A Girl from London : Episode - 4

Navaratri

After a ride from Sagar Island to Kolkata Sidharth has reached his home, he can see his brother Arnav at home.

“Sidharth, you are finally back, where have you been for the past 2 days and why is your phone not reachable, do you know how much we were worried about you?” said Sidharth’s mom with a low and emotional voice.

“I was on a road trip Maa, and I told Arnav that I was going out of town for 2 days didn’t he tell you”

“Arnav! Did Sidhu informed you?” asked Sidharth’s mom with a surprised voice

“Did, Sidhu inform me?” said Arnav by looking towards Sidhu with a blank look of confusion.

“Yes, Arnav I called you right, that day you were in a meeting and you were busy, did you forgot?” said Sidharth with a wink so that his brother can understand and help him to coverup.

“No, I mean Yes, you called me right, yes Maa Sidhu called me I was busy so I forgot.”

“Why do I feel like you are covering up for your brother Arnav”

“Of course not, I was busy in the client meeting so, it skipped my mind,” said Arnav with a firm and convincing manner

“Whatever, you are fine and that’s soothing for now, Vaibhav just called me and said there was some pooja in his house and he wants us to come but I am not feeling well so I am afraid that I will not be able to attend the pooja and Arnva is having a meeting, so tell him that we were not able to attend the pooja,” said Siddarth mom

“That’s fine I'll let him now”

“Is Kaira coming for the pooja with you?”

“Yes, Why would she not come?”

“Well that’s a good thing to know, remember if you do not lift your phone I will immediately call Kaira, after the pooja is completed leave her at home and be back on time, now go and take some rest. Did you eat anything or should I make something for you to eat?”

“No maa, I am fine I just ate, wake me up by 5pm”

Sidharth went to his room, his room was fully covered with racing posters and some of his hand made pencil arts, Sidharth is not only a racer, but he is an artist also, whatever he feels in a moment he makes a pencil art of that. He is not the type of person who can explain his feelings. So the only way he can express his feelings is through his art. He just went to bed closed his eyes and kept his head on the pillow.

After some time he woke up as his mother was knocking his door to remind him that he needs to go to pooja.

“Yes Maa, I’ll come once I get ready,” said Sidharth with a husky voice and began to get ready for the pooja. He wore a plain black shirt and blue jeans, He was also obsessed with black as equally as Diya. Once he got ready he came down and as he took his bike keys and went to his bike he shouted.“Maa, I am starting for the pooja, I’ll be back by 12pm “.

“From next time tell me before you do something, Sidhu, I can’t manage whenever you mess up with mom,” Said Arnav.

“I know you can handle Brother, And coming to a secret we are having a party at Vaibhav penthouse after the pooja if you want you can come and join us, text me weather you are coming or not, bye brother,” said Sidharth and went to pick up Kaira.

Meanwhile in Diya’s room.

“Amoditha, I am really confused about what should we wear for the pooja?” asked Indu with confusion standing in front of her wardrobe.

“Actually for Navratri we have 9 colors for 9 days, as today is the ninth day we prefer Peacock green. So wear something traditional in that color shade, that would be fine” said Amoditha

“I think we do not have any traditional wear in those shades,” said Indu while searching all her clothes in her wardrobe.

“Do not worry Indu, I have already ordered some traditional wear for us, check the wardrobe”. said Diya.

“Wow, that’s great let's get ready”.

Diya was really excited for the Navratri pooja, she heard the Navratri pooja from her grandparents, but she never attended any pooja before so Diya wanted everything to be perfect. She wore a Peacock green Anarkali suit with matching color dupatta, as she is short in height she was wearing green high heels to look taller. she was looking like a Bengali girl in that dress, generally, she prefers ponytail but now for the pooja she left her long hair open, which touches her waist, her hair resembled the black fog.

Looking at Diya Amoditha was astonished and said“Wow! Diya you look gorgeous in this dress.”

“Thank you Amoditha.”

“Yes Diya you are looking amazing but, I am feeling a bit uneasy in this dress,” said Indu, she was fully sweating and looking quite a bit uncomfortable.

“It’s the first time you're wearing traditional clothes Indu, do not worry you will get used to it.”

“Well, shall we leave now its time for the pooja,” said Indu with an uneasy voice it looked like she was waiting for this pooja to be done so that she can get back to her normal clothing.

“Of course Vaibhav sent his car to pick us, the driver is waiting down, let's go,” said Amoditha

The evenings during Kolkata Durga Puja witness the streets packed with thousands of people both locals and tourists alike who come to see the large beautifully decorated idols of Goddess Durga, to offer their prayers, eat at the numerous stalls that pop up in the streets and take part in the grand celebrations to honor the victory of Goddess Durga over evil. In that traffic and commotion of the streets, Diya noticed someone familiar and asked Amoditha.

“Amoditha, the guy with the beard, who is smoking over there it’s Sidharth right?”

“Yes, it’s Sidharth”

“The way he is dressed looks like he is not coming for the pooja”

“ He does not believe all these color themes and traditional wear, he is not a traditional person, looks like he is waiting for Kaira, at least he should have shaved his beard, let him come I’ll talk with him.”

After 30 mins in traffic, they finally reached the pooja Mandap and Vaibhav was waiting outside to receive them.

“Wow! Diya you look gorgeous in this dress, it was hard to recognize you for a second,” said Vaibhav with a surprised tone.

“Thanks, Vaibhav,” she said

“Am I not gorgeous Mr. Vaibhav Mitra?” said Amoditha with a sarcastic and mocking tone.

“Of course you are always gorgeous my lady, but today you have to admit that Diya looks good in this dress.”

“Well you made a point”

“Ok, you people get yourselves comfortable and go do the darshan, I need to receive some more guests, I’ll get back with you shortly Amoditha take care of them, “ said Vaibhav and went outside to receive his guests.

The preparations for the pooja are as fascinating as the festival itself. The mandap was beautifully decorated with idols into magnificently decorated pandals. The idol was decorated with flowers, clothes, jewelry, red vermillion, and various sweets are kept in front of the Goddess. The idol of the Goddess is accompanied by the idol of Lord Ganesh.

“Diya, I thought the idol would be Maa Durga, but this idol looks different then what I have seen on the internet,” asked Indu.

“It’s one of the 9 forms of Maa Durga Indu, The ninth day of Navaratri is known as Navami and is auspicious for a variety of reasons. For Bengalis, Navami signals the end of the celebrations of Maa Durga. It was Goddess Durga who had killed the demon Mahishasur on this day. Goddess Durga’s ninth form, Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped on this day. Her name means the one who gives us power. After worshipping her nine forms, on the 10th day, Vijayadashami or Dussehra is celebrated.” Explained Diya to Indu.

Indu was getting uneasy from the smoke of the homa in the pooja“Diya, I am kind of feeling uneasy”

“Are you fine, let's just sit somewhere come with me,” said Diya and they went to the tables which were arranged for guest and sat there.

Meanwhile, Sidharth and Kaira came to the pooja,

“Look who’s hear Sidharth Roy, I thought you will not come, dude”

“Why wouldn’t I come to Vaibhav and that too after you have invited me how would I skip this. Actually, Maa also wanted to come to pooja but she was not feeling well so she was not able to attend the pooja and Arnav you know him right he is busy with his work”

“That’s fine once all these Navratri celebrations are done I will come and meet aunty”.

Kaira was really annoyed with these boys talk and said “Now if you boys are done shall we go inside for the pooja”

“Yes, let’s go I have been waiting for you guys, the pooja is about to end and Maa is been asking for you since morning lets go and meet her”

“Subho Durga poojo Maa” wished Sidharth and Kaira.

“Subho Durga poojo Beta, Where have you both been?, I thought you will not be coming to the pooja”

“How would we miss it Aunty.” Said Kaira.

“It’s good to see you both in here, what are you guys doing now beta, your graduation is done right.”

“I have no huge plans aunty, I was planning to open a dance academy, I would love to teach Kathak,” said Kaira

“That’s very fascinating, what about you Sidhu”

“I do not have any plans yet maa,” said Sidhu with a confused and subtle voice

“What do you mean by that Sidhu, you should need a proper career in life. I heard Amoditha is also working in some software company”

During this conversation, the whole crowd in the mandap was able to hear a familiar voice making an announcement on the stage its Vaibhavs father.

“Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, thank you to all those who attended this pooja, we are really grateful for all your warm wishes to our family. This day can't get better than this so I would like to make a small announcement, Our company Mitra Industries is going to expand from 12 branches to 15 branches in West Bengal”

The whole crowd began to applaud.

“And the main thing is to take this firm into new heights, our board of directors has decided to announce a new CEO who will be able to take this company further more into this new generation market, With no further due let me call upon the stage, the new CEO of Mitra Industries my son Vaibhav Mitra”

The whole crowd began to cheer for the new CEO, Vaibhav was shocked by this, he was not even aware of this, the whole press did a general interview with Vaibhav, after the press meeting Vaibhav went to meet Amodhitha.

“Congratulations CEO!!, why didn’t you tell me?” said Amoditha.

“If I had any idea that this is going to happen you would be the first person that I would have told right? Even I don’t know that this announcement is going to be made here today.”Said Viabhav with a surprised voice.

“Congrats CEO,” wished Diya

“Why is Indu looking so low?”

“Actually I wanted to tell you the pooja was fabulous and we loved it, Indu is quite new to all this environment due to the smoke and because of the dress she is feeling uneasy so I am thinking that we will leave now,” said Diya.

“Ok I can understand, tomorrow there will be Durga Visarjan I want you to attend it, for now, I will send a driver with you he will drop you at your hostel,” said Vaibhav and Diya went to her room.

“CEO Vaibhav Mitra congrats buddy, we are going to party,” said Sidharth with an excited voice.

“Thanks, yes we will wait till all this function is done we will go to our penthouse and party like hell”

“Excuse me is the party only for Sidhu aren’t we invited,” said Kaira

“Of course if you want you can join us.”

“Well, I need to get home by 10 pm, so next time Mr. CEO,” said Kaira

“Ok, as Sidhu will be at the party, I’ll arrange a driver so that he can drop you and Amoditha.”

As the pooja was done Vaibhav and Sidhu went to the penthouse for the party

“So Sidhu, whats next dude”

“I don’t know”

“What do you mean you don’t know, you should get settle man, Amoditha told me that you got a job offer in her company aren’t you gonna join there?”

“You know right dude, I am really not into this job I want to be free, I want to visit places enjoy the life with the wind on my face”

“Yes, I know that buddy, but I think you need to take some responsibilities how can your brother manage everything alone? he needs your support, You can do this dude I know you better than anyone”

“That’s what is actually stopping me from going free”

“Well, in that case, I have an Idea, Come to my company so that you will have a constant income and at free time you can pursue your dream to travel as well, what do you say?”

“Thanks, Vaibhav but I would rather not take it if I want I would have joined at Arnav’s company, but I want to build myself on my own”

“I know dude, or else get a proper racing career Sidhu, Kaira and I both believe in you that’s the reason for us to get you that bike so that you can concentrate on that”

“Right now, I need a constant job Vaibhav, you are right I’ll join the job in Amoditha’s company”

“That’s a good start Sidhu, do not worry buddy I will be always here for you and we will get through this”

“Thanks, buddy, now shall we party, come on guys lets hear it for the new CEO”

After the party, while Sidhu is on his way back home he stopped his bike at the bay at one of the ghats by Hooghly river. He has multiple thoughts in his head, he was really confused about his future but deep down Sidhu knows that he needs to take certain responsibilities and take care of his mother, in that night lights of Kolkata and the serene atmosphere Sidharth was fighting his own battle inside is head.

The last day of Durga Puja celebrations sees ‘Durga Visarjan’. You can see lavish processions taking idols of the goddess for immersion in the Ganga or sea. It is a day of mixed emotions for devotees as they bid farewell to the deity, with the wish of welcoming her next year. The whole streets were filled with colors and people dancing in joy during Visarjan. Diya and Indu went to the Visarjan of Vaibhavs pooja mandap

“Hello Diya hope you guys made it”

“It was really hard to find you guys in this crowd”

After sometime Vaibhav notices Sidharth was missing

“Kaira, where is Sidhu? I can't see him anywhere”

“I think he might have gone for smoke do not worry he will get back”

“Amoditha said you guys are leaving for London, tomorrow?” asked Vaibhav.

“Yes Vaibhav, its already been a week, my grandparents want me to get back on time so that I can join my masters”.

“Well, we will come tomorrow to drop you at the airport.

After the Visarjan is done Kaira called Sidhu” Hello Sidhu, where did you go?”

“Arnav called me so I went to meet him at his office you just stay there, I’ll come and pick you up in 15 mins.

“Where is he? Is he going to pick you or do you want me to drop you?”

“He went to meet his brother, no that’s fine he will come”

“Well, I’ll take a leave now we need to pack our luggage the only person I didn’t meet was Siddharth, it was really fun being with you people around”. Said Diya and went to their room.

The next day Diya and Indu packed their luggage and started to the airport while going on the streets, Diya became a little bit emotional she can see all her past and 6 months of her journey in the city. She was really attached to the city and all those people. In that trance of her memory in no time they had reached the airport.

“Thank you Vaibhav, I mean it if I have not met you, people, I don’t know how will I be able to survive.”

“That’s fine Diya, we are friends, after all, do not worry we can keep in touch through Facebook or Snapchat, will text you daily,” said Amoditha

The flight attendants have announced their flight departure, so they both were walking towards the terminal. After all the procedure is done, they were finally into the flight and went to their seats, Diya was watching outside the window and thought that “Bye Kolkata thanks for all your memories”.