We humans are so unpredictable, so greedy , so funny, so raw, so natural, and so so complicated.
You know what is more complicated than all of us combined together , duh!!! LOVE! But love has got a very naughty companion with it. That is jealousy. As naughty as a petulant kid who doesn't want to share his favourite toy with anyone. It has the capability to burn a heart, a person or a whole relation even without lighting a spark. The burning sensation is so intolerable, so possessed that we wish to just submerge ourselves in the cool arms of our lover to soothe the invisible but palpable burn wounds on our heart. His/her words of affirmation become our love language , our escape route to free ourselves from the flames of this untamed fire.

Jisko kabhi paya hi nahi use bhi khone ka dar satata hai.
Jiski muskan ki wajah bhi na bane kabhi,
Uska dard bhi rulata hai.

Uski har khwahish pr bs apna naam chahte hain,
Pr uski khushi ke liye bhi use baatna ni chahte.

Uski hasi ki wjh koi aur ho to kaano m chubhti hai,
Un dono k jude hue hath meri ankhon me kirkiri si lagti hai.

Uski zubaan pe ksi aur ka naam bhi aankhe nam kr deta hai,
Lekin wo bs ek nazar bhar dekh kr mre gum kum kr deta hai.

Haan mai hun swarthi, uske hotho pr bs mera fasana chahti hu,
Uski ankho me mera chehra , aur uske dil me mera thikana chahti hu.

Ye jo man ki jalan hai, ye bheetar se jalati hai,
Ye mohabbat itni aasan ni 'sakhi', ek nayan se aansu , ek nayan se khoon rulati hai.

***

"Hello, I'm Dr. Subhalaxmi Ganguly. You can call me Subha. You are Shakuntala right?" Subhalaxmi forwarded his hand to Shetukala.

"Shetukala." Shetukala replied sharply, ignored her hand and joined her own in namaskar.

Subhalaxmi shrugged her shoulders and joined her hands in namaskar. "Nice to meet you Shetukala."

Shetukala forced a smile on her lips. I wish I could say the same.

" Now, come inside Subha. Get some breakfast." Said Aniruddh.

Everyone was seated around the rectangular dining table.

"So Batuk, tell me did you find a beautiful girl for yourself?" Subhalaxmi wiggled her eyebrows and wrapped her right arm around batuk's shoulder grabbing his neck.

Shetukala's hawk like eyes on them widened listening to Subhalaxmi's brazen questions.
Beshorom! Behoya!! Lojjaheen ! Asking such questions from him, that too in front of his dada.
If looks could kill Subhalaxmi would have turned into ashes uptil now.

Shetukala scrutinized Batakrishna's face waiting for his answer. His cheeks painted in red and he denied bashfully. Her heart dropped to a pit in her stomach.

"Oh c'mon your cheeks are telling a completely different story. "

" These two will never change." Aniruddh chuckled and shook his head.

Batakrishna noticed Shetukala's agitated face and smirked. Ohh!! This is fun.

"Remember , how we used to compete that who will eat maximum number of puchkas. " Subhalaxmi beamed.

"I do, and how Boudi used to win everytime and we had to help her in planning and plotting to grab dada's attention." Batakrishna said.
They both laughed.

It was now Anirudh's turn to redden. He cleared his throat and hid behind the newspaper he was reading.

Shetukala was hovering over the dining table in pretense of serving and removing dishes, while Bondita has taken the charge of kitchen that day. Sometimes she used to clear her throat loudly , sometimes loudly ring her bangles to catch Batakrishna's attention.
"Ahem...ahem."

"Shetu!" Batakrishna looked at her , hiding his smile.

Shetukala smiled at him listening her name for the first time since morning.

"Do you have a sore throat? Take lozenge from my medical box." He pointed towards his room.

Shetu was just a fraction close to scowling. This is what he wants to ask after finally realising that she also exists.
She straightened her face and went into the kitchen again.

Batakrishna stifled his laughter at her jealous behaviour.

Shetukala was drying clothes on the clothstring on roof. " Dugga, dugga. What has happened to girls nowadays? Going to pardes for a few years and forgetting all their values. Clinging on men like betaal and asking them shameless questions. Batuk, did you find a girl for yourself" She said mimicking Subhalaxmi. " And he, denying straight , not even thinking once about me." She pouted. "Did - did that mean-- He --" Shetukala shuddered to even speak her mind.

"I what Shetu?" Batakrishna's voice made her jump and she clutched the clothstring with force making it break from the hook and fell forward. Batakrishna ,in order to stop her from falling held her shoulder but she also tugged his shirt at the same time, both falling , bringing down the clothstring. The white linen sheets came fluttering over them wrapping them in an embrace.

Shetukala opened her eyes and realised that her lips were touching Batuk's crook of neck. She gasped and lifted her head to see Batakrishna, his eyes were closed and a content smile spread on his lips. She was lying over Batakrishna , her hands clutching his shoulders. His arms were wrapped around her back in tight grip, sending electric jolts down her spine.

"S-s-sorry Daktar Babu. I .....I... It ....it was by mistake."

Batakrishna opened his eyes , to see large black orbs widened hovering over his face, searching for traces of anger. Her pink lips were quivering.

He smiled "It's okay. I don't mind. Though I would have loved it more if it was intentional." He gave a teasing smile.

Shetukala closed her eyes lowering her head, her cheeks turning cherry red in shyness. Her cold nose ring was touching his lips teasing them.
"Wh-what did you come for?" She asked softly.

"For you."

Shetukala lifted her head to look into his eyes. "Me??"

" Yes. I was going to market. I thought if you might need something."

"Ohh." She nodded.

Suddenly Batakrishna remembered her murmuring about Subhalaxmi. " Subha is also going with me. Ohh! What a girl! So beautiful. So intelligent. I'm so happy Dada called her for the case. We will get to relive our old memories." He said making a dreamy face, hiding his laughter.

Shetukala's red color of shyness turned into red of fury and she scrambled up to move away from him as fast she could. But the sheets were tucked beneath them trapping them together. But Shetukala was in no mood now to entertain this proximity. She forcefully lifted herself.

"Ouch! Shetu! Wait! Slowly."
Batakrishna let out a shreik when Shetukala's knee dug into his groin. "Owwwww! Ouch! Shetuuu!"

He grabbed her and rolled over , hovering over her. Her wrists were gripped in his hands on the sides of her head, and he had crossed his legs below hers trapping them in between. "Stop or you'll damage my assets." He growled.

Shetukala gasped. "Assets! I... I didn't touch any of your things."

"Now now, don't put images in my mind." He hushed in whispers.
He paused.
"By the way, no matter how much I love the crimson on your cheeks , this green of envy is a delicious treat to my eyes. I didn't know you are this fiesty. " He teased.

Shetukala blushed into pink." I...I am not envious." He wondered whether her face could turn into all colours of rainbow.

" Ya right. And , I'm not batakrishna." He rolled his eyes.

Suddenly , they heard Bondita's voice. " Batuk! Batuk! Subha is waiting for you. Where are you---Oh Dugga! Has an earthquake hit our roof?" She gasped seeing the clothstring broken, all the clothes and bedsheets lying haphazardly on the floor of terrace.

Batakrishna and Shetukala were lying down hidden behind a raised platform to dry chillies.

Shetukala's eyes widened on listening Bondita's voice. She clutched Batakrishna's shoulders and hid her face in his chest. They both lay still ,dreading their exposure.

"Daktar babu , what if Boudi sees us?" She lifted her head to look at him and whispered.

"She would think something is going between us." He winked.

"Hawww!" Shetukala shook her head, her nose brushing against his.
Batakrishna grinned.

Bondita moved towards them but stopped when Anirudhh called her.
"Bondita!!! Kaka has called. Come fast."

"Coming! Barrister babu!" She ran back downstairs.

Shetukala left a relieving sigh from her lips , closing her eyes and opened them to realise the burning proximity between them. His warm breath tickled her lips.

Batakrishna could feel her chest heaving up and down touching his own in a rhythmic fashion. He lowered himself a little , his lips touching the cold metal of her nosering lying on her lips , the only barrier between them.

Shetukala closed her eyes realising every escape route now was closed.

"Batuk! Batuk! Are you coming or not?" Subha shouted from downstairs, breaking their moment.

"Dammit! " Batakrishna cursed and closed his eyes in frustration. Shetukala let out a loud breath she didn't know she was holding for so long.
They finally removed the sheets carefully not to entangle themselves anymore.

Shetukala ran lifting her saree up a little, leaving a blushing Batakrishna behind.

***

Batakrishna , Anirudh and Subhalaxmi were in the study since morning , making Shetukala more and more edgy.
At least Dada is there, that means he is safe.
She had paced more than a few miles in front of the study in past few hours.

Now and then, she would hear giggles from inside, mainly of Batakrishna and Subhalaxmi. Anirudh's scolding also came in between ,time and again. Bondita was busy in her room with some assignment , she had said.

Shetukala had a hunch what they would be talking about. After all Subhalaxmi was called for her treatment. A strange dread started creeping inside her heart.
What if Daktar babu also knows about her?
Would he still look at her the same way?

***

Shetukala had made roshogullas for Batakrishna. She had heard from Bondita how they used to fight over them in childhood. It was past his dinner time but he was not there. Suddenly, a bout of laughter caught her attention. She went to the hall and saw that Batakrishna , Subhalaxmi and Bondita were seated on ground forming a group. In front of them were kept three plates of puchka and a common bowl of sweet and sour tamarind water.

" If I win, you will have to accept that I am smarter than Dada." He said.

"Hah! In your dreams."
Bondita and Subhalaxmi said in unison and then laughed.

"If I win Batuk will have to show me around Calcutta tomorrow." Said Subhalaxmi.

Shetukala's face contorted in irritation. Yes, as if he has got not better work to do. Is this why she has come ? Roaming around streets everyday. Tomorrow she will say, he has to go to London with him.

"--Or better you come to London with me."

Shetukala's eyes widened in shock. Shetu! What a black tongue you've got!

"We'll know that soon."
Smirked Bondita. "If I win--"

"As if you are a part of this competition." Said Aniruddh sitting beside them.

" What do you mean?" Bondita frowned.

"I mean that you are not a part of this competition."

"But why?" Bondita whined.

"Bondita! Tomorrow is your test na! And you have to submit the assignment too. What if you upset your stomach?"

"Barrister babu! You are saying as if I'm eating puchka for the first time." Bondita pouted.

"No means no. Have it tomorrow. Subha is here only. Do the competition someday else."

"Okay." Bondita said sadly making a pout. Aniruddh shook his head at her drama.

Shetukala came near Batakrishna and said softly . " I have made roshogullas for you."

"Yes, yes keep it there." Said Batakrishna , his eyes focussed on Subhalaxmi as she was telling something about her college days in London.

Her face fell and she kept the roshogullas near them on the floor.

"Now , you Monkey man! The bet is still the same. Ready?" Said Subhalaxmi.

" Always ready you lizzy pizzy lizzard." Said Batakrishna.

The competition started . Eating puchkas is no child's game, neither was serving them. Aniruddh was given the task of serving them puchkas by Bondita as a punishment for not allowing her to compete.

He broke a dry puchka with his forefinger and filled it with mushy potato mixture and dunked it in the tamarind water.
Twenty puchkas down, and Subhalaxmi and Batakrishna were on tie. Subhalaxmi was biting her nails fearing Subhalaxmi will win. She whispered something in Batakrishna's ears. He nodded at her.

"This is cheating. Subha is eating puchkas with sweet chutney. No sweetness allowed. Competition should be equal." Said Batakrishna.

" But you know I can't eat spicy ones." Subha whined.

"So, you accept your defeat? " Batuk mocked.

"Not at all." Subhalaxmi turned to Anirudh." Give me also only spicy ones."
Anirudh nodded.

Ten puchkas down, and Subhalaxmi started wheezing due to spicy puchkas.

"Accept your defeat Subha and this fact too that I am better than Dada." Said Batakrishna completely unaffected by the spice.

Subhalaxmi shook her head in negation, unable to speak. Suddenly, she started coughing.

Batakrishna panicked when her coughs didn't stop. He left his plate and came towards her and rubbed her back. "Subha! Subha! Easy!"

Subha kept coughing and held her throat rubbing it. "My throat is burning."
Batakrishna saw the bowl of roshogullas and put one in Subha's mouth when she was gasping for breath.

Shetukala's last ounce of patience broke and her eyes moistened when she saw her made roshogullas were being fed to Subhalaxmi by Batakrishna , that too by his own hands. He was rubbing Subhalaxmi's back to calm her, and wiped her tears with his thumb muttering sorry's for forcing her to eat spicy puchkas.

Shetukala came stomping towards them and lifted the tamarind water bowl to her lips and drank it in large gulps.

Batakrishna was shocked to see her. He knew the tamarind water was indeed very
spicy. He told Subhalaxmi also to eat spicy puchkas to defeat
her as he thought she would give up after a few ones.
"Shetuuu!" He tried to snatch the bowl from her but she moved away and gripped it close to her mouth gulping down the spicy liquid down her throat in one go.
Finally , when it was empty, it fell from her hands.
Her eyes were red, fresh tears dripping down, and lips red and swollen. Tamarind water was dripping from her chin. She wiped it with the back of her hand and ran to the roof crying.

Everyone was stunned at this sudden change of events and more by Shetukala's erratic behaviour.

Batakrishna took the roshogulla bowl and followed shetukala to the roof jumping two stairs at once. "Shetuuu! Shetuuu! Wait!!!! Shetuuuu!!!"

Shetukala was leaning over the railing gasping for air. The burning sensation in her heart was more overbearing than that in her throat. Batakrishna came from behind and turned her towards him by her shoulder. "Are you mad? What was that?"

"YES, YES I AM MAD. What does it have to do with you?" She yelled yanking his hand. " You go! Console your lovely childhood friend. Don't bother about me."

"What are you saying Shetu? Why wouldn't I care for you? And you yourself saw Subha started coughing. What did you expect me to do?"

"I DON'T KNOW. DON'T ASK ME WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE AND WHAT NOT!!! " She screamed , still hissing with pain.

"Shetu! Ok ok calm down. Eat this roshogulla first. You will feel better." He forwarded a roshogulla to her mouth but she pushed his hand making the sweet fall on the floor.

"I don't want it. Take it. Go and feed her. I don't need you. Or I should say you don't need to care for me now. Now, that you know what had happened with me. Now that you know I don't deserve to feel what is there between us. Now that you know how impure I am." She turned back to the railing.

Batakrishna's blood boiled in anger listening to her accusations and more on listening to words she was using about her.
He put a roshogulla in his mouth , half inside and pulled her by waist.

Shetukala gasped on his bold move, her mouth parted and she looked at him. Suddenly Batakrishna crashed his mouth on hers , stuffing the half portion of roshogulla in her mouth. Shetukala accepted it in her mouth, the sweetness of the sweet calming the burning sensation in her mouth and his soft lips on hers calming the burning flames in her heart. He was in no mood to pull himself back, rather pushed his tongue in, exploring the mixed flavour of spicy and sweet in the crevices of her mouth. He opened her nosering with his left hand without breaking the kiss , which was irritating him. He wanted to get rid of every hurdle that kept him from loving her , for uniting with her.

Their tongues kneaded the soft white ball between them turning it into a mushy liquid. Batakrishna has never had any roshogulla this sweet. He knew detached him was going to have a new favourite flavour.

His kiss was fierce , demanding and claiming his right on hers. His hands cupped her face , his thumbs on her cheeks making small circles , palm on the sides of her neck, keeping her head tilted at a certain angle to his comfort. Her trembling hands had found their shelter in his smooth , silky hair, caressing the back of his head , and holding his hair locks tightly to prevent herself from collapsing on the ground in a heap.

The roshogulla was long gone down their throats, mixed with the flavour of their own. Their tongues were now fighting for the dominance but none wanted to give up in submission.
Shetukala was furious, her heart smouldering in resentment and this kiss was her mode to unleash her insecurities.
Batakrishna was enraged , for she had not only insulted herself but accused him of seeing her as any less than what she deserves.

When none was willing to accept defeat, and they ran out of oxygen, they pulled themselves back simultaneously , breathless, gasping for air. But their hands didn't leave their former positions.

Batakrishna touched his forehead with hers, their warm shallow and fast breaths mixing into each other burning and soothing their skin at the same time.

"Never say that again. Never! Did you get that? Or even I don't know what I will do."
He hushed dangerously in his thick hoarse voice, tightening his hold on her cheeks.

Shetukala looked in his eyes, dark and dangerous, scorching heat was emanating from them. She felt herself trembling from the burden of what had happened in the last few minutes.
She felt as if a pile of rocks has hit her like a landslide. No ! I can't do this to him. He doesn't deserve this. He deserves better ,no he deserves the best. And she is the worst that could happen to him.

She pushed him with all her might and ran as fast as she could to her room. But today, Batakrishna was in no mood to let her go. She had pulled the last strings of his patience. Now there is no going back, no running away. He had made his mind to liberate Shetukala of her demons. Her fears , her insecurities, her inferiority complex and her pain. He would free her of all the shackles caging her so that she can breathe freely , live freely , and above all love freely and fiercely.

Listen to the most beautiful song of jealousy I've ever heard. Completely fits the situation.😍😍😍

Please leave your honest opinions about this chapter.
Thankyou ❤️😘

Ps: This is my first lip kiss scene I've ever written. Tell me how was it.

Pss: Any new suggestions, mistakes, or ideas about their moments are welcomed in my dm about this story.

"I can't thank you enough for giving such lovely comments and votes. This is the first story that makes me so nervous. Whether is it is your high expectations towards it which i fear i won't be able to justify or Batuk and shetu's intense love. I don't know. 🥺🥺