After sitting at Eco Park for quite some time, quietly enjoying the calm surroundings and the peaceful atmosphere, they finally decide to leave from there, though neither of them really feels like going back just yet.
As they come out of the park, Yalini takes out her phone and calls her mother, informing her softly that they will have dinner outside tonight and not to wait for her. Her voice sounds calm, but somewhere deep inside, her thoughts are still drifting elsewhere.
After walking a little distance away from Eco Park, along the softly lit roads filled with evening traffic and scattered crowds, they come across a restaurant named Club de Golf Restaurant, which is known to be one of the most famous and well-known restaurants in Kolkata, attracting people who look for both good food and a soothing environment.
As soon as they step inside the restaurant, the very first thing that catches their eyes is the beautiful greenery surrounding the entire place. The vast stretch of the golf course, covered in lush green grass, the neatly arranged trees standing tall at a distance, and the wide open sky above—all of it together creates a fresh, calm, and deeply relaxing atmosphere. Sitting there feels almost surreal, as if time itself slows down and the rush of the city fades away completely.
The seating arrangement is not only elegant but also extremely comfortable. There are both indoor and outdoor seating options available, each offering a different kind of experience. The outdoor seating feels especially refreshing—the gentle evening breeze touches the skin softly, the faint sound of birds can be heard from afar, and the endless greenery makes the entire place feel peaceful and soothing. On the other hand, the indoor seating has its own charm, with soft lighting, refined décor, and a classy, sophisticated vibe that adds a touch of luxury to the experience.
After taking a moment to look around and absorb the beauty of the place, they choose the outdoor seating, wanting to enjoy the natural surroundings a little more.
Then they begin to order food according to their own preferences. Yalini, after glancing through the menu for a while, orders one of the most popular items of the restaurant—smoked chicken—along with Thai noodles and a glass of fresh watermelon juice. Reha, on the other hand, orders Thai noodles and a cheese sandwich, accompanied by a glass of fresh orange juice.
As they wait for their food, they sit quietly for a moment, occasionally exchanging small talks. The soft wind continues to blow, and the peaceful environment somehow makes everything feel lighter.
After some time, the food arrives. The aroma of the dishes instantly makes them feel hungry. They begin eating slowly, enjoying each bite while continuing their light conversation. The taste of the food, combined with the calm surroundings, makes the entire experience even more satisfying.
After finishing their meal, both of them take a few more moments to sit there, letting the calmness sink in, before finally deciding to leave. Then, they get up and head back home.
At night, after returning home, Yalini quietly walks straight to her room without much conversation. She changes into comfortable clothes and lies down on her bed. The room feels silent, yet her mind is anything but calm.
The next morning, she wakes up, gets ready as usual, has her breakfast, and leaves for the office, trying to follow her daily routine like nothing has changed.
But these days, she finds it difficult to concentrate on her work. Her mind keeps drifting away again and again, no matter how much she tries to focus. Still, somehow, she manages to complete her tasks, forcing herself to stay engaged.
Today, during the lunch break, she doesn't even go to eat. Instead, she stays back at her desk, sitting quietly, lost in her thoughts. Even after Reha insists multiple times, trying to drag her along, she refuses to go.
Left with no other option, Reha goes alone. While returning, she brings a sandwich for Yalini, thinking she might eat at least something.
But Yalini doesn't touch it. She simply keeps it beside her, untouched, as if she doesn't even notice it.
Soon, it's 5 PM, and the office hours are over. Yalini and Reha both step out of the office and start walking along the busy road, surrounded by the usual evening rush.
Suddenly, Yalini speaks, "You go home, Reha. I have some work."
Reha looks at her immediately and asks, "What work?"
"I won't let you go anywhere alone. I'll go with you," she adds firmly.
Yalini shakes her head slightly and replies, "Don't be silly, Reha. You go home. I'm just going to the hospital to meet him."
"Whom?" Reha asks again, confused.
"Uff, did you forget already? The gentleman who had the accident," Yalini says, a little impatiently.
Reha smiles mischievously, her eyes narrowing playfully, and says, "Have you fallen in love with him or something?"
Yalini doesn't take her words seriously. She immediately responds, "Will you stop it? You always say such nonsense. He is in this condition because of me, so I feel guilty. That's why I'm going to meet him, that's it—nothing else."
Reha watches her for a moment and then says, "Okay, fine. Go. But come back home on time, otherwise Aunty will worry."
"Okay, fine," Yalini replies.
Then they both say goodbye. Reha heads towards her home, while Yalini turns in the opposite direction, making her way towards the hospital.
She stops a taxi and gets in, quietly giving the address. The city moves past her as she sits silently, looking outside the window, her thoughts once again drifting back.
After reaching the hospital, she gets down and walks inside. The familiar smell of antiseptic fills the air again as she makes her way towards the man's room.
She reaches the door and notices that he is sitting there, quietly reading a book, completely absorbed in it, as if the outside world doesn't exist at that moment.
She gently knocks on the door to get his attention, her hand moving slowly, almost hesitantly, as if she doesn't want to disturb him too much.
Hearing the soft knock, the man lifts his gaze from the book and looks towards the door. The moment he sees Yalini standing there, a faint, warm smile appears on his face, spreading gently across his lips, making his expression softer and more welcoming.
"May I come in?" Yalini asks politely, her voice calm yet carrying a slight hesitation, as if she is unsure whether she is interrupting something.
"Oh, you! Do you need my permission to come in? Please, come," he says, his tone light and friendly, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Yalini steps inside with a soft smile, moving slowly and carefully, and sits down on the chair beside him, maintaining a gentle distance yet close enough to continue the conversation comfortably.
The man places a bookmark in the book he was reading, closes it carefully, and keeps it aside, as if giving his full attention to her presence now.
Yalini glances briefly at the book and notices that it is a romantic novel by a well-known writer, the cover slightly worn as if it has been read multiple times.
"Do you like reading books?" Yalini asks, her eyes still resting on the book, curiosity evident in her tone.
"Yes," the man replies simply, yet his expression suggests that it is something he truly enjoys.
"That's a very good habit," she says, nodding slightly, appreciating it.
"Don't you like it?" he asks her, looking at her with mild curiosity.
"Yes, I do… but not as much as you," Yalini replies in a calm and gentle tone, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Then she looks at him and asks, "How are you feeling now?" her voice carrying a touch of concern and sincerity.
The man smiles slightly and says, "Hmm… I'm fine. Now that I see you, I feel even better," his words light, yet filled with a subtle warmth.
Both of them laugh softly at that, their laughter quiet and natural, making the atmosphere between them feel lighter, more comfortable, and somehow a little more familiar than before.
After a short pause, Yalini says, "Okay, I'll leave now."
The man looks slightly surprised and says, "What? You just came. Sit for a while."
"Not today… some other day," Yalini replies gently.
The man's expression fades just a little, and he says, "Alright."
Before leaving, Yalini hesitates for a moment and then asks, "By the way, is there no one at your home? I came twice, but didn't see anyone."
The man smiles and replies, "No, there's no one except my younger sister. She comes every morning, brings me food, goes to her office, and then comes again in the evening to see me."
He pauses for a second and then adds, "Sit for a while. She'll be here soon—you can meet her too."
But Yalini shakes her head softly and says, "No, not today. I'll meet her some other day. I'll leave now. Bye."
After Yalini says goodbye, Dhruva doesn't say anything further—he simply nods his head quietly.
As Yalini turns to leave, she reaches the door and suddenly pauses.
Something makes her stop.
She slowly turns back.
She sees that he is still looking at her, his gaze fixed on her as if he doesn't want the moment to end.
Yalini doesn't say anything. She just gives a faint, almost unnoticeable smile… and then walks away.
After stepping out of the room, she lets out a long, deep breath, as if she has just returned from a battlefield, as if something inside her had been fighting silently.
Then she starts walking out of the hospital, slowly making her way back home.
But again and again, the same thought keeps returning to her mind—
It feels like she has some kind of connection with that man.
Something unspoken… something she cannot explain.
But what is it?
Why does it feel so real?
Searching for answers to these questions, lost in her own thoughts and emotions, Yalini finally reaches home… not realizing that this confusion, this feeling, is only going to grow stronger with time.