I look at the mirror and it reflects a navy blue sherwani* with golden trouser. The gel has done a great job as I have combed my hair backward and have trimmed my beard to the edges.

"Hey, Aditya, knot my tie yaar. It's so confusing!" Barun says as I roll my eyes. Since school, he can't knot a tie.

It's 7:00 pm in the evening. And the groom has worn a dhoti and panjabi* while the rest of us wears our best wears for the evening. The marriage schedules at 9 p.m. so we have enough time.

"Are yaar, how I'm gonna handle the dhoti?" Angshu shouts, frustrated with the clothes as it keeps entangling with his legs.

"Damn! It's cold and I can't even wear a sweater!" He complaints.

"Where's Amit, Jatin and Kingshuk?" Asks Abhishek while wearing a shirt.

"They have went to buy drinks for tonight," I answer while spraying deo.

Angshu looks at me with a frown while Abhishek and Barun pause what they are doing and slowly turn raising their eye brows. However, their eyes are sparkling with bliss.

"Are you guys going to drink tonight?" Angshu asks his voice has a hint of hurt, "without me?"

I chuckle, "No! We're all gonna get drunk. They have gone to arrange while Dev will bring *chakhna."

"How am I going to drink when I'll be with Bratati in *Basor-ghor?"

"We'll manage that," I wink casting a sly grin at him as he narrows his eyes. He has some questions in mind but I don't have time to explain.

"All right! Barun, get Angshu ready in a few minutes as the band-parties have already arrived," I say and put on my watch, "while I inform everyone and see if they are ready, yet."

The females need a lot of time to do their make up and if I don't rush them, they'll take forever. I have seen my Trayi to spend hours just for her face. Then comes the hair. But I have to praise their artistic skills that can even hide a dead body.

I leave our cottage and go for the next one where our family is.

I am about to enter when I hear aunties are talking about Agni. Seems, she's damn famous even in our house. I heard she's a famous writer but haven't searched the web. As it gets interesting I decide not to enter and hear what do they have to offer.

"Poor girl! I didn't know she went through a lot," my mom's voice comes from behind the door. Occasionally, she's sighing at whoever 'poor-girl' it is. 

"I know. I asked their neighborhood and they even said the family wasn't good." The thick voice is Aunt Sulekha's, the gossip queen. Nothing can be kept hidden from her hawk eyes and dog ears. She can smell any news if it can spark an interest in her.

"I'm glad she became established and now her sasurbari* will regret it." That is aunt Shibani, Barun's mother. She's not a gossip-kind but a suggestive type.

Thinking may be they are talking about someone else, I open the door as the time is wasted enough. But what catches me in my spot is when my mother says, "It was a good decision Agni divorced that man. He didn't worth a jewel like her. She maybe has...err...tattoos on her and that weird hair colour, but she's an amazing person." My mom says with a cheerful tone, "She even taught me how to make pizza!"

My feet freeze and it takes a few more moments to register and clarify whether I have heard it right or my ears are ringing.

Agni is divorced?!

***

Whole groom's family and guests have already started dancing with the beats of the song 'Chahe koi mujhe Jangli Kahe'¹ and dhak while Angshu is in the car, slowly arriving at the bride's house behind us.

My friends and I am doing the matal-dance (drunken-dance even if we are not drunk, yet) as we don't know how to dance, not have learned regarding that department. In bengal, it's in our blood. No matter what song you play, we can always dance (without knowing any actual steps, that is) like a mad person or a drunk person.

While dancing, my hands land a few punches and my legs, some kicks on Barun or Dev even on my father (who is dancing beside me with other uncles) and those who surround me, and the other time, they do the same. Because we don't know what are we doing in the middle of an unknown road of Maithan, 300 km far away from our house while the headache of the new launch still is swirling around in my head. I'm dancing like a mad man, sweat covers me and adrenaline pumps through me as I take a coat - I don't have a clue whose coat - and swing it like Dada did at Lord's stadium in London*.

A few distance away, in a circle of females, my mom and sister dance their usual steps that is to put their hands on the air while shaking their waists. The song changes to 'Mai Nagin Nagin'² and everyone put their hands above their heads and give it an appearance of snakes - on their heads and the others put their heads in front of their mouths as if playing bin*.

The whole dancing crowd almost reach at the entrance of bride's house and we go place the fire crackers at a distance for safety measurements as the pandal is made of silk. The dhak continues and the song changes to 'Mahbooba Mahbooba'³. Beats of the song pour adrenaline in every person present at there and the bride's family and guests join us as well.

As I set the fire on the rockets, they reach the sky making green, red, yellow sparkling umbrellas on it. Dev put fire on another cracker and it burst with a loud bang then in continues until each fifty crackers are fired up and burst.

I join the crowd when the last song changes into 'Lungi Dance'⁴ and my eyes catch a beige and golden coloured Lahenga*. Not the Lahenga but its owner. Her hair tied to a bun and the purple locks are hanging loosely both sides of her face and big ear rings adorned her ears. Agni looks more beautiful than anyone present there. Then I see her tattoos on her neck, back and forearms as she has worn a sleeveless blouse with a low cut back and her Orni hung on one side of her shoulder. It is a dragon tattoo, drawn around her left arm and a Phoenix behind her back, spreading its wings to her shoulders. And on her left chest to her neck is another dragon. The amazing art looks more beautiful and makes her appearance elegant and I find I have a hard time to look away from her.

My movements become slow as I dance, occasionally receiving a few punches and sidekicks, and I feel breathless. When groom's car reach the entrance, the dance ends leaving everyone in blissful states and sweat while Agni's eyes fell on me. I avert my eyes away and look at Dev who is looking at Agni as well. An unsettling feeling resides in my pores but it fades away when I see Amit, Kingshuk, Abhishek is gaping at her. Even Barun.

I narrow my gaze down at Barun and he gives me a sluggish grin which I return him as well, "You're married."

His grin vanishes, "Don't remind me."

"I will definitely remind you."

He groans.

Amit nudges behind me and exclaims, "Look, I've found her pictures on web!" Scrolling down the pictures on his phone he adds, "She's damn hot!"

This indeed spikes an interest in us as we all circle him (even Barun) and see the Instagram of '@Alicia_McAllen' with a blue tick on it. It's an official account of Agni Mukherjee with millions of followers and only thirty posts.

As Amit scrolls down, his excitement fades as there are hardly three or four photos of her. Two of it in a balcony that has a lots of flowers. And one photo with her mom in a beige painted room. The rest are of either her books or her pets which are rabbits. She has three rabbits; A white bunny with black fur circle around it's eyes and reaches it's ears; a black bunny with a half white moon around it's neck and it's front legs has white furs that looks like it's wearing shocks; and a brown one with dusty sand coloured furs around it's neck. They are adorable. I wonder where are they now as they are in India.

"It doesn't have enough pictures!" Amit complaints.

Jatin says with a straight face, "She must like her privacy. Leave her alone." I notice Jatin is the only one who hasn't laid his eyes on her.

I don't know why do I feel relieved but the previous conversation is still rewinding in my head over and over again.

"Let's go, Angshu is going to enter," I say as we go to the entrance behind Angshu's car. There is already the bride's friends, sisters including Agni and aunties are waiting with plates of sweets and water for Jamai Baran*. As soon as Angshu comes out all of them jumps on him and pours every sweets in his mouth. It is like they are in a competition of 'Who can pour most of the sweets in just one minute and let the groom suffocate for air'.

I feel bad for him as his mouth has became like a balloon and he is having a hard time to chew while the females are posing next to him. They are surrounded with cameras and hundred of guests. Just by looking at his situation, I feel like there isn't any reason for getting married. This is a torture!

"I'll do a court marriage." Dev says and rest of us nod in agreement as we enter.

_________

- Glossary -

Sherwani- It's one of men's wear and often they wear it on important occasions.

Basor ghor- After marriage where the married couple stays with their friends. It's called basor room and the night is called Basor raat (Basor night)

Sosur bari- Husband's house. Sosur means Father in law. Bari means home. In truth, it's father-in-law's house.

Dhoti- Another men's traditional wear.

Panjabi- Traditional wear of men.

Lahenga- Women's wear consists of a skirt and a blouse.

Chakhna- it's another term of snacks when used with drinks.

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*Dada did at Lord's in London- Dada as in Sourav Ganguly, Prince of Calcutta, Lord of the offside, the Indian cricketer(1992-2007) and former captain(2000-2005) of Indian Cricket team. He's called Dada(Elder brother) in whole Bengal and he had swung his jersey after the match against England as we've won that match(2002). The incident is unforgettable and almost everyone (young or old) use this epic situation as a phrase. XD google the video.

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- Rituals -

Jamai Baran- When the groom first appear at the bride's house to marry her. It's called Jamai Baran. The elder females stand near the entrance with plates full of sweets and gifts.

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- Songs -

1- Chahe Koi mujhe Jangli Kahe(1961)- Muhammad Rafi sahab (singer) & composed by Sankar Jai Kishan

2- Main Nagin Nagin(2013)- Anmol Malik (singer) & composed by Jaidev Kumar

3- Mahbooba Mahbooba(1975)- sung & composed by R. D. Burman

4- Lungi Dance(2013) - sung & composed by Yo Yo Honey Singh

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25th September, 2020