I am so sorry I couldn't post this part yester-night. My Wattpad app was not working and I write on my phone- everything was messy. But the good thing is I am posting it now. Here it is. So lets just go in...

"Its your first Durga puja after your marriage and you are gonna stay in? No plan? No pandal hopping, nothing...?" Moitreyi, Tuli's colleague raised her brows with a confused face.

"Well! Didn't know it was a ritual too!" Tuli took a sip of her coffee with a sarcastic smile, intending to hide the discomfort behind it and moved away trying to avoid any further questions. What was people with holidays. Its nothing special! It's an annual thing!

"You know what I mean!" Moitreyi was not some one to let go things easily, specially when she was sniffing for gossip.

"well he... um Shuvro doesn't really like crowd, but anyway, nothing is planned..." she shrugged as Moitreyi's curious eyes hovered over her.

"Well you guys can at least go for a nice dinner, I heard the flotel restaurants on the Ganges are really incredible!"

"Yah. You know what that's a really good idea. Thank you!"

Tuli breathed in relief leaving quickly passing Moitreyi a smile. She didn't really reason with herself for what reason she agreed. Tuli walked back to her desk. For almost the last six months she had been snapping everyone who was saying anything positive thing about this marriage. But today she didn't want to fight Moitreyi.

Was it the holiday? The excitement of upcoming Durga puja? For yhe last seven years the city's excitement around this particular spirit failed reach her. That side was cremated along with Sumedh. Then what was in Moitreyi's words that suddenly made her agree.

Well she particularly didn't agree! She had no intention even to ponder upon that. She just went along with Moitreyi. She was exhausted with feeding every open mouth with curious question, with justifying answer.

But what was making her uncomfortable, was the fact that, her agreeing with Motreyi did not feel very alarming to her. For momentum a part in herself was convinced that the plan was about to get carried on.

Was she become that good of an actress that she was becoming convincing for herself? Or she was developing splits persona!

Tuli's head was foggy as she sat in chair. She took a big sip off the coffee.

***

It was lunch time when Shuvro wad summoned to his project leader's cabin and was dropped a bomb upon.

"Why do you look so surprised?" Apurva raised his brows looking at Shuvro.

"28th of this month?" Shuvro hissed.

"Why? Haven't I told you?"

"Do you think I look like this when I am in enlightenment? Its Ashtami!!!"

Apurva Bhattacharya pressed his lips and exhaled a sharp breath. "Well in Germany there is no such a thing called 'Ashtami' or 'Durga puja'!"

"But..."

"Look Shuvro I know it's a big deal, but you have worked your ass off in this project, I think its only fair for you to project this. Otherwise some one else gonna get it." Placing a hand on Shuvro's shoulder Apurva murmured.

*

"Well it's not like there is something better for you to do during Puja! Its better to spend it in a beautiful country full of beautiful ladies, and working on your next big promotion, with the project you have worked so hard on - " Ratul smirked simply, "that staying in home with your 'supposedly wife' and crying about how you can not get on with her!" as he concluded.

Shuvro looked up at him. Glares of his flaring eyes had intention to burn him alive if it was possible. It only brightened the smirk on Ratul's face more.

"You know I am right!"

The thought of being out of Kolkata and away from Tuli that too during Durga puja was very much unsettling for Shuvro. The thought was making his inside squirm and throw up. And it's when after years of getting over, he badly wanted a smoke.

***

The sound of dhak from the distanced pandals broke Tuli's sleep at the morning of Saptami. She stayed lying on the bed listening to the sound until Chaya walked inside with the tea cup and called for breakfast.

Chaya had dolled up a little today.

"Is that new?" Tuli asked.

"Yes Boudimoni, madam from that other house, where I work, she gave me this." Chaya gave a wide smile.

"Oh! Its pretty!"

"Oh, not as much as the one you gave me. I will wear that one tomorrow for the Anjali." Chaya chirped as she left ushering Tuli to come down for break fast.

The topic of Anjali of Ashtami suddenly made her face fall. She sighed deeply before rolling out of the quietly.

*

Looking at the dolled up Puja pandal of their locality Tuli sighed. As soon as the sun started rolling at the west the locality was dolled up with all kind of lights just like the rest of the Kolkata.

First Durga puja of her after getting married. She scoffed a little. She could remember the first Puja of her and Sumedh as a couple, she remembered the last one.

"I don't mind every day being a Ashtami, if I get to see you like this my lady!"

She remembered him saying. A smile sadly looped over her face ignoring the tears rolling down her cheeks a she remembered the bright face with that wide smile of him.

She heaved a sigh as she leaned her head on the wall placing a hand on the railing of the balcony.

The city was thumping on the groove of Dhak. She felt tired.

A couple walked by and the giggle of the girl hit her ear. It felt like mockery to her. As if the girl was laughing at Tuli. She kept looking at the retreating figure of the girl walking away with her arms looping around her boyfriend's.

'Its been seven years!!!'

Someone inside her screamed out. 'I don't want to be like this anymore!!! I am exhausted!'

'Die! Die! Die!!!' Another part of he cursed. 'Die you shameless woman!'

'What if he doesn't come back from this trip! Stop him!'

Tuli clenched the railing of the balcony tightly as hiccups of cry started shaking her body.

'You whore! Die!!!'

'He won't come back!!! Stop him please!!!"...

I hope that was not too boring. I hope you liked it. Now VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! and comment...