Unwanted

Chapter 9

Archit

The silence which was there in the beginning was now replaced by our talking and giggles.

I stared at water and saw the piece from my topor following the piece from Priyodorshini's mukut.

"Hmm. Jamai babu is going to be a joru ka ghulam. Di is going to have him wrapped around her fingers." Brishti said teasing us.
[Joru ka ghulam = a husband who is a servant of his wife]
"Oho." Deepanjan and Arunima said, supporting Brishti.
I blushed upon hearing them.
At present we were at my house playing post bidai games. A little part from my topor and Darshini's mukut were broken and left to float on a bowl of water. Whichever part follows the other signifies who will lead the marital life. The one being followed was believed to be the dominant one.
Right now I was getting teased by my shalas and shalis because my piece kept following Darshini's piece.

"Ok, now we are going to have the ring game." Arunima said.
A bowl filled with alta water and rose petals was placed infront of me and Priyodorshini.
"There is a ring inside this bowl. You will have to find it, whoever finds it gets to keep it." Arunima said explaining the rules.
Both Priyodorshini and I put our hands inside the bowl inorder to search for the ring.

Suddenly I felt something soft brushing against my hand. I realised it was Priyodorshini's hand, her shakha-pola and noya kept brushing against my wrist. I blushed due to our accidental touch.
"Move your hand away." Priyodorshini whispered into my ears.
"S-sor-sorry." I mumbled shyly.
"Idiot." I heard her mutter.
I moved my hand away. I kept searching for the ring.
Soon I felt something small and hard. This must be the ring.
I tried picking it up. But another idea struck me. Instead of picking the ring up I moved my hand closer to Darshini's hand. Our hands collided again.
"What are you doing Archit?" Priyodorshini whispered to me in a confused tone. I didn't reply. As Priyodorshini tried to move her hand away I dropped the ring onto her palm and she took her hand out of the water.
"Our Di has won the game." Brishti said cheerfully.
Priyodorshini looked at the ring in her hand and then at me, I flashed her a small smile.

"You don't need to thank me." I whispered to Priyodorshini while everyone else was busy talking.
Darshini didn't say anything instead she glared at me. You look cute while glaring.
"Don't look at me like that. I feel scared." I whispered with a smile.

●●●●●●●●

I stood, waiting for Priyodorshini with the plate of rice and saree in my hand. These are so heavy, my hand is hurting. Today was our bhat-kapor, I was supposed to take her responsibility today. According to the ritual the husband was supposed to hand his wife a plate of food and saree and say "Aaj theke ami tomar bhat-kaporer daitto nilam."
[Translation: From today onwards I am taking the responsibility for your rice (food) and clothes.]
Ironic considering the fact that I had just graduated and was still without a job. I disliked this tradition as I always had an erry feeling about taking responsibility for the most basic things. Was a husband's responsibility only providing food and clothes?

"Look Priyodorshini is here." Baba commented making me turn around. Gorgeous. I thought to myself while Darshini walked down the stares in a light green saree. She had her wet, shoulder length hair down and had a smile on her face. She came down and stood infront of me. I just kept staring at her in awe.
"Archit." Baba said making me come back to Earth.
"Y-yeah." I stuttered earning a few snickers from my relatives. Priyodorshini kept staring at me.
I took a deep breathe and forwarded the plate.

"Aaj theke ami apnar bhat-kaporer daitto nilam."
[Translation: From today onwards I am taking the responsibility for your food and clothes.]
"And not only that I am also taking the responsibility of keeping you happy; fulfilling all your dreams; always staying by your side, no matter how bad the situation is you will always find me supporting you; whether right or wrong I am always going to respect you, your decisions and your choices." Saying this I handed Priyodorshini the plate of rice and saree.
"I must say you are quite filmy and romantic." Taking the plate, Priyodorshini whispered to me with a smile. I too smiled due to her remark.
"Priyodorshini can you come here once?" I heard my Baba yell from the other side of the room.
"Yeah." Saying this Priyodorshini walked away. I kept standing where I was.

"Oh toh ei sei cheleta." I heard someone whisper. I didn't turn around to see who it was as I didn't have the courage to face them.
[Translation: Oh so this is that boy.]
"Yes. Yes." I heard another whisper.
"Father's money can really be helpful." The person said snickering.
"You are right. That boy, has a questionable character. He got his 'pictures' leaked last year."
"Yeah, I too had heard about it."
"I heard that his father was able to take the photos down."
"Just another rich, spoiled brat. He was born with a golden spoon afterall."
"That boy is really shameless. I sometimes feel bad for his father."
"Yes, Anirudha da is such a good person, so hardworking, kind and polite. He started his company from scratch, his son on the other hand." I felt suffocated.
"Anirudha da must feel ashamed because of him. That boy even 'devoured' his own mother during birth. I remembered Anirudha da was so sad after losing his wife. He didn't even marry someone after her death. Such a good guy."
"You know Anirudha da and my husband are close. My husband once told me that Anirudha da used to vent to him about that boy, he was very worried about his son's future. He told me that the boy was good at simply nothing. He was a total spoiled brat."
"I wonder what kind of woman is marrying him."
"She must be after his money. Afterall who in their right mind would marry him."
"Shameless."
I shut my eyes tightly. I couldn't take it anymore. This was the reason why I hated social events, people were always gossiping about me.

I tried to ignore them.