Unwanted

Chapter 6

Archit

Finally it was the day of my wedding.

I looked in the mirror. I was looking good in the beige dhuti, beige sherwani and uttoriyo which seemed to compliment my warm, sand coloured skin. My straight, dark brown hair was combed neatly. My forehead was adorned with dots of chandan. I finally completed my look by wearing my specs and a silver watch. It was Baba's watch which I had borrowed back in 10th grade for my farewell function. It was still with me till this date because Baba told me to keep it. To be honest I really liked the watch. Not because of how it looked but mostly because Baba gave it to me. I cherished it.

"Archit. Come down." I heard Baba yell from downstairs.
"Aschi." Saying this I hurried downstairs.
[Translation: Coming.]
"You look handsome." Baba remarked upon seeing me.
"Your mother would have been so happy if she was here." Baba said with tears in his eyes.
I just nodded not knowing what to say. I had never gotten the chance to meet my Ma. She passed away shortly after giving birth to me. I only knew her from her photos and my parents' wedding album. She was beautiful. I looked a lot like her infact I was her carbon copy. We both had the same straight dark brown hair, reddish brown hooded eyes, thin peach coloured lips, soft jawline, chubby pink cheeks, warm sandy skin tone and tall structure. She even wore specs like me. Although I looked less like my Baba and more like my Ma, I still inherited somethings from him. Mainly my inability to control emotions and my moodiness.
"Let's go Archit."
"Yeah." I replied with a smile.

Soon we arrived at Priyodorshini's house. The front gate was decorated with flowers and had a Priyodorshini weds Archit on a heart shaped thermacol. I got out from my car and got inside while Baba followed me. Upon arrival I saw my Sasuri Ma standing beside an older woman who had a boron dala in her hand. She started doing my boron before letting me enter inside the house.
"Are bah Rina di tomar jamai ke toh besh sundor dekhte." Another woman commented making my Sasuri Ma smile.
[Translation: Wow Rina your son-in-law is really beautiful.
Di=elder sister.]
Baba took the topor and garland from the woman and placed the topor on my head and the garland around my neck. I finally eneterd the house. The house was decorated with white and red roses. It looked beautiful.

●●●●●●●

I felt anxious. I bowed my head down, and stared at my feet. My favourite thing to do when I feel anxious.
"Why isn't the bride showing her face to the groom?"
"Is there something wrong?"
"Why is the bride sitting like a statue instead of completing the ritual?"
"Why isn't the bride removing the betel leaves?"
I could hear the whispers grow louder. People were curious as to why Priyodorshini was hesitating to show her face to me. She was sitting on the pidi which was being held by her cousin brothers and a few neighborhood boys like a statue while her face was still hidden behind the betel leaves in her hand. She wasnot moving even an inch. She was sitting on the pidi with her face still covered behind the betel leaves in her hand even after completing making seven rounds around me as the custom demanded. I was satnding infront of Priyodorshini, we were surrounded by a crowd of people who were watching the rituals with interest. Her hands which were painted with alta were shaking a little bit. She must be nervous.
I don't know why but I wanted to hug her. I just wanted to reassure her that everything was going to be alright.
But I couldnot do anything even if I wanted to.

Finally after a few minutes she removed the betel leaves uncovering her face for our subhodrishti. Breathtaking. She looked absolutely gorgeous in the maroon benarasi which she was wearing. She too had a garland around her neck. Her eyes were rimmed with kohl and lips were painted red. Her forehead and cheeks were covered with kolka and she had a red tip on the center of her forehead. She looked at me starry eyed. Her eyes looked like she had been crying all day. Her stare was oddly melancholic. She looked devastated.

"Oho Jamai babu toh didir dik theke chokh e ferachhe na." Priyodorshini's younger cousin sister Brishti joked from behind her.
[Translation: Oho Brother-in-law can't stop staring at elder sister.]
I blushed upon her remark.
"It is time for the malabodol now." Priyodorshini's maternal aunt, the woman who did my boron said from the crowd.

I took off my garland. Priyodorshini did the same thing. She was facing a little difficulty putting the garland around my neck as I was taller than her. I crouched down in an attempt to help her.
"Aww. Look our Jamai babu is so co-operative." Priyodorshini's cousin brother Deepanjan said while holding her pidi.
Priyodorshini turned around and shot him a glare.
"Sorry didi." Deepanjan quickly apologised.
After our malabodol it was time for the sampradan. We both sat down for the ritual while one of her paternal uncles came forward for the ritual. The priest kept Priyodorshini's hand on mine and started reading the mantras. Her hand was shaking. I could feel it, she was anxious. After the completion of sampradan, it was time for our saptapradi and kusumundinge. The saptrapradi was completed in no time. Now it was time for the kusumundinge.

I stood behind Priyodorshini while she held the kulo filled with khoi infront of the holy fire. I was feeling a little hesitant about touching her.
"Archit shonger moton dariye theko na. Ja korar taratari koro." Priyodorshini whispered to me.
[Translation: Archit don't stand there like a clown. Do whatever you need to do quickly.]
I quickly held her from behind. The ritual began.
"Are you okay?" I asked Priyodorshini in a low voice so that no one other than her could hear me.

"Why won't I be okay?" She answered back in a low but irritated tone.
"Your hands were shaking during subhodrishti and then during the sampradan. So I got a little worried about you." She kept silent. Not knowing what to say I too stayed silent. The ritual concluded.

It was now time for the final ritual. Sindurdan.