Ria was looking at the window and him, so many old memories floating inside her mind.Another month passed with November arriving tomorrow. She heard her mother calling from downstairs. Hurriedly she entered for a shower, as she had to wash off the extra oil she applied on her scalp. She heard him speaking near the door, " Be careful while walking." For a moment she had forgotten about her state, deciding to remain silent, she continued rubbing in the shampoo in her long hair. But this little work started to numb her fingers and hands slowly.
He was nowhere, when she got back to her room. Applying the vermillion,she walked to the kitchen. Tuhin's room was closed,so there was no chance of him being there. Perhaps he had gone to the roof or somewhere downstairs.
Soma had completed cooking and was now packing some boxes.Koustav was seated beside, tasting the dishes one by one. He looked like a typical foodlover Bong. Her mind flew to the first days of her marriage where he used to eat anything that was cooked, she was happy that he was going back to his normal self.
" Why are you packing these?",Ria asked combing her hair. Soma kept the containers one above another and placed some more mutton in Koustav's plate. He seemed not to mind. The aroma and colours of the cooked fish, simply made her mouth water.
Guessing her daughter's situation,Soma readied another plate and put it in front of her telling," Sumit da and your Mother-in-law loves these dishes. I'm sending these to them through Titli."
" Titli? When did she come here?", Ria asked while eating. "She hasn't arrived yet. I called her just some time ago.",came Soma's answer along with the ringing of the doorbell.
Stopping Soma,Koustav opened the door. Titli entered the house, and went near Ria. Soon Soma made her eat too,till she was full. Then she returned back to her house along with the bag of containers.
Soma was still waiting for her husband to return home ," Ma, you too sit now. I'll serve you!",Ria had started saying. Soma said no and sent both upstairs for a nap.
Seeing Ria closing the windows, Koustav sat on the bed, placing the pillows he made it ready."I don't feel like sleeping.",he said as Ria came and lied on her sides.
"This balcony and window brings out the beauty of this house. What do you say? ", Koustav asked. Groggily Ria replied," Not only beauty, but also my whole life is attached with it."
Koustav said nothing, patted her shoulder in order to hear more."Ma used to feed me here, I played with my cousins, once Baba punished me here", Koustav could feel her smiling in the faint light of room.
"I first saw you from here, when you came with Tuhin da. I used to see you while you went college or returned home. Say, I remembered your Pujo looks too.",a smile line reached her eyes slowly.
"Thats exactly how many years?",Koustav could not stop himself from interrupting.
"Soon to be 9"
"That is quite long ago. You were a kid at that time. What did you find in me?", he nuzzled his nose on the back of her neck. Now Ria could feel his hot breath over her skin.
" You had become a habit of mine. I think that Dada guessed it. When after your marriage I left Kolkata, he supported me the most! He never lectured me regarding you. Only he was there."
" So basically you left your parents, everyone else because of me?",his voice choked as sudden realisation hit him.
" Not entirely. But to some extent- yes. My habit had become quite stubborn. In order to get rid of it I left. I was making my mind to return home, even I came too. I left this city,once I saw your tear stained face while she passed away. I was baffled. I could not bear to see you like that. Just came back home and the next day I was on a express train, travelling for 11 hours standing.",she stopped and got up for grabbing some water. The food had shot up her acidity.
" You were there?",Koustav asked his voice now cold.
"I was. You are the reason I gained my confidence. Braced myself as I am. ",Ria said keeping the bottle back.
Seeing her trying to change the topic he murmured," You loved me at that point too when you knew ....knew that I can't be yours?"
" You loved someone else not me....that was not my fault. Neither I ever came to you telling you about my so-called childish love. Nor I could forget you. Even I was among the invisible people around you at that time. I never actually planned to tell you about my feelings,if I had dared to do that, you might had brushed me too. That coyld have hurt me more. So there was no point of getting you. " Ria hufffed .
" I never got a hint of this from Tuhin too.",Koustav's voice gave a hint of an unknown emotion.
"Ask your friend. Now I'm sleeping.",Ria's demands never got chance to finish as he grabbed her close and kissed her to sleep.
Around 6pm, Koustav was downstairs ,having tea with his in-laws.Soma was discussing rather ordering Abir to bring something home, to which,being busy in phone Koustav did not pay attention.Romy had come their place. She did not know that Ria was here. She had gone to Koustav's place first,then she arrived here.
"You go upstairs. Your friend perhaps still sleeping.Go and wake her up.",Soma laughed seeing her.
Aa Romy's tea was being prepared, another time the doorbell rang. Koustav was waiting for that moment. He knew who it was. So he opened the door this time.
On the other side, Ujaan had returned home, he was passing Romy's room. He wanted to see her. The way she had saved him that day ,had him stirred to the core. Her room was closed. On asking Tarun,he answered that she had not returned. To his surprise, he felt no anger anymore. As if his all rage,arrogance and jealousy had died down since Snigdha gave him a befitting reply. He left and sent Tarun to bring somethings.
Romy found the room dark when she entered. Switching on the light,she slowly woke her up. Ria was quite surprised to see her. She never came without informing. " How did you think I will leave you the evening before your Birthday? Did you forget how we used to celebrate our birthdays? That to soon?"
She had no idea of convincing Romy that she herself had forgotten the date. Ria was happy to see her. Nabila called her too. The three were connected through videocall. The way of celebrating birthdays was to pull each other's legs and gossiping about embarassing moments. Ria's eyes started to tear due to laughing. She had laughed this much after many days. Nabila promised to come back soon on Diwali.
Romy had bought with her favourite chocolates and cookies. She opened one and forced her the full pack to eat. Ria was thinking,"Did he know ? It is not possible! He never asked. He might not even remember about my 17 th birthday."
Romy was in some thoughts when Ria clapped her hands near her ears.
" What is bothering you?",she straightly asked.
" Ujaan is behaving weirdly. Thinking of changing the pg. Hoping this semestar to pass soon. I am planning to go back home.",Romy kept on saying on a single breath.
" What did he do now?"
Romy explained her the full story till last night's scene. " I felt really low when the fact was in front of my eyes. He was never serious Ria. He too toyed with me.",Romy stopped as Ria's eyebrows knitted,in order to lighten her mood,she further added," But I'm back. All ok.....just took 22 years of my life to learn love lessons." ,seeing Romy's ridiculous acting both burst into laughing.
Downstairs, Koustav saw his parents-in laws left the house. Tuhin was also having his tea and started packing something in a gift wrap.
"Whose birthday is it?",Koustav elbowed Tuhin.
Tuhin was beyond shock. Koustav used to greet his friends this way long ago.
" Don't tell me you don't remember. Or should I say not know? ",Tuhin's words earned a whole lot of cursings from Koustav.
" Ria....1st November...Mark the date.",Tuhin answered faking anger.
"I wanted to ask you something. Tell me clearly, did you know about her crush being me?", Koustav asked cutting the cello tapes.
" She never told me till today. I just guessed it. And I was right.",he said in a low voice as Romy was approaching them. Bidding bye she left.
" You were there for me in this entire 9 years, you should have given me a hint atleast.",Koustav had never thought of the reply he was about to get.
"What was my sister's benefit in it?What was my point of spoiling your marriage? Would you have chosen her? No....you had only eyes for Nikita. Plus she was a mere teenager at that time. When I thought it was the time, I did what I had to as a brother and as a loyal friend. Didn't I?",Tuhin finished and Koustav got up. He called Ria and informed her that he was going out for an important work.
Tuhin just chuckled . He knew his best friend too well. He was sure where he would be going.
Koustav drove to a nearby bookstall. On his way he took Titli too. She jumped on hearing the news. She helped in picking the gifts. Her favourite novels and favourite perfume were not too tough to find.
"Add some of your own creativity in this. Ria di will like it. I'll call at 12. ",Titli spoke quite bossily and climbed down near her home. Koustav was sure that his parents might have known about Ria's birthday in this 5 minutes. He slowly re-entered his in-laws place.
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