LOVE STORY 1935

Part 2

a few days before the wedding.....

'Did you see all the arrangements ? the guests will be arriving any time soon' maa  said to bapuji.

My home looked like a shop of festive decoration and goodies. There were so many people "relatives and close friends" at the very moment. It was even busier than the Howrah railway station. weddings are stressful, there are so many things to do! caterers, decorate the house, send out the invitations and the shagun, choose saree, go to the jeweller and so on. It's so tiring. But i have to be happy, cheerful and blushing as I am the bride and it's a very happy time in my life because i am getting married.

A marriage that i'm not ready for.

At least i have to talk to Narayan babu about continuing my education. He'll understand.

at 3:00 am in the morning...

i cannot sleep, i just toss and turn in my bed begging the night to do some kind of magic and take me to a far away from here. But sleep doesn't come to me. I am going to get a scolding from maa saying "Why my darling tilo, you didn't sleep well last night? you should rest more !! you wont make the best bride with those bags under your eyes!" 

so, i take a book to read it will help me to go to sleep. tomorrow is the haldi ceremony. it will also be performed at the grooms side. Tomorrow Narayan babu and his family will come in procession to my house with my wedding outfit, jewellery, turmeric paste,henna, sweets and other gifts. Then maa babuji and few of my cousins will take all the thing at Narayan babu's place and then there will be a feast.

after the haldi ceremony...

the haldi ceremony was good. Me and friends and cousins had a lots of fun, we got to play with the left over haldi that had come from narayan babu's place. Oh ! even the food was great ! We were stuffed to death. In the evening a very socked house maid informed me that narayan babu had come to meet me.  What!!!!! He is here to meet ME? Why??
It intrigued me that he had come to meet me! it's not considered a good omen for Indian grooms to meet their brides after haldi ceremony and before the wedding.
Maa sent all the people out of the room so I and narayan could talk.
A lot of questions were popping up on my brain.  Why is he here?  Is he here to cancel the wedding? Oh my god! My parents will be heart broken.  They won't be able to handle it. My father's reputation is at stake.  That heartless bastard! !!!
"I know you must be wondering why I am here."
I just kept staring at the radha krishna painting on the wall as he continued to speak.
".... I didn't wanted to come back in the first place. I got a letter saying maa is not well and she wants to see her beloved son.  When I came home I got to know that it was all fake just to bring me back. Never the less I don't regret coming back home. I have a job, I am a barrister and I have the been helping bapuji with the zamindari related work. But this new relationship with you and marriage, all these things have happening so fast. And the wedding is in two days I know that now there's no turning back. But let me assure you that I will fulfill all the duties of a good husband. All this also must be new for you,  so let's start as each others friends." Saying this he extended his hand in a ferrangi style and said " hello, my name is Narayan.  And what's your name? " I was shocked a bit but still managed to fold  my hands in a namaste and I said " namaste, Narayan babu my name is Tilottama."it's nice to meet you Tilo" He smiled at me and went as I stood there blushing at his last word 'TILO'.