Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

The warm rays of the Sun were a bliss in the wintry morning; thereby causing the women of the house to be seated on the terrace comfortably.

The entire surface was widespread, the older pitching of huge stones were done, clearly indicating it was built during the older times; there were even cannons placed at intervals near the edges of the terrace. Cannons, which once were functional were now sealed properly with mud and dried grass. One could only be at awe to imagine that those were in use once upon a time. 

The walls of the fortress on the other side were visible from the open area, and beyond that were forests; and the faint sound of the river could be heard, along with the faint squeaks of train engine passing by, for a railway line was close. 

"My, Meghmaala Didi, I never knew you had a love marriage!" Saudamini gushed, chuckling after Tripti spilt the beans, while Vandana and Brishti, their friends laughed. Meghmaala turned a slight shade of red, after passing Tripti a short glare who simply gave her a teasing nudge on her shoulder with a smirk on her, "Uff, remembering those days of sneaking out with Dibyendu Dada?" 

"Tripti...." 

Saudamini couldn't help but giggle, "Then? Carry on Tripti! I am on all ears!" 

"Boudi, you won't even believe how Didi lied through her teeth!" Vandana interjected, snickering.

"It's not so Saudamini- These mischievous girls are just making up things on her own-"

"I am making up things? Really?" Brishti turned towards her with a dramatically surprised look on her face, "You don't remember how you used to lie to Shaanti Maashi and sneak out and hide behind the tree?"

Saudamini cupped her mouth and laughed, "Gosh-"

"Brishti-" Meghmaala tried to hide her blush and chuckle at the same time, "Your mouth moves a lot these days!" 

"Of course! You're forgetting your days of pampering Dibyendu Dada and now instead blaming him to be over-pampered? Wait and watch, today I am not going to spare you!" Tripti huffed and turned towards Saudamini's side, who was trying to control her laughter, "And you know Boudi, Dibyendu Dada used to stand underneath Didi's balcony just to have a glimpse of her! And also every evening!"

Meghmaala stuttered, shaking her head.

"And you know what Didi used to do? She used to throw a flower to him through the balcony and run away being shy!" Brishti added, making Meghmaala cup her face in embarassment.

Saudamini was by now cupping her mouth with both her hands and snickering while Meghmaala had turned completely red, "Tripti, it's enough now....! Hush or I am going to expose you as well!" 

"Me? What did I do that is worthy of getting exposed?" Tripti raised a brow at Meghmaala, while Saudamini was enjoying watching the duo.

"Worthy of getting exposed? If I start jotting down your list it won't get over, okay? Mini, you know? She has written so many poems about Indranil but never had courage to send them to him!" Meghmaala instantly spoke, and now Tripti was in a tiff.

"W-what? Really Tripti?" Saudamini widened her eyes instantly, trying to hide the discomfort. There was indeed a time when she herself had written so many couplets for Satyakaam, but never got a chance to read it out to him, nor tell him how much she adored him. Well, it was now of no use to her. 

"What? No, not at all, okay!" Tripti gulped, looking away. Indranil Bhoumik was Tripti's childhood friend, whom she had been betrothed since she was born. Saudamini heard that Manikant had done the alliance in the hope that the two powerful families would come together one day.

"Oho, why? There's no harm in admiring your fiance!" Saudamini nudged Tripti playfully, but the latter just gazed down quietly, "Uff, now feeling shy, huh?" Meghmaala pinched her cheek and giggled.

"Didi!" Tripti whined and pouted, and Saudamini chuckled. 

"What Didi? You didn't remember that time when you were exposing me?" 

Suddenly, there was a string of laughter that interrupted the women; their eyes falling upon Anirban, Subhankar and Dibyendu who rushed towards the other side of the terrace, grinning with Meghmaala's two sons and Phalguni; carried a few kites. 

"Hmmm, Dadabhai is looking too happy today...." Tripti raised a brow at Saudamini, causing her to snap her at in slight surprise. Her gaze fell upon Anirban slowly who was holding Phalguni in his one arm and the reel of the kite in the other. He was laughing heartily, as Subhankar was trying to adjust the bridle of the kite, just like a carefree soul.

His smile and laughter, were truly contagious. 

Suddenly, her mind began to run through the memories of the previous night, warmth crawling to her jaws as she remembered him teasing her this morning.

Oh yes, she had to be angry upon him for that! How dare he? 

"Here starts their childishness again," Meghmaala shook her head with a light smile, "I am telling you Mini, hold your husband in grip okay? He's one hell of a mischievous soul to exist!" 

That he definitely was.

'Saudamini, hold yourself up!'  Saudamini exhaled slightly, eyeing Vandana, "You don't know Boudi, he has such a sweet tongue that he could butter up anyone and pretend to be innocent as heck....don't let him dance on your head!" She giggled along with Tripti, while she gazed back at her husband.

Anirban traversed his glance from the sky towards her, the same teasing smile spreading on his lips. 

It took a lot of efforts from Saudamini's side to glare back at him and look away.

".....I know right! I never thought this man would marry after rejecting eight proposals!" Meghmaala responded something to which Tripti had said, but Saudamini had missed it, all kudos to Anirban. But her ear amicably caught the phrase of him rejecting 'eight proposals'.

"Wh-what? Really?" Saudamini blinked at the women.

"If not that then what else? We had thought that he would never stop his flirtatious ways!" 

"Nor settle his heart on a single woman!"

"You know Boudi? Every time we almost thought that now he was going to marry and so on," Vandana continued, giggling, "Like he would throw his flirty lines upon every woman Manikant uncle would send proposals to, and their family would come to meet them!"

Saudamini's jaw dropped slightly hearing Vandana. 

"Exactly!" Brishti laughed, "And the women too were so innocent.....they also fell for his lovey-dovey words and all that. Only if they knew!"

Saudamini's lips twitched hearing there words; there was a slight tinge that she felt in her heart, hearing how Anirban openly flirted around with women.

"He would kiss their palms and wink at them, like oh he was so besotted to marry them, gosh!" 

Kiss their palms?! 

And he dare tell her that she was the only woman he looked at? 

Saudamini bit her lower lip slightly, as she began to rub her thumb and finger together, her brows crossing as she threw a sharp gaze at Anirban.

"Exactly! It's good he married otherwise he would've kept on fooling women!" 

"Boudi, keep your husband tied up in your saree's pallu!" Vandana teased, her brows dancing, "Your lover is indeed colorful!" 

Meghmaala smacked the latter's head earning a little frown from her, and glanced back at Saudamini, "Uff Mini! Don't listen to these girls, alright?!" 

"They are just teasing you!" She chuckled playfully, but Saudamini's lips kicked into a dubious smile. 

.

.

.

Anirban leaned against the pillar with furrowed brows, watching his wife looking amusedly at the team of tribal dancers, on the other side of the courtyard.

The vagabonds, better known as the 'Bauls'  had lit up their evening, with their traditional tribal songs; dressed in green and red, they sang in their accent, jingling their instruments while a man was playing the Ektara and singing in a high pitched tone. Everybody was giggling and clapping, along with Saudamini, who was chuckling, feeling a bit amused at the lively environment. 

He gazed at her with the same lopsided smile, his head thrown back against the pillar, as his mind replayed the memories from their previous night.

His Mini was indeed wild. 

Her skin felt smooth as butter as he skimmed his palms along her, and had felt her shiver and flinch at his touches. The woman who was pretending to be unbothered by him all the while, turned a blushing mess under his spell; her outward resistance yet inward thirst for him was working like a strange pull for him, and there was today again; looking away from his gaze since the morning.

Anirban felt jittery, as she wasn't even looking at him. 

Was she angry because he was teasing her? 

Well....

For a moment their gazes locked, Anirban raised his brows at her with a curve on his lips; but instead she lowered her lashes with a small frown on her face, looking away. 

Seriously? Couldn't he even tease her now as well? So much anger?

Where will she go......? She would have to come back to him only after everything! 

"Now what did you do?" Anirban side eyed Subhankar, who was watching the Bauls dance, as the women began to join one by one. 

"Ignoring me since the morning." He muttered, shaking his head and looking intently at Saudamini, who was now dragged by the Bauls to join her for the dance.

"Yeah, now go on! You only chose her as your better half, right?"  Subhankar laughed, crossing his hands behind his back, "Now handle her fire!"

"You done?" Anirban huffed at him.

"Your girl is the fire, fire.....don't take her lightly my friend," He shook his head, still chuckling seeing Anirban shaking his head.

"Let her be. If she's fire then I am wildfire..." Anirban's lips curved up into a sinister smirk. 

*************

A/N

Ani be like- Kal mile hayee, kal mile hayee, kal mile fir kyu bhul gaye aaj re hayee Dagaabaaz re hayeee Dagaabaaz re 👀🔥

Signing off for today!

Nushkie