"Ma, I don't feel like eating anything.",Koustav's eyes turned at her direction as Ria murmured to her MIL.

"I'll not listen to anything. You have not taken any other thing except that one cup of tea since coming back home!",replied Mita forcibly placing two rotis in her plate. Others carried on eating.

"Tea? Who has given her tea? She is not allowed more than one cup of it.",Koustav jumped into the conversation. He wanted to grab her attention, which she did not give.

Just half an hour ago, his father had yelled at him for no nonsense reason. Koustav being an obeying kid had said sorry to Ria too. In the reply, Ria just had seen here and there.The older couple had tried to sought out the problem, but she had just listened to the three talking including her husband. Her not even giving him a glance, now slowly had started to annoy him. Ria really had no apetite. She was bored of eating here. Binni's and her MIL's cooking had stopped alluring her like before instead her insides were craving for her mother's taste of cooking.

Somehow seeing her touching the rotis, Koustav started eating. He was half the way into it, "Ma, can I go to my mother's place for some days?",Ria's asking earned an instant nod from her MIL. She felt happy as Mita voiced," It is the actual ritual amongst us. Go and return safely . Take Titli, if you want."

"I'm thinking of going right now. My mind is wailing to see her. I don't know why.",Ria spoke with confusion on her face. Mita sat up from her seat and washed her hands saying," Your FIL will go with you."

Sumit chewed his food and looked at his son's face. His face was hung open. His eyes filled with an unknown emotion. But what pained him more that she did not even looked at him once." Go ,take your things.",Sumit asked Ria. She slowly went upstairs.

Simultaneously Mita had entered in her room too. Sumit knew how his wife despised the concept of son-in-law's staying at his In-laws' place. He quickly exchanged a few words with Titli and Koustav. Smiles sprawled over Titli's face and Koustav's too hearing him saying those.

When Ria got downstairs, Titli made a face and came closer ," If I go with you, I can catch other's eyes while I go to meet with Adrij. Plus he is going to call me in a few minutes. I'll go and meet you everyday Ria di. Please understand me!", Titli pleaded.

Ria saddened a bit but just hugged her and left after saying bye to Mita. Koustav was not in her surrounding. Getting more angry, she did not look for him and walked to her house, while Sumit held her bag.

The door was already open. It felt odd to Ria. As her father was found standing there too, she thought that they might be already informed about her arrival.

As soon as Sumit left, she took her usual chair,coming in the kitchen area. Tuhin and Soma were still having their dinners. " You! At this time! All ok right?",Soma's voice soothed her. She replied in a same way. Hugging her mother from the back,Ria tried to inhale her mother's scent. "Mothers have a special smell...you are soon to have that too.",Soma whispered.

Nostalgia hit them when they started talking of the earlier times. As it became quite late, all of them went to their respective rooms. Going upstairs,Ria started feeling tired. Not switching on the light of her room, Ria could see her room quite clearly as the streetlights entered her room from her balcony. She just closed her door and slept changing into her nightware.

Her eyes started to feel heavy as moments passed, hearing some low sounds she did not turn to the oppsite side. "Might be something in the door's board,will see tomorrow morning",she said to herself. She was sure in the middle of the night she felt the bed dip a bit. But could do nothing and slept blissfully.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Romy had not stopped if the place would have been less crowded. The couples, men and women who still kept waiting at the bus stop, looked at Ujaan,as he approached her increasing his pace. Not knowing what to do,what to say even how to react, Romy kept standing at her place like a robot.

She was nibbling her inner lips. He stood next to hers. " Hey! Seeing you after so many days! Where had you gone?"

"Home.",Romy replied curtly and started looking for another bus or auto.

" I...I mean my parents wanted to meet you.....but you didn't turn up!",Ujaan had started to say. Romy signalled the bus to stop and walked past him this time," It was not possible at that time.I'll talk to them later.",she said in a hurry.

As she was about to climb the pedestal, his voice rang in her ears,"I could have dropped you. We have to go in the same house." Romy had many things going on her mind, she jerked her hand and replied," Not necessarily...and I can manage myself." Hearing her stern reply he mumbled,"We'll wait for you tonight. Please."

Out of courtesy, she looked behind and nodded a yes and finally reached inside the bus,first to ignore his sight, second to get rid of post-pujo crowd inside the bus.

"Can't believe how people act so goodly these days....all are fake..all are same.",Romy's eyes stung with tears for being fooled once again.

As the conductor took the name of her stoppage, unmindedly she climbed down the bus. After walking on the footpath for some minutes,she reached her home...."Rented..that too only for some days."Romy's innervoice kept chanting. The door was open. Thankfully the occupants of ground floor and some of the first floor were back. Romy sighed and went to the caretaker cum help and requested," Tarun da, can you please keep my plate in my room from now on", the middle aged man would have said no unless Romy had put a 500 rupee note on his hands. The man's face assured her the rest.

As the clock reached 10, The Sens still waited for their guest. But when she did not appear, Lahari called Tarun and asked about her.

Romy was on her bed, searching for a pdf version of the better book. Her assignments kept on the bed. As she heard the knock on the door, she thought it to be the help. Lazily she got up from the bed and opened the door. She had not expected Lahari to be there. "Were you asleep?",the lady asked politely." We are leaving for Mumbai again tomorrow. Me and my husband wanted a word with you.",she added.

" Actually I forgot. You go.I'm coming.", Romy told and smiled.

The three sat at their dining table. Romy had not come to this part of the house before. She felt awkward." If they wanted to say only thank you, what was the need to call me here?",her innervoice started to nag.

Clearing his voice Bitaan Sen got her attention towards him. "We cannot thank you by only saying, we'll always be grateful to you Romy. Tarun described how you and your friends helped him where it was very easy to abandom him in his condition. We got our son back just because of you. In return, we can offer your free stay here."

Romy heard each and every word the old man uttered. She saw his son and wife's reactions too. Ujaan's expression changed after his father's last line.But the last line stung her like a knife's stab.

"I cannot take the offer Mr.Sen. I did it as it felt real. I would have done the same if someone poor would be in Ujaan's place. Aunty said,you are returning tomorrow. Have a safe journey.",uttering it Romy got back to her room.

" I have to find a better place.",she decided in her mind.Not knowing why,she slept crying.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Ria's hand found something soft and warm as she turned the another side. Seeing him sleeping next, she rubbed her eyes once. No,he was really here. She poked his forearm,she knew his being a light sleeper, would get an alarm. He opened his eyes. The morning rays of the sun did its magic on her face. She looked mesmerising. As he tried to come closer, she sat up and went out of her room . The anger bubbling inside her.

Using her mother's washroom, she just came downstairs when her parents were having tea.

"Pour another cup. Ria is here.",Abir asked his wife as he greeted his daughter 'good morning'.

Seeing Soma's smile,Ria asked,"When did he come?"

"Who?",she asked with confusion.

"Your son-in-law.",rest of her reply was unheard as leaving her tea,Soma went to ask her help. She herself started to make dough,pouring the flour.

" You should have told me earlier.",Soma kept ranting and instructed her husband to buy sweets, fish, meats from market.

Ria felt like betrayed. She thought all of them knew. Things got clear when Tuhin came down. "I was in kitchen last night, when he arrived. He called me and I opened the door." Koustav sat beside him, started sipping his tea.

"When is your office?",Soma asked Koustav hurredly. She wanted to complete the cooking arrangements before he left.

"I'm free for today.",Koustav replied directly looking at Ria. Soma happily entered her kitchen.

Ria sighed in disbelief. Giving the excuse of shower, she got back to her room. "Are not you happy to see me here?",his voice startled her.

For the first time in last 16 hours she talked to him."who I am to be happy or sad?"

"Are you still angry on me?",he tried to cajole his wife. " Imagine if I did it to you. You will never change. Leave me now.",saying it she entered the washroom. Chuckling Tuhin entered the room hearing his sister's voice." You two had a fight? " Koustav sat numbly hearing him saying." Stay here and give her some time."

"Why did you come here?",Ria asked calmly as she saw him standing beside her window. That window through which she used to see him. A wave of old memories hit her again. Her anger decreased a bit. Koustav looked back and said," I could not live there for a second without you.". His grin melted her. She looked away

_________________________________________

Hey loves! Thanks for being here. Do VOTE,COMMENT AND SHARE. I'd love to know about your views and suggestions regarding the chapters. Stay safe. Be happy. Take care.♥️♥️♥️♥️