"Everytime I see you in a red saree, I swear I get this insane idea of dragging you to Kalighat and get married to you!"

Shumedh's words rang in her ear as she stood there motionlessly infront of the mirror wearing a red saree, while Pulu kept putting some light make up and jewelry on her.  Watching her reflection on the mirror, each and every cell of her body started squirming in disgust.
'Don't you feel shame! Why don't you die!'
She could hear her reflection shouting at her.

The way of engagement in Bengali ritual get started soon when Tulika came at the living room, where every one was gathered. The elders of both side, the groom and the bride, came forward one by one to give blessing to would-be bride.

"She actually got ready for the rituals?" astonishment was evident in Suvro's voice as he asked Arun, who was calling him from the live situation.
No, Suvro being the groom was not allowed at the ritual. In Bengali ritual, the girl and boy becomes engaged when elders from both the side blessed the new-would be couple, but the couple was not supposed to be in one place. And that would be the starting of the phase, during when they could not see each other till the wedding.
Hence Suvro was not present beside Tuli, though, except his physical presence, his mind, heart and everything was with her- including a live commentator.

"yes, though she doesn't seem very cheerful about this whole thing!" Arun said sorely. Though he wanted Tulika to move on, by his heart and soul, but making her forcefully doing it left a acidic taste in his mouth. But then he couldn't see Suvro braking every day more and more.
"I am surprised that she came out of the room all dressed up, instead calling the police, and you want her to be enthusiastic about marrying me? I am not Shumedh, Arun!" a weak chuckle passed out of Suvro's mouth. Once more Tulika's last night's words rang into his ear. "I'll call you back!" he hung up the phone and lean on the shoulder of his office chair. The dusk was eating up the last daylight off the sky of Kolkata, little by little.


*


Seeing Poulee at the kitchen alone Arun walked up to her.
"where is Butu?"
Pouli looked up and made a face, which perfectly make Arun understand the answer. "Why won't he come? Pulu… I… can't do this alone. Suvro needs him." Arun cringed up.
"You think, he is the one to understand all this?" Pulu huffed fishing out her phone dialing Butu's number.

"I am not coming!" Butu snapped. "she said yes, now everything is gonna roll smoothly, what am I supposed to do going there!"
"Butu..." Poulee sighed tired of trying to convince her stubborn husband.
"Pulu you know why, you know why I just can not..." Butu was babbling when a voice interrupted him.
"Suvro needs you badly Butu!" Arun spoke up taking the phone from Poulee. "He is dying, thinking if Butu is not going to be there, he is doing something horribly wrong surly. He is marrying a girl against her will, he needs to know he is not a horrible person, Butu. He needs know, we, his friends, who have seen him growing up, and know him well - support him, cause we know his intentions are not bad."
"I do not support him Aru, I don't"
Arun took a pause before answering, when Dr. Anindya Chatterjee pinched the bridge of his nose, torn between the right thing, and what he thinks is right.
"Its not about you or me, Butu. Tulika needs to be taken care, she needs a family... Uncle had a stroke already, how do you think he is feeling seeing his daughter..."
"she is doing PHD on chemistry, for crying out loud, how can you guys think she has no future of her own?" Butu hissed over phone.
"she is not in herself Butu. She is not in normal state of mind. Every human being, no matter how independent the person is, needs a companion, and you know her, how much she loves being surrounded by family-friends! That girl is now like a statue of stone..." advocate advocate Arun Sanyal argued looking at the girl sitting there motionlessly, with an expressionless face taking the blessings. The girl, one of his best friend, he has been growing up knowing, but now was seeming like an unknown person. "she is not well Butu, and its been seven years. We need to do this..." Arun murmured...

May be the part was little boring. I am sorry. But please vote and comment if you have liked it. I'll post next soon then...