The Next Day:

Koustav was having his breakfast when the door bell rang. Titli was in her school. Rest of the family members except Ria were busy in cleaning the room of Namit. Seeing everyone busy Koustav was going to leave his food midway and open the door.Ria gestured Koustav to eat while she stopped packing Koustav's lunchbox and opened the door.Seeing her Namit smiled. Standing aside, she made the way for them to enter the house. There was not much luggage. Niloy was sleeping,Nilima patted her shoulder and smiled too.

Hearing them coming, Mita came out of the room too. They went inside that room straight. Koustav continued to eat, he didn't even looked at Nilima. Ria resumed her packing. She sat opposite Koustav with her own bowl too. He suddenly told her in low voice, "I've kept my things in that room, set them aside while you study.....I could not inform you before,as you were sleeping."

"Ok, Do you need anything else? ",replied Ria to which Koustav only nodded a no.

Pointing the lunch box, Ria pushed it towards his plate. As he finished his eating, she took the plate and bowl up. "Avoid her as much as you can", he said in a low voice and started knotting his shoe laces.

Then bidding her bye he left for office. Ria knew she could not be able to concentrate here fully today, so she called her mother to check if she was home now. Luckily she was home alone too.

Ria made her bag ready with books,and came downstairs to inform her MIL, that she would return in the evening. Mita was busy herself, plus she knew Nilima's nature, so said her to go and return early.

Within 5 minutes,Ria was back to her home. Her mother was inside the kitchen, she called her from there. Keeping the bag on a chair, she entered the kitchen. Her mother was preparing to cook crab curry. Ria's favourite thing from childhood was seeing her mother cooking the crabs, how each paste of spices changed their aromas after they got mixed with the hot mustard oil. Ria's mouth watered. She forgot about studying ,rather stood there the whole time seeing her mother.

Looking at her ,Soma smiled and said, "You know, I didn't cooked for myself today.Who wants to cook for only herself?.....As I heard you are coming, I sent Moni to buy these....I know you haven't eaten it in days."

"Koustav's father is allergetic to crabs....so no one cooks it there", Ria said still looking at the red curry.

The mother-daughter duo then devoured the dish. At the end of eating, Ria was feeling full. Soma also had a habit of taking naps in the afternoon. So Ria came to her room, she stretched herself for sometime in the bed, scrawled some fb,checked group messages. She then got up from her bef and sat to study. In the evening again Soma came to her room to find her studying.

Ria had not noticed it was already 7 pm. The idea of coming here proved to be a good one. Both her mood and preparations were well now.

Hearing the door bell ringing, she glanced at her watch to see it was 7:30 already. She expected it to be her father or Tuhin. But she heard nothing anymore. It was getting late too, so she packed her books and came downstairs.

To her surprise,Koustav was sitting on the chair. Soma was talking to her. Seeing her getting down,Koustav looked at her.

Ria knew something was off. She calmly asked, "Want some tea?" and offered him a glass of water.

Gulping down the full glass, Koustav nodded in reply and continued chatting with Ria's mother.

Ria kept overhearing the chat while making tea. Soma was busy in telling him how the wedding shopping was progressing. Only a little time they had in their hands.

Ria kept the cups in front of them, Koustav took it. Soma went inside the kitchen when Ria got the chance and gathered her courage to ask,"Are you alright?"

In between his sips, Koustav answered,"When did you come here?"

"Before lunch....half an hour later after you left for office.",she replied and picked up the used cups.

"From next time inform me too,if you are going somewhere.....I don't want to know about you from some outsider.",his deep voice boomed.

"I was just here....5 minutes away.....in my own home,Koustav,plus I asked your mother before leaving." ,Ria answered back suppressing her sudden erge of crying.

Those two or three droplets that overflew her eyes were noticed by him.Picking her bag too Koustav stood up from his seat."Get ready, its getting late, we need to return", saying it from behind he went to say hello to Ria's father who just returned home.

Ria knew this thing was going to happen, his moods and his words both were too tough for her to handle.

Wiping her face, she kept another cup in front of her father and after hugging her parents she followed Koustav. Koustav spoke not a word on the way back.

The house was silent as they reached here. Koustav sat up on a stool to open his shoes, slowly taking her bag from his back, Ria went upstairs. Koustav did not refuse or stopped her. So much were in her head, she was dying to ask him about sudden change of behaviour. She remained silent.

She knew if she dragged this topic,it would only hamper her exam next day. She thought ignoring everything would be the wisest way.

Reaching her room, she could not find Titli. Setting an early morning alarm,dimming the room light,she entered the washroom. The time she got to prepare her topics made the last paper next day easier for her. Getting out of the washroom, she kept her clothes in the washing bag and unfolded the tucked bed-sheet and slept.

Perhaps she was in deep slumber,when she heard someone pulling or shaking her hand, but she couldn't open her eyes, neither recognise the voice.

_________________________________________

The phone alarm blared and woke Ria up. Ria switched it off and checked the time. It was 2:45 am. She was feeling fresh.She mentally calculated she had 6 hours straight for studying. She hurriedly completed her morning business and came out to study on the table. In order to not wake Titli,she switched on the table lamp.

She had planned,she would leave the house early today. Around 5:45 ,she heard the door next to her room getting opened. Her heartbeats increased when she heard footsteps near her door.

Shrugging away all her thoughts, she resumed her studies.

Around 8:15,she texted Romy that she was coming to her pg in half an hour,then she got downstairs, getting fully ready to leave for exams.Nilima and her MIL were in kitchen today. They were starting to say something regarding her early leaving. Grabbing an apple,she took out a bottle from the fridge.She just lied that she left some important notes carelessly near Romy.

Hearing her words,her FIL kept his newspaper and went out with her, to make sure she gets an auto.

As she caught a bus, her phone started vibrating. Koustav's name flashed on the screen, she hesitated about answering his call or not. Then her poor heart decided to pick it up.

His voice was not rude like yesterday,instead it had some concern today. Ria lied to him too. Before ending the call, he told her to wait for him .

The time from reaching to Romy's place,to the end of her exam passed in a blur. Ria took more time than Romy for exiting the examination hall as the invigilator was quite slow himself. Coming out, she met a smiling Romy. She informed her that Koustav was already here.

Seeing him , Ria walked towards him with Romy beside her. Ria and Romy went to local tea-stall,Koustav followed them. They ate while he just smoked.

Soon Romy left. They got inside the car,

Koustav: How was your exam?

Ria: It was better.

Koustav: Ma said, you left today without eating anything.

Ria: I was in hurry. I had to pick my notes.

Koustav: Titli and I tried to wake you up last night. You skipped your dinner too.

Ria:I was tired perhaps! I can't remember anything.

Koustav:You didn't even inform me about leaving that early too. I got up earlier today. I may have dropped you.

Ria: Why do you care?

Ria's face had a sad smile asking this question. Koustav looked towards her, gave a curt smile,and said,"Lets get some lunch. Over there, we'll discuss"

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