yesterday and made a mess. I have to go get some more.”
“Ruhi look at me.” Debo gently propped her face up by the chin. “You consider me like your elder sister, right?”
She answered with an apprehensive nod.
“Then there are certain things essential for a married Indian woman. It doesn’t matter what your husband says; you should not take them lightly. You should never go without your sindoor because it is an auspicious symbol of your marriage, and also a sign that indicates your love will prosper. Therefore, even if you don’t have your wedding necklace, you should at least wear your sindoor .”
“Yes, di, I will try to get some as soon as possible.”
“Soon? Why not now?”
Ruhi felt trapped as Debo dragged her to a tiny shrine and picked up a small silver receptacle full of the vermillion powder.
“I can put it on, di, give it to me.”
“No, I have a better idea. Shaan!” Debo called out.
Ruhi was upset; her body began to tremble.
“What is it, bhabhi ? Time for food?” Shaan appeared, smiling along with Sujoy.
“Shaan, I didn’t expect this from you. I know you love your wife dearly, but letting her go about bareheaded. It is not right.”
“Let them be, Debo, they are a modern couple. It’s their life. You don’t have to interfere.” Sujoy chimed in acutely embarrassed; his wife was quite the traditionalist.
“You keep out of it, Sujoy, I know my sister. She will listen to me.”
She handed Shaan the receptacle and urged him, “Take this and put it back where it belongs with God as your witness and don’t ever let her go unadorned again.”
Then as he hesitated, she asked, frowning, ”Is there something wrong between you two?”
“No, of course not.” He looked at Ruhi who had grown completely silent.
“Go ahead, Shaan,” Bee said softly, giving him permission.
He pinched a small amount of the red powder and placed it firmly in the parting on her forehead. Not entirely certain why, but this makeshift ceremony appeared more meaningful to him than the one on his wedding day.
“Perfect! Now my mishti bon looks like a bride, a very beautiful bride.”
The rest of the evening went by as a blur for Ruhi. She had managed to reconcile with her upcoming status, but the wound had opened again. Marriage, love, hatred, Shaan, Ruhi—friendship, affection, Grey, Bee…feelings.
Shaan could see her lost in thought looking very beautiful yet unhappy with the red streak in the center of her forehead, and it affected him, the emotion deep enough to throw him in turmoil, and he couldn’t wish it away.
During dinner Ruhi couldn’t eat much, but agreed the food was excellent. All of a sudden, she sprang up to embrace Debo. “I’ll miss you a lot.”
“Miss me? Are you going somewhere, Shaan?”
“Uh, no. Bee… Ruhi means to say she wants to see you every day.”
“Of course you can, my dear. Drop by any day. I will love the company, and Anu adores you already.”
“Yes, di, I will.”
***
Back at the apartment.
Shaan said, “I’m sorry. What happened was something I was afraid of.” Ruhi appeared not to hear; instead, she walked into the hallway bathroom and stared at the red dot on her forehead. She raised her hand then wavered…
Why can’t I erase it as easily as before? Am I changing? Do I feel different? Is Bee a camouflage for Ruhi—a protective layer?
No, it has to be done; I can’t afford to gamble with my emotions, she resolved, lifting her hand again. But when he looked at me today, there was something in his eyes I haven’t seen before. She wanted to cry out loud.
Shaan stepped in; he had been watching silently for several minutes.
Meeting her gaze in the large mirror, he turned her around. “Close your eyes.”
A gentle puff of air swept over her forehead and erased the symbol. She felt her shoulders lighten, yet at the same time also a strange melancholy.
“Ruhi…Bee?” She looked up.
“I will never force you to do anything against
“Ruhi look at me.” Debo gently propped her face up by the chin. “You consider me like your elder sister, right?”
She answered with an apprehensive nod.
“Then there are certain things essential for a married Indian woman. It doesn’t matter what your husband says; you should not take them lightly. You should never go without your sindoor because it is an auspicious symbol of your marriage, and also a sign that indicates your love will prosper. Therefore, even if you don’t have your wedding necklace, you should at least wear your sindoor .”
“Yes, di, I will try to get some as soon as possible.”
“Soon? Why not now?”
Ruhi felt trapped as Debo dragged her to a tiny shrine and picked up a small silver receptacle full of the vermillion powder.
“I can put it on, di, give it to me.”
“No, I have a better idea. Shaan!” Debo called out.
Ruhi was upset; her body began to tremble.
“What is it, bhabhi ? Time for food?” Shaan appeared, smiling along with Sujoy.
“Shaan, I didn’t expect this from you. I know you love your wife dearly, but letting her go about bareheaded. It is not right.”
“Let them be, Debo, they are a modern couple. It’s their life. You don’t have to interfere.” Sujoy chimed in acutely embarrassed; his wife was quite the traditionalist.
“You keep out of it, Sujoy, I know my sister. She will listen to me.”
She handed Shaan the receptacle and urged him, “Take this and put it back where it belongs with God as your witness and don’t ever let her go unadorned again.”
Then as he hesitated, she asked, frowning, ”Is there something wrong between you two?”
“No, of course not.” He looked at Ruhi who had grown completely silent.
“Go ahead, Shaan,” Bee said softly, giving him permission.
He pinched a small amount of the red powder and placed it firmly in the parting on her forehead. Not entirely certain why, but this makeshift ceremony appeared more meaningful to him than the one on his wedding day.
“Perfect! Now my mishti bon looks like a bride, a very beautiful bride.”
The rest of the evening went by as a blur for Ruhi. She had managed to reconcile with her upcoming status, but the wound had opened again. Marriage, love, hatred, Shaan, Ruhi—friendship, affection, Grey, Bee…feelings.
Shaan could see her lost in thought looking very beautiful yet unhappy with the red streak in the center of her forehead, and it affected him, the emotion deep enough to throw him in turmoil, and he couldn’t wish it away.
During dinner Ruhi couldn’t eat much, but agreed the food was excellent. All of a sudden, she sprang up to embrace Debo. “I’ll miss you a lot.”
“Miss me? Are you going somewhere, Shaan?”
“Uh, no. Bee… Ruhi means to say she wants to see you every day.”
“Of course you can, my dear. Drop by any day. I will love the company, and Anu adores you already.”
“Yes, di, I will.”
***
Back at the apartment.
Shaan said, “I’m sorry. What happened was something I was afraid of.” Ruhi appeared not to hear; instead, she walked into the hallway bathroom and stared at the red dot on her forehead. She raised her hand then wavered…
Why can’t I erase it as easily as before? Am I changing? Do I feel different? Is Bee a camouflage for Ruhi—a protective layer?
No, it has to be done; I can’t afford to gamble with my emotions, she resolved, lifting her hand again. But when he looked at me today, there was something in his eyes I haven’t seen before. She wanted to cry out loud.
Shaan stepped in; he had been watching silently for several minutes.
Meeting her gaze in the large mirror, he turned her around. “Close your eyes.”
A gentle puff of air swept over her forehead and erased the symbol. She felt her shoulders lighten, yet at the same time also a strange melancholy.
“Ruhi…Bee?” She looked up.
“I will never force you to do anything against
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