Bengal, Chatterjee House

Saudamini brushed her fingers on the exquisite bracelet. Studded with little red stones, it sparkled occasionally as she twirled it in her index and thumb.

Her gift from him. 

She didn't just know. Sometimes she felt like she knew what Anirban was like; but sometimes she was taken off-guard by him. What was happening to her? Why does these small things are making a mark in her conscience so much? 

And that too, so hastily?

Perplexed and haywire. That's what she felt as each day passed. 

His spicy words, his confidence, smug and buttery behavior, his charm; was invoking a duality within her. That was the gateway to her passion and desire. Her youthful cravings that he had blew fire to. The apathy she had molded around her was melted by him. 

But for whom? 

He was desiring her, perhaps for himself. He was invoking her her, but for whom? 

But she knew it didn't it? Still she couldn't stop herself; she was flaming the fire with him too. Wasn't it?

He was right, how is it only that he would be the only one to be blamed?

Conflicting thoughts hovered her. Their equation was just so.....she didn't knew what to name it. There was something yet nothing. There was this weird attachment that had been borne out of this desire, then there was this feeling of slithering away. Yet came in between those words of promises, the seven vows of marriage, that vermilion of commitment, and his little actions. 

Anirban was the man she had dreamt of in childhood. That flirtatious Prince who would carry her away like a whiff of wind with his smoky cadence, unmatched charm and flattery. The one who wouldn't hesitate to lay down his wealth for her. 

But then Satyakaam walked in her life again. Fours years after being away from hometown. With his humility, his calmness and his demeanour. His serene smile and collected self. Saudamini couldn't help but admire him; thinking herself to be a foolish girl in childhood. A man like Anirban could never keep her happy truly. A man like Satyakaam would. He would, with his maturity and truth. 

He was perfect in her eyes.

But for him, someone else was.

She was down for him so bad, that she had almost forgotten the barrier between imagination and reality. Truth and fake. 

She used to see Satyakaam not as a human, but as a God. She was mad for him. When he was clearly unbothered about her. But her delusion could never see it. She felt his distance as shyness, after-all, who could've rejected a beauty like her? 

And he said, 'What else do you have apart from your beauty?' 

She could forget everything for once. For once, definitely she could. But that day, that question spewed with hatred from his mouth, she never could. 

Because that question was not on her beauty. It was on her character. 

A person may be foolish. But he or she too realizes the when a question on character is hurled upon. And it wasn't a dubiety upon her purity, chastity or morality.

It was a slash of dagger on the grounds of humanity. 

And when a question on humanity arrives, it was more than chastity and purity. 

When a person is made to feel worthless....it was even worse than that. 

Even worse. Because, there is no defense to it. 

His words dug within her the urge to question herself. 

And destiny's weird game was still at bay. She was tied to the man whom she once dreamt of, but had shoved away in due time. 

Anirban Chatterjee. 

She was tied to him, when? When she had thought that men like him weren't worth her.

Phalguni's squeaky giggle caught Saudamini off-guard from her musings. She looked around momentarily, realizing that her eyes had moistened, for staring so long at the mirror, lost in thoughts. She hastily put the comb down and closed the box of bangles, after brushing the edge of her braid. 

From the corner of her eye, she could see her husband lying on the bed, with Phalguni on his lap. Carefree as usual, humor laced in his eyes. 

"Maama(uncle), you.. you down please!" She pressed her little hands on his chest, asking him to lie down on the pillow with a frown, "You're sick!" 

It took Saudamini a few moments to realize that they were playing physician and patient. She blinked amusingly at the duo.

"Okay okay, as physician Phalguni commands....!" Anirban faked a cough, lying down on the pillow with, "Uff doctor, I am so sick, please help!" He touched his forehead with the back of his palm and tilted his head. 

Saudamini had to admit, that man could really play along. A little smile spread on her face as she watched the child scramble from his lap and drag the quilt, shabbily wrapping it around Anirban as he pretended to cough. "Don't move, you're sick!" She squeaked, ordering him. He rubbed his nose and nodded adorably, "As physician wishes..."

"Now I will give you medicine, okay?" She looked excited, looking towards Saudamini, "Gi-give me....that water in glass," She fumbled her words in between, giggling. Being just three, she had her own moments of pronouncing the tougher sentences. Saudamini chuckled back, "Okay!" 

She strode to the nearby table, and poured a little water in a copper glass with a smile. Phalguni gazed at her with a toothy grin, getting impatient. 

"Here is medicine, physician Phalguni!" Saudamini sauntered towards the bed, giving her the glass and a spoon, "Thank you! You're a good nurse!" She giggled, taking the glass and twirling the spoon in it, while Anirban flickered an eye to check whether she would spill it or not. His gaze trailed towards Saudamini, with the same mischief in them, while the latter slightly furrowed her brows at him with deadpan. 

"Medicine!" Phalguni tapped his chest, and he was down again with the act of feeling miserable. He sighed deeply, taking the glass from her hand and drinking from it, "Aah..." 

"Now rest," She patted his head, while he nodded wildly, instantly closing his eyes.

No wonder why Meghmaala's children were obsessed with Anirban.

Saudamini tried to conceal her smile, shaking her head as she was about to walk away with the glass, when she felt a tug in her arm. She was about to stumble back with a gasp, but somehow balanced herself. She spun around, and as usual Anirban was looking at her with the same goofy grin on his face, holding back her arm. 

Heat crawled to her cheeks, as Phalguni blinked at her confusedly. 

Anirban faked another cough, "Doctor, I am sick right? I need...need some love!" 

Saudamini snapped her gaze at him, her jaw dropping slightly. This man!

Phalguni cupped her mouth, "Oh..."

"Isn't it dear? Look, I am so sick, don't you think your aunt Saudamini should kiss me and show some love?" He pretending to sniffle, with a pitiable expression on his face. Saudamini opened her mouth to say something but shut it, trying to free her wrist from his grip subtly. But Anirban firmed it more, tugging her. 

"You also need love when you're sick, right Phalguni?" He nodded, blinking at her, and then gave a short wink at Saudamini. She blinked furiously, trying to look away, but Anirban gave her a tug and she toppled on the bed beside him causing Phalguni to chuckle, "So ask your Maami to kiss me?"

"Please, dearest? It will help me recover!" He faked a frown again, and Phalguni nodded, "Yes!"

"Mini Maami, Maama is sick! Kiss him, please! Else he won't recover!" 

Saudamini looked at her unbelievably, and then at Anirban who was shooting a smirk at her with half closed eyes. Phalguni danced to his tunes for real! 

"Maami.....give him a magic kiss," She tapped her with her small hands, as she raised brows at her, blinking. 

"Yes Mini! Look, I am extremely sick no? Doctor asked you to give me a kiss, isn't it?" Anirban whined, "Doctor look! Looks like your nurse doesn't want me to recover at all!"

"O Maami, see he is sick!" Phalguni tapped her arm more, with a small frown.

"Okay..." She gulped. Oh God, this Anirban! How he takes advantage of situations!

Anirban's smirk widened, as he gazed at her with half-closed eyes. He brushed his thumb on her palm, bringing it close to her lips and peppered a soft kiss on her knuckles, his eyes not leaving hers.

And she instantly felt a stream of butterflies fluttering inside her stomach. She sucked in a deep breath, a deep blush crawling in her neck and jaws. 

This man would be the death of her someday!

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

😏😏😏sick Ani? 

Mini--Ghater mora sick 💀

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣isko Google me daalke translation dekhlena 

Signing off for today!

Nushkie