Yalini closes her eyes and feels—
his calm eyes, his soft smile, and the way he spoke replay in her mind, as if the moment is happening all over again. The faint echo of his voice still lingers in her thoughts, refusing to fade away. For a brief moment, it feels so real that she almost forgets she is lying in her own room.
The memory feels vivid, almost alive, as if it is not just something she remembers but something she is reliving again and again in her heart.
A strange warmth slowly spreads through her chest—unfamiliar, yet oddly comforting. It is soft, gentle, and quiet, yet it fills her completely. She doesn't try to understand it anymore—she simply lets herself feel it. She lets that warmth stay within her, without questioning its meaning or its reason.
And slowly, without even realizing, she drifts into a deep sleep—carrying that face with her into her dreams. Even in her sleep, her mind holds onto that image, as if afraid of losing it.
Her sleep is broken by a phone call from Reha. The sudden ringing sound cuts through the silence of her room. She looks at the clock and sees that it's already four in the afternoon. Time has passed quietly without her noticing.
With sleepy eyes, she receives the call.
"Yeah, tell me… what happened?"
From the other side, Reha says,
"Get ready quickly. We're going out."
Yalini asks,
"Where?"
Reha replies,
"Let's go out somewhere. It's Sunday today."
Yalini says,
"You go… I'm not feeling like it."
Her voice sounds tired, still wrapped in sleep and lingering thoughts.
Reha says in an annoyed tone,
"I don't want to hear anything. Get ready—I'm coming."
Without giving Yalini a chance to say anything else, Reha hangs up the call.
Having no other option, Yalini freshens up and gets ready. She moves slowly at first, her mind still clouded, but gradually she regains her usual rhythm. The cool water on her face helps her wake up a little more.
After some time, the doorbell rings.
Yalini's mother opens the door and sees Reha standing there.
"Oh, Reha! How are you?"
"I'm good, Aunty. How are you?"
"I'm good too. Come in."
As soon as Reha enters, she asks about Yalini, her voice carrying both urgency and curiosity.
Yalini's mother says that she is in her room, she went upstairs a little while ago—she must still be there.
Reha goes straight to Yalini's room without wasting any time, quickly climbing the stairs.
Yalini is standing by the window, leaning against it, lost in her thoughts. Even though she is looking outside, her eyes seem fixed somewhere else—as if she is deeply lost in her own mind. The outside world moves, but her thoughts remain still.
Reha quietly walks up to her and suddenly shouts loudly near her ear, as if she intentionally wants to scare her.
Startled by the sudden shout, Yalini jumps in shock and gets a little scared. Her body trembles slightly as she quickly turns back.
When she sees Reha, she lets out a long breath, her heart slowly calming down,
and scolds her,
"You scared me! If you suddenly do something like that, of course I'll get scared!"
Reha bursts out laughing loudly, clearly amused by her reaction.
Yalini says in an annoyed tone,
"Will you stop? How long are you going to laugh?"
Reha tries to control her laughter and says,
"Okay, okay… now let's go."
Yalini asks, looking at her curiously,
"Where are we going?"
"Eco Park,"
Reha replies simply, as if everything is already planned.
Then the two of them sit for a while, and Yalini's mother brings tea for Reha.
Even though Reha doesn't want to drink it, Yalini's mother says,
"You can't leave without having tea."
So Reha finally drinks the tea, even if a little reluctantly.
Then, Reha talks with Yalini's mother for quite some time.
After that, they leave for Eco Park.
After waiting on the road for some time, they get a taxi and head towards Eco Park.
On the way, the city feels alive—cars moving, people walking, sounds blending into a familiar rhythm. Yet for Yalini, everything feels slightly distant, as if she is observing it from outside her own world.
The streets of Kolkata are just like the city itself—vibrant, busy, and full of diversity.
The roads here are always alive—from morning to night, filled with people moving around, the constant honking of vehicles, and the noise of shops. Major roads like Park Street and EM Bypass are modern, wide, and brightly lit, where long lines of vehicles can be seen throughout the day.
On the other hand, the narrow lanes of the older parts of the city carry its rich heritage. Many lanes in North Kolkata are still filled with old houses, balconies, and a sense of nostalgia. Walking through these areas feels as if time itself slows down.
One of the most unique features of Kolkata's roads is the Kolkata Tram—the only operating tram service in India, which stands as a symbol of the city's tradition. Alongside it, yellow taxis, autos, and buses make the transport system highly diverse.
Traffic jams are a very common sight, especially during office hours. Yet, even within this chaos, Kolkata's streets have a special charm.
Small tea stalls, phuchka vendors, and the aroma of various street foods make the environment even more lively. People don't just pass through these roads—they chat, spend time, and truly enjoy life.
Overall, the streets of Kolkata are not just pathways for movement—they are the heartbeat of the city, where thousands of stories are created every single day.
After some time, the two of them reach Eco Park.
After reaching there, they see that…
As usual, there is a huge crowd in front of Eco Park.
After standing in line and waiting for quite a long time, they finally get their turn to buy the tickets.
They buy two tickets and go inside.
Holding the ticket in her hand, Yalini feels quite happy.
It's as if none of the past incidents come to her mind anymore.
At this moment, she just wants to enjoy the beauty of Eco Park.
Every time Yalini comes here, she feels like—
this is a piece of green dream in the heart of Kolkata, where nature and peace walk hand in hand.
It feels like a place where time slows down just enough for people to breathe.
The moment one enters Eco Park, it feels as if they have suddenly stepped into another world, away from the chaos of the city. All around, there is a vast stretch of green grass, rows of tall trees, and in the middle, a huge bluish lake—where the color of the sky blends with the water, creating a beautiful scene.
The peacefulness of the place feels almost unreal.
When a gentle breeze flows, small ripples form on the lake, and sunlight reflects on them, making it sparkle like thousands of diamonds. In the distance, colorful paddle boats and kayaks can be seen, where people float slowly—it feels as if time slows down here.
The walking paths inside the park are beautifully arranged—on one side, there are flower gardens full of different colored flowers, and on the other side, shaded areas under trees where people can sit. Couples sit quietly talking, families spend time together, and children run around happily.
Every corner of the park holds a small story of its own.
One of the main attractions is the "Seven Wonders" area, where small replicas of famous monuments from around the world are built—like the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal—which makes it feel like you've traveled the world all at once.
As evening falls, Eco Park becomes even more magical. Lights turn on all around, and their reflection on the lake creates a dreamy environment. Soft music, cool breeze, and gentle lighting—all together create a calm and romantic feeling.
Eco Park is not just a park—it is a place where people find relief from their busy lives, where they can breathe freely, and lose themselves in nature.
Now, slowly, evening has set in, and the light around gradually becomes softer as the day fades away.
The lights of Eco Park have turned on, one after another, lighting up the entire place beautifully.
The park looks even more magical, like a dream where reality and imagination blend together.
Yalini sits down on a bench beside the lake, slowly observing everything around her and trying to feel the moment. She lets herself be present, without overthinking.
Reha sits beside her, and for a while, both of them quietly enjoy the surroundings.
They talk about small things—sometimes light jokes, sometimes simple conversations—making the time feel meaningful.
Every now and then, a gentle breeze comes and messes up Yalini's hair, bringing a sense of calm to her face, as if all her worries drift away for a moment.
Whenever Yalini comes here, she never feels like going back home.
In fact, anyone who comes here would feel the same.
Who knows how many people's sorrows and emotions this lake has witnessed…
how many silent tears, how many hidden smiles…
and how many untold stories still remain within its quiet waves.
And this—
"Eco Park."