Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

Saudamini stood expectantly, as everyone was ready to be seated for lunch.

The hall was floating with a thick aroma of the dishes as they were brought one by one, the servants hastily went in and out to cater to the guests. Saudamini watched Manikant taking seat beside Somnath and Damini, Subhankar's mother.

 Banana leaf plates were getting arranged on the floor, whereas, a copper plate was kept on the central side along with copper glass and bowls; the special place was reserved for the 'husband', that is Anirban. It was a ritual to that a wife should satisfy her husband on the first day of her household; as a heart can be won by fulfilling the stomach.

Her eyes eagerly tried to find Subhankar, after all she had to thank him for taking pains to help her out.  She spotted him, engaged in gossiping with Tripti and Meghmaala, and taking a seat in front of a banana leaf plate. Luckily, he raised his eyes and looked at Saudamini. The latter mouthed an honest  'Thank You' by folding her palms, and Subhankar just grinned at her in return, shaking his head.

Everyone was talking and gossiping, and soon the entire hall was filled with people. 

Anirban came inside with a pursed smile, and sat at his 'reserved place', feeling a bit awed; it had been only four months since he and Subhankar came back from London, and he was still trying to grasp in the homeliness of his home. Six years of struggling in foreign, only they knew what they actually dealt with there. At London, his status did not matter; neither did it matter that he was from actually a royal background; all that mattered to most that he was an 'Indian'.

And for most of them, 'Indians' are filth. 

He couldn't forget their gazes and snarks, when he and Subhankar would join their parties, the snide remarks and being called as residents of a poor country- how much his blood boiled upon hearing such words from them, but how much can he retaliate when he was one and they were in many? 

London felt distant even after five years of his stay, and India, his Bangla nourished, nurtured and welcomed him with open arms. Well, what can be said when India herself was under the British rule, who looked at the country as nothing but a servant's colony. 

No one knew how longer they would be the 'servants' under the British rule. 

But as much as they tried, they can't suppress the richness, the culture, the warmth and bravery of the Indians. They might be filth in someone's eyes, but India knew what worth her children shared being smeared with her mud. 

.

.

.

Saudamini's breath hitched as she watched everyone gulp in the first bite of rice and daal, along with curry. 

Was it good? Did everyone like it?

Her brows faltered discreetly, she felt her heart beating faster. She didn't knew why, why she had started to feel that all that she will do will go wrong, she will end up disappointing how much she tried. That fear that had garnered her, seemed difficult to evade now. 

"Amazing! Bouma really has magic in her hands!" Somnath was the first to compliment, so did Manikant, as he smilingly scooped up rice mixed with daal; and Saudamini couldn't help but grin back at him.

"Yeah, it's really good!" 

"I know right? It's so good!" Subhankar and Tripti almost commented together, they glanced at each other briefly, sitting on the opposite sides before chuckling. 

Everyone was eating heartily, her gazed up to Kadambari, who was eating without any expressions on her face. She won't say anything, she concluded with a slightly heavy heart; but there was another person who hadn't said a word yet.

Anirban was busy eating with slightly furrowed brows and a smile on his lips, as if he was having with too much concentration and did not want to be disturbed. Though he wasn't saying a word, that glow of satisfaction was evident on his face; he was mixing the Payesh and rice together and eating with content. 

He looked so......so adorable. 

"Anirban, son! Tell your wife whether you liked the food or not?" Shaanti, his middle aunt gazed at him with raised brows. Though she wasn't very fond of Anirban marrying Saudamini, again the reason was she being a widow, she could never openly admonish him or his choice; unlike her elder sister Kadambari. For her, decency should be maintained, and likes and dislikes should be contained to oneself. 

"Yes Ani! Say something at least!"

Saudamini stared at him, her heart beating faster against her chest. Though his face clearly showed he was liking the food, a part of her, a tiny part of her wanted him to acknowledge her; her efforts. He gazed up innocently, raising his eyes and slowing chewing the food, and then at Saudamini; who was looking at him with slight expectation, anticipation and eagerness; brushing her thumbs with each other.

She didn't knew why she felt like to side everyone else's opinion, but hear solely to him what he really felt about the food. 

The obvious part of her told that he was liking it; there was no forceful smile on his lips unlike Satyakaam, nor there was the discreet hurry in him to finish the food and leave. But she didn't knew why her heart wasn't perceiving things the way it should. It had been two years since everything happened, she had been alright till then; but now, those memories that she had felt she had accepted, seemed to be turning against her. 

Why, after two years, why?

She had moved on, right? Then why that sudden restlessness within her that had erupted within her again? 

Was it because Anirban was somewhat like, her?

Once upon a time, she hopelessly claimed to love Satyakaam, and now it was Anirban who hopelessly claimed to love her. 

It seemed like he was beginning something which had ended within her; she felt that he was resuming what she had unknowingly halted, he reminded her of herself. Her old self which she had left behind. He was again showing her what she was like once upon a time, and how she had grown to dislike what she was two years ago. 

Anirban kept gazing at her for a while with a soft smile on his lips, "The food is too good....I loved the Payesh the most." 

"You can see my plate," He innocently gushed, and Subhankar couldn't help but giggle silently.  

He wasn't lying; his plate was clean.

But so was Satyakaam's too that day when she had cooked for his family first. He too said he loved the food, and she had blushed, not realizing he was lying. And that too so well, that she didn't even realize much, or too blind in love to realize; maybe the latter.

No, it was always the latter; until reality came crashing down to her, harder than it should. 

If a friendship of fifteen years could actually be feigned.....

***********

A/N

👉👈 🥺 Baby Mini

Signing off for today!

Nushkie