High School Romance Revisited

Chapter 29 - The Festival [Durga Puja Special]

Flashback

The city was bustling with festive joys. This was the most important part of the year for every Bengali. Debdyut had suggested we spend the five days of Durga Puja at his ancestral home in central Kolkata to get our minds off all the drama that was happening at our school. Though I was sad, I didn't refuse. This would also give me some time to speak with Mahen alone.

We needed to sort out the suppressed tension between us. And thanks to Chitra, unwanted people will remain away. She had accepted the invitation on only one condition, Nupur and Shekhar won't be invited; it would be exclusively for our gang.

Rai too was keeping her distance. She had refused to join but Mahen convinced her by apologizing and sincerely accepting that he didn't have any hands-on the selection of cultural captain. He also said that he would be forfeiting his post once the school reopens after the pujas but I knew Rai, she would never accept it. And in all these chaos somebody else would be chosen. Not that it would make any difference. The cultural wing will remain loyal to only Rachayita Mukherjee.

Our dearest friend Debdyut could be easily called a Bengal royal because of his rich family background that dated back even before the British Era. There were many stories surrounding the famous Durga Puja of their family, which was quite intriguing.

Just like in the Bengali folklores Debdyut's house too was enormous. With a huge yard surrounded by the three-storied building with long pillars and open balconies overlooking the entire puja mandap (altar), it would take good fifteen minutes to reach to one end of the house from another.

We had arrived on the morning of Sashti when Debdyut and his elder brother's were busy with dressing the idol with weapons. Rai ran up towards them followed by us.

Debdyut's old grandfather decided to take our test and asked which weapon should be placed on which hand of the ten-hand mother idol. While everyone quickly backed off I winked at Rai and Chitra. Mythology had been a fascinating topic for us. Additionally participating in most of the cultural shows since years had also brushed our knowledge making us familiar to most of the chapters of Indian myths.

With a broad smile we answered his question correctly. He looked surprised and scolded Debdyut as even after being a member of the family he was clueless about such an important part of the puja. Apart from his blessings each of us also earned a piece of their family heirloom.

We were awarded red and white banarasi featuring very beautiful paisley design in gold threads. Debdyut's grandfather said it was an old tradition to gift these sarees to unmarried women or girls, which apparently had disappeared through generations. He wanted to start the tradition again with us.

He was starting to explain the legacy of the family, which we sensed might take up the rest of the day. Luckily Debdyut's mother came to our rescue and we were sent off to freshen up before the rituals started.

I was picking up an used towel from the bathroom to throw it in the laundry basket when I heard a scream. It was coming from the other end of the room. I quickly rushed and saw Elora beating up Karan while the idiot kept on laughing.

Rai and Chitra were inside the dressing section; they too quickly came out. "Oye, you idiot, what did you do now?" Chitra asked.

"Nothing, I swear!" Karan said while continuing his laughter fit.

"Shut up you moron!" Elora pushed him and headed straight towards the bathroom cursing.

"Karan? Speak up!" Rai eyed him.