The Ladies Hostel

chapter 27: Life is never Fair

Titir's POV:
I was sure that the smell of warm Biriyani (Rice coupled with meats) was even provoking the residents of our neighboring flats! But my head started beating from the back as soon as the smell enterd in my nostril. My empty stomach started aching. So did my heart. Actually I was not enjoying anything a little bit which was happening around me. Preeya as a bride was looking mesmerising! But I could not feel happy for her! How could I! It was the last thing I could imagine that her bridegroom would be Azhar! Maya aunty's son!
Random thoughts started popping up! We meaning me and Titir used to plan a lot about our wedding! I wonder how much wedding diaries and wedding dance Videos we have shared with each other hoping we would recreate the same! Here I found her sitting with a lifeless face with deep red Saree! She was going to start her new life soon but I could not appreciate it! How ironic!
I felt like slapping my face hard finding myself the guilty behind all these scene!!
" I should have been agreed to marry him. Preeya does not deserve this nasty guy. I love her. I should tell her to evade from this dirty game!"

I went near her boldly making no unnecessary noise!

I noticed Preeya was smiling as the photographer asked her to do. The smile was so lifeless that anyone would mistake it as a ghost's smile. It felt terrible. She beckoned me to stand behind her and asked me in a very usual tone-
" look at the camera". She hold my hands. She holds my hands after ages! The hands which used to pat my shoulder when I did something big! The hands, which touched my  forehead in those territfic nights of fever! The hands which I hold while struggling with crossing busy roads after being done with our grossery  shopping!

Stupid tear rolled down my cheeks.

I waited there till she was done with the photoshoots. I sat beside her in the tiny ash colored sofa which was rented particularly for today's event.

" Want to tell me something? "- scrolling down through the facebook, even when she was a bride, Preeya asked me without making any eye contact in a very familiar tone!!

My heart missed one of its beat feeling every thing that was happening around was just a nightmare. As soon as I would wake up, I would discover that nothing really happened. And I and Preeya would continue to live happily ever after like we used to do before!

Thousands of words started spinning around my head but my mouth uttered " No, no. Nothing. You are looking breathtaking Preeya! May your upcoming life be as beautiful as you are looking today"

What I had just said I could not even process. Knowing that Preeya would never be happy with that womanizer, I wished her all the happiness with that piece of shit!!

- " Hey. Lets block the gate. Azhar has just arrived."

Some of our girls started calling me to go there and do some bargaining with Azhar and his friends before letting him come near the bride. Traditionally we used to do that in our wedding occasions as a part of fun!

" No money, No honey"- Momi apu raised her voice claiming money from Azhar to enter in the place!

Can you imagine? Every one insisted me for joining. But I could not. I left that crowdy place and took a seat in the back row.

Our newly appointed cook, Rina, a 17 years old, an over enthusiastic lady almost whispered in my ear that " see, Maya aunty  is quarreling with the hostel girls who claim themselves to be from the bride sides, that she wont let her son to pay a single penny in spite of knowing that it was just a fun activity."

I replied nothing and continued to see Preeya from the corner as if I could not get the chance to see her face again in my Lifetime, as if it was not her wedding. It was her Death!

- Dont do late. We have no time. We will go just after the dinner. Serve us the best foods separately. After we are done with eating, then the girls would have their meal".
Maya aunty instructed a man, who was probably entrustrusted with  catering service.

- " feels like we are some stray dogs. If she ever wishes to feed us, we will be blessed with some foods. Otherwise not." Nipa di could not suppress his anger.

However,

Author's Note: Unedited version. Trying to be back.