With a knock on the door Ria woke up. She got up from her bed,put on a long kurti and reached the door. Opening it, she saw her MIL standing there. Mita was going to say something ,then she paused for a second and a grin appeared on her lips. Out of nowhere, she hugged her and Ria was stunned. "Me and your Baba are going to relative's house. You two manage for a day without us.As it is Sunday, Binni won't be coming today too. Don't cook anything for us",said Mita and turned back.

"What about Kaku(Uncle) and Kakima(Aunt)?",Ria asked. Her head was throbbing by now.

"I'm taking them all with me.",she said before leaving.

After a few moments,Ria locked her door. There was no light coming in the room from outside. She checked the time,it was 6:15 am. Soft snores of Koustav filled the room. She went near the bed,her body was craving for some more rest by now. Gulping down some water, Ria got under the cover and lied down.

As once she had waken up already, her sleep was not smooth anymore. She could notice some movements beside her. She was opening and closing her eyes many times.Her breathing got erratic when his warm hand found its way to her waist.Slowly he made her closer to himself and she slept again in his warmth.

It was 10 am, when Ria felt herself shaken by someone. With a shock she opened her eyes and saw Koustav sitting in front of her with two cups of tea. The packet of her favourite mulberry cookies were beside too.

"Good Morning! ",Koustav said and picked up his cup. Greeting him back Ria took the packet first and teared it open. While sipping down his tea, he was stealing glances of her. Ria had a strange feeling. Her own cliche feelings were irritating herself. Huffing a sigh, she looked at him and caught him glancing.

"You know,Ma came in the morning. They have gone to one of your relative's house!" Ria told in between her cookie munching session.

Koustav nodded and kept looking at her. Ria arched her brows at him to know what had happened.

"Just seeing, are you alright?" Koustav replied before taking the tray down from their bed. At this, she smiled and said nothing. She had no intention to tell him about her body-ache. Her inner-self was saying her," Be mature! You know,these things happen. Don't behave like an immature teen. "

So getting charged after her self-talk, she asked," Are you okay? Are you comfortable with...with our intimacy? " To which Koustav furrowed his brows. Catching her tongue, Ria added," I mean you have had some serious issues earlier. You could not even be in the same room with me for a moment less than three months ago......Basically, what I am trying to say, are you feeling good or in a better way, are you happy?".

In the answer,Koustav came closer to her and made her chin up. Her brown orbs made him loose his sanity. He grabbed her in a bone crushing hug.Through her hairs,his lips touched her earlobes ,taking his time he whispered, "This is my one answer to all of your questions. Is this closeness not enough for you to stop fumbling with words in front of me?"

Slowly Koustav felt her small hands on his back. She was finally hugging him back. After what felt like hours, she freed herself from his grip and reached the washroom. The nice warm shower gave her the much needed soothing. She entered the room and made him go to the washroom. While she put the used clothes and sheets into the washing machine, Koustav finished his shower.

She ended up cleaning the room in between. Getting out of house, Koustav bought groceries and meat for preparing lunch. Working just for a few minutes was making Ria tired today.

Seeing her in this state, Koustav took the washed clothes from her hands,"Let me do it.....you need time to cope with" and left for roof to dry the clothes.

Ignoring her phone's ring, Ria started to cook fast as the time for lunch was nearing. Koustav took her phone along with him while climbing down. He never wanted to invade her privacy so he kept it on the counter and went looking for some chocolates in the fridge.

Putting the pan on the flame, Ria was relieved to see her work was half-done. Taking up the phone she saw those calls were from Romy. For some days she was thinking of calling her,but got no chance of doing it in real.

She was going to tap on the call button, then a message arrived,

She then replied fast,

Seeing this message and replying a quick bye, Ria kept down her phone.

Her dishes were almost done, when Koustav's fingers holding a piece of chocolate appeared in front of her. Happily she opened her mouth to eat that. But she got chills when his fingers trailed the outlines of her lips. Then he applied some molten chocolates onto them.With her mouthful of chocolate ,she kept smiling and telling him about the flame being on. Being stopped Koustav put off the flame and carried her to their bedroom to finish the work he had started.

Lunch was obviously served at around 2 in the afternoon. Both were satiated by now. After taking a nap, they were getting ready for his office party. Ria looked gorgeous in her saree. Koustav's colleagues and his other stuffs kept oggling at her. Her simplicity and authentic choice of dressing made her shine like a diamond among all other ladies.

Ria was stunned that how Koustav was conversing and tackling anyone who dared to compare her and his deceased wife.

To ignore any further hurtful situation, Ria lied to Koustav about her not feeling well. While getting out of the venue he looked relieved too.

They sat in the car and it started.Some soft music playing inside. Breaking that peaceful environment Koustav declared" I have a news!"

"What news?"Ria asked smiling. She thought it to be related to something good.

Giving her a bigger smile he said," I got my dream offer.I'm going to meet some of my dream investors in Guwahati next week. I'll be away for 7-8 days."

To Ria,it felt like someone had pulled something inside her. She stayed numb. She turned towards Koustav to find him happily driving the car. Thankfully her hair was down today,so she kept her head tilted towards the window. One by one drops of tears started gathering in her eyes and blocking her vision. It felt like she started to relive that pain when she saw his wedding card in her house. He was going away from her once again,not even trying knowing what she wanted.

Suddenly the car stopped. Unfastening his sitbelt, he asked, "What do you want to have for dinner?"

Stopping her sniffle,she replied,"I'm not feeling well. You eat whatever you want to eat. Can I just go and sleep?"

Sensing the coldness in her tone, Koustav sensed her mood was off. He again started the car and reached home.

He was parking it, she was sitting like before. While he climbed down the car, she opened her side of gate and came down too. She did not stop and wait for him like other days.

Koustav sped up his pace, looking her going. The moments seemed to Ria not passing, the feeling she had was suffocating her. The fear of losing him,being away of him had gripped her badly.

When Koustav saw her not stopping for serving him dinner, he finally asked,"What has happened to you? Why are you upset? "

Ria- Who is upset?

Koustav-you are upset. It is clearly written all over your face.

Ria-Oh! I didn't know that.

Koustav- Stop playing smart. Tell me.....I don't feel good to see you in this state. Tell me what is bothering you.

Bringing out a plate for him, Ria started to serve him dinner. She placed it in front of him and looked at his eyes.

Ria-what will you do?

Koustav- I will do whatever I can to fix it.

Koustav started to mix the rice with curry ,while Ria went inside the kitchen to grab a glass of water for her.

Ria-Then don't go. Don't leave me once again.

Koustav-Who is leaving whom?

Ria - YOU. ME

Koustav- I'm going for just a week. Be mature Ria. It is my dream project. I'm waiting for this really long. You will not understand. You don't work....that's why.

Those words kicked her in her gutts. She got to know no words of her can tame him. Ria gulped down some water and started to move towards the stairs.She turned towards him once,

Ria-Listen Koustav, I'm waiting for you too.....from the very first day I saw you.

And I'll never put my work before you in near future. Keep the plates in sink.

Good night.

And with tears in her eyes, she went to her room.

Being dumb, Koustav sat with his plate.

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Hey loves! Thanks for being here. DO VOTE,COMMENT AND SHARE this book. I'd love to know your suggestions regarding this book. Keep loving this book. Stay safe.Be happy. Take care.♥️♥️♥️♥️