From Howrah to Brooklyn

Chapter 2

A few days before the festival of Durga Puja, Neil was playing his guitar in his room when suddenly he received a call from his parents.

'Ma.. How are you? How come you remembered your son today? You usually call Kaaki Ma and get all the information about me from her. What's the occasion?' Neil asked his mother.

'Neil, you have become very naughty nowadays. I have called to inform you that baba and I have decided that we are coming to Calcutta for Durga Puja. We are leaving UK on the 5th and should reach on the 6th. 

Your Kaaku and Kaaki Ma already know about it, just thought we shall let you know too. So help your Kaaki Ma with all the chores during the Puja preparation. Don't just laze around the house. Also, your baba has insisted that now that you are in India this year for the festival, you will have to wear the traditional attire, no excuses from wearing a dhoti. After all that's why you went to India to learn about the Bengali culture. See you soon Neil. Take care.'

'Bye Ma', Neil hung up the phone.

He got tensed. He wasn't really the traditional attire kind of a person. But he will have to do something and the only person who can help him out in this situation is Alia.

Neil went running downstairs, 'Aloo ... Aloo... Aloo.. Where are you?'

'Neil, calm down. What happened ? What's the hurry?' Alia asked.

'My parents are coming to India for Puja. I am dead.'

'I know, Kaka and Kaaki are coming, Ma told me in the morning. But how come you are dead? Aren't you happy you are going to meet your parents after so many months?'

'I am. I am. But it's just that I wasn't prepared to see them so soon. Don't give me those looks. I'll explain. Baba wants me to wear traditional attire for the festival. All these years in UK, I managed pretty well and refrained from wearing a dhoti but I don't think I can manage without it this year. I need your help. We will have to go shopping', Neil replied.

 Alia started laughing out loud.

'Aloo, what's wrong with you? I am sharing a genuine issue and despite helping me you are just laughing.' Neil frowned.

'Alright, Neil. I'll help you but to be honest you are very scared of your parents. Also, I am very excited to see you struggling in a dhoti.'

'Very funny', Neil said sarcastically.

After a lot of pestering, Alia finally agreed to take Neil on shopping for some traditional attire in the coming days.

It took an entire day for them to do the shopping. In the evening, they stopped for a "Puchka" break. Alia loved having Pani Puris. It was her favourite. But suddenly Neil disappeared for a few minutes. Alia got scared as she thought that Neil is still a tourist in his own city. Finally he returned and Alia took a sigh of relief.

'Thank God, Neil. You are here. I was getting worried. Where did you go?'

'Ermm ... I ... I thought I had dropped my pen drive in the shop we went earlier. So I went to check. Found it.' Neil replied showing the pen drive in his hand.

'Alright, Shall we go home now? It's getting late.', Alia asked.

'Yeah sure.' Neil replied and they started walking back to their house.

They reached home and Alia's parents were waiting for them.

Alia's mother was particularly very excited to see what shopping they both had done.

'Neil.. Alia.. What took you so long? How was shopping?', Tapur asked.

'Don't ask Kaaki Ma.. Your daughter is a nightmare to shop with. She has so many tantrums plus she took a good half and hour break to eat Puchkas.', Neil winked at Alia.