When Rani's father broke the news, she put on a performance for her family. She acted solemn and indifferent, as if the news didn't move her. But the moment she reached her room and locked the door, she danced in pure jubilation, humming songs to herself. She was overjoyed that her dream of finding a "good man" was finally coming true.
The auspicious day arrived after all the religious rituals were completed. Rakesh and Rani were wed in a magnificent, grand ceremony. The opulence was so immense that Rani's family seemed like descendants of Kubera (the God of Wealth).
The day after the wedding, Rani stepped into Rakesh's house. Looking around, she realized just how different this world was from the one she grew up in. While her heart was full of joy because she had married the man she wanted, a seed of doubt was planted: Would she truly be able to adjust to this life of poverty?
The Night of the "Phulsajja" (The Flowered Bed)
In Bengali Hindu tradition, the first night a couple spends together is called Phulsajja. The bed is elaborately decorated and covered with fragrant, high-quality flowers like roses or jasmine. Amidst this romantic setting, the conversation took a heavy turn.
Rakesh: "I know you will find it difficult to adjust to our home. I will try my absolute best to ensure you don't face any hardships, but please, give me some time. I can't change who I am overnight. And... if you ever feel that I am not worthy of you, please tell me sooner rather than later. I will let you go."
Rani: "Why are you saying such inauspicious things on our very first night?"
Rakesh: "I'm not trying to break us apart; I'm just afraid. My luck isn't like yours—girls haven't exactly been lining up for me. I've only known rejection. I'm afraid that if I fall deeply in love with you, I won't be able to survive losing you later. You are beautiful and wealthy; you could find someone else and start over. But for me, relationships are everything. At my age, I won't get another chance to marry, nor does my family have the means to arrange another wedding."
Rani: "It will take time for me, too. I have to slowly adapt to this new environment. But please, don't talk about endings when we are just beginning."
Six Months Later: The Heat of Reality
Six months passed. Rakesh left his cyber cafe work and took a job as a lift operator. For a family of Rani's status, this job was embarrassingly "low-class." Rani's father had offered Rakesh a significant sum of money to start a large business, but Rakesh refused. He feared that if they ever fought, Rani might throw the "charity" in his face and insult him. He chose the hard path of dignity over the easy path of comfort.
Meanwhile, Rani was struggling. She was used to the luxury of air conditioning; now, she lived under an asbestos roof that turned the house into an oven during the summer. Furthermore, she had to help with household chores—work she had never touched in her father's house.
To make matters worse, Rakesh didn't want her to work outside the home. Rani, who loved traveling and adventure, felt her life becoming a monotonous cycle of chores and heat. She felt like she was suffocating. Yet, she stayed because she truly loved Rakesh. The most painful part, however, was that Rakesh still remained emotionally distant.