The Three Little Brides

 

The Three Little Brides

 

- by Krabbit

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction loosely inspired by the Netflix movie ‘Bulbbul’ and various sources such as books ,the internet and  in-numerous tales that contribute to the oral culture of storytelling. This story has depictions of Bengali Hindu weddings and in no way claims the accuracy of the rituals portrayed. There is no fixed time period for this story so  creative liberties have been taken with  setting and social norms and practices.

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Once upon a time, there existed a dream-like palace at the edge of a quite prosperous village separated by a forest, its borders adorned with finely mowed lawns and gardens. In that palace lived a wealthy landowner simply addressed as Raja moshai by his grateful subjects. His benevolence and fair tax rates were a source of much praise and added to his already inflated reputation. He had everything and he made sure to give everything to his people. For him, his wealth was them. The only ‘flaw’ he had was his unmarried status.

 

The family purohit and the Raja’s mother were as close as the most bosom of friends , so it wasn’t difficult for them to put their heads together and draw up a profile of select families with potential brides fit for their sonar chele. Soon a bride was selected. Happiness and excitement floated in the air, tinged slightly by the disappointment of young village lasses who dreamed of the mysterious Raja as a handsome young man and fantasized marrying him and living a fairy-tale. They reluctantly had to abandon that day dream, for the Raja was as good as hitched already. 

 

The bride’s family were only too pleased to give away their child to such a well reputed house. So on the day of the holy union, the little bride was roused from her peaceful slumber to be groomed thoroughly for the groom. The five year-old day dreamed of fairies and princesses traveling to defeat the evil demon, of tasty doi her father brought home every week, of her dolls coming to life and begging her not to go away .Soon the sun proceeded to retire for the evening and the house of the little bride eagerly awaited for the burning lights of the groom’s entourage to illuminate the distant dusky horizon. Shankhs raised in the air, the ancient sound magnifying until every house from afar could hear and know: a new bride shall be a new wife soon.

 

The child was dressed in the most gorgeous benarasi, a little too big for her tiny body, and adorned in precious family jewelry. She resembled a goddess by the time her mother finished applying colour to her lips and cheeks. Her mother then gazed at her carefully before crushing her soft head to her chest, a few tears escaping from her world-weary eyes. Her daughter sensed her tears and immediately assured her “Maa I will come up to play later, don’t cry ,why are you crying?”

 

Soon the men of the family came to carry her on her pidi to perform the saat paak around the groom. When the little bride lowered the paan pata from her face, her doe-eyes spied an older man’s face staring at her directly. She assumed he must be what her relatives call ‘the groom’. The ceremony went on for quite awhile  past her bedtime. She almost fell sideways, held up by her pishi as her eyes drooped and her stomach growled.The seven turns around lord Agni’s element was showered with flowers as both families blessed the holy union of man and child for seven lifetimes. Soon the biye was completed and the newly wedded child could finally breathe relief . She was eager to run up the stairs to her bedroom where her dolls were waiting . She was puzzled when her father halted her progress. ”Babamoshai I want to play with my dolls” she beseeched him. He simply shook his head and informed her that, due to the long distance between her sasurbari and her old home , the journey will be long and arduous. Her new husband rightly suggested they commence their travel back later at night. The women of the little bride’s former home came forward and led her away from the staircase to prepare her for the journey. Her dolls waited in vain for her to come and play with them . The opulent blanket lay still on her bed, weeping silent tears at the lack of a warm petite body to cover in its warm embrace. The floral curtains flowed sadly in the wind as they witnessed the bride being taken away in a luxurious carriage flanked by servants and lighted torches.

 

 

The newly married Raja’s group was received with fanfare equivalent to the Queen’s welcome. The sound of conch shells resonated across the enormous hall as the inner mahal opened and the women of the house descended to welcome the new couple. Relatives from near and far flanked on either sides of the doorway ,looking forward to deduce the new ‘Rani’ of the palace. The Raja stood at the entrance, a pleased smile gracing his face as his mother fed him sweets and water, his bride standing small and firm beside him, her wide eyes scanning the lavishly decorated hall. The Raja could sense her naïve curiosity and his smile turned fonder. He watched as she took her first steps into his household , her feet creating little red prints on the pure white cloth leading all the way up to a few feet before the stairs. He hoped to lead a happy life with her in the future. For now she has just become a student of her mother-in-law . The latter took the girl’s chin between her fingers and turned her face from side to side, inspecting carefully , before a small warn smile replaced her expressionless face as she said “Welcome to your new home bouma”. 

 

Soon enough ,the little rani of the house settled in and started her training. The Raja , meanwhile, was endeared by his child-like wife. He liked her chubby hands and her tiny head barely reaching his knees; her face was as pale and perfect as an European doll .Red bindi topped by an equally red sindoor graced her small face. He can’t wait for her to grow out of her chubby cheeked sweetness into a swan worthy of being called a queen. Till then she can spend her days in relaxation, he thought, barely noticing a babyish hand holding a ladle and shakily pouring daal over his fine white rice.

 

The joy and anticipation , however, was to remain unfulfilled for the little bride never grew up . The first year passed , no one really noticed and while the keen eyes of the in-laws observed her physical growth, they did not find it unnatural. Perhaps her development was slow. The second year passed and the little rani did not grow an inch taller. Hardly a matter of worry. Three more years passed; the girl remained true to her title. Her cheeks still bore baby fat , her hands were still as soft as the purest butter , and she remained the same height as the day she first stepped foot into her husband’s home. The household was spooked. The mother-in-law wasted no time and called in her friend the priest to decide on the best course of action . The priest himself was quite bewildered . He had rechecked the girl’s chart ; she was the perfect match for the Raja. None from her family had informed them of any abnormalities . He suggested the little rani was probably being possessed or worshiping the devil to which her mother-in-law denied vehemently. Her daughter-in-law had been under her direct care and observation all these years and to suspect her of immoral motives is to raise a finger at her supervisor .The priest immediately apologized for his assumptions and suggested an alternative  i.e. speaking to the girl’s family again. The Raja's mother agreed, secretly relieved that he didn’t suggest sending her protégé away. She had grown quite fond of her though she was slowly becoming unnerved at her strange predicament.

And the Raja? Well he was frustrated, to say the least, and confused at this turn of events. His wife was a fast learner and in the past five years she has perfected performing her duties successfully. But his wish of seeing her bloom into gentle womanhood was yet to come to fruition.

Writing to the girl’s father bore no results; the latter, who came to visit soon after, was just as mystified as her in-laws. The Raja’s mother assured all that there may be a mistake and perhaps nothing is wrong with the rani after all. She decided to give it another year or two . When two years came and went and the rani still resembled a petite pretty doll, her mentor wearily decided that keeping her in this esteemed household is no longer auspicious. She called the priest once again and arranged for the Raja's remarriage. The Raja himself was too disappointed to protest, although he still wished to spend his life with his little rani. A letter was sent forward , a carriage was set out and luggage was packed. The men and women of the house were rather forlorn at seeing their adorable rani leave but their grief veiled their relieved hearts at the going away of what was becoming an uncanny phenomena. They both adored and feared the child bride. For her departure to be permanent , the Raja had to declare the dissolvement of their marriage officially. But the Raja’s heart was not in it. According to the servants who witnessed all that transpired that day, the Raja’s reluctance seemed to physically prevent his wife from taking a step out of the front door. No matter how much she tried , it was as if an invisible barrier pushed her back inside. The priest , observing such turn of events, compelled the Raja to release his wife if he truly cared for the welfare of his home and his subjects. He reluctantly declared the marriage as null and void and then, miraculously, the girl managed to step out as if whatever invisible obstruction was there had lifted. It was quite mysterious and the collective sighs of relief as the little bride left was more pronounced.

 

The Raja's second marriage was even more grander than the first. His would-be spouse was the daughter of a zamindar who owned a significant amount of land so vast that entire towns were eventually built there post-independence. The second bride was four and vaguely aware of all the fluttering and fussing around her. She was confused by the sudden rain of attention her family seemed to shower on her but she enjoyed it while it lasted. Her parents did not tell her that she would be leaving home soon; she was young but she was clever enough to understand certain words and she would certainly throw a tantrum if she understood exactly what was going on.

 

Excited whispers and laughter flowed through the polished corridors of the massive house as the second bride’s family welcomed the Raja. After the saat paak was  completed , the child lowered her little hands clutching her leafy veil to rest her eyes on the smiling face of her to-be husband. The rituals continued well after midnight; the baby bride was not pleased and her sleepy eyes glowered at the fire and at all the adults surrounding her. She even turned her glare on the Raja but her elder sister roughly pushed her head to the front. ”Don't you dare try to insult your shwami” she whispered in her little ear ”That is your first lesson: Husband is God and your sole duty is to serve him”.

And off went the newly wedded little one , her sister’s advice embedded in her mind and heart as the lavishly decorated  vehicle carried her away swiftly to the Raja’s home.

 

The household awaited their new rani with the hope that everything shall be alright this time. The Raja’s mother had made sure to keep the priest beside her so he can cexamine the new member of the house for himself. Once more the sacred conch shells  were raised in harmony. Once more the Raja’s wife stood beside him staring in wonder all around her as her husband was fed lovingly by his mother. The latter , however, asked the priest to inspect her first. He took a measured step forward  and looked at her visage carefully. She was adorned in the finest jewelry ,finer than what the first bride came adorned in. She was no pale European doll but her dark doe eyes and dusky complexion assured that she would grow into an exquisite traditional beauty. Then to the bemusement of all that were present , the priest scanned the entrance and demanded that the bride’s belongings be examined before she is allowed inside. The mother-in-law despite her discomfort gave her orders. After thorough examination , the priest announced his satisfaction and permitted the bride to step foot in her new home.

“I humbly beg your pardon for my actions Ranimaa” he explained himself to the Raja’s mother later “I only intended to make sure that no evil presence enters these pristine walls , that too under my protection”

Despite the priest’s stamp of approval , the occupants of the Raja’s house held their breath as the first year passed. The second wife of the raja was less obedient and therefore harder to control than the first one; the Raja’s mother came several times close to the end of her patience. Once when her student refused to serve food to her husband and proceeded to spill daal all over the floor, she raised her hand in unbridled rage. Right in that instance, however, an odd feeling crept over her; an emotion which seemed to send shivers down her spine. She lowered her hand unable to complete her action. To outsiders it appeared mundane but to the Raja’s mother, it was strange. Her dilemma was forgotten soon as her second daughter-in-law refused to grow up just like her predecessor. The Raja's mother penned a letter to send to the girl’s father after another year went by; she wanted to nip it in the bud beforehand but the priest requested her to tread carefully. The girl was after all the temperamental yet beloved child of a zamindar far more well-known and esteemed and it would be unwise to invite the ire of such a distinguished name. So she relented and waited for three more years before cordially inviting the zamindar to stay and enjoy his stay for a week. The zamindar would have refused but the tempting offer of seeing his child after so long prompted him to arrive at the gates of his son-in-law’s home early in the morning. Alas , the longing father’s joy of seeing his little one turned to worry with a tinge of fear: there stood his daughter as tiny and hot-headed as she had been five years ago. He thought at first that his child was not getting fed and deliberately malnourished but  he observed the almost reverential way the servants and even her mother-in-law treated her. So that thought was soon discarded. Then what could be the problem? 

The Raja’s mother used her diplomatic skills to politely but firmly explain to the girl’s father the unnatural lack of physical growth ;could some ill-wisher have put some sort of abhishaap on her?. Her strange condition prevented her from fully committing to her wifely duties. The zamindar thought it over and requested the mother to let his child stay in her house for a few more months until he finds a solution to this; it would not be good for both their reputations if she leaves. Disappointed, the Raja’s mother agreed to his proposal. The priest ,who was eavesdropping on the conversation, breathed a sigh of relief. He was quite worried about his continuing career in the Raja’s home.

 

As for the Raja? Well he was extremely put out by this strange situation he was forced in…twice. He could not imagine the reason for which he seems to be facing this eerie phenomena. His second wife was a true beauty; but she was young and the Raja reserved some morals. He waited eagerly for her to bloom into vibrant womanhood so his subjects can admire her from afar and spin fantastic tales of the Raja and his beautiful rani. His dream remained unfulfilled even after two years and on one dark afternoon he gazed with defeated eyes at the departing visage of his second bride, who stubbornly refused to grow up.

 

The Raja no longer wished to marry. He believed it was not in his destiny to have a wife. His mother was furious at his reaction. ”Have you no sense of duty towards your family child??” she asked him ,”who shall carry forward this glorious name? Who shall bear the seeds of the next generation? Answer me!” 

 

Thunder slashed the cloudy sky , reflecting her thunderous rage.

The priest , who was also present in the room , cowered at his Ranimaa’s angry tone . The Raja remained impassive.

“You are blind to the truth Maa” he told her calmly ,”how many brides have you heard of , not growing physically as the years go by? I fear this has something to do with-”

“This has nothing to do with you son! I am certain , those families have something to do with this. Probably a curse to bring us down!”

“Yes I agree with Ranimaa” the priest squeaked from his corner. Pleased , the Raja’s mother turned back to him , sporting a determined expression on her face.

“I will personally select my next daughter-in-law” 

 

The Raja’s mother insisted on overseeing every process of selection and drawing up suitable candidates herself; she no longer trusted the priest. She decided to choose an older girl  this time. Her family was not as rich as the first two families had been but her father was a talukdar and owned a few lands so the Raja's mother deemed her respectable enough. The girl’s father however was reluctant. News of the Raja’s two failed marriages had already spread far and wide although the reasons were kept under wraps so the father was concerned for his daughter’s safety. The lavish gifts sent forth by the Ranimaa was enough to wipe off those worries.

 

So the third bride underwent the same ceremonies and grooming as her young predecessors had. The ten-year-old was dressed in vibrant red adorned with most of the family jewels her mother safe-kept for this special day along with some additions from the Ranimaa’s presents. Her mother shed silent tears as she dressed up her only daughter. The new bride hugged her and said ”Don’t cry Maa, why are you crying? I will return to play soon. Don’t be sad”

  As the holy shankh heralded the Raja’s arrival for the third time, he wondered if this marriage will turn things around  and lift the anxious veil he had been put under for several years. His heart beat unusually fast though he was unaware of the reason . The day had already seemed bleak, the afternoon darker and now dawning towards pitch black as dusk fell . The lights providing ample illumination seemed dim in the face of the creeping blackness of the approaching night. 

Sweat collected on his nape as the third little bride stopped circling around him and faced towards him . She lowered her leafy barrier and for one moment , the Raja thought he saw the face of an European doll with bindi between her brows and sindoor like a red slash on her head. In another moment the face facing him transformed to doe eyes and a dusky complexioned face bearing a scowl. The Raja’s throat turned dry .Guilt thick as vomit bubbled up his throat .The visions were gone as suddenly as it came and the  ethereal ,serene face of a slightly older girl appeared in front of his eyes. She looked as if she knew what occurred in the span of seconds her groom spent staring at her. He observed her as they sat around the fire and found that unlike his first two brides she was prim, proper and adhered to rules. This did little to reassure him and he remained uneasy throughout the rest of the ceremony.

The night let out whispers of the eerie as the wedding carriage navigated the forest bordering the Raja’s palatial home. The house itself seemed to be holding its breath as the vehicle stopped and the new rani stepped out. The Raja’s mother stood outside the entrance this time , determined to scan her daughter-in-law herself before she could put even one step inside. The priest stood beside her, forlorn that he had lost his Ranimaa’s favor. As soon as the Raja and his new wife came forward , his mother hastily performed the bodhu boron before setting her scrutinizing eyes on the young bride . She circled her , examined her features , commanded her servants to check her belongings and called forth the priest for a second examination. All throughout this inspection, The Raja observed that his young wife remained still and almost unaware of her mother-in-law’s survey except for the interested glint in her eyes . This went for long enough that one of the Raja’s aunts hesitantly called out to his mother to proceed with the rest of the welcoming as it was already very late. Having found no visible flaws ,the latter reluctantly retreated and the familiar holy sound once more rang out welcoming the new couple. The Raja’s mother desperately hoped this would be the last time. 

 

The Raja, however, was ill at ease . While greeting the relatives , one of his nephews screamed in glee “kakamoshai is scared of her hahaha ! look he looks scared! Voi peiche voi peiche kakamoshai voi peichei” 

 

A hard slap from his irate father paused the boy’s jeering quickly enough but the target of his short-lived fun felt as if he had been stripped naked and exposed to the cold rain now coming down heavily. He was no longer eager to get close to his newly married wife  who was currently being showered with praises , her head lowered and a shy smile on her lips. Whenever she turned to him , he felt as if he was being judged although there was no such expression on the former’s face except a small upward tilt of her mouth . He dreaded sharing a bed of flowers with her tonight.

 

The giggles of mischievous maidens and knowing aunts and mothers faded away from the corridors as the Raja walked towards his bedroom. The corridor dimmed darker and the journey forward longer . The lights were out by the time he reached his door. The ornate gate creaked loudly in the silent blackness of the room. ”Why is it so dark?” he murmured to himself , puzzled as he felt for the lamps and lighted them one by one. He felt a feeling… a sensation of being oppressed .The atmosphere in the room appeared unearthly, the thunderous roar of the rain outside seemingly distant . The air itself seemed to hold its breath as the Raja approached the gilded bed transformed into a floral canopy. His bride sat in the middle of the phool shojja. Her legs were folded under her, face uncovered which surprised him. She wore the same smile she had sported from the time their eyes met. She appeared sweet and docile.

“You don’t seem to be too shy” the Raja couldn't help but ask. His bride’s smile widened.

“ Shyness does not save time” she replied , polite and sweet in her tone. She almost looked amused.

“Hmm...smart answer befitting a smart girl” the Raja said approvingly “I suppose you are aware that I am your husband”

“Yes. My mother taught me that husband is God and it should be my honour to serve him”

“Ah well “ the Raja felt rather uncomfortable with this notion ,“I do not wish to be your god…I’m too human for that." He chuckled nervously ”I’m happy with being your husband”

“Are you really?” although her tone never wavered from respectful , the recipient of her words felt as if he was slapped.

“Well “ he pressed on “ we hardly know each other-”

“So after we know each other well , you will become my god?” interrupted his young bride , curiosity alive in her eyes with a glint of something else that he could not identify.

“Well” the Raja struggled to find words ,”I didn't mean to say that.”

“But your words implied so” pat came the reply.

“Are you certain that you are ten?” her husband asked her incredulously , staring at her in wonder and irritation “you sound older than what your parents said you are”

“I am ten” she affirmed” I am in fact quite young” her voice turned quite “ I am a child… a ten year old child “

He flinched when she stressed on the word ‘child’ twice.

“But I am your wife now” she continued” I have to be grown up” the still air stilled even more, ”I can’t play with my dolls anymore” a violent gust of wind swept the room ,” my mother is still weeping…my father is happy yet worried” the candles blew out ” But I am your wife now. I’m not a child”

Lightning flashed on the inky black walls as the Raja cowered away from his wife. She was somehow still smiling , her lips stretched unnaturally in an upward tilt , her dark eyes flashing, her stare deadly as she observed her husband stumble on the floor and fall down. The latter slithered  back to the wall furthest from the bed , his eyes wide in terror staring in the direction of the bed. But it was no use. The originally humongous room felt as small as a broom closet. He watched the girl rise and  stand up on the soft downy mattress , her figure turned directly towards him. The wall behind her lightened with the next strike of lightning and he saw her shadow; larger than her small body , towering over her with the impression of long unbound hair , accompanied by multiple arms. The bearer of that strange shadow kept her stare trained on the cowering Raja , her eyes wide and flashing with fire.

 

The Raja’s screams echoed through the room and the long corridors outside but none was there to hear his cry , cloaked further by the violent screeches of enraged mother Nature.

 

The morning dawned crisp and bright . The palatial home of the Raja appeared like a miserable blot in the cheery rays of the sun. The people of the esteemed household reflected the roof under which they lived. Perhaps the only person who truly felt one with the happy weather was the third little bride. It had taken a day for her father to respond to the hurried letter he received from the Raja’s mother and on the third day , he came ready to take his child back home. She went with him , spring in her step and joy in her eyes. She’ll finally return home to play with her mother.

 

The months that followed after the swift end of the Raja’s third marriage came news no less astounding. The first bride who left years ago , had returned home to the bewilderment of her family and within a week , she grew dramatically in height and features until she resembled the age she left her husband’s home , much to the awe and fear of her relatives. A similar phenomena occurred with the second bride as well , and her temper grew with her physical changes. The Raja’s mother received the news with disbelief and she vented her anger by firing her friend of many years, the priest, from the house. Life in the Raja’s house slowly returned to normal while the village lasses began once more to dream of crossing those golden thresholds and becoming the queen to the revered king. Several asked , followed by equally curious travelers  and the upper class inner circles , about the mysterious reason that ended the Rajamoshai’s third wedding but none except the Raja himself knew what had actually transpired that night. Societies ultimately did , as they do even now, place the blame on the three brides but the Raja knew better. Even more than before.

 

Did the Raja ever end up marrying again? Well I’ll leave that up to you to figure out.

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Glossary

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• Rajamoshai-  ‘Raja’ means king or princely ruler.     “moshai” usually means mister but here both terms has been used to refer to the Raja in a respectful     manner

• Purohit- bengali for priest

• Sonar chele- golden son .  a common term  of endearment used by bengali parents

• Doi- curd

• Shankh- conch shells . usually used in religious festivals and weddings

• Benarasi- a type of silk saree  originating from Varanasi(Benares). A staple in Bengali Hindu weddings

• Pidi-low wooden stool used to carry the bride around the groom seven times

• Saat paak- seven turns. It is a ritual in which the bride is carried around the groom by her brothers/male relatives.

• Paan pata- paan leaves

• Biye- bengali for wedding

• Pishi- father’s sister

• Babamoshai- respectful way of referring to one’s father

• Bouma-daughter-in-law

• Bindi- decorative mark worn in the middle of forehead by indian women

• Sindoor-  symbol of married status worn by indian women in  the form of a vermillion mark

• Daal-an indian dish made of simmered and usually pureed and spiced legumes

• Shwami-husband(thebengali pronunciation has been used)

• Ranimaa- Queen mother . here used as a term of respect for the Raja’s mother

• Zamindar- landowner

• Abhishaap- curse

• Talukdar- owner or administrative head of a taluk ( land area comprising several villages)

• Bodhu boron- welcoming ceremony for the bride when she reaches the groom’s house.

• Kakamoshai- respectful way of referring to one’s uncle

• “Voi peichei...voi peichei” -Bengali phrase meaning ‘ he/she is scared’. 

Please comment and share the story if you like it. Constructive criticisms are always welcome.