Titli's feet started to hurt just standing there while Koustav and Ria looked for the ethnic wears for their parents from both sides. Finalising what to buy, Ria turned towards Titli. She slowly pinched his arm. Koustav looked at her face first, then saw where she was pointing.

Titli was not there where they left her. Instead she was at the corner talking rather smiling with a guy. He merely was of same age as hers.

Leaving Koustav behind,Ria went near them. Seeing her nearby, Titli's smile started to fade away and Ria confirmed her assumption. "What is going on?",she asked with a grin.

Ria was sure that Titli would make some stories or simply lie, and Titli was going to do that too, but the guy came forward and introduced himself as "Adrij, Titli's close friend."

In the time, Koustav reached the place. As Koustav neared them, Titli started to pale. This time Ria introduced each others, Koustav even patted his shoulder and asked him to join them unless he had some important work pending.

Ria smiled as he joined and started walking maintaining pace with Koustav ,leaving the 'close friends' behind.

When Koustav went for a smoke, Ria entered a shop. A tussar kurta caught her gaze, she went to the attendant and looked for his size. She was happy to buy something for him,that too for the first time.While paying the bill, suddenly she noticed that Koustav took only one smoke break till afternoon. She checked her watch that it was nearly 5:30 in the evening.

Through the glass door, she checked on Titli, she looked happy with Adrij.He was looking at her with great adoration. He seemed decent. Finally, Ria went out of the shop. Koustav was not back yet. Ria kept checking her watch as if it would make the time to pass faster. Fifteen minutes later,he was in front of her. He took the shopping bag from her hands in order to look what was inside.

Koustav said nothing. He just smiled at her and they started for food court. Grabbing some starters,they choose to eat them in the car. Koustav asked Adrij to come with him.

Titli kept thinking what Koustav would tell him now. Ria guessed that but told nothing. Soon the car was in front of them. Adrij opened the passenger door and rose from his seat to shift backwards along with Titli. Ria took the front seat gladly passing them all the bags.

Koustav could heard their gossips about a trip to the Ganga ghats. With his eyes on the road,he could not stop his mind from going back to his earlier trips with Nikita. While changing the gear, he checked Ria once. She looked happy hearing their chats.

Seeing him going to other direction, Titli asked suddenly," Dada, I think you took a wrong turn. We should have gone that way!"

Ria got amazed when she heard him replying," Don't want to go Ganga ghat?". Titli visibly squealed. Adrij was nodding his head. Ria had never been to this place. Neither she had been on a launch or went their during any sorts of immersion.

It took them 20 minutes to reach there. Parking the car near a tea stall,the four came out of it. Ria stood aside while Koustav brought tea for her too."All the life you might have tasted tea from branded shops or from canteens or home. Just try it.",Koustav said to Ria.

"Where are those two?",Ria asked in reply.

"Let them enjoy. Let us too. Though I gave permission of only 30 minutes to Adrij!", and he winked.

"You are a typical big brother. Btw the tea is too good and the mixed aroma of cardamom and the earthen pot makes it more more......I don't know how to express",Ria looked at him.

"Authentic.....different from all....just like you.", Taking her hand in his hand he took her to nearby steps. He let her sit and sat too beside.

Those moments felt magical to Ria. From faint daylight to gorgeous evening they witnessed together. Neither he spoke nor she. They just enjoyed the colors of nature. The breeze passingby, the sound of the passing water felt ethereal. As the lights on the bridges brightened up ,made it more tough for them to leave that place. Ria wanted to sit there for more. She didn't even notice when Koustav went for a smoke and returned.

Her trance broke when she heard Titli and Adrij talking to Koustav. She got up. It was time to bid bye to this lovely place. They came back to the car. Out of nowhere, Koustav loudly asked Ria and Titli to go and buy a bottle of water, stunned Adrij followed them too.

Koustav then opened Ria's phone to check messages from another unknown number,

Out of anger and disgust, Koustav thought of crushing her phone. But hearing her coming back, he deleted it and blocked that number too.

Koustav felt a bit upset to everyone. Ria had no idea what to do. Even when Adrij left he said nothing. This version of him scared him.

Returning home, they found Mita and Sumit not inside. Binni informed they went to the next house. Koustav asked for some coffee. Sending Titli upstairs,Ria entered kitchen and made three cups of coffee. Koustav was scrolling down his contact list for long. His eyes left the phone screen when the brewing hot mug was kept in front of him. His heavy head got some relief sipping it down. But he found no excuse to stop Ria from having more caffeine inside her system as already she just took a cup of tea.

With her favourite cookies Ria was about to devour her coffee unless Koustav warned her. "Tomorrow uncle is coming to collect blood for your tests. Don't have any more caffeine."

Ria got no idea how caffeine would hamper or affect her reports but said nothing.With a puppy face, she just gobbled her chocolate cookies. Chocolates had been her thing from somedays. She laughed while sharing with Koustav that how she took Titli's chocolate bar and left not a single piece for her.

Koustav smiled and kept shrugging his head. As he sent her upstairs, he got out of his house and started his bike. Driving for some time, he met Tuhin in front of his house. Tuhin heard it all and got happy at the same time knowing about Ria and Koustav's pregnancy. He took Ria's phone from him. Saw the screenshots he took and whatsapped them to himself. They were too careful about Ria so she didn't have to handle all this now. After Koustav left for home, he called Nabila and told her everything including the warning of staying away from Ujaan.

On the otherside, Titli sat on Ria's bed and kept sharing how two of them talked about so many things today. For some time, it felt good. After some time, she started missing Koustav and she also searched for her phone. Coming downstairs she looked for it but found nothing.

She sat on the sofa and dialled Koustav from their landline. He rejected the call, Ria got assured as he might be nearby.

Coming home, Koustav returned back her phone and lied that he had gone to change the battery of his watch. He could see she believed. Seeing her healthy, worryless and happy, walking in front of his eyes gave him the mental strength that he would definitely be able to pluck this Ujaan out of their life.

Mita and Sumit came back later that night. The whole family eat together. At first, Koustav comes upstairs with Ria so that she did not suspect anything. Later as sleep settled in Ria's eyes,he came down and knocked on his parent's door. Sumit got shocked seeing him at this hour. Mita was rubbing some night cream on her face.

"You, at this time? ",Mita asked from her dressing table.

" Wanted to give you a good news.", Koustav's words could not get finished as Mita turned from her seat and started," We know and to be clear we don't want to know about the success story of your so-called business venture. And don't you dare go outside of Kolkata living her alone!(Koustav's inside said ,"not for nine months atleast") Koustav, you do it once more and you will see my worst version. Your father is not getting any younger, as a son you should have helped him but you are doing god knows what. From next month you are permanently joining our family business. Enough of your reckless lifestyle. Now say, what have you done?"

Koustav's smiling face made Mita more angry. Sumit came to rescue and asked him," Don't wait.....say what you want to."

"Ma, Baba we are expecting. ".It seemed like the older couple had lost the hope of getting a news of this sort. They kept looking at each other for some time.

"Don't tell it to anyone,not even Ria....just waiting for the test results to arrive",saying it Koustav entered the kitchen. He was pouring water from the ro and scrolling his phone in order to check any new information from Tuhin.

Koustav heard Ria calling upstairs,"Answer my phone, I'm inside washroom. Can't get out now!"

He went in his room. Checking her phone he looked 3 missed calls and a whatsapp message. Downloading it , he saw a video of her just at the market of this afternoon.The message read,

Koustav just switched it off after deleting it. He dialled his friend who dealt with railway tickets.

Getting out of the washroom,Ria found him talking to someone for tickets. Her thumping heart got some lower speed as she heard of the word 'honeymoon'.

Cutting the call Koustav came closer and pecked on her forehead," Pack your bags. Uncle will come at morning to collect samples. Then we're going on our honeymoon. I promise to give you a much better one later. Do you have problem baby?"

Koustav's inside prayed for her approval. The far they would be from this problem ,the better it would be for them, for some time being- Koustav knew.

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Hey loves! Thanks for being here. Please DO VOTE,COMMENT AND SHARE as it encourages the writer. I'd love to know your suggestions regarding the book. STAY SAFE. BE HAPPY.SPREAD GOOD VIBES. TAKE CARE.♥️♥️♥️♥️