua hai,toh Anirudh tum reh loghe bondita se dhoor,bondita se miloo dhoor reh paaoghe tum ????

Anirudh:-"Yeh tum kya bol rahe hoo, Bondita bhala aise kyun kareghi, aur hum baat karenghe naa,bondita aur main rooz baat karenghe naa,ek dusre kho chitti likhenghe,aur chuttiyon ke waqt toh bondita yaha aa hi sakthi hai naa toh hum dhoor kaise huee."

Inner Voice:-"Anirudh jiss tareekhe se chal raha hai mujhe nahi lagtha ki Bondita ab tumhare saath pehle jaise rahegi....Aur maano ki Woh chli gayi tumse dhoor,bina baat kiye,bina mile woh tumse dhoor Dalhousie jaayeghi,toh tum kya karoghe Anirudh.."

Fear creeps into Anirudh's mind, thinking of staying apart from his Shona, his Bondita

Anirudh:-"Woh jaayegi... Dalhousie mein admission ho gaya toh... sab kuch badal jaayega. Door ho jaayegi..."

Inner voice:-"Tu sach mein usse door bhej payega? Jaane dega? Uss sheher mein jahan koi uski baaton ko samajh bhi nahi payega?"

Anirudh;-"Main chahta hoon woh bade sapne dekhe. Yeh chhoti galiyan uske liye nahin..."

Inner voice:-"Badi Sapne? Aur tu maan ke chal agar bondita ko wahan koi mil gaya,koiusse samjhne waala mile,jab woh kisi aur ko apna sakha maane,jab woh kisi aur ko hi  apna sab kuch maane Anirudh ? Jab koi dusra uske sawalon ka jawab dene lage, uski muskaan ko samajhne lage?Toh tum kya karoghe Anirudh??"

Anirudh(angrily):-"Main Bondita ko Kisi aur ke paas jaane nahi dunga!"

Inner Voice:-"Aur tu kaun hai usse rokhne wala? Shaadi ka bandhan toh nibhaathe hi nahi. Farz ka parda daala hai... par andar kya hai?

Anirudh stands abruptly, pacing like a caged storm. His fingers tremble as he pulls open the drawer, revealing Bondita's dried jasmine flower, tucked between notes.

Anirudh(softly):-"Jab woh door hogi... main kaise rahunga? Uski awaaz... uske kadam... uski muskaan.....uski chanchalltha....sab iss haveli me hi reh jaayegha....uski yaadein bankar bas ghoonjthi hi raheghi iss haveli mein.."

Inner Voice (obsessive, raw):-"Tu uske bina jee hi nahi sakta. Tu uska har din chhoti chhoti baaton mein mehsoos karta hai. Uski muskaan, uska gussa, uska 'Pati Babu' kehna,Uski shararateein,uski chanchaltha,ucki maasoomiyaat ,uska pyaar sab kuch, sab kuch —tere rom rom mein basa hai.

Anirudh (panting, possessive):-"Bondita sirf aur sirf meri hai... meri zimmedari... mera pyaar. Main uska khayal rakhta hoon, uske liye duniya se ladta hoon..."

Inner Voice (quiet, deadly calm):-"Zimmedari kehke tu pyaar chhupa raha hai. Sach bol—tu junoon mein jeeta hai uske liye. Tu chahta hai woh tere alawa kisi aur ki taraf naa jaayein,kisi aur ko apna sab kuch naa maan lee , na mile, na baat kare, na muskuraye."

Anirudh collapses into the sofa, shoulders shaking, breath ragged. The slate slips from his grip and falls, chalk cracking like a verdict.

Anirudh (whispers fearfully):-"Mujhe darr lagta hai,dil ghabra jatha hai... agar woh chali gayi toh... mere paas kya hi bachega? Sirf yeh haveli... aur uski yaadein?

Inner Voice (softer now, devastatingly true):-"Tu usse chhod sakta hai duniya ke liye... par tu khud se usse kabhi chhodh hi nahi sakta. Tu usse chahta hai... bepanah mohabbat se... junoon se. Har tareeke se."

Silence.

Anirudh stares at the cracked chalk. The air tastes of rosewater from her room. Somewhere nearby, Bondita hums softly to herself.

Anirudh (finally surrendering):-"Haan.Main Bondita se beintehaa mohabbat kartha hun,bahut pyaar kartha hoon meri Bondita se. Main pagal hoon uske liye. Obsessed. Possessive. Agar woh door gayi toh main bikhar jaunga. Toot jaaungha main uske bina, main akela reh jaaungha aur Yeh sach hai,yahi sach hai ki main pyaar kartha hun Bondita Se, I LOVEEE YOUU BONDITA, I LOVE YOU MERI SHONAA......." 

He stands up, a quiet resolve forming around his trembling breath. His Inner voice disappears...

Anirudh (determined):-"Main usse aise jaane nahi dunga aise... Pehle humara rishtey ko tikh karna hoga... Sabse pehle main  Bondita se maafi maangungaa uska dil dhukhaane ke lie , usse sab kuch sach batha dungha,usko sach bhi batha dunga,aur Main Bondita ko aapne dil ki baat bhi batadungha,apne pyaar ka izhaar karungha" 

The study lamp burns brighter now.

The study room was thick with the residue of confession.

The broken chalk lay beside the slate, words half-written, his breath still uneven. The ink in the pot had dried at the edges, like it had held its breath with him. Anirudh sat motionless, staring at the scribbles that tried—and failed—to capture what his heart had screamed.

His kurta clung damp against his skin, yet he didn't move.

The lantern swayed faintly, as if nodding to his decision.

"I'm madly in love with her," he'd said.

Not to anyone. Not to the world. But to himself—and that was louder than any vow spoken aloud.

The old sofa groaned under his weight as he collapsed into it, spine curving, fingers still stained with chalk dust. The cotton pillow at the armrest smelled faintly of sandalwood and old books—nothing like her, yet somehow still comforting. He didn't change position. Didn't close the lantern.

He whispered(softly)-"Meri Bondita.....My Shona....My Baby Girl...."

His eyes fluttered shut—reluctantly, like pages unwilling to close. And for the first time, sleep didn't come from exhaustion.

It came from surrender

~~~~~~~~~~~~~THE END OF CHAPTER 3:SURRENDERING TO THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL TRUTH✨💫~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's the end of Chapter 3

Heyyyaaa Loveliessssssss and sweetttiesssss 😍😘

I am extremely sorry for the late update. I apologize for the delay, as my workload and night shifts were hectic, and I wasn't able to update the chapter due to my ongoing schedule. Sorry for it

So kaise laga humare yeh new version Anirudh Roy Chaudhary, I hope I am coming up to the mark and doing justice for the chapter as well as characters too, the way they deserve..

Also, this story book has reached 500 views 😍😍😍😍✨✨🥰🥰🥰🥰🤗🤗🤩🤩🎉🎉🎉🎉🧨🧨🧨🧨🎆🎆🎆🎆🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊Thanking each one of you (including silent viewers) for supporting this story and loving this story ............. Really really , thanks a lot to my lovely readers, without you all, it would have been impossible to reach here 

DO VOTE, COMMENT, AND SHARE THIS CHAPTER :)

STAY TUNED FOR THE UPCOMING THRILLING, LOVELY PLOTS AND TWISTS ;)