**Meanwhile.**
Anurag Sir sat in a large conference room. Glass walls surrounded the space, a long table stretched out in front of him, and a projector hummed at the front. An important corporate meeting was underway.
But—
Though his eyes were fixed on the presentation, his mind was somewhere far away.
It felt as if his body was present, but his soul was missing.
For the past ten days, his father had been taking him through one meeting after another, explaining new projects and future plans, slowly handing over the reins of the business.
Anurag understood he *could* handle it all — but his heart wasn't in it.
Teaching was his true calling. That was what he had been born to do. He could manage the business if he had to, but it would never bring peace to his soul.
In front of his eyes, Sneha's face kept appearing.
He could hear her soft "Sir…"
The meeting continued. Everyone was speaking, presenting figures and strategies. Anurag sat in silence, listening to none of it.
Suddenly—
His phone vibrated.
The screen lit up with one word:
**Mom**
Anurag glanced at it… then silently cut the call.
The meeting went on. Everyone remained serious.
A few minutes later—
The phone vibrated again. A couple of people nearby glanced over.
Anurag felt slightly embarrassed. He checked the screen.
**Mom** again.
He cut the call once more.
**Anurag** (to himself):
"Why is Mom calling me repeatedly right now…?"
The phone rang a third time.
The meeting had loosened slightly.
Anurag seized the moment.
He answered the call.
**Arundhati** (voice filled with anger and worry):
"Anurag, where are you? You're spending all your time with your father now! Have you forgotten everyone else?"
Anurag froze for a second. He had never heard his mother speak in this tone before.
**Anurag** (softly):
"Mom…"
**Arundhati** (cutting him off firmly):
"Talk to Sneha."
The single name made Anurag go completely still.
His throat went dry.
**Anurag** (trying to stop her, voice low):
"Mom—"
But Arundhati's tone grew sharper.
**Arundhati:**
"She's very ill."
The words struck him straight in the chest.
**Arundhati** (commanding):
"Talk to her. Now."
At that moment, someone from the meeting table called out—
"Mr. Anurag…?"
But—
Anurag was no longer in any state to hear them.
His entire world had narrowed to the voice on the other end of the phone.
**Anurag** (quickly):
"Excuse me…"
He pushed back his chair and walked briskly toward the door. Behind him, everyone stared in surprise.
His father watched his son leave with a puzzled frown. In the last ten days, Anurag had never behaved like this. He had quietly listened to everything his father said. And now, in the middle of such an important meeting, he had simply walked out!
_
_
_
Stepping into the corridor, Anurag leaned against the wall and held the phone to his ear.
From the other side came a weak, broken voice—
**Sneha:**
"Sir…"
That one word twisted something deep inside Anurag's chest.
**Sneha** (crying):
"Sir… are you angry with me?
Please forgive me…"
Every word felt like a thorn piercing his heart.
**Sneha:**
"I can't live without you, Sir…
Please come to me…"
She no longer cared who was in the room or who could hear her.
Though she had always been shy, today her love for Anurag Sir had broken through every barrier of shame and restraint.
Her desperate love had finally burst free.
**Sneha:**
"Sir, please come…"
Anurag tried to hold back his own emotions and spoke in a firm voice:
**Anurag:**
"Sneha, why aren't you taking care of yourself properly?"
After so many days, hearing Sir's voice brought a sliver of comfort to Sneha's fevered body.
**Sneha** (still crying):
"Sir…"
**Anurag** (voice cracking with emotion):
"Why are you doing this to yourself?
Do you want to punish me?"
**Sneha** (trembling):
"No, Sir…"
**Anurag:**
"Then why are you behaving like this? You know I can't bear to see you in pain…"
Sneha cried harder for a few moments. Anurag listened in silence.
**Sneha:**
"Sir, please come to me… I can't live without you…"
**Anurag** (eyes glistening with unshed tears):
"Sneha, don't be foolish!"
Sneha kept crying and repeating the same words again and again—
**Sneha:**
"Sir, please come… Sir, please come…"
Anurag could no longer hold himself together. His voice grew thick. A single tear slipped down his cheek.
**Anurag** (softly but firmly):
"Alright."
On the other end, Sneha's sobbing stopped for a brief moment.
**Sneha** (voice filled with disbelief and hope):
"Really…?"
**Anurag:**
"Yes. Now calm down. Take your medicine. Rest a little. I'm coming."
The call ended.
_
_
_
Night had fallen. A black SUV stopped in front of Sneha's house. The door opened and Anurag stepped out.
In his hand was a bag — medicines and fruits he had bought from the pharmacy. His face was tense, his eyes a turbulent mix of worry, guilt, and boundless longing.
The door opened. Arundhati stood there, her expression a blend of relief and gentle reproach.
**Arundhati** (soft yet firm):
"Why did you take so long? She's going crazy waiting for you."
Anurag lowered his head and stepped inside.
Sneha's uncle and aunt sat quietly in the living room.
The moment they saw Anurag Sir, Surajit Ray and Nitu Aunty stood up. Folding their hands, they began to speak:
**Surajit:**
"We… we are so sorry for everything we said to you… Please forgive us…"
**Anurag** (gently):
"Please don't do this. If you behave like this, I'll feel even smaller."
Tears filled Surajit Ray and Nitu Aunty's eyes.
**Anurag** (head slightly bowed):
"I know. I made the mistake. It was my fault."
Medha slowly stepped forward and whispered,
**Medha** (softly):
"Sir… Didi is waiting for you."
Anurag's gaze shifted toward Sneha. In one corner of the living room, a bed had been placed. She lay there, looking frail and exhausted. The moment she saw him, fresh tears filled her swollen eyes.
**Sneha** (whispering brokenly):
"Sir…"
The sound of her calling him "Sir" made Anurag's heart clench.
He looked around the room. Every face was turned toward him with the same pained, expectant expression.
Anurag walked slowly to the bedside and sat down. He took Sneha's hand in his. Her fingers were warm; his were cold.
**Anurag** (very softly, voice thick):
"I'm here, Sneha."
Sneha broke into fresh sobs and gripped his hand tightly.
**Sneha:**
"Sir… you were angry with me… weren't you?"
**Anurag** (closing his eyes, taking a deep breath):
"I wasn't angry. You silly girl! How could I ever be angry with you? I was angry with myself… because of me, you had to suffer so much…"
Sneha shook her head, still crying.
"No, Sir…"
**Anurag Sir:**
"But look what you've done to yourself! Why did you do this, Sneha?"
Sneha kept crying, breathing heavily between sobs.
Anurag placed his hand on her forehead. Her skin was still burning with fever.
**Anurag:**
"From now on, you will take your medicine properly. You will eat properly. You will rest properly. And you will never torment yourself like this again."
Sneha sobbed and said,
"Sir, I only want… you to stay with me. I don't want anything else."
She clutched his hand as if afraid someone would snatch him away. She never wanted to let go of her Sir again.
Arundhati Devbarman could clearly see how deeply Sneha loved her son.
*They need some privacy!* she thought. *I should give Sneha's uncle and aunt a reason to leave the room.*
**Arundhati:**
"Alright. Let the two of them talk for a while. Come, let's go inside for a bit."
Sneha's uncle and aunt nodded. Medha quickly slipped into another room. Everyone quietly left, and the door was gently closed behind them.
**To be continued…**