"Look, I don't want to feel bored on a holiday. So make plans quickly," Ritom said in irritation as he sat on the sofa.
Sayam didn't respond; he kept staring at his laptop.
Annoyed, Ritom closed the laptop.
"What are you doing, Ritom! I was reading an article," Sayam protested.
"Keep that research of yours for the night. You can enrich your knowledge later, but not now. It's a holiday, brother—let's go out. And hey, don't you want to meet your future sister-in-law?"
Sayam thought to himself, "Someone might want to meet… but she won't agree."
Then he reopened his laptop.
Ritom snatched it away again.
Sayam gave him an annoyed look, but Ritom excitedly said, "I have a great plan—your work will be done, and we'll get to go out too."
"How?" — Sayam
"Call Soha bhabi and tell her we're going to watch a movie. She and Arnab will come with us. And through her, you can bring bhabi as well. We'll watch a movie, and you can roam around with her." — Ritom
Sayam smiled, "Not ba—"
Before he could finish, Ritom said, "It'll look bad if we call one and not the other."
"Who are you talking about?" — Sayam
"Bhabi's sister." — Ritom
From the other side of the call, Sohini said, "Oh hush, nothing looks bad."
Sayam replied, "No, no, Ritom is right. Call them both."
Sohini agreed and hung up.
She called Souvik Babu and told him everyone wanted to go out since it's a holiday. He gave permission and warned, "Take Riha with you, but make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Don't worry, uncle. I'll keep Riha in check." — Sohini
Riha came out dressed up. Standing in front of Ishani, she said mockingly, "Look at me, now look at yourself. You'll never be like me."
Ishani smiled softly and said, "I don't try to be, Riha. You're definitely the best; I'm proud of that."
Hearing the car, Ishani went downstairs. Riha followed.
Sohini and Arnab arrived to pick them up.
Seeing Ishani, Sohini got down and hugged her.
Teasing, she said, "Ohh, dressed up nicely to meet brother, huh?"
"I didn't dress up! Don't talk nonsense." — Ishani
They reached the meeting point. Sayam was waiting beside his car.
Seeing Ishani, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Ishani also smiled, though one would only notice if they looked closely.
Riha got out and went ahead alone. Smiling, she said, "Thanks for planning this outing. I was so bored at home."
"We're glad you came," Ritom replied.
Sohini, Arnab, and Ishani came forward.
Ritom said to Ishani, "Hello bhabi, how are you? I mean, I know you're fine—your brother is—"
Arnab interrupted, "Enough! Let's go. Movie will start soon."
"You all go," Sayam said.
"You're not going?" — Riha
"No. Brother doesn't like movies. He'll take Ishu, and we'll watch the movie." — Sohini announced.
Riha was stunned. She had planned to spend time with Sayam and impress him, but everything was going the opposite way.
"Let's go, Ishu." — Sayam
"Hey, wait! What did you call her? Ishu! Ohhh I see, I see," Arnab teased.
"If you don't want a slap, leave," Sayam glared.
Sayam held Ishani's hand more firmly and said, "My brothers are all like this—annoying troublemakers. But don't be embarrassed, Ishu. I'm here."
"I'm not embarrassed," Ishani protested.
"Then?" — Sayam
"N-no, nothing." — Ishani
Sayam smiled and started walking with her.
"Where are we going?" — Ishani
"Where do you want to go?" — Sayam
"How would I know! We could have stayed with them. Would watching one movie hurt you so much?" — Ishani
"Well… where would you like to go then?" — Sayam
"Ice cream?"
Sayam stopped. "Ice cream?"
Ishani shyly nodded yes.
Sayam burst into loud laughter.
Annoyed, Ishani said, "What's so funny! People do eat ice cream. And it's hot—you expect me not to?"
"Alright, let's go," Sayam said and took her to the car.
The car stopped at a shopping mall.
He took her to the ice cream parlor on the 3rd floor.
Ishani happily placed her order.
Sayam said, "I won't eat."
Ishani pouted, "Doctors only—"
"—give patients bitter medicine and injections," Sayam completed.
"You do! Only know how to torture us," she said.
Her ice cream arrived.
Sayam pointed at it and said, "These aren't good for health."
"Nothing happens!" Ishani said and started eating.
Watching the joy on her face, Sayam thought,
"Maybe it isn't good… but for that smile, I'll allow it."
"Try a little," Ishani offered.
Sayam refused.
Ishani ate the entire thing messily.
Sayam shook his head thinking, "Such a kid."
After finishing, they left.
"Where now?" — Ishani
"You choose." — Sayam
"I can't think of anything." — Ishani
"There's still an hour before their movie ends. Let's go to that same place."
Ishani looked curious.
Sayam leaned closer, smiling, and whispered,
"Where I dragged you that night."
Meanwhile, outside:
Ritom said, "Let's take her home."
"Yeah good idea. Let's eat first, I'm hungry." — Sohini
They waited while Arnab brought the car.
Riha was boiling inside, eager to scold Ishani.
"It's almost 8. When will we reach home?"
Ishani checked her watch nervously and bit her nails.
"We're leaving now. And stop biting your nails; it's a bad habit." — Sayam
"Stop it. It's your fault we're late. If we hadn't gone to the lake—"
They reached home.
Ishani got out. Sayam waved goodbye.
Ishani smiled faintly and went inside.
Inside the house, Bidisha and Riha were waiting.
Seeing Ishani, Bidisha said sternly,
"Back now? Riha came home ages ago."
"She'd come home with me if she stayed with me. She left me and went with Sayam. Ask where they were for so long!" — Riha
"Where were you, Ichche? Your marriage isn't even fixed properly and you're already like this?" — Bidisha
A cold voice came from behind:
"You should've asked me that question."
Hearing Sayam's voice, Riha and Bidisha froze.
Ishani felt like sinking into the floor.
Sayam came forward and handed Ishani her phone.
"You left it in the car."
Ishani took it with trembling hands, still unable to look up.
Riha hurriedly said, "Actually—"
Sayam raised his hand, signaling her to stop.
Just then Souvik entered the house.
"Oh Sayam! You're back from your outing!"
Sayam looked at him carefully, trying to judge the man—is he like Riha and Bidisha, or better?
"Why are you standing here, Ichche? Go freshen up. Sayam, sit down, you must eat dinner here tonight." — Souvik
"No uncle, that won't be possible. I'll leave now. Ishu, go to your room."
He said that, glanced once at Riha and Bidisha, and left.
Ishani ran—