9.

DHARA

✨

Thunder rumbled again in the sky while I shivered a little more when Pooja handed me a cup of coffee while Anika covered me with a shawl and signalled me to have some coffee. I nodded and took a sip of the warm liquid that made me feel a little better. The sudden heavy rain shower and the cold winds partnering with thunderbolt and lightning although the sun was all out and shining was all unexpected. Last night I didn't sleep a wink and the first thing this morning I did was, confess it all to my confidants. Pooja and Anika.

Although my eyes kept scanning the sky which had such unpredictable weather this morning. It's like Nivedita Didi couldn't shed tears for her sibling but the skies cried. It's like Parth couldn't let out his frustration and anger but the thunderstorm did. Why and how can some people be so heartless? Why were the Chakraborties so ignorant?

'Dhara!!! Stop thinking about it so much. And quickly have the coffee. We don't want you to have a running nose during your wedding functions' Anika said and I looked at her with a surprised expression. 'Are you the same Anika who felt each child's pain earlier? What happened to you Ani? I just told you something so tragic and you-' but she immediately kept both her hands on my shoulders saying

'You need to learn to keep boundaries Dhara. You are marrying Aniruddh and I feel you are getting a little too involved with Parth. I mean...I understand that you feel sympathy towards him. What happened to him is unfair but don't you think you are getting a little too closer to him. I mean...I just... Honestly...I wanted to talk to Daarji about this proposal. This...This family...looks a little too deep and creepy to me. I mean Aniruddh seems to be a good man but the family...I just...I...I...' Anika seemed to be slipping into deep thoughts while being at loss of words when Pooja jumped in saying

'Exactly right Anika? I feel the same too. I mean this family is a little too creepy man. It's like one after other their secrets are coming out and I mean alright it's nowhere related to Aniruddh Jiju but why have so many layers.' she said when Anika added

'Na Pooh!!! It's not about having layers. Every family has their own secrets but I don't know I'm having a very negative feeling about all of this. I mean... until few days even I was ignoring all this but if you see now, Aniruddh's absence, their family trying to keep you away from Parth but time and situation bringing you in touch with Parth more, so much so that when you should be doing your skin routine, you are unfolding secrets of his complicated relationship with his family. It all seems so...so bookish!!!' Anika said when Pooja interrupted saying

'Bookish? I'd call it Bollywood style filmy. I mean why is Aniruddh Jiju still not here. Why is she practicing her wedding performance with her brother in law and then we discover a painful side that he's gay! I mean really is he gay???' Pooja asked when I stopped her

'Pooh!!! That's enough. No one gave us rights to discuss his sexuality. Just because he walks or behaves feminine we just-' I gulped trying to complete the line when Anika added 'That's right Dhara. I mean even if he is gay it's his choice. So what? I mean his sexuality is his comfort, none of anyone's business. I have a friend who's gay and I feel extremely comfortable with Dustin. Why is it a big deal anyways?' Anika asked when Pooja smirked saying 'It is here in our society Anika. People speak of equality, they give speeches and even preach of rules and regulations of no distinction between people at big organisations including the Chakraborties in their humongous corporate world run by Aniruddh Jiju. In fact Aniruddh Jiju himself has been so vocal about being respectful to the third gender yet here in their own hou-'

And before Pooja could continue giving her opinion I almost yelled at her saying 'Girls STOP please!!!' and both Pooja and Anika were shocked. I gulped my saliva. I felt a little guilty about confessing all this to Pooja and Anika. What was the need to tell them about Parth's situation. Nivedita Didi told me all this because she trusted me and here it felt like I'm gossiping about Parth. And I had to stop it.

'Please stop it you both and I'm...I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have told you all this. I mean Parth is my brother in law. You girls need not know all this. I didn't need to know any of this too. I mean...it's his choice..his life...he is a free grown up mature individual. I mean why should we discuss it? What rights do we have? What rights...I have? I felt sympathetic towards him, I heard all of this. I must shut up.

Most I could do is be nice to him unlike the rest of the Chakraborties who seem to have abandoned him. Rather I'm sitting and gossiping here about him? How correct is that? I mean if he's straight, gay or bisexual. It's his choice. He likes to wear feminine ornaments or not, is his choice. He walks or laughs in a slightly feminine way...so? What point does that prove? Above all what rights do I have to judge him for his looks or dressing? If I judge him or even discuss his features here, or even feel sad about it...how am I different from Chakraborties.

They did the same to him. Just a little different emotion. Abandoned him for being different and choosing something unconventional and beyond their boundaries that they drew for him. I feel sad and sorry for him which is also wrong because honestly he's not a sorry case. He runs Kolkata's biggest dance school. I've seen him dance. You see that lightning Anika. That'll also feel ashamed of the way he moves. So quick, so crisp. Above all how does his sexuality change or affect my relationship with him...My "friendship" with him.' saying I smiled when Anika smiled back and nodded.

I looked at Pooja and said 'He was the first person at Chakraborties who made me feel at home in spite of practically not being an integral part of their household. Parth is a good human being and I guess nothing else should be of my concern. We shouldn't sit and discuss his sexuality here. It's not our headache nor our business. Also even if he's gay, bisexual or straight...nothing about my bond with him shall change. Chakraborties like it or not. I don't care. Parth will be a part of my every wedding festivity and every big and small happiness once I'm married to Aniruddh. I have decided.' I said when Pooja shook her head a little too fast while expressing her disagreement as she looked at Anika saying

'Are you in this with her Anika? Don't you get what I'm telling? I thought you had finally caught my wavelength and were going to talk to Daarji?' she said when Anika looked at me gulping hard and then looked at Pooja in confusion when finally Pooja burst out shouting

'Duggaaa (Goddess Durga)!!! Dharaaaa... Tumi ki Pagol? (Are you crazy?)' Pooja slapped her forehead making me sit as she went on her knees and sat in front of me grabbing my hands as she said

'Alright Dhara! Look!!! You are my friend and telling you what I feel is wrong is my duty as your bestie. Your sister here may be blind in your love. I'm not. Three days from now is your marriage darling. And your groom is invisible. I mean we've seen him on tv, video calls, interviews but not once have we seen him in person. The family keeps hiding secrets upon secrets like they are some sort of a living jigsaw puzzle. Your groom wants you to practice your wedding act with your brother in law. Your entire concentration is being sidelined towards this new character named Parth when you should be only bothered about where the heck is Aniruddh and why isn't he here yet? Wasn't he supposed to be here a week ago and now tomorrow is your Mehndi. Tomorrow morning is your haldi ritual and as per traditions the Haldi that will be applied to you would arrive only once it's applied to the groom but Hello where the F is Mr.Groom?' she almost shouted when Anika tried to calm her down but she simply pushed her hand away and said

'That's it Anika! You aren't talking to Balraj Uncle. I am!!! Just because it's a cage made of gold, my Dhara won't get into it. This entire family is creepy and I wouldn't even be surprised if dramatically we get to know that Aniruddh will not be arriving and Dhara would end up with the elder broth-' but before she could complete that statement we heard Tillu's voice from behind saying

'Oh my God!!! Ask your bestie to read a little less of these forced marriage troupe romcoms on Wattpad Dhara. Looks like it's getting into her brains now. What rubbish were you people talking' he expressed his displeasure making a face when Anika asked 'When did you arrive Tillu?' and he smiled saying 'Early morning, post that I had to go to the airport to receive Jiju' he said when Anika raised an eyebrow asking 'Shankar is here???' when Tillu rolled his eyes saying 'Stop drooling Anika! Your husband isn't our only Jiju now. Daarji asked me to pick Aniruddh Jiju from the airport. Infact he's so much in love with you Dhara that he's come here directly instead of going home. Isn't that so romantic?' Tillu asked while all three of us girls had our jaws dropped.

'Ani... Aniruddh is here?' I asked as my face still highlighted the expression of shock. Tillu smiled and nodded saying 'He is being pampered by Daarji special Aloo de Paronthe with Desi Makhhan (white butter).' and I couldn't hold my expressions. How come he arrived suddenly. Until last night he didn't have any clarity about his arrival and now suddenly he's here. Anika's hand on my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts. 'Go change Dhara!!! Wear something warm and pretty' Anika said when Pooja also kept a hand on my shoulder saying

'Well!!! Except the unexpected. Aniruddh Jiju's arrival came out of the syllabus. I...I don't know... maybe I just overthought all of this. Tillu is right. I must stop reading so many novels.' saying she patted my back asking me to get ready.

I nodded and went to have a quick warm shower. I changed into a simple pink knee length kurta with white leggings. Paired it with silver jhumkas. I wasn't really in the right mindset to doll up although every time I dreamt of seeing Aniruddh in person I dolled up myself in my best of attire but today I was so worked up that I kept it as simple as possible. Leaving my long hair open I walked out of my room where I noticed Daarji was cooking hot Parathas in my open kitchen and serving some of my siblings who had arrived into my small home. Most of them who were working professionals were put up at hotels at their own expense whereas the rest of them were put up at a rented home which Anika and Shankar Jiju had arranged for my siblings who were still underage and lived with us at Rab Di Mehr.

My eyes kept scanning my little living room when Daarji asked me to have my breakfast although my eyes kept looking for him and they finally paused as they witnessed a tall figure at the balcony. Thanks to the gushing winds the long floral curtains were flying high and my eyes finally met his as he stood there all decked up in a formal baby blue shirt, brown formal pants and a blazer lazily hanging on his shoulder while his one hand held a cup of coffee and the other was in his pocket.

His eyes met mine and a sudden thunderstorm struck making his magnanimous looks being highlighted again. Aniruddh was a tall , good looking, handsome man. Much...much taller than me. He was taller than Krissh but shorter than Parth I believe yet his built-up, his dressing sense and his style could make any girl drool down her saliva like rainstorms. That's exactly when he flashes a killer smile highlighting his dimple. Wow!!! So even he gets a dimple. Interesting. He simply points a finger at me asking for a minute while he says something to someone and I notice a bluetooth headset. Ohh!!! So Mister Busy bee is still on a phone call? I smile to myself wondering if he'll be this busy even after our marriage or if he-

My thoughts were paused as I heard a familiar 'Hello' and this time it wasn't over a phone call. It was...in person.

Aniruddh Chakraborty was finally here.

In front of me.

And three days from now...we are getting married.

Damn you butterflies!!! Stawwwp!!!