Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/119

Rh joy and fear arose in my heart, causing a tremor in my whole body.

A scene of immense bustle and noise began once more. Jewellers, goldsmiths, carpenters and clothes merchants poured into our house from all quarters. Mother one day remarked while talking to the ladies of the house, "This is my only daughter. I will send her to her father-in-law's house with such a trousseau that the mother-in-law, however clever she be, would have a hard job of it trying to find out defects."

Day after day passed on and the auspicious day approached. Did not I have any fear or doubt? To whom was I going to trust myself? But as the first streak of light in the sky dispels a world of darkness, so a a few words which came to my ears from the next room drove away all my doubts and fears. An aunt of mine was talking to my mother. Suddenly she asked, "But, sister have they seen the bride?" My mother laughed and said, "No sister, we won't have to show the bride formally. The bridegroom himself has seen her and chosen her while he was here as a guest in the wedding party of Bimal." Need I tell you any more why my mind was free from any doubts?

A silk merchant came to our house to take orders for my wedding dress. My mother called all my sisters-in-law to talk over things with, "We are old-fashioned folks, our tastes might not suit young people." The young ladies gathered round the man in great enthusiasm. I too was hauled along by them to be a member of their committee. After a great deal of talking my eldest sister-in-law decided upon a deep crimson silk, covered all over with gold embroidery which flashed as streaks of lightning. It was especially to their liking as it matched my name. I too liked the thing immensely, and, escaping to my room, sat down hugging the thought to my bosom that the Rh