"Did your mother say anything to you?" Riha asked.
Bidisha Devi shook her head. "No. She said Sayam dropped her at the university and left."
"They didn't talk at all?" Riha asked.
"She said they didn't. And why are you interrogating me like this! Ishu never lies to us," Bidisha replied.
Riha frowned thoughtfully. "She doesn't lie, true… but the person she has fallen into the hands of will change her completely, Ma."
"What do you mean?" Bidisha asked.
"That boy is very clever. You wouldn't believe how smoothly he avoided me today. Total gentleman vibes—quiet, calm, well-mannered…"
"So the plan won't work?" Bidisha asked.
"It will. It has to. I'm not giving up so easily." Riha smirked.
Ishani sat in her room, her cheek resting on her hand. Since returning from university, her face had been dull. When her phone rang, she picked it up lazily without checking the screen. But hearing the voice from the other side, she jerked up in shock and looked at the number.
"You can't recognize me? Forgot so soon?" Sayam's voice came.
"You! Where did you get my number from?" Ishani sounded annoyed.
She was about to cut the call when Sayam said, "So you lied to your mother about me?"
"You dropped me at the university, that's all. If she found out I was at the nursing home with you, then…"
She stopped because Sayam burst out laughing.
After a moment he said, "You were at the nursing home with me, Ishu… not in my bedroom. Why are you so scared?"
"You talk absolute nonsense! Ugh!" Ishani hung up.
Sayam was still laughing. He straightened himself when he heard a knock on the cabin door.
Dr. Sarkar peeked in and said—
"About the marriage. If you won't marry Riha, then whom will you marry?" Subir asked.
"Kaka, not now. I'm sleepy," Sayam tried to leave, but Chitra Devi pulled his ear.
"Don't try to run. Tell us your decision."
"Yes, tell us, Sayam. We'll act accordingly," Srijit added.
"What will you do now, Dad? There's nothing to do yet," Sayam replied.
Everyone stared at him curiously.
"I'm not getting married now. When Ishani agrees, I'll think about it."
"What! You're going to wait?" Rita exclaimed.
Meanwhile…
Souvik sat reading the newspaper, absorbed in international news. The doorbell rang. He checked the clock and muttered, "Who's visiting on a holiday morning?"
Before he could get up, Ishani ran to open the door. The moment she did, she jumped and hugged her beloved friend.
"Soha, my darling!" Ishani squealed with joy.
"Oh, Soha dear…" Souvik said warmly, smiling.
Sohini touched his feet in respect and said—
"I came to see Ishani."
"What!!" Riha screamed so loudly that Bidisha rushed out of the kitchen.
Sohini smiled. "Yes. I'm here on behalf of my in-laws."
Ishani stood frozen, unsure what to say. Before she could speak, Bidisha said, "What is going on? Coming suddenly without warning?"
"If they came to see Riha today, would you ask the same question, Mami?" Sohini replied.
"They don't need to come at all," Riha snapped.
"And who are you to say that? Act according to your place," Sohini retorted.
Sohini turned to Ishani and said, "Come on, I'll get you ready."
Riha paced the room angrily. "No, no, this can't happen! Ma, aren't you going to do anything? How can you watch another girl get everything right in front of your eyes!"
"What can I do! Your father isn't listening to a single word," Bidisha said helplessly.
"So what! Do something for your daughter. My future is in your hands. You've always given me the best—now give me this too. I want Sayam. I will be the daughter-in-law of that house, not Ishani," Riha begged.
Meanwhile Ishani muttered angrily, "He calls me every day and drives me crazy. Is he even a real doctor? How does he manage patients?"
"The same way he manages you," Sohini teased.
"Shut up! Why aren't you listening to me, Soha? Please stop all this. Ma isn't happy—can't you see?"
"When has she ever been happy about what's good for you? You've spent your whole life thinking about everyone else. Now think about yourself. Think about brother."
Sohini ran off before Ishani could hit her.
At 4:30, the doorbell rang again. Sohini rushed to open it.
The guests entered and sat in the living room. Sohini introduced each person to Souvik.
Bidisha and Riha also came. Before Sohini could speak, Riha said, "Hello everyone. I'm Riha. Oops—you must already know me."
"Yes, we've seen your photo," Ritom replied.
Srijit said, "Souvik, maybe Sohini already told you everything. We want your elder daughter, Ishani, for my son Sayam. We wish to take her as our daughter-in-law."
Riha elbowed her mother to say something. Bidisha quickly said—
"Actually… Ishani maybe doesn't want to marry."
"No, Ma means—Didi has no wish to get married," Riha corrected.
Seeing the situation get messy, Sohini stepped in. "My uncle wants this marriage to happen."
Souvik glanced at her. Sohini nodded, urging him to speak.
Souvik said, "I want my daughter to be among cultured people like you. She's afraid to leave her parents, that's why she's saying no. But I'll convince her."
"Yes, exactly! Ishu follows her father always—"
Riha gave her mother a fiery glare, then forced a smile.
"We're very happy you all came to our home today," she said.
Chitra smiled back. "We had to come. Sayam speaks of Ishani so much that we were eager to meet her."
Riha felt a stab of anger but kept smiling.
At that moment, Sohini entered with Ishani.
Ishani didn't have the courage to look up at anyone. Sayam's lips curled into a smile—he kept stealing glances at his "Ishu" whenever no one noticed.