And for the song, this Youtube link is quite well-suited...it tells about a restless husband asking his wife to come back soon from her paternal home...
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xAegXwhtQ[/YOUTUBE]
Rishabh was very restless in the final days of his examinations. He just wanted it to get over as soon as possible. Whenever he looked outside the window from his classroom, he could see the fluffy white clouds floating in the clear blue sky. The grounds were full of kaash phool', the symbol of autumn, and the herald of Durga puja. His exams would be over just before the pujas, and then he would go to Shimulpur to bring back his Madhu to the Mukhapadhyay mansion. "Rishabh, are you with us?" called out the British professor, seeing his inattentiveness. His classmates smiled and winked at him, knowing very well about his restlessness. "Yes sir," replied Rishabh embarrassed, and started jotting down the answers.
Padmini stared at her daughter who was trying hard to grind the poppy seeds in a smooth paste. Madhu had never ever played with toy utensils in her childhood, thus when she was made to learn the nitty-gritty of kitchen for the past two months, she had a very difficult time. Padmini had set a strict routine of household chores for her, and she reluctantly followed her mother's order. "If you cannot do even this, then Radha didi will throw you out of her house in less than a month," was the threat she heard every time she failed to do the job with perfection.
Only respite for Madhu would be the two hours in the afternoon, when Padmini would take nap. Although she would not flee with her vagabond friends anymore, but Poltu would religiously come by the window and give her updates of all the edible loot the boys captured around the village. "Madhu didi, are you going to Kolkata for the Durga puja?" asked Poltu on one such occasion. "Who told you?" asked Madhu in return. "I heard my mother say that this Durga puja your husband will take you to Kolkata for the puja, and next year you will be with us again, with your.." paused Poltu. "With what?" "Your son," said Poltu and giggled. Madhu's cheeks reddened hearing his words. "I will break your head if you say such rubbish things again. Go away and don't show me your face again," said Madhu and ran towards her mother's room.
As the days of puja approached, Padmini became more and more impatient. She feared Radha might succeed this time in stopping her son from coming for Madhu. Then her daughter's fate would be doomed forever. But 2 days before Mahalaya, she received a letter from Rishabh which said he would be coming on Mahalaya. All these days she had been restless to see her daughter go off to her in-laws, but after receiving the letter she knew she would miss her daughter a lot after her departure. So instead of burdening her with loads of chores, Padmini let Madhu rest for the last two days in her paternal home. Madhu was 15 already. These two months had enhanced Madhu's beauty and health conspicuously, as she had been indoors, instead of out in the sun, and had her food in proper time and amount.
Rishabh arrived early in the morning and after having lunch he asked Padmini for leave, as he wanted to go back the same day. Madhu had a tearful farewell from her mother, relatives and friends. Half of the village assembled at the ghat to bid her adieu, all teary-eyed and choked with emotions. Madhu kept on looking at them from the retreating boat. Tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably, when she felt a soft yet firm hold on her shoulder, trying to console her. "We will come back whenever you feel like coming," assured Rishabh. "I don't want to leave," cried Madhu. Rishabh smiled and said, "Ok, I will bring you back. But shouldn't you see your new home first? I am sure you will love it as much as Shimulpur." Madhu turned her face away, as she did not want to believe him.
Madhu's welcome in Mukhopadhyay mansion was grand. All the relatives had gathered to catch the first glimpse of the bride. Radha did the aarti with the "boron dala" and made Madhu perform the tasks of catching a live 5kg fish in one hand and holding a brass "kolshi" (pitcher) full of water in the other hand. Madhu had been very agile in her good old days, so she easily performed those tasks, amazing the onlookers. After all the rituals were over, Radha said, "Today is kaalratri. So you two cannot see each other tonight. Madhu will stay with me." Rishabh slightly pouted his face, and then quickly whispered in Madhu's ears, "Don't worry. Just one more night to go. After that we will be together." Madhu was already feeling lost in this crowd of strangers. She just obeyed Radha as she was instructed by Padmini.
"She is beautiful," commented an old lady. Radha tried to keep her smile intact and nod her head in agreement. In fact she felt relieved after seeing Madhu's enhanced beauty. Now it was time for her to put to test Madhu's effectiveness in her picture-perfect household. She had already chalked out a plan for that. It was the grand celebration of Durga puja in the Mukhopadhyay mansion. Madhu would have to prove her ability by taking the myriads of responsibilities of the puja. But for the time being Radha succeeded in convincing her relatives how happy she was with this matrimony.
The kaal-ratri passed uneventfully. Madhu was too tired from the journey, as she had never before taken such a long trip out of home. Next morning she was woken up by Radha quite early. "Get up Madhu, today is your bou bhaat (reception from the groom's side, where the groom accepts all responsibilities of the bride)." Madhu dressed up in a beautiful red saree. After the minor rituals, she had to serve food to all the hundreds of guests assembled for the bou bhaat. Rishabh silently followed her and helped her serve the food in proper way. The elderly people nudged each other, seeing the rapport between the newlywed couple. Madhu's heart leaped every time Rishabh's fingers brushed hers while serving. After the feast was over, Madhu took leave from everyone and retired to Radha's room. Radha came to her room with her sisters after sometime. "Omaa, Madhu. What are you doing here? Go to Rishu's room. It is your phool shojya (first night/ suhag raat) tonight," said Rishabh's aunt and led Madhu to Rishabh's room. Madhu was befuddled seeing the floral decor of the whole room. As she was left alone in the room, her heart started racing madly.
Rishabh came to his room after seeing off the last of the guests. He was filled with a strange thrill, the moments of the mango garden, day after their marriage, and everything connected to Madhu came to his mind. Just before entering his room he just shook his head and told himself, "Tonight I am going to start a new phase of our life. I will make it very special for Madhu." As he entered his room, he stood shocked. The bed was empty, and Madhu was sleeping on a bedsheet on the floor.
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