Akash’ POV

The box full of sweets and chocolates fell down on the floor with a thud earning everyone’s attention to me including her as well. Tara’s kohl menacing eyes pierced me with a confused anxious look. The way she gazed at me and then at my mother and then both of them gave a full stare competition to each other. I can already sense a MAHABHARATA happening in a few minutes.

“Marriage? Whose marriage?” Tara asked. Her voice high pitched, defending herself already with a shield. My Maa laughed clapping her hands together like she usually does to hide her frustration of slapping someone. She has been very well irritated by the same question which I also reply to her, in a sarcastic way.

“Your marriage with my Bubla and who else?” Maa said glancing at me.

No Maa. Don't make me the scapegoat in this marriage fiasco. I have ignored this topic so many times at home. It isn’t new for me but definitely for Tara as I saw her frown face. Whenever my mother has talked about my marriage with Tara, I have dodged this topic like tossing off a small pebble on the road. I have either walked away from my house or get closed in my room. But in this situation, I can't do both. I looked around. There isn’t any way to escape from here except the one main door.

“My marriage with Akash? Why?” Tara said.

My mother laughed again. I just hope she doesn’t lose her patience.

“Have you forgotten your marriage or what? How beautiful you looked as my Bubla’s bride!’ My mother said, Tara looked at me, I looked away.

This is the time,

I am officially dead!

I hope maa will not tell her that I still remember that idiotic stupid wedding happened years ago when India got freedom but I did not.

“Bubla knows it, right Bubla? He is the one who brought chocolates for you while coming here, telling me the whole ride, Maa Tara loves German chocolates, Maa Tara loves this, Tara loves that”

Why Maa why? She has to spill everything except the truth and one part with is untrue. I never knew they are bringing me here for the 'Marriage Talks' with Tara. I have always taken it so lightly before but never knew this will become serious one day! And that one day would be today! Tara's birthday! The main reason why I bought chocolates for Tara. Although I do remember some parts of Tara and my marriage which happened when my milk teeth were falling off, as time passed by and my milk teeth replaced by the permanent adult teeth and I started understanding such things, I started making a joke of the whole marriage drama happened in the past. At least in front of my parents, especially with my mother, I have always avoided this topic whenever she tried to pin it again. I have always taken it as a shaggy dog story to get over the topic but my stubborn maa never let it happen as a jest. She and my Baba took it so much seriously that I have a feeling now, I might die because of a panic attack.

On this, Tara has been getting highly misunderstood thus if I did not die she will surely kill me with her sharp kohl-eyed glare.

I saw Tara smiling at my mother and nodding at her like a polite obedient girl. This scene itself is so indigestible to watch.

Tara and polite obedient? It's a dangerous combination of a ticking time bomb. Tara turned at me. I looked at all the eight possible directions in her house, except at her. When I glanced at her with the corner of my eyes, I saw her marching towards me angrily. It made me nervous to the peak. I looked down and saw the boxes of sweets I have taken for her, scattered down on the floor. I saw reaching near to me and noticed how I am standing only two feet away from her. She stood in front of me. I quickly bend to pick those boxes. She stepped back a little with a gasp. Probably thinking I will hold her feet and beg for forgiveness. The idea isn’t bad but not today, not in front of my maa. Then I saw Tara bending in her knees carefully but because of saree it was going difficult for her to sit on her knees properly but I know nothing is impossible for Tara. She doesn’t care about her saree much perhaps that’s why she sat on her knees down and threw a heated glare at me. I felt as if I was sitting near to any volcano which can burst at any time or it’s a time before the Hiroshima blast. This woman is no lesser than any cyclone comes to the Bengal. I tried to focus on picking up boxes ignoring her presence but then she asked me warningly,

“Did you know about this?”

Her each and every word sharp, clear and has a hint of warning that ‘Lie to me Akash then see what I do to you!’

I being over-smart kept avoiding her while picking up the four-five boxes from the past ten minutes, keeping them one on another.

“Akash I am asking you something?” She said leaning a little closer to me.

“About what?” I asked her stupidly and tried to get up holding the boxes in my hands that's when she immediately held my wrist and pulled me down. My breathing stuck to my throat. The boxes fell down from my hands again, with double of noise. I suddenly felt freezing white.

“TARA! ” I whispered at her widening my eyes.

“Akash!” She gave me the same look when I get caught by Maa for stealing Roshogullas.

I awkwardly looked away raising my chin high and showing I am not affected by her warnings. But from inside I was shaking.

“What?”

“TELL.ME.THE.TRUTH.” She said deterrently.

“Le leave my hand,” I said glancing up. My voice nervous and words stuttered.

Great! Maa noticed it too. I tried wiggling my wrist but her grip became tighter, her eyes big, her face red with a fit of anger. What the hell, being a boy this is an absolutely wrong thing happening to me. Suddenly I remembered all those girls whose hands I tried to hold before. But it was not in any comparison by Tara’s hold on me.

“My mother will beat me” I whispered at her. Lowly pleading at her but she looked unfazed.

“Akash! Tell me” She remains persistent. I know she is not going to easily leave my hand before she gets her answers.

“I only knew about your birthday Tara”

I tried to remove her fingers on my wrist. We started whispering to each other.

“And about this marriage?”

Her grip tightened on my wrist.

“NO”

I tried removing her hold.

“Liar”

She held my other hand too.

“Bubla, are you done picking up the gifts? Maa said it. I am sure she must have been witnessing all the unrequited drama between me and Tara and definitely thinking all wrong meaning about us.

“Tara, do you want to see me getting thrashed by my mother?” I shouted whispering to her.

“You already knew why your mother came here don’t you?”

Her voice became low, upset and her eyes filled up with tears. How can this girl change from being angry on me to crying because of me real quick?

“Bubla!”

Maa called me.

“Yes,” I said to my mother forgetting someone else was also waiting for my answer.

Tara!

Her face turned from soft angry to cold ruthless bull angry.

“Tara I...”

“I so knew it,” She said hiding her cry face.

“Tara listen”

But she did not wait. She left the hold over my hand, got up and walked ahead. I felt a pinching sensation there as I rubbed the spot. This was the first time she held my hand and I could not understand what should I feel about it? Should I be scared in front of my parents or should I curse our friendship?

When I rubbed my wrist it still felt warm and so her tears could be when she wiped them quickly before smiling at Maa again. I just hope she doesn’t get hurt because of this stupid misunderstanding between us, which has very low chances.

“Bubla! Come here” Maa called me at her, exactly where Tara was sitting. I held the boxes and kept it on the other side. Her house felt small in comparison to mine. But her anger is bigger than the entire town. Her house did not even have a table. Nor a bulb. I wonder how she studies here and still manages to score high. Her house has only two rooms. Kitchen and living hall in one and above room must be Tara’s. When I walked towards them, well, at her, I saw her getting up and climbed above her room. I sat there with Maa who kept her hand on my hand and caressed it lowly whispering to me,

“Don’t get much touchy-touchy with her’’

There she started.

‘’Maa, it's not like what you are thinking’’

“Hun I know what you young generation thinks,” Maa said it without showing a hint of anger on her face which could be a dangerous sign for me.

I facepalmed. Tara’s mother came and sat with us.

“So what you do now Akash?” Tara's mother asked me. I opened my mouth to tell her the truth but Maa did not give me a chance.

“He works at his baba’s shop”

Maa lied. I looked at my Baba who nodded to my mother. I wanted to tell Tara’s mother that I do nothing and I am good for nothing when it comes to Tara. But in fear of Maa's post-meeting Tandava, held me back. I glance up at Tara’s room thinking what she must be doing?

“Yes yes, after all, like father like son, hardworking !” Tara’s mother said. I hope Tara doesn't run away leaving me behind in this mess. Come out Tara, please. If you run away I swear I will never leave you for good. My mother poked her elbow at my hand. She raised her eyebrows at me and I shook my head hesitantly murmuring 'Nothing' but I know she has again caught me staring at Tara’s room. I was having this urge to go back side of her house and climb up to her room like old times sake. But couldn’t. I had to sit there folding my hands and listening to elder’s boring talk about the most uninteresting topic in the world, my marriage with Tara.

“Look how much he has grown up, so tall. I am happy he has been chosen for my Tara” Tara’s mother thanked god. I wanted to curse and blame the god now.

“Yes by the way your house is too small when Sudhir was alive…”

“Anjali”

My maa was cut off by my father. Maa sometimes crosses the limit and blabbers unwanted things. Everybody knows its been ages since Tara’s father left the earthly living. My god, that man has been rescued from this kind of troubles. Hushh. I once again glanced at Tara’s room.

My maa elbowed at me again and I shook my head at her. How Maa catches me every time I look for Tara. I am so much trapped. In meantime, Tara finally walked out from inside. She went to her mother and stood by her side looking down. She has made her hair and neatly adjusted her saree too. I waited for her look at me at least gave me a glare but no, she wasn’t doing anything from that. She just kept staring at the ground. Her silence made me worry to think about what's cooking in her mind. Her mother said something in her ears and she went In the kitchen. I hope she doesn’t bring out a knife with her, to kill me!

When she came out of the kitchen holding a tray of tea and snacks, my stomach grumbled. She offered it to everyone and then held the tray in front of me. I saw her still looking down at the plate. This reactionless Tara is not good. I moved my hand to grab the cup of tea when her dark kohl eyes looked up at me. I retracted my hands back when I witnessed her flared up nose and angry eyes boring holes in my face.

“Take it Bubla, it's for you only,” Maa said.

“Your son is so shy,” Tara's mother commented.

In between these mothers, I am surely going to get hunt down by Tara.

“Take it Akash,” Tara said with a hint of vexation in her voice and smile on her face. Has she mixed something poisonous in the tea and laddoo? So her way would be clear. I hesitantly picked up a glass of water while looking at everyone is eating and drinking it. I have to sacrifice those delicious looking laddoos because of her angry looks at me. Never mind.

“Tara now make a habit of calling him without a name, he is your legal husband now and wives don’t call husband by his name because of respect” Maa has to pitch in between. I coughed while drinking water. Tara's mother laughed. My Baba nodded. And Tara smiled. I knew I will be doomed if I don’t do anything. The way Tara has been giving shy smiles to everyone making me hard to breath. Because I knew only how much she must be angry with me.

“But I do call him Akash with respect always” Tara replied back. I swore under my breath. My mother never likes when anyone replies against her words. Tara, as far as I know, an educated girl who never held back her tongue from uttering any word. I can already imagine them on a battleground and two bulls fighting with each other.

The war is on!

“She is still naive about all these rituals’’ Her mother said.

"Don’t worry I will make her understand,” Maa said. I huffed. Tara isn’t one of those girls maa, whom she can tie up to the shackles of rituals. In all this, I could notice my Baba sitting silently and eating snacks. He knew there isn’t an any better option than being simply quiet when two women talk endlessly.

“Yes, only one ritual is left and then..” My Baba finally said something.

“Tara will be the dutiful wife of Akash” Maa completed.

I can not imagine Tara as my wife. Not at all. In my every life verse, in my every moment, in my every second of breathing. She is only my best friend. I know her since childhood how much stubborn and defiant she is. But also she is intelligent and I am not. She is beautiful and I, well, let's not talk about it. She has always given me lectures about life ambitions and to do something for myself, be responsible always when all I wanted to do is chase the football either girls. How can I tolerate her for life? She isn’t less than my father’s version but a female one. No way! I can't listen to her talks for the whole life!

Tara was throwing angry glares at me. She already has a big round pair of eyes. I had controlled my eyes from wandering further. Ahem. And when she widened her eyes, they look more scare with that kohl effect in it. I motioned my eyes at her, gesturing her to come outside to talk. She shook her head lightly. I pleaded to her with my eye talk. She twitched her lips at me looking away.

“What are you both talking with eyes hun?” Tara’s mother said catching us.

“They are already behaving like a husband and wife” Maa glanced at me in a way I felt to run immediately from there.

“Kids these days,” Her mother said. I looked at Tara. Now again she refuses to look at me.

“I wish Britishers would have taken their modernity back with them,” My mother said.

“Aunty, modernity doesn’t belong to any community or group it should be in one’s mentality’’

Tara answered raising everyone’s eyebrows, my mother’s anger, my father’s shock, her mother’s fear and my confirmation to the death.

---

“I have always told you I don’t like this girl she has a way too much long tongue in front of elders ” Maa complained about Tara in her high pitch voice while sitting in the car beside me on the backseat. Baba kept his focus on driving but I could notice he was too tempted to say something. We were driving back to the home but maa’s whining has already started in the road.

“She has just put her view that’s it. Stop creating issue about it” Baba told Maa in a calm understanding voice. But the calmer his voice the more loud complaints will come from maa.

“I am telling you this girl is not good for our family,” Maa said it. Looking at Maa complaining about Tara so much, an idea popped up in my mind that this is a good chance to break this wedding. What I have to do is take maa’s side for now and do not agree with Baba.

“Yes maa, I agree with you”

“What are you even saying, son?” Baba glanced back at me.

“Did not you notice father, how she answered to my Maa, so rudely and even took my name without any respect” I deliberately gave wind to the fire to break off this marriage easily.

“Yes only my son is understanding me, my husband is no good for use” Maa taunted at Baba. He rolled up his eyes.

“She is my best friend’s daughter and I trust his values which he must have told her before passing away”

Baba said.

“Ahan! That man has been dead since ages and you are still bound to his words. I am telling you, let's break off this relation I have a long list of better girls than Tara for my dear son” Maa said. I supported her.

“Maa is right. This girl will neither respect you nor me, what you say Maa?”

“Yes my son, I am so happy you understood what I want to say”

“Oho Maa, who will understand you if I don't?”

My Baba coughed when I and Maa were talking.

“You both are overacting about a small issue,” Baba said. If I also don’t overreact then how will this relation break?

“Oh leave it, please. She doesn’t even have a good house. I don’t think she can able to give dowry for us, for my son.” Maa's words I could not have agreed but right now I will have to play smart.

“Yes Maa is right” I was agreeing whatever nukes and faults she was pointing in Tara. This is the only way to break off the relation.

“And haven’t you saw how her mother expected me to do something for living?” I said.

“Yes, how dare she? Why my son will work? He has already gotten everything he wants.” My mother caressed my hair. “My son doesn’t need to work anywhere”

Baba shook his head in disapproval.

“Every girl’s parent want their future son in law to work something and earn well. It's their way of looking for their daughter’s security after marriage. Sarita did not ask for the wrong”

Baba defended Tara’s mother side.

“Haww look maa how baba is taking tara’s mother’s side and not yours” I put the oil in the fire between them and leaned back on the seat.

“Hawwwwwww”

Maa looked visibly hurt that means I have stabbed the arrow at right place.

“Now I will never let this relationship with them to go further” She hit her hands on her laps, determinedly.

“That’s like my Maa. I am with you on this.” I held her by arms showing my support.

“Bubla” My Baba yelped.

“Oh Baba, let it be. I can't be with someone who doesn’t respect my Maa” I stated firmly.

“Oh, my boy, my son, the star of my eyes, my precious bean, my heart” Maa blessed with so many words with a happy face. I have fooled her by my innocence. It looked so easy to break off this marriage than ever I thought. I could have done it earlier too. I suddenly felt so highly of myself. Nothing is impossible for me. I can't wait to meet Tara and give her this good news. Hashhh finally. I relaxed back again on the seat while Baba kept driving ahead. Maa kept giving him heated glances. I am free of troubles.

Till we reach to the home, Maa declared her decision to break off my marriage with Tara. This is the happiest moment of the day. I will meet Tara and tell her about my smartness. With the same happy feeling, I threw myself on the bed and dozed off in relief.

--

In the evening,

The chaos made me woke up. More like cheerful chaos. I rubbed my eyes and checked the time on the wall clock. It has already past seven. I got down from the bed and walked out of my room to see who has been happier than me today?

My eyes fell on a woman and girl sitting in the living area along with my maa who looked busy chatting with them.

Who are these ladies? Devil may care, I am not going to get in between maa and her friends. I was about to turn when Maa’s eyes fell on me.

“Bubla, COME HERE’’ She called me.

How maa catches me on the correct time? Yawning while stretching my arms, I walked at them carelessly.

“Here is my son Akash, with love I call him Bubla’’ Maa introduced me. I greeted them "Namastey’’ wondering why these ladies have gathered in my house.

“And she is Mrs Rai, and this is her daughter Sheila,” Maa said. I glanced at Sheila, who gave me a shy smile. I was having this gut feeling that something is fishy.

“They have come to ask your hand for marriage,” Maa said waking up me from seven nights of sleep of seven days.

I saw Sheila glancing up at me and winked.

Maa! She is more forward than Tara. Every boy from school has dreamt of Sheila after growing up. A desirable girl looks but has zero brains. Such desirable girls don’t know Akash is unavailable for them to marry.

“Oh, so you are here to marry me? But how will you marry a guy who is already married?” I said looking from Mrs Rai to Sheila.

“What? Anjali? Is your son already married?’’ Mrs Rai looked shockingly at my Maa.

“Yes, when I was seven, did not you tell them maa?’’ I said spilling out the truth. Maa glared at me and I instantly bit my lips being innocent in front of her.

“Who is that lucky girl?” Mrs Rai's princess daughter Sheila asked me with a frown face.

“Ahh she used to be your bench-mate in school,” I said.

"What? That Tara?" She exclaimed. Her face fell immediately.

“Anjali what is this?” Mrs Rai looked offended.

“Umm Mrs Rai, I was about to tell you that, yes my son has been married at the age of seven but that marriage is going to end soon,” Maa said. Mrs Rai looked at me and I shook my head sideways.

"No Maa what even you are saying we met Tara and her family today to fix the ritual," I said bringing all the naiveness on my face. Maa gasped looking at me.

“But your son is saying something else’’ Mrs Rai said.

“He… will do what I say”

“Listen, Mrs Sengupta”

From Anjali to Sengupta, here I took a wicket of Sheila, who clearly looked disappointed.

“Till when you were planning to hide this? Sorry to say but I can't send my daughter in such house” She got up. Sheila too got up giving me a sad look. I winked at her. I happily see off them till the gate.

But my happiness doesn’t stay for long. After they were gone, a clothing trader visited the house and took my measurements for sewing wedding clothes for me.

“Maa, what is this all maa?” I panickily walked behind Maa.

“What happened Bubla?” Maa shouted on me.

“What is this wedding suit has been made for? ” I said annoyingly. Why this marriage topic doesn't leave my back?

“For your wedding Bubla,” My Baba said walking inside the house while removing his boots. He looked tired.

“What we decided earlier in the car? Tara’s topic is cancelled” I said.

“Yes Bubla, Tara will not be your wife, that’s why I had invited Mrs Rai but you” Maa slapped on my arms. '' You ruined it, Why you have to do this to me? Hun?’’

I rubbed my arms knowing I did wrong but I can't jump from one marriage topic to another. Maa’s hands are still tough.

“WHAT? NO. I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY ANY SHEILA VEILA” I declared.

“Why not? Hun? Her father has owned the whole bazaar lane on Sheila’s name, she is rich, typical Bengali girl. Why you don’t want to marry her?” Maa shoutingly asked me.

“You are not understanding maa, I don’t want to marry any girl” How to tell them I really don’t want to let go of my freedom.

My mother gasped. Baba hasn't said anything yet and I wish he doesn’t.

“Why? You are a well grown-up boy, Goddess Durga has blessed you with good looks and good physique, why don’t you want to marry any girl” Maa said.

“I am very young to marry someone maa, I can't do it, not especially with Sheila” This is going out of my hand now.

“What's wrong in Sheila, she is fairer than Tara, more polite than her and most important she is beautiful”

“Yes, that's what I don't want. I want an ugly girl” I said it earning a loud gasp from my mother.

"What are you saying?" Maa kept her hand on mouth. "Why would we look for an ugly girl for you?"

"If beauty is what you think of in choosing any girl for me then Tara isn't bad either," I said.

I have twisted the topic to confuse Maa but I felt myself getting confused. Well, this is not the first time I am admiring Tara. But as a friend!

Maa kept her hands on waist. “Just a moment ago, you were so eager to break off the marriage with her hun”

“Maa, I don’t want to marry Tara that doesn’t mean I will marry Sheila or any other girl”

“I will not listen to you this time, either Tara or Sheila, now you have to marry one! my vote goes for Sheila’’

“Then my vote goes for Tara,” I said deliberately knowing she would refuse to accept her that will make me way easier to break this marriage.

“You very well know I don’t like that girl,” Maa said. I looked away smirking.

“You also know that I don’t like Sheila” I murmured.

Pronita aunt entered the house with a bag of vegetables. “What is this all chaos here?”

“Aunt tell maa, I don’t want to marry Sheila” I whined at her usually being her favourite kid in the house,

''Sheila? Who is this girl? Aren’t you already married to Tara?”

” Let it be Pronita sister, my wife has made a joke of it” Baba uttered some words.

“Yes now put it all blame on me’’ Maa started her melodrama.

“I don’t want to marry Tara either,” I said.

“But why? She is so beautiful Akash” Aunt told me.

“So what? She is the one high scholar girl aunt, I see sister Nivedita in her, are you joking with me?” I put my point. She laughed.

''Have you seen him Pronita? He doesn’t want to marry Tara that why I suggested Sheila’s name as a bride” My mother pitched in between.

‘’Neither Sheila nor Tara, I am not marrying anyone, why you aren’t understanding it all’’ I declared forgetting my baba was glaring at me.

“But you are already married to Tara! Just one ritual and she will be at our home” Pronita aunt said. I hated this fact. I can't even have a choice to refuse, anybody comes and say im already married. That’s not fair.

He walked at me holding his hands behind his back. The silence spread across the room but maa did not give it any seriousness.

“Tell your son, to get ready for the marriage rituals.”

"I can not do this Baba," I said.

“Can you give me one valid reason why you don’t want to settle down?” Baba asked.

“Baba, actually, I think I am not ready for it”

“That’s on us to decide son”

“But baba”

He showed me his hand.

“You are already married to Tara and that’s a fact. Accept this fact”

“I just can't accept this..’’ He glared at me “I mean im trying but can't”

"Sheila is a good choice, better than at least that loud mouth girl Tara,” Maa said it. Baba gave her a look.

“Anjali, Sheila isn’t going to be his bride and that’s my decision. And Son” Baba looked at me.

“I think you down have any valid reason for it. Give me one reason and I will surely think about it but for now, I only remember that I had given a word to my best friend Sudhir that I will be accepting his girl as my daughter in law, and I am not going to break that promise, for the sake of my old friend” Baba stated. Baba’s statement in the white line on the black rock. NO one can erase it.

“I am sorry baba but I can't do this, it’s a question of my life too”

“Then the world is free for you son, there will be no place for you in my house,” He said sending me into a deep dilemma. He walked off.

“Maa make your husband understand something”

“Yes, now I will have to understand these two stupid idiot men in my house, NEVER!” She said and walked off too. I looked at Pronita aunt with pleading eyes. She sighed.

“I can not do anything in this matter either.”

“Don’t say this aunt please”

“Bubla, who can go against your father’s wish? Better agree to him” She said.

“You will only say like this, you are his sister,” I said.

“And that’s why I say, trust me. Accept your fate” she said, I nodded to her. She walked out from there too, Very well played all, I am not going to accept this forced decisions that easily.

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