THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ROMANCE

Chapter 9

Chapter – 9

            The Skyhawk Leisure Land, the farm house was situated in the outskirts of Kolkata. The enormous Iron Gate in the entrance had two security guards. Aryan’s car came to a halt in front of the two-storey marble house after semi-circling the large fountain situated in the middle of the lawn. They came out of the car and Tina yawned. Aryan gave her a disgusted look. Pakhi smiled and heard the enthusiastic relatives coming out of the house. Pakhi sighed and thought, finally the desi big fat Bengali wedding was on! Being the neighbour and Tina’s childhood friend Pakhi knew all of her relatives. She also knew, that just like her own clan the Dutta family was huge, and there was not a single person who didn’t get the invitation of Tina’s wedding. So along with Tina, Pakhi also got involved in the rituals of touching feet and receiving thousands of blessings – some for getting a successful life, some for making parents proud and mostly for getting married ASAP! But this time Tina didn’t only get the blessings but also got some teary eyed adorations from her aunts, “My dear Tina, ki sundor lagche toke! Can’t believe you are going to get married. It seems only yesterday that you were born.” “You had just learned to walk and now you are going to take the saat-paak!” “Look at you, from a cute doll you have now become a hot Barbie!” “Our princess is going to be a queen!” and many more. Pakhi suppressed her giggle as Tina went on smiling and nodding after every sentence for her aunts. “Where is Aryan? Wasn’t he here just a minute ago?” one of her aunts asked. Pakhi noticed that Aryan had long fled from the scene while all the attention was on Tina.

As all the relatives escorted them inside the house Tina said to Pakhi in a low voice, “I swear Aryan is going to pay for this, how dare he leave us alone to tolerate my entire clan all at once?” Pakhi laughed and looked around her. She had visited this place many times but still she didn’t get bored.  The huge white marble pillars gave a palatial look to the bungalow from outside. Upon entering, the golden tiles on the floor had a blurred reflexion of the giant chandelier situated on the centre of the white ceiling. Two fleets of stairs rising from the either side of the hall gave way to the second floor that had all the rooms for the bride’s family and friends. Paintings of medieval India graced the walls of the main hall. Among four big doors, one on the left side lead to the servant quarter, beside that another door enclosed the large ball room, another beside it lead to the backyard where the wedding was to be held, one on the right side of the hall, lead to the dining room cum sitting room. Pakhi found her mother sitting with Sharmila aunty in the big dining table. She went and hugged her and her mom. Tina was still trapped with her aunts as her cousins joined. Finally after the interfering of her mother, Pakhi and Tina got freed from the over-excited folks and went upstairs to their rooms.

The second floor was a complete maze to Pakhi. There were hundreds of rooms and till today she couldn’t memorise a single way to the rooms. Tina guided her to her room and said, “God Pakhi! Exactly how many times have you visited this house? Still you forget all the interconnected ways! But don’t worry, my room is just next to yours, so whenever you need any help you know I am only a knock away.” They smiled at each other and went to their respective rooms to change. Pakhi slipped into a salwar kameez and caught a nap. But last night’s memories were disturbing her siesta. She kept on remembering Aryan’s touch on her lips, her cheeks, her body, and everywhere. Still she managed to sleep for some time. There was a long day ahead and she was to assist Tina in every step.

She brushed her hairs and was about to make a ponytail when she remembered Aryan saying that she looked more beautiful with open hairs. She sheepishly smiled at her reflexion and let lose her hairs. Wearing her specs she went downstairs. Pakhi found everyone sitting on the giant dining table – Tina in the centre and all others were staring at her. Seeing Pakhi she screamed, “You are late. Come here and sit down beside me. We need to complete all the arrangements before Eshaan arrives with his family.” Pakhi hurriedly took the place beside Tina and she went on narrating the pre-wedding parties that would start from next day. Pakhi made a chart of her duties while Tina was assigning the other duties to her cousins and aunts. Only two days were left for the events. Tina’s wedding bash was starting with her Aiboorobhaat in the day, in this event she would have the rice in her father’s house for the last time before getting married. It will be followed by her spinster party, which was to be held on that same night in the adjoining guest house that would be occupied by the groom’s side after they arrived. Strictly girls till the age of thirty-five were allowed. Even the photographer was female. One of Tina’s cousins had suggested to hire a stripper, at first Tina was excited with the idea but afterwards had to cancel it for if anybody came to know about it Tina would have a nice lesson on women modesty from her mother. But it didn’t stop her cousins to plan all sorts of vulgar games for the party. Pakhi was seriously worried, how would she participate in those games?