Bengal, Chatterjee House

Hurt.

He clearly saw them. He clearly saw that emotion swirling in her eyes. Her brows furrowed instinctively as those irises raved around his face; and the worst part was, he couldn't do anything about it. He felt harder than the stone that moment. He had to collect himself him up, he couldn't let himself drown in emotions.

Not at this moment.

"Tripti..." He tried to chuckle a bit to lighten the atmosphere, "That....I need to leave okay? Everyone must be waiting for us...."

"Yes," She responded almost instantly, gulping down, but her gaze did not break his face as she nodded.

She looked away the next moment, wiping the drop of tear from her eyes and sniffing. She held the edge of her saree, she spun around, walking away.

Damned be everyone! Damned be the society!

He, he literally unwrapped her fingers from him? Literally? 

He....he always said he could read her eyes. Now what? Couldn't he read them now?!

Tripti couldn't fathom the fact that he literally broke the hug that way, so he was more concerned about everyone rather than her. What would've happened if he had hugged her?

Oh...yes! He too now had rules to follow. Since he was getting married to Savitri!

Tripti felt like gritting her teeth, as she bit her lips; feeling guilty now about the diabolical situation. 

Why? Why was such things happening to her?!

She exhaled deeply, and was about to walk away towards the courtyard, when a strong grip firmed around her arm and dragged her back. She was almost about to stumble and fall back, as she gasped, her eyes widening.

And what met her eyes, were a pair of rageful eyes. 

"In-Indranil? What are you doing here.....?"

.

.

.

What did he do?

What did he do?!

Subhankar slapped his forehead. Heck, he should've hugged her, even for a fraction of a moment he should've! Those hurt filled eyes seemed to now attack him like daggers!

Why didn't he?

Why couldn't he?

His heart was still thudding fast, as he breathed in deeply. What did just happen...? Why did it happen? 

He walked away, pushing his hairs back with his hands, 'Calm down Subhankar, everything would be fine.' He couldn't believe he was feeling agitated that now that brief spell of Tripti's warmth was lost. Her peaceful scent of jasmine was lingering on his clothes, he could still feel her desperate hands grabbing his kurta to erase the distance that was between them for years. 

It felt so good.....it felt so damn good! 

His hands were itching to hug her tightly, caress her hairs, kiss her forehead and assure her. Tell her what she meant to him, and that he would always be there to protect her, be there at her side even at her worst. But he couldn't.

He couldn't say a word.

Instead he forced that distance again, and this time perhaps in a worse way.

He saw her hurt eyes. Those dark eyes swirling with that sadness, he couldn't usher it away from his mind it seemed. 

Why were things so difficult, so difficult now?

He couldn't afford to hug her, there were so many people roaming around here and there. If anyone would've seen them together.....unimaginable chaos would occur. 

He did the right thing, but at the cost of everything. 

He sighed deeply, walking up towards the back of the lawn for some fresh air, where he could calm himself down. He adjusted the collar of his kurta, brushed his hairs properly, when his gaze suddenly fell upon Rafiq running up towards him.

"Bhaijaan....!" Rafiq panted, crouching towards him a bit with a worried stance.

"Rafiq?" Subhankar blinked confusedly, striding up towards him, "What happened?"

"Thank God, I was looking for you or Anirban Bhaijaan...." He gazed up at him.

"Yes but what happened?" Concern spread on Subhankar's face as he crouched to the boy's height.

"That....Rehnuma Aapa, isn't--she is refusing to eat anything since the morning."

"Eh..? Why?" Subhankar furrowed his brows.

"I don't know, she is saying that she is feeling sick and don't want to eat anything. But you said that...that if she doesn't recovers I must inform you to get a physician," 

"Yeah, you did the right thing, but let me first see what's wrong with her,"

Subhankar breathed out; a part of him thinking that it was possible that Rehnuma might've experienced her first menses. Their mother was away for the past two days, back to her village for some work, so both of them were alone. He concluded what Rafiq said, she felt sick and was shivering, refusing to eat. She might be scared, it was possible.

Not all girls knew what menses were at their age. 

He had to help her.

He walked up towards the servants quarters, and his gaze fell upon Srinath, who was aligning clothes on the line, "Kaka? Rehnuma is inside?"

"Yeah she is...Master! I think she is sick...." 

"Hmm," Subhankar nodded, breathing in a bit. He walked up towards the quarter were Rehnuma and Rafiq lived with their mother. The wooden door was lightly shut, and Subhankar lightly gave it a nudge. It creaked open, allowing him to witness a girl around twelve, who curling herself on the bed. 

"Rafiq, wait outside, okay?" 

Rafiq nodded, moving away, as Subhankar stepped in gently and half shut the door, "Rehnuma sister?"

The girl shifted the other side, raising her head a bit. Her hairs weren't braided today and she indeed looked sick, "Bhaijaan...?"

"Rehnuma, what happened? Your brother told me you aren't having food?" He gently asked, walking up to her and sitting on the floor with a small smile.

"No...that I feel like vomiting," She exhaled, her eyes drooped down, clearly indicating the hesitation.

"Is your stomach hurting? Should I call a physician, sister?" 

"No!" She instantly shook her head, sitting up on bed. Subhankar furrowed his brows at her sudden denial, "But why?"

"No, please don't call anyone.....in fact you should also leave from here, please!" She started to panic, looking here and there.

"Arrey, sister.....calm down dear! What happened, please tell me?" Subhankar exhaled, seeing her panicking. 

"No...no I am fine Bhaijaan! I am okay, just feeling a bit sick....I will be okay tomorrow!" She tried to smile at him.

"Rehnuma....you look sick! There's no way, you can be fine! I am going to call the physician okay?"

"No please no!" Rehnuma came down from her bed and fell at his feet, "Please....."

"I pray you don't....don't!" She sobbed, fresh tears flowing from her eyes, making Subhankar even more confused. Maybe, his inclination was right about her having menses. He recalled how Tripti had freaked out one fine day while playing with him and Anirban, witnessing the stain in her lower garment; she panicked along with him too, who thought that Tripti had got herself hurt. But before he could understand, her handmaid had spotted her and took her away, without meeting their eyes.

Subhankar and Anirban, then kids gaped at each other confused at her handmaiden's sudden reaction. That day Subhankar went up to Damini and told her everything, and her face flushed hearing it. She appeared awkward in front of him and asked him to forget about, he shouldn't know of things which are sinful. But Subhankar was stubborn as heck, he kept asking her about it out of curiosity and tired, Damini finally relented.

She took him to a room and closed it, explaining who a woman sheds blood every month, stays isolated during that time as she would be impure during that time. 

Impure? Why? He had asked him, but Damini had refused to answer.

But somehow or the other, he had got to know about it. Though he still wasn't sure whether it was unholy or not, but he knew that there was actually nothing to be scared about. 

He had to atleast remove the fear away from Rehnuma's head, or atleast call a female to explain her everything. But before that, he had to calm her down. 

"Rehnuma, sister, relax! I won't....call anyone!" He smiled, crouching to her height as he patted her head, but she was still sobbing, curling herself up. 

"I am calling Baisakhi Kaaki, okay? She will help you-"

"NO!" She gasped, "Please don't call anyone....please leave.....otherwise you will die....everyone will die...." She breathed hard, and Subhankar curved his lips in confusion, "What...?"

Rehnuma cupped her mouth and shook her head, "Please leave, please!" 

For a moment, he thought of leaving from there and instead call Baisakhi, another house-help, but somehow the way she was voicing things.....

"Rehnuma...? Will I die?" Subhankar muttered, sitting on the floor.

"No please....I don't...I can't--else all of you will die-"

"Okay okay! Calm down, calm down sister!" Subhankar cupped her cheeks, wiping away her tears, "No one is going to die, okay? Calm down and tell me what happened--if not me then should I call Baisakhi Kaaki?"

"No--don't call anyone please!" She sobbed, cupping her mouth and shaking her head.

"Tell me Rehnuma....what happened? I will help you okay?" He smothered away the hairs that were sticking to her forehead, his brows faltering concernedly, "Trust me....you trust your elder brother don't you?"

"But I don't..."

"No one is going to die Rehnuma, I promise you! Not a hair will be harmed, nothing will happen to you okay? Just tell me....please-"

He gazed at her expectantly, comforting her. 

"Will you tell your brother now, what happened?" 

"You won't say to anyone....right?" She meekly questioned, gazing at him skeptical and fearful.

"Promise! I won't say anyone anything!"

Rehnuma cupped her mouth, while Subhankar was sitting half expectant. 

"Tha-that...."

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

👁👁 Kuch to gadbad hai Daya-

Hayee I realized I have only two drafts remaining now 🥺🥺🥺.

Gotta start working *pulls up my sleeves*

Signing off for today!

Nushkie