6.

DHARA

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'Dhara I understand that they shouldn't have hidden something like that from you but then how does it matter? He's going to be your brother in law. I mean even my Krissh is also Aniruddh Jiju's brother but-' she tried to continue but I choked upon my chocolate milkshake as I started coughing nonstop when she patted my back and my head saying 'Heyyy easy easy!!!' but I continued coughing making a mess out of my dusky eye makeup that started flowing in the form of tears.

After sometime I felt better and I had a sip of water post which I asked 'What did you just say?' when she narrowed her eyebrows asking carelessly 'What did I say? I didn't get you!!!' when I rolled my eyes saying 'Aniruddh and I aren't married yet. For heaven's sake I'm still to see him Pooja!!! I'll meet probably just a week before our wedding. You can't call him that already' I said as Pooja smirked as she tickled me saying 'Eyyyy someone's feeling all shy and all ahhhh Oh maaa goooo Turu Love' and I slapped the back of her head and shook my head.

She smiled saying 'It 's ok na Dhara! Must be something personal. Maybe they are not in good terms. Who knows? Who cares? If he is good to you, you will be good to him! He's just another family member. Relax!!! ' she said and I shook my head saying 'It is not that. It's about what was the need to hide all of this? I don't know Pooja but I will be questioning Arindam Uncle about it. I need to understand why they had to hide something like this'

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'I didn't mean to Dhara but I had to!!!' Arindam Uncle said with a straight face. He was shocked the minute I asked him about Mr.Parth initially but he gradually calmed down and finally replied saying 'He was always different from my other grandchildren. The most calm, the most obedient, the most patient but when he joined college, he developed a liking for dancing. Indian classical form. I didn't like it, but I didn't object. However after his pre university, when Parth proposed he wanted to pursue performing arts as his career it made his father angry. It was all ok until he wanted it as a hobby but when he wanted that to be his career, we didn't like it. His father wanted him to take over our business in future, so he wanted him to do an MBA and inspite of Parth's unhappiness Sunjoy sent him to London to pursue his education in business administration.

Parth was always good in studies and being the good boy of our family. He not only topped his exams and completed his bachelors in business administration but also went to be a gold medalist at his university as he finally came home with a Masters in Business Administration certificate in hand. Sunjoy was very happy that day. Sunjoy wanted Parth to now join our business but then I don't know what happened and one night we heard Sunjoy yell at Parth and we all went upstairs only to find Sunjoy reeking of alcohol as he was slapping a grown up Parth who was helplessly on the floor crying like a child.

We didn't understand what happened but then Sunjoy showed us Parth's Ghungroo as he told me how Parth was still pursuing dancing and not only that he even owned a dance school back in London. He had named it 'Chakraborty School of Performing Arts' and Sunjoy had found out about it from one of his business associates as out of love he had kept our family portrait in his office back there in London.

I understand his emotions towards dancing but a grown up man has never turned into a dancer in our family. Wearing Ghungroo, moving your hips and dancing on music isn't a Chakraborty thing. I asked him to shut down the school and join business like a good grandchild but he denied. He said dancing was not just his passion but his life. And that it was as important as breathing or living for him.

It hurt me. Hurt Sunjoy. We wanted him to be our heir. But he was unfit to handle it. The reason he lives in that house but is not a part of my family.' Arindam Uncle said leaving me speechless. That was harsh. Just because his dreams weren't matching with the Chakraborty family's dreams, they abandoned him. How unfair and sad.

'Unc..' I was about to address him when he raised an eyebrow and I remembered and corrected myself saying 'I mean Daadu!!! I don't mean to interfere but don't you think it's unfair? Dancing is his dream, what is wrong if he pursued it as his profession? What is wrong about it? My Daarji used to say, Goddess Laxmi is tough to please and only utmost hardwork and devotion brings her home while Goddess Saraswati comes to only those who are already blessed while Lord Nataraj is the blessing himself. Why are you not accepting a blessing Daadu?' I asked when he didn't say anything although his silence spoke volumes.

I knew I couldn't interfere into their family matters when practically I'm not yet a part of the family. But I couldn't help but express my thoughts. I knew how abandoning felt like. This was worse. At least I could say openly that my parents abandoned me and it didn't hurt anymore that much because I didn't know who they were but seeing your family in front of your eyes everyday and yet being ignored like you don't exist was worse than what an orphan child would be going through. My heart went out for Mr. Parth.

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Aniruddh was coming back this week. There were only ten days left for wedding. My wedding card was printed and it looked beautiful. I had a smile on my face seeing our names etched together. Today there was a prayer ceremony organised before distributing the wedding cards to the relatives. It was supposed to be offered to their family goddess and I was asked to be a part of the Pujo as Aniruddh's connecting flights had delayed and he would take another day to reach India. Even worse, he didn't get a direct flight to Kolkata and was coming via Mumbai. I was asked to be a part of the ceremony.

We were all at the prayer hall when I heard Sunjoy uncle yelling at someone and although I asked who it was Beena aunty asked me to ignore it and concentrate on the Pujo. After sometime I noticed Sunjoy uncle join us. His eyes were red and he looked very angry. Dida asked me to offer the Prashad to everyone while I noticed Beena aunty hiding her tears and Sunjoy uncle was whisper yelling at her. I didn't like the way he treated her infront of everyone.

When I helped them with the Prashad, he simply took it and left from there. Beena aunty maintained her strong stature again and pretended like nothing happened. However I noticed her take two Laddoos instead of one and slowly sneaking upstairs. However Dida stopped her and had an argument with her. It looked like no one wanted her to go upstairs. That's when I understood that probably she had taken the extra Laddoo for her elder son. Looks like the coconut shell like nature is just a pretense and she was a softie at heart although everyone tried oppressing her. No mother deserves to be seperated from her child.

That's when suddenly I heard Mishka say 'I heard you insisted upon having Parth Dada being a part of your wedding rituals Boudi (sister in law) ? I must say that's very brave of you Boudi!!!' and I smiled and helped her with the Prashad when I heard an unexpected voice which said 'Whats the use though? This family and the rich people of this household only care about their so-called status and social stature. No one gives a damn about your emotions? They do what they want! She has to learn to adjust to mould herself according to the laws of this jail already' and I turned around to see a grey eyed Krissh standing there in a oversized tshirt and baggy pants.

It was my first time seeing a celebrity from so close. Now I know why Pooja was crazy about him. He was indeed one handsome greek god of a man. Looks like God was really in a great mood while creating the Chakraborty men. I mentally chuckled when I heard Subroto uncle say 'Krishu what are you wearing? Didn't Maa ask you to wear Dhoti Kurta? What is this attire?' when he carelessly grabbed a Laddoo from the box I was holding without even asking me as he smirked saying 'Jail!!! They even expect you to wear a uniform here!' and although it was rude I couldn't help but my press my lips thin trying to hide a snicker.

Subroto uncle kept schooling him while he simply picked the Laddoo and left without another word. The Chakraborty brothers not just were handsome but had a great sense of humor too. I was rearranging the left over Laddoos in the box when Nivedita Didi whispered in my ears 'I am sorry for hiding about Dada. I don't know how everyone can be so casual and ignorant after they know that you know about him and aren't even a percent guilty of hiding about his existence from you Dhara!!! I'm sorry on everyone's behalf and thank you for standing up for Dada. Not even Oni or I did this for Dada. Really!!! Thank you' she said when I simply smiled.

But then she added saying 'Although Daadu agreed to invite him, but Dad and Dida won't let him be a part of the family celebrations!!!' she said and I was shocked. She added 'Even today Dada wanted to be a part of the Pujo. Oni called him personally and asked him to attend the Pujo but Dad being Dad created a scene yet another time and again Dada went upstairs to be there...All alone.' her words were minced with pain and angst. She looked helpless.

'Di..you or Aniruddh must have tried talking to your father and maybe explained him. I mean...it's just some happy moments together' I said when she smiled saying 'Sorry Dhara but your husband although is a big shot businessman and a powerful politician but at home, he's nothing but a puppet in his father's hands. He only knows to bow his head. While I...huh...I have ownership in their business but I don't have ownership anymore in this family. 8 am a daughter. A guest who is home only for festivals and functions. Along with my surname they also took away my rights. I am not a Chakraborty anymore Dhara. So I don't have any rights to speak in "their" family matters.' she said as her eyes filled with tears.

Her every word felt like a piercing knife. Why do some people think of daughters like commodities. You let them have your money, property and business but why not let them be a part of the family they were born into. Why should her addition into a family be a subtraction from other? Why can't she be a part of both the families? Why is this society so unfair with women?

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The Pujo was followed by a family dinner, ofcourse without any of the Chakraborty brothers. One who was denied, other who was late and the third who didn't care. Wow!!! What a mess. Looks like real life is completely different from Wattpad novels. After the dinner Dida (grandmother) asked me to come along with her to her room. Beena aunty joined her too. After reaching her room, she asked Beena aunty to open her cupboard and help her with some things which were eventually given to me.

They helped me with a red colored Banarasi Saree that was heavy like a dead body, along with it there were about 6 jewellery boxes given to me. I denied taking it when Dida said 'Take it Bahu (daughter in law). We want you to wear this so we can have a painting of yours on our family wall. You must have seen it. It has all the Chakraborty daughter in laws photos!' she said with pride and although it sounded a little too filmy to me. I respected their family values and traditions so I took it respectfully.

I was about to leave the room after taking their blessings when Dida said 'Dhara!!! Also...I want you to know that daughter in laws are loved and respected in this family. They are given all the respect and love although nothing is above and beyond the Chakraborty households ethics and prestige and we expect you to abide by it. I understand that you are modern girl with new age thinking and we appreciate modernization but a few things are better off untouched. Like respecting elders and not interfering in their decisions. I hope you understand what I meant' she said and I understood what she pointed towards.

I smiled saying 'Ofcourse Dida! I may have not seen a family like yours but I have a family too. Honestly a bigger one than yours. We may not have been related via blood but are related by our hearts. We are bound by love and I understand what family values are but what I've learnt all these years living with a family as big as a mini town is that values, principles and rules are important but is not bigger than love and togetherness. If you keep principles and love on a scale there is no comparison at all. Love weighs higher than everything. That's what I believe in and I'm sorry to say would never change. No matter I'm a Puri or become a Chakraborty.' when the old lady shot me a death glare.

Well I may have launched a war upon myself but I'm done having to bow to people's nonsensical logic in the name of respecting elders. Dhara has learnt to adapt and Dhara will, but Dhara's core values will never change. NEVER!!!

The reason why after taking the gifts and before leaving to my house I decided to go upstairs and greet yet another brother in law of mine. I took the box of Laddoos and started climbing the staircase when Nibedita Didi tried to stop me but I simply smiled at her and assured her everything would be fine. Beena aunty saw me yet didn't stop me this time. I reached the third floor where I could hear loud music being played along with the mesmerizing sound of Ghungroo co-ordinated along with it.

Today the door to the room was slightly ajar unlike the other day. I slightly peeped in to the room which looked completely different from the modern day interiors of the Chakraborty mansion. This room had temple style interiors, with a lot of wooden frames, paintings and musical instruments decorated along. Very less furniture and then my eyes fall on the beautiful Murti (idol);of Lord Nataraj on a platform that had a few rose petals at his feet, with a few scented Agarbattis and beautiful pair of lamps lightened which already gave a divine feeling. I mentally chuckled thinking how scared I was when I came here for the first time. I imagined this place to be like a haunted room but this was as beautiful as a temple. I smiled at my thoughts and just when I stood there folding my hands praying to the beautiful idol Lord Nataraj when my eyes fell upon him.

The Parth Chakraborty.

Probably this is the reason why Indian classical dancers pray to Lord Nataraj before they start performing. His blessings make his disciples perform in such a way that it looks like nothing less than a Pujo that took place downstairs. If Goddess Durga was worshipped downstairs with prayers, offerings and conch shells, Lord Nataraj was worshipped here with music, Ghungroo, devotion alongside an unstoppable force of dedication and talent.

Parth Chakraborty was a powerhouse of talent and I was left hypnotized.