Author's pov

After two weeks

These two weeks have been very hectic for Chowdhury family. Though it was hectic ,they were happy as a big family function was on the way. After all, it was the reception party of the elder child of Siddhartha and Piyali.

The invitations were sent to the relatives via WhatsApp and also Siddhartha had called each one of them again to invite them. The relatives were definitely shocked hearing about the sudden marriage of Saptarshi and some of them also tried to know more about the reason by asking more questions…but Siddhartha carefully handled everything.

The venue is a Banquet which is just twenty minutes away from Chowdhury house.

The shopping of the dresses for the function was done by Lolita, Sanonda and Kanika. Sanchita took care of the Jewellery along with her mother.

So finally today is the D-day.

Their house is full with relatives. Last night almost everyone came.

Right now Aratrika was getting ready with the help of Kanika and Sanchita. As Piyali wanted, at noon there will be a Bhaat Kapor ritual.

Aratrika was looking gorgeous in a reddish orange silk saree with green border and golden thread works on it. Subtle makeup which was done on her glowing face was only enhancing her beauty.

"Taratari kor re, somoy toh hoye gelo. (Be quick…time is near.)" Sanonda shouted from downstairs.

"We are coming….just a minute. " Sanchita shouted back.

Kanika helped Aratrika to wear the Jewellery.

"Now we are ready to go." Kanika said.

Then Sanchita and Kanika helped her to go downstairs.

Saptarshi was impatiently waiting to see his wife.
As Priyansh and Akash caught him like this, they teased the hell out of only to get punches from him.

"Finally, your wait is over." Roma (Lolita's daughter) said ,making everyone laugh around them .Saptarshi rubbed his nape with a smile.

He looked up towards the stairs only to get mesmerised by his wife who was looking extremely beautiful. His eyes followed her every movement which made her nervous as she felt his intense gaze on her.

Soon she was made to stand in front of him and she finally looked up ,making Saptarshi happy.

She liked how handsome Saptarshi looked in his baby blue kurta with a bandh gala on it. As their eyes met ,Saptarshi winked, making Aratrika smile shyly.

Happiness was shining in their eyes which didn't go unnoticed by Piyali. She was finally satisfied and happy. From the moment she had accepted Aratrika, the restlessness and conflict within her which she was facing earlier was replaced by a calmness and satisfaction. Siddhartha, Saptarshi's friends, Kanika , Sanonda, Sanchita, Lolita and Roma everyone was very happy for the newly wedded couple.

"Ebar eta ne ar tor bou ke die bol sarajibon er jonno tomar bhaat kapor er daitto nilam. (Now take it and tell your wife that  I hereby take the responsibility to feed you and provide you with clothes.)” Akash's mother said, giving Saptarshi the plate full of food and a plate which contained a saree.

Saptarshi took it with a smile.

" Ami sarajibon er jonno tomake bhalo rakhar, sukhe rakhar daitto nilam. ( I hereby take the responsibility to keep you well, take care of you and keep you happy.)" Saptarshi said ,making Aratrika look at him in astonishment. Others were surprised as well except Siddhartha who was smiling.

"What?" Saptarshi said, seeing their surprised faces. " Why do I need to feed her and provide her clothes? She is capable enough to do that ..in fact she is capable enough to feed me and provide me clothes as well. She is a working woman, independent woman..So leave this age old tradition and dialogue.
But I would love to and be honoured to take care of her well and keep her happy…and I would do that for the rest of my life."

Everyone smiled and looked at Saptarshi in awe. Aratrika was in tears by that time.

"That's my son." Siddhartha said and patted his back feeling proud.

"Mine too." Piyali said with pride in her eyes.

"Now take it." Saptarshi said and placed the plates on her hand.
Aratrika and others looked at him curiously when he uncovered the plate of food.

Making a bite ,he took it near her mouth.

"Come on." He said to her when he saw her looking at him without blinking her eyes. She smiled with tears in her eyes and ate the food. She thanked God for blessing her with such a great life partner and also a lovable family.

"Dada ,tui toh unmarried meye der expectations barie dili re. (Dada, you made the expectations of unmarried girls reach the sky )" Sanchita said, making others laugh.

"Now let's go. Let's have lunch..we have to take a rest before the reception party." Piyali said to everyone and everyone took their seats to have lunch.
.
.
.

In the evening

"Aar koto bar dekhbi nije ke aaina te? (How many times will you see yourself in the mirror?)" Priyansh asked Saptarshi in frustration.

"Shut up." Saptarshi said to him while concentrating on setting his hair.

Akash and Priyansh were with Saptarshi in his room. They were ready to leave but were waiting for the groom who was not satisfied with his look.

He was wearing a dark navy blue sherwani and white pants with it. Indeed he was looking handsome as always.

" You are looking very handsome bro. If I was a girl , I would have married you." Akash said excitedly ,making them look at him weirdly.
"Happy with the compliment? Now let's go." Akash asked in a bored expression.

Saptarshi rolled his eyes and went out of the room with his friends following him. They went downstairs where Saptarshi's family was waiting for him. Others had already left for the venue.

"Finally you came down. Let's leave. You…" Before Piyali could complete, Sanonda caught her hands to stop her. Piyali looked at her not understanding why she stopped her. As their eyes met, Piyali understood why she did it. She nodded.

"Rishi, you leave with your parents and friends." Sanonda said to him.

"Yeah, okay." Saptarshi replied.

"Oh, then after dropping them I will pick Aratrika up." He thought happily. He was excited to see his bride.

"And me, Lolita and Sanchita will go to pick Aratrika up and we will meet you all in the venue." Sanonda completed making Saptarshi's smile wiped away.

Sanchita burst out laughing seeing him like this. Sanonda also started laughing.

"Ufff!! Stop pranking on me. We are getting late." Saptarshi said with irritation and rushed outside before anyone could stop him.

"He is so impatient to meet Aratrika. " Lolita commented with a chuckle.

They left for the venue.
.
.
.
Saptarshi reached the parlour and called Aratrika informing her that he was waiting for her outside.

He was leaning against the door of his car and was looking at his phone. After sometime he heard anklet sounds which made him look up.

Aratrika came out wearing a greyish lehenga with a full sleeved blouse. She adorned herself with a diamond necklace and a pair of matching diamond earrings. With hair styled in a messy ponytail and nude makeup on her face she looked radiant.

Saptarshi was already bowled over by her beauty but when she smiled at her sweetly, his heart skipped a bit.

As she stood in front of him, he caught her right hand and took it near his lips to plant a kiss on it. Aratrika turned red in his gesture.

" This may sound cheesy but I am clean bowled by your beauty." He said and opened the door for her.

He helped her to sit and then jogged towards his side to take his seat .

" Umm….me too." She said shyly.

"Oh you are also clean bowled by my beauty?" He teased her with a chuckle.

Aratrika facepalmed herself in embarrassment and said, "No I mean…by your hotness."

He looked at her with an open mouth which made Aratrika giggle. The bold comment was unexpected from her heart. But he was happy that Aratrika was trying to be free with her.

"Just wait till the reception ends….then I will show you my hotness." He said with a wink.

"Ufff!!! Abar oi sob bolche. Cholo taratari, sobai wait korche amader jonno. (Ufff!! Again you started. Let's go fast..everyone is waiting for us.)" A shy Aratrika said, slapping his arm slightly.

He chuckled and started his car.
.
.
.

They reached the venue and entered inside with Aratrika holding Saptarshi's right elbow
The guest was praising seeing how good they looked together.

But obviously some of them were not satisfied with it. They were either talking among themselves about Aratrika being a year older to Saptarshi or her being widow and not to forget their sudden marriage.
Some of them were also jealous how Chowdhury's got a beautiful bride and how she was getting pampered by her in-laws and also her husband.

But nobody dared to say these things aloud just to save themselves from Saptarshi and Siddhartha's wrath.

Aratrika was being introduced to the guests who were coming to meet them on the stage. She was smiling politely to them and accepting the gifts with a smile. The cameramen were busy clicking photos.

Aratrika was smiling about something with Saptarshi and Kanika when they saw Mukherjee's family entering the venue. Kanika immediately went towards them to greet them and bring them on the stage.

Aratrika smiled brightly seeing her father, Jethi ma and brother but her smile faded a bit as her eyes fell on her mother and Jethu.

Saptarshi read her expressions and squeezed her hand which he was holding. He could see how his mother in law and Aratrika's jethu were giving a fake smile to others.

That day when Mukherjee came to Chowdhury house for the dinner, Aratrika was very uncomfortable around her mother and Jethu when they were sweet talking to her.
The same discomfort she was facing today after seeing them.

Soon Kanika brought them on the stage.

Aratrika hugged her Jethima excitedly who was in awe seeing her. Aratrika's father patted her head and shook his hand with Saptarshi. Suporno hugged both of them with  a smile.

Smita gave a fake smile to Aratrika and pulled her in a hug which made Aratrika surprised.
"No matter how much you apply makeup and wear expensive clothes, you are nothing more than a pathetic shit." Smita whispered near her ear. Aratrika's face turned pale in sadness hearing her.

She didn't reply, just broke the hug.

Saptarshi who was standing near them heard whatever Smita said. He clenched his jaw in anger.

Smita turned towards Saptarshi and smiled at him in a flirtatious manner.

"Hello Saptarshi, " She greeted him and was about to hug him when he took a step back. Suporno who was noticing everything was about to go towards her to stop her when Kanika stopped him.

"You should call me Dada or something like that, you know. But alas!! girls like you don't have a basic knowledge about it. I mean who doesn't know how to respect her own cousin, why am I expecting this much from her?" He said to her.

Kanika and Suporno giggled whereas Saptarshi smirked. Aratrika looked down smiling. Smita left from there feeling humiliated.

"Is Aratrika doing every work perfectly? If not ,you can tell me ,I will talk to her. Make her do all the work, the girl always needs to keep in control." Binita said to Piyali.

Sanonda and Piyali looked at each other and shook their heads.

" So that you can insult her. No thanks.
Moreover, what do you mean by making her do all the work? Is she my maid? You are talking as if she is some cat or dog who needs to be in control. Please stop it. I know what I need to do and how I need to treat my daughter in law." Piyali replied with agitation.

Sanonda rubbed her back to calm her down and said to Binita who looked embarrassed, "Please enjoy the party and the food..and throw these sadistic thoughts before for sure ."

They left Binita alone.
.
.
.

The party came to an end at around 1 am. The guests had already left.

Mukherjees also left an hour ago not before inviting them for a dinner on Smita's birthday which would be the day after tomorrow.

Chowdhury family along with Akash's and Priyansh's family were done with their dinner and now loading the cars with the gifts which the newly wedded couple received from the guests.

At around 2 am they reached their respective houses.

As the relatives already left after attending the party, only family members were there in the house.

Soon Piyali instructed Sanchita to take Aratrika to her room.

"Don't be so impatient…keep calm and relax." Lolita teased Saptarshi who looked down in embarrassment.

Sanchita led her inside the room and made her sit on the bed.

"Dada will be here soon. " Sanchita said to Aratrika in order to tease her who looked down in shyness.

"All the best, Boumoni." Saying this Sanchita left the room giggling.

As Sanchita came down, Saptarshi was permitted to go to his room. He went to his room with a neutral expression but from inside he was bursting in happiness.

"It was fun to tease them." Sanonda said.

"That's the main entertainment in marriages." Lolita said with a wink.

"Okay enough…now everyone ,go back to sleep. It's very late." Piyali said to them.

Soon everyone started to go back to their room.
.
.
.
Saptarshi entered his room which was beautifully decorated for the special night.
He smiled as he saw Aratrika sitting on the bed ,looking down.

As Aratrika heard his approaching footsteps ,her heart started to thump on her chest in nervousness.

He sat in front of her and lifted her face up holding her chin.

"Go and change the dress. It might be very uncomfortable for you." He said to her. Aratrika nodded and went towards the washroom to change the dress.

After half an hour ,she came out changing her dress and removing her makeup and jewellery.
Saptarshi was half laying on the bed and was waiting for her. He had already changed into casuals.

"Come." He said ,patting the bed. She smiled and sat beside him.

"Close your eyes." He said . Aratrika closed her eyes with a smile. She didn't question him this time.

Soon she felt a cool sensation around her ring finger . She opened her eyes and looked at her left hand to see a beautiful diamond ring.

"This is your gift." He said to her with a smile.

Aratrika thanked him by kissing his cheek which made his smile widened.

She got up from the bed and walked towards the closet ,making Saptarshi confused.

Soon she came out with a bag in her hand.

"For you." She said after giving him.

Saptarshi's face lit up when he opened the packet.

"Mouth organ!!" He exclaimed happily and in surprise.

"I heard that you can play it well..so i decided to give it to you." She said with a smile.
He touched the mouth organ lovingly.

"Thank you so much." He said and hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek.

"Now…Let's sleep. It's already late." He said as he noticed how tired she looked.

That night both of them slept in each other's arms with a smile on their lips.

How's the chapter?

Let me know.

Next update will be --- Tomorrow.

Don't forget to Vote, Comment and Share.

Thank you for reading.