The rest of the day went as usual. Mita strictly forbade Ria to enter the kitchen,when she came to know about her exams during dinner. Ria was feeling tired,she might have fallen asleep beside her pile of notes and books if Titli had not dragged her downstairs to eat.

Ria was too sleepy to notice anyone after finishing her dinner. Bidding good night to everyone, she went to her room.

Koustav took the photograph upstairs. He sat down on the chair and started to pack the photograph with a newspaper and kept that in its proper place..he kept looking the photographs he clicked of her on his laptop. Strangely only good things about her were coming in his mind. Previously, on this day every year the horrific memories started to reel over and over inside his mind.

The night passed that way....

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It was the alarm that woke her up. She checked, it was 4 in the morning. Hurriedly Ria got inside the washroom to splash some water on her face, to get rid of the sleepiness. Ria was on study leave. The next day was the first day of her exams. Putting the phone on silent mode she started looking through the notes.

The calmness of this time was really helping her to keep things in her memory. After one and half hours, continuous yawns were making her eyes close automatically, re-reading the same stanzas made her realise that a strong cup of tea would be her saviour right at this moment.

She switched off her table lamp before leaving for making tea. While she was getting down the stairs, clattering sounds coming from the kitchen caught her attention.

Koustav was making tea, seeing her he poured her a cup too, and picked up his to take a sip.

Mumbling a good morning, Ria took the cup in her hands and said,"How did you know I was up?"

Koustav: Good Morning! I saw your room light on! Knew you were up.

Ria: Oh!

Koustav: How are your preparations going on?

Ria: usual.....nothing great.

Koustav: Just concentrate on your studies now! Other things can wait. Feel free to tell me if you need any help.

Ria: I'll......you know, I was going to ask you for the analysis part.

Koustav: Ok! I'll see what I can do.

Ria: who removed her photo from table?

Koustav: I picked the photo up last night. Did you say anything to Ma?

Ria: regarding?

Koustav breathed a small sigh and took Rik's name.

Ria: Yes.....she could tell me.....I agreed to this marriage....especially chose you knowing the whole scenario. Keeping that part hidden from me, was of no use. It made me more guilty.....more frustrated of this situation.

Koustav paused for a moment, then nodded his head. He was taking the final sip of his tea.

Koustav: what situation?

Ria: our situation. You confuse me sometimes! I don't know in what place I am right now?

Koustav: I trust you. Not everyone of your age can be so considerate or sensible like you...even I was not at 21. You are you.

Ria( knowing the conversation going nowhere): So when are you returning today?

Koustav:6:30 ish. I think, the room is not great for studies with Titli....why don't you use the room beside as your study.

Ria: Ma told me, it was yours...plus I'm not having any problem with Titli.

Koustav: I have seen how noisy and disturbing Titli can be....so I'll clear my bookshelf and make the room suitable for your studies....

Ria: Let it be....I don't think I have time for that now.

Koustav: I'll do it myself.

Putting the cups in the sink, Ria went to her room. The only time she came downstairs was lunch time. Meanwhile, Titli and Koustav had left....Time flew by and evening arrived.

Both the older couples and Titli had gone for Puja shopping, while Ria was studying in the hall. Binni was in charge of dinner today. Koustav entered the house around 7:45. Ria saw him coming towards her, he pulled a chair and sat opposite the sofa.

"Show me your notes! How are your preps going on?", Ria heard him saying. Answering "alright." ,she passed him the notes and herself was going to climb down the sofa to fetch water or some refreshments for Koustav. " Stay here!", his voice stopped her and called Binni to bring tea.

This was not the first time for Ria as Koustav used to help her in maths years ago. But some things never change. Just after a few minutes of going through the chapters, Koustav protrayed the whole thing like it was super easy. Nodding her head like a kid, Ria gestured as if she had understood everything. But studying with Koustav before and now had been totally different.Before she used to search for the toughest numerical problems in her books, so that she could be near him for some time more and that used to work both ways, she had started to score well and other purpose was also getting fulfilled. And now all she could concentrate on was him, why there was no lunch box with him today or how tired he looked, why Binni had not given him water yet, zero attention was her mind paying on what Koustav was saying........in her mind, Ria knew the exam next day was going to be awful. So she slipped past Koustav's staring eyes and went inside kitchen and fetched him water. Binni followed her with cups of tea.

Shrugging, he gulped the water and sat with the cup. Then, before going upstairs, Koustav suddenly told her, "Just tell me your reporting time, exam dates....I'll go with you".

"You don't need to. I already told Tuhin da",Ria replied in a low voice.

"I'll talk with him....go, study now!", he sternly said chugging down rest of the tea. Then he picked up his bag and went upstairs.

Not knowing what to do, Ria started to revising her notes...... Koustav did not get down until his father called him after they returned home. Keeping her books aside, she took the bags from them and kept all those inside their rooms.

As everone was hungry, Dinner was served shortly after. Binni was staying tonight here as Koustav's mother asked her to. Titli was eager to show Ria what she had bought for puja. Ria's phone beeped indicating an arrival of message.

The whole thing made sense to Ria. Replying an okay, she resumed eating.She could sense Koustav's mood suddenly had changed as she didn't saw Koustav to budge or look towards her.

Then they gathered in Mita's room to see what they shopped. Titli left early to sleep. It was getting late for Ria too, she still had to revise some more. Seeing her in deep thoughts, Sumit then announced the bumper news that his brother Namit called earlier today to inform that he and his family were coming to live her for somedays after pujo.

Sumit was going to say some more news, but his wife stopped and asked Ria to go upstairs for studying. While going upstairs Ria heard Koustav's voice. He was talking to someone over phone in a high pitched voice. Not stopping,she went inside her room and sat to revise.

One and half hours later, she heard the door of the next room being opened.She knew who it was. Ria had already experienced the angry version of Koustav, she had no desire either to re-experience that or kill her time.

Around 3 am, she slept putting an alarm for the next morning.

The next morning was quite uneventful for Ria until, Koustav came at her room. She stopped packing her ids and calculator and looked at him.

"When are we starting for your university?",asked Koustav. It seemed that he wanted to say something more but stopped.

"Whenever you say! I'm almost done.", replied Ria and resumed packing.

"Meet me in 20 minutes, downstairs."

To his words, Koustav was sitting on dining table having some breakfast, Ria joined him too.

Mita fed her some sweet curd before she left the home. Today Koustav was driving himself. So Ria had to sit in front.

The conversation started with Koustav's clearing his voice, then

Koustav: You were up that late last night!

Ria: How do you know that?

Koustav: I was at the room beside yours. During the day, I don't get time, so I took the time to clean and organise it as your study. Plus they are coming.....

Ria: Should I go to my home when they come here?

Koustav: You already are at your home.

This statement made Ria's heart stop for a moment. She blinked her eyes a few times not knowing what to say next.

Ria: Thanks! But what if she says something again? It's better if I stay out of it. Then I along with your parents have to face your rage.

Then she added smiling....

Koustav: We'll handle her this time.Do I bother anyone?

He asked giving a slight smile. His eyes were on the road.

Ria: Yes,everyone!

She replied smiling back.

Koustav: Then how much do I bother you?

The atmosphere inside the car was getting too hot for her to handle. Her inside was screaming ,"why all of these were happening right now? Couldn't you tell me these words some other time? "

Ria: A lot.

She answered and turned her head to her already opened book on lap.

That conversation ended there.

Then the car reached her university, Ria left the car ,bidding a bye to him. He nodded and left after saying,

Ria entered the premises hurriedly after his car took the next turn.

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Hey lovelies, thanks for being here. Do vote,comment and share if you like the chapter. Voice your thoughts to me. Take care. Stay safe. Be happy. ♥️♥️♥️♥️