Hey, guys... I could not reread this chapter so, it has so many mistakes and I'm a bit sleepy. So, I'll make it right tomorrow.

The tears of females burst forth like water from a dam which is nearby as we are still in Maithan and the D.V.C* is not far away. Sobbing fills otherwise sehnai music as Bratati moves forward and her mother stays with her anchal* spreading behind her. Bratati takes a handful of uncooked rice and throws it to her mom's anchal and leaves while a river of tears flows on her red cheeks.

'Banno re banno mera, chali sasuraal re, ankhiyo me pani de gayi...'¹ the songs blares through the sound boxes as the situation gets more emotional.

She doesn't look back and another series of crying aunties stand by the big entrance. There is an art in their crying faces as none of them have a droplet on their cheeks but sniffing like they are the one leaving instead of Bratati. A few of them even hugs her and Bratati's confused face says she doesn't have any clue who are they. But she let them hug her. Spreading happiness is always good - in this case, crying-ness.

While Angshu leads Bratati to the decorated car, I look behind and see Agni is moving her bike and a bag behind straps over her shoulder.

Where's she going?

Her mom comes and they exchange some conversation. From her mom's disapproving face, I can only imagine, she doesn't like her to ride Kawasaki.

However, she gives a flying kiss to her mother who's face melts to a smile and nods.

We stand beside the cars as the family members of Bratati bids her farewell and Agni joins us with her bike and her helmet hangs from her hand.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

Her heels wearing boots supports the black bike with it, "To her husband's abode, where else?"

Butterflies flatter in my belly and I ask, "You're coming with us?"

She nods and puts on the monster helmet.

"But it's a long three hours ride. You can come with us in the car," I suggest as it will make her back pain and when will reach, the traffic might make us late.

"It's okay. I can handle it besides, I need to meet one of my friends," she says through her helmet.

Dev comes, "What happened?"

"She's coming with us but doesn't want to go in the car."

In a fraction of seconds, Dev's tired face changes to a grin and I can feel his blissful aura radiating from him.

I narrow my gaze at him.

"You can sit..." he begins but cuts off by Agni, "No! I like bikes, thanks."

In one of the cars, I sit beside Dev while Dev sits on the driving seat. Behind us, Angshu and Bratati.

And the other car has Amit with two of our cameramen. Agni rides beside us, her bike on a slow speed and we leave for Kolkata.

*****

After one hour, we have already crossed Asansol and almost entering Durgapur, Bratati says, "I'm feeling suffocated."

I look behind and notice, she has still wearing so many ornaments and because of the cold wind, we have closed the windows.

Dev stops the car and Agni puts breaks on her bike as well. She moves her hands in the air asking "What happened?"

"She's not feeling well," he answers, opening the door so the wind can come in. Cold breeze enters and our bodies shiver in its touch however, it helps Bratai.

Agni comes, leaving her bike stand near our car and asks as she puts off her helmet, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Sniffs leave from Bratati's mouth and she shakes her head. As soon as Agni closes the distance between them, Bratati hugs her and starts crying. I feel a little bad as she's still so young and going to a different set up. Doesn't really know other than Angshu. But then, she doesn't even know Angshu that well. It's like we are complete strangers to her. No wonder she's feeling low and suffocated.

Agni pats on her head with a gentle smile, "There, there, it's okay. I'm coming with you."

"I feel like throwing up," A muffled voice comes through Agni's shoulders as Bratati's tall figure leaning on her.

"Alright!" Agni grabs her shoulders and straightens her while adds, "Why don't you ride with me on my bike?"

We all look at her like she's grown a head. Well, she is. From head to toe, Bratati is covered in heavy jewellery and that heavy weighted saree that is more than six kgs. She can't even walk properly, how can she sit on a bike with these?

"What? Are you insane?" Angshu says a bit more protective towards his wife.

"No! I want to ride with Didi," Bratati's answer shuts all of us.

*****

I am on driver's seat and following closely the black Kawasaki which has a newly married bride on it. Every pedestrian and drivers even passengers are looking at them like they haven't seen any woman on a bike, especially in a full bridal attire. Which they haven't, of course. Normally people don't take their bride on a bike as it could be dangerous.

Agni has taken off her helmet and now the whole audience staring at them like a bride is running away with a girl.

Amit's car is in front of them and the cameramen are talking photos as if Kim Kardashian is here. One of them is recording a video footage and even has asked them to pose for it.

While the two women pose on the bike (dangerous, don't try at home, in this case on road), Angshu is getting restless as they could get an accident. Which is why, we have told them to decrease their speed limit.

However, the ride have managed to calm down Bratati, who is now happily positioning herself behind Agni and posing for this unique bridal photoshoots.

When a motel appears, she stops her bike and we follow suit.

Angshu leaves the car faster than anyone can say 'Floccinaucilihilipilification' and dashes to his one and only bride. Bratati comes down from Kawasaki along with Agni.

"What happened?" I ask from my seat.

"I want an ice cream," Bratati answers.

"In this cold weather?" Angshu asks a bit perplexed at Bratati's childish behavior.

Bratati nods.

"You'll catch a cold."

Bratati's face becomes like she will start crying any moment and Angshu, in hurricane speed enters the motel, Bratati following him behind. Both of them manages to shock the whole customers of the motel.

"That was dangerous," I say with a straight face, locking the car's doors and heads toward Agni while she stretches her back and a soft moan leaves her throat.

"But it was fun."

"It wasn't. You guys could have..."

"Get into accident?" she finishes with a question which makes my jaw twitch. She explores my face for a second and says, "Aditya, I'm her elder sister. I won't propose her to ride in her heavily weighted saree if I am not sure, I can manage."

That's true however, I was a bit worried.

"Let's go, have some refreshment." She winks and takes me behind the motel. The motel is only one storey with one big kitchen in its one side and rows of chairs and tables on the other.

We both light our cigarettes then I start, "You're riding for one hour. Why don't you come sit in the car?"

"And what about my bike?"

"I'll tell Amit to take it."

"Nah. It's okay."

A phone call comes to her cell and she brings out it. I take a peek at it and it says 'Sam'.

She takes it, "Hey, Sam!"

She concentrates on it as her untouched cigarette turning into ashes the she presses her lips in a thin line.

"Alright. I'll see what I can do. Thanks." A worry coats on her forehead and her brows cease together in a straight line.

"What happen?" I ask.

"I...I haven't finished the sequel yet and I'm a bit discouraged at the moment." She inhales her cigarette and rubs her temples.

"What about Sam?"

"Oh! Sam is reminding me of my time. Because, I'll have to finish it in two months."

"So... Sam's really close to you?" I ask further to gain more information on this person.

"Yes, we are." A smile appears on her lips which makes my chance to be running away from the back window. My heart beats.

"Sam is an amazing writer and my personal editor." Now my heart takes a pace.

I nod, "personal?"

"Yes. We've met through wattpad and since then, we are together."

My heart jumps off my ribs and I take a deep breath. Together? That's great.

"You guys are committed?" My voice somehow reaches her but it's very low even I have a hard time to get what have I just ask.

"Oh yes! So much. We're in this together." She nods while the motel's radio plays 'Yeh, kya hua... Kaisa hua... Kyun hua...'²

She continues, "If she wasn't there, I would have never been able to write."

My cigarette is almost finished and my shoulders slum down when I snap my head at her. I rewind my memory.

"She?" I raise a brow.

"Yes, Sam. She was my editor and then we started writing together and then..."

"Sam's a girl?" I ask as my runaway heart comes back to me.

"Yes, why?"

"You said you guys are committed?"

"Yeah, in writing. Why?"

A grin spread across my face, "Nothing. She seems great."

"Yeah. We've struggled so much. Sometimes she gets a writer's block, sometimes I get it and we both encourage each other."

I nod when my phone rings and it's from Dev which announces that our time of refreshment is over.

"Let's go. Destination calls."

****

Bratati's mood settles down and now, she's back to car with us while I drive, occasionally my eyes follow Agni through the back-looking glass.

Dev sits on the passenger seat, taking short glances at Angshu and Bratati, making sure they are okay. Bratati seems to have calmed down and Angshu let out a yawn.

"Your di is amazing. She's been riding since two hours and is still riding," Angshu says in a lazy voice.

"Yeah, she is." She leans on the window glass, looking out at the green fields. "Even I'm amazed. A few years ago, she didn't even know how to to ride a cycle. She has changed." She mumbles the last three words however, all of us hears it.

"Changed? But she's cool." Dev says.

"She was very clumsy and unsociable. She's two years older than me but I used to save her from every boys in our school."

"Why did you need to save her?" I ask as my curiousity reaches the car ceiling above me.

She quite down and looks at Agni, a blanket of dolour wraps her face.

"They used to...bully her. Even the girls, and she was a girl who can't save herself from them. She was shy and...a scardy cat," she takes a deep breath, "Now, she has changed herself. She doesn't need my protection anymore..." Bratati's voice fades and it feels more like she's a bit offended.

I look at the brown leather wearing girl who's following our car and everything about her screams how strong she is.

______

- Glossary -

D. V. C.- Damodar Valley Corporation.

- Rituals -

Bidaai: Bashi biye is immediately followed by Bidaai. It is the most emotional moment, when the bride bids farewell to all her family members and friends, and leaves for her husband's abode.
As strange as it may seem, Bashi Biye has a charm of its own. It is the final step towards solemnizing a Bengali wedding, after which the couple can officially be called Man and wife.

- Songs -

1- Banno re Banno, Chali Sasuraal(2013)- sung by Harshdeep Kaus and Arijit Singh & composed by Pritam Chakraborty

2- Yeh Kya Hua, Kaise Hua(1971) sung by Kishore Kumar & Composed by R. D. Burman

______

9th October, 2020