Previous cut:-That day, Rupam kept coming to the house repeatedly, but Sarmistha refused to meet him. She didn't even pick up his calls.
But the next day, Monday—what happened then...
Monday morning didn't feel like any other day to Sarmistha.
From the moment she woke up, something felt terribly wrong—nothing seemed right. Since last evening, Rupam's 40 calls had come to her phone, but she hadn't picked up a single one. The phone was still vibrating, another call coming in. Without looking, she switched it off and set it aside.
Breakfast wouldn't go down her throat. Still, she somehow managed to leave for college. Every turn in the road, every face she passed—everything reminded her of Rupam.
She reached college, signed the attendance register, and entered the classroom. But today her voice lacked its usual calm sweetness. The moment she saw two students whispering, she shouted so loudly the whole room shook. Everyone turned, stunned. Tears glistened in Sarmistha's eyes, her face hard, but inside she was crumbling. She quickly turned away so no one could see her tears.
As soon as the class ended, she went to the teachers' room and sat alone in a corner. The next class was hers too, but her legs refused to move. A colleague came and asked,
"What's wrong, Sarmistha? Aren't you going to class?"
She only whispered,
"I don't feel good… not at all."
Her voice trembled. The colleague asked nothing more. Sarmistha didn't return to any class that day. Her chest felt painfully empty.
When the final bell rang, she stepped outside—and there was Rupam, standing at the gate.
Today there was no smile on his face. His eyes were red and swollen, as if he had cried all night. His face looked drawn, hair disheveled. He stood there like a broken man. Sarmistha's heart twisted. Maybe she had hurt him too much, yet her anger and fear had become one tangled mess.
In a trembling voice, Rupam said,
"Please… give me one chance, Sarmistha. I can't bear this anymore."
Sarmistha stayed silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. They took a bus, got down near Howrah Bridge, and started walking along the pavement. The air carried the scent of the Ganges, but between them there was only silence.
Rupam suddenly stopped.
"Forgive me. I know I made a huge mistake. I didn't realize… how much my drinking was hurting you."
Sarmistha remained quiet.
His voice broke,
"Why aren't you saying anything? Don't stay silent like this… my heart is breaking. Please, say something."
He lifted her hand and pressed it to his cheek. Tears streamed endlessly from his eyes.
"I'll quit… I'll leave everything. Just don't leave me. I can't lose you."
Sarmistha's heart trembled. She looked into his eyes—eyes filled with love and fear. Softly she said,
"I love you, Rupam. So much. That's why it hurts this badly. I don't want my husband to be a slave to alcohol. I want you—completely you. If you truly want me, then from today, for the rest of your life, you have to leave that addiction behind."
Rupam gripped her hand tightly and sobbed,
"I'll leave it. Starting today. I swear. Just stay with me… take me back."
Sarmistha couldn't hold back anymore. She gently kissed his cheek. Tears filled her eyes too.
"Okay… I believe you."
It was as if life returned to Rupam in an instant. He kissed her cheeks, forehead, lips again and again—as if terrified this moment would vanish.
"I'll never drink again. I promise you. Just stay by my side… please."
Sarmistha laughed through her tears,
"Alright, enough now. Are we going to stand on the road crying all evening?"
They went to a nearby tea stall and sat down with two cups of tea. Rupam never let go of her hand the whole time—as if letting go would make her disappear again. While sipping tea, they spoke—small words, but every word dripped with love.
Before boarding the bus, Rupam asked again,
"Do you really love me?"
Sarmistha buried her face in his chest and whispered,
"Yes… so much that I couldn't stay angry for long."
Rupam lifted her face with both hands. Sarmistha's fair cheeks had turned red. He gently kissed that flushed glow—as if pouring his entire lifetime of love into that one moment.
That night, back home, Sarmistha called him herself.
"Rupam…"
A trembling voice came from the other end,
"You called?"
Sarmistha smiled and said,
"Yes… "I came home and the quiet screamed your name. I couldn't sit still. Couldn't think. Just kept aching for your voice… for you."
In both
their eyes, tears and smiles mingled—together.
To be continued....