My stomach growls and I squirm in my seat to try to silence the rumbling. I glance at the clock; two p.m. and the series of houses confirm that we are not far from our house. Only two more turns until lunch. Dev moves the steering while my head is preoccupied; my mind recalling the menu as I imagine the chicken kosa in my plate before me. I am salivating at the thought of it as our car runs to its final destination. Only one more turn. I watch as we cross the last house finally in front of the decorative gate slowly. The closer it gets, the slower it seems to go. My stomach rumbles again, and I try to cover it with my hand like it will eat everyone.

Chattering, swirling people, red carpet, decorative palms against cream-and-gilt walls, small whirlpools of life at the open, men in their light panjabi and kurtas* while women in various modern clothing, get themselves buried in their conversation.
The noises of chatter confirms that our family and the guests have already gathered in pandal where the tables and chair are set.

As soon as Dev stops the car, I leave the car and see Bratati is ready to serve. My eyes search for Agni who is sitting beside Trayi. The chair beside her is empty and I think I should not waste anymore of my time when a nudge postponed my plan.

I look behind and see a small man with a big bald and bulging belly like he's nine months pregnant. He isn't familiar or I don't think I've seen him.

"Yes, uncle?" I ask.

"Beta, can you bring my bags from there? It's a little bit heavy for me," he informs a little smile plays on his dark lips under his thick moustache.

I look behind him at our entrance way, there indeed is a big blue suitcase—he's barely an inch taller than it—with another one white backpack bigger than the first one, laying beside it. It is shocking how can this meagre little creature manages to take those here. I nod and go over there.

I bend over it and pull—or at least, I tried to—however, it didn't move. I put more effort in my arms and it surely moves just barely by one millimetre.
After a few more failed attempts, my body starts to get wet because of the sweat and the stickiness makes me irritated.

What the (beep)!

Instead of pulling it up, I drag it along with me then I notice the seat beside Agni is already filled with another person. Dev. "Dost, dost na raha... Pyar, pyar na raha...' the unfortunate yet perfectly situation-matched song starts playing behind the boxes as if they are portraying my inner emotional turmoil.

I look at the damn snapback as irritation and devastation crawl  on my face and then move my eyes to Dev. That sneaky devil!

Beside him Agni looks at me and her eyes follow my situation then rests on me. I grin which she returns as well. Then she looks down at her phone and starts typing. It can be her story or her boyfriend...?

My heart hurts but my phone vibrated with a ping.

I bring out my phone and see it's Agni. A thousand drums start playing in my heart as I open the message.

'Did you deliver the bike?'

'Yes.' I reply.

'Okay.' Her reply comes as soon as my message is delivered. Then two minutes pass by as I have been expecting little more than just an 'okay'. One more minute has went and I can't blame her but I am a bit offended at our minimal conversation. When I was a teen—I don't think that information matters now.

I look around so I can put this mountain of a rag but find all of my friends have already occupied with food before their table. There's no sit available. It's like everyone is hungry as me. I sigh...

Next batch then it is...

Another ping comes.

I look at the display and see 'Bring a chair here. We still have some place to adjust.'

I tilt my head and see her eyes motion the little place beside her. I nod and hurry to put away that white bag. What the hell is even here in this bag?

I look for a few workers but there's no one around as all are busy in filling their stomach. Bratati is coming and Angshu trails behind her as they come near pandal and spot me.

"What are you doing?" He asks.

"I don't know." He gives me a quizzical brow, "I mean, will you help me carry this? It's damn heavy."

He nods and takes the other side however, we both are unable to lift it up. Bratati looks at us for a few minutes then she comes to help us and manhood shoots us as we both say, "No, it's okay. We can manage."

"It will take at least half an hour for two of you." She looks behind and tell, "everyone's pretty busy. I'm sure they won't mind."

And she grabs the side where Angshu is holding. And if I wasn't shocked before of Bratati's extraordinary skills, now I'm pretty shocked as the big rag hangs up in the air. It's still heavy.

When we reach our door, which takes us about two minutes, we are already exhausted.

"What's in this?" Bratati asks through her breathe.

"Beat me." Angshu says.

"I will. Don't worry." She replies and Angshu turns red while I avert my eyes from the lovey-dovey couple besides me.

"Let's go fill our stomachs!" I announce and the couple agrees.

*****

I near at the pandal with a chair. As soon as Agni spots me, she asks everyone to move a little and now we have a little place where I can easily adjust.

I place the chair and sit and see they haven't started to eat yet.

"Why didn't you start to eat?" I ask as the caterers place our plates and foods starting with salads.

"Well, Agni asked us to wait as you didn't arrive." Dev's 'you' sounds a bit more accusation as he puts a lot of pressure in it. I nod curtly.

"Great." I look beside where Agni sits and mumble a thanks which she replies with a small smile and my heart flatters.

When I am about to start I look at Dev who's eyes drift between Agni and me. I arch a brow and he gives me a long look which says 'I can see everything what's going on'.

However, my belly growls and I leave that matter as well to enjoy my lunch and Agni's rosy fragrance.

*****

"There's something is going on between you two."

I spill my water when my mom says that. Our lunch has finished already while others have gone to take rest, the rest of our family which includes my parents, Angshu and Dev's parents as well as Angshu and Dev—not to forget my sister—we gather in our kitchen to discuss tonight's plan.

However, it starts with the above sentence and everyone is surrounded me as if I am going to run away.

"Wh-what?"  I ask as innocently as possible, if I may add.

"Don't try to deny it! I've seen you guys glancing at each other and giving lovey-dovey smiles." My mom says and my face burns with heat. Yes, I did have many conversation with mom regarding love or marriage, however, mom pointing out my attraction is a bit disturbing for me.

"There's absolutely nothing is going on!"

"Better! Because, after Angshu, it's your turn to marry and I've already found out the girl."

"What?! How could you even do that? I told you I'm not going to get married! What about Dev?"

"Don't involve me in this. I will marry after one year and I've already promised that. I'll not falter from my words."

He gets out easily each and every time—lawyer's skills have paid off.

"I don't get it why are we having this conversation in Angshu's reception?" I cross my hands over my chest and turn to Dad, "Dad! Say something!"

Dad comes and says, "Yeah Prachi, let him be..." However mom's glares shut him up and he turns to me, "Beta, in some point of your life, we need to make the hard decision!"

We all blink in confusion—Dad's not helping at all for all of us with his diplomatic statements.

"I am not going to get married with anyone!"

"Not even Agni?" My dad asks which has managed to shut me as well.

I never thought of marriage with Agni. But I can't seem to get away from this thing that's going on... Well, nothing is going on apparently. Should I stop this attractions I'm feeling?

"You can't even answer to that question." My mom's sharp gaze cuts me half and the surrounding gets tensed with each passing seconds.

"We're friends," I manage to mumble, even my own voice betraying the answer.

"Better be friends as I can't allow you to marry her."

"And why's that?" I snap at her with a fire in my eyes and I can feel she has the same fire in her as well.

"Because she's divorced and she can't get children."

There is an awkward silence that fell upon us with unblinking eyes set on her. I can sense everyone in the room has the same question in their mind.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I've talked with Mr. Ghatak about her. They said they aren't forcing her to get into marriage as her disastrous marriage had cost her a lot more than she could take and that includes her not being able to get pregnant. She can't ever get us an heir."

My heart stops the surrounding feels like it's playing on a slow motion video where I stay still for more than a minute however, it feels like I've been standing there like hours.

I don't know what to say but something in me starts to rub in my heart. Was it sorrow? Guilty? Pity? Or something else?

I have no words and being quiet makes it easier for everyone to leave this topic.

________

- Glossary -

Panjabi and Kurta- men's clothing

- Songs -

1- Dost, Dost na raha(1964)- sung by Mukesh & composed by Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal

________

8th November, 2020