Bab 22: 6th December chaos
The months passed by and the date arrived. Kir and Ita did a lot of shopping for their elder daughter and her would be relatives.
In India, doing "kanyadaan", giving away a daughter in marriage is deemed pious, as if one is donating hundred cows in charity.
In many parts of India, dowry system still exists post India boasting with strict laws on punishment , if caught. Though it is done openly, seldom people complain about giving dowry, where a huge amount of cash and gold ornaments is sent along with the daughter, that is the new bride to her in-laws place. It is called stree dhan, that the girl can use in times of trouble. But alas, most people use girls as a bait for marriage, eyeing on the amount of dowry to be received. In some parts of India, there is a lot of brutality after getting dowry or not getting dowry depending upon the thought process of the groom and his relatives. In South India, amongst a sect of Hindu, gold amounting to the weight of the would be bride is given to the groom as stree dhan .
Amongst people of bengal, the cash is not kept as mode of transaction, mostly. Here dowry is given in kind. As in television set, refrigerator, air conditioning system, double bed with mattress, pillows and bed sheets and bed covers, Almira, dressing table, cosmetics, suit for the groom and relatives, car for the groom (be it a four wheeler or two wheeler), gold ornaments, prized clothings and beautiful silk or linen or dhakai sarees, the rich give flats to live in too. It's a money gambling resource which if utilised wisely can be called good investments for the newly wedded bride and groom and the groom's family.
In the case of Ador, her parents tried to give the best they could afford. Nowadays education system as a career choice gives a lot of money. During Kir and Ita's working days, education system brought in a lot of respect and prestige, but the salaries were less.
They gave the best teak wood king size bed, branded mattress, pillows, bed sheets, covers, toiletries, suitcases, gold ornaments for the bride and groom, wooden wardrobe, dress for Ika's daughter, suitcases for Ika and Jay, banarasi Saree and suit for them along with toiletries, all branded. The same they gave for Gopi and Bali. Kir gave utensils too of copper and steel, a huge vase of brass, clothing for the domestic helps too and around forty four pure silk sarees as namaskaree for the groom's relatives, nearby and distant ones.
Plus the food that was to be served during those three days were the best of the best, costliest items, for everyone to remember the day of grandeur, to give the newly wed, blessings galore.
When Dev got down from the well decorated car , sent by Kir to fetch him, all of Kir and Ita's relatives were jealous of the tall, fair groom with features of a Greek God. Ita was looking beautiful , in a traditional look welcoming her son in law, by offering him sweets, two silver coins in two palms of Dev and the must to do welcome Aarti.
Along with Dev came his friends and relatives, the baraati as we call them. Firecrackers lit up the night sky. Refreshments were being served to all. Unma was looking beautiful in a Saree. She was giggling with her friends in a corner of the wedding hall. The advocate had come to sign the wedding certificate.
Dev was all laughter with his friends. At that time his aunt came to him. He asked his aunt, " So how is Ador? Is she good looking? Did you like her?"
Her aunt replied with a gesture of two hands under both her armpits and said "she looks fat to me, u did not notice it? "
This was not taken in good humour by Dev and he left the venue, saying he will not marry Ador.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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