XOMANTORAL

Chapter 20

Rohan gestured her to come near and sit by Garima. She sat there. Garima grabbed her hands and said,

"Bhale asa Maa?"

She put her left on the grip and said,

"Asu bhale."

Garima looked away. Her eyes were already wet. She said,

"Moi jibonot kora bhulor paap paisu, jana. Bohut dukh dilu bohut manuhok."

Rohan cleared his throat and said,

"Maa, hobo aru."

Aditi gave a look to Rohan, gesturing to not interrupt. Garima said,

"Eko nohoi de. Eneo kot nu besi din thakim. Taik kole tai beya napai, noh?"

Rohan got angry and said,

"Ki jata kotha koi thaka maa. Moi kintu bhal napau eibur."

Garima shook her head. She put her hand on Aditi's head and said,

"Bhale thaka maa. Bhogobane tumar monor sob issa puron kore jate."

A drop of tear fell from Aditi's eyes. She instantly rubbed it and gave a slight smile. In the mean time, a person entered the room. Rohan was startled to see him. He also became nervous seeing Rohan. He pressed his lips to a fine line and fake smiled. Rohan didn't react. He looked away. The man went near her bed and stood there. Aditi understood to give side and she stood up. The person passed her and put the things in his hand on the table. Then he gave a smile to Garima. Seeing him, Garima seemed to feel a sense of relief. Her eyes, fighting the reality seemed to smile. That man said to her,

"Kenekua gaa tu?"

She nodded and smiled at him. Aditi went near Rohan and looked at him in utter confusion. Rohan went outside the room, she followed him. He stopped and put his hands on the hip. His ran his tongue through the upper lip and kept looking towards the room. she said, after a while,

"Eitu e Aftab. Maar extra marital partner."

Aditi's eyes widened and she looked at him,

"Eneke aha jua kore teu?"

Rohan smiled with a sign of hatred. He said,

"Maar doctor etiya. Mor fatheror xorure friend. Besi bissaxor binimoyot enekua hoise."

His eyes had no emotions. It almost seemed empty. This was what he had been facing from his childhood, and it made Aditi feel worse. She said,

"Apuni keneke gom pale teulokor kotha?"

He looked away from the door. He looked at her and said,

"Maa hoi. Sokut salei dhora pori jai. Bohut kotha eibur. Pisot kom."

 She saw tears in his eyes, he seemed almost in the verge of breaking down. But he was strong, to keep his feelings to himself. Through his eyes, she saw need, the need of care and love, the need of everything he never got in his life. After a while, he broke the eye contact and eyes towards the door that led to his mother's room. 

Aftab was sitting on the couch near her. They were talking. It seemed like he was the medicine to all her worries. She was smiling, he seemed like cracking jokes. When they entered, Aftab looked at Rohan and went out of the room. Rohan sat beside his mother. He kissed on her forehead. He said,

"Tumi thaka. Ami jau."

He stood up and turned to leave. He again turned back and said,

"Kiba special khaba neki? Loi ahim."