This one's here only for you Sunitha ❤️ I don't have a good engagement on this platform but as you can't access this elsewhere, this is only for you, for your love and support. Cheers!!!

Love ❤️

Srinidhi

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Author's POV:

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The room echoed with loud applause as the couple exchanged their rings. Shobha's eyes were filled with tears realising that soon a piece of her heart will leave her childhood home and finally build a home of her own. Her husband, her kids, her family, her little bird will have her own nest now. Subroto slowly circled his arm around Shobha's shoulder pulling her into a hug as he wiped his tears too.

There was laughter and happiness filled inside the Chakraborty Mansion after all the entire family was celebrating something joyous after 5 years.

5 years...

After 5 big years of that incident that changed several lives. Bonds and relationships broke overnight. New beginnings came at the cost of tearing apart a beautiful family. However with Taapsi and Piyush's relationship, there were both new and old bonds coming together. Some that looked pleasant and some that itched a certain someone who silently kept sipping upon his fourth serving of a champagne.

His grip firm on the flute that held the shining liquid that he kept gulping down without a second thought as he stood silently near the bar counter asking the bartender for a 'refill'. His aura like that of a lion, waiting for its prey. His expressions, ice cold. His demeanor extremely lazy however every time that man's hand circled around her waist something fierce ignited inside the pit of his stomach. Something so fiercely consuming and poisonous that he needed alcohol to forget it.

Alcohol? Hehehe

He chuckled at his own thoughts as his gaze fell on the champagne flute in his hand. He wasn't a drinker. He would take a peg or two only when he attended business parties, just to accompany his associates. But tonight was different. Although he did not like the taste of alcohol, it felt essential tonight.

Essential to keep himself under control. A liquid that makes you loosen up, makes you go insane, makes you lose control was actually keeping him under control. He needed it tonight. He didn't want to lose himself. Atleast not infront of her. He didn't want to fuck it up again.

She was happy.

She was happy with someone else.

She didn't blame him.

Heck she didn't even bother to address their past. Then why was he feeling that gnawing pain in his chest? She must have fought him. Blamed him. Yell at him, scream at him, slap him hard. But she did nothing. Nothing at all. And that hurt like a bitch.

They were divorced. She signed the papers 5 years ago and walked out of his life yet...it felt like yesterday. It killed him everyday. Until he met her, he always feared her reaction, her questions and accusations but now that she was infront of his eyes with someone else, he wants those questions, he craves that detention, he wants to be punished.

He hates this silence between them.

He hates why she's being so nice.

He hates that she's so kind to him.

Why?

Why was he so complicated?

Why is he constantly at war with himself?

Why is he never at peace?

He achieved everything he always wanted but why did loosing her felt personal? Why?

He smiled painfully at his own thoughts while taking another sip from his champagne flute laughing at himself. Laughing at his fate. Nope!!! At his deeds.

After all Parth Chakraborty, the CEO of one of the fastest growing business firms in the country - The P2B Group was doing fantastically well on his business front but his personal life was a mess. His past had destroyed his present and his 'could have been' future was already in someone else's arms.

Suddenly music switches from soft musical to something more fun and peppy only for the man to extend his hand asking her for a dance. She shakes her head denying to join however the man insists and she finally laughs out loud and places her hand in his as she is pulled into his arms. He slowly circles his arm around her waist again and her one hand slowly goes up to his shoulder while the other rests on his chest. Just above his heart, only for Parth's grip to tighten on the champagne flute as he asks for a refill ...again.

Undoing his blazer and he kept it aside. His entire body feels like it was set ablaze, on fire. The centralized air conditioning, Kolkata's chilly winters, nothing was helping. He didn't know if the fire within was due to the alcohol he consumed or the scene his eyes consumed which kept slowly enfolding in front of his eyes that he was supposed to tolerate. His eyes burnt in fury while his heart ached in pain but he was supposed to tolerate it. After all he had it all but he ruined it himself.

Self destruction supposedly.

And then he saw his little Taapsi running towards her and hugging her warmly while the man holding her, now hugged Piyush. She returned the hug warmly and then she slowly adjusted Taapsi's dupatta and her necklace while Taapsi had a beautiful smile on her face.

Parth's face reflected the same happiness. At least his Taapsi is happy. At least she has her around in a faraway country like Sydney after marriage. And then the photographer requested them for pictures. Taapsi and Piyush were accompanied by that man and her.

'Boudi...just us please!!!' she requested and at the mention of the way Taapsi addressed her, his head snapped in that direction. He saw her smile as she stood hugging Taapsi while the photographer captured a picture of theirs.

Taapsi still calls her Boudi.

'Stop staring at her so much Dada!!! And stop drinking so much. Maa is getting worried' Aniruddh said leaning closer to Parth while trying to take away the champagne flute from his hand although he failed miserably. Parth slowly looked at his mother standing in the corner. She looked worried. He smiled and tried to compose himself.

'Don't try that!!! It looks super fake. We all know how affected you are!!!' Aniruddh said when Parth looked elsewhere saying 'I am not!!!'. He was trying to walk away when Aniruddh said 'Talk to her Dada!!! Please!!! I know it's hurting you. It's been hurting you and it would forever...if you don't apologise!!!' he whispered keeping a hand on his shoulder when Parth smiled looking at her who was laughing at some random joke.

'Do you see that?' he asked Aniruddh who also looked at an extremely happy and content Dhara. Parth smiled thinking, she never looked so happy when she was with him. She never laughed like that when she was with him but now that man was making sure she was always happy.

'She has moved on Oni!!! And all I care about right now is for her happiness and nothing else!!!' and then suddenly her eyes met his and she stopped laughing. Parth's breath hitched as he gulped trying to take a deep breath. Her one gaze was enough to make him lose his mind and then she passed him a warm smile.

'How can she be so calm? How did she forgive me so easily?' Parth asked himself when she slowly pulled the man in her arms hugging him warm as she whispered something in his ears making him laugh out loudly only for Aniruddh to yell at once 'What the hell Dada!!! Can we have someone bring us a first aid kit please!!!' and that's when her Parth came out of his reverie and he noticed how her eyes met his again however they moved towards his palm. He followed her gaze only to realise that his hand was a bleeding mess right now. He had crushed the champagne flute with his bare hands.

Her worried eyes met his again while pain and worry lurked in her eyes. Suddenly it felt like there was no one else in the entire room. That emotion her eyes reflected felt like a soothing balm to his aching heart.

She cares.

At least...she cares.

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Begins July 24 2025.

Schedule - Every Thursday. Weekly Once.

Are you ready?