Binni was busy in setting the dining table. Excusing herself from Adrij and Titli, Ria had gone to see her MIL if she needed any help. Earlier Mita had come herself to Adrij and talked to him for a while. She looked in pleasant mood after meeting him. " Ma,should I help in something?", Ria felt quite odd as Nilima was helping her today.

"You go and talk to them, see if someone needs tea or cola.",Mita said and pointed to ask Adrij.

While going to others, she did asked him if he wanted something or not. He was talking with Namit and looking adorably at Niloy. After a while Adrij got up and got near the elders, touched their feet and went home. Titli went outside too.

Koustav found their guests quite humble and very open. As they too left, everyone finally sat for having dinner. Binni had gone home too. Koustav got to sit beside his wife, he was enjoying the delicious foods until "The boy seems rich. Where did you find him? And what does he find in you?", Nilima asked Titli chewing her food.

Titli just looked at her. " You have aged enough aunty, but sadly you still don't know who to tell what.",Koustav shouted. " Me, my life is not enough for you, now you've chosen your step-daughter too. What did you think no body knows how you two got married? It was you who married my uncle for his wealth. Don't think others like your low self.The more you've been spared,the more you've exploited us. Don't talk to us further.",he added. His red eyes and high pitched voice not only scared Titli, Ria got goose bumps too. Taking Titli and hers plate Ria got up from the table and went upstairs quickly. Namit kept sitting lowering his head.

Sumit kept quite till Koustav went upstairs, leaving his plate midway. Only the four sitting on the table." It is better, if you move out of this house Namit, along with your family.",Sumit ordered before getting up.

"As soon as possible. Consider it as your brother's last wish and one more thing, Titli's mother gave her to my wife before dying....so she is our responsibility. We'll do the best for her.",his voice came from the basin area. Then he called Mita.

The peace was gone. The festive vibe being ruined. Ria kept looking at the lights from her balcony. Frequent sobbing sounds of Titli turning into soft snores. Still no sign of her husband. The food plates kept as it were brought here. She yawned,looking at the watch ,she decided to lie down for a while.

As Niloys's crying from next room increased, she got up from her sleeping position.The room still had only two of them. Tiptoeing she got out of her room, instinctively, she went to the roof. Her eyes found his standing form in the darkness. His cigarette burning in between his fingers. As Koustav sensed someone's presence, he said," you should be sleeping right now. ",and checked his watch.

Coming closer to him, Ria took the smoke from his hands and threw it away,saying," Beside you."

Not saying any further, they stood at the roof looking at the lights coming from the pandals. "Just tonight. All the lights will be gone tomorrow.",Ria's mind saddened with Koustav's sigh.

"How is Titli? Is she still in our room?",Koustav quarried. " I don't know. She slept without saying one word.",came her answer. Her eyes at him.

Seeing Ria yawning one after another, Koustav took her hand and went towards his old room. For a moment Ria's daze was gone. Koustav opened the latch and entered after her. Ria had no idea how the room was so clean . "Binni did it.",his voice cleared her confusion.

Sitting on the bed Ria kept looking at the room. Her minds full of memories of her first days here. Koustav came to the room to find her sleeping. He switched off the lights, closing the door and slept beside her.

Sumit skipped his morning walk as he had no mind to see his brother leaving. The wall clock showed it was 7. He knew when Mita woke up too. She was calling Binni at this hour to inform her that she was needed there today.

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Tuhin Nabila's pujo went great. Romy seemed not wanting to bother them. When asked for going out with them she had turned it down politely. As the days of University neared, Romy planned to go back to her pg. "It is safe Nabila as uncle and aunt are there too now. Plus there are only a few months left then I'll be with my parents far from this city.", her voice clear enough to give Nabila the hint that she was not going to live here anymore.

As she got back, Lahari was home but her husband had gone to take their son back home. Just greeting her, Romy entered her room. The old lady did not get the chance to talk to her as the room's door got closed. Coming inside Romy decided that she would only concentrate on her studies now.

The ambulance and Ujaan coming out of it...Romy noticed it all from inside the window but she carefully shut the curtains as he looked upwards.

Even during lunch she requested the help to bring it to her room. During the evening, Lahari tried talking to her, but her door was still closed. She was somehow happy as his son seemed a bit alright. Though his silence worried her. She wanted to know what had happened.

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With the annoying pain on his left hand, Koustav woke up. Ria was still sleeping keeping her head on his left hand. This morning felt different. He sat there for sometime doing nothing. Then started to wake her up, in the mean time texted his partner that he would be late for office today.

As Ria woke up, they came down to their room around 10. Titli was gone from there.

Ria's head felt heavy as she stood in the kitchen,her MIL cooking. After getting ready Koustav went downstairs."Where is Titli?",Koustav heard Ria asking.

"With your Baba. They have gone to market.",Mita answered. Three of them sat on the sofa savouring the hot tea." Ria, the room beside yours is empty. Use it as you want, if you want make it your study, if you want to keep it as your child's room, keep it.", Mita declared.

As his mother went to cook, Koustav finally talked to Ria,"Be very careful while you go to Uni. Don't worry about pick-ups and drops....I'll manage that. And the most important thing...please stop roaming here and there after your classes end."

" Mind if I bring Romy here for group-study?"

"No....",his words could not get finished as Lunch was served and he had to go office. With the light lunch getting over, Koustav went office, Mita and Sumit went to some relative's place,Titli went to Ria's room. Around 3 in the afternoon, Ria called Romy. After casual talks, Romy asked about assignments, then it alarmed to her that her assignments are pending. She got a bit shocked when she heard that Romy had already completed them. She unmindedly commented," The last time I saw you so serious about studies, was when you got your heart broken for the first time....",in reply Romy chuckled but sighed at last.

As Titli talked to her, Ria made herself busy in her assignments. Only 2 got completed. Hearing his car's honking, she came down.

"They are not back yet.",Ria said giving Koustav a glass of water. "Please help me in my assignments. My head is feeling so heavy, I can't look at my laptop screen anymore.",she pleaded.

"Lets go!",he replied gulping down the water. The evening passed as they became busy in her assignment.

With the passing of Lakshmi pujo, the university started. As said before Koustav started to drop and pick her up.

" If I sit with this alone,I'll never be able to digest it.....I need help Romy!",she cried in irritation. Romy was chewing an apple ,"Okay.I'll go to yours.",she said in between.

As classes that day ended soon. Ria waited for Romy. She called Koustav

to inform they were done soon. His phone kept ringing many times but no answer came. Ria knew if she had gone home alone, Koustav would be angry again. So she called her father-in-law.

Koustav on reaching his phone,saw 7 missed calls from Ria. His heart began to thump loudly. He called her soon. Now her phone said not reachable. In a whole dilemma, he drove to his house. On asking Binni said Ria was home.

He just got back some relief. Removing his shoes he hurriedly went upstairs, she was inside the room, not seeing who was inside, he asked from outside,in a heavy voice," Could you not wait more? Who asked you to come back all alone?". Ria stiffened in her voice. Romy poked her head from the door,"I was with too! Hello Koustav da!"

Hearing him yelling, Sumit called him downstairs. Ria calmed down her inner-self, her inside burning with embarassment. Shrugging her head, she pointed Romy," where were we?"

As the study part got over, seeing Ria so down, Romy asked ," I just got to know, I'm going to be a maasi soon!", trying to cheer her up. Ria just chuckled.

" Don't feel bad....he cares....",she paused then added,"atleast you have someone who cares!"

Ria hugged her. Saying bye she left. Titli came to call her. Downstairs she saw all gathered at the dining table. Sumit barking in," Say her sorry. Now!!"

As Romy got down from the auto, she saw Ujaan's car in the bus stand. She cane to the opposite footpath. But to her luck, she found him just a few steps ahead. She tried to pass him, but he kept walking behind her.

Just when she was ready to grab the bus, he called,"Romy!"

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Hey loves! Thanks for being here. Do VOTE,COMMENT AND SHARE. I'd love to know your views and suggestions regarding the chapter. Stay Safe. Take Care. Be Happy.♥️♥️♥️♥️