[ddey333]

I dropped her at her place. She asked my phone number and said that she would give

me a call whenever she gets some information. I looked at her face; there was some
inexplicable bliss in her eyes.

After few days, I received a call from Parineeta asking me to meet her. We met after my
office at a restaurant.

While sipping our coffee she said to me, “I have bad news for you.” I winched my brows
as her words came as jolt for me. She continued, “Her mother probably fathomed that
you are behind the question.” I looked at her face, trying to make out whether she was
telling the truth or not. She understood from my gaze and laughed at me, “So you don’t
believe me, right. Come on Budhaditya. Believe me.” Her face became pale, “Aunt
warned me to stay out of Titli’s life. I was very hurt to hear that as I was closest to her at
least from my part.”

“Really, she told you like that?” I asked her.

She nodded her head, “Yes. We were good friends since college days. Something
unfortunate did happen between us but I also miss her very much.” I felt a writhing pain
inside me as I was missing her also. She gave me a cheerful smile and said, “Come on,
Budhaditya. Life does not end with a person, does it? So why so down. Cheer Up.”

“Life is not the same for me, Parineeta.” I was about to say her but she pulled me by my
shirt and said, “Come, I want do some shopping.”

“What?” I was surprised, “What do you want to shop?”


She laughed at me and said, “When I feel depressed then I shop. Anything just window
shopping or buying tit bits nothing else.”

I said to her, “Ah! I don’t like shopping much.”

“For a change.” She came closer to me and gave me a beautiful smile, “Not even for
me.”

I inhaled deeply and scratched my head. I felt helpless after beholding the twinkle in her
eyes. I could not deny her request and mar the smile of her pouting dark lips. I nodded
and followed her. After a long time I was feeling much better. I was at least smiling
again.

[ddey333]

We strolled lazily through the crowded footpath of Garihat. She kept on holding my

hand while walking, to save herself from the crowd. She was very quiet not chirping as
usual. I asked her as why she was so quiet.

In return, she gave me a smile and said, “What should I say. This crowd is really
maddening.”

I laughed at her, “I told you. I don’t like shopping due to the crowd.”

“Yeah I know, but you changed your nature, right.” She pinched my arm.

I laughed at her, “Yeah, sure. Change is evitable. Everything changes every moment
around us. Sometimes it is better to accept the change; sometimes it hurts to accept the
change.”

She laughed along with me, “Yes Budhaditya, change is very much needed in life else the
life gets monotonous.”

I asked her, “Are you hurt after breaking up with Shantanu?”

She gave an inquisitive look, “Why are you asking that?”

“Just like that. If you don’t want to say then it is ok.” I said to her casually.


“Yes, I was at first. But then I said to myself that what happens happens for the best.”
She gave me a pale smile and continued, “I lied to you about the reason of the breakup.
The real reason is something else.” She came closer to me and looked up at my face,
“Budhaditya, will you drop me home?” her face was inches from mine.

I nodded gently, “Ok.”

While returning she told me the real reason of her break up. Shantanu lied the fact that
he was married. He was going through a rough patch with his wife. He used Parineeta as
a cushion for mental support. Parineeta came to know all these when through a
common friend. She was heartbroken at first but came out of that. I was quietly
listening to her without saying a word.
After I dropped her at her place, she stood in front of me waiting for some reaction from
my side.

I placed my hand on her shoulder to appease her, “You only said that what HE does does
for the best.”

“No!” she smiled at me, “I am not repenting for that. I am quite happy that I was not
dragged into a marital turmoil. By the way will you pick me up tomorrow after college?”

I was quiet unsure about such friendliness. I looked at her. She understood the dilemma
stirring my soul. She smiled sweetly and said, “Don’t worry Budhaditya. I am just asking
for a ride, nothing else.”

I nodded and assured her that I would pick her up after college.

[ddey333]

Weeks passed; still there was no contact from Titli’s side. I tried to figure out as what

promise could refrain Titli from contacting me. The answer was quasi clear. She might
have promised to her dad upon seeing his deteriorating health condition. I was unable
to figure out as what I should do in that type of situation, should I contact her or refrain
from contacting her. All these thought did came in my mind for past days. With each
passing day, these thoughts took the backseat. The restlessness was getting sediment
day by day.

I felt solace to find Parineeta along side. A tiny sapling budded from the alluvial soil. Her
smiles and her soothing touches brought respite to my dejected heart.


One evening after I picked her up from her college, she said that she want to goto a
movie.

“Why movie? I feel that quiet boring. Sitting there in a dark room and doing nothing. It is
better to watch movies at home.” I said to her.

She patted on my back and laughed at me, “Now I know why you are so boring.”

“Ah!” I exclaimed, “See I am a boring person.”

She suggested, “Yep. Ok then we can watch movie at your place. What do you say?”

I said to her, “Ok fine, but you will be late for home. What about that.”

She sounded bit nervous, “Yeah that’s true. May be this weekend, what do you say?”

I thought for a second and then gave my consent, “Ok I will pick you up.”

She then asked me, “Have you got any call from Titli?”

I shook my head, “No, not yet. I don’t know what all is going on.”

She sounded bit concerned, “Hmm... I think she is under lot of pressure from her
family.”

I nodded, “Yes I also think so.” I paused for a moment and then said, “At least she could
make a call from outside.”

She took a deep breath and said, “It is all fate Budhaditya. I don’t know what to say.”

“What?” I asked her. “What do you want to say?”

She said to me, “No not today, may be some other day I would tell you.”

[ddey333]

It started raining suddenly. She held me tightly as I raced my bike to her place. The

treacherous rain drenched both of us. The cold winds and the wet clothes were
depleting the heat of our body. She hugged me tightly to absorb heat from my body. I
could feel her soft bosom flattening on my back. A soft sensuous sensation ran through

my spine. The voluptuous beauty was trying save herself from the rain.

I dropped her at her place and stood under the porch of her apartment. Instead of
walking inside, she stood close to me. I could feel her heartbeat as her bosoms were
touching my arm. I looked at her rain-drenched face. Droplets of water trickling down
her strands created several thin streams on her dusky face. The dress was soaked and
glued to her bust. Her dark colour undergarments were visible. My gaze slipped over her
deep cleavage showing through the upper part of her dress.

She whispered in my ears, “Thanks for the ride. After a long time I felt lively again.”

I was also feeling the same. I mocked at her, “See, I am not that boring, right.”

She felt my gaze on her bosom and gave me a naughty smile, “You are not boring but I
feel quiet naughty.”

“Means?” I asked her, looking at her deep black eyes.

She turned toward me and pushed herself on her toes to reach out my nose with her
nose. I put my palms on both sides of her waist to accept the sweet sensation. She kept
her hand on my chest and pressed her bosom on mine. Our drenched body glued on
each other. I felt her warmth seeping through her soaked dress. She gently rubbed her
nose tip on mine. I felt her warm exhale on my mouth. Her lips were tempting. I touched
her forehead with mine. Her gaze poured sweltering lava in my heart, burning to the
core.

She gave me a sweet smile and said, “Go home you naughty fellow. If you catch fever
then who is going to drop me home tomorrow?”

I pulled her on me and said to her, “Is the rain catching fire, naughty girl?”

She shook her head, “Not at all.” She slipped through my embrace. Her face was
beaming with sheer bliss. I looked at her as she ran inside the apartment. Her swaying
back ignited the dousing fire in my heart. I was slipping away.

[ddey333]

Either got married or some sad thing.....titli is charming.  Hope the story has a positive ending

Pinuram !!

The master story teller ...

:)

[ddey333]

Really this story is unique among all other here , looking forward.

Thank you.
There will be no break in giving updates now on. 
Please be here, with us.

[ddey333]

It's an amazing story, believe me.

[ddey333]

Super update. Cant wait for next.

Will come tomorrow morning 

[ddey333]

Month passed and there was no information from Titli. The glimmer of hope faded with

each passing night. Her return to her abode seemed to be a distant dream for me. One
day I packed all her belongings in a suitcase and kept away from my sight. The monsoon
was passing by along with the dark rain clouds. The spring was peeing through the sky.

The smell of fresh flowers and green leaves breathed a new soul within me.

Riding everyday with swarthy siren, Parineeta, swept me away to some unknown shore
of bliss. Smile on her pouting lips and her blissful eyes enticed me with each passing day.
My attitude towards her changed from a simple friendship to something deeper.

Parineeta called the night before the designated weekend we were to meet at my place.

“Hi” she was sounding very excited, “What would you like in lunch tomorrow?”

I asked her, “Why, are you going to cook?”

She answered, “Yes why not.”

I asked her, “What all recipes do you know?”

She laughed at me, “Don’t worry, my recipes won’t harm you.”

I teased her, “How come I will know whether I had diarrhoea or not, after death?”

She laughed again, “Come on Budhaditya. You will not die. And yes, don’t pick me up, I
will take a taxi.”

I asked her, “Why taxi? I can pick you up from your place, don’t worry.”

She hushed, “Oh! I want to give you a surprise.”

I asked her, “What surprise?”

“No no.. If I tell you, now then it will not be a surprise. Now spend a sleepless night
thinking of that surprise. I won’t wish you sweet dreams because you are not going to
sleep.” She giggled and kept the phone.

Next day noon, Parineeta was at my doorstep. I was astounded to find her curvaceous
dusky figure dbangd in a pink saree. Contours of her voluptuous figure were quiet
imaginable. Her eyes were twinkling with some unknown bliss. She gave me a sleek
smile and touched my chin with her index finger.

[ddey333]

She whispered, “Will you keep me waiting here or ask me to come in?”


“Oh!” As if I woke up from a trance, “Yeah sure come in to my little nasty nest.”

She looked around the rooms, to the walls and asked me, “You live here alone.”

“Yes I live alone.” I fathomed that the next query would be about my parents so I lied to
her, “My parents stay in Dhanbad.”

She took out her mobile from her purse and said, “Hey I have bought a new cell phone.
Can I get your number please?”

I bought a cell phone the last week. So I said to her, “Oh sure.” I fed my number in her
contacts.

“Oh!” she walked to my living room, “So did Titli come here?”

I lied to her again, “Nah! She did not come. You know how close guarded person she is.”

She shook her head in disbelief, “You bought these curtains? They are beautiful. I have
to salute your taste.”

I gave a pale smile to her. I said to myself, this entire acknowledgement should goto the
queen of this nest. Alas, she was not there to. I was looking at the siren moving like a
breeze in the room. I watched her movements intently. She felt that I was watching her.

She gave a naughty smile and asked, “What are you looking at like this?”

I was about to say that your sway of backside was awesome, but that would be
improper in the first day at my house. I only said that I was devouring her beauty. She
turned away her coy face and entered the kitchen.

She asked me, “What for lunch?”

I said to her, “What are you going to prepare?” I stood behind her keeping a safe
distance.

[ddey333]

She wrapped the loose end of her saree on her waist, and her soft round belly was

exposed. My gaze slipped over the curve of her narrow waist. Suddenly I got tempted to
embrace her.

I took a deep breath and asked her, “Can I hold you?”

She came near me and placed my hand on her bare waist. I felt that my palms were
sweating on the sensuous curve of her waist. Felt the sweat of my palm on her waist.

She whispered looking deeply in my eyes, “Feeling nervous? I fancied you from the day
you hugged me on my birthday.”

Slowly I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her on me. Her bosom crushed on
mine. She threw her arms around my neck and looked up at my face. Her eyes were
glistening in passion. Our face came near; we felt our soft exhales on each other’s partial
opened mouth. I could not resist those dark petals soaked in honey. Those petals needs
to be sucked and honey to be licked. Her lips were trembling, anxiously waiting for some
words to utter or some loving touch.

I stooped down to touch her lips with mine. I muttered, “I love you Titli. I miss you very
much.”

That kiss was not finished. I saw that Parineeta’s eyes were glistening. Tears welled up in
those small but beautiful eyes. She bit her lower lips to control those tear drops from
falling.

Her eyelashes soaked and she sobbed out, “I am missing her very much, Budhaditya.”

I unwrapped my arms around her. Slowly she stepped back from my embrace.

She bewailed softly, “I envied her the day I saw her with you. She was my best friend
and she was my best foe. From the college days, she was always a step ahead from me. I
had affairs while she kept her heart intact for you.”

I fell on my knees in front of her with my head bend down. I shook my head muttering
to myself, how could I do that to Titli? That nest bore every signs of the queen. Why I
let, someone enter that abode.

Parineeta was quiet intelligent to gauge the pain in my soul. She ruffled my hair and
asked, “Tell me the truth, Titli came here, right?” I nodded my head. She continued, “All

these curtains, all these utensils, all those wall hangings, everything was bought by her.”
I nodded my head. She continued, “Bit by bit she adorned her dream roost.”

She put her palm on my chin and pulled up my face. She wiped her eyes and shook her
head with a pale smile, “I was a fool to touch the phoenix feather. I didn’t know then
that my hand could get burnt.”

[ddey333]

Awesome bro

We are feeling the pain in him

Waiting for next update

And thanks for regular updates

That's the real success of a writer, when the readers feel the pains and pleasures of the characters created by him / her.

Please keep on reading , truly this is an amazing romantic story .... very close to my heart.

[ddey333]

I kept silent all along her monologue. I stood up and sighed, “I am sorry Parineeta. I

should not have taken the step. Whatever be the reason for Titli’s silence, I will wait for
her call. She promised me that she would call me. Even if it takes a life time, I will wait
for her.”

She gave me a sweet smile and brought her hand forward, “Accept me as a good friend?
Will you?” I took her hand and shook it gently.

The whole ambience of the room became too much mushy. I asked Parineeta whether
she would like to have lunch outside or not. She excused that she was not feeling well.
She asked me to drop her home. While returning she sat on the pillion hugging me
tightly. As if that was her last ride to oblivion.

She bid me good bye with snivelled eyes, “Good Bye Budhaditya. Please don’t pick me
up from tomorrow.” She never looked back and walked inside her apartment.

[ddey333]

Chapter 16: Languid Aphrodite. (#1)


“What will you take? Scotch or vodka?” Dad asked me.

I arrived at Dhanbad that morning. Durga puja vacation started and the air was filled up
with vibrant mood. Since morning, Bappa was playing with me. I had a tough time to
handle that naughty fellow. He was very anxious since the day he left my home. At first,
he was not willing to call me brother. After much persuasion and much bribe, he named
me BuddhuBabu. We all laughed on hearing that name. I was much happy to see smile
on all their face.
We were sitting at the drawing room and Nilanjana Ma’am was preparing dinner for us.

I was surprise at his proposal and asked dad, “Do you really want to drink with me?”

Dad laughed at me and patted on my back, “When a father steps in his son’s shoes then
they become friends. By the way, I lost a son long ago now I can have a friend, right?”


I assured dad, “Ok, don’t get emotional now. I will pour you a drink.” I looked at his
cabinet and said to him, “Ma’am said that she has thrown away all your liquor then how
come all these are here?”
“I bought a bottle of Glenfiddich for you.” Dad whispered in my ears.

“When did you buy this?” we both got startled as we found that Nilanjana Ma’am was
standing behind us and looking at us with fiery gaze.

Dad looked at her with pleading eyes, “Only one drink dear. Just for his sake.”

I pleaded to ma’am, “I assure you, dad will have one drink only.”

She roared, “And you?”

I muttered somehow, “Only one on the rocks. That’s all.”

“Remember only one drink. If I find you two drinking more than one then I will throw
both of you out of the house.” She warned us.

We sat on the couch with our drink. Pure single malt whisky seemed like molten gold.
Chewing cashew and raisin along with fruits, the drink ignited fire in our blood.

I asked dad, “How do you handle ma’am?”

He laughed at me, “Who told you that I handle? Queen Bee rules in this hive.”
Nilanjana ma’am came out of the kitchen with a tray full of delicacies. She smiled at
both of us, “Pulling my leg.” She looked at me and said, “Remember only one drink.”

I felt to tease her, “Ok, only one drink. Remember you did not mention how large the
drink could be.”

She laughed at me, “So you are trying to fool me. Don’t think that I will spare you.”
I joined my hands and bowed in front of her, “No Ma Durga, today is shasti how can I
mock you? Either your lion or your spear will kill me then.”

[ddey333]

She smiled at me, “Ma Durga will definitely spare you.” Our conversation went on, on all
light subjects. I asked dad as how he handles Bappa. He said to me that he missed my
childhood so he was enjoying that in Bappa. I gave him a contended smile.


Ma’am became serious after sometime and asked me, “By the way, have you got any
call from Anoushka?”

I let out a deep exhale and shook my head in dismay, “No ma’am. No news until now. I
am very much worried about her well being.”

Dad gave a surprised look at me and asked, “What? You have a girlfriend? Good news
let us talk with her parents and fix your wedding as soon as possible.”

“Dad there is problem.” I looked at ma’am and asked, “Haven’t you explained to dad
yet?”

She looked at dad and scolded him, “I told you the day I came back from his house.” She
then smiled at me, “Don’t pay attention to his words. He forgets all the essentials and
remembers things that are not required. One day, he sent the Mercedes to bring the
workers and the van to my office. I am really fed up with all these.”

I gave her a pale smile, “At least you have someone to scold....”

She warned me, “Come on Budhaditya and don’t start now.”

All of a sudden my cell phone rang. I was surprised to hear Parineeta’s voice on the
phone.

“Hello, how are you? Long time we haven’t spoken.” she asked me.

“I am fine. What about you?” I asked her in return.

“I have some news for you.” She paused for a moment. My heart skipped few beats. I
anticipated that she was going to tell about Titli. She said to me in a pale voice, “Titli is
back in Kolkata and she is getting engaged tomorrow.”

The news shot a hot bullet in my soul shattering it to millions of pieces. I clenched my
teeth and growled at her, “This is a lie. She cannot do that.”

Parineeta sounded hurt, “Why should I deceive you, Budhaditya? If you don’t believe
then come and see with your own eyes.”

[ddey333]

I said to her, “How you got the news? You were not allowed to call at her house.”

She said to me, “I have sources. She has contact none of her friends. That is very
unusual of her nature.”

I said to her, “I want to meet her for one last time.”

She asked me, “Do you think that it is a good step?”

I stammered, “I don’t know, Parineeta. I just want to see her before she goes away from
my life forever. Where is the function?”

She said to me, “I don’t think it would be a wise decision to go in front of her.”
I muttered, “I don’t want to meet her, Parineeta. I just want to see her once. Can you
arrange that?”

“I will try my best. Engagement is at home and dinner at Taj Bengal.” She answered me,
“Call me once you make up your mind.”

The soul shattering news brought me down. My face became pale. I looked at my dad
and Nilanjana Ma’am and then poured the whole glass down my throat.

Nilanjana ma’am asked me, “What happened? Any news of Anoushka?”

I nodded my head. I was feeling dizzy unable to decide as what I should do. I kept on
muttering to myself, “What made you take that decision, Titli? You can’t do this with
me. You promised to make a call but you did not.” My chest cramped I felt that
someone was choking me by my neck.

Somehow, I staggered to the guestroom with the bottle. I poured the raw alcohol down
my throat so as find some respite from the burning pain in my broken soul. Instead of
dousing, the liquid fire ignited those reminiscences more in my heart. I was able to
visualise Titli’s poignant eyes in front of me. She was walking towards me. I tried to
reach her but I was unable to do so. She yelled at me from a great distance, “I will not
live without you, Adi.”

“Budhaditya, Stop drinking like this.” I heard Nilanjana ma’am. I turned towards her.
Dad and ma’am were standing behind me.

[ddey333]

I stammered at her, “Can I get your car? I want to goto Kolkata.”


She sat beside me and placed her soothing palm on my back, “Who called and what is
the news?”

I gave a pleading look at ma’am, “One of her friend called me to inform that, Titli is
getting engaged tomorrow. I just want to see her from a distance for one last time.”

She assured me, “That’s not a good idea, Budhaditya. If you want to go, I will send you
tomorrow morning. We all will go with you don’t worry.”

She tried to persuade me and asked dad to say something to me. I was able to notice
their lips moving trying to tell me something but none of their words reached my ears. I
do not know what I did after that. I passed out as I gulped last drop of alcohol from the
bottle.

I opened my eyes and found that I was lying on the bed. I looked around; dim light was
coming from the drawing room. I pulled up myself and went to the bathroom to freshen
up. All the million nerves of my brain were tearing me apart. I shook my head vigorously
to come out of that bound and face the fact. I took a deep breath and told to the
reflection on the mirror, “Let us face the consequence together.”

“Are you ok?” I was surprised to hear ma’am voice.

I nodded at her and asked, “You have not slept? What is the time?”

She shook her head, “It is three in the morning. Both of us were very much concerned
about you. How are you feeling, Budhaditya?”

I looked at her anguished face, “I am feeling fine. Can I go now? It will take about eight
hours to reach Kolkata.”

She shook her head in dismay, “I have nothing to say. I will ask the driver to take you.”

After sometime as I was ready to go, I observed that Nilanjana ma’am was also dressed
up and was beside me. I was bit astonished to find her dressed up.

I asked her, “What are you doing?”

She gave me a faint smile and said, “I am coming with you, Budhaditya.”

[ddey333]

I looked at dad, who was standing behind her. He nodded his head and asked me to

accompany with Nilanjana ma’am.

She said to me, “Budhaditya, this is not Mrs. Ghosh going with you. You promised me to
be a friend, so I think it is a friends responsibility to stand by his side in time of need.
This is Nilanjana your friend who will accompany with you.” She then look at dad and
said, “Look after Bappa. I will return by today nightfall or tomorrow morning. If
something happens I will give you a call.”

The car raced out of Dhanbad. My mind was caught by a tempest as what made her
change so much. I was sure that she was pressurised by her parents. I had that faith in
her that she would not have taken such step by herself. The question was, what should I
do? How much chance do I have to bring her back in her roost? Do I have any chance at
all? Am I leaping forward to a failed battle?

For the whole journey Nilanjana kept to herself. Something was going in her mind some
thoughts were stirring her soul. I was able to fathom that from the contours on her face.
I asked her the reason she answered nothing.

It was noon when I reached Kolkata. I called Parineeta and said her that I want to meet
her. I picked her from her house and we headed to the venue.
I introduced Parineeta with Nilanjana ma’am.

She smiled at me and asked, “How are you doing?”

I returned a failed smile at her, “Am doing fine as fine as I can be. It has been months we
have met.”

She nodded her head, yes. She asked me as how I plan to enter the venue and meet
Titli. Her parents knew me so if I walk in directly then there can be some problem. I said
to her to call Aurnavo and say that I want to meet him. I was sceptical as whether he
would meet me or not. However, I took that chance.

We waited anxiously at the coffee shop. Parineeta went inside the banquet. I kept my
eye closed counting number to thousand to kill time and clear my head from the angst.
Every time I start counting, every time I faltered. Nilanjana ma’am persuaded me to
keep my head cool.

[ddey333]

She said to me, “I am here to handle everything, don’t worry too much.”


I asked her, “What are you going to do? You only deterred me to meet Titli and now?”

She clenched her jaws to strengthen her soul and said, “I am going to talk with her
parents.”

I gave a bewildered look at her. She gently nodded her head, “Yes, let me give a try.”

I noticed that Parineeta was coming towards me with Aurnavo. I looked at his
bewildered face. He was unable to believe his eyes that I was sitting in front of him.
I asked him, “Hi, how are you doing?”

He asked me, “What are you doing here? If dad sees you he will kill you.”

I let out a deep exhale, “I know that’s why I have come.”

He shook his head, “No, please go away. After much persuasion, Didi has agreed for the
engagement. If you go in front of her, she will break down and my father will break
down too. I beg you Budhaditya Da. Please leave.”

I pleaded to him, “I just want to see for one last time. Can you do that for me?”
He looked at my pleading face, “Ok I will do that. I beg you please don’t mess up. It is a
matter of life and death.”

We walked behind him inside the banquet and stood at one corner of the huge hall. I
looked around, all the guests were quiet happy and enjoying. I looked at her parents;
their face was beaming with blissful smile. Aurnavo stood behind me so that he can
keep a close watch on me.

Finally, I turned my eyes on Titli. She was bedecked in a gorgeous green saree and gold
ornaments. She was sitting with some of her relatives. She was very quiet giving
occasional smiles to the guests who were congratulating her. I felt that she was having a
great pain inside her heart. From that distance, I was able to see her glistening eyes. She
was wiping her eyes with her handkerchief. Her face was pale, eye were lifeless as if
they were made up of glass.

I was unable to stand there for long. I felt an excruciating pain to cramp my soul. I felt
my life has shattered, completely demolished to the ground. My love, my soul, my
queen was within my reach but she was too far to touch. My tear buds betrayed me. My
eyes were dry. Once again, I felt the same burning sensation in my eyes I felt when my
grandmother left me.

[ddey333]

My soul was void, bereft of any pain or any feelings. I stared blankly at Aurnavo. He

shook his head in dismay.

He muttered to me, “I am helpless, Budhaditya Da. My dad and my maternal uncles
pressurised Didi. She has accepted her fate. Her marriage is in next year august. After
marriage she is going to London with her husband.”

Nilanjana ma’am was quiet all along. She looked at Arunavo and said to him, “Can I have
a word with your mother?”

He was perplexed, but on beholding her stern gaze. He walked inside and called his
mother along with him. Aunt looked at me and then at Nilanjana ma’am, her eyes
suddenly turned void on seeing me. Some pain drooped from the corner of her eyes.

Nilanjana ma’am touched her hand and said, “I have some words with you. Can we have
some privacy?”

Aunt looked at me asking as who she was. I answered after looking at Nilanjana ma’am,
“She is the next best person in my life after my mother.”

Nilanjana ma’am and Aunt went away, I stood there with a thumping grief stricken
heart, pouring void gaze at Titli. I don’t for how much time I stood there. After
sometime Nilanjana ma’am returned. Her face was red jaws clenched; she was having a
hard time to control her emotions and angst. I asked her as what happened she kept all
to herself.

She only said to me, “Budhaditya, I have failed. I am sorry.”

I was speechless, stood there as a stone effigy. My last straw was drowning infront of
my snivelled eyes and I was helpless. I clenched my jaws and put a step forward to enter
the banquet hall.

Parineeta tapped on my shoulder, “Let’s go Budhaditya. There is nothing left here.”
I let out a deep exhale and walked out with Parineeta. There was nothing left to look
back. There was nothing left to look forward.