One of the hardest lessons in life is letting go... Whether it is guilt, anger, love, loss or betrayal! Change is never easy. And it's human nature to resist this change. And this very nature somewhere teaches us the art of perseverance... an art of constant trial despite knowing the inevitable failure.
And love thrives on perseverance!
Be it Mirabai's love for Sri Krishna or Mira's love for Anirudh, perseverance was what kept them going...

Anirudh stood stupified infront of Mira, holding the string of golden paper beads made out of the chocolate wrappers that he had given her. The wrappers were neatly balled up into tiny pellets, garlanded together with a thread.
He looked at Mira's eager eyes awaiting a response from him.

"Will you? Please!" She asked softly.

It was perplexing for Anirudh at that moment to fathom the right course of action, whether to laugh at this childish deed or to cry at the vehemence of the innocence!
But, somehow, something made his eyes wailed up as emotions choked his throat.
If he would have had a little sister, she too probably have looked like Mira on her wedding day... like a pristine doll!

Anirudh nodded his head slowly.
"If that's what you want!"

Mira smiled happily and turned around, giving him space to tie the string around her neck. Her hair was neatly pinned into a bun, letting him slide the paper necklace smoothly around her neck.
He heard Mira sigh as he fastened the loose ends into a tight knot.

"Done Mira!" Anirudh smiled at her as he touched her shoulders to turn her towards him.

Tears were rolling down from her eyes and her unknown pain somehow resonated in his heart as well.

"Don't cry Mira... Everything will be alright... He'll keep you very happy."

Mira looked up to meet his gaze.
"How do you know?"

"I know because Suresh Chatterjee is a good man... Or, else how could you think I'd let my sister marry him?"
He touched the tip of her nose with a light pinch to make her smile.

But, Mira's voice choked further at his words.
"But... But, I don't love him... How is this fair?" Her eyes revolted.

Mira's words echoed inside the room and Anirudh stood quietly as he heard her speak.

"Come here, Mira." He stretched his arms inviting her into a gentle embrace as Mira inched closer in reciprocation.
He patted her head lovingly as he spoke further.
"Life isn't always fair." He took a deep breath.
"And, emotions like love is a luxury! We all crave for love, but not all of us are destined to receive it. But, it doesn't mean we would stop hoping!" He paused.
"And, the good news is, Mira, that life finds a way to repay us for hoping... I was deprived of a mother's love, but Bondita came to my life as a blessing. Similarly, you are blessed with a brother's love, and a sister's as well!"

Mira continued to sob silently in his embrace.

"Mira... Look at me! Will you... Please.."
Anirudh spoke tenderly making her lift her head, as he wiped her tears gently from her cheeks.
"Don't cry... It's a good day!"

"It's so easy for you..." Mira sobbed. "So easy for you to give a name to our relationship... But, I'm yet to define it!"

"I understand." Anirudh replied as he walked a few steps away from her, giving her the space to compose herself.
"But, as I said... Life isn't fair always. My heart belongs to someone else Mira... I can't give you that! But, what I have for you is immense brotherly love... And, I have pledged to protect you my little sister."
He walked towards the dressing table and picked up the box of necklaces.
"Now, wear these quickly and come down, alright?" He forced a smile.
"Or, else Kaka is getting so restless that he might marry Suresh on your behalf!"
A faint smile escaped Mira's lips as she nodded her head in affirmation.

"Um.. listen." Mira called out again as Anirudh turned around to leave.
"Can you please make me speak with Daktar Babu once!"

Anirudh smiled.
"Yes. I will... Come down fast Mira... We all are waiting for you!"

Anirudh left the room, exhaling a deep breath of tensed air, as he walked down the stairs speedily.

"Ouch... Barrister Babu!"
Bondita screamed softly as he took a sharp bent on the staircase, resulting in a head on collision with bondita.
"Where is your head?" Bondita remarked sharply, rubbing her crown with her hand.

"I'm... Sorry... I was... Sorry Bondita!" Anirudh murmured a confused apology, very unlike his nature.

Bondita furrowed her forehead.
"What's wrong with you? Where were you?"

"Bondita, I went to look for you upstairs and I met Mira." Anirudh blurted out the words.

"And?"

"And, she mentioned that she doesn't love Suresh and hence..., Are we doing the right thing Bondita?"
Anirudh asked her eagerly.

Bondita sighed.
"She told me as well. We aren't doing anything wrong Barrister Babu. If not Suresh Da, then she would be dragged to her in-laws house along with her son, where they would be subjected to torture!"

"You are right Bondita, this is probably the right thing for her! But, I just wonder why we are so helpless in this society that all our problems has to have only one solution, marriage! When would we be able to go and think beyond this Bondita?"
Anirudh brushed his hair with his fingers as a sharp lament escaped his lips.

"Soon, Barrister Babu... Soon!"
Bondita smiled hopefully at him, squeezing his shoulders gently as he pulled her closer to his chest, tieing her in a comforting bear hug.
Bondita too, hugged him back, hiding her face in his strong chest.

"Barrister Babu... Leave me please, would you... KakaSasurji would make us dunk in Ganga if he catches us like this!"

"Hm... " Anirudh groaned.
"I think he wants us to marry with all the Vedic rituals."

"You mean, re-marry!" Bondita smiled brightly looking up at him and he couldn't help but return her the unblemished grin.

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"There, there she is!"
Trilochan yelled in exhilaration as Bondita entered the hall with Mira. All the attendees stood up to welcome the bride.
Mira's face was covered with a translucent scarlet veil. Bondita made Mira slowly inch towards the table where the Magistrate stood along with Dr. Suresh.

"Today, we have gathered here to witness two souls getting tied in the holy bond of matrimony." Magistrate Heinrich proclaimed.
"Dr. Suresh Chatterjee is to be wedded with Mira Debi, under the Special Marriage Act as formulated by the British Government."
He turned towards Suresh and asked him politely.

"Dr. Suresh Chatterjee, I would request you to sign this document, to declare your consent."

Suresh nodded his head politely as he took the pen and signed the paper.

"Barrister Babu, why Special Marriage Act?" Bondita hushed under her breath.

Anirudh lowered his face to reach to her ears.
"Bondita, it was formulated in 1872. It's needed because first, it's Mira's second marriage, and second, Suresh Da is an upper class Brahmin whereas Mira's birth caste is tribal... It's a huge caste mismatch, condemned by Hindu society!"

Bondita rolled her eyes, understanding the implications of the law.

"Mira Debi, please sign the documents to confirm your consent." The magistrate asked Mira.

Trilochan quickly advanced the small box of ink towards Mira, so that a thumb print can be taken. But, Mira picked up the pen instead.

"I have learnt to write my name." She murmured softly, bending down on the paper to scribble her name on it.

Suresh smiled in appreciation at this small act of bravery by his new bride.

"Barrister Babu," Bondita hushed again.
"Isn't Mira suppose to be a minor? I mean she isn't eighteen yet! Then why is she asked to sign a consent?"

Anirudh smiled at her question.
"Bondita, the Child Marriage Restraint Act in 1929, the one which I have worked upon, has set the minimum age of marriage for females to be 14. So, yes, Mira can consent on her marriage."

Bondita looked up at him and rolled her eyes.
"Then, why did you made me wait till eighteen?"

Anirudh let out a laugh at her whispered question, drawing attention from the guests.

"Oh... You two just stop for a bit, will you?" Trilochan remarked sharply at them.
"I feel my hairs are turning grey faster because of these two!"
The guests present there let out a lighthearted laughter at his words as Bondita stole a moment to pinch Anirudh sharply on his waist making him jump.

Mira looked up at Anirudh suggestively as she kept the pen down.

"Um... Suresh Da... Mira wanted to speak..."

"Mira will get a lifetime to speak to my son Anirudh beta."
Meenarani Debi interjected him, as the magistrate picked up the document to cross check their signature.

"This looks perfect!" Heinrich remarked.
"Now, with the power vested in me by the imperial crown of England, I pronounce you man and wife!"

Everyone present in the room clapped in unison as Trilochan gestured Koeli to come forward.
Koeli carried a silver tray with two white flower garlands.

"Suresh, now, put this garland around her. And, Mira, you too, do the same."

Suresh followed the instruction as Koeli started to blow the conch to announce their holy union.
Mira's hand trembled as she too, garlanded Suresh.

"May I?" Bondita came forward.
She handed a small silver box to Suresh.

"Suresh Da... It's sindoor! I know you are to go to the temple, but, as per the law, this is your marriage, so if you please... I'll click your photographs!" Bondita smiled heartily as she saw approval in Trilochan and Meenarani's eyes.

Suresh took a pinch of red vermillion from the silver box. He took a deep breath and held Mira's veil with one hand, as with the other he colored her hairline with the crimson vermillion.
He didn't look at Mira, for, if he had, then it won't have been difficult for him to miss the drop of tear that fell from Mira's eyes, moistening her red cheeks into a strain of sadness.

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The bride and the groom sat on the festooned couch, as the guests started to extend their gifts and wishes to them. An elaborate menu was arranged on the table, keeping in mind the taste of the British guests.
The entire Roy Chowdhury Banglow was oozing with festivity and everyone was busy in their own banter of gaiety.

"Bondita..." Anirudh beckoned her with his eyes as he stood by the exit door leading to the garage and then to the garden. 

Bondita narrowed her eyes at him and excused herself from the ladies around her.

"What?" She asked him sharply.

"Why aren't you talking to me?" He asked her in a plea.

"Because, you haven't told me why you kept me waiting till my eighteenth when the law said the minimum age to be fourteen?" She looked away in a psudo anger.

Anirudh smirked at her words.
"I'll tell you." He hushed softly.
"Come and meet me at the garage! Away from everyone... Now!"

Bondita stared at him, as she saw him leaving the crowded hall, unnoticed, beckoning her with his naughty sensuous smirk, and her possessed heart couldn't resist but follow the enchanting love tune of her mischievous charmer.

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