It was November,late monsoon and the beginning of the winter.The nature was much quiet and calm at the advent of the winter.This year winter came a little fast.Everyday it was a misty morning and a very fine weather for the whole day.There were beautiful night-queen blossomed in Soumili’s trees outside in the balcony and its fragrance was just awesome.

Today is Trisha’s Mehndi ceremony.Soumili got up from bed at 5 o’clock in the morning.She invited some of her school collegues with their family,Trisha’s friends’ group and some of her neighbours.The ceremony would happen at 11 o’clock in the morning.At 7 o’clock panditji came for some rituals and to bless the girl.He completed his work at 9:30 in the morning.Trisha’s friends already reached and they all were quite excited for Trisha’s ceremony.

Generally in such case the shagun(the gift) came from groom’s house but as our poor jeff did not know anything about this,so Soumili herself gave that gift to Trisha…her mehndi dress,a jewelery set,mehndi colour and other related things.At 11:30 Trisha began to decorate her full hands and legs by mehndi colour.She booked two expert ladies for her decoration and they made her within one hour.Trisha was now sitting like a statue keeping her both hands separate,all the invited people met with her,praised for her mehndi and they wished her a very good luck.She smiled to everyone shyly.Soumili also accompanied those invited people,talked with them and served them with some snacks and sweet she arranged for them.Some of Trisha’s friends also helped her in her work.

Trisha’s friends and some neighbouring women now started to sing and dance in front of Trisha.They enjoyed a lot on that occasion.Trisha’s friends also put mehndi on their hands and they requested Soumili to draw something in her hands,but she did not put.

Such kind of days are the most dreamy and the most expecting days in every girl’s life.But in Soumili’s life there was nothing like this.Mehndi,Haldi,Marriage…these words were just like a mess,tumbled,cluttered and the most chaotic tease to her.Once she also dreamt for these occasion,she also thought of some designed mehndi by Taukir’s name,she also wanted to be a beautiful bride of him,she also wanted to be happy with him but nothing happened.Not even a single dream had come true and from the whole side Soumili became alone.She did never put sindoor(vermilion that is sacred for married Hindu women) on her forhead in her whole life.So,that much love and care Taukir gave to her.

But now at this time in her life she had no sorrow.She did not have any complaint against God and against anybody.She was happy now because her daughter was happy.Her life was almost completed its span,so Soumili did not want anything for her now.Whatever she sought and wanted now,it was everything for Trisha and her happiness.What God as well as Fate did not give to her,those everything Trisha was going to get,Soumili wanted nothing more.Now when she got some free time she prayed to God to remain everything as it is and to keep Trisha’s happiness growing.

The whole Mehndi party was finished at 1 p.m. and everybody went away by blessing Trisha again and again.Soumili rearranged the whole room,then lunched with Trisha and went to bed for some rest.

At 5 o’clock in the evening Jeff came to meet them.He was extremely wondered and charmed by Trisha’s mehndi.He had never seen such kind of design put in hands in his whole life.At the evening she washed her hands and her mehndi coloured in deep dark marron.Soumili looked at Trisha’s hand and gave her a meaningful smile and Trisha also bowed her eyes in some shyness.They dined together,Jeff returned to his flat at 9:30 p.m.and at 10:30 Soumili and Trisha both went to the bed.This whole day was heavy occupied and tremendously fussy for everybody.

to be continued......