The house was decorated to welcome the new bride. Conch shells and ululations filled the air.

Soumi looked about in awe taking in the grandeur of her marital home. Her husband, Samir led her towards the entrance where his boudi (sister-in-law) stood with the thaal to the welcome the couple.

Soumi's in-laws used to be landlords, so they called this huge, grand rajbari their home. She was welcomed in and her alta-clad feet stepped over the threshold. They were led to their room and as soon as they were alone, Soumi huffed and threw her heels as she sat on the bed. Samir chuckled and said, " Geez, I was waiting for you to faint from all those fake smiles you were giving during the reception. I mean you had to act all mature and sweet for a whole day. Must've been difficult." Soumi picked up the nearby pillow and threw it towards her bestfriend -now husband, who successfully dodged it. Soumi grumbled," I haven't slept for two nights, haven't had a morsel of food since yesterday and all this jewellery is clawing at my ski. If this continues any further, I might start seeing ghosts."

After half an hour of playful bickering, they changed into their pajamas and retired for the day. At around 3, Soumi woke up feeling thirsty. She searched around for a water bottle but finding none she walked out of the room. As she was approaching the kitchen, she felt a faint shadow walk past her, and the smell of gajras filled the air. Soumi's eyes raked through the enormous living room, but there was no one in near sight. While returning, she heard the soft clinking of anklets from the room at the end of the long corridor. Curiosity got the best of her and she focused the light from her phone towards the door of that room. It was locked but Soumi could clearly hear the sound of anklets from inside. Just as she was about to open the door, a hand landed on her shoulder and a shriek left her mouth.

Samir motioned her to low down her voice as he said," Shh! Everyone's asleep. And what are you doing wandering about the house at 3?" Soumi pointed towards the closed door and said, " I heard anklets clinking from this room, but the door is locked. Whose room is this?" Samir shrugged and said, "No one's but we are not allowed to open this door. It has been locked since we were kids and everyone told us not to wander about nearby."

Soumi's eyes lit up, ADVENTURE (her inner voice screamed) but before she could say something, Samir interrupted, " No. Don't get excited. There is nothing exciting in here. Just some old stuff from the landlord days. Now let's return to bed before you hear someone singing Ami je tomar."

Both of them returned to their bedroom and soon slipped into a slumber. Meanwhile, inside that room, twisted alta-clad feet, glimmering due to the heavy anklets, waited to meet the new bride.