Bengal, Chakravarty House

"Okay, now you are going to listen to me." Subhankar grabbed Anirban's shoulder in the hallway firmly and shook him, "Do not, I repeat do not try to flirt with her. And do not by mistake say anything that can offend her, okay?"

"Offend?" Anirban raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit clueless about what his friend was trying to convey, "Why will she get offended?"

Subhankar bit his lips momentarily, "You're not in London anymore Anirban."

Anirban chuckled lightly, "Chill. I obviously know that!" He pushed his palms in his strap pant pocket and dug out a comb, brushing down his hair, "Now how am I looking?"

"That doesn't matter, to be honest." Subhankar appeared a bit skeptical, "You may look good but character attracts, you know?"

"What do you mean...." Anirban hummed, looking into his reflection through a glass case and adjusting a strand of hair on his forehead that was stubborn enough to be pushed back. He was very precise regarding his looks and there was no way he could compromise with them anytime soon. Look attracts, and that was true. He had chosen a white checkered shirt with a pair of black strap pants, folded his sleeves up to his elbows because that added a sense of hotness to his look, as per the ladies. The fresh and spicy scent of mint with a slight hint of sandalwood was a soothing whiff.

"Show him man, how much you are passionate about her!" Subhankar dramatically raised his hands, looking up, "Show how much you can care and love for her! The extent you can go for her!"

"That is the way you can make a woman say yes to marriage!"

Anirban was adjusting his cuffs up his elbow, "Fine, I will keep that in mind!"

"Look brother, don't take this lightly-"

"I thought you were going to motivate me instead of a lecture," Anirban deadpanned, shoving the comb back in his pocket. Subhankar stared at him for a few moments, "Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes and am I looking fine?" Anirban raised his brows, anticipating.

"Handsome as always....." Subhankar clicked his tongue and tilted his head, extending his hand and making way for him, making Anirban hug him tightly, "You're the best!"

"Yeah, I hope you apply this butter on the right person and at the right time," Subhankar patted his back, making him grin and stride towards the courtyard with long strides.

A few moments more, and Saudamini would be definitely dying to be his wife.

.

.

.

Saudamini lowered her lashes demurely, resting her forehead upon the copper pot filled with water. Her hair was dripping wet after a bath, it was almost afternoon and she was the last one in the family to have a bath and offer her veneration.

Perks of being a widow.

The little plant of tulsi was vibrant with its fresh leaves, planted on a marble stand in the middle of the open courtyard. She mumbled a few words of prayer with closed eyes and began pouring the water from the pot slowly upon the shrub. The cool zephyrs were brushing against her tresses, the innate silence appeared to fade away with the sound of footsteps.

And a slight sound of clearing throat alerted Saudamini.

Her grip tightened upon the water pot as she instantly spun around, a look of astonishment marring her face.

And with that, Anirban felt that he was on cloud nine. His lips curved up in an involuntary whipped smile, as he breathed in deeply. Saudamini subtly narrowed her gaze, trying to pull over the white veil over her head as it was deemed to be unfit for a woman, specially a widow to allow their head bare in front of a man.

"You look always this beautiful or today is something special?" Anirban rested his palm casually upon the nearby wall, shooting her a smirk. Saudamini's eyes widened all of a sudden, "What?"

"By the way, you must be waiting for me, love?" He winked.

She perked an eyebrow up in amusement, "Why do you think so?"

"God, you girls always demand an explanation for everything from us poor guys." He sighed and rolled his eyes, "Never confess anything directly!"

Saudamini shut her eyes firmly realizing what he was meant to say.

Anirban breathed out, adjusting his collar, "But I understand love, I understand a woman's feelings. The act coy but deep down they want what is forbidden for them."

Saudamini was about to interrupt but he clicked his tongue, "The subtle hints women drop to catch a man's attention, nothing misses my eyes....."

She lowered her chin, pressing her lips together.

It will be a bit fun to play along.

"Hmm?" Saudamini hummed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a bashful smile on her lips, "What do you know about my desires, Mr. Anirban Chatterjee? I want to....I want to hear as from your mouth."

"You women just know everything, just want this poor guy to spell it out for you," He sighed softly in pretense, internally feeling jubilant witnessing her turn coy, "But I will make things easy for you, love."

"How?" Saudamini softly responded looking down, beginning to curl the locks of her hair.

"I know that you are interested in me....and I harbor mutual feelings for you as well," He grinned, trying to conceal his excitement and have a grip on himself, "So yeah, let's not beat around the bush. Let's keep it simple and organic, okay?"

"Marry me, be my wife and I promise to keep you happy all my life!" Anirban instantly got on his knee, with a winsome smile on his lips and a little maroon box that withheld a golden ring within.

Finally, she's going to be his forever.

Anirban panted softly, his heart twanging against his chest hard. He had never considered proposing to a woman in his life, but Saudamini; for a moment he couldn't believe he had gone down on his knees for someone!

Saudamini took a step back consciously and in surprise, witnessing him slide on his knees. Her eyes momentarily trailed from the ring to Anirban's confident eyes and demeanor; making her lips curled up into a sarcastic smile, "How did you arrive at the conclusion that I am going to marry you?" 

Anirban furrowed his brows slightly in confusion.

"Let me tell you Mr. Anirban Chatterjee or whoever you are, you certainly are in a delusion that I am smitten by you," She sharply uttered now, her gaze bearing into him, "Because I am not interested in you and your proposal for marriage!"

"You can please go back and burn down your dreams of marrying me." She scanned him up and down, with a frown on her face.

Anirban felt that he was dreaming for a moment; he must have been too happy listening to her approval, hence he was hallucinating nonsense. His smile was fading off with each passing moment as he anticipated everything to turn to reality soon.

But that wasn't happening.

"Heard me?" Saudamini scoffed, inhaling deeply.

His brows gradually crossed against the bridge of his nose. This wasn't a dream or a hallucination. It wasn't. He didn't want to feel it, he didn't want to feel it at all.

But that heart in him had just began to feel heavy.

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Old Anirban be like: Beta Moye Moye 2023 me nahi mere sath 1975 me hi hochuka tha 🌝💔

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Signing off for today!

Nushkie