A few days had passed since the Jaygaon trip.
After school ended, Sneha stepped out and stood by the gate. Aunty hadn't come to pick her up today.
In the morning Aunty had told her, "Your uncle has a doctor's appointment today. You come home on your own—you know the way, right?"
Sneha was walking alone. Her bag hung from her shoulder, her hair fluttering in the breeze. Trees lined both sides of the road, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun.
Suddenly, a sleek, deep navy-blue Mercedes-Benz glided up behind her and stopped smoothly beside her. The window rolled down, and an exquisitely beautiful woman stepped out.
She looked around forty-seven, yet one would easily mistake her for thirty-two or thirty-three. She stood five feet five inches tall, with soft, milky-fair skin, wearing a delicate off-white chiffon sari. A thin pearl chain adorned her neck, a small red bindi graced her forehead, light kohl lined her eyes, and a gentle pink tint touched her lips. It was as if time had brushed against her and quietly admitted defeat.
Sneha froze. She could never have imagined that such a stunning, wealthy woman would stand before her like this.
The woman spoke in a soft, velvety voice:
"Are you Sneha?"
Sneha nodded, stunned, unable to find her voice.
Arundhati said gently,
"I'd like to speak with you for a moment. Will you get in the car?"
Sneha hesitated.
"Don't be afraid, dear. I'm Anurag's mother—Arundhati Devbarman."
Sneha's heart skipped a beat. Anurag Sir's mother! She stared wide-eyed. This elegant woman was Sir's mother? No wonder he was so handsome. Even at her age, her beauty showed no signs of fading.
Arundhati smiled softly and continued,
"I just want to talk to you. There's nothing to fear. I won't harm you in any way. Anurag is my only son. I have the right to know about the part of his life he keeps hidden from everyone else. Get in the car, sweetheart. Don't worry. I'll explain everything to your aunt and uncle. I'll drop you home safely."
Sneha slowly climbed into the car.
---
The car began to move. Arundhati looked at her tenderly and said,
"You're a very good girl, Sneha. Truly a wonderful girl. My son has excellent taste."
Sneha's cheeks flushed crimson. She kept her head lowered.
She assumed Anurag Sir must have told his mother about their relationship. The mere thought made her feel terribly shy.
In reality, however, the shy Anurag Sir had not yet said a word to his mother. It was far too difficult for him to confess that he had fallen in love with one of his own students—and that she was still underage.
Instead, it was Anirban Sir who had told Arundhati Devbarman everything about Anurag and Sneha's relationship.
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Nearly twenty minutes later, they arrived at the city's most luxurious hotel—The Oberoi Grand.
A grand fountain stood at the entrance, flanked by wide white-marble steps. Inside the lobby, crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow. Italian marble gleamed underfoot, ancient artworks adorned the walls, and the air carried a faint fragrance of lavender and roses.
Sneha was completely awestruck. She had never even seen a hotel this grand and beautiful.
Arundhati led her straight to the 10th floor, to a private dining room tucked away in the quietest, most opulent corner of The Oberoi Grand.
The room was enclosed by glass walls, offering a dazzling view of the entire city sparkling below.
Soft golden light spilled over the white damask tablecloth. Crystal glasses, silver cutlery, and fine china plates seemed to announce that no ordinary meal would ever be served here.
When the waiter brought the menu, Arundhati said softly,
"Order whatever you like."
Sneha was overwhelmed by the array of unfamiliar, expensive dishes and had no idea what to choose.
Noticing her hesitation, Mrs. Arundhati smiled knowingly and said,
"I've already ordered a few special dishes for you."
Arundhati Devbarman glanced at the menu and placed the order herself. Her voice was gentle yet confident. Soon, one exquisite course after another began to arrive.
First came French onion soup—a rich golden broth topped with a thick layer of grilled Gruyère cheese that had risen into a golden-brown crust. Next arrived grilled Norwegian salmon—fresh fillets marinated in lemon and dill, served with asparagus and hollandaise sauce.
Then came truffle cream pasta—handmade tagliatelle tossed with black truffle slices, Parmesan, and the intoxicating aroma of white truffle oil. Alongside it was lobster thermidor—tender lobster meat in a brandy-cream sauce, finished with a golden grilled-cheese crust.
More followed: Wagyu-style chicken steak (perfectly marbled, juicy and tender), served with roasted baby potatoes and red-wine sauce. Fresh fruit salad arrived too—strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi, dragon fruit, and grapefruit, lightly dressed with honey and lemon.
For dessert came Belgian chocolate mousse—dense, velvety dark chocolate topped with gold leaf and fresh raspberries—accompanied by tiramisu and pistachio crème brûlée, its caramel layer cracking deliciously at the first touch of a spoon.
Sneha sat speechless. She had never seen so many expensive, beautifully presented dishes at once. Each plate looked like a work of art. Her eyes were wide with wonder.
Arundhati smiled softly and said,
"Eat, dear. As much as you like. All of this is for you."
In a trembling voice, Sneha replied, "I've… I've never seen such beautiful and expensive food before."
Arundhati gently squeezed her hand and said,
"You've come into my son's life. From today, all of this is yours as well. Eat. I'll eat with you."
Sneha lifted her spoon carefully. The first bite spread an exquisite sweet-savoury flavour across her tongue. Yet her eyes kept drifting back to Arundhati.
This woman—so beautiful, so wealthy, a powerful businesswoman—yet she was feeding her with such care and speaking to her with such love. Sneha felt incredibly fortunate.
At the same time, she finally understood the secret behind Sir's striking good looks. If the mother was this beautiful, of course the son would be too.
While serving more food onto Sneha's plate, Arundhati began to speak slowly:
"Sneha, I know you love Anurag. And he… he loves you very deeply too. Anirban has told me everything."
Sneha's cheeks burned with shyness. She kept her head down.
Arundhati paused, her voice growing heavier:
"I left Anurag when he was only ten years old. His father and I had a toxic marriage—suspicion, fights, insults… every single day. I couldn't take it anymore. I fell in love with someone else and moved to America, leaving my son with his father."
Sneha was stunned. So much had happened in Sir's life…
Arundhati continued,
"Even today, every night I still hear that little boy's cry echoing in my ears—'Mom, please don't leave me…'
I can never forgive myself. But now I've come back to my precious son."
Tears welled up in Sneha's eyes. She listened in silence.
"I know I was a terrible mother. Because of me, he suffered from depression as a child. He went through so much pain. Now I'm back… and I want to spend the rest of my life with my boy."
Tears slipped down Sneha's cheeks. She could hardly imagine that such a beautiful, powerful woman carried such deep pain.
Arundhati gently took Sneha's hand and said,
"Don't cry, dear. Everything is going to be all right now. I've come back. And you… knowing you hold such a big place in my son's heart brings me immense peace."
Sneha smiled through her tears.
"You know, Sneha, I wanted Anurag to join my company. But he says, 'Mom, I love teaching.' I know the salary is modest, and if he joined my company he could earn a fortune, achieve great success, and enjoy immense popularity. Yet his heart is set on teaching."
Sneha thought to herself—perhaps it was because of her that Sir couldn't leave his job.
---
When the meal was over, Arundhati Devbarman took Sneha's hand and stood up. She smiled softly and said,
"Come, dear, let's go for a little stroll."
The car started again. About twenty minutes later, they reached the city's largest and most luxurious shopping mall—Empire Palace.
Even from outside, the sight took Sneha's breath away. A massive glass façade sparkled with golden lights. A huge glass dome crowned the top, revealing the night sky. Two grand fountains flanked the entrance, their coloured lights dancing on the cascading water.
The moment they stepped inside, Sneha felt as if she had entered another world.
Polished marble floors reflected her image perfectly. Countless crystal chandeliers hung overhead, making the entire mall shimmer like diamonds. Everywhere she looked were international luxury brands—Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Zoya, Tanishq Luxury, Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra.
Arundhati took her straight to the luxury fashion wing on the first floor.
Behind glass showcases hung countless garments. On one side were silk, georgette, chiffon, and crepe saris adorned with golden zari, pearls, and delicate Kashmiri embroidery. On the other were Western outfits—embroidered gowns, sequined tops, various one-pieces, body-hugging dresses, and bodicons.
Further along were high-end designer lehengas and unconventional kurti sets. One lehenga featured such intricate zari and stonework that it seemed to catch fire under the lights.
Next came the jewellery section.
Glass shelves displayed pieces set with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, pearls, and gold. One row featured large South Indian polki diamond necklaces. Another held an array of earrings. Yet another showcased gold-and-rose-gold necklaces with tiny diamond-studded floral designs. Bracelets on a separate shelf sparkled with rubies and emeralds.
Sneha stood completely mesmerised, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. She had never imagined so many beautiful, expensive things could exist in one place. It felt like she had stepped into a princess's palace.
Seeing the expression on her face, Arundhati smiled gently and said,
"Take whatever you like, Sneha. Don't hesitate."
Sneha couldn't speak. She simply nodded and took a small step back. Her gaze kept returning to a delicate gold necklace with a tiny diamond flower at its centre, matched with a pair of earrings and a slim bangle.
Noticing her look, Arundhati called the assistant and said,
"Please bring out that set. And that Sabyasachi lehenga—the pink-and-gold one."
Sneha startled. "No… no, Madam… these are so expensive… I…"
Arundhati placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly,
"You've come into my son's life. So these are yours too. Don't be shy. Take them."
In the end, Sneha hesitantly chose a few items—a delicate gold necklace, a pair of earrings, a slim bangle, and a beautiful silk kurti set.
But Arundhati was not satisfied. She personally selected two more designer lehengas, several Western dresses, three premium silk saris, a diamond pendant, and a pair of diamond stud earrings for her.
Sneha stood in a daze the entire time, her eyes filled with wonder, shyness, and disbelief. She couldn't understand why this woman was showering her with so much love and so many gifts. Was it all for Anurag Sir?
Arundhati gently stroked her hair and said softly,
"From today, you are my daughter too."
Tears filled Sneha's eyes. She could only stand there in silence.
---
In the evening, Arundhati's luxurious car pulled up in front of Sneha's house.
Uncle and Aunty had been worried sick because Sneha still hadn't returned.
When the doorbell rang, Aunty hurried to the door.
Seeing Mrs. Arundhati, she was stunned. Uncle quickly stood up as well.
Arundhati introduced herself gracefully:
"I am Arundhati Devbarman, owner of the international perfume brand L'Essence D'Arundhati. I've just opened a new branch in India. I took Sneha out with me today."
Uncle and Aunty were speechless. Such a powerful businesswoman had come to their home!
They welcomed her with great respect, offering tea and snacks.
Arundhati smiled and said,
"I took Sneha out today and bought her a few clothes and pieces of jewellery. Please accept them with love and don't mind. I like Sneha very much."
Uncle and Aunty's faces lit up with happy smiles. A woman of such wealth and status had done all this for their niece. They felt as if their fortunes had turned.
After finishing her tea and chatting for a while, Arundhati rose to leave.
Before getting into the car, she looked at Sneha, smiled softly, and said,
"We'll meet again, dear."
The car drove away.
**To be continued…**