Idhyant's rice ceremony passed real fast and the family members were relieved. As the rituals ended soon,the guests returned by the mid-afternoon. On Sumit's request Mita went to make tea for everyone.

"Where is Doi?", Koustav asked coming back to his house. He had gone to pay the Caterars and decorators. He saw everyone except his son on returning.

Titli was seated beside Ria. Koustav walked towards their direction. Ria was on the sofa, sitting folding her legs. She looked at Koustav's face. " He is sleeping upstairs and don't worry, Binni didi is there too.",she spoke assuring him. Koustav visibly relieved and sat beside Ria,keeping his hand over her shoulder. His sweaty hand gave chills to her tender neck's bare skin. Ria tried looking at him, on the same moment Titli fake coughed a little which earned a glaring from Koustav. Not knowing what to do, Ria walked to the kitchen.

"Ria, do one thing, let him sleep with us tonight. Let us try too. What have you thought about joining office and giving me sometime to spend with my grandchild ?",Sumit asked while having tea.

Koustav sat and kept sipping his tea. His brown eyes were at her,noticing her,though she seemed very tired but her simple facial gestures,captured his full attention . " I've thought about it Baba. I'll join this week.",she spoke looking nowhere specificly.

"Why this week?If you are ready,start tomorrow!", the happiness and excitement in Sumit's voice was clear. Koustav was happy inside too. The evening flowed into night. After Idhyant's feeding was done. He slept peacefully, Koustav went to keep him near his parents.

" What are you thinking?",Koustav asked when he saw her in the same direction,coming back in their room.

" Not something particularly...but numerous things,my mind is a mess right now.",saying it Ria tried to get up. In the meantime,she had not seen when he had sat next to her. Koustav pulled her left hand and made her sit back. "I've my whole life to hear about your worries!",his voice now soft. "You won't understand!",she whined.

" Tell me",he demanded , his hands reaching her back. His drawing circles over her bare skin, distracted her. His charm over her worked. Ria kept telling, " Can I ever be suitable for such a responsible post? I look so chubby,I've lost my past shape, size and personality! I...Can I leave him for such long time? Plus, you will scold me there in front of others! "

Ria had not noticed when her saree had been half done and her upper body part only had her half open blouse. His fingers grazing her bossom,grabbed her notice. And the sudden surge of foreign emotions flooded her mind.

"Did you listen at all?",she huffed and asked. She just could not resist herself from asking. But he said nothing but made her look at himself. " It takes time for everything. You are more than suitable for the job, its your family too,hence you are the already the part of the business. I won't dishonour my wife in front of hundred staffs. And Doi is not at all alone. You and I are both just a call away.",his words managed her messy mind. His kisses on her upper belly made her squeal. He caressed her stitches, her ache was now unbearable."Nothing is permanent!This fat makes you more adorable to me! these stitches will too fade away, you've not lost anything,your personality is still there, you were raised to have it......it still drives me crazy. Do anything else matter to you other than me?", his words hit her more hard. The ache now gave rise to the wetness in her core.

She pulled his hair and made him face herself now."Have me. Its been long. Please.....",her words grew a sly grin on his lips. Hundreds of sloppy kisses started their journey through their night and ended at dawn where two entangled sweaty bodies witnessed the rising sun.

Surprisingly Idhyant was almost sleepy when Ria left for her new work place. With Koustav on her side,she crossed the entrance. Himadri had been there. As Koustav had to visit his office too, Himadri came forward and described what she was supposed to do. Koustav left but promised to pick her up around 4pm.

The first two hours she felt nothing. As assumed, it did not bored her. She worked perfectly asking Himadri about various things. But then she remembered of her baby. Her insides craved to see him. The file she was given, sat in front of her, she called Mita that once." Ma! What is he doing?",

She asked as soon her MIL received her phone.

" Nothing. Just slept.",Mita replied.

"Have you eaten Ma? ",Ria asked realising that she had forgotten to ask her about first.

Mita chuckled while answering," we too ate. You don't worry. Doi is alright."

Soon the phone call ended. Koustav came back around 3:45. He took his time telling her some other details about new norms and conditions regarding handling clients. They left around 4:30.

Ria was relaxing on her seat streching her neck and legs. It had been long since her university ended. The day webt better thab she expected. "Or the love making last night helped!",her innerself teased. Koustav's eyes shifted between his wife's blishing face and the slight traffic in front of him.The car ride was smooth until Romy's phone call arrived. Ria answered the call,the excitement was clear on her face. She put it on the loudspeaker, so Koustav could hear and talk with her too. But she never expected her to cry. Upon hearing her crying Koustav made the car park on the roadside, Ria prayed inside that this might not be any bad news. Ria asked after sometime," What has happened, why are you crying?"

"I don't know what to do Ria! Everything is ruined.",Romy's answer made her more worried.

"Tell me ! You are worrying us. What the matter is?",Koustav asked this time.

Ria seemed clueless for a minute while she replied," I'm pregnant. And he is not answering after knowing it.",Romy's sobs got louder.

Now Koustav looked at Ria's face. Never had he expected her to say the next," Do you want it?"

Romy kept quiet for sometime as if thinking something. Ria being more impatient," I'll kill you myself, if you think of aborting it Romy!"

This candid version of Ria amused Koustav. Romy answered," I too want it."

"Where are you?",Koustav asked, he was surprised to know that she already landed at Kolkata and was now hiring cab at the airport.

"Come to his home. We are reaching too. Be safe.",Ria ended the call.

Koustav was about to start the car,his wife suddenly got out of the car. He watched her buying a pack of cigarettes. The next moment when she lit one and puffed out a ring of smoke,shocked him more. She climbed back , Koustav was sitting expressionless, Ria gave him the rest of the pack. He kept it inside his pocket.

"You remember,you have a baby whom you are still nursing.",the taunt in his voice was very much present.

"My milk doesn't interest him that much,So Ma suggested me to give him formula.I've been doing it since a week."

"So why did you smoke? I never knew you smoke too!",they passed their house meanwhile.

"Being a newly married wife,you want me to scream it to you earlier!",she taunted back this time." Celebration of starting a work life or depression upon hearing Romy's incident- you can name both."

They took 20 minutes more to reach Ujaan's house. Ujaan was entering his house too. He was amazed to see them there." Excuse me guys! But I've to leave Kolkata super soon." Ria was shocked hearing him. Koustav was about to punch him, but thinking of Romy he controlled and asked," why? What happened?"

Ujaan chuckled and entered his hall,inviting them too." So I'm assuming you guys don't know! I'm going to be a father. Romy just informed me today. She was crying and blabbering. She needs me, I'm going to meet her."

Ria looked at him widing her eyes. Koustav grinned and brought out the cigarette packet,offering him too. Ujaan had not taken a single puff till Romy entered. Ujaan had not expected her here. Ria and Koustav left the place telling Romy the truth. The couple needed their time too.

Upon returning home, they saw Doi with Titli. She was feeding him water. With that bottle still in his mouth,he stretched his little,cute hands to his mother. Leaving her shoes, Ria went to pick him up. She felt a strange sort of piece upon cuddling him. The baby tried telling his mum about his whole day with numerous types of gurgling sounds and mumbles. When Koustav went to him,he simply inclined and when he took him forcefully,all his drools were over his shirt. Both the parents laughed.

After one month, Romy and Ujaan got married. Koustav,Tuhin and Ria were the witnesses as it was a court marriage. Romy lived in Ria's parents' place till her wedding.

Doi/ Idhyant had been a blessing to not only his parents but also the whole family. He had always been a good boy since his Mum's first day of office to his own school days.

Nabila and Tuhin got hitched the next year too. Whenever Ria or Koustav were busy in office, the child got his grand-parents' love, the younger couple Adrij- Titli too got to share their time for Idhyant. Only for Idhyant,Niloy too started coming back to their residence.

With her husband,family and the loving kid on her sides Ria fulfilled her dreams. Every scar( both physical and mental and emotional) really faded with time. Koustav was grateful to the almighty that he got 'One More Time'.

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Hey loves! Thanks for being here. You've been an amazing audience of my story. Do vote,comment and share. This story will continue once Idhyant will fall in love. Ria-Koustav's journey story partially ends here. Stay safe. Take Care. Be Happy.♥️♥️♥️♥️