Ria's eyes reached for Koustav. He was calm,as if he was thinking something. Forgetting about decorating the cake, Romy kept looing at Ujaan, with Nabila's fake cough,she realised and made herself looking at the cake.

Ujaan entered as Koustav ushered him inside. Ria saw him coming in her direction. She took the flowers from him and smiled. "Come here and cut the cake fast.",called Koustav. Another time, Ria blew out the candles,and the first bite was stolen by Niloy this time. Koustav was having him in his lap. Mita asked the young couple to feed each other and she,herself clicked the picture with her shaky hands. Mita had started doing Facebook just a few days back.

Slowly everyone was served cake and Ujaan approached Ria. Koustav was sticking beside her since he had come. "So...Have a great year ahead. Congratulations again. See you later. Bye.",Koustav would have heaved a sigh of relief unless his wife had asked," so soon? How are you?Heard you had Meningitis."

Koustav's face showed clear irritation, but as Ria elbowed his torso, he had to ask him too. "Just came to wish you.Have some other plans tonight.",Ujaan's calm demeanor assured Koustav of his changed self.

Himadri noticed no change in his wife's behaviour. She just avoided the crowd and sat with her baby, toying." You saw him? He is here."

"Yes,I saw. But he means nothing to me. Nor to you. Don't you dare Himadri, talk to him this time!Rather go look for your elder one.",Snigdha said in a low but firm voice.

"He was looking at me in a different way today. Forgive him now. End the chapter. Move on!", in this long time since their marriage,Himadri had tried suggesting something. They had no clue,Ujaan was standing near looking at the person who could be his,if he had not messed up his whole life." What do you think, I haven't moved on? Who is your partner,in all your highs and lows? You thought,I don't love us! I may not have expressed earlier but you are the only good thing to me after my mother.",her voice near to sobbing. Taking the baby from her lap, Himadri tried sitting beside her. Then only he saw Ujaan. They exchanged smiles. As Ujaan forwarded, Himadri now was getting up from his seat, Snigdha grabbed his spare hand tightly, indicating to sit down and wiped her tears." What now?",her tired voice came. Her ears making themselves ready for another ugly taunt.

" Just came for this little one. How are you? I know you will never forgive me. So not gonna beg for it anymore. It will be harassing you more. Plus this man is way better than me.",he said taking her daughter in his hold. Himadri stood up beside him. Ujaan was getting late,he transferred the baby to Himadri and patted him a bye. He turned back and heard her saying,"I forgive you. Just don't cross our paths anymore ,make me believe as if you never existed."

As Ujaan got out of the house, he saw Romy and Nabila standing at the garden,discussing something. A grin appeared on his lips," Will you come with me? I'm heading home."

Nabila could not believe her ears. She would have been rude to him,until she heard Romy nodding a no. " Then come safely."

Inside the house,dinner was served soon. Guests one by one left, Ria returned to their bedroom. Although the room was clean, but she removed the bed sheet as the next day was Diwali."I have to go to my office tomorrow",Koustav was at the doorstep when he saw her changing the sheets. He came inside and snatched the sheet from her hands. Ria saw how badly he tucked it. But seeing his angry eyes,she could not say anything." Be more and more careless each passing day.",passing the comment he entered the washroom.

He came out and saw her sleeping on her side. With each pulls of his cigarette, his insides saddened for his own comment." I could have said it in any other way. Now she will be angry tomorrow.",his inner self kept saying.

On the other hand,Romy found the door of PG closed when she reached. She was late. The ice cream party with Nabila made her late. Now it was 11. She pressed the bell many times. After some time, the door got opened by Ujaan. She entered and mumbling a 'sorry and thank you' tried to get upstairs fast. " It would be good if you maintain the timings! ",he stated. For one moment,she stopped and turned. His tall frame was behind her,"I need to talk to you."

"Me too.",Romy had made her mind. Nabila was happy knowing about her moving in to her relative's place.

Romy followed Ujaan. She was at his room." Say",Ujaan demanded to know from her first.

"Actually I'm planning to leave this PG. I've deposited all my tariffs to Tarun da, you can check it. I just want my safety deposit back. As soon as possible."

" When? And may I know why?",he still could not believe what she said. He wanted her. He needed her.

" Within 2-3 days. The reason is a bit personal.",Romy cleared her voice. She had not noticed him coming closer." Don't want to know what I want to say?"

"Yes. Say please.",Romy had thought of hearing some irrelevant stuffs. But when he confessed about his feelings, it stung her. She turned and laughed," First Snigdha,then god knows how many other girls, then Ria...now when no ones gives you attention. You chose me?"

The sadness in Ujaan's eyes,melt her heart.Romy stood like a statue and heard all Ujaan had to say. Ujaan had a charm and a special way of talking.Her mind wanted to stay, but the brain kept reminding her and forced her to leave. "You talk to Tarun da. And I need time, Ujaan for thinking."

Romy left for her room. Ujaan smiled like he a love-struck teenager.

The next morning Ria was not in bed when Koustav got up. The priest had come downstairs for checking up the ingredients needed for Puja. Ria and her mother- in- law were sitting on the floor,arranging everything. Titli was busy with the alpanas as Ria could not do those herself. Ria was happy today.

She never realised anything regarding the baby except for today. She was tucking her saree pleats,when she noticed the slight bump in her belly. Koustav's words rang in her mind,"Are you ready? Or keeping it because of me?" She wanted to wake him up and show. But an odd or strange type of shyness gripped her and retiring the idea, she had come downstairs. Now she was happy for the new one. Koustav was not ready today like any other day. He just came downstairs and asked her to come with him. As she was still talking, Mita just nodded.

Ria followed him behind. She was thrilled, when Koustav took the que of stairs leading the roof,she got a bit curious. " Why are we here?",Koustav heard her when he entered his old room. Switching on the fan and the led,he asked her to sit on the bed. Ria kept looking the dust layered on the table and his things. She watched as he opened the almirah. Her eyes got larger,when he opened the other side of it. Her part. Ria had come here several times,and have noticed her side, but never ever imagined to see the contents in detail. Koustav took a wooden stool and sat on it. He started from the lower shelf, he brought out everything and kept them on the bed,beside Ria. She had no strength to touch them. She just sat and saw. As he completed unloading it completely, he took the stool beside bed and asked," Where are you lost? Open these one by one."

His soft voice was gone. His tone defined his effort of freeing her. Ria took the cloth bag kept at the uppermost position and opened it, a beautiful red Benarasi saree ,then a green one, then a white with english flower print embroidered saree got out.

" She wore the first two during our wedding, the last one was my first gift to her with my first salary."

Not saying a single word, Ria kept opening the next bag, it contained many sarees. Ria was in awe with his describing her in each and every saree. She felt awful for herself. He was telling , but she was hurting inside,her vocal box throbbing in pain . With her blurried eyes, she saw no other bags, she tried to stand up. Seeing her trying, Koustav gave her a small box. With heavy hands she opened it. It contained her jewelleries." Some came with her PM report, I never collected those."

Ria had no mind nor desire to see her jewelleries. Only thing mattered to her was him. " I'm planning to giveaway her clothes to people who need it. Since it is a good day. That would be perfect."

"What about the jewelleries? The photo album I'm keeping it to your side. The baby clothes I'm taking."Ria wiped her nose since it became quite runny. A question still bugging her. Unmindedly she closed all the cloth bags, took the album,and baby clothes in one hand.

" I don't know. You keep them too.", Koustav lit a smoke. Ria came out of the room saying, "You take those bags, come downstairs. I'm not that fond of jewelleries .....I'll tell your mother to keep these for Titli's marriage."

Koustav's eyes somewhat brightened up. He threw away the smoke and came closer," You think ,Titli will ever wear these knowing?"

"It is her blessing to her.",Ria tried to smile. When Koustav was going downstairs, she asked," Why are you doing this really? Did anyone force you? Your mother again? Let me tell you,Koustav ,I never had any problem with her now not with her belongings."

Her mind going back to the night of their reception," No one can take her place.",her shocked state hearing his harsh words. His grudge,rage and mostly his ignorance.....all crowded her mind.

" I thought over it manytimes last night. Though Ma suggested it. But not forced this time.",His voice felt quite normal now.

It seemed Mita had arranged everything. Ria could go no more. She sat on the sofa. While Mita and her son went to nearest ashram to donate all that. Her head still spinning. Titli sat beside and huffed. Ria took the box and brought out the chain, earrings and bangles to show her." Whose are these?",she asked in her usual flow.

"Nikita's",Ria's answer made Sumit looking up from his newspaper." Your mother-in-law is a little conservative. A little sceptical sometimes.... You should know it."

"That's why Baba. Keep it to you. I myself do not need these. But for Titli's marriage,in near future.....there is no harm in keeping these.",Ria was stating a logical fact. Sumit took the box and went inside her room to keep those.

After an hour only Mita came back as Koustav had to go his office. During lunch, Ria had no apetite. Taking a smoothie she came back to her room. She wanted to sleep so intentionally left Titli downstairs.

When Koustav returned, it was 6 in the evening already. Not seeing Ria downstairs, he came to his room. Saw her still sleeping. Her long hairs sprawled all over her pillow. He came to see her face. He missed it all day. Her not replying made him more anxious. She yawned and squeezed open her eyes. Hers met with his brown orbs.

"When did you arrive? ",Not letting him answer sent him to washroom to change his clothes. Then she added," How much have you sweated? I hate this new smell of you!"

She heard him laughing inside the washroom. "I used to know a person who loved my scent. The mix of perfume and cigarettes."

Ria smiled. This nap gave her much relief. She was feeling better. Noticing the time,she decided to change into a new saree,since the Priest would be there anytime soon. Choosing a maroon soft cotton saree, she started to make the upper pleats. Those were done when he barged out of the washroom.

Seeing him standing there, she asked him to come near her. As he came near the mirror. She showed him the small bump. He caressed it for some time, and looked at her.......He was happy...that was enough for her." Sleeveless blouse and a low bun makes you look stunning.",his remark made her giggle like a kid. He liked this version of her.

Kali Pujo went as usual. With bursting fire crackers at night. Ria was seated at some distance. Titli was bursting them. Koustav was at her side.

Getting the chance,Ria told Mita everything and heard about his reactions at the Ashram. As predicted by Sumit, Mita was not at all angry at this." Now my son is free. Be with him. Take good care of him. He is a keeper. What did you do with the Baby's clothes? I will not allow you to keep them. You will give them to me, I know someone who will take it."

Ria had no way except agreeing. "It is getting late,stop this. Tomorrow is Bhai -phota. Go to sleep now sweety.",she called after Titli. Others came down to their rooms, only Koustav stood there with her.

"Won't you come?",Ria whispered.

"Not before this.",came his low voice.

Ria saw him,lighting a cracker and a few candles and diyas. Keeping his camera at some distances,he looked at her direction and made her look at his. Both smiled.

The shutter sound was heard.

" Our first diwali.",he said looking at her." A happy one.",she added.

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Hey loves! Thanks for being here. DO VOTE,COMMENT AND SHARE. I'd love read your suggestions amd views regarding this chapter. Stay Safe. Be Happy .Take Care♥️♥️♥️♥️