Ghee bhaat

After Kalratri, Ador woke up at 7 am, brushed her teeth, took a bath, dried her hair, wore vermilion in her head. She tried wearing the saree, but failed miserably. She had only once worn saree before marriage, that too in her school farewell. Now she was in a scoop. She called up Ita. Her mom cried hearing her voice and asked how she was. Ador told Ita about her helplessness. Ita started telling her how to drape the saree, at which point someone knocked in the door. Ador's phone fell and there was a crack in the glass of the mobile. She told "Mummam, call u later, somebody is knocking on the door" and disconnected. She opened her door. Dev was there. He looked at her messed up self and just walked past her and entered the washroom and closed the door. Ador was stupefied. She did not know what to do. She tried wearing the saree, but since she could not arrange the pleats and tried putting them all together at once , near the navel, her stomach was bulging out.

Dev came out, looked at her again and went downstairs. After two minutes, she heard the cook Jayanti, call her out. She again opened the door. She came in with a set of clothes for Dev, so that he could freshen up soon as the ceremony of ghee bhaat would start. In this ceremony, the newly wedded wife serves food to the elders in the family and husband, starting with ghee and rice and ending with the bride's cooked payasam, which is considered auspicious. Jayanti saw the mess that Ador was in and extended her help. Now Ador looked much better. Both Jayanti and Ador came down to the drawing room. Everyone was seated. She bowed her head and seemed the blessings of the elders. Gopi was happy with Ador. Bali seemed disinterested, since he was the patriarch and Dev seemed to be busy with his mobile. So when Ador bent down to touch his feet, Dev just jumped, making her feel awkward. Ador could feel that Dev was trying to make her feel conscious. After morning tea was served by the domestic help. Jayanti served breakfast. Gopi told Ador that Dev's Uncle and Aunt would drop by for lunch, so to cook Payasam really well.

Post breakfast, everyone went to their room. Ador went to her mezzanine floor room. Dev was already there, waiting for her. He asked her, " so when do you resume your work? " Ador was surprised that post marriage this was his first conversation. She told she had taken leave for 15 days. He replied with a "Hmm" and then switched on the television. Dev loved cricket. He started watching. After tidying up their room and sorting out her belongings in the wooden wardrobe, she went downstairs to the kitchen to cook Potsdam and help Jayanti. She saw Hoping was busy talking over to someone on the phone excitedly. She entered the kitchen and started helping Jayanti. Once Jayanti completed cooking, Ador started cooking Payasam. As noon approached, Dev's Uncle and Aunt came. She was witty. She place her words so articulately that she did not mean sorry for telling Dev that Ador was fat and yet said that she sympathised with Ador for all the hotchpotch that happened.

Ador smiled. She did not say a word. Gopi called Dev and gave him a Thali will all the cooked items in one tray, a saree, a jewelry set in the corner and said him to utter the words to Ador with all sincerity that from this day onwards he takes the responsibility of what Ador eats and wears. Post that, Dev's aunt and Uncle also gave her a saree and a gold bracelet as a blessing.

Everybody went for lunch. Post lunch, all went to their respective rooms. Dev only did not follow Ador back. She found it amusing, she thought he must be feeling nervous. Since it was the first time she and him would be together in bed. She smiled and waited. He did not come. So she thought she better change into something comfortable and sleep for an hour or so. Then she would go down in the evening to join her mother in law and ask her if her assistance was required in anything. This was because her Payasam tasted good and everyone praised her, even Bali.

When evening approached, she went downstairs, talked with Hoping, helped Jayanti in cutting vegetables, while she was cooking. Unma had called her, asking worriedly how she was. When she heard Ador was happy, Unma relaxed a bit. Both sisters kept the phone with the confidence that all will be well.

It was dinner time. Dev did not show up. Ador asked about his whereabouts. The domestic help told her, he was in the third floor , corner room. Ador served dinner to Bali and Gopi. Bali remained aloof from family matters, he was busy with the latest information on coal production from Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. Gopi told Ador to have dinner, as there was no formalities in their home like other families. But Ador still did not eat.

Gopi found it to be a good trait in Ador and appreciated her, before going to sleep. Ador waited and waited. Both domestic help and the cook dimmed the lights of the dining hall and exited. It was 1am. Ador went to the third floor, corner room and knocked. There was no sound. She waited for two minutes and repeated knocking. When still there was no sound from inside, she pushed opened the door. Dev was asleep in the bed. There were seven empty beer bottles lying under the bed. The room was stinking. She did not know what to do. Kir was never into alcohol. So Ador could not understand what would be better in this situation. She tried to wake him up. He looked up at her and smiled. She told him "Let's go down, it's stuffy out here. " He looked at her, pulled her to the bed and tried to kiss her. She shifted. She said "You smell of alcohol, lets get down. You sober up. It's already two, in the night. Have some light dinner.Come with me"

He did not budge. He looked at her all disgusted and said, "No dinner, come here, to bed , with me, now... " Ador felt scared. It was supposed to be their first night. It was meant to be romantic, like the way written in novels. She said "Listen dear, hear me out, it's a bit cold here. Let's go down to our room, please..... please"

Twaak

Ador was dumbstruck. Dev slapped her so hard, her right cheek became red. It felt like all his fingers kept their marks in her cheek. He said, "Get lost, you bitch.... "and dragged her out of the room and shut the door on her face with a loud thud.

Thus started the happily ever after story...