Little Tara and Akash walked inside with their dirty hands and clothes covered with soil. Little Tara dusted her frock while Akash wiped his dirty hands on his shirt and half pant.

Pronita saw them covered with dust and facepalmed.

“Bubla, Tara, what is this?” She gasped looking at them.

“Aunt we just sow a seed in the garden” Little Tara looked overexcited while telling it to his aunt.

“Yes” Little Akash nodded.

“But look at your cloths they have become dirty” Pronita said.

Little Akash got suddenly worried.

“Aunt please don’t tell mother,” He said.

“I will not but you both need to clean up, come with me” Pronita said and took both kids to the bricked area in the house. Where they kept buckets and other washing essentials.

Pronita first cleaned little Tara’s dress. She dusted it off with another cloth. Then she gave water to both of them to wash their hands. After their cleaning was done, Pronita gave them a white towel to wipe it.

“Bubla, come here to wipe your hands” Pronita yelled at him when he ran away without wiping his hands clean.

Little Tara’s attention went towards Pronita’s wounded hands, and she curiously asked her,

“Aunt, what happened to your hand?”

Pronita suddenly looked nervous and hesitant. She didn’t expect little Tara to ask her this.

‘’Ahh, I fell down, so I get injured” She lied. Not telling the truth to the kids. That her husband has beaten her up and burnt her hand with a hot spoon to demand dowry from her. She knew Tara is still a kid, and she won't be able to understand this now. Little Tara looked at her face for a whilst, observing it closely.

Pronita looked at her furrowing brows lightly,

“Why are you looking at me like this?”

“I know you are laying!” Little Tara said. Pronita’s eyes widened.

“This isn’t a wound of falling down but a burnt skin” Little Tara said and Pronita’s breathing hitched. She was surprised hearing Little Tara’s words. Little girl has caught her lie and also guessed the truth somewhere near to perfect.

“I saw my aunt one day and her face was burnt. After that day, I never saw her again” Little Tara said. Pronita looked at Little Tara thinking about her words. She was naive to understand the real deep truth behind her wounds yet. Pronita also had a fear of her husband. He was becoming violent day by day and every day demanded money from her. His demands increased so much that he threw Pronita out of his house and warned her if she wants to stay with him, she had to bring more dowry.

“TARA,”

Suddenly Pronita heard little Tara’s father Subodh calling her. Once upon a time, the only man she admired was Subodh. But never able to express her feelings for him. Looking at her brother’s friendship with him, she never dared to tell what was in her mind. Eventually married to a wealthy reputed man chosen by her father but later he turned out to be an abuser. Her father died serving for the nation as a comrade. Behind him, her mother too passed away in the sorrow of husband’s death. Being elder brother Prakash always looked after her and Subodh always helped Prakash to move ahead in life. Hearing Subodh’s voice after so many years, Pronita felt nervous. She doesn’t want to face him but little Tara held her hand and dragged her out.

“TARA WHERE ARE YOU?” Subodh called her roaming his eyes around and saw little Tara coming with Pronita.

“Papa I am here” Little Tara left Pronita’s hand and ran towards her father.

“Oh, there you are,” Subodh took her in his arms and asked “Where were you?”

“I was with aunt, she cleaned me up when I became dirty” Little Tara told her father.

“Thank you so much for taking care of her” Subodh said to Pronita. She nodded without looking at him. Subodh walked away from there, holding little Tara in his arms.

He stepped out of Prakash’s house and started walking on the road. Whilst walking he remembered about his discussion with Prakash.

--

“I would like to make Tara as my daughter-in-law,” Prakash said “I don’t have any objection on this Subodh”

Hearing his words Subodh felt extremely relieved.

“But,” Prakash said.

“But what?” Subodh looked at him in a nervousness.

“My family has its rules. In my family, forget any woman about going to the school and educate themselves, they aren't even allowed to go out.” Prakash said and Subodh’s heart felt heavy.

“So if Tara will become my daughter-in-law she will not be allowed to study ahead. She has to follow all the rules of a daughter-in-law. I can assure one thing that she will not have to face any problems here’’ Prakash told him. Subodh understood what Prakash wanted to tell him. He was indicating towards his wealthy status.

Subodh has a wish in the corner of his heart to see his daughter getting educated. He sighed after hearing Prakash’s words. He knew Tara will have to stop her studies and follow the rules of the Sengupta family. He felt sad, but he was also hopeful thinking about how Sengupta family is wealthy enough to provide his daughter with a secure life. Prakash owns a clothing shop on the famous British road. Subodh was sure that some other day, Prakash will hand over his business to his son Aakash and that means Tara will never have to sleep empty stomach in the future. The only thing was she will never get is to learn further and this thought was killing Subodh’s heart.

“Tell me now Subodh. If you have anything to say about my words. If you don’t agree then tell me now” Prakash said.

“As per destiny wishes, things happen in our life, Prakash. She will be your daughter-in-law and face what destiny has stored for her’’ Subodh said.

Prakash lightly smiled at him “Let me feed you some sweets on this good news then” Prakash said to him.

Both arrived in the living area and told the news to everyone. Prakash fed Roshogolla (Indian Bengali Sweet) to Subodh.

--

After reaching the house,

Subodh can’t stop thinking about his life and his family. He didn’t talk to his wife for a while. Sarita waited patiently for him. He ate food quietly. He helped Sarita in all the household chores quietly. Sarita felt worried thinking about him. At night, when Tara fell asleep Subodh went near Sarita.

“I have a few days left now Sarita. I know its difficult for you trust me it's more difficult for me. I had so many dreams for you and Tara. Seems like destiny isn’t in the mood to complete them”

“Why are you talking like this? Don't lose hope we will do something” Sarita said controlling her tears.

“I wish Sarita. But before I go I want to tell you that you don’t need to worry about Tara now. Prakash has accepted my words. He is ready to make our Tara his daughter-in-law. I just want to tell you that be strong at least for our daughter. She is so naïve to understand everything now, but she will after she will be grown up one day.’’

“How can I be strong if you are not with me?” Sarita said wiping her tears.

“You have to be Sarita. You have no option left but have to be strong. I just have one last wish for you. Don’t go Sati for me. Stay alive for our daughter. If she ever needs you in her life then be there for her.” Subodh told her. He wiped her tears controlling himself from getting weak.

“Don’t cry, Sarita. Not now or else I will get broken” Subodh said. Sarita hugged her husband knowing it would be their last hug. He patted her head slowly while tears rolled down his eyes. He looked at his daughter sleeping peacefully. She will get married tomorrow. At least his one wish to see her marrying will get fulfilled. He closed his eyes feeling hopeful in his heart again.

Meanwhile. Little Tara in her dreams has already reached to the moon. There was a slight smile on her face. Subodh slept near his daughter, pulling her in his embrace and savouring the moment in his life.

--

It was early morning in the most chilly season.

Little Akash was running everywhere in the house with the yellow stains over his body. The turmeric ceremony has just completed and his mother already prepared a bucket of water to bathe him. To avoid bathing, little Akash ran away and behind him, his mother was chasing him. He took the whole house over his head to avoid bathing. Pronita too tried to chase him. She laughed the way little Aakash was looking. His face and other body parts were covered with turmeric paste.

“BUBLA.. COME HERE LIKE A GOOD BOY” His mother yelled at him. Little Akash showed his tongue to her, it made her angrier.

“BUBLA,” She ran behind him. Whilst running little Akash slipped over turmeric paste and fell down. His mother quickly held him. He started throwing tantrums.

“No, I don’t want to bath. It's cold” Little Akash whined and cried. In the season of cold icy breezes and teeth trembling temperature, little Aakash always avoided to bath until his mother forcefully bathed him.

“Bubla look at you,

You are looking like a marigold flower right now...All yellow” Pronita laughed at him.

Little Akash was dragged inside the walls of bricks and ignoring his cry Anjali poured water over his body. Little Aakash shivered bathing in the water. The water was lukewarm but as soon as the cold breeze touched on his body, he felt the cold sensation passing in his body. After he was done bathing, his mother gave him to wear some new clothes, then he was made to sit with his father to do a prayer.

--

Little Tara was curiously staring at the Alta in her fingers and the middle of the palm. She touched it with her fingers. Her mother Sarita just received a pot of turmeric paste from Sengupta family. Her mother applied the same turmeric paste used for Aakash. Little Tara stayed calm, unlike little Aakash, when she was getting applied turmeric paste. Subodh too applied the paste on her cheeks. He had a hint of tears in his eyes. When little Tara smiled looking at him, he felt like his worries washed off. She sat silent until her parents applied turmeric paste on her face, on her hands and on her legs.

“Papa look at my hands,” She said showing Alta on her white palms.

“Beautiful little one” Subodh said smiling. He wiped his tears quickly and hid his sorrows behind smile.

Subodh wished his life to be easier, he wished he had more days to live with his family. He was hiding his pain behind his smile. His wife Sarita noticed it even though he tried to hide it. She was too feeling sad thinking her husband will leave her anytime. She was trying to pass every moment happily with him.

Little Tara was slowly braiding her hair to get ready to the school. Suddenly her mother came inside and stopped Tara from braiding her hair.

“Today you are not going school,” her mother told her. Little Tara gasped.

“Why Amma?” She asked her.

“And you will not braid your hair today. I will make your bun.’’ Her mother said untieing the knots of Tara’s braids. Little Tara looked perplexed. She stood still when her mother combed her hair.

“Amma I want to go school” Little Tara said.

“I told you not today!” Her mother said.

“But why? Today Ms Maria was going to teach us” Little Tara said whining.

“Learn it later,” Her mother said. After preparing Tara’s bun, she brought a saree for her. Tara looked at the saree and got excited. She always wanted to wear a saree like her mother. She clapped her hands in happiness after her mother started wrapping saree around her tiny body.

“Stand still Tara” her mother scolded her. But little Tara was enjoying it. She had secretly tried to wear her mother’s sarees before but always gave up after not knowing how to wear it. Her mother was draping the saree on Tara neatly. After wearing saree, her mother applied tine white and red dots above her eyebrows curving it towards her cheeks from both sides. Then applied some kohl under Tara’s small eyes. After her mother was done, Little Tara looked at herself in the mirror and gasped in a surprise. She swirled around herself looking at the mirror. She looked extremely happy. Her mother also gave her some bangles to wear in her hands. Then she put a bindi over her daughter’s head. Tara looked happy after wearing it. She liked all the girly stuff her mother brought for her. After getting ready, little Tara stepped out of the room. Her father was waiting outside standing at the veranda. When he looked at his daughter in the bridal saree, he couldn’t control his tears.

“Papa” Little Tara ran towards him. He bend down to her level and patted her head giving a blessing to her. He looked up at Sarita. She was wearing a decent saree. While he wore white kurta.

“Come, Prakash has sent his car for us,” Subodh said gesturing outside. Little Tara ran towards the car excitedly. It was one of the land rover owned by Britishers. Prakash had got that car in a gift from the British officer.

“Careful Tara” Her mother yelled at her. But little Tara was so excited she was about to fall when the driver of the car immediately reached at her to hold and saved her from falling on the ground. Her mother marched at her angrily.

“You are wearing a saree now, do not be a careless girl. If you fall down your saree will get dirty. It's expensive” Her mother scolded.

‘’Don’t shout on her Sarita” Subodh said in a calm tone.

“Then what should I do? It’s her wedding saree.” Her mother said.

“Oho Tara baby what are you doing?” The driver Harish asked her. “It's your marriage today!” He said. Little Tara gasped. But she did not understand the meaning of his words.

“Marage what?” She asked him confusingly.

“Marriage! Its Marriage. Now get inside the car like this” Harish held her up carefully and put her in the backseat of the car. “Do not move from here. Okay?” he said and smiled at her. Harish was in his early twenties and just married to a woman in his village. Subodh walked at him and patted his back.

“I heard you got married. Congratulations for that. Though I do not have anything to give you right now.” Subodh said.

“That’s fine sir. I am happy that I got your blessings” Harish said. All of them got inside the car. Little Tara looked inside the car with her mouth open. She was amazed to see the car from inside. It was her first time to get inside a car. Though she has seen so many cars of British people on the road but never get a chance to sit inside. Now she was getting a chance, her eyes roamed around and started touching the car.

“TARA do not touch anything” her mother scold her again.

Tara pouted looking at her mother who was scolding her. Soon the engine of the car started. Little Tara felt excited. The car started driving ahead. Little Tara looked out of the window when her mother scold her again.

“TARA,”

“Let her enjoy” Subodh said.

Suddenly little Tara remembered what Harish said to her. She looked at her father who was sitting ahead with the driver. Then her eyes fell on Sarita, her mother.

“Amma”

“Yes”

“What is marriage means?” Little Tara asked. On this Subodh smiled while Harish chuckled.

“It means ..umm” Her mother looked perplexed. She couldn’t find proper words to make little Tara understand. ''When two people live together happily is called marriage”

Little Tara still looked not so convinced.

“A girl leaves her house and goes to the groom’s house is marriage,” Harish said.

Little Tara gasped.

“So am I going to leave your house?” Little Tara asked shockingly. Her mother hesitantly nodded.

“NO...I don’t want to leave you” Little Tara said crying.

“Tara every girl has to leave her house” Her mother tried to make her understand.

“Why only girls have to leave the house why boys can't do it?” Tara asked.

“Because they are not strong like you,” Her father said. Tara smiled but then she became furious again.

“No I don’t want to go away from you” she murmured sadly.

“Once in a life every girl goes to her in-laws,” Her mother said.

“I don’t want to go at in-laws, I want to go to the moon,” Little Tara said. Subodh smiled looking at her.

“You will never go away from us after marriage in fact you will bring everyone together. This is what a marriage is!’’ Subodh told her.

Little Tara looked little relieved thinking she will not go away from anyone. She looked out of the window again and saw how trees were running behind.

“The way you make your daughter understand everything is appreciable sir,” Harish said. Subodh smiled at him. He knew he was going to miss this all. Tara’s unending questions and his wife’s scolding. He knew after him there was no one to make Tara to understand the things except her groom. He thought in a hope.

Soon they reached at a temple. Harish opened the doors of the car for Subodh and Sarita. He held little Tara up and put her down. Little Tara struggled to walk in the saree. She tried to walk faster when her mother held her hand. They went inside the small temple. Little Tara and her family waited there for the groom’s family to come.

--

Sengupta House

“BUBLA come here!’’ Anjali scolded her son when he ran away after wearing kurta.

Anjali ran after him holding the white pyjama of it. Little Akash makes it hard for his mother. He mischievously ran everywhere in the house.

His mother soon felt tired running behind him. While running, he hit on his father and fell down on his back. When he looked up, he saw his father towering over him. He stood up quietly.

“Why you are running everywhere?” his father asked. Little Akash stayed silent. His father roamed his eyes at his son and noticed he wasn’t ready yet for the marriage.

“Anjali !” His father shouted by his wife’s name. Anjali walked towards them catching the breaths.

“Why he is not ready yet?” His father asked her.

“I was about to make him ready.” She said.

“Good make him ready properly, these cloths are given by Subodh.” His father said handing over the groom’s clothes given by Subodh to his wife’s hands. After he left, Anjali looked at the groom’s clothes and twitched her lips.

“This looks so low priced, we should have arranged it from our shop,” Anjali said showing disagreement looking at the clothes sent by Subodh. “I wish we could find any rich bride for our Bubla” she murmured. Little Akash noticed his mother was murmuring something while checking out the cloths. By taking this chance he was going to run again but Anjali held her hand quickly.

“Where you are going? Stand still.” His mother glared at him. She removed the Kurta he was wearing and make him wear the cloths given by the bride’s side. She disliked it, but she had to do it for her husband.

Pronita walked past by them when she stopped looking at Akash.

“Bubla my boy you are looking very handsome,” She said. Little Akash didn’t understand much, but he smiled looking at his aunt. He knew she was saying something good to him.

“What handsome, look at his clothes sent by the bride’s father. He looks poor in this. Sengupta’s son looks so poor. It's not acceptable” Anjali said to Pronita.

“What should I say on this? It's a ritual. Bride’s father provides clothes for the groom” Pronita said. She knew Subodh’s financial condition, and she does not have any complaints about it. While they were talking little Akash’s attention has gone towards the sweets and dry fruits kept on the table. Meanwhile, Prakash walked past by them and stopped beside her sister.

“Pronita if you want to attend this wedding then you can,” Prakash said.

“No I am fine I will stay here. Someone has to stay here in the house to welcome the new bride” Pronita said. Her wounds haven’t faded yet. They were still visible. She does not want to attend the wedding. She felt an urge to hide herself because of those injuries given by her husband.

“Bride will not come home today”

Prakash said. Anjali and Pronita looked at him in a shock.

“What do you mean that bride will not come home?” Anjali asked him.

“Because Subodh and I decided something else,” Prakash said.

Little Tara was joyously running in the temple. Many of women were staring at her, but she was unaware of the entire situation.

“Why they are taking so much time?’’ Sarita worriedly said.

“Do not worry Sarita. They will come soon” Subodh said making her calm. Soon they noticed two cars driving at the way towards the temple. Sarita looked happy.

“TARA,” she yelled at her and told her to sit inside the temple quietly.

She picked up the plate in which she kept the holy lamp and some flower petals to welcome them. Akash along with his mother and father reached at the temple. His mother told Pronita to stay at home and take care of her newborn baby. Little Akash started running on the steps climbing it like his usual habit but stopped by his mother. His mother looked quite unhappy that her son’s marriage was going to be in the temple. She wanted it to be a big fat wedding, so she could ask for a hefty amount of dowry, but her nothing was happening as per wish. Sengupta family climbed the steps of the temple. When they finally reached up, Tara’s mother welcomed them and offered them water. While Sengupta family gives them sweets and dry fruits covered in a bamboo woven baskets. Prakash met Subodh smiling widely. They hugged each other.

“Thank you for everything Prakash” Subodh said.

“It’s my pleasure Subodh, do not mention it,” Prakash said.

The child groom Akash was taken up towards the wedding canopy and made him sit on there. Little Akash sat there looking completely clueless about what was happening. He was doing those things as per told by elders.

Sarita walked towards Tara and made her sit on a low wooden stool as per ritual. Her mother gave her the betel leaves and told her to hold them in front of her face. Little Tara looked at the betel leaves and held them in front of her. Then the low wooden stool held by the temple people. Little Tara shrieked when she was held up sitting on the low stool. After that, she was brought towards the child groom Akash. Whilst sitting on the low stool, Little Tara was circled around the child groom Akash seven times. At each time of the round, she felt clueless of what was happening. Chid bride Tara and groom Akash both were unaware that these rituals were sacred and tieing them up to each other for life. She kept holding the betel leaves in front of her, hiding her face behind it. After the seven rounds were done, she was stopped by in front of him. Her mother Sarita told her to uncover her face behind the betel leaves. Little Tara did it as per said by her mother. She removed those petals and saw her best friend Akash sitting in front of her. When, their eyes met both of them instantly smiled looking at each other. While little Akash felt light after looking at his best friend Tara was here too. But why she was here? He looked perplexed for a while but forgot it when the surrounding people started making noises as the part of the ritual. Little Tara flinched hearing the sudden noise. She looked at Akash and asked him in the noise.

“Where is my moon painting?” she asked him but he couldn’t listen to her. Little Tara looked at him and noticed the white topor he was wearing on his head. Little Akash noticed she was wearing the same white topor as him.

Soon when it was over, Sarita gave the garlands to little Akash and little Tara. They looked at each other and exchanged it three times as per told by their parents. Unaware that it was their first step to accept each other. While Tara was started getting hungry by now, little Akash was smiling through it as he enjoyed doing it. He soon received a glare from his mother, and he stopped smiling.

After that, Subodh gave his daughter’s Tara’s hand in the child groom Akash’s hand. Then their hands tied by the sacred thread while reciting the Vedic chants by the temple priest. Subodh’s eyes moistened with tears looking at his daughter getting married. Later the family made little Akash and little Tara sat in front of the sacred fire. Priest started chanting mantras. Both Akash and Tara were not having a single clue. They just sat there looking at the fire. Then they offered a puffed rice in the sacred fire. Little Akash and little Tara did it as per told by their parents.

After it was done, little Akash was told to put the vermilion in Tara’s head parting. He did it as per said by elders not knowing the proper meaning of it. Both children Tara and Akash were unaware that they were married to each other. They were so naive to understand the meaning behind it. Though little Tara was told by her father, but she was innocent to know about it completely. Little Akash wasn’t even told by his parents. Because of his mischievous acts, he was straight taken to the wedding place. The wedding was done and their fate was sealed with each other. Akash and Tara were permanently tied to each other without their awareness.

After all the rituals,

Sengupta family along with Chatterjee family sat inside the temple. Little Tara was sitting on the staircase keeping her chin in her little palms. Little Akash was standing with his father getting bored by their talks. His eyes fell on Tara sitting alone. He slowly loosens up his hand from his father’s hold and escaped from there.

Little Akash sat beside her and saw her upset. He always became agitated after seeing her upset, because of not knowing the reason behind it. He pulled out the dry fruits he stole from the basket and offered to her.

Little Tara looked at the dry fruits in his hands and suddenly her face lighten up. She immediately took it and started eating it. Since morning, She was hungry and craved to eat something.

“Don’t tell my mother I stole it from the baskets” Little Akash said.

“It's tasty,” Little Tara said. He also put some dry fruits in his mouth and started eating it.

“Akash what marriage means?” Suddenly little Tara asked him.

He looked at her and shrugged his shoulders saying “I don’t know”

‘You know my mother was saying that it was my marriage” Little Tara said.

“Oh my mother did not tell me like this” Little Akash said.

“Then why you were here?” Little Tara asked.

“I don’t know” Little Akash shrugged his shoulders again.

“Do you find my moon painting?” Little Tara asked. Little Akash felt annoyed as she wasn’t forgetting about her painting. He couldn't tell her that it was with him because she will ask for it.

“No” he lied.

“But I have brought something for you,” he said handing over the remaining dry fruits in her hands. She cupped her palms and collected all the dry fruits in it. Little Akash held his kurta up and pulled out the binoculars he hid in it.

“Hold this” he gave it to her.

“I can not” Little Tara showed her hands full of dry fruits. Little Akash held the binoculars in front of her eyes.

“What are you doing? What is this?” She asked.

“This is called umm..baina..bina.I don’t know but you can see the moon through it” He said.

“What? Show me” Little Tara got excited.

He looked up in the sky and held the binoculars correctly in front of her eyes. Little Tara looked at the moon and felt it was closer to her. She moved her hands ahead and dry fruits from her hands fell down on the staircase. Little Akash instantly started picking up the dry fruits while Tara could hold the binoculars in front of her eyes and saw the moon. She tried to touch the moon multiple times waving her hand ahead, but she knew she couldn’t touch it. She looked at the binoculars in her hand annoyingly.

“Why I cant touch the moon?” She said annoyingly.

“You can't touch the moon you can only see it clearly like I see Roshogolla through it” He said laughing at her.

“But the moon looks so closer through this” She looked bewildered.

“And so the Roshogollas but I can't steal them through it,” Little Akash said.

“Can I keep it with me?” Little Tara has liked the binoculars.

“Yes, you can,” Little Akash said smiling. He was relieved that she will never ask for her moon painting again.

Subodh while talking to Prakash glanced at Tara and Akash. He saw how Akash gave his daughter something to eat. Subodh smiled thinking his choice has turned out good.

He called them to meet him separately in one room behind the temple.

Little Tara and Little Akash walked inside the room. Subodh was already waiting there for them.

“Come near to me” Subodh called them closer.

“Akash can you close the door”

He said. Akash did as per he said.

“Sit near me” Subodh patted on the both sides.

Little Tara sat to Subodh’s left side while Little Akash sat to his right side.

“I want something from both of you,” He said.

Little Tara and Little Akash looked at him as he said ahead.

“I want both of you to make a promise to each other that you both will always stay together no matter what happens in life, even if anyone tries to make you apart no one of you will go away from each other, promise?”

“Promise papa,” Tara said.

“Promise uncle,” Akash said.

“Okay Tara you can go now,” Subodh said.

Both Akash and Tara got up to leave when Subodh stopped Akash.

“Not you Akash” He said holding Akash’s hand. “Tara go and sit with your mother,” Subodh said. After she left, he looked at Akash.

“Akash I want one more promise from you,” Subodh said.

“What is it, uncle?” Little Akash asked him.

--

A/N - The Bengali wedding description is taken from Google.

Topor- the headgear Bengali groom and bride wears during their wedding.