Opening the door, she rushed in, hugged Sohini tightly, and exclaimed,
"Oh my dear Soha, you look so sweet and lovely in that yellow saree!
Like a yellow marigold… no, actually a sunflower!"
"Hey, stay away! Don't come near me at all. Is this the time to arrive?" — Sohini said.
"What could I do! Mom and Dad were busy, and I couldn't come alone. Still, I came all by myself for you, carrying such a big bag—try to understand my struggle." — Ishani replied.
"Where's Riha? You could've brought her along!" Sohini said. (Riha is Ishani's younger sister.)
Ishani made a face and said, "You know Riha doesn't like these things at all…"
Just then, hearing Shibani Devi's voice calling out,
"Where are you all? The turmeric from the groom's house has arrived!"
Ishani jumped up and said, "Come on, let's go dip you in turmeric!"
"Wait! First go freshen up. Change your dress and get ready nicely." — Sohini
"Not now. Let's do the work first." Ishani tried to pull her along, but Sohini held her hand and stopped her. Rolling her eyes, she said,
"You're already late. Now you have to listen to everything I say and stay with me like my shadow!"
"You'll miss your turmeric ceremony if you go to get ready now!"
Then someone said, "Oh God, will this girl never grow up?"
"Hey Ichche (nickname), aren't you going to bathe? How long will you roam around covered in turmeric?" — Sohini
"Coming!" Ishani rushed in and said with a big smile,
"The kids at your house are amazing, Soha! Did you see how well they're dancing?"
"Leave them. Go freshen up. Won't you eat anything? If Mom and Dad hear that you haven't eaten since arriving, they'll get really angry." — Sohini
"Oh no, no need to get angry. I'll eat properly."
The house was now bustling with lights, decorations, and the sound of shehnai. Evening had fallen, guests had started arriving. The wedding stage was beautifully decorated, and everything—from food arrangements to guest hospitality—was being carefully managed.
Ishani, all dressed up, hurried into Sohini's room. Sohini's makeup was almost complete.
"Auntie, have you seen your daughter? She looks just like a queen!" Ishani said, hugging Shibani Devi with a big smile.
"My Ichche looks very beautiful too," Shibani Devi said, placing her hand on Ishani's head.
"Mom and Dad have arrived!" Ishani ran out.
Going downstairs into the living room, she stood in front of her father and gave him a bright smile.
"You should've called after reaching, Ichche. We get worried," said Souvik Babu.
Before Ishani could reply, Bidisha Devi said,
"Does she remember such things? She only knows how to trouble us!"
"No, Mom, that's not it. The turmeric ceremony was about to begin here. And when Soha and Auntie saw me arriving late, they started scolding me so much that I completely forgot."
"Don't listen to them," Souvik Babu said. "Come."
"The groom has arrived!"—as soon as this was announced, ululation and conch shell sounds echoed through the Chakraborty house. Sohini's face lit up with joy. The man of her dreams had arrived. In just a little while, Sohini Chakraborty would become Sohini Arnab Roy.
Ishani followed her aunt and stood at the main entrance. There was a huge crowd—relatives and cameras everywhere to see the groom. Pushing through the crowd, Ishani became breathless.
Meanwhile, some playful bargaining started…
Hearing something, Ishani stepped forward and said,
"What's there not to know? There are five zeros!"
Hearing her voice, the boy looked at her. Ishani stared back. The kids' noise increased. The boy said while looking at her,
"What will you do with so much money? Should I turn my brother into a beggar?"
"Your brother will become a beggar by giving one lakh taka? Shame! I'll have to tell Soha she made the wrong choice."
Hearing this, Arnab said, "No, not at all. Why would that happen?"
"You can spend so much money on a wedding, but when it comes to giving money to your sisters-in-law…"
"Honestly, I don't have that much cash." — Arnab
"Give a cheque, that'll work too." — Ishani
"What's the point of a cheque? I'll bring the money tomorrow instead. Come on, Arnab, let's proceed with the wedding first."
As he tried to go inside again, Ishani blocked his way and said,
"Very clever, aren't you! Without money, I won't let you step inside even a foot!"