Ujaan came to the nearest mall to grab his liquors. After many years, he bit his house help,he was repeating what his parents used to. His headache was too much to handle today. He could not go near her again........ Another day,without seeing her from near.

"Is she alright? Does that idiot really look after her?",he kept saying in his mind while looking for the bottle of scotch. The bottle was kept on the lower shelf,so he had to squat down. Not looking upwards, he stood up after taking the bottle in his hand. But while getting up his head bumped into someones's back. Mentally cursing himself, he looked at the person.

In front of him was a man in his late-forties. Ujaan didn't need to apologise as the man fixed his specs and said sorry first. Ujaan smiled at him and pulled his trolley apart. He was going ahead,when his eyes caught something. A woman with a baby on her shoulder, was discussing what to buy with the man. She looked at him, and his head spun in shock.

Snigdha stood in front of him. Almost after 7 years had passed, a lot has changed in her appearance, Ujaan kept looking at her with wide eyes. But she took a opposite turn and started to walk towards the next section.

Ujaan steadied too with his trolley, as the couple walked faster,he couldn't control himself and he called by her name loudly. She kept walking,but the man turned and looked at him, "You know her? "and stopped her from going far.

Snigdha turned and looked at her husband saying,"what?who?".Only then a teenager boy came running beside her shaking her spare hand many times.She looked at the kid and nodded her head in yes and he went in the neighbouring section."This gentleman called by your name. Do you know each other?",he asked.

Ujaan did not hear his words, he mentally face-palmed looking her with two kids. Faking a smile, she came forward.

"Hey...hi...you are Snigdha right?",Ujaan asked flashing a grin.

She didn't answer anything. Just stood there returning a smile."Remember me?",he added not getting a proper reply.

"Why not?",she spoke and passed her bag to her husband. Till this moment the man was looking at the two, not getting anything. He had not seen any friends or distant relatives of his wife in this 7 years. She was a perfect housewife, he sometimes thought that she had cut down the whole world for the sake of his family. He always wanted to know more of her.

So,he came forward and shook Ujaan's hand,"I'm Himadri, her husband and you are?"

"Ujaan, her close friend.", Before Ujaan could answer anymore, Himadri insisted for a coffee. He himself had no idea, what a disaster he was inviting inside his life. Snigdha just followed them when the men talked and Himadri felt odd as instead of Snigdha,they two talked.

In the coffeeshop, they chose a table of four. Her older son was busy in his book,after ordering, seeing her still not talking, Himadri asked,"Are you alright? Not talking to your friend!"

Snigdha passed her daughter to her older son and sent him to the aquarium.

"There is not much to say....actually there is absolutely nothing for me to say to him.",she declared with a confident look towards Ujaan. His wide smile slowly started to fade away.Now Himadri silenced himself hearing Ujaan saying," But I've a lot....I'm sorry for what I did years ago....but you don't deserve what you are into....such a fat,old husband, two kids without any career....what you've done to yourself?". Hearing it Snigdha smiled and was going to pay the bill and get out of there. Himadri just followed her with two of his kids. He was aged enough not to poke his nose into this situation anymore.Ujaan stopped her midway,"Can we please talk? I'm dying to talk to you for years?" ,"Only for two minutes more.",he pleaded. She paid the bill and they got out. Ujaan followed them like a lost puppy. Now Snigdha stood in front of him," You just said some absurd,rubbish words.....I heard them all....but I don't think you deserve any of my replies . What else is there to ask and say anymore?"

"Are you happy?",Ujaan asked in a low voice.

"With this good,old,mature husband, two lovable kids and with a bright future.....I am."Snigdha stopped as she heard him saying,"How can you? I couldn't forget you till now.....you made me obsessed ....now how are you so well?",Ujaan's eyes watered in disbelief.

"What obsessed? Who played with an innocent's emotional wellbeing?You knew what you were doing,its consequences as well.....Didn't you know of my background?.......I started hating you....that hate stopped me from saying no to this marriage with this jewel of a person. His wife divorced him and left their 4 yr old son. For you, I suffered mentally,you were not there when I experienced sleepless nights, he was!!!! you filled me with disgust and guilt....you played with me, He saved me.....I'll wish that you get the taste of your own medicine.",hearing her reply,a weak joyous smile appeared on his lips."At least, we still have some love-hate relationship left Snigdha....that's all for me.....that'll return you to me one day.",Ujaan said.

Now Snigdha laughed. Her husband and older son kept looking at her in disbelief." I used to hate you....now I pity you....you are sick...mentally...you need help....medical help. I hope we never meet each other. ",Himadri watched at his wife as she asked for calling the driver. Snigdha started to walk for the parking as she had no intention of seeing him any more. Ujaan felt shocked when he saw Himadri still standing next to him. As he looked at his direction , Ujaan heard him saying," Thank you,if you were not there,I would not have gotten her." Thus Himadri left too.

With trembling hands, he booked a cab and waited for it. Reaching home he started to drink not stopping for more than a minute. As all the guests were gone to home, the care-taker called Romy. Romy had returned to Kolkata only that day and had gone to meet Nabila. Getting the phone call, she reached there soon.

He clearly looked like a mess.He was already passed out when she got back. Romy was disgusted with her choice already as Nabila told her everything all the evening. Not saying anything, she entered her room and locked her door. She tried dialling Ria's number, it was unreachable. She cried long for another failed,one-sided thing.

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Koustav could not believe his ears. Ria took her phone from inside his pocket and started reading some ebook.

"Tomorrow is Soshthi!?",I almost forgot.

Koustav only nodded his head and went to light a smoke. "When is the train tomorrow?",he replied,"6 in the morning.".

Seeing him lost in his thoughts, Ria thought of being silent for a while and repack everything, Koustav even helped in bringing down the bag,she finished her work soon. When he was almost lighting his cigarette, she poked on his elbow,"Either quit it or go outside. Its not good for it."and Koustav noticed how she indicated her stomach.

"Oh...sorry.... Got zoned out for a little bit.",Koustav chose the first option. "You've many things to answer to me...for now I'm leaving you...eat and sleep.", he whispered while hugging her." You already know everything.!",Ria said faking a baby voice. Crinching his eyes, Koustav laughed and nodded his head in a no.

Next morning, Ria was up before the alarm. They took an auto to the station. The train was on time. She was almost dead due to exhauation when she reached Howrah Station at 12 pm. Koustav ran for a cab and they hurried for home. Inside the cab, she felt good as the coconut water soothed her burning food pipe. He forced her in eating some biscuits. She was surprised for so many missed calls from Romy. She decided to call her later and texted her if everything was alright. Koustav was kept unaware once again.

She was fit when she reached home. Both the older couples were home. The Malliks' had come to give their gifts and sweets for this good news. Ria saw Nabila beside Tuhin too. Koustav started to talk with Tuhin. After the hugging sessions from both the mothers, she reached near Nabila. They were so close that they did not needed any 'hi- hellos' for jumping into conversations. "Is Romy alright? I got 15 missed calls from her number."

Nabila gulped and said,"she is okay....but I told her everything." Before she could react, Mita called her from kitchen. Ria went towards her,she gave her a gold chain and cried in joy while tying it around her neck. All were looking at them ,suddenly Nabila's phone started to buzz while flashing Romy's name. Ria heard as she answered it. Nabila said yes many times and went to Tuhin. Tuhin hurriedly went with her as she spoke something in a low voice.

Others didn't notice it as they were busy chatting with each other. Mita was happy to see Nilima being silent in jealousy. Niloy now had started to walk without any help. He too liked Ria. Koustav had him in his hands, he tried to shift from his embrace to Ria. So Koustav started to take him outside,Ria stopped him midway,"Give him to me."

" He is getting chubbier. It is not good for you as you are not to carry heavy things now",Koustav stated in a high voice intentionally. Nilima looked at him. Koustav smiled looking at her and went out to the garden.

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