02-12-2025, 10:50 PM
## Update 152 A: Double the Fortune (Avi, Pooja Bua, Sweta Didi, Sital, and Rohan)
The next day, we were up early. Pooja Bua, Sweta Didi, Sital, I, and Neeta Bua left for the city by bus, with Pooja Bua ensuring a sense of formality by bringing Neeta Bua. Raj came to the city separately with Rohan on his bike, to manage the "broken down" vehicle story. Pooja Bua had already called Jyoti Bua and Poonam Didi to tell them we were coming and instructed them to meet us at Rohan's house to show strength in numbers.
Rohan had reached the city before us to prepare his family. When our bus pulled into the stop, Rohan's brother Sohan was standing there with a clean, respectable car. Rohan was also there, standing next to his bike.
As soon as we stepped off the bus, we were directed into the car. Pooja Bua looked genuinely pleased to see the size and quality of the vehicle. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua sat in the car and immediately started talking about the logistics and the family. In the back of the car, Pooja Bua, Neeta Bua, and Sweta Didi were sitting. Sohan was driving the car, and Sital was sitting in the front passenger seat with him. I was left to sit on the back of Rohan's bike with Raj and follow the car to Rohan's house, feeling a strange mix of pride and apprehension as the city traffic closed in around us.
After twenty minutes of riding on Rohan's bike behind the car, we reached Rohan's house. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua were immediately impressed by the grand scale of the building. We kept looking at Rohan's luxurious house for a while. Pooja Bua stared without blinking. Rohan's house wasn't merely a house; it was a sprawling bungalow, a duplex with a large, manicured garden stretching out front. We were all thrilled to see such obvious wealth.
Then we went inside. The house was as luxuriously decorated inside as it was big outside. It was a beautiful home from every angle. Our eyes couldn't settle in one place; they kept scanning from one side of the glittering hall to the other.
We went and sat on the plush sofas. After a short while, Poonam Didi and Jyoti Bua arrived, as instructed by Pooja Bua. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua immediately started talking with Jyoti Bua about the family logistics. On the other side, Poonam Didi started a quiet conversation with Sweta Didi and Sital.
Rohan called for his Bhabhi (sister-in-law). Sohan went to bring his Papa. Rohan's Bhabhi came out and welcomed us warmly. She made us feel completely comfortable with her smooth, generous hospitality. Pooja Bua looked around, already planning. She was clearly worried that when Rohan's family came to our village house, we would be expected to make even better preparations than this.
"This is Sweta, right, Rohan?" Bhabhi asked, confirming the girl's identity.
"Yes, Bhabhi," Rohan replied happily.
The general small talk had just started when Rohan's Mammi and Papa came into the hall. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua immediately started talking to Rohan's Mammi and Papa, quickly getting down to the serious discussion. Rohan's Mammi and Papa seemed to like Sweta Didi well enough. Rohan's Bhabhi had clearly handled all the initial arrangements and smoothed the way so expertly that the parents were already amenable to Sweta Didi.
We were all talking when Rohan's Mammi suddenly told Rohan's Papa and Rohan's Bhabhi that they needed to go inside a private room. Now, what was all this about? Why would Rohan's Mammi call them inside so suddenly? I quickly made an excuse that I needed to use the bathroom and slipped away toward the room where Rohan's Mammi had gone. I peeked inside the room from the side of the window, pressing my ear close.
"The girl is good-looking and cultured," Rohan's Bhabhi was saying to her mother-in-law.
"What's the point of just being good-looking?" Rohan's Mammi said dismissively. "She's obviously poor, from a simple village background."
"I like these people," Rohan's Bhabhi insisted. "And besides, what difference does poor or rich make nowadays? Everyone is mostly the same."
"Rohan will find a girl from a much better family than this," Rohan's Mammi argued, her voice cold. "They have nothing of substance to offer."
"Mammi, I'm telling you, we won't find a better girl than Sweta even if we search for years," Rohan's Bhabhi countered firmly. "Rohan likes Sweta deeply. Rohan has to live with Sweta, not us. We can show Rohan as many rich girls as we want, but Sweta is permanently fixed in Rohan's mind and his soul."
"But their family doesn't have anything," Rohan's Mammi repeated, clearly concerned about social status.
"Mammi, Sweta's Papa works in Dubai," Rohan's Bhabhi lied smoothly, protecting our side. "He also earns good money. They just live together in the village for the security of their large family. They are like the Zamindars (landowners) of their village. They have status there."
"But my heart is still not completely agreeing," Rohan's Mammi admitted.
"Why? What else is wrong with Sweta?" Rohan's Bhabhi asked, exasperated.
"If Rohan marries Sweta, our reputation will be ruined in society," Rohan's Mammi worried.
"Mammi, people's only job is to badmouth others," Rohan's Bhabhi dismissed her. "If we talk specifically about Sweta, she lives in a huge joint family. She knows how to keep a family together, not break it apart. What if we get Rohan married to someone else, and she causes a rift and separates all of us from Rohan? You think about it yourself. How many families in society has that happened to? If Rohan marries Sweta, this will never happen."
"You're right," Rohan's Mammi conceded. "Still..."
"Forget all this 'but' and 'still' and just say yes, Mammi," Rohan's Bhabhi urged. "If you say no, you know how angry Rohan gets when he's challenged on something important."
"Okay," Rohan's Mammi finally relented. "Do what you think is right. It's not like we've ever said no to you before. This is the first time you've asked us for something significant like this."
"That's the spirit, Mammi," Rohan's Bhabhi said, clearly winning. "Now let's go. We've been talking for too long. I don't know what they must be thinking about us being gone."
I quickly rushed back to the hall and sat down just as they returned.
"We like the girl," Rohan's Mammi announced, the decision now made. "But we will get them married after Rohan finishes his studies."
"I was also thinking the same thing," Pooja Bua said, nodding vigorously, thrilled by the result. "That we'll get Rohan and Sweta married after they finish their studies."
Pooja Bua immediately called Raj's Papa and told him everything. Raj's Papa was overjoyed to hear about Sweta Didi's successful marriage prospect. Raj's Papa said he would try to come home next week instead of next month to celebrate.
We were all talking happily when my attention was caught by something else entirely. I noticed that Sohan was looking at Sital again and again. Even in the car, Sohan's eyes had been on Sital. From the moment we got off the bus until now, Sohan was constantly glancing only at Sital. Rohan's Bhabhi then served a delicious breakfast for all of us. We were eating breakfast when Sohan suddenly stood up, dropping his bombshell without warning.
"I like Sital," Sohan announced, his voice firm and clear, looking directly at Pooja Bua. "I want to marry Sital."
---
The next day, we were up early. Pooja Bua, Sweta Didi, Sital, I, and Neeta Bua left for the city by bus, with Pooja Bua ensuring a sense of formality by bringing Neeta Bua. Raj came to the city separately with Rohan on his bike, to manage the "broken down" vehicle story. Pooja Bua had already called Jyoti Bua and Poonam Didi to tell them we were coming and instructed them to meet us at Rohan's house to show strength in numbers.
Rohan had reached the city before us to prepare his family. When our bus pulled into the stop, Rohan's brother Sohan was standing there with a clean, respectable car. Rohan was also there, standing next to his bike.
As soon as we stepped off the bus, we were directed into the car. Pooja Bua looked genuinely pleased to see the size and quality of the vehicle. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua sat in the car and immediately started talking about the logistics and the family. In the back of the car, Pooja Bua, Neeta Bua, and Sweta Didi were sitting. Sohan was driving the car, and Sital was sitting in the front passenger seat with him. I was left to sit on the back of Rohan's bike with Raj and follow the car to Rohan's house, feeling a strange mix of pride and apprehension as the city traffic closed in around us.
After twenty minutes of riding on Rohan's bike behind the car, we reached Rohan's house. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua were immediately impressed by the grand scale of the building. We kept looking at Rohan's luxurious house for a while. Pooja Bua stared without blinking. Rohan's house wasn't merely a house; it was a sprawling bungalow, a duplex with a large, manicured garden stretching out front. We were all thrilled to see such obvious wealth.
Then we went inside. The house was as luxuriously decorated inside as it was big outside. It was a beautiful home from every angle. Our eyes couldn't settle in one place; they kept scanning from one side of the glittering hall to the other.
We went and sat on the plush sofas. After a short while, Poonam Didi and Jyoti Bua arrived, as instructed by Pooja Bua. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua immediately started talking with Jyoti Bua about the family logistics. On the other side, Poonam Didi started a quiet conversation with Sweta Didi and Sital.
Rohan called for his Bhabhi (sister-in-law). Sohan went to bring his Papa. Rohan's Bhabhi came out and welcomed us warmly. She made us feel completely comfortable with her smooth, generous hospitality. Pooja Bua looked around, already planning. She was clearly worried that when Rohan's family came to our village house, we would be expected to make even better preparations than this.
"This is Sweta, right, Rohan?" Bhabhi asked, confirming the girl's identity.
"Yes, Bhabhi," Rohan replied happily.
The general small talk had just started when Rohan's Mammi and Papa came into the hall. Pooja Bua and Neeta Bua immediately started talking to Rohan's Mammi and Papa, quickly getting down to the serious discussion. Rohan's Mammi and Papa seemed to like Sweta Didi well enough. Rohan's Bhabhi had clearly handled all the initial arrangements and smoothed the way so expertly that the parents were already amenable to Sweta Didi.
We were all talking when Rohan's Mammi suddenly told Rohan's Papa and Rohan's Bhabhi that they needed to go inside a private room. Now, what was all this about? Why would Rohan's Mammi call them inside so suddenly? I quickly made an excuse that I needed to use the bathroom and slipped away toward the room where Rohan's Mammi had gone. I peeked inside the room from the side of the window, pressing my ear close.
"The girl is good-looking and cultured," Rohan's Bhabhi was saying to her mother-in-law.
"What's the point of just being good-looking?" Rohan's Mammi said dismissively. "She's obviously poor, from a simple village background."
"I like these people," Rohan's Bhabhi insisted. "And besides, what difference does poor or rich make nowadays? Everyone is mostly the same."
"Rohan will find a girl from a much better family than this," Rohan's Mammi argued, her voice cold. "They have nothing of substance to offer."
"Mammi, I'm telling you, we won't find a better girl than Sweta even if we search for years," Rohan's Bhabhi countered firmly. "Rohan likes Sweta deeply. Rohan has to live with Sweta, not us. We can show Rohan as many rich girls as we want, but Sweta is permanently fixed in Rohan's mind and his soul."
"But their family doesn't have anything," Rohan's Mammi repeated, clearly concerned about social status.
"Mammi, Sweta's Papa works in Dubai," Rohan's Bhabhi lied smoothly, protecting our side. "He also earns good money. They just live together in the village for the security of their large family. They are like the Zamindars (landowners) of their village. They have status there."
"But my heart is still not completely agreeing," Rohan's Mammi admitted.
"Why? What else is wrong with Sweta?" Rohan's Bhabhi asked, exasperated.
"If Rohan marries Sweta, our reputation will be ruined in society," Rohan's Mammi worried.
"Mammi, people's only job is to badmouth others," Rohan's Bhabhi dismissed her. "If we talk specifically about Sweta, she lives in a huge joint family. She knows how to keep a family together, not break it apart. What if we get Rohan married to someone else, and she causes a rift and separates all of us from Rohan? You think about it yourself. How many families in society has that happened to? If Rohan marries Sweta, this will never happen."
"You're right," Rohan's Mammi conceded. "Still..."
"Forget all this 'but' and 'still' and just say yes, Mammi," Rohan's Bhabhi urged. "If you say no, you know how angry Rohan gets when he's challenged on something important."
"Okay," Rohan's Mammi finally relented. "Do what you think is right. It's not like we've ever said no to you before. This is the first time you've asked us for something significant like this."
"That's the spirit, Mammi," Rohan's Bhabhi said, clearly winning. "Now let's go. We've been talking for too long. I don't know what they must be thinking about us being gone."
I quickly rushed back to the hall and sat down just as they returned.
"We like the girl," Rohan's Mammi announced, the decision now made. "But we will get them married after Rohan finishes his studies."
"I was also thinking the same thing," Pooja Bua said, nodding vigorously, thrilled by the result. "That we'll get Rohan and Sweta married after they finish their studies."
Pooja Bua immediately called Raj's Papa and told him everything. Raj's Papa was overjoyed to hear about Sweta Didi's successful marriage prospect. Raj's Papa said he would try to come home next week instead of next month to celebrate.
We were all talking happily when my attention was caught by something else entirely. I noticed that Sohan was looking at Sital again and again. Even in the car, Sohan's eyes had been on Sital. From the moment we got off the bus until now, Sohan was constantly glancing only at Sital. Rohan's Bhabhi then served a delicious breakfast for all of us. We were eating breakfast when Sohan suddenly stood up, dropping his bombshell without warning.
"I like Sital," Sohan announced, his voice firm and clear, looking directly at Pooja Bua. "I want to marry Sital."
---
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