As soon as Romy left,Ria started checking her facebook, a smile appeared on her lips as Snigdha had sent a friend request. She instantly sent her an emoji,accepting the pending request. Then usual stocker in her searched for her pictures, majority of which consisted of Himadri and her kids.In the meantime, Romy and Nabila started to fill her phone's notification panel,thus Ria got sure of Romy's reaching home. Feeling a bit exhausted, she lied down and hoped of reading some romance novels and eventually dozed off.

Koustav found Tuhin still sitting alone in the hall. His parents were not in his sight. "So....what did you buy?",Tuhin asked in a taunting voice. Koustav passed him the plastic bags and ran upstairs for some stationary . He had nothing here,so he decided to steal some from his wife.

Her room's door was open and she was lying with the phone still in her hand's grip. He was confused to find what and where. Making no sounds, he tiptoed to her cupboard. Awkwardness started to fill in his mind.

Her groggy voice came,"Finding something?"

For the first time in many years,Koustav felt the thrill of surprising someone."Nothing, just a black pen. Do you have any? I needed it."

Before lying down again she replied,"Open it and find it....it must be there somewhere."

As her light snoring sound could be heard,Koustav's tension somewhat subdued. He quickly opened and found her pens and markers, soon he left her room.

"Why are you sweating all of a sudden?",Tuhin could not get any reply from Koustav as he made himself busy in packing the novels. Tuhin took the books up, tried smelling the perfume from the outer carton and lingered there for awhile, then left to buy lights and crackers for the diwali 2 days ahead.

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On the opposite, Romy got inside her room. She was happy as neither she had to face Ujaan nor the caretaker. Without changing,she came to the adjoining balcony. Seeing Nabila online too,they started to chat in their whatsapp group. Being busy there, she was unaware of one pair of eyes noticing her each and every posture- from her limbs, to her fondling with her hairs. As no reply came from Ria, they stopped too. Turning back Romy noticed Ujaan sitting in the adjacent room,staring at her direction. Gingerly she went back to her room. She was sure,if she had even smiled out of courtesy,he would have started talking. Her best friend's birthday was tomorrow and she did not have any intention of hurting herself emotionally.

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Dinner went as usual, Soma and Abir ate with them too. "Everyone left quite early today.Isn't it? You are okay, right? You have started eating less thesedays. I just noticed today!",Ria scrunched her eye brows. Koustav was burping. She had no idea, how Koustav and Tuhin had devoured the delicious chocolate muffins brought by her parents.

Soma literally had to stop them from attacking her daughter's favourite choco-truffle cake. Soma got the chance of celebrating her birthday after almost 4 years. She could not believe even, how she became of 22. Before coming back home, she went to Koustav's house. Ria's parents-in laws beamed in joy. They planned that Ria would have lunch at her paternal house and would come back at her in-laws as Diwali and Kali pujo are on the next day.

"Yeah....I'm ok. Just had some acidity. ",Koustav's eyes reached for the time in his phone. Time was passing very slowly today.

"Okay, then sleep.",she tried faking an yawn. He paid no attention and continued to read in his phone.She was confused inside that he knew or not."Are you not going to wish me first?",came her puppy voice from inside. "Do I know his birthday? What was it? Did his mother tell me ever?",her inside snapped again. She reached for her phone and called her MIL. Koustav was watching his wife calling someone and slowly going towards the balcony. He continued reading until he heard the words 'his birthday' reached his words. Almost after trying very hard, he was sure whom had she called. He chuckled and made himself serious again as after talking for awhile she had returned to the bed.

"Are you in mood of sleeping?",the husky voice of Koustav never failed to lure Ria.

"No....just keep your phone aside. I want to talk.",she whined.

This time his chuckle reached her eyes. His dimple made her insides more tipsy." You found the black pen you were looking for?",her question earned a nod from him.

"Were you writing something?"

"Yes. Something important.",Koustav was cautious not to spill anything. He knew Ria was quite clever to catch whole scenario from a few words.

" What was it? So important!",her mind started to shake as the feeling of his leaving her, clouded inside.

"Some applications on behalf of Baba. You thought of something crazy again!",her shallow breathing and tensed face described Koustav about her fears.

"Only Baba. Not sure any love letters!",She tried to tackle the tension.

Koustav's face remained same. No emotions at all.

"Only one regret I'll have in my mind",Ria told going close to him. When Koustav arched his eyebrows,she smiled and added," I never got any love letters. I used to crave for it. I seriously have read others. And there is no further chance as I had an arranged marriage. Or is there any?"

Koustav's mind started to get back to starting of his earlier relationship. How she loved hand-written letters. She used to keep them somewhere safely.

" What do you keep in here?",Koustav asked while looking in her file.

"Just find my prescription. Don't poke your nose in my personal stuffs.",Nikita jabbed. " You still have kept these letters. What is so personal about it? I wrote these for you. ",Koustav had answered caressing her shoulder. " You will never know. These mean a lot to me. Don't forget that I don't have a family. These letters mark that you loved me from the beginning, when I was nothing. I felt special with each of your letters. It gave me hope that someone loves me.....I can expect love and care from my this new found family.",Nikita shook his head.

With a head jerk, Koustav came back to present. He could not believe that he was lost in her memories.Not directly answering it he asked," What is so special about it? In this generation of sms?"

Ria gave a faint smile saying," You will never know. It is just my thought that...", Finding the abrupt similarity, Koustav stopped her with a kiss. "Happy Birthday Ria. Love you.", Ria got no chance of thanking him as he instantaneously had engulfed her into a panda hug. She could only hear his racing heart. One moment she was surprised, the next moment she was on the next step of happiness.

Koustav released her when Titli's videocall came. He went outside for a smoke. It was too much memory marathon for him. With the knock on the door, he hurriedly rubbed the butt of the cigarette and threw it away. Tuhin was in front of him. Abir and Soma were behind too. They came in and wished her. Though the bigger piece now reached Ria's plate, Koustav was happy. Her laugh echoed the whole house. As others left, she was about to tear the gift wraps.

"First mine.",Koustav came forward with his gifts.

Mumbling a 'thank you',Ria opened them she looked the card, the novels and the perfume. She was happy. When she saw him approaching with a small wooden basket, she looked in grabbing it.

"Bougainvillea. Titli told it to me. I hope you liked them.",he said looking at her intently.

She looked them and caressed them.

"These are so special to me as you brought them",Ria stood up and came to him, Koustav never knew she would this bold to start up a kiss. That kiss demanded much more. Koustav kept the gifts on a chair and took his time to show her what she meant to him. He was surprised that no further memories of Nikita flooded him,as Ria's scent,the rhythm of her heartbeat triggered his senses. As if she was controlling him,saving him,loving him.

Ria had no idea what was the time,a continuos groan woke her up.Koustav was sleeping on his back, his brows scrunched up,clutching his pillow and sweating. Slowly she started to shake his forearm. He woke up after a few minutes later. Grabbing the pillow, she helped in his sitting up.

"Water!"

Koustav silenlty took the bottle from her hands and gulped down the water.

"Sleep now. ",Ria's voice came like an order.

"What is the time?",Koustav asked calmly.

"4:35",Ria looked in her phone.She was getting out of the bed.

"Where are you going?",Koustav asked like a baby in need.

"Dont feel like sleeping anymore.",This time Ria faced him. Her eyes gloomy. She was thinking something.

"Disturbed much?",Koustav tried asking.

"When is your next appointment?",Patting his shoulder,she asked.

"One week later. Why?",Koustav's eyes tried to find what was going in her mind.

" I'm going with you this time. I'm making tea for myself. You want it?",Ria asked while getting in the washroom. Her head was quite heavy today. She herself needed to see the doctor. But said nothing seeing him like this.

As she got out of the washroom,Koustav already had made the bed,now he was folding the covers. He looked a bit normal. Huffing she combed her hairs and came downstairs.

Abir had started to jog just a few days ago. He was back when the duo came to the kitchen. Ria made tea for three. The help was in deep sleep still. Making minimum sound, she sieved the tea into three cups and asked Koustav to pick up the tray.

They drank the tea. Koustav and Abir chatted. Ria sat silenlty, savouring the tea. Her mind somewhere else. When Soma woke up at 6 , she found the three sitting at the table. Except for Ria, she made tea for everyone. Coming back to them she told Ria to return Koustav's place that afternoon. She felt somehow good hearing that.

Lunch went way heavy for them." Try everything. I've got chance of cooking for my baby after 4 years. All of yours favourite.",Soma said serving Ria some more Payesh( Porridge).

Ria smiled and hugged her. Her eyes reached him. He looked happy, content. Eating everything sitting beside Tuhin.

"Be safe. Eat properly. ",Soma told standing on the door as Ria and Koustav were on their way to return.

Not only Titli,Mita,Sumit but also Romy,Nabila, Himadri and Snigdha along with their kids, Namit ,Niloy were there.Snigdha came forward and hugged her after greeting. Her and Himadri looked and made a great couple together despite of thier age gap.

She was surprised when baby Niloy walked towards her with a small box in his hands, her hands reached at his direction. Only four teeth of him could be seen as he smiled. "Baby",he said in his baby voice,which brought tears in her eyes. Mita and Koustav watched them from kitchen.

"Do you still think,I was wrong in marrying you to her?",Mita all of a sudden asked.

" No. It would have been wrong if it would be anyone else other than her. You saved me Ma.",Koustav had not thought of saying it ever, but it came out of his mouth.

"Can I tell you to do another thing?",Mita's eyes stayed fixed at him. He nodded his head.

"Release her belongings. Somehow you are still stuck. Give them to who need it.",she patted his shoulder and left. Oddly Koustav wanted to show his disagreement and anger,but could not show any. He huffed,his inside agreeing," May be,she would have wanted it too. There are thousands of people who need those.".

Mita walked to Niloy and tried correcting her," Not Baby, tell Boudi."

But baby Niloy took Ria's anchal( end of Saree) in his small hand and kept calling her 'Baby'. Ria cooed ,"for you,it is Baby,okay!"

Niloy flashed another smile.

Everyone greeted her and Sumit brought another cake. Romy and Nabila were in duty of decorating and presenting it. Meanwhile Tuhin had videocalled too.They were chatting. The house filled with so many voices. All jovial, kids running here and there. Mita called Ria in her room and gifted her a pendant,with Koustav and hers initials on it.

A doorbell rang. Both the ladies came back to see who it was. Koustav opened it.

There stood Ujaan smiling with a bouquet of flowers.

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