Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

Memories.

Old memories resurfaced like a wave over the ocean of reality. 

The entire family of the Chatterjees and the Bhoumiks had gathered together in the huge living room, gossiping avidly over a cup of tea and fritters. After five long years, the two families had been together. 

Subhankar slurped the tea at intervals, erupting in occasional laughter along with the gossips, but his gaze did not leave Tripti; who was sitting close to Indranil like she was already married to him and was his wife, smiling sometimes in between and chuckling softly. This Tripti was an entire unknown girl for Subhankar. And she always acted like this with Indranil since childhood, and that irked Subhankar a lot. 

He could not understand why Tripti had to be this submissive in front of Indranil everytime. Whenever Indranil used to come over, he would boss around her and she would listen to him without much fiasco, and nod with him most of the time. She was like a newly wedded bride in front of Indranil everytime, and seems like she was that even now as well.

Well, he knew he had to give her a benefit of doubt because she was seeing Indranil after five long years.

Still-

Why this submissive and shy? 

Even after Subhankar and Anirban repeatedly told her not to nod everything with Indranil, she still didn't seem to get it; maybe it had turned into her instinct to be a bit constrained in front of Indranil.

A part of him was hoping that it won't be the same now between Indranil and Tripti, and Indranil wouldn't boss around her much. And Tripti too would reciprocate similarly to him if she felt a bit bothered. Well, they were children that time, Subhankar hoped that Indranil had grown now mature enough to understand things, but the way he was bragging was making it difficult for not to roll his eyes. 

God knew why Tripti liked him. 

".....and things got heated," Indranil continued, laying back on the cushion as he chewed on a fritter, "Well, a bit of an outburst doesn't matter when you're studying in India's best college. Your life maybe at risk but it is worth it," He concluded in a smug smile, talking about a massive riot that had once erupted in front of the Hindu College in Calcutta. 

"Why didn't you come back home?" Anirban gazed at him, slurping on his tea. 

"I am not that chicken hearted Anirban. Just because of a little riot? Nah, man I have standards," He chuckled, putting the porcelain cup down. Anirban pursed his lips for a while and exchanged a glance with Subhankar and Saudamini, chuckling internally how he used to be a scared in front of just them in childhood, and now he was talking as if he had stopped the riots himself. 

"Of course, of course," Anirban tried not allow the sarcasm to drip from his mouth. Manikant gave him a brief eye, and he pursed his lips from snickering. 

"I smell improvement, do I?" Subhankar rested himself back on the couch with the intentional little jibe on Indranil, who side eyed him with a smile fading a bit. Tripti looked at him with a bit of wide eyes, and Somnath sighed at him from the other side of the couch. 

"Ah, well about improvement, I mean-direct from Midnapur to London ah, you both?" He faltered a bit, but caught himself up, "I mean I did not imagine that Subhankar you too would trail along with him as well," 

Subhankar's eyes widened for a moment as he looked at him for a moment.

"Why?" Saudamini blinked for a moment, gazing at Subhankar and Anirban for a moment; and a little bit of the realization hit her but it was too late. 

"Oh, that was because I thought that he would be waiting for another year for admission in Hindu College, I mean..." He casually uttered with a snicker, "Really Subho, couldn't you have stayed back and tried one more time? I mean, we could've then shared the same college after the same school you! It's the best college after all! So what if you failed the first time?" He emphasized on the word 'failed' with a subtle smirk on his face. 

"But you deceived me all over and went to London with Ani," Indranil shook his head, while his father satisfactorily drank from the cup, "Yeah son, you could've stayed back here only, could've tried one more time?" 

Subhankar gulped a bit in an invisible manner, as he inhaled a deep breath, feeling a bit speechless at his words. Embarassment washed over him as he uncomfortably peered at everyone. Anirban gritted his teeth under his breath, while Saudamini felt the tension along with Damini and Somnath.

"Ye-yeah son, I told him to try and all; but he was a bit adamant on joining Anirban," Damini covered up for Subhankar, too feeling a bit edgy at them. Subhankar just smiled softly to ease out the awkwardness; that failure was one thing which bothered him a lot. He used to be one of the brightest students of his school along with Indranil, and there was a close-edge competition between the two of them, but Subhankar would always ace by an inch. 

But fate was just unpredictable. He didn't knew how but he had been attacked by high fever on just the day before of their entrance examination; still he grumbled with Somnath and went for it, but his health was overriding his concentration that day. He had spent and toiled for days and nights for the exam, and everybody had confidence that he would be bagging a seat at the Hindu College.

For the first time in his life, he had tasted the salt of failure. His fingers were shivering when he was trying to find his name on the list, but it wasn't there. 

He checked twice, thrice and four times. But his name just wasn't there, and on the other hand Indranil had made it with flying colors. 

His teachers had motivated him not to lose hope, but at that moment he felt so broken that their words fell in deaf ears. He didn't want to try again and fail. He knew he could've aced it if he could've just not let his health override his mind. There are warriors who could fight with wounds and broken legs and still come out alive, and he couldn't make out with a simple fever? What will he do in life when it would further pressure him? 

He wished, he wished he didn't gave up that moment and would've tried the following year by staying back......but that time, he didn't how he lost so much hope that he didn't even choose to try again. 

London wasn't bad, but still; staying at India and studying at the Hindu College was a whole together form of respect; given that he had the capacity to! 

Tripti's face faltered as she kept gazing at Subhankar, who fell silent for a moment till Manikant changed the topic of discussion. 

For everyone knew about the coldness that existed between them.

.

.

.

"Ask your friend to behave in front of me," Indranil grumbled under his breath, as he looked at the other side with a disgusted look on his face, "Otherwise the next time I won't be hesitating to show him his place, Tripti. Mark my words." 

That was the first thing he said to her when she had caught up with him, while exiting the chamber.

"Indranil..." Tripti sighed for a while, "Please," She passed him a pleading look, gulping.

"Please what?" Indranil raised a brow, "Didn't you see how he was taunting me? I just showed him his place.....what does he think of himself? Son of a servant yet he has the audacity to speak in front of me?"

"No, I-I mean-" Tripti's throat dried up, she didn't knew what to say. Her heart thudded faster, and the urge to say he had crossed his limits was not coming out of her mouth, "I mean, it felt like a bit too much you know, I didn't want that to-"

"So? So what?" He furrowed his brows at her, causing her to shut her mouth momentarily, "And why are you even befriending that servant's son out of everyone, huh? Can't you see he and his family practically survives here just because of Manikant uncle's mercy?" 

Tripti's jaw dropped at his words, "Indranil, please!" 

Indranil let out a short snicker of mockery, "Truth is tough to be handled......and you will understand it soon one day," He gritted his teeth and walked away from there, leaving Tripti alone and miserable. 

That was the last thing she wanted to occur. 

She grasped her forehead with her palm, closing her eyes firmly and shaking her head. All her hopes had been drowned in the drain; was it so difficult for the two of them not to be nasty around each other? Her heart felt heavy upon hearing Indranil's subtle words of insult against Subhankar, but it was always the latter who started it, and things always escalated to a point where he ended up hurting himself.

 And this time too, the same thing happened. And witnessing Subhankar hurt was the last thing she could bear.

She knew Subhankar did not like him, but Indranil hated him. 

There bond even after years seemed irreparable. The damage was already done. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Indranil  👀🔥

Signing off for today!

Nushkie