“Are you marrying off the younger daughter before the elder one, sister-in-law? Does the elder daughter have some major flaw?”
Hearing this question from the neighbor auntie, my mother was left speechless. Still, she stammered and said,
“No, my elder daughter doesn’t want to get married. She wants to focus entirely on her career.”
Immediately, the auntie from the second floor interjected,
“Can you really cover up the truth like this, sister-in-law? Maybe this new neighbor doesn’t know the real story, so you’re trying to explain it away. But how many people will you convince? It’s not like everyone else is unaware.”
The neighbor auntie asked,
“What do you mean? Are you saying she lied? Is there something else? What is it?”
“You don’t know about the incident from a few years ago. Their…”
Before she could finish, my mother cut her off and said,
“Ladies, you’ve come to my younger daughter’s wedding. Please, limit your discussions to her. Leave my elder daughter alone. Besides, my elder daughter hasn’t knowingly done anything wrong. Yet, at the end of the day, she’s the one who gets blamed. Why? Because she’s a girl. Was being born a girl her fault?”
The aunties fell silent. Maybe they would say something again after a while, but I didn’t have the patience to listen anymore, so I walked away.
I sat in my room. Suddenly, Neelasha rushed in and handed me a few chocolates.
“Here, Apa, have some.”
“What’s the occasion? You’re giving me chocolates on your own today? What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. I just have a lot of chocolates today, so I’m sharing them with everyone. You, middle Apa. I gave middle Apa more. Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because middle Apa is leaving tomorrow. She won’t be here to take a share of my chocolates anymore, so I gave her extra.”
“Wow, little one, you’ve really grown up, huh? So, where did you get all these chocolates from?”
“Where else? Bhaiya gave them to me.”
“Which bhaiya?”
“Oh, I haven’t told you yet! Mama’s eldest son is here. The brother who used to live abroad. He left when I was very young.”
I was startled. In a calm voice, I asked,
“Meghraj bhaiya?”
“Yes, Megh bhaiya. You know, Apa, he’s really cute! I like him a lot. He brought me so many gifts. He’s such a nice bhaiya.”
“Oh. But no one mentioned that Meghraj bhaiya was coming.”
“How would they? No one knew. He just showed up out of nowhere and surprised everyone.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Anyway, I have to go. It’s the Haldi ceremony in the evening, so I need to start getting ready early.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
Neelasha left. I sat there. The house was glowing with red and blue lights. Everyone was happy. Only my happiness had gone missing. Everywhere I turned, there was just one question:
“Why is the younger daughter getting married before the elder one?”
My vision blurred as memories resurfaced.
My mother sat down beside me.
“Listen, Mun, I need to tell you something. Please don’t be upset.”
“Why would I be upset? Tell me, what is it?”
“Forgive us, dear. We have no other choice.”
“Stop being so cryptic and just tell me what’s going on.”
“We’ve arranged Neelima’s marriage. We know we are doing something wrong, that thinking of her marriage before yours is a sin. But what can we do? We’ve tried so hard for you. Every suitor who comes to see you rejects you. What can we do about that? If we keep waiting for your marriage, Neelima’s age will pass. So we had to arrange her wedding.”
“That’s great news! Neelima is my sister; she’s getting married, starting a new life. That’s wonderful. What’s wrong with that?”
“No matter what, you are the eldest. Since your younger sister is getting married before you, the neighbors will talk. Please try to adjust and bear with it.”
“Why are you saying it like that? I know what people will say. You don’t need to worry about me. Just focus on Neelima’s wedding preparations.”
From behind, my father spoke,
“Even if you didn’t say that, we would have done it anyway. We won’t ruin the lives of our other daughters for your sake.”
Mother replied,
“I am talking to her. You mind your own business.”
**”Yes, I see how you’re talking. Why are you speaking so desperately? What’s the big deal?
She is tainted. That’s why no one wants to marry her. That’s why we have arranged the middle daughter’s wedding instead. And in a few days, we will arrange the youngest one’s too.”**
Thinking about the past, my eyes welled up with tears.
The Haldi ceremony had begun. The groom’s family had arrived.
Neelasha came to call me.
“Hey Apa, come downstairs. Everyone is applying turmeric to middle Apa. Won’t you come see?”
As she spoke, she entered my room and saw that I wasn’t ready yet.
“Apa, you’re not ready yet? Aren’t you coming downstairs?”
“I’m not feeling up to it, Banu. I’ll come later. You go enjoy yourself. Take my phone and click pictures with your friends.”
“Oh, I will! But you should come too, Apa. It’ll look bad if you’re not there. I won’t even be able to take a picture with all three of us sisters together.”
“I told you, I’ll come later.”
Just then, my mother entered.
“Later? When exactly? After the Haldi ceremony is over?”
“You all go ahead. I’m not feeling well.”
Mother said,
“Not feeling well won’t be an excuse. People are already talking. I don’t want to deal with their questions. Just get ready and come downstairs.”
She left without waiting for my response.
Suddenly, Neelasha hugged me tightly and started crying.
“What happened, Banu? Why are you crying?”
“No reason. Just get ready. We’ll go together.”
I didn’t say anything.
Neelasha, holding my hand, led me downstairs. Everyone was applying Haldi to Neelima.
I told Neelasha,
“Go take pictures with middle Apa. I’ll sit over there.”
Neelasha nodded and left. I sat quietly in a corner.
A little while later, Neelasha returned.
“Middle Apa is calling you. Come.”
“Why is Neelima calling me?”
“I don’t know. Just come.”
I walked over to Neelima.
“Did you want to say something, Neelima?”
“Yes. Why are you sitting so far away? Come, let’s take a picture together—the three of us sisters.”
Neelasha added,
“Yes, we haven’t taken any together yet.”
Neelima said,
“Come on, let’s take one now.”
They took several pictures.
I said,
“That’s enough. You’ve taken a hundred already. I’m leaving now.”
Neelasha pleaded,
“Just two more, Apa. Please.”
“Not a single one more. Your friends are waiting. Take pictures with them.”
Without giving them a chance to argue, I turned to leave.
In my hurry, I bumped into someone.
A male voice said,
“Do you walk with your eyes closed?”
I looked up while apologizing,
“Sorry, bro—”
I stopped mid-sentence. He stopped too.
It was Meghraj.
Even after all these years, I hadn’t mistaken him.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
I composed myself and said,
“Sorry, it was a mistake, Bhaiya.”
Meghraj asked,
“How are you, Muntaha?”
I replied,
“I’m fine. You?”
“I’m good too. Where’s your husband?”
I was stunned—completely shocked.
Without saying another word, I ran upstairs.
Meghraj stood there, bewildered.
“What did I say that made her run away like that?”
