"So, are you set to leave Kolkata for some days?",asked Koustav trying hiding his worries. But her silence made him more impatient every passing moment.

Ria's mind started to roll the memories of their very starting of their married life." Could it be called a proper life?",murmured Ria, to which Koustav gave her a confused look. "Nothing....I just couldn't believe my ears and fate for some time. But where are we going?"

"Daringbadi",Koustav answered while taking out their duffel bag." You put the clothes here....no need to pack them...I'll do that.",he added. Opening the almirah ,she looked for her clothes. "But for how many days?",Ria saw him standing behind her with the medicines in his palm with the bottle held on another hand. After making Ria swallowing the tablets Koustav replied ,"3".

"Don't take anything heavy.",he added further, "What were you murmuring then?"

Ria- Just some old stuffs.

Koustav- As in?

Ria- Days before our marriage, the starting days of us....how you couldn't accept me.......and all.

Koustav came towards her and took the folded clothes from her hands, Ria felt odd as he didn't answer anything. Looking backward she found he was putting them inside the duffel bag. He chained the bag close and kept it in the corner. He huffed.

Ria- So what now?

Koustav(in low voice)- Its time to sleep. Go to the bed.

Like a obedient kid, Ria came from the corner ,near the bed and sat. Her mind trying to invade his thoughts. Koustav could have answered all , but at this point, the tension of Ujaan ,the excitement of having a baby were all mixed. He knew his words would make her mood more sour. Plus, the thought of how she would react hearing of the news started bugging him more.

Ria( looking at his back)- I'm not sleepy at all. Please say something. What are you thinking so deeply?

Koustav- Don't stress yourself by thinking all the same things. Tell me, if I had continued being a typical widower,would you ,yourself and this society have let me live? If I change-its my fault....if I don't....that too-my fault. Don't you think that you complain too much?

Ria slowly turned to her side. She heard him getting up from the bed.The sound of him trying to find his smoke and matchbox were way too known to Ria's ears. She closed her eyes quite forcefully. For long,she waited to hear him returning but she heard none.

Koustav went to the far end of the roof. He lighted his smoke and stopped when half of the box was empty. He was clearly angry with himself for being rude to her. He took his time. He looked at his then room. This room had been his cocoon for last 3 years. He was obsessed with her memories as he never considered her dead. He stood there just looking at her photo as she stopped coming in his dreams.The charm was gone as well as his self-blaming,and obsession.Nikita had become a beautiful memory now."A strong new bond has overpowered your older bond Koustav.",said his inner-self.

Around 12 he came back to his now room. Ria was sleeping on her sides. He silently went to his side and slept.

The next morning, Binni was surprised to see Ria already in kitchen, making some tea. As the Basus made it late returning home last night, Binni stayed with Titli. Ria went near the sofa and sat there folding her legs with the hot cup of tea.

On the other hand, Koustav was scared not finding her beside him. He had made a mental note last night of apologising to her. With the aim and the packets of shopping he came downstairs. He found her cosily sitting on the sofa.

Koustav entered his parents room. Mita and Sumit were busy in some family matters. He showed them their puja presents. The older couple were brimming in joy. As Koustav came just outside of the room, he could hear them whispering.

Now the turn was of Ria. As Koustav went nearer, she clearly declared,"I'm not going anywhere with you.".As she got up from her seat, she heard him saying,"Ofcourse you are going....that too with this idiot of a husband of yours. But first, make me a cup of tea too."

Mumbling something under her breath, she put the pan on the oven with a thud. Telling Binni to give him the tea,Ria answered the door bell.

It was the uncle, who used to collect samples for the local diagnostic centre for years. It was not that Ria was scared of needles , but the pinching sensation hurt her like hell.

It felt like Koustav understood the whole scenario. Ria was sandwiched by the uncle on one side and Koustav was on another.When the needle was hurting her, she found Koustav laughing at this sight. Anger rose inside her. She pinched hard on his spare hand and others started to laugh.

As the person left, Sumit informed that he would collect the reports in the evening. Koustav took Ria upstairs.Binni followed them with their breakfast.

As Binni left their room, Ria's voice came,"I repeat..... I'm not going anywhere..",her words were again stopped by his lips blocking her from saying anything. "I know I was being a complete idiot last night. It was something else on my mind ....please forgive me.",Koustav whispered in her ears, engulfing her in a bear hug.

Ria slowly pushed him and came out of his embrace...."I'm hungry....Come and eat now. ",she said casually.

Tearing his Luchi , he asked,"so baby,its a yes right?" Nodding her head,she served him more curry. "Actually I forgot to give you this....I don't know which color you like, so I chose it myself...wear it, if you like",saying it Koustav passed her a packet. Washing her hands,Ria opened it....that saree seemed extra ordinary to her. Mumbling a "thank you.",she got up and took out the bag from almirah and passed him the Tussar kurta which she bought the day before ,saying,"Your return gift. Hope you like it.". Koustav's eyes shone with happiness. He hugged her once more. In reply,Ria just showed him the time.

They soon got ready. Koustav took the bag and came downstairs after Ria. Bidding everyone bye, they got inside the cab. The journey started as they boarded the train. They took another car ride for 3 hours to reach finally their destination. The place seemed too beautiful. Ria could not believe her eyes. She had no idea their would be a hill station in Odisha. The sunset and sunrise was to die for.

The place was very beautiful. Though Koustav complained about the food, Ria didn't mind at all. The aura of this simple village just awed her. She noticed Koustav was being way too careful with her. But she said nothing thinking about his past behaviour. It was a beautiful afternoon , the sun had just started to move towards the western horizon, the yellowness of sunrays started becoming orangish, they were sitting on the roof of the hotel enjoying the nature. Koustav went down to washroom, suddenly his phone started to ring,Ria answered it seeing it was her father-in-law calling, she purposefully put it in speaker,as in case he arrived ,he would be able to hear him. Network was very weak here.

Sumit didn't wait to know who answered the call, as soon as the phone got connected he started,"you two have gone to such a place where there is no network...we were so worried...I was trying to get your phone from yesterday.....by the way Congratulations....you assumed it right,you and Ria are surely expecting....tell her now....we can't wait to see you both ...hello...hello...why are you not answering?",Ria kept looking as her eyes filled with tears. She saw Koustav slowly emerging out of the door, the guilt on his face proved,he heard it. Ria passed it to him,"yes baba tell....i'm here..."

"Your mother wants you to come back before Soshthi....take care..bye",and with this Sumit ended the call.

"Won't you congratulate me? Or should I congratulate you?",asked Ria. Koustav numbly sat beside her. He had no idea what to answer, or how she would react now.

"So when were you planning to tell me? Just when I deliver? What is your problem ? " ,Ria asked with her head in between her palm,her voice choked with tears.

"I didn't plan anything....I just wanted to have you both safely. I could not tell you before as I thought you would not be ready to conceive right now.",Koustav kept his head lower while blabbering all this. Looking up after sometime, he noticed her tears were dripping along her cheeks, her face tilted sidewise, he gathered his courage and turned her towards his side only to hear her saying,"I loved you almost from when I was kid... I know you never considered my love.....my sanity has come to its borderline just because of you.....its my insanity that allows you to do whatever you want....can't you get it that I can't say no to you?"

"Are you ready? ",Koustav asked with clear surprise on his face. He did not wait for her answer as it was getting cold suddenly.

When they came back downstairs,Ria was still silent. "As long as you can balance your career and fatherhood....I'm ready",Ria declared. Koustav was busy looking inside his phone, he had not imagined to hear this sort of reply. He gaped at her.

"Enough of hijacking my phone....pass it to me right now!",demanded Ria."Its not safe, I'll give you a newer one once we return.",saying it Koustav tried to pack it in their bag, skillfully Ria snatched it from him. She had a sly grin on her lips. She sat on the bed comfortably.

Ria-You thought a girl of my age wouldn't notice her phone missing.

Koustav- you are saying this as you know nothing.

Ria- what if I say I know something that you all don't know.

Koustav- enlighten me then.

Ria- Ujaan used to be my good friend when you were being rough to me. I noticed how unnecessarily he used to be at my side. I shared my side of story as our friendship grew. I started to enjoy our gossips, one day when Romy was ill, he shared his story too.

He may have been son of rich people, but was not bright in studies. He had friends who were equally spoilt like him. During his graduation , an opponent brat dared him to play with emotions of a good girl named Snigdha. Snigdha was never bad to anyone,Ujaan used his techniques, from finding her phone number to becoming her emotional weakness. That girl forgot about her studies, he became her habit.....a very bad one....which made her failing in 2nd year. Her family didn't allow her to study and she was hurried into a marriage.

Ujaan won in the dare game, but the letter he got from Snigdha's best friend made him breathless in guilt. He started missing her more and more as he came to know about her whereabouts. He got baffled knowing how happiness finally found her, after he broke her.

He is also obsessed like you Koustav...he is not good...but he is not bad as well.....he cannot do anything to me.

Koustav said nothing, just gawked at Ria.