Today is Nabami.

Goddess Durga is supposed to return to her husband's house. And I am waiting just for one word for my husband. Even though my heart is flinching for one call or message from him, I control my deep urge to call him and listen to his deep husky voice.

I indulged in helping my mom in the household chores. I don't like spending time in my room. It reminds me of Aisha dii. The pain of losing her grips my heart. Even the walls reminds me of her. I don't know how my parents have accepted their loss.

It was about 1A.M at night. My nabami went away missing his presence. It hasn't been even a year and I can't tolerate staying away from Rohan even a day.

Do I cross his mind even once in a day?

I am feeling sleepy and I have no one to share my feelings other than my teddy bears.

My phone starts to vibrate and it's him!!

"H..e..llo?"

"Are you asleep?"

"Not yet.."

"What are you doing?"

"Just watching the stars on the terrace?"

"Are you free to talk?"

"Yes.. do you need something?"

"Yes..."

"What do you need?"

"Your presence in my room."

I was flabbergasted. I am calm outside while the butterflies in my stomach are doing a somersault. I might break the bed just by dancing out of joy. Anjali, don't let him know how happy you are. Just be cold.

"When I am with you you want me to go away. When I am away from you you want me to return back? Sorry I won't. "

"I didn't ask you to return back", with that he chuckles.

"Anyway I won't be returning even if you ask me to."

"Okay listen, I am sorry. Please return back. I miss the aroma of your special tea. More than that I miss the smell of your jasmine oiled hair. I will take you out tomorrow."

"Do you really need me?"

" I need you Anjali. I miss you. "

"Okay, I will return tomorrow. "

"Good night. I miss seeing you sleeping peacefully on the couch, occasionally moving and making creaking noises yet not complaining for once about the discomfort. Thanks for patiently tolerating me. "

Tears of joy fills my eyes. I never felt so good in my life. He misses you Anjali! Else he won't have called at 1A.M at night. He needs you. The day isn't far when he will start wanting you more and more.

I could not wait to meet him again and woke up as soon as the clock strucked six. I will be going out with him for the first time. I am excited.

I quickly strip off my clothes to take a hot shower.

Relax Anjali relax! You will rip off your clothes if you take them off in such a hurry. It's just a shower not a night for making love.

I blush at my own thoughts. How would it be like if I stand stark naked in front of my husband? How would it be to exchange fluids with him and moan his name while he makes love to me? It would be nothing less than heaven on Earth, a world which will revolve only around him.

Shedding my thoughts I dress up quickly, ready to go back to him. I touched my parent's feet to seek their blessings on Bijaya Dashami.

"Thank you Anjali."

"For what?"

"For comforting me yesterday."

"It's okay. Will you really take me out today?"

"Offcourse. Get ready fast."

I got ready in a floor kissing Anarkali. I paired up my dress with a pair of anklets and a choker necklace with minimal makeup.

"You look beautiful Anjali." Rohan complimented and I blushed. It was the first time he has appreciated me. I am so happy.

Kolkata is the hub of Durga Puja pandels. Every nook and corner of the city is decorated in flashy lights and ear damaging loud speakers. The city is covered with crowds of people. I walked with Rohan mixing admist this crowd. How my heart was pounding in my chest! Even though we didn't walk hand in hand the closeness was enough to make my heart beat faster.

"Let me take you somewhere. "

"Where?"

"The Princep Ghat."

The Ghat was more crowded than usual. Many Durga idols will be immersed today. Inspite of the crowd there was peace in the air. The kind of peace and satisfaction you feel when there's someone with you who is close to your heart.

Admist the crowd we found a space to sit.

"Rohan why here?"

"Aisha and I had our first date here."

I didn't even realise when he broke the boundary he had created and our fingers touched each other. Slowly they interwined and it gave me such joy and peace. His grip became more firm on my hands and his thumb drew invisible patterns on the back of my palm. I was ecstatic with the reducing distance between us.

"Rohan, what do you feel about us?"

"Us..??"

"Us.. this marriage. "

"I honesty don't know Anjali... This was the place where Aisha and I had confessed our love for the first time. I promised never to leave her alone. Yet I couldn't save her from the hands of the fateful disease."

"You miss her too much, don't you?"

"Yes a lot.. "

"You love her the same, don't you?"

"Yes a lot.."

With his every confession my heart twitched at the prospect of never being loved and wanted for.

"Yet Anjali.. your presence soothes me."

"What?"

"I feel good in your presence. My nightmares and sucidal thoughts have reduced. You are like the rainbow girl in my life. Filling my grey life with colours. "

"You never told me that you have nightmares and sucidal thoughts."

"I have already wronged you many a times, I didn't want to burden you more. "

"Can we be friends?"

"Friends??"

"Yes... friends. A true friend. Where you won't be hiding anything from me."

"Okay friends. " Rohan smiled at me. A real smile which lit up his handsome face. It made me smile too.

We sat holding hands occasionally breaking our silences with some talk. The moment was pure bliss. I didn't even realise when the separation between us lessened and I rested my head on Rohan's shoulder. He didn't move away and I rested in that position for sometime more.

" Anjali, how long does forever last?"

"Why such a question?"

"I had promised Aisha to love her forever. How can I ever unlove or forget her?"

"You need not forget her or unlove her."

"Then how do I keep my promise?"

"Haven't you read Alice in Wonderland? Alice asked the white rabbit how long is forever? And the rabbit replied 'sometimes it's just a second'. You have no fault in her death. You have fulfilled every promise you made to her."

"I don't know Anjali but you heal my heart in a way no one ever does."

He smiled a real smile at me and I smiled back. I will keep this moment sealed in my heart forever.