New Auntie is Here

Deepak's heart sank as they emerged onto the deserted platform - the last tanga had clearly already departed without them. But just as panic began to set in once more, a painfully welcome sight appeared through the gloom.Lumbering down the street towards the station was a rickety old bus, its baldheaded tires kicking up clouds of dust in its wake. Deepak breathed a sigh of relief, clutching the mystery woman's hand even tighter as he ushered them quickly towards the vehicle's opening doors."Aao bhabhi, let's get into this one," he urged gently, gesturing for her to ascend the stairs first before passing their luggage up to her.Meanwhile, at the very bus stop they were headed, Deepak's three closest childhood friends paced impatiently. They had stationed themselves there hours ago, awaiting their buddy's triumphant arrival with his new wife per the longstanding village tradition.As the rumbling engine drew nearer, one of the friends squinted into the darkness, eventually making out the bus's approaching form through the dusty gloom."Arey, wahaan hai! Deepu is here!" he shouted, signaling wildly to his companions. Within seconds, they had scrambled into position.Just as the bus pulled to a creaking halt under the terminal awning, the squeaky blares of traditional brass instrumentation shattered the night air. Deepak's eyes widened in surprise and unbridled joy as his best mates grinned down at him like a gang of mischievous jesters.Forming an enthusiastic welcoming band, they broke into a lively wedding processional tune, the music swelling jubilantly through the still evening as the newlyweds disembarked hand-in-hand. Deepak couldn't contain his broad smile, equal parts sheepish and elated at this gesture of celebration from his lifelong friends.The veiled woman beside him faltered momentarily, clearly taken aback by the raucous scene. But Deepak gave her hand an reassuring squeeze, gently encouraging her forward into the antics with tenderhearted patience.In that moment, she understood the simple truth of the community she had married into - one of friendship, warmth and unvarnished joy, free from the materialistic posturing she'd fled. As the lively music swelled around them in a chaotically festive welcome, she summoned her courage to follow her new husband and his companions wherever this adventure led next.The celebratory music and riotous cheers from Deepak's friends swirled around the veiled woman in a dizzying whirlwind. Though she moved numbly alongside her new "husband", inwardly she was gripped by turmoil.What had she just done? What would come next on this uncharted path she now traveled? There would be no going back - at least not tonight. The train they'd mistakenly disembarked had been the last one destined for Pateela, where her own husband's family awaited.She kept her face obediently averted, the crimson veil's gossamer folds suddenly feeling stifling rather than modest. How long until she could discard this shroud of anonymity? The thought of permanently concealing herself, losing her identity to become another man's property, made her recoil.Yet...when would be an appropriate time to reveal Deepak's error without risking him whisking her back to the life she'd abandoned? Even in these first few bewildered moments, she knew that was the last thing she wanted.The veiled woman's head spun with indecision as their party slowly navigated the winding village paths, crushed oleander petals releasing their heady perfume under their footsteps. Deepak's calloused palm remained entwined with hers, his grip warm and steadying despite the accidental deception between them.As they approached a modestly adorned outer gateway, the woman forced herself to pause and gather her scattered wits. Two roads had diverged in the yellow morning light, and she had quite literally taken the one less traveled by. There was no returning to the other now.With a silent prayer to the divine for guidance, she centered her breathing and looked around at this makeshift household awaiting her across the threshold.The cacophony of cheers and lively music grew steadily louder as they approached the modest family compound. Even Deepak's neighbors had emerged from their homes, waving enthusiastically and calling out raucous greetings to welcome the newlyweds.A gaggle of excitable children broke free from the gathered crowd, their high-pitched voices ringing out in unison. "New Auntie is here! New Auntie is here!" They danced around Deepak and the veiled woman, wide grins plastered across their cherubic faces.The woman felt increasingly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and noise surrounding them. A flicker of doubt resurfaced in her mind. What if she simply...slipped away? Melted back into the shadowed night before anyone was the wiser? The veil concealing her features could be both blessing and curse in that regard.But even as the thought took hold, her feet maintained their forward trajectory across the threshold and into the exuberantly lit compound. Blazing strings of marigold and mango leaves adorned every surface, lending a festive ambiance. Rows of kaleidoscopic filament bulbs bathed the entire scene in a warm, twinkling radiance.The veiled bride's senses were instantly overwhelmed by the aromas of spices, boiled meats, floral garlands and sweet desserts intermingling in a heady, mouth-watering cloud. Somewhere amid the jovial chaos, she could make out Deepak enthusiastically scooping up a young boy - "Bablu!" he exclaimed joyfully, peppering his nephew with questions about his wellbeing.A wizened older man - undoubtedly Deepak's father - turned towards the commotion with an incredibly warm, paternal look. "Come wife, Deepu has returned early!" he called out in thick rural accents to his wife, beaming with pride.The veiled woman's breath hitched in her throat as a heavyset matriarch abandoned the group of women she'd been conversing with.Deepak beamed as he approached his parents, immediately bending to touch his father's feet in a gesture of deep respect. "Pitaji, Mataji," he murmured reverentially.His father, Bholaram, chuckled heartily as he pulled Deepak into a fierce embrace. "Beta, what took you so long, eh? The train was never on time even in my youth!""Kabhi kuch chalta hai, Pitaji?" Deepak replied with a grin, using the old adage about things rarely operating promptly.Bholaram threw his head back with a rich belly laugh before turning to usher his son and new daughter-in-law further into the bustling compound. Deepak's mother, Yashoda, quickly took the veiled bride's hand in hers, gently leading her towards the inner entrance."Come, my daughter, come," the older woman cooed affectionately. "The elders are waiting to give their blessings."They made their way through the crowd to where Deepak's grandmother Lajjo sat perched on a caught divan, her deeply creased face awash with joy. Deepak respectfully bent to touch her feet as she reached down to cup his cheek with a gnarled hand."My grandson weds at last," she crowed merrily. "Baarakallah, baarakallah on you both!"Lajjo's eyes crinkled warmly as she bestowed her blessings over the couple. She made a shooing motion to Yashoda then. "Now go, go fetch the rites tray for the bride's welcoming. We mustn't delay the ceremonies!"Yashoda rolled her eyes good-naturedly before turning back towards the inner kitchen quarters, grumbling under her breath about the endless toils of being matriarch. As she bustled off, Deepak steered his new wife across the compound to where his grandfather, Pitamber lay abed on a traditional rope cot.The aging patriarch's eyes were slightly unfocused, but he suddenly jerked upright as they approached, letting out a scratchy yelp. "Alert! Alert!" His bony finger jabbed the air emphatically.Deepak leaned over the cot, clasping Pitamber's hand soothingly between his own work-roughened palms. "No, Bade Pitaji, it is only me - Deepu. With my new wife." He gestured for the veiled bride to bend slightly so his grandfather could make out her shrouded form.Pitamber blinked slowly a few times, seeming to regain his bearings somewhat. "Achchha..." he wheezed out finally, giving a faint nod of recognition. As quickly as his burst of lucidity had arrived, it faded again - but not before Deepak had completed this paramount show of respect.He straightened up slowly, relieved to have carried out the customary gestures with the extended family's elders. Now they could properly commence the evening's festivities and rituals welcoming his bride into the household.The raucous compound fell into a hush of anticipation as Yashoda reappeared, carefully carrying an ornate brass tray laden with the traditional welcoming items. Lajjo made a move to take the rites platter from her daughter-in-law's hands."Let me, let me do the honors for my grandson's bride," the elderly matriarch insisted, her eyes bright with eagerness.However, Yashoda tilted her head knowingly. "Amma-ji, weren't you the one complaining just now about being overlooked for your own son's wedding rituals, hmm?" She arched an accusatory eyebrow at her mother-in-law.Lajjo's face fell slightly at the gentle rebuke. With great reluctance, she handed the tray back to Yashoda, murmuring something about having her turn one day. The younger woman grinned triumphantly before turning towards Deepak and his veiled bride.Reaching into the tray, Yashoda carefully extracted a bright red kumkum powder disc. "Come beta, let me mark your forehead as a married man," she instructed her son warmly.Deepak immediately bent his head in deference, allowing his mother to press the vermillion blessing onto his brow in a brilliant red circle. He beamed at her proudly when their eyes met once more.Yashoda then turned her attention towards the veiled woman beside him. "And for my bahu..." She paused, clearly expecting the bride to unveil her face now that she was amongst family.For a moment, the stranger stiffened almost imperceptibly at this new revelation. But the lively, celebratory energy swirling around her seemed to propel her forward in spite of any remaining trepidation.With hands that only trembled slightly, she reached up and slowly drew back the gossamer folds of her veil away from her features. The crimson fabric parted like butterflies' wings, finally revealing the woman's face to her new household under the twinkling courtyard lights.A deafening silence descended over the vibrant courtyard, as if a cosmic force had abruptly muted the raucous celebrations. All eyes locked onto the mysterious woman standing beside Deepak, unveiled and utterly unrecognizable to every set of eyes scrutinizing her."Kaun hai yeh?" an elderly aunt squawked first, her bony finger jabbing accusingly through the air. "Who have you brought home, Deepu?"The whispers began to swell like a brewing storm, echoing off the clay-tiled roofs overhanging the cramped compound. "Yeh kis ki bahu hai? Who is she?"