Bengal, Chatterjee House

Last time. 

"Subho, don't get me emotional like that okay?" Tripti tried to maintain the little smile which faltered momentarily. Subhankar chuckled softly, unhooking the clasp of the bracelet, as Tripti extended her hand. She did not knew why that lingering feeling was heaviness started to cloud her again, she bit her lips lightly. 

"What happened?" Subhankar asked softly, trying to fasten the bracelet around her wrist. 

Tripti gulped, looking down and exhaling a shaky breath.

"Feeling fearful or what...." He smiled a bit, admiring how the bracelet settled within her narrow wrist.

"No that-"

"Haripriya-"

"Yes," Tripti confessed, closing her eyes tightly. She knew there was no way she could lie to him. He always had a knack of catching her lies. She gazed at the bracelet and smothered it lightly with her fingers. What was happening with her? What would happen with her in future? For seventeen years she had been the daughter of this house, the most pampered kid given that she was the youngest; and now very soon she would be leaving it. A new home and new faces. It wasn't that she didn't knew, but things feel real when they come closer. 

Will Indranil, keep her happy? 

"Thank God, atleast you are feeling scared!" Subhankar exhaled dramatically, "Because first you didn't have that thing called 'fear' inside you and would go out to pull out the craziest of stuff!" 

And he received a smack on his arm, causing him to chuckle, "I hate you!" 

"Okay fine, fine....let's be serious. You need to get the 'talk'," Subhankar inhaled a deep breath.

"What' talk'?"

"That 'talk' which every girl gets before getting married," He winked at her, causing Tripti to raise her brows, "Seriously....?"

"So, Miss Tripti Chatterjee, according to the endless rules and laws of marriage, you have to go to our in-laws, worship your husband like a God, obey him and keep him and his family happy," He shook his head hopelessly, and Tripti couldn't help but chuckle softly at his dramatic tone. 

"I would rather say, kick Indranil's arse off given a chance, and bury his body six feet inside the grave," 

"What?" Tripti snickered, cupping her mouth. 

"And then and run back to your home. If no one else, I will give you my room to stay!" He bowed himself, with a solemn expression.

"I would rather suggest you, that leave this engagement, pack your clothes and run away from here. You will get atleast get a better man than Indranil just outside our house only...." Tripti pouted and smacked him away, causing him to bite his tongue playfully.

"Subho!"

"What Subho? I am your best friend and best friends always gives the best advice okay? Just pay heed to-" And he received another light smack, from a snickering Tripti which he tried to shield, "Uff....you're impossible!"

"Okay okay! Look, I ain't be doing false praises about Indranil," Subhankar raised his palms in surrender, "But for your pleasure, let me conclude that he will indeed treat you like his Queen."

"He might be a bit of braggart, but I am sure he loves you enough," He pressed his lips into a smile, and Tripti gazed at him suddenly. Subhankar looked away, biting the corner of his lips, his heart suddenly dipping as he uttered those words. He didn't knew why there was a strange sort of ache that erupted in his heart as he mentioned the word 'love'. 

"And don't take so much load about anything, everything will be alright," Subhankar casually shook his head with a smile, "And regarding me and Indranil....I won't engage into any argument with him, this time a strict promise! Okay?" He tried to smile comfortingly at her, but his own heart was thudding faster at the lingering feeling of weight that sustained within him.

She will be gone. 

She will be gone, and be someone else's soon. 

He didn't knew why he couldn't just fathom that fact within him. He knew from childhood that she would be married to Indranil, then why this sudden sense of heaviness? Why was his heart so restless? 

Maybe, maybe because now everything was close to reality. And he might be a fearful too.

What else it could be? 

"Say yes or no, something....." He whispered softly, his voice slightly choking at the end.

Tripti lowered her lashes, her brows faltering as she bit her lips hard. Tears began to coagulate in her eyes, she didn't knew why, everything felt so suddenly terrible and the load felt too heavy to take in that moment; the storm in her heart was acing and she felt skeptical. Dilemmatic. Fearful. 

And above that, it was Subhankar. 

It was because of the damned him her heart was wavering like that. Till he was in London, she had made up in her mind that she would be devoted to Indranil till her last breath. But his arrival, again his unwavering friendship, his smile his talks had invoked some sort of deviation within her which she herself didn't knew. His laughter, his teases, his faithfulness, it came back again after six long years and it was like raindrops to the parched earth within her, which she herself didn't knew.

She herself didn't knew that she missed Subhankar so much, and again within a sort span, she would be separated from him.

And this time, forever. 

She didn't knew when would be the next she could heartily have a talk with him, laugh and joke with him like old days. It was over. It would be over.

Who knows.....whether they would be even friends too in the future.

New relationships have chances to break old ties. It was human nature. They tend to forget the past when new and fresh future comes. 

Her throat felt choking at those thoughts, a little drop of tear fell from the corner of her eye.

This distance was so painful, she didn't even know till now. 

"Haripriya....?" Subhankar furrowed his brows in confusion, lowering his head himself concernedly. 

And before he could comprehend, he felt a sudden tug against his torso as two arms flung around him and he had to balance himself against the pillar. 

And his heart skipped several beats, as he breathed harder with widened eyes. 

Tripti pressed herself against his chest tightly, her fingers firmly grabbing his kurta as she dug her head into his shoulder and shut her eyes firmly. Subhankar felt jolts rushing past his self, his lips parted open slightly as he took in long breaths.

Six long years.

Even more than six years he had started to maintain a distance with Tripti. Forget even a hug, he wasn't even allowed to touch her anywhere technically, except pat her head or ruffle her hairs. As time passed, he did not even realize how painful it was for him to stop that forcefully. He had seen the changing expression in Tripti's eyes, when he had gradually created a distance with her, making excuses everytime she wanted to hug him. It was so difficult to stop pouring affection for someone. Yet he pursued it for her sake, the family's sake. 

For her respect, dignity and boundaries.

And this seemed so unnerving to take in that moment. The warmth with which she engulfed him was like a solace to his icy self, which he himself didn't know. He didn't knew that he had to even break the ice, and when that ice had loaded over him, he was unaware of. Subhankar closed his eyes, pursing his lips as he tried to gulp down a sob, his hands reaching Tripti's shoulder-

No.

No way he can.

He can't! 

He had bore himself for so many years, he can't allow it. It was forbidden for him. 

He shouldn't. 

This was sinful. If someone saw them like that, hell would break lose.

He can't.....for years he had been used to this distance so much so that the sudden warmth was overwhelming him; thousands of emotions swirled in his heart and he wasn't for none.

Not now.

Not now when everything was at the verge of getting over; to begin something new.

He gulped that knot in his throat, fluttering his eyes open as he blinked away his tears. 

'Leave her Subhankar' He bit his lips firmly, gathering whatever courage he could mutter. 

"Tripti..." He gently patted his head, whispering. She didn't answer but all he could hear was a little sob that escaped his lips as she tightened the hug.

His heart was shattering into pieces, yet he couldn't do anything about it.

"Tripti....so-someone will see us," He mumbled, trying to atleast console her by patting her head. 

"Tripti, please," He firmed his voice a little, closing his eyes and putting his hands behind to unwrap her fingers from his kurta. It was as if someone had inserted shards into him, yet he was helpless. Tripti gradually loosened herself, and moved away from him, realizing what she did.

She stared at Subhankar with widened eyes, yet there was no remorse in her eyes.

There was hurt instead. 

*******

A/N

💔The song makes it more painful....

Signing off for today!

Nushkie