As Titli took her exit from their room, Koustav got some relief. He had to make a few important calls. Ria on the other side had gone to the doctor's house along with Mita. Dr.Parimal had previously called Koustav's father for checking Ria. When the ladies left the home, instantly he dialled Tuhin's number.

Tuhin was getting down from the bus, while he saw Koustav calling. He got no cabs due to hike of cab-fares during pujo. He picked it up and started walking towards his house.

Koustav listened the whole story as Tuhin described it." Now they want to meet Romy! I stopped Nabila from going deeper in this situation. I'm fed up of this man. All my pujo plans are gone....Don't tell Ria anything.", Tuhin breathed in a go.

" Who am I to say her or hide from her ? Your girlfriend might have already told her!", Koustav abruptly stopped. Tuhin entered his house.

" Talk to you later. Enjoy the festive season. Happy Pujo Vai",he added. Tuhin gulped down some water and returned the greeting, before ending the call.

Both the mother & daughter-in- law were happy as Doctor's checkup went well. Approx the mid-June was declared as the arrival of the baby. Being too happy with the news of being a grand parent, Mita didn't forbid neither Ria from taking Titli nor Adrij's home coming on Doshomi.Koustav was on call with his business partner.

The evening passed in a blur at the hall. Some sweet melodious bits of old bengali song kept coming from the loud-speakers of the locality's Pujo pandal. A few pujo greetings had arrived from Romy and Nabila and her college friends but no one gave her any news regarding Ujaan.

:

The next morning was Soptomi. The whole locality woke up with the bit of Dhaak. "Pujo is on.",Koustav murmured as he woke up and found Ria nowhere. The room's door was kept wide open. Through that opening he heard voices of Titli,Ria and his mother coming from downstairs, so he decided to be there after showering. Though every October brought unbearable sadness and painful memories along for these last 3 years. Inside the shower,Koustav remembered the sudden joy in the voice of his business partner as he declared five days off from work.

" See you can rest as the doctor says....but if you do some regular or basic works before your University starts, you will be more flexible till the last week arrives.", Koustav heard his mother saying it to Ria. She was now serving breakfast to everyone. Mita had another reason to be happy as Nilima had gone to her sister's place early that morning.

That afternoon Ria draped a grey-colored saree, Titli forced her to wear a sleeveless reddish-maroon blouse along. She had no idea how her husband would react. Koustav sat patintly at the hall. He wore a maroon kurta today. When Ria followed by Titli,came out of the room Koustav just paused for a moment. With her hair opened and that saree she looked like some fine portrait. Ria expected a few words from him, but he said none. Just showed them both the watch.

On the other side, Adrij waited at the fixed place eagerly. As he saw Titli walking towards him, he got relief. The teen couple were followed by the older from a distance."Still not tired for being a guardian?", Ria asked as the evening passed into night. She had started to feel tired. " No....",Koustav replied.

"Adrij! Its getting late now!.... Reach home safely...", Koustav grabbed his cousin's hand and bid the poor boy bye. Ria suppressed a smile and bid him too.

Soon they reached home. Mita and others were still not home. Leaving Titli downstairs, Ria got upstairs. Koustav was having a smoke in the balcony while she entered the room. Rubbing thd butt of the cigarette, he came inside and whispered in her ears," Next time, Don't forget to put on Kajal! It was missing today."

With still his head in the crook of her neck,Ria felt her heart beating rapidly. "You noticed then!",she managed to speak somehow. Till midnight they carried on chatting ,teasing each other.

These two days passed and no one noticed. Every relative's home the new couple visited,who invited them during their marriage,got blessings from the Elders.

"I will be looking like an elephant till my University starts",Ria managed to tell as she was caged inside his arms. "No no.....like a whale",and Ria could not laugh as he made sweet love to her. The night passed and dawn arrived, "My first Doshomi after marriage.", Ria voiced looking at his sleeping form.

The men of the house went to buy sweets for the guests, while the main cook was today Mita. Ria had come downstairs quite late, seeing her state, others were told not to disturb her. Titli and Ria sat on the table and started chopping vegetables and supplying them to kitchen.

Lunch was usually late as the load of cooking dishes was more. But all were in good mood as the main troublemaker was not home yet.

Around 4:30 in the afternoon, the ladies of the locality and distant relatives came for calling Ria's MIL. As Mita and Titli went ahead, she instructed Koustav to come with her.

He had no desire to go today, but seeing her condition, he went. Ria being not clad in a typical red-white saree, soothed his eyes. He waited for her to finish. Mita had prohibited her to climb on the higher staircase, so she just went to the idol's feet and put vermilion on it. All the time Koustav stood behind her. He was mentally thanking the God for not any new taunts, his eyes found a too known face. Nilima had come back. She was standing on the que behind his mother, talking to the group of chatty aunties.

" Look at you! Ria! Looking so good with vermilion on your partition! Didi, why hasn't she put on the saree I gave her?....Koustav ,hope this time everything happens well till the last. " ,Ria heard her saying when she passed them and started going back home. Koustav's slight change of behaviour was not unnoticed by her. Ria walked matching his pace and held his hand tight."Everything will be alright. Don't mind her words.",Ria said in a low voice. He seemed to relax. His pace now normal.

Inside the house, Koustav looked indifferent. He sat beside his father and called Ria," No need to wear this...go and change."

Ria cameback soon removing the extra vermilion from her face and wearing a Mulmul saree. Koustav said nothing this time. He was inside the kitchen helping Binni to fill glasses with bhaang sherbat. As she neared the counter, the aroma of the liquid letting her lick her tongue, Koustav's thick voice was heard," This is not for you....I'll make something else...now go sit there."

She was going to sit beside her FIL, the doorbell rang. Ria answered it, A middle-aged man was standing there, with his family behind. She welcomed them inside.

"Come, come, Ria this is Himadri, and his family. He is with me for many years now.", Sumit introduced Ria to them as well. Binni served them water meanwhile. Mita had entered just after them. She went to kitchen to make tea for everyone. Nilima had not returned yet. Others were chatting,but Ria found Himadri's wife look like someone she knew. The toddler she carried had just spilled the tea over her saree.

Ria got up and went to show her the washroom below the stairs. The lady was quiet till now. Ria noticed how she only smiled the whole time with her eyes on her children.

" Will you mind, if I ask your name?", Ria asked with a smile as the lady finished her washing the part of the saree.

"Snigdha. Thank you.", She answered returning a smile.

Then it struck to Ria. The odd similarity. "She was/is Ujaan's Snigdha. Whose photo he showed me once", her inner self claimed.

" Pardon me if I'm wrong, do you know Ujaan...I mean Ujaan Sen?", she added.

To her surprise, the lady was not shocked. She turned to face her. "Everyone seems know him here. Yes I knew him. But that chapter is closed now. Please don't drag it anymore.", she said trying to suppress something, fear....hatred....or shame...Ria could not get it.

"Listen, I know he had done some shitty things with you. He told me once. But he desperately wants to meet you. Please meet and forgive him once.", Ria said lowering her voice.

" I met him just a couple of days ago....and the thing of forgiving as you are saying.....I did that too long ago....he doesn't exist for me now.", Snigdha's words didn't get finished as her older son called her. She walked towards her.

" How old were you when he was born?",Ria asked looking at her older son.

"14", she talked. Noticing the disbelief in Ria's face ,she explained it.

In the meantime, Adrij had arrived. He was just served the cold drink, Nilima arrived.

_________________________________________

Hey loves! Thanks for being here. Do VOTE,COMMENT,SHARE the book. I would love to know your thoughts/suggestions regarding the story. Take care. Stay indoors. Be happy. Stay safe.♥️♥️♥️♥️

http://my.w.tt/EnVfzH31A5.

.