Arhi : Festivals of BhalobashaUPDT COMING SOON - Page 6

If anyone thought Bengalis can only have blast and enjoyment during Durga Puja only they are proved wrong once they stepped inside the premises of Bengal where Bongs need only an occasion, grandness and enjoyment follows automatically. It is correctly quoted by our Ancestors that number of months fall shorter than number of Bengali Festivals.

The welcome of the deity of knowledge Saraswati is done in a grand way. The schools and colleges are the primary places to visit during this festival and the students of all girls or all boys schools enjoy this visit more as they are free to visit each other's premises. Now when we have young bloods together, sparks are ought to fly, hence its an official Valentine's Day.

The Skylights were buzzing with activities on the eve of Saraswati Puja. This particular festival was one of its kind here as two pujas were conducted simultaneously, one by the all boys committee and another one by all girls committee. This particular war was declared almost ten years ago in Skylights when the Lighters were involved in a huge fight on gender discrimination. They had finally challenged each other on organizing their own Puja, better than the other.

This particular arrangement though was enjoyed by the Lighters, had brought a major burden on the elders of the society. Obviously, who likes to spend double when you can just spend for one? Each house had to contribute for both the pujas and if anything was offered as a help to one committee then it had to given to the other one too. The elders therefore decided to keep mum and not volunteer for any help. The whole responsibility thus was on the Lighters.

Arnav Roy Choudhury , Lighter's Arnav dada and elder's Babu (much to his annoyance) was the leading light of the Lighters and of the boys during Saraswati Puja. He was cool, matured, responsible and the apple of everyone's eyes. He had a strange capability to attract people which he himself was not aware of . He liked helping everyone and loved to socialize. He was tired , working since morning and slumped to one of the benches, wanting nothing but sleep. It had been a hectic day for him as well as Lighters who were busy with their assigned responsibilities but now and then he heard the name 'Khushi' hovering in the air. The new entrant had already captured attention in the Skylights and it seemed quite odd. The Skylights which used to buzz with his name, suddenly reflected the echo of the name 'Khushi'.

She did this, she did that, she solved this, she solved that, was all he heard and now he was curious.

Wiping off his sweat, he made his way towards the girl's premises and found one corner of it crowded with girls of all colours, sizes and ages. The stack of books in their hand confirmed they were here to submit their books to their deity's feet.

"Dada what are you doing here?", he turned to find Payal, the leader of Girl's Committee, smiling up to him.

"Nothing, came to see the preparations generally.", he replied and glanced through the arrangements , they were marvelous.

If it was anyone else from boy's side, Payal would have literally chopped their head off but this was Arnav . She observed the complimentary glint in his eyes and it gave her satisfaction, they hit the nail.

"I know I know we've outdone ourselves", Payal grinned as Arnav threw a glare at her. " Don't Judge yourselves already Payal.", he adviced her and she smirked.

"I know we did the best, did you have a look at our Alpona?", she suggested and Arnav's eyes immediately went to the floor. The Alpona was fabulous. Lavanya always did a traditional Alpona with the rice flour but this particular Alpona had colours added. White, along with red, yellow and green, the colours of the festival.

"Beau…", he stopped mid way. Don't compliment an enemy, he reminded himself.

"huh? What did you say", Payal had a playful smirk.

"Nothing, you tell me … you must have faced whole lot of problem this time, your best friend is injured."

"I dreaded so. But Khushi's arrival was like a boon. She's a great help."

"Khushi … your cousin?"

"Yes my cousin. She is here for a job interview."

"Oh!! By the way whom did you give the responsibility of collecting books? It's you who does that every year but you are standing with me.", he eyed the crowd.

"Khushi is handling that department . I was tired, so she decided to help." ,Payal informed and Arnav's eyes scrunched immediately for better view of the crowd.

The 'attention grabber' of the township was finally in front of him but he couldn't see her yet due to the crowd. Curiosity was killing him and he decided to wait for the crowd to lighten.

Finally, he felt elated as the crowd dispersed but to his disappointment she had faced her back towards him, arranging the books. She had her hair trapped in a barret into a messy bun, he noticed and was clad in PJs. He anticipated her to turn, but when she did he was called away by Akash, his brother.

XXX

"So its done?", Payal asked as she took the register from Khushi's hand and checked the resident's name along with their book list.

"Yes Didibhai … and its so fun!", she was ecstatic and was already in love with the town.

"Yes Khushi you should stay here if you crack the job", Payal suggested hopefully. Khushi and she were close as real sisters. Being a single child Payal always craved for a sibling and this wish of hers was fulfilled in the form of Khushi, her masi's daughter. Khushi was brought up in Siliguri, North Bengal and therefore they missed growing up together. Now that Khushi was trying her luck for jobs in Kolkata, Payal would make no stones unturned to make Khushi stay back.

"I told you before, I don't want to be a burden to anybody", Khushi replied.

"Khushi, you will never be a burden to us and look everybody loves you already"

"Didibhai … we'll continue this argument later", Khushi tactfully ended the conversation and chose to divert it off Payal's mind.

"Hey! You didn't show me around the place. I am here since last night and have only seen this puja ground and nothing else", Payal smiled at Khushi's playful complain and dragged her.

XXX

The all boys committee was finally done with their preparations. They had done a traditional pandal but the decorations done inside it was fantastic courtesy Akash , Arnav's brother and an art college student. Arnav stepped a few feet back to gauge the whole ensemble. It looked professional and fantastic but his mind wandered to the simple and homely decorations by the girl's, they lacked finish and crisp but they were better, in fact far better.

"Ok fellas, lets get some sleep", he declared. "All should be up by 4 a.m. Neem and Haldi will be supplied to all houses, take bath and be here by 4:30"

"Why so early dada?", a boy in the group asked.

"Can you swiftly and steadily slice fruits for prashad like the girls? No right? So be here by 4:30"

The next day was the actual war. The boys had to do what they dreaded the most, dicing fruits . The thought was enough to activate their sweat glands.

He was about to retire for the night when he saw two girls strolling around the township with one girl pointing towards the houses. He neared them and recognized one girl, she was Payal. The other must be Khushi , he guessed and tried to see her face.

"… and this is Lavanya's house, she is not well. This is Arjun's house, the DasGuptas and this one is Arnav da's house , the Roy Choudhurys.", she concluded pointing towards a wide three storied house.

"This one is sooo huge like a Zamindar House" he heard surprise in her voice and was amused.

Skylights had an unwritten rule, never speak about the differences in status of the residents. This is a single family and Khushi broke the rule.

"Shhh Khushi … don't speak like this. We don't speak about our statuses .", Payal explained or rather whispered as if it is a taboo.

"Come on Didibhai, I just said this house is like a Zaminders, it's a compliment not gossip ."

Khushi oblivious to Arnav's presence behind her continued with her monologue , " By the way Arnav , isn't he the famous Arnav of this township?"

"Khushi he's Arnav Da"

Arnav had no idea why he didn't like Payal's suggestion at all. He didn't want her to call him dada.

"I don't make bhaiyas out of each and every boys I hear about Didibhai"

And Arnav loved it.

"So as I was saying, this Arnav, why do you guys speak about him so much, is he like a Zamindar in real?", she mocked and he was stupefied.

Till date no one mocked him and this girl without knowing him is mocking at him. He suddenly felt angry.

"Khushi stop", Payal shushed her but she continued.

"Is he angry , strict, ruthless , cunning with a big moustache, a typical zamindar?" Arnav's eyes widened at the profanities she used. How dare she? He could feel smoke out of his ears.

"Khushi!"

"Does he sport a big belly? does he chew paan(beetle), does he smoke hookah?", Khushi continued mocking and laughing. Arnav was furious by now. Tired or not tired , he would attack this girl, he decided and took a step towards her.

" Uffo Khushi!!! Please stop , Thank God here is no one or else you would have lost your recent fan following. Come let's go to bed, its late", she dragged Khushi towards her home.

He saw them disappear in the dark but he heard a faint " Bbye Zaminder Babu". Must be Khushi, he inferred.

He decided to hit the bed and prepare his body for the next day. He had a Puja to attend and a faceless Khushi to teach lesson.