Compliments of the season to one and all!

Her aura was unmistakable even if he could not see her, given that he had grown accustomed to her presence in the dark of the night. He was thrilled to find her in close proximity and with the clandestine nature of her visit. As he pushed her against the wall their kisses grew deeply passionate. Just fleetingly he mulled over what she was doing here so far away from Mumbai. Not that he cared much about that right now, the rekindling of his teenage fantasy at the sight of Leda and the Swan and after his little fiasco with Tapur he was ecstatic to have her right where she belonged, locked in his arms. As far as he was concerned this moment was meant to be celebrated, reality could wait.

Minutes later as they ran out of breath, she explained that because he was to spend the weekend at the wedding she too had used the opportunity to meet someone she knew in Kolkata, having arrived earlier during the day. Later she called Vidushi who had abruptly suggested that she could spend the night at the Rajbari, directing her to the mansion and helping her sneak in through the stairs on the side. While she showered and changed Vidushi went to look for Randhir.

They were interrupted by Vidushi knocking on the door. As he unlocked the door to let her in Vidushi entered with what looked like a little bowl and stepping toward her brother she smeared a little holud paste on his cheeks, grinning mischievously and informing him that he was being awaited for the formal meal in the dining hall. As Randhir turned to go downstairs he asked Vidushi to deliver his visitor to his room so she could spend the night there. She did as she was told stealing her best friend to her brother's room. There she lifted her veil and smeared the holud on her cheeks too, telling her she had symbolically anointed Randhir and her fervently wishing that someday she would actually see the pair united in marriage. She then left her to go back downstairs, assuring Sanyukta that she could relax until Randhir got back for the night. As she looked at her stained cheeks in the mirror Sanyukta prayed with all the piety in her heart for Vidushi's wish be granted, so the next time she entered that home her visit could be licit and she could be an integral part of the family.

When the feasting and merry-making was done Randhir got back to his room with Vidushi who had remembered to sneak in a little food for her friend, only to discover her fast asleep on Randhir's bed. As Vidushi returned to her room he gently woke up the sleeping girl urging her to have a bite, then he went off to the bathroom to freshen up and change. She smiled to see how Vidushi had remembered to get her a vegetarian plate, her preferred choice. She ate hungrily as she had skipped lunch and was quite famished. When she was done eating Randhir secreted the plate back to the kitchen and by the time he returned she had been waiting for him impatiently with the lights switched off.

What began as gentle caressing soon turned into something vigorous and he had to caution her to muffle her groans as they sent waves of pleasure pulsating through each other. She almost managed to make him lose control when he stopped short like always. She clawed him in pent-up frustration and he could feel tears streaking down her fevered cheeks and onto his shoulders. He kissed them away as he tried to pacify her telling her the real reason for the rushed wedding. Amal had gotten careless and Arohi became pregnant during their torrid summer romance. If they had waited any longer she would begin to show and that would be a bigger scandal. Out of respect for his age and stature Nobin da was kept in the dark about the truth. Unlike Randhir, Amal was settled in his career so he could get married at short notice, also it helped that the families approved.

Much later as they lay in bed exhilarated and content at being together in these unexpected settings he whispered to her tales of his childhood years when their vacations were spent in Kolkata before he was sent off to boarding school. As summers here are unbearably hot and humid they were kept revived with lemonade made from gondhoraj lebu, aam pora or bael sherbet. They had simple doi-chirey for breakfast; moong dal cooked with raw mango for lunch and relished ripe Himsagar Maldah mangoes and soft rosogollas the size of ping pong balls.  Snacks in the evening meant hot samosas called singaras, devilled eggs, mughlai paratha and kathi rolls with lebu cha or lemon tea.

Robin mama took them for visits to Nahoum's at New Market and Flury's on the fashionable Park Street for treats and for a western style breakfast. He remembered enjoying dim sum and Chinese meals in China Town, Tangra. He told her how fond he had been of his Didima, and how she would pamper the children silly with her proud Bangal cooking. How she cut a fine figure in her Dhakai Jamdani saris, her naksha kanbala earrings and the ever present gold matarmala around her neck. The many stories she told them, and how she warned them to steer clear of the tetul or tamarind tree planted far away in the backyard because it was believed to be haunted by a petni, a type of female ghost whose feet were backward. Soon after Didima passed away he was sent to boarding school and the Bengal visits petered off.

She longed to tell him how she had similar tales to share, her own memories of childhood in Kolkata- the puchkas, the hot jilipies and the pujo-pandals, but she could not reveal anything. Besides he had to be up early for the morning rituals on the wedding day, he needed to rest. They opted to drift off into oblivious sleep, they would plan for tomorrow in the morning.