My stomach is churning with emptiness. Oh god, it's almost 10:30 a.m. now, and I didn't have even a biscuit since last time. Shit! In the fit of anger I didn't have a bite even during 'dodhimongal'. And now, I am starving! Wow!

Mom, seriously! How can you do this to your daughter? You are torturing me! Ugh! See you meathead, marrying you is literally a punishment! Just wait and watch. Huh!

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French fries, fish fries, cutlets, yum! These mouth watering dishes were being taken here and there, all in my presence. Can you just realise my condition? A girl who is literally starving, tasty dishes being cooked but the girl can't have those. Wow!

Mmhhh! Someone just pressed my mouth and dragged me out. Uff! Papa! "What did you drag me from there?" I gritted my teeth. "Surprise baby" and he pulled out a small plate of fish fries! My jaw dropped. Oh I love you so much papa. "Let's get to the attic. You can eat there peacefully." He suggested, heading towards the stairwell. Though the idea allured me like anything, I gulped. What if mom catches us? Moreover, I should not eat anything now. But my papa is my papa after all. He gauged my thought, "your mom need not to know everything. Come on, she took my vote by threatening me to divorce. I couldn't say her anything then. But now, what sort of a father am I, if in my presence my daughter is left hungry?" I smiled wide at his words. And both ran towards the attic.

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"no papa.. mom will get ferocious, if she comes to know about this."

"Nothing will happen, princess. I shall handle her."

With that he picked a fry to feed me, when suddenly the door clicked open and mom entered.

"What the hell is going on?" She said oozing fires at us. And I instantly knew that plate of food is going to be martyred soon.

"Go and get dressed." Mom gritted her teeth. "Go, go.. I can handle." Papa shoved me away. And I rushed downstairs. Gosh, who will face mom when she is angry!

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Layered in a red bordered yellow sari, I sat at the little mandap prepared for the ritual of 'gaye holud' (RITUAL OF HALDI). God, when shall they arrive when these rituals shall arrive and when I shall be able to take a peaceful bath finally. Huh! Lahiris I tell you, creepiest people. Specially this generation.

"Kone kothaye?" (WHERE IS THE BRIDE) I heard hoarse voice. Off... Not again. Well, she is the one and only female cousin of that meathead. Well, if he is a jerk, she is a female jerk or to sound better, you can call her, err.. 'Jerk-ni'. And very soon you all will get the proof.

"Hi Hira" madam came with a wide grin.

"Hi Rhea" I forced a smile. Well, just like her cousin, I can't stand her. Initially there wasn't any reason in particular for this hatred, but with time she gave me ample. And we shared 'hate-at-first-sight' kinda relation. I am not like Trisha aunty or Rangon Uncle that I will stand her utter non-sense.

"Heard about your trip. So, how was it? All alone, not to forget 'being a girl' all alone. You went so far. How did you manage? Being a girl how did manage everything? Aren't you scared?" Seriously dude, which era do you live in? 16th? 'Being a girl' Huh. 'Being a girl' humans give birth to new life. What about then? But before I could utter my thoughts, I got a sharp pinch. Puchu Di! 'She is your sister-in-law now. Behave.' I heard her whispering. Uff!

I heard when mom came here, she and Churni Pishi became instant friends. And this friendship has lasted all these years. But look at me. God knows where this is all leading to.

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Hot baths are a magic. No matter how bad situation you are going through, hot baths always do work. Aah... Finally, I got rid of all those turmeric paste. Wrapping up again in another sari, I left for the hall as told.

"You should have applied something." Again that Jerk-ni spoke. God, I thought she left.

"Something?"

"Something as in some face-pack."

"Duh?"

"To stand beside my brother, you need to look ounces more beautiful. That wheatish skin of yours doesn't compliment him. And his features, his height... Umm.. what's your exact height by the way?" My ears literally went red hearing these shits. Oh god, do I really have to stand this idiot for all my life? Save me.

Though this time, Puchu Di kept glaring at me warning me to stay quiet, but by her tight jaw and clenched fists, I knew she got as angry as me. But enough is enough right? This stupid girl commented on my looks!

"By the way Rhea, you are right. I skin colour doesn't compliment your brother's. After all he is as fair as Cherry blossom shoe polish; features are indeed good, but to me, he will always be ugly duckling. And what good, his coconut tree like height is of? Yeah I got it, he can be used to clean the ceiling fans, and air conditioners, and tube lights. We won't need a ladder to do those." I made a straight face. There you go girl. I was about to say more, when Hari kaka saved her by handing her a plate of 'luchi, aaloo'r dom, rashogolla'. (PURI, DUM AALOO, RASGULLA). Hell, my family should have heard what she told about me, I doubt after hearing those words they would treat her with such lavish breakfast.

Her phone rang. Stuffing her mouth with rashogolla, she received the call. Bad manners. "Hello dada, han to bou k dekhlam-rong ta chapa-mukhosree o mota moti, bête. Tui ki dekhe pachhondo korli? Akhono somoy ache, amar bandhobi.. hello hello hello.. Arey phone kete dilo." (HELLO BROTHER, YEAH I SAW YOUR WOULD BE WIFE. A BIT DARK, FEATURES ARE JUST NORMAL, SHORT HEIGHT. WHAT GOOD DID YOU SEE IN HER. LISTEN TO ME, YOU YET HAVE TIME. MY FRIEND... HELLO HELLO HELLO.. AREY, HE CUT THE CALL).

So, this is the matter. Jerk-ni Rhea wants her brother to get hitched with her friend. And that is why, such behaviour with me!

"You know what Rhea, go back home, convince your brother to marry your friend. Trust me, I don' t have the slightest interest."

Rhea kept gawking at me.

A/N: EXTREMELY SORRY FOR BEING SO HELL LATE. SO, HERE I AM TRYING TO COMPENSATE BY GIVING AS MANY PARTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWED ME TILL NOW. I AM OVERWHELMED. YOUR LOVE FOR MY STORY, INSPIRES ME TO WRITE MORE. PLEASE DO COMMENT, AND VOTE. THANK YOU. LOVE LOVE <3