It was a simple wedding and the groom had touched 40, a middle-aged-man who somehow or the other missed the ceremony as he had some ear contact trouble, which he later on got over it.

The bride was obese and a plain, unsophisticated simple country girl, nay a middle-aged lady who had no high qualified degree and after her admission into college she could not complete it, as education was not her cup of tea. The girl otherwise had a good hand for embroidery and fine arts.

Her father was a bank employee and now a retired man. With all his savings he bought a two-room-flat at the outskirts of Kolkata. Sushanto and Jharna’s only child Kakoli’s marriage was to be held mid of June.

Kakoli was looking forward for the big day in her life. Her best friend had come to meet in leisure time when her daughter was in school. Saroja found Kakoli had a hidden glow in her face, “Where would you like to go for your honeymoon?” asked her friend. Well I haven’t yet decided, let me get married then my husband and I would think over. “Go to Kerala, it is all green and green”  Kakoli nodded her head, “I will remember your words.”

All daughters get married and Kakoli too went through the journey for a new home; her in-law’s house.

The groom’s siblings had settled down abroad.  Once in two years or for a special occasion the elder brother along with his wife and family visited India. When I write down abroad, I would like my readers to know that staying and working abroad does not mean all are well off.  Partha works as a waiter in a restaurant in New York but holds a high status whilst visiting India, after all working abroad needed no special introduction. He and his wife is centre of attraction amongst family, relatives and friends. Their two-year-old child never touched the ground of India; always tightly hold by her or him. “Very dirty” claimed Namita, and Saheb is not used to Indian climate.

A month later I along with my niece attended a wedding ceremony of our friend’s son and here I met Kakoli with her in laws. It was  13^th of July the weather was very hot and muggy, but still better as Delhi had the season’s first shower on the 4^th.

Kakoli managed a good seat near the big fan and made her mother in law, Harini, comfortable.  I was sitting at the back along with my friends. It did not take me long to find out that Harini being Tuesday was having veg food.  All the time Kakoli was busy either bringing the chat items or veg noodles and then followed by sweets.

Amidst these chores Kakoli was keeping an eye at the main entrance and when she saw her aunt and uncle- in -law she rushed to greet them spoke with them for a while and was back to Harini’s duty.

I don’t know when I missed Kakoli having her dinner but when it was time for us to leave I went up to Harini.  I asked Kakoli, “Where is your husband?”  Before she could answer her youngest aunt-in-law popped her head in and said, “Shibu is busy with office work and so his wife has come along with us”

After a few exchange of words we were getting ready to leave. I told my husband to sit in the car as I was waiting for the betel leaf. Suddenly my niece nudged me “aunt look “  I saw Harini caught hold of her daughter- in -law and whosoever was passing by, she kept on saying “I have left my walking stick at home as now my daughter-in law is my stick”

Is a girl to be wedded and brought to work as a waiting –in-maid servant?  It is ok, fine, daughters- in -law can look after her in laws if needed but to the extent she is being brought to the house to work as an attendant?

My readers please note that people like Harini boast of showering love to son, who cannot define the boundaries; it is always so much that it overflows. The uncompromising and adamant woman breaks the line of control, and brings the son to believe, in her unprecedented, extra ordinary selfish love thus labeling her son as dutiful at the cost of his wife and spoil many lives.