EPISODE 1 – The Return

Titir stood leaning against the kitchen door, her face serious.

— “Ma, why has Rudra come back? After all these years, suddenly?”

Her stepmother cut her off, slightly annoyed: — “Why do you want to know? What problem do you have if he comes? He’s part of this family. Your uncle raised him.”

Titir was a little taken aback, but she bit her lip and said: — “No, I mean… nothing. It’s just—no news in six years, no calls, no messages… and now he suddenly shows up. Isn’t that a little weird?”

Her stepmother silently continued chopping vegetables, her face showing irritation. — “You better focus on your own life. Don’t go poking your nose into others’ affairs.”

In a lighter tone, she added: — “Titir, come help in the kitchen.”

Titir frowned and replied, — “No, Ma. Why don’t you cook with your own hands for your precious Rudra? If I touch the food, it might turn bitter.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Her stepmother’s face turned red with anger. — “Watch your mouth, girl!”

Titir suddenly turned around and stormed out of the kitchen, mumbling to herself.

She ran straight to the living room, as if she couldn’t stay there another second.

Her stepmother stood there with an angry face, silently watching her leave.

Titir dropped herself onto the large sofa on the right side of the room. Her chest was burning with anger. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.

The living room was spacious, neatly arranged, and decorated with royal elegance.

In the center was a large L-shaped dark grey sofa. In front of it stood a glass table with some old magazines and a small vase of white roses. On one side stood a bookshelf with arranged books and a few framed old photographs.

On the right, a large window let in the cool night breeze, making the curtains flutter. The chandelier’s soft glow created an atmosphere of quiet luxury.

One wall displayed a childhood photo of Rudra — Titir quickly looked away.

Her mind was in such turmoil that the beautifully arranged room felt suffocating.

Titir sat quietly in a corner of the sofa, her face full of anger and hurt. Just then, her uncle entered from the corridor on the right, wearing his familiar smile.

— “What’s the matter, Madam Titir? Didn’t go to college today?”

He sat down on the sofa beside her, wearing a light white kurta and grey pajama.

Titir looked away, cleared her throat, and said, — “Wasn’t in the mood, so I didn’t go.”

Uncle asked with some surprise: — “Why not? Did you fight with Meena again?”

Titir stayed silent. A storm was brewing inside her mind.

Her uncle chuckled softly, — “You’re still the same little Titir… sulking, refusing to speak to anyone.”

Titir turned her face and replied, — “When everyone starts doing things their own way without asking, it’s better not to say anything at all.”

He smiled gently and said, — “You did the right thing by staying home today. You know, Rudra’s coming today, so I thought—”

Titir interrupted, her eyes wide, voice trembling with irritation: — “Please, Kaka! You too? Since morning, everyone’s been chanting Rudra’s name! It feels like I live in a guesthouse and he’s the royal prince of this house!”

Her uncle laughed, hiding amusement behind it: — “Oh dear! Why so angry? He’s not a child anymore, you know—Rudra’s become a successful man now. You were childhood playmates, it’s natural to be a little excited.”

Titir scrunched her nose and said, — “Maybe you’re all excited, not me. And you forgot how many times I got scolded for playing with him as a kid?”

Her uncle kept laughing. Titir turned her face again, leaning back against a cushion.

“Everyone come for breakfast!”

Her stepmother called out from the kitchen. Her voice had the usual caring tone, but Titir could sense the hidden excitement about Rudra’s return.

Gradually, everyone gathered around the dining table.

First came Sima, Titir’s 15-year-old sister, wearing a light pink dress, her face sweet and cheerful. She quietly sat beside her mother.

Then came her uncle, now with a few grey hairs but still the same warm expression.

With him came Bisho da—her cousin, who also returned from studying abroad. He was more outgoing than Rudra. Beside him sat his wife, Tina, a lively and modern young woman.

Finally, Titir’s father joined, silent and serious as always. He didn’t talk much, but his quiet love was evident in his eyes.

Titir stood at a distance watching everything, not yet sitting. Her stepmother looked at her and said sharply, — “Titir, don’t just stand there. Come sit.”

Titir sat down with a firm face, next to Sima.

On the table were hot parathas, potato curry, fried eggs, and fresh fruits.

Titir asked casually while taking a bite, — “Bisho dada, aren’t you going to the office today?”

Bisho smiled, — “Rudra’s coming today, so I thought I’d stay home.”

Titir’s face turned cold. — “Oh… okay, I get it. Baba, Kaka—are you two also skipping office?”

Her stepmother snapped, — “Titir!”

Before she could say more, Titir’s father calmly answered, — “No, we’re going. We’re not like Bisho, who runs from work.”

Bisho paused. Tina looked visibly uncomfortable.

Titir chuckled quietly and whispered, — “Wow, looks like today’s tea comes with drama.”

Sima leaned over and whispered, — “You’re no less! Always poking at people!”

Titir whispered back, — “Where’s the fun if I don’t?”

As Sima picked up her schoolbag, she asked, — “Rudra dada’s coming tonight, right?”

Her stepmother nodded: — “Yes, his flight lands around 8 PM.”

Sima smiled: — “Then I’ll go to school now and get all dressed up later!”

Titir teased: — “Oho! ‘Rudra dada’! Look at that sweet tone! Just hearing his name makes your face glow, Sima!”

Sima blushed: — “Uff, Didi! You always tease me!”

Titir laughed, — “Well, some people melt just hearing the name ‘Rudra’!”

Her stepmother scolded

It was nearly 11:30 at night.

Titir and Sima, two sisters, were sitting in the same room—the door to the balcony that overlooked the field was open, and a cool breeze drifted in. Titir was leaning on one side with a pillow, visibly tired. Sima kept glancing at the clock.

Sima said,

— “Ma said Rudra da will come at night. Why isn’t he here yet?”

Titir turned her face away and replied,

— “Such a drama king. He does everything on his own terms. Probably checked into a hotel by now!”

Sima whispered,

— “Didi, what if Rudra da has completely changed… and doesn’t even recognize us?”

Titir closed her eyes and said,

— “That would be great. He won't recognize us, yet he’ll still be everyone’s favorite.”

The light was soft, the air filled with a faint fragrance of sandalwood and jasmine. Outside, a dog barked occasionally, mixed with the distant sound of trucks. Both girls were tired. They didn’t even realize when their eyes began to close in the wait...

Sima had dozed off with her head on Titir’s shoulder. Titir too quietly closed her eyes.

The room was filled only with the ticking of the clock and the stillness of the night.

And just then…

A black car pulled up beside the main gate.

---

Morning. Around 8 a.m.

Titir slowly opened her eyes. Sunlight poured into the room through the window. A light breeze swayed the curtains. With sleepy eyes, she stared at the ceiling, then turned over and was startled.

Sima wasn’t in bed.

Titir frowned.

— “Where did that girl go so early in the morning?”

She sat up, hair messy, eyes still heavy with sleep. Yawning, she walked toward the window. Outside, birds chirped in the yard, and the smell of frying spices wafted from the kitchen.

Titir whispered,

— “Everyone’s already up… except me.”

Suddenly, she remembered—

“Rudra!”

She muttered,

— “Don’t even know if he came last night… Sima probably already went to see him!”

Titir hurriedly brushed her hair, splashed water on her face, and said,

— “Today I won’t let myself appear weak in front of anyone… Losing sleep over someone like him is insulting myself.”

She opened the door and stepped out of her room…

Now the real morning was about to begin, where the past, pride, and new stories would stand face to face.

Titir slowly walked down the stairs. Her hair was hastily tied, eyes reflecting a mix of annoyance and fatigue. She tiptoed into the living room.

But the hall was completely empty.

Curtains were drawn away from the large windows, sunlight streamed inside. The sofa cushions were in place, and a newspaper lay on the table. Not a single sound anywhere.

Titir paused and glanced around, then smirked slightly.

— “Wow! No one’s here. So Rudra didn’t come after all. That’s actually great.”

She slowly sat on the sofa, ran her hand through her hair, and said,

— “If the whole day goes like this, I’ll be at peace.”

Just then, Tina stepped out of the kitchen with a cup of tea in her hand. She smiled seeing Titir.

Tina said,

— “Finally! I saw someone!”

Titir averted her eyes and asked,

— “What do you mean?”

Tina shrugged,

— “When I woke up, your brother wasn’t in his room. Then I came to the living room—no one. Checked the kitchen—empty. It was like the whole house suddenly vanished!”

Titir smirked,

— “Really? So you thought I’d float out like a ghost?”

Tina laughed,

— “If ghosts were like you and woke up early, I’d happily drink tea without milk every morning!”

Titir narrowed her eyes,

— “Why did you wake up so early?”

Titir sniffed and muttered,

— “But where did everyone go? The whole house feels haunted!”

She slowly walked toward her parents’ room. The door was slightly ajar, but there was no sound inside. She gently knocked and called out,

— “Ma? Baba?”

No response.

Suddenly, a faint sound came from the next room.

A metallic clink… and then, a low voice—someone speaking quietly.

Titir heard it again.

She slowly moved closer.

And then stopped in her tracks.

She whispered,

— “That’s… Rudra’s room!”

She suddenly remembered how Ma always kept that room perfectly tidy—clean curtains, made-up bed, not a speck of dust. Ma would always say, “If Rudra ever comes back, the room should be just as he left it.”

Titir crept up to the door and pressed her ear against it.

From inside, a laugh echoed—a deep, but familiar male voice.

Her eyes narrowed.

— “So… he really came?” she asked herself softly.

She kept listening with her ear against the door—

But suddenly, the door swung open with a loud thud!

Titir lost her balance and fell straight to the floor!

— “Aahhh!”

She cried out in pain.

Titir lay on the floor, wincing in pain.

Rudra reached out his hand to help her up—

But before he could say anything, everyone inside the room suddenly burst into laughter.

Loudest of all was Sima—Titir’s younger sister.

— “Didi! You actually fell? Haha… just like a scene from a movie!”

Titir was burning with anger and embarrassment.

Her face turned red, and her eyes welled up with frustrated tears.

Without looking at Rudra, she quickly stood up and rushed out of the room without saying a word.

As her footsteps faded down the corridor, Sima’s laughter gradually died down.

She stood still for a moment, then whispered,

— “Did I… say too much?”

Rudra looked at her, his voice firm, though quiet:

— “Learn when and where it's okay to laugh, Sima.”

Sima’s expression froze. She mumbled—

— “I’ll go talk to Didi…”

---

Titir ran out of Rudra’s room, flushed with shame and anger.

Her face was serious, her eyes a little moist.

As she hurried past the kitchen, Tina noticed her.

— “Titir! Why are you running like that? What happened?”

But Titir didn’t respond. She walked past without a word.

Her footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Tina stood there stunned.

She whispered,

— “She’s running like that… something must’ve happened.”

She thought to herself,

— “Should I go check on her? No… maybe I’ll wait a bit.”

---

A little while later, in Titir’s room.

Soft light filtered through the window curtain, falling on the edge of the bed.

Titir sat quietly, hugging a pillow to her chest.

She wasn’t crying. No tears.

But her face was tight, her eyes held discomfort.

— “Why am I so stupid?”

She whispered to herself.

— “Everyone saw me fall… even Rudra! And Sima kept laughing!”

Her fingers clenched the pillow tightly.

She knew it wasn’t a big deal.

But still…

That moment of shame kept playing in her mind, making her whole body feel flushed and hot.

Outside, Sima slowly came and stood near the door.

She looked at it, then knocked gently—

— “Didi… open the door. Ma’s calling you for breakfast.”

No response from inside.

Sima paused, then added—

— “Titir Didi, please don’t be mad. I was just joking, you know that…”

Her voice had a hint of guilt now.

Inside, Titir sat with her face buried in the pillow.

She could sense Sima’s regret in her voice…

But said nothing.

Sima stood at the door for a few more seconds, then softly said—

— “I’m going downstairs. You come too, okay?”

Her footsteps faded down the corridor.

Titir let out a long breath.

---

Sima entered the hall slowly.

Everyone was seated at the table, but Titir was still missing.

Sima said softly,

— “Ma, Didi hasn’t come down yet. She’s not even opening the door.”

Their mother—stepmother—was standing at the side of the table, pouring tea.

She looked mildly irritated and said—

— “Alright, you sit and eat. I’ll go call her.”

Sima sat down quietly.

The table was set with toast, ghee-poha, boiled eggs, and warm milk.

There was a heavy silence in the air.

Everyone could tell something had happened—

But no one said a word.

Their mother slowly started walking down the corridor—toward Titir’s room.

---

She knocked gently on the door—

“Tok tok…”

Inside, Titir had wrapped herself in a blanket.

She heard the knock and replied irritably—

— “Sima, just go eat. I’m not hungry.”

From outside, a voice answered—firm but filled with warmth:

— “It’s not Sima. It’s me. Open the door, Titir. This isn’t the way to behave. No one skips breakfast.”

Titir was startled.

She hadn’t realized it was her mother.

Slowly, she pulled the blanket down from over her head.

There was hesitation in her eyes, and a trace of sadness.

After a moment of silence, she said softly—

— “I’ll eat later, Ma… I’m not feeling okay right now.”

Her mother stood on the other side of the door for a moment longer.

Then in a gentle voice, she said—

— “I understand your anger and hurt. But not eating won’t solve anything. I’m going downstairs. Come if you want. Eat while the food’s still warm.”

With that, she walked away and placed the plate of food on the table.

Her footsteps faded down the corridor.

The room was quiet again.

Titir buried her face in the pillow once more.