Today was my first time visiting Rina’s in-laws after her marriage. Due to various reasons, I haven’t been able to visit in these three years. I strongly opposed her marriage to Atik because it was his second marriage. His first wife had passed away from cancer, leaving behind two daughters and a son. After much deliberation, my father agreed to send Rina into this unusual household. As a result, I had a disagreement with my father. Regardless of my sister being older or having a darker complexion, we couldn’t just cast her adrift.
Rina got married to Atik anyway. Just as some relatives and neighbors used to mock Rina as a ‘leftover’ before the marriage, they continued their taunts after the wedding, saying things like, ‘She married off an unmarried girl to a man with three children!’ My younger aunt sarcastically remarked, ‘So, the money is flowing now!’
When I heard those scornful remarks about everyone behind my back, my heart would shatter into pieces. The day Mr. Atik took Rina Bubu away for marriage, I spent the entire night crying by the window. Rina Bubu got married at the age of 36. This society has been defaming Rina Bubu as a “disgrace” for a long time. Since birth, Rina Bubu’s parents have been disappointed with her because of her unattractive appearance and dark complexion. When she went to school, naughty boys used to tease her by calling her “Kali Maa” (Goddess Kali), and Rina Bubu couldn’t dream of becoming well-educated. Due to her dark complexion, her marriage proposals were one by one canceled, and as age weighed heavily on her life, Rina Bubu made a firm decision not to think about marriage anymore.
But much later, she did get married to Mr. Atik, a man from a different community.
Rina Bubu ran towards me, hugged me and said in a distressed voice, “Ranju, did you come? I wanted to see Bubu after so long! Come inside.” I went inside. A young woman named Munmun told me, “You are Ranju uncle, right?” From the next room, a girl named Monika, about 10 years old, ran and asked Rina Bubu, “Who is he, Mom?” Rina Bubu said, “Your uncle. You know, Ranju, they are my two daughters. They don’t consider me a stepmother. They give me a lot of respect.” Saying this, Rina Bubu started crying.
Dulabhai, meaning Atik Sir, is not at home. He has gone to Bogura for business. Rina Bubu cooked a wonderful lunch. There was ilish fish with latik, squab, fried patol, beef bhuna, and three types of bhaja (a Bengali vegetable dish). The food was delicious. When I praised it, Rina Bubu said, ‘Actually, the bhaja was made by my elder daughter, Munmun. She is very talented. She is in Inter now. Because the boys disturb her, we haven’t sent her to college.’ Munmun giggled from the side. Monika said, ‘Mama, you have to stay here tonight. Sing for us tonight. Amma said you can sing very well.’ I smiled softly. Rina Bubu said, ‘Ranju, I also have a son. His name is Mohan. He is in school. He is in the fifth grade now.’
In the afternoon, Mohan came from school. Rina Bubu took Mohan’s schoolbag and urged him to wash his hands and face. Seeing me, Mohan said, ‘Are you Ranju Mama?’ I said, ‘How do you know me?’ Smiling with a gap in his teeth, Mohan said, ‘I’ve seen your picture on Abba’s mobile.’ Rina Bubu said, ‘Ranju, there are many pictures of you on your Dulal Bhai’s mobile. He took them from Facebook. He is added as your friend. But you don’t know your Dulal Bhai. He has never introduced you. We look at you on Facebook every night while sleeping. Ha ha ha.
Rina is laughing. It’s making me cry so much. I can’t believe how happy my sister is here. I thought her in-laws would torture her, but this is a completely different world. I’m so happy today. Rina, who once suffered endlessly from the taunts of others for her dark skin and unattractive looks, is now like a black rose, filling this family garden with its fragrance. I want to cry today.
Mohan has washed his face and come to eat. But he won’t eat on his own. Someone has to feed him. Rina is feeding Mohan and telling me, ‘I have to feed him every day, Ranju. He won’t eat from anyone else’s hands. See? Ha ha ha.’
The phone buzzed, interrupting the quiet. It was Mr. Atik. Munmun stepped out to the balcony to take the call. Returning, she relayed the message to Rina, “Mom, Dad wants to know if you’d like some Bogra yogurt. Should I ask them to bring it?” Rina, feeding Mohan, gently declined, “No, dear. It’s not worth the trouble or expense to bring it from so far.”
I wandered out to the courtyard. Beneath the sprawling mango tree, I gazed up at the vast canvas of the sky. Today, the clouds were a sight to behold, drifting lazily and gracefully. Some raced across the sky, playfully chasing and covering others. I wondered what secret joy filled these celestial beings. Perhaps they were dancing in celebration of the happiness that had blossomed in Rina’s marriage.
