They returned. Ishani was writing something on a paper, but no one knew what it was.
After finishing, she said to the groom's side, "The wedding needs to happen on time, so I'm letting you in. But before that, everyone must sign this paper."
"Why?" — Sayam asked.
"Read it yourself," Ishani handed the paper to Sayam.
"Read it out loud," said Sayam's friend Abhi.
Sayam began reading, "Even if you enter now by paying some money, on the eighth day after the wedding you must come and pay the full amount."
"If you agree, sign and come inside," said Isha—
"Of course. Go ahead, special arrangements have been made for you," Ishani took the money and ran off. The kids ran behind her. "Look at that! Took the money and disappeared," Sourav complained.
"Let it be, come on," Sayam and the others entered the house.
Arnav wouldn't be able to see Sohini now, but Arnav's close friends could, so they went to meet his soon-to-be wife. Arnav's sister Adriza came first and sat beside Sohini, taking responsibility for the introductions.
"After telling you so many times, you still never came before…"
"This is my younger brother, Ritom Barman."
"Oh, we already know him. No need for an introduction. But today is the first time we met in person; it feels nice," Ritom said.
Sohini smiled.
The wedding rituals had started, and Sohini was taken to the mandap.
Ishani stayed with Sohini the whole time; Sohini wouldn't let go of her hand.
The rituals continued. Ishani watched everything from beside her.
Seeing Sohini smile made Ishani happy too—Sohini was someone very close to her. Since childhood, Sohini was always there, like a sister and a good friend.
She stepped out.
Coming downstairs, she saw her mother and sister. "Come eat," Ishani said.
"We already ate. Mom, let's go sleep now; otherwise my dark circles will show," Ria said. As she walked away, Ishani said, "You're going to sleep? Won't you stay awake on Soha's wedding night?"
"That suits you, not me," Ria walked off.
Bidisha Devi said, "You should eat and sleep too, Isha. Give your body some rest."
"You go, I'll eat. Where's Dad?" Ishani asked.
"He's talking with your aunt," Bidisha Devi replied.
As they walked away, Ishani said from behind, "You all eat, I'll have it later."
"As far as I know, only we are left to eat. Everyone else is done. If you eat even later, when will you finish! Come," Sayam said, and Ishani didn't argue and went upstairs.
"Hey brother, where did you disappear! Come sit," Ritom said.
"I was coming, saw someone sitting alone, so I brought her along," Sayam said, glancing at Ishani.
Sohini said, "I told you earlier to eat. This girl never listens. Come, sit."
After dinner, everyone gathered in Sohini's room.
This is where the wedding night wo—
"No, I'm leaving, Mom called me," Ishani said. Sohini didn't argue further. If Bidisha Devi said something, Ishani wouldn't go against it. She listened to her mother a lot, though her mother didn't pay that much attention to her. Most of her focus was on the younger daughter.
"So much money taken, signatures taken for the remaining amount, and now she's going off to sleep! Not happening," Sayam said. Ishani turned, and he added, "You must stay awake."
"That's not possible for me—"
"No trouble will come to my Soha, not while I'm here."
"There you go again," Adriza laughed.
Ishani sulked for a while, but soon began smiling. Conversations, teasing, laughter—all continued with the groom's side.
By around 2:30 a.m., everyone grew sleepy. The day's exhaustion didn't allow them to stay awake.
At dawn, the grandeur of the Chakraborty household began to fade. Their daughter would leave home soon. The farewell rituals were happening. After the ritual of giving the offerings—
Before Ishani could say anything, Deepak Babu said, "I'm telling her to go. If Isha goes along, Soha will feel more comfortable and less nervous in a new place. Go, Isha."
"When will you return?" — Bidisha Devi asked.
"We'll send her back today itself, don't worry," said Shibani Devi.
Ishani said goodbye to her parents and went to Sohini. After the groom's car left, two more cars followed from the groom's side, and Ishani got into one of them.
To be continued…
(It's freezing, my hands aren't moving.)