Bengal, Chakravarty House

Saudamini was busy aligning the wet clothes on the line at the terrace. It was peak afternoon, the Sun being ablaze in the bright sky would make them dry asap. With the edge of her saree tied on her waist, she and Shiuli were busy squeezing the heavy and damp clothes.

"Kaaki, I actually forgot to tell you," Shiuli peered from between the two extensive sarees which were hanging on the line. Saudamini side eyed her with a half smile on her lips. "Yesterday, Baba brought my wedding saree! I was so excited that I had forgotten to tell you only!"

"It's exactly my choice! Red Benarasi with tribal prints! I loved it so much!" Shiuli squealed and jumped, squeezing the wet cloth between her palms. The latter giggled softly, "I told you right, tribal prints always suit you."

"You were damn right, Kaaki!"

"Now, tell me? When are you going to get your wedding saree?" Shiuli waggled her brows, making Saudamini snap at her, widening her eyes, "Your brain has gone to chew grass it seems." She chuckled, aligning a shawl and stretching it over the line.

"But why?" Shiuli whined, "You're also getting married, right?!"

"Oho, Miss Shiuli Chakravarty, relax! When did my marriage get confirmed?" Saudamini signaled amusedly by raising her brows.

"But your mother sent the letter to him!"

"So? Did he agree to marry? No right?" She jubilantly answered, with a smug smile, "I knew he won't....."

Shiuli pouted and made a face making Saudamini chuckle hard, "I told you, I was right about that egoistic jerk-" The latter rolled her eyes and continued squeezing out the water, while Saudamini picked up the last saree from the bucket. She twisted it firmly, letting the water ooze out, suddenly getting flabbergasted by footsteps arriving. Turning around, she accidentally jerked the wet cloth hard in the process; gasping softly at the victim who was about to stumble and fall because of it.

"Anirban?!" Saudamini cupped her mouth with astonishment, removing the cloth from over his shoulder.

"Ouch...." Anirban massaged his jaw, half crouching and with droplets of water splashed on his jacket and trickling from the front of his hair, "Oh God!"

Shiuli pressed her palm over her mouth to prevent from snickering.

"Have you gone completely bonkers?!" Anirban whined, standing straight. His jaw had turned slightly red due to the accidental whack, "Why do you always do this with me?"

Saudamini bit her lips, raising her hand, "But what the hell are you doing here?"

He began to brush his fingers through his hair, breathing, "I had come to give you the ring, of course!"

The latter's eyes were about to pop up from their sockets. What?

What?!

"God, you hit so hard man! Are you any sort of wrestler or what?!" He scrunched his forehead, again massaging his jaw. But Saudamini was too busy contemplating what he said rather than giving efforts in comforting him. She side eyed Shiuli who silently twirled happily and winked at her. Giving her a deadpanned look, she shut her eyes firmly, shaking her head. She must be hallucinating. How the heck is this possible that he came back even after everything happened?

What did her mother write to him so appealingly?

Or did he really wanted to marry her.....

No, it isn't! Definitely her mother might've included something regarding how she was upset with her behavior, felt sorry, etc. Yeah.

"Mr. Chatterjee, you're fine right?" Shiuli tried to suppress her grin.

"I don't think so I can be around your Hitler aunt," He sighed dramatically, brushing off the water drops from his coat. Saudamini shut her eyes tight and blinked it open, shooting him a glaring look at the nickname and then at Shiuli who was snickering now by cupping her mouth.

.

.

.

"How lovely, dear." Mrs. Choudhury blessed Anirban happily as he kneeled below and touched her feet. Saudamini disinterestedly rolled her eyes, standing at the corner of her chamber. She watched her mother lovingly brush a dash of kohl underlining her eye on the corner of his neck; to ward off any evil eye.

Saudamini could never discern how her mother always used to come to her in-laws, whenever something was about to happen. Seriously, mothers were truly omen detectors!

Coincidentally, here she was today as well!

"See, I told you right? Anirban can never refuse you!" She chuckled happily, cupping his face as. Anirban smiled demurely at her and then shot a wink at the latter, making her fume internally. She looked away, crossing her arms against her bosom.

Damn him!

Couldn't he have refused?!

"Come here, Mini, why are you standing there?" Her mother waved at her. She gave a saccharine smile and strode towards him, but Mrs. Choudhury held her arm and dragged her towards herself a bit, "Mini, did you ask for forgiveness from him?" She shot her a look and then at him, signaling her to say something.

"Maa!" She mumbled through gritted teeth, widening her eyes. Why was her mother keeping him on pedestal so much?

"Mini..." Mrs. Choudhury glared at her, making her pout slightly, "Go with Anirban in the kitchen and give him some sweets and water to drink, okay?" She whispered commandingly in her ear, making her nod softly. Anirban was trying to stop himself from smirking, covering his mouth with the back of his palm. Mrs. Choudhury gave him a light tipped smile and went away.

"Thank you God for giving me such a good mother-in-law!" Anirban sighed dramatically, and Saudamini knew that he was doing deliberately to rile her up right, left and center. How can he now leave the opportunity to taunt and tease her?

Saudamini led Anirban annoyedly inside the kitchen. Pouring a glass of water from the jar, she adjusted the sweets on the tray, while the latter was watching her amusedly with a mischievous smirk on his lips. She shot him a look of irritation, but he shrugged casually, making her part her lips. How the heck did he knew the art of annoying her so effortlessly?

"Why did you say 'yes'?" Saudamini got up, brushing her palms and stood in front of him with crossed brows.

"Why shouldn't I?" He copied her pose and crossed his arms, making her look away and sigh. This man--she slightly began to rub the corner of her neck, her lips twitching, "Even after all I said? You....you didn't feel bad at all?"

"Oh, so you do accept that you did misbehave with me," He had a victorious smirk on his face. Saudamini felt like punching the air right then. Where had she landed herself into? She huffed and stole away her gaze, trying to walk out but Anirban caught her arm and dragged her back, shaking his head, "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry....."

She looked away, with a frown on her face and crossed her arms.

"Actually your mother wrote to me that you later accepted the marriage proposal, so yeah. And I guess...." He scratched his head slightly, trying to avoid her gaze.

"And?"

"And I think I went a bit rocket regarding everything, so I feel like I should apologize for that." He rubbed the back of his neck, leaning against the wall with a nervous yet a genuine smile on his face. Saudamini didn't knew but an involuntary yet jubilant smile was etching on her lips, as she exhaled, "Hmm. Good for you." She was about to leave, but Anirban cleared his throat and dragged her back again, "What?" Saudamini raised a brow.

"Don't you think you are forgetting something?"

"And that is?" Saudamini knew what he was trying to hint, but was she going to give in so easily? Never!

"I asked for forgiveness right? It's your turn now," He argued, with a frown on his face and cornering her against the edge of the wall. Saudamini tried to halt herself from bursting into a snicker seeing his face, "Why would I ask for forgiveness? Did I ask you to propose?"

"This is really unfair Mini...."

"How unfair?" Saudamini blinked in innocence; and it was his time to control his urge from stomping his foot.

"And...and what about that unnecessary whack?" Anirban anticipated, raising a brow. Saudamini controlled her urge from chuckling, "That was accidental right, not intentional." She blinked at him sarcastically, seeing his jaw drop at the unexpected reply. Tit for tat. While he was contemplating his next answer, she tried to slide from there, pressing her lips together, but Anirban swiftly caught her wrist, causing her to squeal briefly and land against his chest. Her heart almost skipped a beat as she tried to have a grip of what just happened-

"You know what, I have a better idea regarding this fiasco," He released her and cornered her against the wall, subtly brushing his hairs. Saudamini perked an eyebrow in surprise, not sure what exactly he was having in his mind, "What kind of....idea?"

"How about we kiss each other and resolve this issue?" He smirked mischievously, making Saudamini widen her eyes, her jaw dropping in the process. Warmth flushed in her cheeks hard, as she gaped at him; did, did he just really say that to her?

"I mean, I do deserve a reward after all that I had gone through right?" He leaned against the wall, close to her, making her blink in astonishment.

Saudamini stood jammed in spot, trying to contemplate what he said.

"It's a good idea isn't it?"

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Aleleeee 🙈🙈🙈

Phas gayi humare pyaari Mini 🙈🙈🙈🙈

*gives ya guys patti to tie around eyech*

Signing off for today!

Nushkie