*Hey people! I know some of you wouldn't understand some meanings, I'll try to add a few glossary at the end of the chapters. Still, if you don't understand something, you can ask me in the comments! XD

'Samne ye kaun aya, dil me huyi hal chal? Dekh ke bas ek hi jhalak ho gaye hum pagal'¹ - the song starts as the bike enters and in slow motion, all of our gazes follows the dark figure of it's owner. (Who has came in front that the heart started to dance? Just one look is enough to make me mad)

"Didi!"

Didi?!

It isn't that I am shocked as I have seen women riding bikes in Mumbai. But what I haven't expected to see one here especially with tattoos. A lot of tattoos. I could make out a few on left side of her neck which is probably the only exposed skin of her.

Bengali people are very modern but in reality they bear very strict beliefs on modern-ness of society. Like, a girl can graduate with degrees, they can earn, they even can wear short dresses (but not too short like bikinis) but if one has tattoos on them, now that becomes out of their modern-ness.

I look around and saw Dev, Amit, Kingshuk, Abhishek, Jatin, Barun as well as our parents are as shocked as me. However, my shock turns into amusement when I notice a few tattoos on her fingers along with some skull rings.

"Ah, my sister in law and her daughter. A moment please, " Bratati's mom excuses herself from the shocked audiences who become more shocked at her non-shocked state.

"They came from New York," she informs and our parents nod as well as the gossiping aunties as they keep feeding on the newly introduced topic.

Aunt Sulekha asked, her eyes sparked with the new information, "Oh! New York? What does she do?"

"She writes. A famous writer." Her grin broadening by each information, "You can see the details on the internet," she adds not backing down to brag more. One thing is very common in Bengali aunties that they find privilege in bragging about others whom they knew closely. It doesn't have to be their own children. Anyone is fine as long as they are total stranger to their listeners.

She goes to her arrived guests and then I notice, another old woman in a off white sophisticated saree, comes down from the bike. Her grey hair is dyed in black and on her nose sits a small glass frame. She looks like a high school maths teacher with her grumpy expression.

"Chhordi(younger sinter-in-law), you are very late. The rituals have already started," Bratati's mom says to the lady.

She smiles and now she looks like a literature teacher of high school. "Agni caused us for being late," she glares at the figure beside her and adds, "We had to go to the jewelry shop, at the last moment."

Agni...

The black figure moves to park the bike and complaints, "I didn't do anything like that! You are the one who decided to change the ornaments at the last moment."

"And you came with a bike! Not a car! My back is paining now," her mother complaints.

She takes off her helmet revealing her black doe eyes and long black hair with violet strands which cascade down on her shoulder in waves and reaches her waist. She has a piercing on her left brow and it makes her totally a badass and cool. A small smile tugs on my lips.

"I could not find a car!" She pulls off her jacket and gloves, "besides, I love bikes."

If my family has been shocked before, now it's time for us to be more shocked than before. As soon as she gets herself out from her leather jacket, her neck and arms reveals carved black and red inks. Not just one or two but a whole lot of them. Her fair complexion contrasts the inks on her skin like paints on canvas.

Bratati jumps on her with her 5'8" height, embracing Agni in her own cocoon as Agni reaches only around her ears, and pouts, "You promised to come yesterday."

"I am! But my flight was late," she hugs back and says, "I brought your gift. Just like you've asked." She winks.

"She's hot!" Amit whispers behind my ears and slowly I turn my head, "Shut up!"

Then I find all of my friends and brothers are ogling on her. Even Dev. Now that I haven't expected. I raise a brow and feeling my gaze on him, he turns, "What?"

I shrug.

"She's ho-beautiful."

"Of course!" I nod.

After their hugs and a little chat, they come over us and Bratati's mom introduces all of us with her and her mother, "She's my sister in law, Arundhuti Mukherjee. My brother had died a long time ago and she raised her daughter," she looks behind and see, Agni and Bratati are still whispering to each other and often giggling.

"Agni!" Mrs. Mukherjee calls her daughter and she comes at once while Bratati trails behind her in a blissful state.

"The groom's family is here," she points at us and Agni replies with a small smile and a curt nod.

Bratati's mother begins, "She's Agnishikha Mukherjee."

One of the aunties asks, "Where did you study?" Well, it's very common after you introduce your children they are going to ask that question at some point even if you are established.

"I didn't study, actually," she replies with fluent bengali. Unfortunately, this is not a reason to be shocked (again) but the fact she didn't study is a really shocking matter to out parents as they gaze at her with wide gaps in their mouths.

"She was a child writer from the beginning and after her basic study, she became an author," her mother replies for her.

I muse myself as her mother is very protective and supportive. My parents would definitely not support my incomplete studies, even if I was a famous business man. As a matter of a fact, all of the young generation glance at their parents.

"Oh! She must be a genius! Who does a study? Even nowadays, study doesn't help getting decent jobs," an uncle says clearly opposite of what he has done with his child.

"Well, I don't quite agree with it. Study does matter when it comes to learning something new. In my case, I didn't need it as I took creative writing classes. After that, I didn't have enough time," she answers shutting the uncle and all of those around her who are giving judgemental gazes.

We all nod.

Then, Bratati's mother starts introducing us to her and her mother. I have to praise that woman's memory power. I even had difficulty to remember the syllabus of examination but she remembers each one of our names including our nicknames.

While Mrs Mukherjee does namaste to our elders, and starts their conversation on the marriage topic, Trayi starts introducing herself, "Hi, I'm Trayi. Angshu, the groom is my cousin brother."

Agni nods, "Oh, where's the groom?"

"In the next cottage," Amit answers giving her a cheeky grin in which Agni replies with a straight face.

As Kolkata is very far from here, the Bride's family has arranged us two cottages and a lodge, not far from their house. After the Haldi ritual, we all have came here with our luggages.

"I'm Barun," Barun stands next to Trayi and Kanchana as they all introduce themselves one by one and it is now my turn.

Before I could stretch my hand, Dev takes her hand, "I'm Dev. Dev Banerjee." He casts a curt nod and a small smile as I narrow my eyes at him. He is trying so damn hard to impress a lady.

Agni, however, is unaffected by his charm and she goes for the next member, which is me again. Her raven eyes fell on me, she is shorter than us but the way she holds her head, up with confidence and power, it makes my breath hitch - a little.

"I'm Aditya-"

"Aditya Banerjee." She nods making me dumbstruck as well as those who surrounds us and continues with a smile spreading on her lips, "I've heard about you. You're the owner of the renowned snacks 'LoveBites'."

I nod, "Ah, yes. No! I'm not yet the owner, that's my dad," I point toward my father who looks between us then realising we are talking about him, he smiles. "I just manage everything as he will be retiring soon."

She nods as her scrutineering gaze fell on my 6'2 height, then she glances at my father.

"Oh! You must be Mr. Satyabrata Banerjee!" She goes for my father and shakes his hands, "Sir, I'm so fond of your lovebites."

I raise a brow.

"Since my childhood!"

Both of my brows shoot up.

Now, I think, we should really rethink of the name. My parents or others don't have a clue of but the young generation definitely have a clue as Dev whispers, with a cough to suppress his laughter, "Wow! I didn't know, uncle gives her lovebites."

"Shut up!"

A few noises are coming from around me, I look behind and see all of my friends' lips are pressed into thin lines. They are desperately trying to hold themselves from bursting out into laughter.

The name definitely needs a change!

____________

-Songs-

1- Samne ye kaun aya dil me huyi halchal - Kishore kumar (singer) & composed by R. D. Burman (Pancham Da)

_________

21st September, 2020