Shetukala's slumber broke when she felt herself being squished against something. Her eyebrows furrowed but her eyelids were too heavy to  open and bed was too comfortable.
She tried to wiggle out but was crushed more against it by a strong arm.
Her eyes opened immediately to see the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.
He was here beside her, sleeping peacefully. His face just a few inches away from hers, looked serene and a content smile displayed on his lips.
Why is he smiling? What he must ne dreaming?
Shiny, soft black locks fell on his forehead, in a messy way making him look more beautiful. Who all said 'beautiful' word can't be used for men, they might not have ever seen him like this. Like a happy child sleeping , dreaming , smiling , lost in his own sweet world. When he is awake, he looks so stressed , running here and there with his books and medicines. Sometimes helping Dada,  sometimes Boudi.  Sometimes returning all tired after staying out whole night. But his smile never falters. It holds the same warmth for everyone around him.  Where would he have gone so late?

She had learnt the hard way not to trust men, not to go near them, not to talk to them, not to smile at them. They will get wrong signal. That you want to give them what they desire.
How does smiling at someone can make them feel that they can own you?
That you have some other motives? 

But he , he is so different. One of a kind.  His eyes have compassion. His arms have safety. His heartbeat rhythm calms her. Even, when he teases , his eyes crinkle at the corner and one side of his lip is raised higher than the other, a boyish smile coming on his face, like a naughty child.

How his thick eyebrows squeeze when he tries hard to remember something. Shakuntala unknowingly smoothened invisible creases on his forehead. He seemed to have relaxed more under her touch, her fingers moved involuntarily to his cheeks . His cheeks! Which redden the most heavenly crimson when he is embarassed or shy.
She saw first man shying away. He is indeed unique.

And his lips!
No shetu! Don't think about them.
But they are so , so soft and so sweet like a mango slice.
Seriously mango slice?

Shetukala chided her inner voice and admired his pinkish , plump lips more.
How they had captured hers that night as if they belonged there.
As if they had found their long lost companion.
How the water droplets glistened on them under the shower as if early winter dew drops lay on rose petals.
She couldn't help but remember how he sticks his tongue at one corner of his lightly parted lips when he concentrates too hard on something .
How his tongue licks them, when he eats her  made payesh making her own mouth water. It should be her tongue not his.
Shetu! What are you thinking? You shameless!

She shifted herself  away a bit to look clearly at his face.
Uh oh! Bad move!
His eyebrows furrowed and his lips turn a bit downwards  immediately showing displeasure to her intention of creating a distance between them.
He closed the space immediately between them snuggling more into her."uhmmmmmmmmm" The pleasure in his voice made her heart do a summersault. She didn't know hearts could do that. She would have to ask him. 

Now his face laid in the crook of her neck. His breath fanning her skin in regular beats, making her more aware of their proximity. Her own started throbbing, she feared he would listen it. Her eyes widened when she felt her nose nuzzling her neck where a portion of her hair lay.
Did he--? Did he just sniff her hair? 

"Shetukala! "
Shetukala felt as if she had fallen from cloud nine.

Boudi! Oh no! What is she doing here? How did we end up like this? If Boudi sees us , we will be in great trouble. At least the door is locked.

She eyed the door to confirm but her heart panicked when she saw the door was just closed, not locked. The latch was hanging by a single bolt , mocking her on her situation.
She closed her eyes frustratingly.

"Shetukala!" Bondita called again.
Today you are dead Shetu!

To make things worse, Batakrishna snuggled more inside her, his lips brushing over her neck. "Ufff...... Why boudi has to shout like this early morning? Doesn't even let me sleep."
Her breath hitched when he placed a quick kiss on her neck.

"Uhhh!" An involuntary moan left her mouth. She mentally facepalmed herself.
Great! Just great! When have you become so brazen Shetu? What if he wakes up and hear you making these unladylike sounds. What would he---

"Shetu?" His hoarse sleepy voice broke her monologue, as she looked at him. His face was laced with sleep and eyes looked hooded.

"Shetukala, are you okay? It's 8oclock. I'm coming in."  Bondita knocked on the door softly.

"Bou-" Before Batakrishna could create a blunder by answering, Shetukala put her palm on his lips, pushing him on his back by her weight and shouted, looking at the door. " Boudi , I...I am fine. I am changing. I'll be there in 10 minutes."

"Ok. Call me if there is a problem."

"Ji , boudi." Shetukala took a deep sigh of relief.  She looked at Batakrishna in anger.
"What were you going to do? What if she knew you are here in my room? "
Her face turned red as she remembered him coming to her room last night. Him making her sleep in her embrace protectively saving her from her nightmares.
"I....i....you...."

Batakrishna amused at her shyness, but was more amused at her obliviousness of the position they were lying in. She was lying on him , their lower body completely in touch. She has raised her upper body a bit to create distance between their faces to resume her glaring session. Her palm fixed on his lips. Now she had casted her eyes down in shyness ,it seemed.

Suddenly , Shetukala looked at him with shock, as she felt his morning wood through the thin sheath of his dhoti on her abdomen.
She jumped on the bed , as if she had touched a hot pan.

Her face changed colors quickly from horror to embarasment to anger.

Batakrishna himself realised in what difficult spot he got stuck in. His  own cheeks flushed in shame.

"You! You! " She pointed an index finger at him. "I trusted you. But you ! How could you?"
She hugged herself covering her whatever skin was exposed with her saree.
"I ..I didn't expect this from you . Daktar Babu!" Her eyes watered suddenly, her voice breaking and she ran into the bathroom sniffing covering her mouth with her hands, controlling her sobs.

"No! Shetu! Wait! You are thinking wrong." He got up fast and knocked the bathroom door loudly.

" Please go Daktar Babu. Leave me alone. I'm not that kind girl. " Her muffled voice came from inside.

"Shetu! Listen to me please. Let me explain." He pleaded.

"Daktar Babu! Please I beg you. Go away. And yes, tell Boudi to repair my door latch with a strong one. So that no one can break it. " She said hoarsely.

Batakrishna's face fell on the sudden change of events. He had not expected the morning to start like this. He left the room in fast pace to save whatever dignity was left of his in her eyes.

Shetukala cried to her heart's content loathing herself to think that any man could be different from what she had contracted till now. Finally, she pulled herself with the thought , that she will soon leave the place, before history repeats itself.

***
It has been evening time , he had tried to talk to Shetukala alone , to explain his innocence. But to his dismay, she would run away the moment they got a bit of privacy. She had followed Bondita like her tail the whole day, only leaving her side when she went to college, and that time she confined to her room , locked behind the door with a new latch put by one of the guards ,on her insistence to Anirudh himself.

***

" For how many days were you there? SHETUKALA! " Said Subhalaxmi a bit louder waving her hand in front of Shetukala's face. " Where are you lost today? Why zoning out suddenly? Did you remember something else too?"

Shetukala looked down and shook her head in negation. "Didi, can we do this tomorrow? I....I don't feel very well today."

"What happened? Do you have fever? " She touched her forehead to check the temperature. " No! Fever is not there. Maybe you are feeling under the weather. Let me call Batuk. He will give you medicine. Ba--"

"NOOOO!" She shreiked. " I...I mean... I'm okay. You need  not distrub him."

Subhalaxmi raised her eyebrows in amusement. She had noticed the soft eye glances exchange between the two. There was a very palpable tension between them. She had gauged many a times their cherry red cheeks whenever there were close.
She had known matters of heart enough to decode the feelings they both have towards each other, though in primary stage.

Subhalaxmi clasped Shetukala's hand in hers.
"What happened shetukala? Is everything okay? Did he say anything? Did you both fight?"

Shetukala shook her head in negation and looked down.

"I didn't want to pry, but I saw him coming out of your room in yesterday's clothes." Said Subhalaxmi.

Shetukala looked at her with horror.

"No! No! Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Shotti!  I know there must be some reason. He is not like that."

Shetukala had bottled up her emotions since morning , trying too hard to not think about him. Her heart was playing a tug of war with her mind in his matter. The heart refused to believe that he could stoop so low. But mind gave its own reasons , claiming the recent proximities of theirs.

Subhalaxmi had touched a sore point and Subhalaxmi's tears broke the dam of self control and she started crying with her hands hiding her face.

"Hey! Shetukala! Relax! Shhhh! Don't cry. You can tell me. I won't tell him. This conversation stays between us. Okay." Said Subhalaxmi rubbing her shoulder to calm her.

"Didi, I....he...." She sobbed bitterly.

"Calm down shetukala. Tell me without any fear."

" Yesterday, I ....I had a nightmare. And he came in my room. He ...he made me sleep. But he....he also slept with me. I....I thought that he might have fallen asleep. But....in...in the morning....." She closed her eyes in shame." I....I...got scared. He...he.."

Subhalaxmi's  eyes widened for a second and then she started laughing, almost wheezing.

Shetukala looked at her puzzled and  felt a tinge on insult in her laughter. She was about to stand, but Subhalaxmi held her hand.
" So-sorry ...I .... couldn't .... control myself..." She said between her laughs. "Oh Dugga! Shetu! I pity Batuk now."

"What do you mean?"

" It's not like what you are thinking. It's completely natural Shetukala, completely involuntary."

"I...I... didn't understand." Said Shetukala hesitantly.

"See, this happens with all men on some mornings. It's physiological and absolutely natural. They can't have control over it. It's how the male body works. It has nothing to do with what you are fearing." She said seriously now.

" Is it true? It was purely natural? Not intentional?"

"As far as I know him, it was not intentional." Subhalaxmi said confidently.

Shetukala  felt a heavy burden of guilt on her heart. She remembered how Batakrishna had tried to explain her, but she behaved rudely with him. Moreover , she had ignored him since morning , not even giving him a glance.

It was dinner time. She waited at the dining table for him.

"Bondita! Call Batuk. All are waiting for dinner to start." Said Aniruddh.

"Uh....That.... Barrister Babu! He left a note saying not to wait for him. He had some important work." Bondita said fidgeting her fingers.

" What? Again! This boy is getting out of hands. What has he gotten himself into?"

"Barrister Babu! I don't think he would have gone just for dawdling here and there. There must have some important work." She said defensively.

Anirudh nodded grimly and started his dinner.
Shetukala's face fell when she heard this news. She waited for Batakrishna.

It was past midnight. Shetukala hadn't winked her eyes for once. Her sight was fixed on the clock, worry eating her with every passing minute.
She heard the door being unlocked and she prepared herself to face him, her hands were sweating. What would she say to him? Does he still want to talk to her?

Bracing her heart she went into the hall. Batakrishna was seated on the big sofa. His clothes dirty in mud. His shirt was torn on his shoulder. Even in the dim light , she could see his face looked very exhausted. He had laid his head on the headrest of the sofa and closed his eyes in exhaustion.

Shetukala entered the hall, the jingling of her anklet alerted him of his presence. He instantly stood up from there trying not to face her, and turned to leave the hall.

"Daktar Babu!" Her words made him stop in his track.

He didn't turn. "Hmm"

"Th-the food is kept. I'll warm it right away." She turned hurrily, not finding courage to face him.

"I'm not hungry."

Shetukala didn't turn but paused her steps.
Both stood in the middle of the hall with their backs towards each other.

" Yu-you should eat the food. Or ....or you'll get ill." Said Shetukala fidgeting her fingers.

" I'm fine." Batakrishna said curtly.

"P-please ! " There was a plea in her voice Batakrishna couldn't ignore.

"Hm. I'll go and wash my hands."

Batakrishna didn't return for almost half an hour. Shetukala waited for him at the dining table. Not able to withstand anymore , she took the plate of food and went to his room.  The door was ajar. She curiously peaked inside. She saw him sleeping on the chair , still in his dirty clothes. His head rolled on his right shoulder, one hand kept on armrest and the other hanged from the edge.  He must have been really tired if he slept like this in dirty clothes.

She hesitantly went near him and kept the food on the table. And bowed a little gazing him. Her heart ached when she saw his forehead and left lips corner had cuts. Dry blood chips were stuck on them.

See! You evil eyed him in the morning. And then hurt him with your words. What else did you expect?

She touched his lip slightly. Batakrishna winced in his sleep and slightly opened his eyes. He saw Shetukala lowering over him with tears in her eyes.
"What happened? Why are you crying?" He stood up immediately and cupped her face. Then as he realised his mistake , he lowered his hands and cleared his throat.  "Di-did you again have a nightmare ?  I'll call Boudi."  He moved to walk out of the room.

Shetukala held his wrist. Batakrishna felt happy with this gesture but didn't want to think ahead of himself. He looked at her questioningly. Shetukala not bothering  about anything else, hugged him , catching him off guard. He had not expected her to behave like this after the morning accident.

She cried hugging him , wetting his shirt with her tears. He cautiously put his hand on her head caressing it. "What happened Shetu? Now , you are scaring me. " His voice actually had fear.

Shetukala sobbed. " I ....I am sorry..... I'm soo sorry.."

"What are you saying sorry for?"

"I....in the morning....I said hurtful words to you." She pulled herself back and looked down ashamed. "I.... should not have said that. I'm sorry." She looked in his.

He let out a  deep sigh of relief. " Silly! You scared me." He then averted his gaze and said,"  And about morning incident, be- believe me , it ...it happened--"

"I know. I know it was not your mistake. I'm sorry I misunderstood you."  She shook her head vehemently.

"You... You do."

"Y-yes."

"Ohhh.... ohkay." Said Batakrishna not finding anything else to answer.

"How did you get injured?"

"Oh this." He touched his forehead gently. "It's nothing ,just a small accident. Nothing to worry about."

"Why didn't you come out? Are you mad at me? Please don't be . I'll go back from this bouse tomorrow only. Then you won't have to see me. I promise I--"

He pulled her by grasping her waist. " As if I'll let you go." His voice became dangerously low, sending a shiver down her spine,  then turned soft. "You need not go anywhere Shetu. You are family."

"F-family." The word sounded too distant to her ears. She also had a family , a happy one , long back.

"Yes ." He rubbed her tear with the pad of his thumb. "Now , will you feed me some food too or fill my empty stomach with your tears only." Je released her from his grip.

She chuckled. "Yes, here's the food. Come sit. " She made him sit on the bed and seated beside him, taking the food plate in her hand. 

Don't forget to tell me how was the chapter. Thankyou 😘.