In Love With You

12//

In the next few days, everything was going fine. Sarmistha went to school regularly, studied and taught as well, had fun. Her life was smooth right now. But surprisingly, she met her brother on her way back home from one of the private tuitions.

I should talk to him. This was her first thought. But she recalled the situation at home and hesitated. She thought of changing the direction, but it was a little too late. Her brother saw her and turned stiff immediately.

*sigh*

Sarmistha walked to him and smiled faintly. "Dada, how are you?"

Her older brother, Sayan Ganguly, who now settled in a different state was actually buying things from the market here! Strange, isn't it? Sarmistha felt the same.

"I am fine. What about you and.... them?"

Sarmistha shook her head and smiled at herself and her luck. "It will be helpful to me if you kindly tell me who are 'them'."

Sayan clenched his jaw, gritted his teeth and walked away. Sarmistha followed after him.

"Dada, maa baba miss you a lot."

Sayan froze on spot; his pupils readjusting continuously. He gulped, closed his eyes and said in a stone cold voice, "Missing their dead son?"

"Dada!"

Sayan turned around and looked at his sister. "They didn't accept my marriage. Do you really think I will"

Sarmistha knew what he will say next. She interrupted him. "Do you really think what you did was right?"

"What was wrong in that?" He asked her instead.

Sarmistha laughed mockingly. "Baba wanted you to get married, but asked you whether you wanted to or not."

"Does it even matter?"

"You agreed to it. But your actions weren't supporting your words. Baba decided to call off the engagement. But what did you do? You kept saying that you will get married to only that girl. Dad only then finalized everything." She sighed and continued. "On the day of the wedding, on the mandap, you created a scene. You threw away everything and said you won't marry the girl. And in front of everyone, you pulled your so called colleague and married her. Do you really think it was right?"

"Dad wouldn't have agreed to the marriage even if I told him about it."

Sarmistha couldn't control herself and burst into laughter. "I didn't knew my brother was this stupid. Dada, how did you become a software engineer with this brain of yours?"

"Sarmistha!" Sayan shouted at her and walked closer to her.

"This won't work anymore dada. You know what, I pity you. I really pity you." She stood ramrod straight, not getting scared by his intimidating look.

He felt helpless. He took a step back and sighed. "You don't need to talk to me. You think I am wrong as well. Just leave. Leave!"

Sarmistha looked at her brother and took a deep breath. "Dada, wait here for a moment. Don't go anywhere." She quickly ran to a shop just 5 minute distance away.

After 8 minutes, she quickly returned, breathing heavily and patting her chest.

"Dada, give me your hand." She said while breathing heavily.

Sayan frowned. "What do you want?"

"Just give me your hand!"

Sayan thought for four seconds, and then followed what she said.

"Right hand!"

Sarmistha took out a red thread (holy thread) and tied it on his right hand.

Sayan looked at the thread and then looked at her in confusion.

Sarmistha smiled. "No matter what, you are my brother. I don't think you will return for Raksha Bandhan and Bhai-Fota. So, here you go."

Sayan's serious face cracked a little. Sarmistha noticed his emotional look and smiled. He quickly returned to his normal self and gave her some money.

"I don't need money. Just return home and talk to mom and dad. I will leave now. Live a happy life." She left, but suddenly remembered about the gift she bought for her boudi. She ran back to the place and saw her brother look at his right hand, a few tears rolling down his face. Slowly, tears rolled down her cheeks as well. She quickly shook her head, wiped those annoying tears and walked to him. But the most important thing was giving him a heads up. After all, he didn't like it when people saw him being vulnerable and mainly, crying.

"Dada." Sarmistha shouted.

Sayan quickly wiped off the tears with the back of his hand, cleared his throat and acted as if nothing happened.

"What?" He sounded annoyed.

Sarmistha gave him a box and said, "For boudibhai. Also, call me if you miss me." She hugged him and left with these words.

Sayan looked at her retreating figure with complicated emotions. After two minutes, he left as well; with a heavy heart and feeling a bit relieved as well.

.....

At Sarmistha's house

Sarmistha entered the house and directly went to her room.

Mrs. Ganguly noticed this and pursed her lips. But soon enough, Sarmistha returned and asked for food.

I am overthinking again!

"Sit and watch something. I will bring it."

"Okay maa." Sarmistha took out a few sample papers and solved them. Then, she started making a question paper for her tuition as well.

These four students need more attention. After this test, I will know what are the problematic areas.

She was making the question paper when her mother returned from the kitchen and brought three garmagaram aloo ke parathe. She sniffed and her eyes brightened. "Aloo ke parathe!" She closed the books and notebooks, arranged the papers properly, went to wash her hands, returned and immediately wolfed down the food.

Mrs. Ganguly facepalmed. She is normal. Nothing happened to her.

.......

Author's note

I want to eat aloo ke parathe as well. Hehe, I already had it one week ago. (>///<)

What do you think about this chapter?