Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

"Kaaka, are you sure about the quality? And you're putting too much price!" Saudamini twitched her lips, feeling the soft material of a gorgeous lilac saree which had silver work on it. She gazed at Tripti, and raised her brows. Tripti smoothened her hands over the fabric, "It's good but--Kaaka, do you have something deeper in color?" She brushed her thumb and finger together, curving her lips up.

Both the women were sitting in the open courtyard, while the saree merchant was busy showing them his saree collection. 

"Arrey Mistress! Don't you worry about the quality at all! It's pure silk and unadulterated!" The middle aged merchant gushed with a smile, opening another cloth which had numerous sarees stacked, "Mistress, how about this? Red would suite you, dear child!" He spread the front end of a crimson red saree with golden thread work over Tripti's shoulder. 

"Too gorgeous, isn't it?" Tripti whispered in Saudamini's ear, who hummed in response, "Hmm....Kaaka, this is looking like a wedding saree rather. A little less gorgeous would help, not much handiwork-"

"Arrey Mistress, nowadays this kind of work is in fashion! Even Miss Julia Roberts is also a fan of this kind of handiwork!" The merchant joked about an Englishwoman, pulling out a new saree from underneath a pile. Tripti became busy in talking with Saudamini about the next, when her gaze fell upon Subhankar, who was looking at them from the corridor balcony of the first floor on the opposite side. 

Her brows faltered seeing him; he seemed to be coming after running from somewhere; suddenly remembering that she had promised him that she would be buying the saree with him. 

Damn!

How did that slip out of her mind? 

But given that she was trying to ignore Subhankar a bit since the last few days--she doubted even if she remembered, she perhaps wouldn't have asked him-

'No Tripti, this is wrong! Wrong! How can you? What has he even done to you to deserve it?'  That's what she was trying to reprimand herself since the past few days, but suddenly the image of him being with Savitri was clustering in her mind. There was a weird feeling that lingered within her whenever she imagined Subhankar with her, or marrying her. A pit in the stomach was everything that laid her questioning her sanity. 

Will he forget her after she leaves and he marries? 

Maybe...

The way their distance was growing with each other, was giving her evidence that there would be a time that they would be just friends for just namesake perhaps. Since the day he had arrived from London, she could sense that there was nothing that was same between them.

But it wasn't his fault. It wasn't. 

It was what already decided and they were mature enough to understand the reason behind their increased distance.

But heart overrides a mind everytime. Everytime. 

Subhankar leaned from the balcony, his gazed fixed on Tripti and Saudamini. Saudamini grinned at him from below, "Dada, come down as well!" Tripti glanced at Saudamini briefly, gulping slightly.

Why did she call him down?

She looked away for a brief moment, the merchant now was displaying an elegant teal green saree. It was of pure silk, and the texture felt smooth like the butter. Little trinkets were attached at the bottom of it, and specks of silver were sporadically spluttered all over, causing it to shine under the sunlight. 

"Try this, dear....." He sprawled the saree against her shoulder, but Tripti seemed to be in some other thoughts. She subconsciously held the edge of the saree, gazing at it a bit absent mindedly.

"This is looking nice!" Saudamini complimented, standing up, "Let me see.....just get up once Tripti," She held her shoulder and made her stand up and adjusting the saree over her shoulder.

"It is suiting you well, dear!" The merchant nodded smilingly, but Tripti's expression appeared a bit skeptical. 

"Will this color even suite me.....I mean-" She mumbled inaudibly, biting the corner of her lips and looking down, holding the saree against her shoulder. Her gaze slightly trailed over to Subhankar who was striding down to the stairs, with an amused smile on his lips; his eyes not leaving Tripti's. 

There was a sudden weird feeling that churned in her abdomen with the way Subhankar was intensely looking at her; or rather at the saree which was draped over her shoulder. 

Unconsciously, she slightly raised her chin at him, signaling him for an opinion.  It had almost become an habit of her since childhood; there was hardly anything she would buy for herself unless Subhankar approved of it. 

She watched him inhale a deep breath, as his gaze flickered from her and the saree, her breath hitching momentarily; his lips curved into a small smile, which only widened further; he tilted his head at the right and nodded, the smile not leaving his face. 

Tripti bit her lips to stop herself from smiling, unaware that a light blush had crept to her jaws. 

"Tripti, did you-" Saudamini halted midway, watching Tripti looking somewhere else; she followed her gaze and saw Subhankar standing and smiling at them; at her. 

"Oh Dada, Tripti is looking nice isn't it?" She gushed, looking at the two of them simultaneously. 

"Ye-yeah, of course! Of course!" Subhankar now nodded a bit wildly, grinning at them.

"Yeah, I told you right? This is looking ethereal on you!" Saudamini giggled, while Tripti just smiled and nodded.

.

.

.

"Now what did I do?" Subhankar blocked Tripti's way, leaning against the wall with arms crossed against his chest, raising his brows. 

"Wh-what?" Tripti pretended to look innocent, blinking at him.

"Ignoring me aren't you?" He raised his brows further.

"Why will I ignore you?" Tripti mumbled, shaking her head, "Arrey--I really forgot, trust me!" She held the edge of her saree and fidgeted with it, peering at him. 

"You don't forget gazing at Indranil's photograph everyday, then how come you forgot this?" Subhankar put up a miffed expression, his lips curling into a smirk watching Tripti's eyes widening, "Again you started....?"

"Truth eventually hurts, I know I know-"

"Subho-" She fake glared at him, trying to leave from the corridor, but he suddenly stood in front of her, blocking her way. Her senses unintentionally inhaled his musky fragrance, causing her breath to hitch. He always smelled this good, or today he did something different? Or her mind was playing tricks on her again? She stared up into his eyes, gleaming with a sense of mischief, his jawline was sharp and dimples etched on his cheek as he widened the smirk. The red shirt he was wearing had a few buttons undone till his chest, giving a hint of his chiseled physique. 

The heck-

"You're besotted....what to do with this girl. Oh God please put some sense into my friend's head!" He looked up dramatically, and Tripti was drawn out of her trance. 

"You done pulling my leg?" She tilted her head on the other side, with a light smirk on her lips.

"Yeah yeah, look at the days now.....friend forgetting another friend due to her boyfriend! God, what are you doing with these kids nowadays!" He shook his head in a hopeless manner.  Tripti rolled her eyes, "I am going....." 

"Sorry sorry sorry sorry," He stuck out his tongue, standing back and blocking her way again, causing her to chuckle. He and Anirban seemed so similar in antics sometimes. She shook her head, cupping her elbow with her hand, but in reality she wanted to laugh and talk with him in an unhinged manner, run through the corridors giggling, and do things which she had missed these years.

But it couldn't be.

 She knew it can't be. Majority of her reactions to him were feigned, and perhaps they both knew it; and both had kept it sideways since there was no option. 

"By the way....listen no," Subhankar dug his hand into the pocket of his strap pant.

"Shoot," Tripti leaned against the wall, smiling.

"How did you like Savitri?" 

********

A/N

Subho aise sawal apni jaan-- I mean dost se nahi puchte 😌

Signing off for today!

Nushkie