March, 2012

"Ok see You tomorrow in class, Help Me bring My text book tomorrow ok?" Paromita said while waving at Vidya

"Ok I will, bye" Vidya said waving back.

"Hahaha....now its just the two of Us" Margaux Said

"Yeah, Am stuck with You again" Paromita jokingly replied

"Well We better head home before evening" Margaux said

"Yeah" Paromita replied as they walked down to the school gate.

Paromita Sengupta was a 21years old young lady. She hailed from Kolkata, West Bengal and from a family of 2 children. She is the Last child of Her parents, Navodit and Sasmita Sengupta , Her elder sister Sarojini Sengupta is 24 years old. Paromita was a Bengali beauty. She is the talk of the whole School. She is smart. Beautiful and Well outspoken. She had a very long black silky hair that everyone back at home often called Her Durga devi as Her hair was as long as the goddess' Hair. Twice She had worn the Crown for the most beautiful girl in Her school.

Paromita is in Her final year of Business administration at the Holy Cross University, Pune, Maharashtra. She is blessed with Her Best friend Margaux Fernandes and Her Boyfriend Arjun Deshmukh.

Paromita's parents were free people so they never forced their children into arranged marriage, they only find a match and if their daughter agrees they push through with the wedding.

Paromita's life was very simple as She had nothing to worry about. Her Family were good, She had Her best friend and Her ever faithful Boyfriend. Though Paromita's Native home was Kolkata but She and Her parents lived in Pune, Maharashtra due to the Nature of Her Father's job.

"Sarojini didi's wedding is tomorrow, so I still need to go home and prepare, if not for today's exams, I won't bother coming to school' Paromita said joyfully.

"Woooooow I can't wait to see tomorrow, Sarojini didi will look so beautiful....ohhh I can feel the wedding glitters already" Margaux said joyfully pretending to be in ecstasy.

"You really have to come, Sarojini didi says She is expecting You and Melissa" Paromita said

"Awww.....Melissa would have loved to come but She is not coming back from America for Easter, She has a lot of patients to attend to" Margaux explained

"Awww.....Sarojini didi Will be disappointed" Paromita said looking sad.

"Don't worry, I will explained to Her tomorrow, perhaps, I will be coming with Arjuuuuuuuun" Margaux teased Paromita

"Hahaha....." Paromita blushed.

"We had better hurry to catch the bus Back home"

******

Early morning, everyone was up and preparing for Sarojini's wedding. The home of the Senguptas was decorated with lots of jasmine flowers and beautiful fancy lights For the Bengali style wedding. The ceremony for the morning was Gaye halud which is called the Tumeric ceremony. At this ceremony the bride will be covered with tumeric paste and blessings will be poured on Her by the elder Women of the family.

"quick, Paromita!! Help Your Sister get ready" Sasmita said hurrying Her daughter

"Yes Maa" Paromita said as She walked into Sarojini's room wearing a white Kurti.

Sarojini was already dressed in a beautiful yellow saree which was embroidered with crystal stones. She was standing in front of the dressing mirror wearing Her earrings, Paromita came close to Her and said

"Didi, can I help You with comb Your hair in readiness for the ceremony"

"Yes, sure Paro please do" Sarojini said turning to Paromita.

Paromita came closer to Sarojini and started to help Her style Her hair

"Am sure You must be excited for today Saroj didi. After today You will be Mrs Das. You will be a wife and future Mother, does it give a good feeling to be a bride" Paromita asked inquisitively.

"Yes Paro, it feels good to be a bride, but it also feels nervous too" Sarojini replied turning to Her sister with a troubled face

"Why does it feel nervous didi and why do You look worried" Paromita asked sitting down on Sarojini's bed which was close to the dressing Mirrow.

"hmmmm....Paro" Sarojini took a sigh of relief and continued.

"Having a new family, new parents, new siblings, new adjustments. I don't even know if they would like Me" Sarojini started to cry.

"Oh Didi, Jija is a nice Man. He will make You happy And You are a good lady too so they won't have any reason not to like You" Paromita comforted Her Sister

"Even though Our Parents never forced Us into Arranged Marriage but I couldn't say no to this match. This match was brought by Great Auntie Madhumita I dare not reject it. Its beyond our parents Powers. Yes, Vinayak is a nice Man but....I don't know.....it has never been My desire to get married" Sarojini explained to Paromita with tears.

"Didi You never told Me this, that You never wanted to marry. I could have explained to Maa and Baba" Paromita said in shock

"How could I have told You Paro, I am the first daughter. Of course people are looking at Me with expectations they want Me to Marry a good Man and have lots of children. They want Me to give Our family a good reputation. So much just for being a girl. Not just a girl but the first daughter" Sarojini explained while still crying

"Paromita, I told You to help Your get Your sister ready" Sasmita shouted while entering Sarojini's room wearing a Blue bengali saree then She noticed that Sarojini was crying and said

"Saroj, why are You crying? Today of all days?"

"Uhmmmmm....Maa..Didi is just missing Us that's it" Paromita interrupted with a smile trying to Hide Her emotions

"Yes, yes...I am already missing this naughty brat already" Sarojini said wiping Her tears and gently teasing Paro with laughter

"Hahahaha...see, all is well Mama" Paromita laughed pretentiously

"Awwww....We are already missing You too dear, I also cried like this on My own big day" Sasmita said caressing Her daughter's face in comfort She then said to Paromita

"Now help Your sister get ready and bring Her down stairs. Margaux is already here"

"Yes Maa" Paromita said in agreement

"Ohhh....Margaux is already here, that brat no.2 why didn't She come upstairs with You mama?" Sarojini asked laughing

"Ohhh She is Downstairs helping with the cooking and decoration"

Sasmita explained

"That reminds Me Didi, Melissa won't be coming for Your wedding. She wasn't given an off at the hospital so She couldn't fly back" Paromita explained

"Yes, yes, She called Me yesterday" Sarojini said in agreement.

"Now, enough of The Agreements. Hurry and come downstairs. Almost all Our female relatives are here Great aunties Madhumita and korobi, Usha didi, Suchitra kaki, Neela didi and chitra didi, are all here" Sasmita said with a smile and left the room.

"Let this stay between Us Paro. Don't tell Mama I am marrying vinayak out of respect for the traditions and Elders of the Family" Sarojini warned Paromita.

"Yes didi I won't tell anyone" Paromita assured Her sister.

Paromita helped Sarojini get ready for the Tumeric Ceremony and brought Her downstairs. The ceremony held with Sarojini sitting in the midst of the older women of their relation. She was bathed in tumeric and blessed with long life, happy home, lots of children etc. After this the other ceremonies took place. Then the wedding took place and Sarojini was given away. After the wedding Great auntie Korobi

Called Sasmita aside to discuss Paromita's match.

******

After Sarojini's wedding the friends and relations who had come for Sarojini's wedding left that same day while some stayed back due to nightfall. Paromita helped Her mother clean up the house alongside with their Maid Poorva.

"Paro, Great auntie Korobi and I discussed something about You today" Sasmita said happily while washing the plate

"What did You both discuss Mama" Paromita asked Her Mother while rinsing the plate.

"Korobi Auntie has found a match for You" Sasmita said Smiling

"What???? Mama!!!" Paromita said dropping the plate She was rinsing and frowning Her face.

"Calm down Paro" Her mother said Laughing

"Hmmmm....I know Korobi Auntie before You know it, She is telling Me they have accepted the Boy's Dowry" Paromita said

"Hahaha...pls My darling daughter don't stress You pretty Face ok?" Sasmita said Caressing Her daughter's face with a smile. She then held Her daughter's hands and continued

"Truth is that Korobi Auntie found a Boy called Pritam Chakraborty He is from a Royal family in Our Kolkata but I told Korobi Auntie that You are still in school and so there should not be any match for You until You were done with School. My main reason for giving Her this explanation is that I know You already have a Boyfriend and I know how much You love Arjun that is why I want Your happiness"

Paromita held Her mother's hands and said

"Thank You so much Maa. Thank You for handling Korobi Auntie for Me"

"But My dear, Are You sure of Arjun? I don't really have a good feeling about Him. Are You Sure its Him You want to be with?" Sasmita asked looking worried and letting go off Her hands from Paromita, She turned towards the sink and continued washing the plates.

"Maa, how do You mean You don't have a good feeling about Him" Paromita asked inquisitively.

"I don't know but He looks unfaithful. Like a player.....I...I...just Can't lay My hands on it" Sasmita said looking confused and then She dropped the plate She was washing and looked at Paromita and said

"From now till when You finish Your final exams pls pray for God's guidance"

"Maa, You and this Your feelings...ok hmmm....I heard You. I will pray" Paromita teased Her Mother and then She held Her mother's hands and said

"Mama, Arjun is a nice boy. He wont hurt Me. If He does, then I will kill Him" Paromita said laughing

"hahahaha.....look at You that can't even cut vegetables properly and yet You say You can kill" Sasmita said laughing

"Hahaaha....We better hurry up and go to sleep" Paromita said to Her mother and hurriedly rinsed the plates while Her mother washed.