My ears almost burned at his words. Ish! How can someone be so shameless! That too when he knows me from childhood!

"Kire... Lojja peli naki?" He chuckled. (OYE, SHARMA GAYI KYA)

"You are a total nutcase." And I ran from there. As fast as I could.

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Rohit's words are yet ringing in my ears. Cuddling myself, I closed my eyes. His words now may seem silly and absurd but it has to happen. Right? I mean staying in same room, things will change. Definitely change. But how? With his attitude towards me and my profession, will I ever be able to make peace with him? Anxiety clouded my mind, and in some moments I drowned into slumber again.

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"Bou-di-moni... Boudimoni..." and then an infancy giggle. I woke up with a start. There in front of me, was the most beautiful sight of my life. Rhea with Rohit's five month's nephew! He was Rohit's elder cousin's son. The baby giggled again accompanying with a clap.

"Boudi moni, see who has come to wake you up." Rhea spoke. Then, looking at the baby, "Kire gulu.. Notun kaki moni 'r kache jabi?" The baby giggled again. (HEY GULU, DO YOU WANT TO GO TO YOUR NEW AUNTY?)

I clapped my hands, "aye aye aye.." (COME COME COME).. and in next second, the living teddy bear jumped onto my lap. God, those pink puffy cheeks, red nose, and little round eyes! Gulu's eyes had hints of golden brown, hair were into little curls, both just like his uncle, Rohit.

"I am sorry boudi moni" I heard Rhea say. Oh, I had almost forgotten she was here. "Sorry, I got absorbed." I bit my tongue. She gave an understanding-smile. "I know, I should have behaved well, but..." and tears bounced out of her eyes. Oh hell! What happened? Why is she crying now?

"Hey, I didn't mind your words. Stop crying." Shya! I am so bad at convincing people. And to ask someone to stop crying, trying to console them is definitely not a cake walk for me. So I did what I generally do. Let her cry. She will open up soon.

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"boo boorrrrr boorrrrrr.." Gulu squealed. Rhea was still sobbing. I looked at the watch. Do it fast Rhea. Come on. It's around seven. Trisha Aunty had asked me get ready by 7:30.. Now, I have to take bath, get ready, read : put on sari, some basic jewelleries, a proper hair do. And then get ready for some puja. Well, I didn't mind that really. For, I had grown up seeing all these. Moreover, just a matter of rituals! So, no big deal.

Rheaaaa...

"You know boudi moni, Tanni my best friend back stabbed me."

Whoa! Where did that come from? And she is opening to me! I mean its okay, I don't mind being the friend in need. But still, when it comes from the girl who despised me even some fifteen-sixteen hours back, it is hell uncomfortable.

Uncapping the water bottle, I passed it to her. And she gulped the whole quantity in a go. Okay, I got it. Something very serious!

"You can tell me now."

"Tanni liked dada."

I raised a brow. Ohh..kay! So, now that I got married to her dada, Ms. Tanni broke her friendship with Rhea. So silly! Rubbing Rhea's back, I quipped the most obvious consoling words, 'Don't worry. She might be upset with the fact, she will come back to you."

"No, you don't understand. Tanni hooked up with the boy I loved."

Fuck! This is bad. What a bitch! I didn't expect this.

"And your boy friend..."

"He wasn't my boy friend. It was one sided. He never knew I loved him. No one knew, except Tanni. And she.." And again she started crying.

I don't know what came to my mind, I placed Gulu in her lap. And the magic happened. Her sobbing stopped after a few minutes. Now totally engrossed In Gulu.

7:25! Oh hell. I rushed to down stairs with the sari, blouse and petticoat. Okay, may be Rohit is right. I would like to have an attached bathroom.

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7: 35 and I am ready! In a baize 'dhakai', my basic jewelries and a loose bun. Thanks to my wet hair. Never In my life did I bath and got ready so fast. People say, every things changes after marriage, everyone changes after marriage. But I had no idea the changes would come so soon, rocking me.

"It's our family culture, today our new daughter-in-law will cook."Stated Jemma, Rangon Uncl.. I mean baba's elder brother's wife, Rohit's jemma (Tayi Ji).

I gulped, she smiled.

"Don't worry babu. Everything is done. You just have to stir the spoon. You can do the real cooking later, after you get accustomed here."

I sighed in relief. Thank god. No, thank you jemma.

Trisha Aa..Ma, entered the kitchen. "Aaj thakur er payesh ranna hobe. Hira tui korbi. But chinta korishna. Amra sb bole debo. Tui shudhu manually kore jabi."

(AAJ BHAGWAN K LIYE KHEER BANAYA JAYEGA. HIRA TUJHE BANANA PADEGA. BUT DON'T WORRY. HUM SB TUJHE INSTRUCTIONS DETE RAHENGE. TU BS MANUALLY KR JAYEGY.)

I nodded.

Not a very big deal. I cooked 'payesh' a few times previously.

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Jemma and ma were preparing the tray. What not it had! Right from a complete meal to sweets to pithe payesh! (PEETHE ARE DIFFTERENT TYPES OF HOMEMADE SWEETS BENGALIS PREPARE IN MAKAR SHANKRANTI. THEY ARE OF DIFFERENT TYPES BUT THE BASIC COMBINATION IS SCRUBBED COCONUT, JAGGERY, RICE FLOUR, MOONG DAL, ETC. ) Covering the food with banana leaf, they placed a sari on it. Done!

Trisha aan.. Uff! Ma. Ma. Ma. God I have to practice it. Ma gave me a sari and the whole set. Get ready again for another ritual.

I dashed towards my room. This time I had instructions to put on the heavy jewelleries.

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Turning the knob of the door, my breath got hitched!

There stood Rohit. In a crisp white kurta-pyjama. His lean yet wide and tight structure fitted perfectly in it. Humming some tune, he was setting his unruly curls. God! Suddenly his phone rang, and my trance broke. I backed off.

He went out speaking. Thank god he didn't notice me.

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Rohit's eyes were glued had to me. Ha ha ha! I so knew it. Why not? After all, I did it purposefully. Layering the sari in a 'aathpoure' style ( BENGALI TRADITIONAL WAY), a loose yet firm bun, and some jewelleries. Not to forget the subtle make up.

The shankh blew, ma handed the tray to Rohit. I held it then.

"Ami aaj theke Hira'r bhaat-kapod er dayitto nicchi. Or sb dayitto aaj theke amar. Shudhu o jano amake or design kora dress gulo na poraye." He gave a devilish smile. Ma slapped his arm, glaring him and everyone burst into laughter! He winked at me!

"I TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HIRA'S FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING. I TAKE HER EACH AND EVERY RESPONSIBILTY. ONLY ONE CONDITON, SHE MUST NOT MAKE ME WEAR THOSE DRESSES DESIGNED BY HER."

A/N: EXTREMELY SORRY FOR BEING SO LATE. HAD SOME REAL SERIOUS ISSUES. SO SORRY AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LOVING THIS SERIES. LOVE LOVE <3