" Are you alright?",Swati heard a male voice from her side. The timid voice felt not so unknown to her ears. She could not look up. She just sat there still. The figure slowly gave her a hand and she took it to stand up.

Like all other days, Swati was coming back to her house. As she had to make some photocopies of her documents, she had taken the opposite alleyway. Seeing the door closed,she was about to return when she felt the first pull,her neck pained with the sudden snatch. Then some thing hit her on her back and she fell on the roadside. There were two people on the bike. Her gold chain was gone and now the place burned ,her vision got blurred with tears. They were gone when she looked up. Never had she ever been in any sort of situation like before.

Pijush was in this area for some urgent work. He was passing the alley when he recognised her saree. The same color and design drew his attention. He thought she might have losed her balance and fallen on the road. He had no idea of the snatchery.

" Do you live nearby? I've a scooty, If you want.....",Pijush's words came to halt as she looked at him. Her eyes were red, clearing her voice, slowly she spoke," That house on the opposite alley. Thank you!"

They said no further words. Pijush walked beside her keeping his scooty parked at the entrance of the alley. Swati was just walking, she stood in front of the old,big grey house. Now She turned back ,gesturing him to come. The house might be old, but it screamed of high class aura. Pijush nodded his head and said," May be some other day, I've some important things pending. Take care."

Swati stood there with blank eyes as Pijush walked away. Her head started getting heavy,with her all force ,she pressed the doorbell.

Mekhla was busy on her daily soaps. But Swati's father Mainak was getting impatient every passing moment. It was nearly 7:30 and she was not home.

Seeing Swati reaching their floor,he huffed a sigh of relief. Nimai, Moni were their regular helps. They were appointed when Swati was born. The couple looked after her as their own. Nimai took her bag and lunch box from her hands. It was Moni who noticed the strange mark on her neck, and stains of mud on her saree.

She was sweating heavily, seeing her chuggling water like that tensed Mainak asked,"Babu, What happened? Did you fell down somewhere?"

Keeping the glass on the table. Swati slowly looked at his face and stated all the happenings. Mainak got excited hearing all this." Chol! Lets go to the Police now! I don't care for the gold chain. What if they have harmed you?"

Swati knew these local goons had contacts with local police. So there was no chance of getting it back, neither the goons could be caught and most importantly,her body craved for some rest. Mekhla stated," let it go. She is here, just fine. What was her need to travel alone? Don't we have cars? Or you want to show the society that we have abondoned you being a divorcee! Meanwhile our gold chain is gone. Was it mine? That I gave you during your wedding?"

As Mainak stood up to say something, Swati knew of the regular melodrama. She stopped him and took him to his room. She stopped one time, and called her mother and said before leaving," No Ma! I gave all my jewelleries to you when I shifted here! It was a gift from Kastur. None of your precious things was at loss!"

Moni later entered her room. The maroon Kaftaan she wore, clearly showed the place on her neck. Her back was bruised, Swati was herself sitting with an electric hot presser. Scratch marks were slowly cleaned with an antiseptic, the place now stung more when she applied the lotion.

" Babu, You will not come alone from tomorrow. Your Nimai kaka would go either to fetch you or you take the car!",Moni's voice had the care which Swati found all her life in her mother's.
Moni fed her some puffed rice as she refused to eat anything else.

On the other end Pijush was in this area for some grocery shopping. His groceries were all gone. It still had 3 more days for his salary to come.This school paid him much better than his last place. Previously his most of the salary used to be spent up on his rent and hos mother's medicine. He got some relief thinking about getting rid of that misery. Till he reached the store,it was also closed.

Feeling disappointed, he came back home. He only had some packets of biscuits, chugging and chewing those with water, went to sleep. He planned that he would buy those groceries from the store near the school.

School till tiffin break went as usual. During the fifth period, Kastur called Swati. She picked up the call and came out of her class.

Kastur- Hey! Are you okay? Ma just called me telling what happened last evening!

Swati- I'm just fine. Who called your mother? It was just a small incident.

Kastur- I can send Gour!(Kastur's driver) Or I can come sometimes! Aunty was right, you should not travel alone!

Swati-Travel? Am I going on a world tour?What am I? A 5 year old! Seriously? We would not be separated if you had shown this extra concern before! Call you later, bye.

The line got cut as Kastur still kept his phone on his hands grip.

Rest of the day,she was restless. Seeing her so disturbed ,her fellow teacher Kona suggested going for a shopping. Her mood instantly got happier. Kona and Swati had been together in this school since last 4 years. They were appointed on the same day. Kona had been like a sister to her. Swati was also Kona's pillar in dealing with her abusive in-laws. If Swati had not been there to call and inform Sanjib( Kona's husband), Kona would be dead by now.

School finished at 4:50 ,when Swati and Kona entered the store. Kona elbowed her,"See, who do we have here! The new librarian! "

"Where?",Swati asked suddenly, she needed to talk to him about not telling anyone about the incident.

On the other side, as taught by his mother,Pijush all his life knew to buy Atop Rice at 30 rupees/kg. Here all things were too new and too costly for him. Suddenly,his eyes found her. She wore a brown saree with creme high neck blouse.

" Buying anything special?",Swati asked with a smile on her lips.

" Not that. Having no idea what to buy!",Pijush stated clearly.

"I'd be happy to help! Monthly groceries?",Swati asked and Pijush nodded.

"Budget? Or no budget?",She added.

"Within 1000 bucks.",Pijush cleared his voice then.

"Okay", she said and asked him which things he needed. Pijush kept telling and looked forward as she bought according to his wishes and slowly his cart was full and the bill too was just as he wanted.

Swati did not allow him to pay,she paid his bill as a token of gratitude. Pijush saw as Kona and Swati getting inside a car. He started his scooty and followed them.

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Hey loves! Thanks for being here. DO VOTE,COMMENT AND SHARE . I'd love to know your views regarding the chapter. Be Happy . Stay Blessed. Take Care.♥️♥️♥️♥️